Racing the Hunter's Moon (Entangled Bliss) Read Free

wore a chunky navy sweater under a battered black leather jacket. Average, everyday clothing. But the breadth of his shoulders, the glimpse of tanned collarbone evident in the dip of the sweater’s crew neck, were far from average or everyday. She scanned down. Work boots. Big work boots. Big feet, big… Cutting that thought off at the pass, Betty’s gaze shot up to collide with his.
    Amusement danced in his eyes. “Well? Like what you see?”
    Betty put her hands on her hips. Raised an eyebrow of her own. This flirtation was getting out of hand—fast. She glanced behind him through the hallway to the front door he’d left open. The sky was darkening.
    “I guess you should bring the bed in. I’ll show you where you can put it.” She brushed past him, aware of a subtle extra swing in her hips as she strode to Mel and Heath’s bedroom. “The bedroom is down here.”
    As she turned, his gaze snapped up to her face. “Great.” He took a look in. “Could you help me bring it in?”
    Part of her wanted to say no, but that would be childish. Alice and her boyfriend, Mark, were always raving about what a nice guy Joe was. She couldn’t believe that Mark’s friend was the same guy she’d met this morning. But the sooner he set up the bed, the sooner she’d get some answers. “Sure.”
    She followed him outside, picked up a couple of long carved pieces of wood, took them inside, and then returned for more.
    It took four trips.
    “The bed will take a while to assemble.” Joe opened up his toolbox. “Why don’t you go ahead and heat up dinner? Did you see something you liked?” He didn’t look at her.
    “I liked the look of the meatballs.”
    His gaze shot up to hers. A slow grin spread across his face, and with a wicked look he said, “I’m guessing you’re talking about Mel’s rather than…” He glanced down. At his crotch.
    “Oh!” Betty turned her back, hiding her smile from his view. She compressed her lips to stop a laugh from bubbling free.
    I don’t like him.

    While the meatballs heated, Betty made spaghetti and set the table. Who was she kidding? That crack about meatballs had lent Joe Carter a whole new dimension. Good looks were one thing, but good looks wrapped around a humorous center? Deadly. If they’d met under normal circumstances she’d be climbing aboard the flirt train, destination bed, with her sexy underwear stowed for the ride. But there had been nothing normal about the way they met—he’d been observing her following Charmers this morning, which meant he had to be involved, somehow. Her mind tumbled over the possibilities. Maybe he was a suspicious mark who was onto Charmers too. Maybe he’d been involved in one of Charmers’s schemes.
    She pressed her lips together. She couldn’t let her guard down. Had to play this cool. Joe Carter was attractive, but he was hiding something, so he could pack away his grin and his innuendo—she sure wouldn’t be playing.
    When the meal was ready, she went to find him.
    The bed was in place, and he was stowing his tools.
    “Wow.” The elegant bed was made of a light wood, with delicate carved spindles at the head and base. Rather than the traditional detailing that was found in such beds, the lines of the spindles were plain, almost Shaker. A modern classic. “That’s gorgeous.” She walked over and smoothed a hand over the curved headboard. “Did you really make this?”
    “Yes, I did. It’s made of beech.” Joe snapped his toolbox shut.
    “When Alice and Mark told me your work was good, they weren’t kidding.”
    He smiled, obviously pleased with the compliment.
    “Dinner is ready if you are.”
    “Great. I’ll just wash up.”
    Betty went into the kitchen and started to put their meal onto plates. She was driving and so was he, so she didn’t open a bottle of wine, just filled a jug with water from the faucet. She couldn’t remember when she’d last eaten alone with a man.
    Joe strode in. “I’m seriously