A Kiss in the Snow (Kindle Single) (Fool's Gold) by Susan Mallery Read Free Book Online Page B

together. I want to be the man of your dreams.”
    She wanted that, too. More than she could say. But there had been too many disappointments.
    She pulled free of his touch and walked around to the passenger side of the car. After taking out the casserole, she handed it to him.
    “I’m sorry. I can’t.”
    “You won’t.”
    “Either way, it’s not going to work out.”

CHAPTER EIGHT
    I T WAS NEARLY impossible to decorate cupcakes while crying, but Nancee did her best. She played Christmas carols and when they didn’t cheer her up, she tried to watch holiday movies. Anything to get her in the spirit of the season. Or at least stem the flow of tears.
    It had been two days. Two long, impossibly horrible, empty days of missing Shep. She couldn’t sleep, she couldn’t eat and while she wouldn’t mind losing ten or fifteen pounds, she knew this wasn’t the way.
    She’d thought she might hear from him, but she hadn’t. Not a phone call or text. Certainly not one of his heart-stopping drop-in visits. He had taken her at her word and was well and truly gone.
    She’d known being without him would be difficult, but she hadn’t thought it would be this hard.
    Her great-aunt walked into the kitchen and took a seat at the island. “You’re a mess.”
    “I’m trying not to be.”
    “It’s not going well.” Gladys shook her head. “You young people today. Always making ridiculous choices. You obviously love Shep and he loves you, so why aren’t you together? If I were your age, I would jump his bones in a second.”
    Nancee sniffed. “He’s going to leave.”
    “So?”
    She stared at her. “So? He’s already left me three times. How many chances am I supposed to give him?”
    “Why does he leave?”
    “I don’t understand the question.”
    Gladys rolled her eyes. “Why does Shep take off? Is he mad at you? Tired of you? Looking for someone younger?”
    That brought a smile to Nancee’s face, however wobbly. “No. It’s not about me. He can’t stay in one place very long. Because of how he was raised.” As it wasn’t her story to tell, she didn’t go into detail. Gladys, for all her nosy ways, wouldn’t pry.
    “So it’s the location he can’t settle on, not the woman?”
    Nancee considered the question. “That’s what he told me. And I guess I believe him.”
    “Then the real problem is he can’t settle in one place, and you don’t want anything else.”
    “What? I never said that.”
    “You’d be open to going with him?”
    The first time she and Shep had been together, Nancee would have said no. The second and third, as well. But maybe it was time for things to be different. If not things , then certainly her. Maybe location wasn’t as important as belonging.
    “I’ve lived in Fool’s Gold all my life,” her great-aunt said. “I’ve seen a lot of people come and go. There are folks who live a few blocks from each other and never speak a word. There are others who are close, no matter where they live.” Her expression softened. “I love you, Nancee. You’re a good girl with a giving heart. But right now you’re focusing on the wrong thing. Shep’s a great guy. Don’t lose out on what matters because of convention or some silly idea you have about what’s important.”
    “I’m not sure what’s important.”
    “Then maybe it’s time to find out.”
    With that, Gladys left the kitchen. Nancee kept on baking. When she had a break, she pulled out her laptop. She wasn’t sure what she was looking for exactly. She still hadn’t decided what she wanted to do with her life. Not go back to DC. That was for sure. Too many bad things had happened there.
    She could happily stay in Fool’s Gold, but if that didn’t work for Shep, then maybe they could go somewhere else. She liked baking cupcakes, but it wasn’t as if she could do that on the road.
    Or could she?
    She moved the cursor to the search bar and typed in custom trailers . Fifteen minutes later she had a page of