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Finding a contoured seat that cradled her body, Brit reclined into its welcoming shape, settling into the tub with a contented sigh.
She absorbed the serene silence, the only sound being the gentle bubbling of the hot tub. “Do you want something to drink?” Luke asked as he took his place opposite her.
“I’m good,” she responded, her voice relaxed, her attention captured by the dance of steam and snowflakes above them.
“So, just so that you know, Lane got back to me about your cousin.” Brit sat up and looked at him. “He’s the same guy we went to school with. Funny thing is back in school he was a nerd, I never would have thought he would end up in the mob.”
Brit raised a shoulder. “That’s what happens when you’re a family member, you really don’t get the choice in the matter, it’s just expected of you.”
Luke nodded. “I suppose. I don’t blame your mother for getting you out of it.”
He saw the pained look cross her lovely face and immediately regretted saying anything. Moving to her side, he said, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.”
“It’s okay. I know why she did it, but for what I had to go through just to make her comfortable I wish she would have stayed married to my father. At least she would have been taken care of from the beginning.”
This was going south fast Luke realized, his plan for a relaxing fun night for her was spiraling into a rotten trip down memory lane for her.
“Yeah,” Luke said gently, shifting his position in the tub to be closer to her, his expression softening with compassion. “I can't even imagine what that must have been like for you. But you know, tonight's about letting go, even if just for a little while. Let's focus on the here and now. We've got this beautiful snowy night, a hot bubbly tub, and wine. Let's make the most of it.”
Brit managed to smile, the tension easing from her shoulders as she leaned back into the lounger. “You're right. I don't want to waste our evening dwelling on what can't be changed.”
Luke saw the opening to lighten the mood again. “So, what’s this I heard about Kim hosting a Christmas Ball?”
She laughed. “Yeah, a masquerade ball at that.”
He leaned close to her, lowering his voice. “So do you have a date for said masquerade ball?”
The sound of his voice in her ear had her creaming on the spot. “Ah... no I don’t. Are you interested in applying as a potential prospect?”
“Of course.” His eyes dropped to her lips. “What qualifications would I need?”
She swayed towards him. “Well, whoever it is, they would need to be able to dance.”
“Of course.”
“And be tall, dark and extremely handsome. Fill out a suit nicely and have the most seductive voice I ever did hear.”
“I believe I’m qualified enough. I think. I never thought of myself as extremely handsome.”
With an impish grin she said, “You’re more than qualified, as a matter of fact, you just might be overqualified. The true test would be if he is a good kisser.”
His hands snaked around her waist and pulled her close. “Would you like me to show you my skills?”
She wrapped her arms around his neck then leaned her forehead against his. “I’d like that very much.”
He leaned his head back and kissed her on the tip of her nose before capturing her bottom lip with his teeth. She let out a moan, as he soothed the spot with his tongue before plundering her mouth.
Brit didn’t know if it was the heat from the hot tub or this man in her arms but one of them was making her feel like she was made of jelly. She barely got her legs wrapped around his waist but when she did, she felt him throbbing against her. And she never wanted a man as much as she did right now. The only problem was she’d never willingly been with one.
She pulled away and he nuzzled her neck. “Luke.”
“Yeah?” he sighed dreamily, like he was smelling a field of springtime flowers.
“I... I don’t know what to do...”
He leaned back and searched her face. “What do you mean?”
She pulled away, afraid to admit that she was inexperienced because if she did, he would know that she had been raped back at the emu farm by Brian and she feared what he would do if he found that out.
