Grounded for Love: A Reunion Romance Novella by Rebecca Talley Read Free Book Online

and Serena started laughing again, releasing her emotions with every giggle.
    Without a word, he grabbed her around the waist and said, “It’s definitely whitewash time for you. You’re about to get a close up of all that soft powder.”
    “No way. You can’t.” She tried to wiggle out from his hold. “We’re grown adults. Stop.”
    He had her so close to the snow she could feel the cold radiating onto her face.
    “Please, Graham. I promise.”
    He released his hold and lay back in the snow.
    “Remember that time we were walking behind my professor and he slipped on the ice and we didn’t know what to do?” Graham said. “And we started laughing.”
    “Because we were so mature. I felt really bad.” She blinked the small snowflakes from her eyelashes. Knowing her hair was still covered in snow she said, “The other passengers are going to think I’m a crazy woman looking like this.”
    Graham lifted himself on one elbow and leaned in to Serena, making her breath catch in her throat. He was even more handsome now than he was in college. He swiped at some snow on her cheek. “I don’t think you look like a crazy woman. I think you look beautiful.”
    Her heart somersaulted as their gazes interlocked. All she wanted was to forget about the past three years. She yearned to feel his lips on hers again and lose herself in his strong, capable arms. Graham peered at her and moved closer. The moment was right—
    “Are you two okay?” came a voice that broke the spell.
    Serena looked up to see a man she assumed was a hotel employee. The bright sunlight was like a halo around his head.
    “I cleared this sidewalk late last night, but it must’ve iced over. I apologize,” he said, reaching his hand out. Serena took his hand and carefully got to her feet.
    “I think we’re both fine,” Graham said as he stood and brushed snow from his pants.
    “Yes,” Serena agreed. But she wasn’t fine. Not fine at all. Feelings rushed through her so fast it made her woozy.
    “Thank you,” Graham said to the stout man.
    “Can I help you back to the hotel?”
    “We’re looking for a taxi to the airport,” Graham said.
    “I’ll call one for you,” the man said, and he turned back to the hotel.
    “That was embarrassing,” Serena meant the almost kiss more than the tumble to the ground.
    “I don’t have to deal with much snow in Phoenix.”
    Serena giggled.
    “What?”
    “Your hair is sticking up in the back.” She reached over to pat it down for him, but he grabbed her arm and their gazes once again connected.
    “Serena.”
    “Yes?” She wanted to kiss him more than anything, even though it made no sense at all. All she could think about was throwing her arms around him, holding him close and drinking in every bit of him. It had been three years, but the feelings she’d tried to bury were all resurfacing at an alarming speed.
    “It’s been so good to see you.” The way he ended his sentence made her take a step back.
    “Sounds like there’s a but coming.”
    Graham ran his fingers through his hair then let out a breath. “I’ve wanted to know what happened, why you left. I didn’t date anyone for a long time, hoping we’d work things out.”
    “But now you have someone.”
    He looked at the ground. “Yeah.”
    “I see.” She wanted to find the nearest rock and hide under it. Not only had she misjudged a situation and ruined their relationship in college, she’d just wanted to throw herself at him when he belonged to someone else. “Well, that’s good,” she lied. It wasn’t good, at least not for her. Now she’d have to deal with the resurgence of these strong feelings, because he obviously wasn’t going to return them. They’d had their chance.
    “I… I…”
    “No need to explain.” She glanced toward the hotel. “Here comes a taxi.”
    “Do you mind if we share?”
    Serena shrugged. “Why not?” She couldn’t possibly humiliate herself any more than she already had.
    They