Just One Night (The Hart Brothers #1)

Chapter 1

Clara

I pushed open the door to the ballroom, wanted to escape from the overly warm room where happy couples were dancing with love in their eyes.

My friends were getting engaged, then married, one by one. I wanted something for myself. I thought I'd have that with my ex, but we'd become more like friends by the end.

I made it through the lobby of Mistletoe Inn without being stopped. With a sigh of relief, I opened the door to the outside, welcoming the cold gust of air.

I tucked my head to avoid the worst of the wind and walked toward my shop where I'd parked my SUV.

My feet pinched, walking in the high heels, but I was almost to my vehicle.

Then I could escape to my house, the one that still housed my grandmother's doilies and hand-knitted afghans.

I didn't feel right redecorating because it still felt like her place.

I didn't want to remove her things and upset my mother.

I always did the right thing. The expected thing. I never did anything out of the ordinary.

The roar of a motorcycle came up behind me, and the bike parked at the curb next to me. The man took off his helmet.

I slowed as I approached, my heart rate picking up.

Was this the diversion I'd been looking for?

His sharp jaw was lined with scruff, and I wanted to touch his hair to see if it was soft, unlike the hard edges of his face.

I must have been staring because his gaze swung to me. "You know where the winter ball is?"

My lips quirked as I came to a stop a few feet away from him. "You're going to the winter ball?"

His eyes narrowed on me, and I couldn't help but slowly peruse his body: a motorcycle jacket unzipped to reveal a skintight shirt outlining every ridge of his well-defined muscles and dark jeans that bulged around his considerable thighs.

He looked dangerous, the exact sort of man I usually avoided.

My last boyfriend had worked for his father's law firm, his face smooth, and he wore suits everywhere he went, even out on dates with me. He was so predictable, so boring.

But this man was intriguing. I wanted to do something crazy like climb on the back of his motorcycle and go home with him.

I shivered, and it had nothing to do with the cold air.

He raised a brow. "You don't believe me?"

I bit my lip to stop the smile that threatened to break free. I hadn't felt so alive in forever. "Oh, I believe you."

He considered me for a few more seconds. "You just came from there, didn't you?"

I glanced down at my emerald-green gown, the one I thought would adequately represent my role as the Christmas Shop owner.

I looked elegant and put together. I wasn't someone that drew men like him.

The ones with a bit of an edge. "I was there," I finally said.

I should walk away and forget I ever had the idea to engage with this man. He could be dangerous.

"You don't think I should go."

"It doesn't seem like a place you'd want to be."

He arched a brow. "What if I'm supposed to meet someone?"

"It's at the Mistletoe Inn." I waved in the general direction of the inn, my smile fading. Of course he was supposed to be meeting a woman inside.

Then I turned and walked away, my heart sinking. I was intrigued for a few seconds, thinking I could do something crazy like climb on a stranger's motorcycle.

That my life would be different. But that was a dream. I'd never get on the back of some guy's motorcycle. It was a temporary lapse of judgment.

My life was boring because I was dull. I never did anything new or went out of my comfort zone. But then again, the comfort zone was safe. The routine familiar.

The motorcycle roared to life, and my heart sunk. This one encounter that was entirely different than anything else I'd experienced in my life before was over.

He'd meet someone inside and have an amazing night with her. Whereas I'd go home to my grandmother's house and sip my tea.

I'd just reached my SUV when the man pulled his motorcycle in front of my vehicle. "Where are you going?"

Heat flooded my body at the sexy maneuver. "Home."

The motorcycle's engine continued to hum as he removed his helmet for a second time. "Is the party lame?"

"I'm tired, and it's getting late." Now I sounded like someone who had to rush home before it got dark.

"Are you Cinderella racing to beat the clock before you turn into a pumpkin?" His voice was low and smooth, and I couldn't help but smile at his princess reference, which was in direct contrast to his look.

"Something like that." But in my mind, I was turning over the possibilities.

I could ask him if he wanted to get out of here, maybe take me for a ride on his motorcycle.

But that wasn't the kind of girl I was. It was completely out of character, yet my heart was racing.

I moved closer to him. "Did you have a better option? "

His lips quirked. "You want to go for a ride?"

There was a roaring in my ears, and it wasn't from his motorcycle. "I thought you'd never ask."

He handed me his helmet.

I glanced down at my skirt. "Can I ride in this?"

"Just gather it so it's not hanging down. You don't want it to get tangled."

I put on the helmet, secured the strap, and climbed on the back of the motorcycle. I gathered my skirt, pulling it higher so that it didn't drag on the ground. Then I wrapped my arms around his waist.

He touched my hands with his, and then said, "Are you ready for this?"

"I've been waiting my whole life for this," I said honestly.

He chuckled, and I felt the rumble more than I heard the sound, and he eased forward into the street, going slowly at first down the main thoroughfare.

I wanted to let go and throw my arms in the air because, for the first time in my life, I felt free. Free from my inheritance and running the family business. I'd never had choices. Not really.

But tonight, I did the unexpected thing. The dangerous thing. The one thing that could get me into trouble. And I couldn't wait to see where the night led.

I'd never ridden on the back of a motorcycle before. It was exhilarating. The rush of the wind on my cheeks, my hair whipping in the breeze. The sheer power of the engine between my legs. Then there was the feel of the man in front of me.

I rested my head on his back, which was rigid with muscle, and my hands wrapped around his waist. Occasionally, he touched my hands with one of his, as if to reassure himself that I was still holding on.

I felt the heat of his body and the ridges of his muscles. He was fit. He either worked out in a gym or performed manual labor. He was a bit too polished to work in construction. I'd bet anything he was a businessman of some sort.

But tonight, I didn't care what he did or even who he was. I wanted to be out with a random stranger. I wanted to do something completely crazy.

I had no guarantees that he'd be a gentleman, and maybe that was the point. I wanted something a little different. Risky even. I wanted to play with fire and get burned.

I wasn't the dutiful granddaughter maintaining my grandmother's legacy. I was the young woman with no constraints, who was enjoying a night on the town. If only my friends could see me now. They'd think I'd lost my mind.

He drove us up a winding road, coming to a stop at a lookout. From here, we could see the town lights below.

He angled his body so that I had a better view.

I pulled off my helmet and handed it to him. "It's beautiful."

We were silent for a few seconds, and then he said, "Is this where you saw your night ending?"

I laughed softly. "Not at all. I figured I'd go home early and enjoy a cup of tea while I watched TV in bed."

"Really?"

"Thank you for saving me from a night of boredom." Normally, I'd want to unwind after a long day in the shop. But tonight, I wanted something different. Something exciting. Something that could break up the monotony, and I had a feeling he could. I hadn't even asked for his name.

"I'm always happy to oblige a beautiful woman."

I knew I was pretty, but I'd never thought of myself as beautiful. My hair was too straight, and no amount of styling or hair products changed it.

"You always take women out for rides on the back of your motorcycle?”

He chuckled. "I've never done this before."

"It seemed second nature to you." Hadn't he been the one to invite me?

"I saw an opportunity, and I couldn't pass it up. I have another spot I want to show you. Are you up for it?"

"I'm not turning into a pumpkin until midnight," I quipped.

He handed me the helmet. "Then let's go."

He traversed the winding road, stopping at various lookouts. Eventually, he made his way down the mountain and onto a backroad, one I wasn't as familiar with.

He finally pulled down a private lane lined with trees. At the end of the road was a cabin with a wraparound porch.

He parked by the stairs.

I pulled off my helmet and climbed off, my nerves kicking in. Was this really what I wanted? A one-night stand with a stranger? "Is this place yours?"

He turned off the engine, the quiet of the evening deafening compared to the constant roar. "It's a rental. I can take you home if you want."

My nose wrinkled at the thought of going home to all those doilies, the same flavor of tea, and the bedroom that I hadn't bothered to redecorate. I thought I was preserving my grandmother's legacy, but at some point, I'd lost myself. "I don't want to go home."

Without a word, he took my helmet and led the way up the stairs to the front door. He unlocked it and pushed it open.

I preceded him inside, hoping I hadn't made a huge mistake in going to this guy's home.

My brothers would lose their mind if they knew.

But at the same time, they'd never believe that I'd do something like this.

I was always the careful, predictable one.

The one that no one had to worry about. I always made the right decisions.

But tonight, I wanted to do something different, be someone else.

Inside, the walls were wood, and there was large, comfortable-looking furniture in the living room. The effect was warm and cozy, but the draw was the large windows. He hadn't turned on any lights, so I was able to easily see outside. I moved closer. "I bet this view is magnificent during the day."

He followed me, standing slightly behind me so that his breath ghosted over my ear. "I rented the cabin for the view. I thought I should enjoy myself while I'm here."

I hummed a response, because I had to agree. I could ask him to take me back to my car, and I knew he would. But I didn't want to."

Instead, I turned and wrapped my arms around his neck, my heart pounding. "You have something that rivals this view?"

He hesitated for a second, seemingly reassuring himself that I was serious about this next move. Then he growled as he took my mouth in a kiss that reminded me of what I wanted, a night to forget about my boring life.

I wanted excitement, and something told me that this guy was the one to give it to me.