Shelby and Noel finished their meal, making little more than small talk. When they were finished, he looked at her as if to say, "What now?""How about we check out the library?" Shelby asked. "Maybe we can find out more about what's going on?" And she needed a little time just to be focused on something other than sex or food for a while. It was so hot, so intense, it was getting hard to remember it wasn't real. She needed to step back and take a breath. When this weekend was over, she'd have to go back to her ordinary accountant's life and she'd still have to face Noel at the office every day. Having a wild fling with him was one thing, but she had to be careful not to let herself fall in love - all the way at least. Unfortunately, she was already more than halfway there."Sounds good." He stood, immediately moving to pull her chair back for her. "I suppose we can assume the dishes will be taken care of."She nodded. "Probably as soon as we leave the room."The library was as stu

Noel couldn't believe she was going for this. He'd never have guessed, but it was looking like Shelby was the perfect woman for him - shy and sweet but totally uninhibited once she let herself go. Was that why the magic had put them together? To show him she might very well be the one? He was beginning to think that was the deal. He'd been so busy with work he hadn't thought he had time for a real relationship, but he was quickly coming to realize that being with Shelby would be worth making time for. In fact, he was pretty damn sure he was falling in love.Noel in love. Wouldn't that make his brothers laugh their asses off? He shrugged off that thought. Too fucking bad. If he got the chance to keep her in his life, it would be worth all the ribbing they could dish out. He'd know damn good and well that he was the lucky one.A few minutes later he returned with the oil, a pile of condoms, a towel and a couple of damp washcloths. Shelby was still lying there, just as he'd left her, id

Shelby was running scared. She had been for the last two days.Noel wasn't sure if that was a good sign or a bad one - he hoped it was good. Not for the first time he wished he had his sister Summer's sense of strategy. Not one of them had ever been able to defeat her at board games or even cards. If ever there was a campaign that needed to be won, it was Noel's battle for Shelby's heart. She was meant to be his, damn it. She just didn't know it yet.Noel had grown up in a household filled with love. His parents were practically stupid with it, even after thirty-five years of marriage. Okay - thirty-five and a half. Noel would be hitting that birthday on Christmas and his parents had been married a whole six months when he was born. Yet never once had either of them hinted that they'd been forced, or that they regretted it - or him - for a second. Nope, they'd just loved each other and all their kids with a warmth that colored every aspect of their lives. His father might put on his

They helped each other undress, piece by piece, moving silently, slowly, almost as if in a dream. Where before they'd just tossed their clothes aside carelessly, these they folded or draped carefully over a chair while accessories were left in a neat pile on the dresser. When they both stood before each other, naked, Shelby broke the solemn mood by turning toward the bed and giving Noel an impish grin back over her shoulder."You know," she murmured, "We never got around to using those silk scarves. How about it? You want to tie me to the bedposts?"No red-blooded male could resist that. Noel didn't even try. He gave her a wolfish grin. "Yep." His already-rigid cock got even harder as he thought about how to arrange her for maximum enjoyment. "Lie down in the center of the bed.""Okay." She pulled back the covers and scrambled up onto the mattress. "Now what?""You'll find out." He padded over to her nightstand and drew out the pile of scarlet silk, carefully sorting each of the lo

Shelby woke in her own bed, in her own apartment - alone. Noel had been wrong. She was stark naked. Without him in the bed beside her, she was also cold.Sunlight filtered in between the slats of the blinds, so she knew she'd slept deeply. A glance at the clock told her it was after ten. Wow, she hadn't slept that late in ages. Good thing today was a holiday. Her brown tweed suit - the modern version - was draped over the one chair in her bedroom, looking just as if she'd taken it off the night before. Her purse was on her dresser, just like always.Had it all just been a really elaborate dream? The bottom fell out of her stomach at that idea and she squeezed her eyes shut. Surely not.Before she could panic further, she heard her cell phone chirping out a Christmas carol. Quickly, she scrabbled for her purse, biting her lip when the phone display showed an unknown caller."Hello?""Hey there, sweetheart. You get home all safe and sound?" Noel's voice was as silky as melted chocol