A Very Merry Christmas: WITH "Do You Hear What I Hear" AND "Bah Humbug, Ba by Lori Foster, Janice Maynard, Gemma Bruce Page B

seatbelts would allow. “That’s it exactly. Men see me as an airhead, and maybe easy.”
    The corners of his mouth lifted, and he returned both hands to the wheel. “I’d say they don’t know you very well.”
    “No, they don’t.” Her spine stiffened. “I’m not an airhead.”
    “Don’t confuse me with any other idiots you’ve known, Marci. Hell, you’re more complicated than any ten women combined. And I know firsthand that there’s nothing easy about you. But you’re definitely smart.”
    “You really believe that?”
    “Hell yes. You’re smart enough to figure out that a donkey is unhappy, to steal him without getting caught, and to get him back home safely.”
    A blush of pleasure colored her cheeks. “I couldn’t have done it without you,” she pointed out.
    He ignored that little fact to say, “You’re also kind and funny and…caring.”
    The warmth spread, melting her heart. “Thank you.”
    “You’re welcome. Now tell me more about these idiots you’ve known.”
    It wasn’t easy to admit, but she forced the words out. “With Bethany and me being identical twins, a lot of men consider us interchangeable.”
    “Lucius doesn’t.”
    She laughed. “True enough. Almost from jump, Lucius treated me like a little sister and Bethany like a sex goddess.”
    “That must’ve been a change for you.” Some new inflection entered his tone. “I imagine you have men hot on your heels all the time.”
    “No. At least, not the way you mean.” Her pleasure faded. “Too many times in the past, men have shown an interest only because of my ability. Like the clown following us, they want to interview me, or maybe expose me or use my talent in a way I’d never condone. When I turn them down, they go to Bethany, hoping that they can get closer to me through her.”
    “That’s why you don’t date much, huh?”
    She could feel his heat, and his caring. “I have great intuition with animals, but I’m not that good at figuring out which men to trust.” And after meeting Osbourne, she hadn’t wanted any other men.
    Two heartbeats of silence passed before Osbourne said, “I don’t work tonight, but then I won’t have another day off for a week.”
    She tipped her head, unsure where he was going with that disclosure, but hopeful all the same.
    “What about you?”
    “Like Lucius, I’m on vacation. This close to Christmas, women aren’t that interested in exercise. They’re too busy shopping and baking and fitting in all the holiday craziness. I have the next seven days free.”
    “Good.” He glanced at her, then away. “Will you spend Christmas with me?”
    Her heart soared, her face warmed. But suspicion niggled. “Because you want to spend time with me, or because you’re worried about the guy following us?”
    “Both.”
    At least he was honest. She looked at his mouth—and wanted to melt. “And because you want to have sex?”
    “Definitely.”
    Her toes curled inside her shoes. She gave it quick thought, but really, the way she saw it, it was a win-win situation. She smiled, and said, “Okay.”

Four
     
     
    They returned the rental truck first, then went back to Marci’s apartment so she could throw some clothes and other things into an overnight bag. He should have been exhausted, Ozzie thought, but instead, anticipation sizzled inside him.
    While he waited impatiently, his mind abuzz with what would soon happen, he called the station and explained that the donkey was now at his rightful home. Someone else would take over, to figure out how the funeral home came into possession of the donkey in the first place.
    When he finished that, Ozzie roamed the living room and kitchen of Marci’s tiny apartment. Everywhere he looked, he saw surprising little clues to her personality. Tidy surfaces. Organized drawers. Light, feminine touches.
    Even her bathroom was devoid of the clutter typical to women. Everything had a place, and was in it.
    It seemed his sentimental, whimsical