Baby It's Cold Outside Read Online Free PDF

dividends yet.”
    “Does it bother you?” Sloan swirled the rich red wine around in her glass and watched as the long legs coating the bowl reflected the light from the lobby’s oversized fireplace.
    Avery’s eyes narrowed. “Does what bother me?”
    “This whole thing. That women come from around the country to snatch up eligible bachelors from your town.”
    Avery’s eyebrows told Sloan all she needed to know, even before her pointed words. “Is this the magazine writer talking? Or my newfound friend?”
    Sloan leaned forward and laid a hand on Avery’s forearm. “I’m a friend first. And the whole ‘come up here to find a bachelor thing’ sort of has me a bit freaked out, even as I’m intrigued. So yeah, this conversation is off the record. And when I do want something on the record, I’ll make sure to tell you.”
    Avery breathed a soft sigh as her shoulders relaxed. “All right. To tell you the truth, it doesn’t bother us nearly as much as we’d like people to think. The local girls, we all subscribe to the code and act like it’s a serious affront so everyone goes out of their way to treat us well. But truly—we women of Indigo—we’re a hearty bunch. Most of us aren’t afraid to go after the men we want.”
    “Most?” Grier added.
    Avery’s smile was tinged with sadness. “Most.”
    Grier just nodded. “Believe me. Sometimes you’re better off not chasing. Or forgiving, come to think of it. I’ve come to the educated conclusion it lets a man get off way too easily.”
    “No doubt.” Sloan waved her glass at her best friend. If Grier was going to spill the deets on that one, it wasn’t her place to stop her.
    At Avery’s questioning glance, Sloan added, with a nod in Grier’s direction, “I believe she means ‘get off’ in the literal sense.”
    “Aha.” Their new friend nodded sagely over her wine and Sloan knew there had been some chasing in Avery Marks’s past. What she also knew was that now wasn’t the time to go poking at wounds that clearly hadn’t healed.
    Sloan glanced toward the lobby door. “So I guess we should probably bundle up for the walk to the town hall.”
    “You really want to go?”
    She’d known Grier far too long not to notice the reluctant tone in her voice. “Let me guess. Your newly discovered half sister will be there.”
    “Yeah.” Grier stared miserably down into her wine.
    “Well, then I definitely want to go.”
    “Are you sure? We can sit here and drink more wine and gossip.”
    “Oh no. I’m going.” Sloan stood, pleased to see her boast had been correct. Three glasses of wine and she could still stand tall on her stilettos.
    “You sure about this?” Avery asked, standing up to collect their spoils. “I can store all this until you get back, or we can just stay right here and enjoy our cozy little wine klatch.”
    “Nope.” Sloan grabbed Grier’s discarded coat from a nearby couch arm and shoved it at her. “Come on, Grier. Let’s go light Kate’s fuse.”

Chapter Three
     
    W alker adjusted the microphone and watched as the Montgomery Meeting and Recreation Center filled up with the citizens of Indigo, Alaska, population seven hundred and twelve.
    No matter how old he got or how many years he lived here, there was something odd about seeing your name associated with large gathering places. And while it might have been in tribute to his grandfather, he was the one who carried the name now.
    “Is everything ready, dear?” His grandmother stepped near the podium. She’d just finished up a conversation with the two women he considered her partners in crime—Julia Forsyth and Mary O’Shaughnessy—and a broad smile creased her face into warm, welcoming lines.
    “Yep. Just as you like it, Mayor Montgomery. Your adoring fans await.”
    His grandmother swatted him on the arm. “You try saying that without the cheek next time.”
    Walker leaned over and flipped the switch to ON, unable to hold back the smile. He did love to