Snowbound - Harlequin.com

JANICE KAY JOHNSON 195
on the twenty-fourth. Unfortunately. You know the drill.
His family Christmas Eve. Mine Christmas Day.
Neither satisfied.”
Fiona had friends with the same problem, so she
nodded sympathetically.
“Well, I’m sure we’ll see you around.” They started
up the stairs to their room.
The moment of truth had only been delayed. Here it
was, inescapable.
Face utterly expressionless, voice equally so, John
asked, “Shall I take your bag upstairs?”
But she’d known the answer from the moment she
saw him. “Your room is fine.” Her boldness evaporated.
“That is, if…um, that’s what you intended…”
The sudden heat in his eyes all but scorched her.
“Hoped. Not intended. If you’d be more comfortable
having your own room…”
Still shy, knowing her cheeks must glow, she shook
her head.
John made a sound that didn’t quite take shape as a
word, then started for the back of the lodge pulling her
gigantic suitcase behind him. Fiona had to trot a couple
of steps to catch up and reach the swinging door to the
kitchen before him to hold it open.
Three more people sat at the long table eating, a
solitary older man reading and a couple laughing just
before they turned their heads to see who’d come into
the kitchen.
Even as she exchanged greetings with them, she was
startled by the dismay she felt. All she wanted was to
be alone with John. Being alone was going to be a chal­