Nerd Gone Wild by Vicki Lewis Thompson Read Free Book Online Page A

had some of your moose-meat pie since before Lurleen left. And don’t forget, I’m the one who brought you the moose meat in the first place.”
    “Only because you were in the right place at the right time!” called out one of the other men. “Lucky son of a bitch, to come along right after that logging truck hit it.”
    Ally winced and snuck a peek at Mitchell.
    He stopped zipping his parka. “You mean this moose was… roadkill?” He looked somewhat green around the gills.
    “Very
fresh
roadkill,” Rudy said. “The truck didn’t even run over it. Just knocked it to the side of the road, neat as you please. Dented up the truck grille some, but the loggers are used to that.”
    “Doesn’t matter about the details.” Betsy pulled up the hood on her stoplight-red coat and tied the string under her chin. “Once I get my hands on moose meat, it becomes food for the gods. Now let’s move, people. I’m getting a hot flash.”
    Clyde hurried over. “You’re not really leaving, are you?”
    Ally heard the plea in his question. He’d hoped Betsy would hang around.
    Betsy glared down at him. “Why, yes, we are, Clyde. I wasn’t aware I was supposed to ask your permission.”
    “But… but you’re taking away two new paying customers. And I heard you say you’re going to
feed
them. I suppose you’ll stay over there and eat, too! So how’m I supposed to make a living if you do that, Betsy?”
    “Clyde, these two have recently experienced a humiliating moment, and they need some privacy. Can you be a little sensitive to that?”
    “Me?” Clyde got red in the face and drew himself to his full height of at least five-four. “You’re calling me insensitive? I put aside an excellent caribou steak for your dinner! And now you’re leaving!”
    “Did I ask you to do that?”
    “Yes, you most certainly did. This morning when I saw you over at Heavenly Provisions.”
    “Did not.”
    “Did, too.”
    “Did not. Clyde, I’m leaving now. Ally and Mitchell, let’s go.”
    “Did, too!” Clyde called after them. “Standing right by the smoked salmon on special!”
    Ignoring him, Betsy led the way out of the Top Hat. Ally had the presence of mind to grab her backpack from the corner where she’d stashed it before she followed Betsy out the door. At first Betsy blocked some of the wind, but once she moved away from the door, the arctic blast belting Ally in the face made her gasp.
    Ducking her head, she leaned into the wind.
    “Jesus!” Behind her, Mitchell came out the door and it slammed behind him with a heavy clunk. “How does anybody stand this?”
    Ally wondered the same thing. The wind brought tears that froze to her cheeks. But she’d never admit to anyone, especially Mitchell, that she found the weather intimidating. This was her first full day. She’d get used to it. By next winter, she’d spit in the face of a wind like this.
    But not tonight. And not literally. Anybody who spit into this wind would get stabbed in the eye when that spit came back as an icicle. She’d never been so cold in her life.
    She’d be willing to eat roadkill moose-meat pie for the privilege of getting warm again. Even more significant, she’d be willing to end up in a kitchen alone with Mitchell if she were guaranteed a toasty place with zero wind.
    Ah, Mitchell. What a dork. She hated the idea of hurting the tender feelings of any human being, but Mitchell had to face facts. Despite his delectable-looking mouth and his sense of rhythm, despite the glint of humor that had made him seem semi-sexy for a split second, he was still Mitchell the Nerd. And she would never, ever, in a million, trillion years, be his main squeeze.

    * * *

    Mitch wondered what he’d done to deserve this—plowing his way through nut-numbing wind and snow so that he could dine on roadkill. He’d tried to live a decent life, pay taxes, contribute to charity, and support the Dodgers, win or lose. He recycled. He’d thought his reward for all