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Winter Heat
By Darlene Gardner Harlequin Enterprises, Ltd.
Copyright © 2004 Harlequin Enterprises, Ltd.
All right reserved. ISBN: 0-373-69201-3
Chapter One
BECAUSE KATE MARINO wanted to hurry down the sidewalk to the quaint Italian restaurant and rush over to Riley Carter's table, she forced herself to slow down.
She window-shopped as she walked past the storefronts lining the narrow street, reminding herself that tourists flocked to Charleston's Market area to peruse the wares of local vendors.
She made herself admire the styling of an off-the shoulder dress in a vibrant turquoise; stopped to appreciate a painting that boasted bold slashes of crisscrossing color; and bid a merry Christmas to a fat man dressed in a Santa suit.
The anticipation that danced through her at the prospect of meeting Riley, she ignored. Or tried to.
He was just a man, like any other.
A delicious, six-foot package of a man who knew how to make love to her until her brain short-circuited and she could barely think about anything but pleasure.
She shook her head a little, trying to physically clear the images of slick, naked flesh and long, steamy nights.
But her body still tingled with remembered sensations, and she could barely wait to sit down to dinner so they could get the meal over with and start on the more sensual second course.
How had this happened? she wondered as she continued to walk toward therestaurant, this time at her more customary brisk pace.
How had she let herself not only want, but need, a man this way? She, who had vowed never to love until she was positive she had a man's heart in the palm of her hand.
The tiny, white lights that drew attention to the charming restaurant sparkled, like the anticipation inside her. It was all the sweeter because she hadn't thought she'd see Riley tonight.
He'd called early that afternoon to say he needed to work late, but she'd gotten word as she left her own office that his plans had changed. Elle Dumont, a co-worker at her interior design firm, told her Riley had called and asked that Kate meet him for dinner at eight.
Kate had been momentarily surprised that Elle, who had once been Riley's girlfriend, would pass on the message. But high school, Kate figured, had been a long time ago.
Kate had gotten to the Market area, in the touristy heart of Charleston, nearly thirty minutes early. Loath to appear too anxious to meet him, she'd killed time by browsing the ritzy shops in the nearby Charleston Place Hotel.
At precisely eight o'clock, trying to control the way her heart jumped at the prospect of seeing him, she entered the restaurant.
The place was too small to have a hostess stand, but with tables cleverly positioned to make the most of the intimate space. She scanned the diners, attempting for nonchalance as she sought out the dark-eyed, brown-haired man.
She found him almost immediately, even though his back was partially to the entrance. She took a few quick steps toward him before she noticed the blonde sitting kitty-corner at his table.
Kate slowed when she realized the blonde was Elle Dumont; froze when Elle leaned across the table and kissed Riley full on the mouth.
Even as it occurred to her that Elle must have arranged this whole tableau to make trouble, it registered that Riley didn't pull away. Instead, he leaned into the kiss, actively participating. As their lips clung, Kate's heart ripped apart.
"Good evening. Would you like a table for one or are you meeting someone?"
A perky, young waitress with Mediterranean coloring and a menu appeared in front of her. Kate's head shook, both at what she had seen and at the waitress's questions.
"I was just leaving," she managed to say, her eyes still riveted on Elle and Riley and the kiss that had mercifully ended.
Her voice wasn't loud but Riley still turned. Surprise flitted across his features, followed immediately by guilt. Kate turned swiftly away and walked blindly toward the exit.
"Kate, wait," she heard him call after her as he chased her into the night.
She already knew she wouldn't listen to what was sure to be a rational explanation of how Elle had arranged for Kate to witness the kiss.
Not because Kate didn't believe the other woman capable of such sabotage.
But because Riley had kissed her back.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Winter Heat by Darlene Gardner Copyright © 2004 by Harlequin Enterprises, Ltd.. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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