Free Christmas Pleasures: A Blurred Lines Short by Breena Wilde Page A

eyebrow in surprise. I tried to ignore his look and instead concentrated on taking his gloved hand. “Welcome to Sunset Ridge,” he said in a voice not much warmer than the freezing weather.
    “Glad to be here,” I replied through instantly chattering teeth. The icy wind hit my bare legs and I let out a cry.
    The bellhop shook his head. Obviously he thought I was an idiot. I couldn’t blame him. He took me by the elbow and steered me through the door and into the lobby.
    A bl ast of heat warmed me immediately as did the earthy smell of apple cider. The foyer was enormous: large wooden beams, overstuffed black furniture, and ceramic tile floors stood out first. Christmas décor gave the reception area its full-on country charm. In the center of the floor was a large Christmas tree. Garland hung along the tops of the walls and the large windows had been frosted.
    I walked up to the perky blond e standing behind the desk.
    “Checking in?” she asked.
    “Yes.”
    “Excellent. What’s your name?”
    “Mindy Garner.” I paused. “But I believe the reservation is under Adam Turner.” It was the fake name Lincoln told me to use when I arrived. I placed my purse on the counter just in case… I didn’t know. Maybe this place would need my credit card or something. Maybe Lincoln changed his mind. I’d talked to him on the phone as soon as I landed, but I kept thinking he’d realize him and me together wasn’t what he wanted.
    I knew Zane was supposed to be in hiding. Lincoln was his bodyguard, his right hand man. That meant wherever Zane went , Lincoln would be too. I couldn’t help but wonder if Zane were somewhere in this hotel as well. He and Lincoln had been gone a few months, so when Lincoln called I thought it was a joke. However, the conversation turned to one that meant I had to be cautious, make sure no one followed me, and that the reservations would be under Adam Turner. I was excited. I felt alive and sneaky. I liked it. And it meant a lot that he wanted to see me enough to go through all the trouble of making all of the arrangements so I could meet him. Hurray!
    I will admit there was a tiny party of me that felt like I might be playing a character in a bad horror movie. He’d asked me to tell no one where I was going. I hadn’t. And if I disappeared, no one would know where to find me.
    That frightened me a little. But I’d never had such an instant connection with another person before. That was the whole reason why I said yes. That connection was the whole reason why I’d come. If I didn’t take this chance I knew I’d never get another one. So there I was.
    The girl clicked a way on the keyboard, looked up, and smiled. “Excellent, I need to see your driver’s license and then we’ll be all set.”
    “Okay.”
    That’s something, I thought with a sigh. Plus there was the driver and the airline pilot. If the police somehow found out I’d gone to Park City they’d have a place to start. Yeah, I was definitely overreacting.
    While I opened my purse the desk clerk lifted a phone receiver and punched several numbers. I pulled my license from my wallet and handed it to her.
    She took it and looked from it to me then spoke into the phone. “Mr. Turner, Ms. Garner has arrived. Would you like me to send her up?” She paused and I guessed she was listening. “Very good, sir.” She hung up, handed my license back , and set up a card key.
    “Here’s your key. Mr. Turner is expecting you.”
    She explained how to get there, but all I could think about was that Lincoln and I were going to be staying in a room together for the next several days.
    “Your luggage should be on its way up to the room.”
    “Thank you.”

Chapter 2
    Mindy
     
     
     
    I reached the room and took a deep breath. Lincoln was in there, waiting. A dozen thoughts swarmed me at once, like: Would he be naked? Would he be happy to see me? Would he want to have sex right away? Would we leave the room? That last one made my