Janna set her mug down and looked at it drearily. When did she lose the ability to be excited when a beautiful man appeared? Maybe after she followed the last beautiful man who showed interest and it landed her here.
Her friends tittered about their plans to go approach while she sulked over her mug, but then she felt eyes on her. It was unmistakable. She was being watched. And just knowing it made her heat up inside, made her body forget the promises her mind was trying to keep to herself.
Just one night with a man like that…
No, she couldn’t think that way. She had a job now, a life, and friends. She didn’t need to be wrapped around a man’s finger. And Ryder Hart, with that devilish blue gaze, could definitely throw her life out of whack again.
* * *
Ryder Hart waited for the front desk clerk with a rising sense of irritation. He couldn’t wait to make his move on the gorgeous brunette on the upper balcony. Her pretty dark skin and warm, sparkling brown eyes had caught his eyes the moment he walked in out of the cold.
Warmth at a time when he desperately needed it. He didn’t know exactly what it was that drew him to her, but he knew he wanted to get up there quickly and find out more about her.
The only trouble seemed to be she didn’t seem too eager to meet him, withdrawing from view when he had smiled at her. But he didn’t become a billionaire by not being able to close a deal and overcome objections.
What Ryder wanted, Ryder got.
And what Ryder wanted right now was to get his damn key and head up with his brothers to meet the luscious ladies and potential mates on the second floor.
“Which one do you like?” Riley asked, propping his sunglasses atop his head. With his tanned skin, killer smile, and pretty-boy features, Riley was braver with the women than either he or Ryan. Part of it might have to do with the fact that as the star of several breakout romantic films, there didn’t seem to be a woman in America or elsewhere that didn’t recognize him. Thus the sunglasses, even in the dead of winter.
“None,” Ryan said, folding his arms and leaning lazily against the counter. “I’m planning on you two being the ones to find mates while I kick back on the slopes.”
“Come on, bro, I promise there’s more to life than snowboarding,” Riley said, teasing.
Ryan shrugged. “If there is, I haven’t found it.”
“What about that little blonde checking you out up there?” Riley asked, nodding.
Ryan looked up to where Riley gestured and then shook his head, though Ryder thought he was more affected than he was trying to appear. “Pass. Not interested.”
“Ah, why not?” Riley asked. “Can I have her, then?”
Ryan sucked in a breath and let it out slowly. “See if I care.”
“What about you?” Riley asked Ryder.
Ryder kept his face carefully neutral. He didn’t want competition from his brothers on this. “The one in the middle.”
“Which one? Not the angry-looking one.”
Ryder frowned. “She doesn’t look angry.”
“Um, bro, yeah, she totally does,” Riley said, throwing his arm around Ryder’s shoulder. “Not good. I’d tell you to go for the one with the curls, but I thinks she’s going to warm my bed tonight.”
Ryder shook his head. “Don’t mess with the locals, Riley. We have a job here, remember? It won’t be good if you go getting on people’s bad sides in a small town.”
“Shit, I didn’t think of that,” Riley said, scratching his head. “Now what am I going to do?”
“Maybe keep it in your pants for once?” Ryan snapped.
“Yeah, because that’s what bears are known for,” Riley scoffed.
But then the clerk handed Ryder his key and his brothers’ banter faded into the distance. All he could see were warm, sparkling brown eyes watching him once again. And this time, he saw the quick bite of her lip that told him exactly what he needed to know.
She was affected by him; she just didn’t want to be. He started toward the stairs, not one to wait when he knew what he wanted.
“Wait, bro, hold up!” Riley jogged after him and Ryan followed. “Don’t you want to get our stuff to the room and unpack?”
“You can do it,” Ryder said. “I think I’ve found my mate.”
“Already?” Riley asked, eyes wide. “You’re kidding.”
“Who?” Ryan asked.
“None of your business,” Ryder retorted, scowling. “Now if you’ll excuse me…”
Riley scoffed. “Yeah, right. We’re coming.”
“We’re totally coming,” Ryan agreed.
Ryder heard and ignored them. He was a bear on a mission.