Sweeter Temptation (Kimani Hotties) by Phyllis Bourne Page B

wouldn’t think of putting their noses where they didn’t belong.
    “Sounds annoying.”
    While his photograph occasionally appeared in the newspaper’s society pages after a night at a ball or gala, the photographers weren’t intrusive.
    “It can be. But just when you’re fed up with the nosiness and well-meaning advice, one of your neighbors goes out of their way to help you with a problem folks in the city probably wouldn’t have noticed.”
    “Like you did for me last night,” Kyle said. “A lot of people wouldn’t have stopped, let alone take me in.”
    Nia shrugged. “My best friend says I’m a goody two-shoes, but I had to stop. I couldn’t take a chance on leaving someone out in this weather.”
    The events of the previous evening flashed through Kyle’s mind, but one important item remained elusive.
    “Did I ever thank you?” he asked.
    “You were too cold to put it into words, but the sentiment was there.” She stared out into the snowy horizon.
    Kyle touched his gloved fingertip to her chin. He turned her face toward his and tilted it upward until their eyes connected. “Well, I’m saying the words now,” he said. “Thank you, Nia.”
    Two things hit him at once as he studied the gold flecks in her huge, brown eyes—an inexplicable urge to taste her sexy mouth and astonishment he’d ever thought this woman was plain.
    Once again, he mobilized enough restraint to suppress his primal instincts. But it was hard. Damn hard. Slowly, he dropped his finger from her chin and directed his attention to the snowy landscape. He hoped it stopped snowing soon, because he didn’t know if he had it in him to stop short of kissing her the next time.
    “No need to thank me,” Nia said. “That’s what I’ve been trying to explain. Anyone around here would have done the same thing. It’s who the people of Candy are, what we do.”
    “Candy?” Kyle’s even tone belied the sinking feeling in his gut. “I thought it was thirty miles away from here in another county.”
    Nia shook her head. “Candy’s in this county. We’re nineteen miles from town,” she said. “Once this storm blows over and the roads are cleared, maybe you can stop there.”
    “Maybe.” Kyle didn’t like the turn this conversation had taken.
    She nudged him with her elbow. “Candy’s home base to Peppermint Lane Candy Factory, maker of the world’s best peppermint bark,” she said proudly.
    Kyle squirmed on the cold, hard bench.
    “Grandma worked there for years. After she retired, she went on to become town mayor.”
    The pride in Nia’s voice when she talked about the peppermint bark factory left Kyle wishing he hadn’t been so damned nosy himself.
    Also, he knew he should tell her exactly who he was and what he was there to do.
    As she talked about the kind gestures of her friends and neighbors, he told himself he was keeping quiet to insure a warm place to ride out the storm. However, he knew there was more to it.
    He wasn’t ready to see her radiant smile vanish, because when the snow finally stopped he would fire the people she cared about and shut down the factory for good.
    * * *
    Nia continued to talk, despite her hunch that Kyle was no was longer listening.
    She hoped her steady stream of chatter would drown out the badgering voice in her head.
    Unfortunately, it didn’t.
    Stop jabbering and tell him what you really want.
    It’s not what I want, Nia silently argued. No one knew better than her common sense why it was important for her to stay focused on her goals and not get sidetracked.
    Oh, yes you do.
    Sigh, she did.
    When Kyle thanked her, Nia got the impression he was about to kiss her. Or was it just her wanting him to, she wondered. Then again, even if he had kissed her, it would have only been out of gratitude.
    Maybe he wants you, too.
    Now she knew it was just wishful thinking on her part. She didn’t know much about Kyle, but the man wore privilege as if he was born to it. His looks, his