A Splash of Christmas Read Free Page B

be a party to this audition . Well, he’d see to it that she got the audition of her life.
    Mindless of the crowd, he took her by the elbows. Drawing her close, Ben’s pulse galloped as he dipped his head toward hers. Reins…where were the reins? The light scent of citrus mingled with sweet pine and though his brain cried out with a resounding whoa, his heart clamored blindly into the great abyss. One hand slipped to the nape of her neck and as his palm fisted in the warmth of her curls, Ben fully expected to come away scorched.
    “Ben, wait for the camera…” Harry’s voice drifted a warning as if from continents away. Ben shook his head slightly, ignoring the request.
    Forget the script and the army of equipment. They’d simply get right down to business…expedite the process. He couldn’t seem to help himself. The horse had bolted…the reins were out of reach.
    His mouth claimed hers and a roar suddenly washed through Ben’s head. Her lips, sweet as honey, softened beneath his as a slight sigh escaped her lips. Ben sensed she was a stick of dynamite, all right, with a fuse better left unlit. For a moment, the overhead lights seemed to flicker, and Ben stood alone in the room with her as everything else—and everyone —dissolved away. His pulse shuddered as he fought the low moan that swam up from the depths of his belly, stealing his breath.
    So this is what it feels like…
     
    ~*~
     
    A flush of heat coursed the length of Faith’s skin…from the tips of her toes to the top of her head. For a moment, she was lost in the scent of Ben Ward and the powerful feel of his hand along the nape of her neck, fisted in her hair.
    So this is what it feels like…
    “That’s a cut.” The voice drifted as if from miles away. “Come on …you’ve made your point. That’s a wrap, Ben.”
    Ben…Ben Ward…I’m kissing Ben Ward.
    The thought stormed over Faith like a wrecking ball demolishing an abandoned building. Heat turned to shivers as she pressed a palm to Ben’s chest, breaking contact. She took one giant step back on the infernal heels that refused to cooperate.
    “Whoa…are you OK?” Ben’s hand shot out to catch her as she swooned—yes, that was the only word to describe it…a swoon.
    “I’m fine. I’m…” Dazed, her chin tilted so her gaze locked head-on with his. Those sea-blue eyes and the shock of black hair that skimmed his tanned forehead made it difficult to form a complete thought.
    Voices rumbled behind her. One stood out among the others. “That was amazing…incredible. You nailed it, Ben.”
    Nailed it…really? Anger coursed through like a wildfire as Faith’s cheeks burned. “How…” she managed as she pushed Ben’s hand away from her shoulder. “How dare you kiss me like that?”
    “How dare I ?” Ben pressed a pair of fingers to his lips as he murmured, “Excuse me for pointing this out, but you kissed me back. And, might I add, that you seemed to enjoy kissing me. Harry…didn’t she seem to enjoy it?”
    The guy—Harry—that Faith pegged to be mid-forties or so, dressed in a wrinkled button-down dress shirt paired with a tie and suit jacket that had to be stifling in this summer humidity, stepped forward. “Yes, I’d say that’s a wrap. I haven’t seen chemistry like that in…well, in forever. These auditions are over. I’d say we’ve just parted with a cool ten-thousand dollars, Ben, and I’m glad to do it.”
    Unable to come up with an adequate retort to that comment, Faith stomped one foot. The heel of her sandal snapped off to skitter across the tile floor. It came to rest at Ben’s feet.
    Perfect…just perfect.
    “I-I…” Faith’s throat swelled like a wad of cotton soaked in water.
    “Go ahead, spit it out.” Ben crossed his arms as his gaze darkened to the color of the sky during the height of a spring thunderstorm. “I’m waiting…we’re all waiting.”
    Faith lifted her chin as her hands fisted at her side. “I don’t want your