One Hot Night Old Port Nights, Book 1 Read Free Page B

puffed inside the door where she closed it. He stood there for a few minutes feeling like an idiot. A very horny idiot.
    He’d kissed Audra Leone. It was probably a mistake, for every reason she’d stated earlier. Maybe she was right to leave. However, as he reset the security code and left through the front, he couldn’t help but think that walking away from that kiss didn’t feel right. It didn’t feel right at all.

Chapter Two
    Audra had made a terrible mistake. Another one. It sure seemed to be her day for it. Somehow, the snow hadn’t looked quite this vicious from her shop, but the little car she drove was well and truly buried. Though she fought the wind and the continuing barrage of white in her attempts to unbury it, she finally had to face reality. No way she could get it out of the lot.
    She was stuck. Again.
    Turning off the car, she banged her forehead softly against the steering wheel in frustration. As soon as she could, she was trading this tiny gas-saving miracle in on an SUV with huge ground clearance that could get her out of an apocalypse, if necessary.
    There was a cot in her office. There might be a candy bar or two in there, as well. As she walked back to the store, something smelled so good it made her mouth water. It was coming from Scott’s kitchen vent, which regularly filled the lot behind Score! with the alluring aromas of Buffalo wings and other kinds of tempting, greasy food. Hot food.
    Her fingers were freezing, but she could still recall the warmth of Scott’s mouth. She leaned back against the building for a moment, cursing her situation. A hard wind howled, and a ledge of snow from the roof fell from above, landing directly on her. It stuck to her face, and she shook it off like a dog, unsure what she’d done to deserve this. It was as if life was going to dump on her until she got the hint.
    Hint about what?
    One chunk of snow slid down her cheek and down the back of her neck.
    Lovely.
    Suddenly she knew. It was all very clear.
    Scott wasn’t the wrong man for her—he was exactly the right guy.
    Maybe it was the cold drizzle working its way down her back, but Audra realized that what had seemed like a warning to stay away was really an invitation on silver platter.
    How could she have missed it?
    She’d been looking at this all wrong. She was too used to thinking with her heart—about permanence and being married—and being hurt. She hadn’t wanted to set herself up again. She wanted to be smart. Protect her heart and her life.
    But that assumed she was thinking long term. What she needed from Scott—and very likely what he was offering—was sex. Pure and simple. One night. One really hot night.
    She knew, instinctively, that he could give her that. Whenever he came on to her, she huffed and blushed like a virgin. No wonder she hadn’t gotten laid in a while. There had been a few guys after her divorce, but she’d been too focused on love, and the sex had been barely adequate. She’d decided that life was easier without both.
    But her attitude had been askew. She didn’t need a relationship. She needed orgasms.
    Her mission was suddenly defined by her epiphany, and she made her way, with some difficulty, around the building to the front walk. Scott’s door displayed the CLOSED sign, but peering inside, she saw him at the back, wiping down some tables. The music was still playing.
    She rapped on the glass, though her mitten muted the sound.
    “Scott?” she called, but he continued wiping tables.
    Taking off her mittens, she knocked harder, calling again.
    No luck. He probably couldn’t hear over the noise. She knocked again but he walked out of sight, back to the kitchen.
    Was it a sign? Was she crazy? Was this her last chance to back out?
    She thought of that kiss again and shook her head.
    “Screw signs, I’m freezing.” Pulling her cell phone out, she called his number.
    Luckily, he heard that and answered immediately.
    “Audra?”
    “Hi, Scott.”
    “Where