Some Kind of Wonderful: A Holiday Novella (The Cupcake Lovers) (10 page)

Luke reached down for his backpack and when he straightened the infuriating enigma was finishing off another shot.

For the love of …

He couldn’t leave Rae in this bar. What if she drank herself under the table? What if one of the several men watching took advantage?

“Do you think your mom and Stein left the house yet?”

“I’m sure of it. God forbid they miss a moment of the party.”

“Then come on. I’ll drop you home before I head to the airport.”

“I’m not going home.” She flashed a key card. “I’m staying here tonight.”

“Then I’ll walk you to your room.”

“Not necessary.” She stood, swaying a little on those sexy four-inch heels.

Luke groaned. “Humor me.”

*   *   *

She wasn’t drunk, but she was buzzed. The longer Luke had sat next to Rae, the more she’d wanted to numb her senses. He made her ache for Sugar Creek and the simple life she’d created there. She missed her friends in the Cupcake Lovers. She missed the children she’d bonded with through Sugar Tots. She mourned the fact that she’d probably never find the kind of love that existed between Chloe and Dev, Rocky and Jayce, Monica and Leo. She’d had the misfortune of falling for Luke Monroe who clearly thought the worst of her and who wasn’t at all who she’d built him up to be.

He expected her to spill her guts, to share her most intimate problems as though he were her friend. A friend wouldn’t make her feel like the most selfish person on earth. Christmas Eve, her birthday, was always difficult. Luke had made it intolerable.

To make matters worse, all she could think about was their one spontaneous kiss and what might have happened if they hadn’t been interrupted. Luke’s presence rekindled the burning desires she’d worked weeks to snuff.

“This is it.” The number on the door was a little fuzzy, but she heard a click when she swiped the key card and the handle moved, so good. This was good. She’d found her room. He could go and maybe she’d be able to breathe. She turned to say good-bye, only her heel caught in the carpet and she teetered and knocked into the hard chest of Luke.

Tall, sexy, handsome-as-sin Luke.

He steadied her and …
bam
.

Don’t miss the Cupcake Lovers complete series from Beth Ciotta

Fool for Love

The Trouble with Love

Anything But Love

Available from St. Martin’s Paperbacks

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Storytelling comes naturally to award-winning author Beth Ciotta. Dubbed "fun and sexy" by Publisher’s Weekly, Beth specializes in writing Romantic Comedy with a Twist of Suspense and is published in contemporary, historical, and paranormal romantic fiction. "I can’t think of anything more fulfilling than writing stories where everyone (except the villain, of course) gets a happy ending!"

Beth lives in NJ with her husband, two zany dogs, and a crazy cat. A retired professional performer, Beth now pours her artistic passion into her writing.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

“Some Kind of Wonderful” copyright © 2013 by Beth Ciotta.

All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.

www.stmartins.com

Cover digital illustration © by shutterstock

Author photo © Steve Ciotta

eISBN 978-1-4668-4710-1

First eBook Edition: October 2013