Page 50 of Baby It's Cold Outside

Luke took a deep breath. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. “Or…”

He could have sworn he heard a quick sharp intake of breath as her gaze flew to his face. “Or?”

The breathy note in her voice went straight to his groin. “There is that thing I mentioned earlier. New Year’s Eve, a snowed-in cabin, a roaring fire? It’s the perfect setup for a midnight kiss. And I know,” he said quickly as she opened that delectable mouth to protest, “that you’re my sister’s friend and the age thing is freaking you out and that you probably think I’m at a different place in my life at the moment, but you’d be wrong. I’ve lived a little more than the average guy my age, Tamara. I’m looking for more than just company for a night.”

Her big gray eyes softened, and the compassion he saw in them nearly sucked his breath away. A man could get lost in all that emotion.

“Except that would be breaking my ten-date rule,” she said, her voice husky.

But at least she seemed to be relaxing into the situation. He took advantage, sliding closer to her end of the couch. “Ten dates, huh?” He thought for a moment, a plan crystallizing. “Do I get special dispensation?”

She shot him a wary look. “What do you mean?”

“Well.” He shrugged. “I think what we have here are highly unusual circumstances requiring a modification of the rules.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “How do you figure?”

“Extreme weather events come under acts of God, right? And everyone knows that all cards are off the table in these type of situations.”

“They do...?”

Luke smiled at the tremor in her voice. It seemed more encouraging than wary. “Sure, things are usually expedited, right? In which case I think we’re already well into our ten dates.”

Her eyes widened and she snorted. “Oh really? Do tell.” But he could see a spark of interest in her eyes.

He grinned. “First date, you stripped for me. Second date, you threw up on me. Third date”—he tsked and shook his head—“you slept with me.”

Tamara gaped. “Hey! You slept with me!”

Luke laughed, enjoying her fake outrage. “Fourth date you made me breakfast.”

“Pop-Tarts? You’re easily pleased.”

His gaze drifted to her mouth as deep, wet, and hungry reverberated through his brain. “You have no idea.” She blushed and looked like she was going to run again so he moved closer, not giving her any chance to escape. “Fifth date, I cooked for you.”

“Grilled cheese sandwiches?”

He shrugged. “You’re welcome. Sixth date I took you to see a game. Actually,” he picked up the remote and flicked channels, “I’m about to take you to another one so that takes care of date seven as well.”

She laughed this time. “Just so you know, taking me to a football game when we’re not in the grip of highly unusual circumstances would not count as a date.”

Luke nodded and grinned back. “Roger that.”

And then they were grinning at each other and she said, “Eight, nine, and ten?”

“Well, ten is midnight at Times Square, of course. I expect you to be impressed, we have front row seats after all. Do you know how hard it is to get that close to the ball? ”

She laughed again. “That’s true,” she mused. “But what about numbers eight and nine?”

“Ahh, well now, that depends.”

“On what?”

“On whether we have a deal or not?”

“A deal?”

Luke nodded. “A New Year’s Eve kissing deal.”

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