Winter's Fire (Welcome to Covendale #7) by Morgan Blaze Read Free Book Online

old.”
    “Sure. I bet you tell Teddy the same thing.”
    She grinned. “No, he’s definitely old. And cranky.”
    Ben’s laughter was infectious, and this time she joined him.
    “Okay, what’d I miss?”
    Winter half-turned to find Adam watching them with bemused interest. “Not much,” she said. “Did you find the plates?”
    “Plates? Oh, right. We’re a go for cake.” He nodded at Ben. “Whenever you’re ready, you get to make the ceremonial first cut.”
    “Thought that was a birthday thing.”
    “Well, make a wish anyway. You never know.” Adam regarded her with a hesitant smile. “Care for some cake?”
    She started to nod agreement, but the strange conversation with Ben that had been lurking in the back of her mind was pushing to the front. Whatever was going on in the Covendale fire department, it was bigger than she thought—maybe much bigger. She wanted to go over the files she had again, and make a few changes to the interview questions she had planned for tomorrow.
    “Thank you, but I should go,” she finally said, not without regret. “I appreciate the invitation, though.”
    He nodded. “I’m glad you came,” he said. “Here, let me walk you out.”
    “That’s not necessary.”
    “No, it’s not,” he said. “But I’d like to all the same, if you don’t mind.”
    She held back a sigh. Be polite , she told herself firmly. He was only being a good host. “All right,” she said. “Before I go, what should I do with…um, this?” She nodded at the massive drink in her hands, which she hadn’t even gotten halfway through.
    “Oh, right. That.” He smirked and took it from her gently. “We’ll just leave it here,” he said, setting the glass on a nearby table. “I’ll make sure it’s gone. Wouldn’t want to hurt Mike’s feelings.”
    “Good idea. Thank you.”
    She followed him back through the room, into the main part of the bar, and soon they were out on the sidewalk in perfect summer-night air. Aside from the muffled sounds behind the closed doors of the Klinker, hardly anything stirred out here—as if the rest of the town had already gone to bed for the night. It was a dramatic difference from the city, but she found the silence oddly comforting, almost refreshing.
    This must be the relaxing part Teddy had mentioned.
    “What’s on your mind?”
    Adam’s soft words startled her, though she managed not to jump. “Home, I guess,” she said. “It’s so different here.”
    “Where’s home for you?”
    It was a natural question, and probably innocent. But for some reason she didn’t want to answer. The night they’d spent together—well, he hadn’t known her. And the more he knew, the less he’d like her. She didn’t want to taint the memory. “I really have to go,” she said. “Thank you for seeing me out.”
    He flashed a sardonic smile. “There she is.”
    “Who?”
    “The mystery woman I met on a beach once.” He stepped toward her, and his gaze was so intense that she wanted to shrink back, maybe disappear. “You’re too late, Winter. I already know your name.”
    “Yes, and that’s quite enough.” Her heart leapt into her throat. She couldn’t stop staring at his lips, remembering what it had been like to kiss them, taste him. “I’m not—”
    “Not what?”
    Your type. Once again, she reminded herself, she didn’t actually know what his type was. And she didn’t want to know…because it wasn’t her. “Not here to be your friend,” she finally said. “I’m here on business.”
    The hurt look in his eyes made her wince. “I see,” he said. “Then I suppose I’d better mind my own. Goodnight, Miss Solomon.”
    Before she could pull herself together enough to respond, he turned and walked back into the bar.
    She stood there a moment, mentally kicking herself. That hadn’t been the best way to handle the situation. In fact, just about any other way would’ve been better. But maybe there was a bright side. At least now she