Nadia Knows Best Read Free Page A

complained. “And don’t tell me you aren’t, because you are.”
    â€œSo? I’m allowed to flirt. You were doing it earlier,” he pointed out, “when you thought I was gay.”
    â€œI was not.” Feeling herself blushing, she was glad of the dim light. “Why would I want to?”
    â€œBecause you thought I was safe.” Jay’s chestnut-brown eyes glinted with amusement.
    Oh crikey, was he right? Had she been flirting with him? Something in the pit of Nadia’s stomach went ting and tightened in alarm. She hadn’t even realized.
    â€œAnd now you aren’t doing it,” he went on. “You’re backpedaling like mad. Which has to mean you like me at least, ooh”—he held out his hand, the thumb and forefinger half an inch apart—“this much.”
    Not fair, not fair .
    â€œIf I didn’t like you that much, I wouldn’t be here.” Nadia tilted her head in the direction of the other bedroom, where Pete the landlord was snoring like an elephant seal. “I’d rather sleep in the snow than share a bed with him.”
    Gravely, Jay nodded. “Well, thank you. I think.”
    â€œThen again, you might snore too.”
    â€œNot at all. I’m the perfect gentleman in bed.” He flashed a wicked grin. “No one’s ever regretted spending the night with me.”
    Nadia’s mouth was dry. She didn’t doubt it for one second. Anyone would be attracted to him. He was great company, confident and charismatic. If she weren’t involved with Laurie, let’s face it, she’d be tempted to go for it. Why not, after all? Here they were, cut off from the rest of the world, stranded in a snowbound pub. No one else need ever know…
    Oh good grief, she was actually imagining it, picturing the scene in her mind, wondering how it would feel to reach out and slide her hand up beneath that thick dark blue sweater of his… What was the matter with her? She was just a shameless hussy, stop it, stop it, stop it .
    Delete that fantasy.
    She had Laurie. Who could ask for more?
    Appalled with herself for even thinking it, Nadia abruptly leaned over and blew out the flickering candle. Passionately thankful that Jay wasn’t able to read her mind—and horribly afraid that he could—she said, “I’m going to sleep now. Good night.”
    ***
    Pete, the landlord, was perplexed to wake up the following morning with a violent hangover—well, that was par for the course— and a pub full of bleary-eyed strangers. He promptly helped himself to a large Scotch and set about discovering what they were doing there.
    Upstairs, Nadia brushed her teeth and sent up a passionate prayer of thanks that she’d managed not to give in to last night’s moment of weakness. Not many girls, she wouldn’t mind betting, shared a bed with Jay Tiernan and emerged with their morals intact. Then again, not many girls would go to bed with him dressed in jeans, socks, two heavy sweaters, and a less than gorgeous tank top.
    Clomping downstairs in her boots, she discovered an arctic wind whistling through the empty pub and the front door gaping open. Everyone had gathered outside to cheer and applaud the snowplow that was shooting great plumes of snow up into the air as it made its stately way along the main street.
    Nadia found Jay among the crowd. “We’re saved. We shan’t have to eat each other, that’s a relief. How am I going to get my car out of the ditch?”
    â€œThe cavalry have arrived.” Jay indicated the tractor, trundling along in the wake of the snowplow. It slowed to a halt outside the pub and a burly farmer type jumped down.
    â€œPassed some cars back there in need of a tow.” Spotting Nadia’s hopeful face he said, “One of them yours, love? Want some help, do you?”
    She could have kissed him. Her fiftysomething knight in a filthy tractor! This was