Read A Hot Winter (New Adult Romance) (The Attraction Series Book 2) for Free Online Page A

single sister and you’ve been holding out on us?  You know we need help!”
    Defensively, Pellican countered, “Speak for yourself Bardo.  My cousin’s wedding is this weekend.  It’s gonna be a chick fest.  I’ll have more than I can handle.”
    Nodding, Bardo humored him.  “Okay, sure.  If delusion is your cocktail of choice.  Seriously, though, Tray--”
    Tragan cut him off.  “Forget it, Bardo. Emma has two kids.  Not sure if she’s looking for three .” 
    Matt had to laugh at that.  Meanwhile, Bardo freely admitted his immaturity. “Fair point.  I withdraw my interest in advance.”
    “What’s her story anyway?” Matt asked curiously.  There didn’t seem to be a man around, yet she had kids and was obviously attractive as hell.
    Tragan gave a careless shrug as he shuffled the cards.  “She was married, but her husband was in the army.  He died a few years ago.”
    “Wait, she’s a widow ?” Bardo said, looking intrigued.  “How old are we talking here?  Because I might jump back into the ring for a cougar.”
    Rolling his eyes, Matt said, “She’s not a cougar.  She’s only in her twenties.”
    “Good, now that that’s settled,” Tragan interrupted, “how many cards do you want?”
    After Pellican and Matt each took one, and Bardo requested four, Matt felt compelled to add, “And Bardo, I don’t have to know what Emma’s looking for to know that you’re not it.”
    “Damn!” Pellican barked with a hearty laugh.
    When Bardo’s eyes widened behind his glasses, Matt realized he’d come off too possessive on the subject of Emma.  “Sorry, man.  Touchy, touchy,” Bardo said, cracking up, too.  “She’s all yours, Matt.”
    Immediately Matt tried to retract.  “No, I mean, I wasn’t saying all that,” he corrected.  “I just said she’s pretty.”
    Quietly Bardo murmured, “ And that’s how it starts… ”

Chapter Nine
    “Knock, knock.”
    Startled, Matt glanced over his shoulder and found a little boy looking up at him.  About three feet tall, he was blinking with big dark eyes and strongly resembled Emma.  “Oh--you startled me, little man,” Matt said, letting his tape measure retract. 
    Just then another boy entered Emma’s kitchen.  He was taller than the first, with light blonde hair, carrying a small Spiderman backpack that looked like it could barely fit a notebook. 
    “Hi,” the blonde one said.  “I’m Jake.”  He tapped his little brother on the shoulder.  “And this is Ben.” 
    “Hey, guys,” Matt said.
    “Knock, knock,” Ben repeated, clearly not to be deterred from his initial purpose.
    Matt said, “Okay, who’s there?”
    “Water!”
    “Water who?”
    “Water’s to get the door,” Ben finished, at first smiling, but then his expression faltered.  Matt didn’t get a chance to fake laughter before Jake leaned over, cupped a hand over his mouth and whispered in his brother’s ear.  “Oh, yeah!” Ben whispered back, then looked at Matt again.  “I mean, water way to get the door!”
    Matt forced a chuckle.  “That’s a good one,” he told Ben, who beamed with pride.  “Where did you learn that joke?”
    “I taught him it,” Jake said.  “I know a lot of jokes that I learned when I was a little kid.”
    “Ah,” Matt said with a nod.  “Makes sense.”
    “Boys--there you are,” Emma said, coming into the kitchen.  She looked adorably harried with her dark hair pulled up in a knot that was being secured by a pencil.  Instantly, Matt’s eyes flitted down over her figure.  Today she wore blue jeans over her curvy hips and a soft-looking white sweater that molded over her breasts.  Even though her clothes weren’t the least bit revealing, he wasn’t blind--and clearly she could drive a guy crazy with that body if he let himself focus on it.  “I told you not to bother Matt while he’s working.  I’ll bring you your snack in the living room today, okay?  Did you wash your hands