Blaze of Winter: A Loveswept Contemporary Romance by Elisabeth Barrett Read Free Book Online Page B

in the back of her throat.
    Behind his burger, Theo smiled to himself. However much she tried to suppress it, there was passion simmering just below the surface. Passion he’d do anything to be able to tap. Heimagined what it would be like to have her under him, that glorious hair spread out over a pillow, as she gave herself to him with every ounce of enthusiasm she’d undoubtedly bring to such an endeavor. He could just picture her now, her face flushed with desire, her mouth open on a gasp as …
    He blinked and glanced around, embarrassed to realize that he’d been holding his burger in front of him for several moments, but he still hadn’t taken a bite.

    Avery was glad that they’d finished dinner and were headed back home. She had come to Star Harbor to escape the stresses of her life, not add new ones. And Theodore Grayson was definitely a new one. At dinner, he’d stared at her as though he could see through to her very soul. His cool intensity had compelled her to open up to him—just as she encouraged her clients to do with her. It was unsettling, to say the least. How could she get her mind back on track if Theo kept throwing her out of her comfort zone?
    She couldn’t wear her heart on her sleeve—that was just trouble waiting to happen. No, she needed to keep her emotions tamped down so that they couldn’t be set off by one little trigger. She’d kept part of her heart on lockdown since her mother’s death. And she’d survived in her job by doing her best to compartmentalize her emotions—trying her darndest not to get emotionally invested in her clients. And she’d failed even in that. Now, this man was trying to pry open Pandora’s box, things were spiraling out of control, and she wasn’t sure how to handle it. One crack in her carefully composed armor and it would all come pouring out again.
    A snowflake landed on her cheek, and she impatiently wiped it away. Avery was nervous, there was no getting around it. Anytime he touched her—no, anytime he looked at her—her heart started racing. So much for keeping herself in check.
    He had his hand in hers again. Thankfully, he’d put his gloves back on, but his calm demeanor made her anything but. A light dusting of snow already coated the cobblestone streets and sidewalks of Star Harbor’s downtown area. If this continued, it would be up to her ankles by morning. Theo expertly steered her through the snowy streets, and for that, she was grateful. She’d spent most of her childhood in Raleigh, North Carolina, so her experience with serious winter weather was limited to the time she’d spent in Boston. This meant she could handle the season only if the roads were de-iced and the sidewalks were cleared. In Star Harbor, she could barely keep upright when walking outside after a snowfall.
    And she was always cold, hence the huge puffer jacket. As if on cue, she shivered.
    But the snow falling gently onto the boats docked in the harbor was as beautiful a sight as she’d ever seen. She loved the way it fluttered all around her without a sound. It was so peaceful—just perfect for nestling into her little room in Aunt Kate’s house with a good book and a warm cup of tea. For a moment, she imagined how warm it would be if Theo wrapped his arms around her body. It unnerved her.
    “Let’s go back to the Inn,” Avery said quickly, trying to will the image away. “I have a few things I need to do before heading back to Kate’s this evening.”
    “All right,” he agreed, guiding her up the path to the front door. They let themselves into the foyer. Avery took off her jacket and laid it across the reservation desk, shivering a little as a draft blew in. Theo took off his own coat, and she couldn’t help but stare. Up close, he looked downright enormous. Cold-blooded he wasn’t—he didn’t even have on a sweater beneath his jacket. Just a navy-blue long-sleeved crewneck shirt that showed off the definition of his powerful chest and arms. And