Kaylee’s First Crush Read Free Page A

of
compassion she sent his way warmed him unexpectedly, mostly because he didn’t
expect it. Many other people had said the same words. They’d been polite,
pointless and impossible to escape, but he could tell Kaylee meant it with a
depth of sincerity that surprised him. He felt something he rarely did these
days: uncomfortable. Itchy. It was like he desperately
needed fresh air while at the same time he wanted nothing more than to sit next
to her and absorb her warmth.
    “Thank you,” he
eventually said, hoping she would understand why he didn’t elaborate.
    She nodded
easily and looked away. He studied her profile. Her full lips were still pale
from standing outside in the bad weather. Abruptly, he shifted from his seat to
hers, slipping an arm around her shoulders. His finger brushed her cheek. It
was cold.
    She froze, eyes
widening. Clearly he’d startled her.
    “You looked
cold,” he explained, enjoying the way her curves fit against his body.
    She nodded, not
saying anything.
    “We’re almost
there,” he added as the limo slowed down. He hoped he hadn’t frightened her.
    She didn’t move
until he shifted his arm away. He wasn’t trying to make her feel uncomfortable,
after all. He just couldn’t help it. She really looked chilly. And vulnerable. “Are you okay?” he asked, concerned.
    She nodded
jerkily. “I just didn’t expect you to… you know.” She waved an arm toward him
with an intricate little flip of her hand that seemed to say Holy crap you
touched me! and You were my English teacher! all at once.
    He chuckled. “I
don’t bite.” He waited a bit, then added. “Unless someone asks nicely.” He waited for her reaction.
She didn’t disappoint him, flushing as his comment hit home.
    Christ,
she’s lovely , he caught himself thinking, then reigned in his libido impatiently. She had to be at
least ten years younger than him. Probably more. And way too sweet to torment like this.
    “Um—” she began
to say, but then the car came to a stop.
    “Let’s see if
we can get you a room,” he said, interrupting her. He opened the door and
stepped out, sighing when he saw it was still snowing
heavily. He exchanged disgusted looks with his driver, then leaned down to help Kaylee out of the car just in time to see her biting her
lip and eyeing the pavement warily.
    “I won’t let
you fall,” he assured her.
    Her eyes flew
up to his and she took a deep breath when she saw his extended hand. She nodded
and slipped her fingers into his.
     
    Kaylee stared
at the opulence of the hotel lobby and felt her heart plummet to her toes.
There was no way she could afford a room in this place.
    Maybe I can
just take a nap in the waiting area for the night ,
she mused, looking toward the comfy chairs arranged in front of a roaring fire
directly opposite the check-in desk. When Mr. Valtree— No, he said to call
him Hugo , she corrected herself mentally—turned around, she frowned. He
didn’t look happy.
    “They’re full
up, unfortunately,” he said, a note of irritation in his voice.
    “Oh,” she said,
not particularly surprised. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Well,
I can’t really afford a room here anyway.”
    Absently, he
ran a finger over his room key, scraping the plastic. “They said all the other
hotels are booked solid, too. I asked.”
    She shrugged.
“I know. I called around earlier, from the airport, trying to get a room.”
    Suddenly, he
straightened his shoulders. “You’ll stay with me tonight, then.”
    What? Was he
crazy? She shook her head in denial and started walking toward the seating
area. She hitched her overnight bag strap higher on her shoulder, ignoring the
way it bit into her neck. She’d given his coat back to him already and all she
had on was her thin sweater. “Oh no, there’s no need for that. I can just rest
here for a little bit, then try again to find something in the morning.” She
waved toward the comfiest looking chair. Stay in a room with