A Hot Winter (New Adult Romance) (The Attraction Series Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

got out of a relationship and am not ready to date again.”  What Emma had come up with was more like a tall tale--and a bizarre one at that.  “Wait, I’m still trying to picture this,” Andy said, as she took a seat on a wooden bench in the student center.  “So Matt’s shopping, minding his own business, and you walk up and suddenly he’s asking if you have a boyfriend?”
    “No,” Emma admitted.  “That’s not exactly what happened.  We were talking.  He was helping me.”
    “Then he asked you out?
    “Yes.”
    “Wow, that’s bold.  I’m impressed,” Andy said before taking a sip.
    “Well, it was after we…you know, sort of flirted a little.”
    Andy nearly choked on her coffee.  “What?  You flirted with someone?”
    “Why’s that such a big deal?” Emma said, sounding a little defensive.  “I flirt occasionally.” 
    “I guess I’ve never seen it, that’s all.  You never used to give that guy at Shadow Books the slightest encouragement.”
    “Let me clarify,” Emma said, her tone sarcastic now.  “I flirt occasionally with men I find appealing .  The guy at Shadow Books is ridiculously smothering--not to mention, obsessed with Emily Brontë.”
    Suddenly the corners of Andy’s mouth turned up.  “So you find Matt appealing then?”
    “I…that’s what you took away from that?” Emma said impatiently.
    “Yes.”
    “Look, I was just trying to have some fun.  This cute guy--yes, I admit he’s cute, okay?--was flirting with me, and I wanted to flirt back.  Just a little.  I didn’t expect to see him again and I definitely wasn’t looking for it to go anywhere.”
    With a soft sigh, Andy set her cup down on the bench.  “Why not?” she asked, making sure to keep her tone light and non-judgmental.  “If you think Matt’s cute, why not go out with him?”
    “You know why,” Emma replied.  “I’ve already told you this before.  I’m not getting involved with anyone--not while the boys are so young.  I won’t bring some guy into their lives and have them get attached.  And then, eventually, they’ll be crushed.  It’s bad enough they have to grow up without their dad; I’m not letting them try to latch onto someone else as a father figure, only to have him let them down at some point.”  When Andy didn’t jump in to validate her sister’s negative thinking, Emma added, “Besides, I don’t need the drama of dating, either.  I’m happier on my own right now.”
    Biting her lower lip, Andy made a choice to hold her tongue.  Even though she didn’t agree that Emma was truly “happier” without romance in her life.  More like she was safer.  Not the same thing.
    “The point is: you’ll back up my story about France?”
    “I can definitely back up the ‘it’s complicated’ part,” Andy said dryly.
    “Andy...” Emma pressed.
    “Yes, fine, if he asks me.  But this is so ridiculous.  Also, Tragan is going to wonder why I never mentioned that my sister was moving to another country.”
    “Oh shoot, Tragan!  I forgot about him!  Is he there?  Tell him now he needs to back up my story.  Otherwise I’ll look like a ridiculous idiot.”
    “No, of course he’s not here.  I’m at school!  I have class on Thursday nights, remember?  In fact…”  She hesitated, not wanting to finish her last thought, because she didn’t want Emma to panic.  “Oh, never mind.”
    “In fact what?” Emma pressed.
    “Well…”  Andy rolled her eyes, before reluctantly explaining, “It’s just that Tragan is actually with Matt right now.  At our apartment--it’s poker night.”
    “Oh, no…” Emma groaned.  “That means he might have already said something--”
    “No, no.  I’m sure the subject of you won’t even come up,” Andy said, adding brightly, “Really!  No worries, okay?”

Chapter Eight
    “So where’s Andy tonight?” Bardo asked as he pulled off his glasses and began polishing them on his shirt.
    “She has class on