Snow Queen by Emma Harrison Read Free Book Online Page A

Her accent was somewhere between French and Russian, which made her ridiculously difficult to understand. The first words that popped into Aubrey’s mind were “total nut job.”
    “ I am Fabrizia! ” she announced.
    So this was the person Grayson and Layla had rushed off to greet that morning. That must have been one interesting breakfast.
    “I will be your director, your guide, your mentor, and your big sister throughout the next two weeks,” Fabrizia said, bringing her hands together. Every gesture she made was elegant and drawn out, like a dancer’s, and each of her words took a good three seconds to sink into Aubrey’s brain. She felt as if she was deciphering code as she listened to the director talk. “But before we get started, I would like to introduce to you my assistant director and the emcee for thisyear’s pageant, Mr. Grayson Chamberlain!”
    Those last two words, Aubrey understood perfectly. Her heart caught as Grayson strode out from the wings, wearing a black wool coat that made his blond hair look even lighter, and carrying a clipboard. He lifted a hand to acknowledge the smattering of applause from the audience.
    “Thanks, everyone. It’s good to be here, helping Fabrizia out,” he said. “As most of you know, I usually act as a judge for this event, but since my little sister is competing this year…” Here he paused to point Layla out and she sat up straight, preening. “…I thought it would be best if I removed myself from the panel. So if you guys need anything, just let me know.”
    Grayson looked right at Aubrey and widened his smile. As irked as she still was by his reaction to her pageant-girl status that morning, Aubrey couldn’t help smiling back. He was just that swoon-worthy. Then Layla turned around and gave Aubrey a sour look—which wiped the grin right off Aubrey’s face. She sank in her seat slightly and then stayed there, realizing that thelower she sat, the more the wind was blocked by the seats around her. Grayson looked at her with a slight wrinkle in his brow and she started to feel conspicuous. Could he tell she was turning into an ice sculpture of herself out here?
    “Now, to go through the order of events for this year’s pageant program,” Fabrizia said, lifting her own clipboard. She donned a pair of tiny, frameless glasses and looked down her nose at her schedule. “First will be the opening dance number, in which you will all participate.”
    “Dance number?” Aubrey hissed to Christie. “I don’t dance.”
    “It’ll be okay. I’ll help you,” Christie whispered back.
    “Shhh!” Layla hissed.
    Grayson jogged down the steps at the side of the stage and started walking up the aisle. All the girls were listening to Fabrizia but watching him. Not that Aubrey could blame them. No one could ignore a guy that perfect. Grayson’s eyes were on Aubrey, however, and Aubrey alone. Her heart started to pound. What was he doing?
    “Then we will have your introductions, followed by the evening-gown competition, the snowsuit competition—”
    Snowsuits, okay , Aubrey thought as she began to shiver uncontrollably. That’s better than swimsuits, at least. I’d die out here in a swimsuit.
    Grayson slipped into the empty row of seats behind her and Christie. He shrugged out of his coat and slid it over her shoulders. Aubrey instantly warmed from head to toe. Part of her wanted to shrug the jacket off and hand it back, independent girl that she was, but the coat was all toasty from his body heat and she couldn’t bring herself to remove it. The very idea that Grayson’s warmth was now warming her made her giddy all over.
    “Better?” he whispered in her ear.
    A pleasant tingle ran all up and down the right side of her body.
    “Much,” she replied.
    Christie shot Aubrey a giddy, impressed look, which made it much more difficult for Aubrey to keep from grinning. Layla, meanwhile, started to tap her foot in annoyance. Which just made the whole thing that much