A Madaris Bride for Christmas. Brenda Jackson

been that night. It was sexual, hot, and something he refused to put a lid on or walk away from. Maybe his cousin Justin was right about fate; there was a reason Lee’s path had crossed with Carly’s again.

      “I remember what you told me, Carly,” he said. “You’re a loner.”

      And just as he had that night, he couldn’t help wondering why. Women who looked like her usually dated often, so what was up with this “loner” story? Had some man broken her heart and she was trying to protect herself from future heartache?

      “So you know what that means, right?” she asked.

      He moved around the hassock to stand in front of her. “Yes, that means you were a loner because you hadn’t met me.”

      * * *

      Carly blinked. She’d met arrogant men before, but Lee Madaris’s arrogance felt more like confidence. Too bad it was a wasted effort as far as she was concerned.

      Her decision to be a loner had nothing to do with him being a man and her being a woman. It had everything to do with protecting herself from ever being hurt again by anyone—family, friend or boyfriend. Aunt Ruthie was all the family she needed...all the family she had; Heather was the epitome of what a best friend should be and she didn’t need another. And as far as a boyfriend was concerned—been there, done that. She’d decided that having another boyfriend at this stage in her life was too much work. She could do badly all by herself.

      “Excuse me for saying so, Lee, but meeting you does not make a difference.”

      “I believe otherwise.”

      “Trust me, it doesn’t,” she said.

      “I beg to differ.”

      The man was too much, and he looked too damn good. He was temptation a-plenty but regardless, like she told him, whether he accepted it or not, meeting him did not make a difference.

      “It won’t work.”

      “How do you know?” he countered.

      “Because I know me,” she said.

      He took her hand in his and immediately felt a response. The same heat stirring inside of him stirred inside of her. Holding her gaze, he said, “Then let me get to know you, Carly.”

      “Why? We have nothing in common. You’re a man of the world. You’re wealthy. You dine with sheikhs and movie stars. You own the hotel I work for. You—”

      Firming his grip, he gently tugged her closer. The corners of his lips curved into a challenging smile when he whispered, “I am totally and utterly attracted to you.” He moved even closer. “So tell me, after this kiss, that we don’t have anything in common.”

      And then he closed his mouth over hers.

      Carly’s heart pounded in her chest the moment Lee’s lips touched hers. She thought of pulling back but instead let out a breathless moan. That was when he slid his tongue inside her mouth.

      She instantly became lost.

      He claimed her mouth with a hunger that sent sensuous chills through her body. The kiss two nights ago had shattered her relatively calm world, but this kiss was sending that same world into a tailspin.

      Never had a man kissed her so thoroughly. A surge of unadulterated pleasure ripped through her. She felt inflamed everywhere his tongue touched. The way her body was plastered against him, she felt every one of his hard muscles.

      Every lick of his tongue made it hard to remember her concern about getting to know him, made it hard to remember what they didn’t have in common. Instead, all she felt was the burning desire and aching need he stirred within her. All she could do was savor the moment.

      “I don’t think I’m asking for too much, Carly,” he whispered in a husky tone, while plying her lips with a series of slow, feathery kisses.

      She drew in a deep breath, bringing his scent into her nostrils. She needed to think and couldn’t, not while he was still kissing her. Carly knew she had to get a grip on her senses. “I need to think about this, Lee.”

      He touched his finger to her moist lips. “Why think about it? You want me and I want you.”

      She took a step back, frustrated that she’d weakened with him. “You have no idea what I want, Lee.”

      He stared at her with a look of determination on his face. She found the sensuality of his features unnerving; he had the ability to weaken her defenses if she allowed him to.

      He cupped her chin. “Then tell me what you want, Carly.”

      “There’s nothing I want. I love my life just the way it is.”

      “Then let me tell you what I want,” he said, dropping his hand from her chin. “I want to get to know you, and I want you to get to know me. How about dinner? This weekend. It will be my treat and I’ll prepare it here.”

      She raised a brow. “You can cook?”

      The smile that curved the corners of his lips sent her pulse racing. “I might not be able to throw down as well as you, but I can hold my own. My great-grandmother forced cooking lessons on all her grands and great-grands. No one was exempted. When she gives an order, we all obey.”

      “She sounds like quite a character.”

      “Trust me, she is. So how about letting me show you what I can do?”

      Carly nibbled her bottom lip. She figured she was just a novelty with Lee. No doubt he’d had his share of models and actresses and now he wanted to try a chef.

      She had to admit she was curious about what he could do in the kitchen, but she needed to know what his expectations would be. “I’ll get dinner out of this. What do you get?”

      His smile carried a sensual undertone when he said, “A chance for you to get to know me.”

      Carly still wasn’t sure why he would want that, and she did not plan to let her curiosity weaken her resolve, but she found herself saying, “Okay, but not here. I prefer dinner at my place. I live on the outskirts of town.” She felt the need to be on her own turf.

      “Okay, what about tomorrow?”

      She shook her head. “I work tomorrow. I’m off Wednesday and Thursday every week.”

      “I’m leaving town Wednesday for a trip to Dubai. I won’t return until the following week, on Thursday morning. Will that Thursday evening work?”

      “The same day you get back? Will you be up to cooking anything?”

      He chuckled. “Yes, I’ll be up to it.”

      “Okay, then. Thursday evening is fine.”

      She hoped she was not making a mistake.

      His smile widened. “Great.” He checked his watch. “It’s after midnight. If you want to leave your car here tonight, I can have my driver take you home and he can pick you up tomorrow and bring you to work.”

      Carly could just imagine the kitchen gossip if that were to happen. “No, thanks, I’ll be fine. I’ve worked past midnight plenty of times.”

      “Then I’m walking you down.”

      She started to tell him not to bother but he’d already reached for his jacket. “Allergies to any food?” he asked her.

      She watched how easily he slid his jacket over a powerful pair of shoulders. “No allergies.”

      “Favorite foods?”

      It was considerate of him to ask. “I like practically everything, but if I had a choice it would be pasta and seafood.”

      He smiled at her. “The choices are unlimited. What’s your address?” he asked, pulling a smartphone out of his pocket.

      She rattled it off to him and