Read Frostbite (Touch of Frost) for Free Online

Mandy.
    “So, you moved here from Minnesota, eh ?” Zach sipped his coffee, his attention fixed on me.
    The small, round table between us was only a couple of feet in diameter, so leaning forward, we were pretty close. It was kind of intimidating but sexy at the same time. I didn’t mind the tingling in my stomach his sultry eyes triggered, either.
    “Um—Yeah. Minnesota.”
    “Parents?” he asked.
    “Died.”
    “Jeez. How?”
    “Accident. Yours?”
    “Still around and oppressive as ever.”
    “College?”
    He nodded. “Running track at State.”
    “No football?”
    “Don’t enjoy getting hit by two-ton trucks week in and week out. I’d rather go run ten miles alone.”
    “Hmm, that’s interesting.”
    “You like running?”
    “Sure, if someone’s chasing me.” I drum-rolled my fingers on the table.
    Okay, the joke was lame. But he smiled. So, maybe not so lame.
    “You could pass for a runner. You’re so fit. You look amazing.”
    A compliment like that coming from Zach Landry, someone who’d never showed any interest in me up until a few days ago. That triggered the all too familiar paranoia that defined my daily life.
    “Can I ask you something?”
    He nodded.
    “What’s up with this?” I pointed to him, then me.
    His eyebrows elevated.
    “Is it, like, a bet or something? To see how far you can get with me?”
    He straightened in his chair. “Whoa, back up the paranoia train a sec here.”
    Maybe I misunderstood, but he actually looked hurt. But who could blame me for asking? Why would this smoking-hot guy be interested in a frosty fingered, flat-chested freak of nature? Not that he knew about the frosty part.
    “So, you always going to be this much fun?” His smooth forehead crinkled.
    “You can’t really blame me, can you?”
    “Meaning…”
    I leaned forward, dangerously close and drew in a big breath of him and the coffee we were drinking and asked, “Well, the trying to get me into the Janitor’s Closet thing, then bribing me for a date after not having ever spoken to me before…what’s a girl to think?”
    I’d said it. It was out there. He’d probably get up and leave, but at least I’d know this was some big joke, or bet, or…whatever it was.
    “You are blunt, aren’t you?” He smiled. “I like that.”
    “Why’d you ask me here, Zach?” I wanted to know so bad, but yet I didn’t.
    He let out a long breath and glanced around the room.
    Oh, yeah, this wasn’t going to be good.
    “Because ever since you came to town I haven’t been able to get you out of my head.” He reached across the tiny table, edging my coffee cup out of his way, and threaded his fingers with mine. “I split up with Lindsey to avoid having a girlfriend when I went to college. Fresh start. No ties to this tiny town.”
    I gulped down some water to try and get some kind of moisture into my suddenly arid mouth. It didn’t help much.
    “But you just kept me up at night. Thinking. Wondering…”
    “Wondering?” I couldn’t help leaning forward, reveling in the contrast of his thick fingers meshed with my smaller fingers. Together. Connected. Warm. My skin was several shades lighter than his, so it made for a nice contrast.
    His thumb brushed over mine, drawing my attention to his wide, slate eyes.
    “Wondering what it’d be like to kiss you,” he whispered, inching forward.
    I couldn’t help shifting my focus to his shiny lips. Ones ready—and apparently willing—for some serious nibbling. Maybe even a little nipping.
    His nostrils flared as he drew even closer, his grip on my hand tightening. His coffee-laced scent wrapped around me, tugging me closer to him. Needing more of it. An official taste.
    The door chimed, shredding the connection. I jerked back, my hand grazing my water.
    Zach’s reflexes must have been super human for how fast he caught the bottle and kept water from splashing all over everything.
    I held my focus on the door while reaching for the bottle. Zach looked