Vince: A Christmas Marine Romance

Leo: I hide in my Vermont cottage so nobody can see me.

I've seen the stares. I read their contemplation in their inquisitive expressions--how did I get those scars?

My parents worry about me and send a caretaker. That's not going to happen. I'll turn her away at my front door.

When Rosanna arrives, she's not what I expect. She's young, pretty and curvy. And she comes with food to prepare dinner.

It's been a long time since I had a home-cooked meal. Maybe I can tolerate her here for one night.

Rosanna: This temporary job sounds like the ideal place to write my novel--plus I can avoid my stepfamily.

When I arrive at the remote stone cottage in the woods, I'm stopped by a man with a scarred face and deep scowl. Leo turns me away.

The groceries I brought to prepare dinner buy me some time. Leo agrees to let me cook for him (how generous).

Only we're hit with more snow than expected, and I'm stuck in the cottage with him if I don't want to freeze to death.

Leo will let me stay on one condition--never enter his studio.

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We weren't supposed to get the brunt of the snow storm, but it looked like its course had shifted. Rosanna shouldn't be traveling tonight, and neither should I. 

"If it's as bad as they're saying it could be, the car may be canceled," I warned her.

"Oh." Her face scrunched with a worried expression. "I'll figure something out." She tapped on her phone.

My skin tightened. I scratched my head. Don't say it, I thought. I was under no obligation to help her.

"Just stay in the guest room for the night," I barked.

Rosanna blinked at me with a surprised expression.

"Oh, don't act like you weren't fishing for that invite."

She slowly slanted her gaze and arched one brow. "I wasn't."

"If something happened to you, my mother would kill me," I said.

Rosanna's eyes widened. "Are you sure you want me to stay?"

"I didn't say I wanted it," I snapped. "But it's the decent thing to do." I gestured toward the window. "No one wants to be stuck out there tonight." The gruffness returned to my voice. She must think I was a real beast. Still, she hadn't appeared scared of me yet, not at all.

"Okay." She stared at me for a few seconds and gave me a small smile. "Is one night with me such a sacrifice?"

I arched my brows. Her cheeks turned pink, and she turned away. "You know what I mean—one night with me under your roof?"

I snorted. "Guess we'll find out."