Free Make it Hot by Gwyneth Bolton Page B

loveseat.
    The rugged rust leather sofa and loveseat worked perfectly in their den. Samantha could just imagine the children running and jumping on it. The worn, rough surface of the furniture would more than likely hide a multitude of sins.
    Samantha absolutely adored Jenny and Walt’s children. They were two of the most well-behaved kids she’d ever seen and they looked like miniature versions of Jenny and Walt.
    “We’re not scheming and plotting. I’m trying to get Miss Meany here to stop giving this really nice man a hard time.”
    Samantha laughed. It was funny how Joel suddenly went from Mr. Super Fine to a really nice man when Jenny’s husband was around.
    “That’s all you pretty women do is give a brother a hard time. Look at how hard I had to work to get you to give me a second look. I’m surprised you’re giving out advice on how not to play hard to get.” Walt sat down on the sofa next to Jenny and put his arm around her, pulling her and Walt Jr. close.
    The love so clearly evident on his face for his wife and children nearly took Samantha’s breath away. Walt was looking at Jenny in a way that clearly said, if they didn’t have company and these kids were fast asleep, he’d have her climbing the walls.
    Samantha wondered when she would get a man to look at her like that.
    Joel Hightower’s handsome brown face and daring brown eyes popped into her head at that moment, and she realized a man had looked at her exactly the way Walt now looked at Jenny. Only, she had no idea what she was going to do about it.
    “Stop fooling around, Walt. You know I didn’t give you a hard time.” Jenny leaned into her husband’s arms and smiled coyly.
    “Hmm. Somebody is creating a little revisionist history. You had me chasing you around campus our entire freshman year before you even let a brother carry your books.” Walt turned to Samantha with a big grin on his face. “Don’t let this woman give you advice. She almost let a good catch like me get away.”
    “Mmm. Mmm, hmm. Modest, isn’t he?” Jenny laughed. “With that ego, it’s a wonder I didn’t have him wait two years.”
    “See, she admits it.” Walt placed a kiss on Jenny’s cheek.
    “There’s nothing wrong with making a man work for your attentions, but she’s not doing that. She’s seriously thinking about not giving him a chance at all. Talking about being all professional.” Jenny frowned.
    “I thought we came inside for dessert?” Cynthia let out an exasperated sigh.
    “Yeah, I want a sundae.” Walt Jr. started bouncing up and down on Jenny’s lap, and Samantha could tell the little impatient boy must take after Jenny.
    Walt stood up and shuttled the children toward the kitchen. He turned before leaving. “Remember what I said, Jenny is the last person that should be dishing out advice.”
    He started laughing and ducked when Jenny sent a throw pillow sailing toward his head.
    Samantha twisted her lips to the side.
    Jenny placed her hand on her hip. “What? Girl, please. If anything, that makes me the perfect person to give advice on the subject. You don’t want to waste a year of good loving with a fine man like I did. You already wasted over two months.”
    “Whatever. If it were meant to be, he wouldn’t be a patient. The fates would have had us meet in a work-free zone under completely different circumstances.”
    “Just promise me this. If he makes a move, you won’t shoot him down. Take a minute to get to know the man at least, as a friend. We could all use good friends.”
    Samantha let the idea circle around in her head. Jenny’s suggestion seemed pretty harmless and useful, but there was only one problem. Could she really be friends with Joel Hightower and not want more? Could she be friends after feeling what it was like to kiss him?
     
    After sharing that intense kiss with Samantha, Joel felt too hyped to stay home and sulk, so he decided to visit his younger brother, Jason, and his wife, Penny. Their town