Page 6 of Wintertime Love (Holiday 2)

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I grimace at the thought.

I don’t want to be one of those women who falls head over heels in love with a man. I don’t ever want to be tied down by a man. I like being independent. I’ve always been careful of choosing my partners from men whom I know won’t want more than what I’m willing to offer. Maybe, at some point in the future, when both Danny and I want to move ahead with our lives, we’ll settle down, together. He understands me and our friendship is a good foundation to base a marriage on.

In a way, we both know this.

Vysky bounds back towards me, looking quite pleased with himself.

I open the door, letting him in. I stagger in after him, my head throbbing. As I walk in, I see someone sitting at the large kitchen table, his back to me. I freeze.

Is that a guest?

Then I spot the half empty coffee pot next to him and I frown. However, since there’s a god chance he’s a paying guest, I can’t exactly yell at him. So, I close the door behind me, “Morning.”

The man turns around to look at me.

I nearly stumble over my own feet in shock. “You?!”

Finn looks both surprised and amused,. “Well, if it isn’t Miss Clara. What brings you here so early in the morning?”

Of course, he’d be staying here, I groan to myself. “I live here,” I mutter and then reach over to grab the coffee pot from his side to pour it into a mug. “How long will you be staying here?”

Please say only today!

It’s like he can read my mind. His lips curve and he leans on the gleaming marble counter, resting his chin in the palm of his hand, watching me. “I don’t know yet.”

I chug down the bitter liquid and put the mug down. My headache isn’t getting better and his presence isn’t helping.

Vysky pads over to sniff at Finn’s feet.

Seeing this, I feel the sting of betrayal. “Okay then.” I stand up, slowly, feeling a bit dizzy. “Have fun then.”

“Do you always dress like this when wandering around the house so early in the morning?”

I narrow my eyes at him. “So what if I do?”

He just smirks, raking his eyes over me from head to toe in a suggestive manner, and then drawls. “Darlin’ you look good enough to eat. I’ll have to start coming down here early more often.”

The way he rolls the word ‘darlin’’ on his tongue, in that thick accent of his, my cheeks flush and I hide it with a heavy scowl while muttering, “Shameless flirt.”

But even as I say it, my eyes go to his yummy looking lips and a sliver of excitement runs through me. Would his kiss now have the same effect as when I was drunk? The minute this thought races through my mind, it’s followed by horror. Shameless slut, I scold myself, annoyed. “I have to get to work,” I tell him, my tone flat.

He just raises his mug. “Farewell, pretty lady.”

I open my mouth to comment but then snap it shut, not wanting to argue while hungover. I’m more concerned with finding my balance at the moment. I sniff and walk out with the consoling thought.

Yeah, I am pretty!

If I was expecting my hangover to go away by the afternoon, boy I couldn’t have been more wrong.

It’s the lunch rush and I feel like shit warmed over.

“I hate you,” I moan to Danny who looks alert and fresh. “You were completely drunk yesterday. How do you look so alive?”

Danny cuts into his steak while waggling his brows. “Sorry, babe. Family secret.”

Ben, who is sitting next to him on the counter, grins widely. “You have to be part of the family to find out, Clara. Why don’t you just marry my brother?”

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