Read A Hot Winter (New Adult Romance) (The Attraction Series Book 2) for Free Online

Thursday nights,” Tragan said while he shuffled the deck.
    With a nod, Bardo rose from his chair and began a restless lap around the kitchen.  “So what’s the food situation tonight?”
    “You’re looking at it.”
    “Stale chips?  You call that a situation?” Bardo said, eying the open bag on the counter with clear disappointment.  He gave Matt a look that seemed to beg for sympathy, but Matt just shrugged.  “Andy usually makes something,” Bardo pointed out.
    “She hasn’t had time to cook lately; she’s got final exams,” Tragan said.  “Maybe there are leftovers or something.”
    “Man,” Bardo nearly whined, pulling on the refrigerator door, “this is the only place I can get home-cooking.  I count on you people.”
    Dismissing his complaints, Tragan said, “Yeah, that’s a shame.  Now hurry up and sit down.  I’m about to deal.”
    “Dude, I’m raiding your fridge,” Bardo said with his head ducked all the way in, “a little patience?”
    “No time for patience.  This is the only night I can play.”  Tragan looked around.  “Where’s Pellican?”
    “Still in the bathroom,” Matt answered.
    “He speaks!” Bardo joked, glancing back at Matt.  “I thought you’d taken a vow of silence tonight.”
    “What’s that mean?” Matt said.
    “You’ve been quiet.”
    “He’s always quiet,” Tragan said.
    Matt didn’t bother arguing.  Truthfully, he had been kind of absent tonight.  His mind had been wandering ever since he’d left Emma’s house earlier.  He still could not wrap his mind around the fact that the hot brunette from the Hardware Warehouse was Andy’s sister.  One minute he’s cursing his luck that he’d never see the girl again, never get to take her out, and the next, he’s putting down new floors in her house? 
    And what he really couldn’t fathom was that she was single. 
    That is… if she was single.  Sure she’d indicated as much at the hardware store--but then, she’d also indicated that she was moving to France to live out some fifty-year-old’s retirement dream, so who knew what to believe?
    “What the hell’s taking Pellican so long?” Tragan grumbled. 
    “Give the guy a break,” Matt commented.  “He’s in the bathroom.”
    Tray was a great guy, but the gamer in him didn’t allow for much compassion when it came to someone holding up the game, no matter what the reason.  Unless it was Andy, of course.  Then suddenly Tray transformed into the most patient, easygoing guy in the world.
    “I’m here, I’m here,” Pellican said, jogging into the kitchen from the left-hand entrance.  He shuffled his stocky frame over to the table, scrubbed a hand over his bristly auburn hair, and thudded hard into his chair.  At the same time, Bardo ambled over to the table with the open bag of chips in his hand.
    “Cool, let’s play,” Tragan said and started dealing.
    Bardo’s loud crunching seemed to prompt Pellican to reach for a handful of chips himself.  Quickly, Bardo pulled back, as though protecting the bag.  “Wait--did you wash your hands?
    “Of course-- asshole ,” Pellican snapped, clearly offended, and Matt chuckled.
    “Well, okay, then,” Bardo said agreeably and passed him the bag.
    “By the way,” Tragan said, turning his face toward Matt.  “How did it go with Emma?  You gonna do the job?” 
    Emma .  Even if Tray hadn’t brought her up, she was still drifting in and out of Matt’s mind.  “Definitely,” he answered.  “Piece of cake.”
    “Who’s Emma?” Pellican asked through a mouthful of chips.
    “Andy’s sister,” Tragan said.
    As each man picked up his cards and assessed his hand, something possessed Matt to add, “Hey, Tray, you never told me she was good-looking.” 
    “Yeah?  She’s cute?” Pellican said.
    Keeping his tone nonchalant, Matt said, “She’s a pretty girl.”
    At that, Bardo slapped his hand on the table.  “Tray, what the hell, bro?  You mean Andy has a cute,