Page 6 of A Match Made in Montana

Inhaling sharply, she glared at him. “I can’t believe you’ve read that!”

Grinning, he approached her slowly. “I had to know what made you so hot and bothered.”

“I wasn’t hot and bothered!” she exclaimed, waving her hands in front of her.

Without really thinking about what he was doing, he took her hands in his and pulled her closer. She stilled, looked up at him, her brown eyes turning from outrage to being wary and something else he couldn’t quite put his finger on. A soft flowery scent mixed with something citrusy floated around them.

He’d wanted to touch her. Truth be told, he’d been wanting to touch her since he’d stepped on to the porch. The memory of his fingers trailing over a soft cheek had been begging him to touch her again.

Like earlier, his eyes dropped lower. Her body was reacting to his nearness the same way he was reacting to her. The very obvious sign of his desire throbbing against her was not something he could hide.

Throbbing—where the hell did that word come from?The damn book she’d been reading, that’s where.

“Will you look at that?” He chuckled. “It would seem our bodies like each other. Is that the beading you’ve been reading about?”

Inhaling sharply, Annie pulled her hands from his and turned away. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She picked up a cloth, dropped it, picked it up again. “So, how do you think you can help me?”

This time he laughed out loud. “That’s a loaded question. There are so many ways…”

“I’m talking about the B and B,” she said crossly.

“I know.” He smiled slowly walking closer to her. “I’m just teasing.”

As she turned toward him again, she moved away and held up a hand. “Stay right there, don’t come closer. You… you fluster me. And stop talking about beading!”

He really tried, but he couldn’t stop the smile.

Avoiding his eyes, she took a deep breath. “You’re way out of my league. Besides, you… when you’re near me, I… there’s the… the beading… damn it, I can’t believe I’m stuck on that word! There are these strange feelings and I… well, I don’t like it. So, no, I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

Chuckling, Craig took a step back. “Is this better?”

She nodded but avoided his eyes.

“I could have a look at your website and maybe make a few suggestions? We don’t even have to be in the same room.”

“I appreciate the offer, but I’ll be okay. Janice means well and I’ll be sure to tell her you’ve offered to help, don’t worry.”

Craig opened his mouth to try and convince her to let him help her, but he stopped just in time. What the hell was he doing? He was here for Aunt Janice. Besides, Annie was right. Working closely with this gorgeous woman was not a good idea.

Those strange feelings she’d been talking about? He also didn’t like the way she managed to get him all hot and bothered with just a smile.

*

Cross, Annie glaredat the door through which Craig had just walked. Who had given him the right to come in here…

“Talking to yourself again, Annie?” Vivian said, entering from the back door.

Pressing her lips together, Annie gathered the last of the cups. “Just thinking out loud,” she muttered.

“You were awfully flustered just now. Has anything happened between you and Craig I should know of?”

“Of course not!” Annie called out too quickly.

Vivian chuckled. “I can quote Shakespeare…”

“It’s all Janice’s fault. I know she’s just being nice, but sending Craig to come and help me with marketing is a ridiculous idea. He works with huge companies and budgets. Apart from anything else, I don’t have any money to pay him.”

“You don’t have anything to lose by asking him for suggestions. I’m sure he wouldn’t think of charging you for that.”

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