Snowed In with the Bad Boy (Bad Boys on Holiday Book 1) Read online

Page 12


  “See?” Georgie smiled, sweeping her iPad and files into her bag and rising from the booth. “Told you he’d show up. Perfect timing, too. I’m all set.”

  “Late timing. I’m opening for customers in twenty minutes. I don’t have time to hold any hands today.”

  “Go easy, remember? And breathe.” Georgie leaned down and kissed Kate’s cheek. “Text me later if you need anything. I’ll get the revised comps over to you tomorrow for final approval, then we should be good to go.”

  Kate got up to clear the table, she and Georgie peering briefly out the window to watch the contractor got out of the van.

  “Yum,” Georgie said. “This one looks mighty fine.”

  “Too bad I’m not hiring him for his looks.” Kate rolled her eyes and headed for the counter with the dirty dishes. “Have fun in the Rockies.”

  “You know I will, girl.”

  “Text me some pictures.”

  “Ha! Maybe if we take any G-rated ones.” Georgie laughed as she pushed open the door. “See you soon.”

  “Safe travels,” Kate called out. “Safe sexcapades.”

  “You, too,” Georgie said, wiggling her eyebrows. “Left a little something in your purse, just in case.”

  Kate rolled her eyes. “Cute. Real cute.”

  Georgie was always leaving condoms in Kate’s purse. In the register drawer. In Kate’s bathroom cabinet at home. Kate never needed them—she’d even gone off the pill years ago when it became clear that her sex life wouldn’t be resurrected anytime this century—but Georgie was an eternal optimist.

  Smiling at her friend’s antics, Kate watched Georgie step off the curb and cross the street, flagging down a yellow cab. Mr. Fix-It out there was still struggling to get his shit together.

  Late and disorganized. Great.

  Kate took a deep breath and squared her shoulders, the last shred of her patience evaporating. Cute or not, the man was obviously completely incompetent, and Kate needed to let him know who was boss, straightaway.

  He finally slammed the van door shut, turning toward the door with a large toolbox in his hand, his chestnut hair gleaming in the sun like a shampoo commercial.

  And then, without warning, the world just… stopped.

  Stopped spinning.

  Stopped moving.

  Stopped existing.

  Kate’s heart leapt up into her throat, everything inside squeezing into a tight, painful knot. All of Georgie’s advice flew out the window. Kate couldn’t even breathe.

  The man hadn’t met her gaze yet, but it didn’t matter. Even without seeing his eyes, she knew. She knew the thick, corded muscles of those arms, the hard angle of that jaw, the long slope of neck as it connected with shoulder in a spot she still had deliciously erotic dreams about biting. She knew every line, every curve, all the shapes and edges and spaces that composed him as well as she knew her favorite cookie recipe, and time had done nothing to dull those memories.

  The man was walking toward the front door of her café, shaking the wavy hair out of his eyes, reaching for the doorknob. Any second now, he’d come crashing into her life.

  And no matter what happened after that, nothing would ever be the same.

  Kate dashed behind the counter, her legs suddenly weak.

  Jagger Barnes…

  But that just wasn’t—couldn’t be—possible.

  Jagger Barnes was in prison.

  * * *

  Talk about a surprise reunion! Love may be naughtier the second time around, but when Cupid takes aim at the reformed bad boy and his sugar-sweet baker, will the arrow finally hit the mark, or is their smoking hot reunion a recipe for disaster? Find out in Bad Boy Valentine, available now!

  BOOKS BY SYLVIA PIERCE

  BAD BOYS ON HOLIDAY

  Snowed In with the Bad Boy

  Bad Boy Valentine

  Beached with the Bad Boy

  BARED TO THE BILLIONAIRE

  Bared to the Billionaire 1

  Bared to the Billionaire 2

  Bared to the Billionaire 3

  Bared to the Billionaire 4

  Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter to stay on top of all the hot and juicy bad boy book news!

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Sending virtual hot chocolate (with or without whiskey—your choice!) to all the talented, kind, and generous people who helped bring this and my other stories to life, including my Boneyard ladies—Jessie, Michelle, and Eva; Janice Owen, reader extraordinaire; and the bloggers, book reviewers, and passionate readers who inspire me to keep writing love stories. Finally, an extra mug of hot chocolate goes to my favorite husband—there’s no one else I’d rather be snowed in with, buddy. As long as we have cookies. And wine. Mostly the wine, though. :-)

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Sylvia Pierce is the author of seductive erotic romance stories, including the BAD BOYS ON HOLIDAY series and the BARED TO THE BILLIONAIRE series. Sylvia loves writing about kick-ass, headstrong women and the gorgeous alpha guys who never see them coming. She believes that life should be a lot like her favorite books—smoking hot, with happy endings and lots of temptations, twists, and trouble along the way. She lives in the U.S. Pacific Northwest with a strong, sexy husband who appreciates her devious mind, loves making her laugh, and always keeps her guessing. Like the heroes in her stories, Sylvia’s man didn’t see her coming… but after sixteen years together, he’s finally figured out who’s boss!

  * * *

  I love hearing from readers! Connect with me at:

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  Website: SylviaPierceBooks.com

  E-mail: [email protected]

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  If you enjoyed reading SNOWED IN WITH THE BAD BOY, I hope you’ll consider sharing the love! You can help other readers discover this book in a number of ways:

  Lend it. This book is lending-enabled for most devices.

  Recommend it. Invite your friends or book club to check it out.

  Review it. I’d love to hear your thoughts! Please consider posting a review on your favorite ebook sites and/or Goodreads. Reviews are one of the best ways to help other readers discover and fall in love with new books.

  Thank you so much for reading my work!

  XOXO

  Sylvia

  Table of Contents

  Copyright

  About Snowed In with the Bad Boy

  Dedication

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Books by Sylvia Pierce

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author