Read Heart and Snow (Texas Highlanders Ice Hockey) for Free Online Page A

okay?”
    “Yes, Mom,” Jo said.
    “And hurry up. Dinner’s ready in ten.”
    Jo and Cody unpacked the car, and tossed the bags in their room before heading out to the back porch. Jo’s dad, Ed was outside with her brother Doug. Cody almost groaned, because while he liked Doug, he was a bit much to handle over several days. But he did it anyway, because family was important to Jo.
    Jo’s dad had once been a sports writer for Fort Glasgow’s biggest newspaper, but had retired years ago. Jo’s mom had been a model, and one of the Highlanders’ Ice Maidens in her twenties. He didn’t know the specifics, but within the next few years, they’d both left the pro hockey circuit, gotten married and moved to Dallas, where Jo had grown up with her brother and sister, and then they’d moved on to Morning. It was a lucky coincidence that he’d met Jo at all.
    A lucky coincidence.
    As he watched Jo give her dad a hug and rib her brother about his newest wife/fling, a smile crossed his face. He was lucky. He’d found her, snatched her up before anyone else could. And now here he was, nearly ready to let her go. What was wrong with him?
    He slipped back into the house and found himself in the hall, staring at the family picture wall. He could pick out all three kids. Jo was the oldest, a blonde bombshell even at fourteen. Her younger brother, Doug, was the redhead of the bunch, and easily picked out in all the pictures. And her sister, Michele, was a photo bomber, her little platinum blonde head poking out in every single picture, regardless of whether she was supposed to be there or not.
    This was a normal family. No angels, no devils, just a family that didn’t grow up on the professional hockey circuit. Normalcy. It was such a rare thing.
    “Mom! You put up the teenage years?” Jo’s voice had a whining quality that he only heard when she was at her parents’ house. Cody glanced to his side. When had she appeared? He had been so lost in his thoughts he didn’t realize she had come to stand by him.
    “You hush,” Cherry said, walking by with a full pan with roast beef cut into slices. She set it down on the dining room table. “They stay up until one of you graces me with a grandchild and gives me baby pictures to fill those spots.”
    Cody looked back at the wall. Blonde bombshell or not, fourteen had obviously been the awkward braces years for Jo, in that cheerleading uniform.
    “Mom!” Jo’s voice nearly cracked on that note. Cody turned to face his wife. She looked wrecked. Her jaw was clenched, her eyes terrified. Cody took her hand, and her head snapped to him in surprise. He met her eyes, hoping that she’d see how she was overreacting. She took a breath while her mom was in the kitchen. “Sorry.”
    “Just breathe. It’ll be okay.”
    “I hope so.”
    “Come on, you two! It’s time for dinner.” Cherry blew past them with a bowl of mashed potatoes. Cody took Jo’s hand, smiling at her. There was definitely something magical about being with family, even if it wasn’t his family. Maybe especially when it wasn’t his family.
    *~*~*
    It was almost like the first time Cody had come home with her to meet her parents. Same holiday, same people. Well, except Doug’s new wife, who still hadn’t made her appearance yet. When she and Cody made their first trip there, Doug had been on Wife #2. Last year, he’d just divorced Wife #3.
    Her two siblings took their usual seats. Cody held her chair, so she gave him a bright thankful smile, which vanished as soon as his fingers trailed along her hip, and up her rib cage. She scowled at him, and he chuckled in response. Damn tease.
    “So, Doug, Cody was just telling me how much he was looking forward to the Cowboys game today.” The chuckle stopped.
    “Oh, yeah? Sweet!” Doug grinned. “Jo, you and Cindy could go do whatever girls do…” He trailed off. “You know… for girl time.”
    The smug expression on Cody’s face didn’t even falter when she