Blaze of Winter: A Loveswept Contemporary Romance Read Online Free PDF Page B

looked suspiciously like he was imagining other ways to stay warm. Dirty ways.
    Or was that her own imagination running rampant? Theo was getting under her skin, no doubt about it. All he had to do was look at her and she started thinking about things she shouldn’t. Before she dissolved into blushes, she let out a deep breath, shook her head, andpulled up the faux-fur-lined hood. “Let’s go.” They stepped outside and she shut and locked the door behind her before they began to walk down Ashumet Avenue.
    “Should we go to lock up the Inn? I didn’t get a key to the front door.”
    “Oh, we rarely bother locking it,” she said, giving him a sidelong glance. “This is Star Harbor, after all. Speaking of which, Kate wanted me to ask you if you’d mind if we didn’t have night staff on duty. You’re the only guest until Christmas week, and Kate claims she trusts you.”
    They hit Front Street and turned right. “No problem. I’m not looking for a four-star experience. I’m just looking for peace and quiet.”
    “Okay,” Avery said. “I’ll give you my cell phone number. If you need anything in the middle of the night, just give me a ring.” Even as the words left her mouth, she cringed. But he didn’t comment on the potential innuendo; he just thanked her and kept walking steadily forward.
    The downtown lay still and quiet, the tops of the Victorian homes blanketed in snow, the streets empty of cars and pedestrians. The sky was dark, and the only light came from the old-fashioned gas lamps that illuminated each corner of the cobblestone-lined blocks. The air smelled damp, suggesting a storm might be on the horizon. It would probably snow again tonight.
    Just as they reached Wharf Street, Avery slipped on a large patch of ice that hadn’t been fully melted by the salt and teetered as her feet went out from under her. Before she could even blink, Theo grabbed her around her waist, pulling her tightly against him. Though it looked like he was standing on the same slippery ice, he hadn’t even budged, standing as solidly as an oak tree.
    Instead of immediately releasing her, he held her against him, giving her the chance to experience his strength firsthand. Despite the padding of her thick jacket, she could feel her hip pressed up against his long, strong thigh. Then he shifted, swinging her body in front of his. Involuntarily, her hand came up to his chest and she looked into his eyes. His gaze pinned herwhere she stood, and a small quiver began in her belly and vibrated outward. She shivered, whether from nerves or excitement, she wasn’t certain. She only knew that his hand on her waist was strangely reassuring, even as a wild heat bloomed on her cheeks.
    “Th-thank you,” she stammered, trying to make sense of the flurry of sensation coursing through her.
    “You’re welcome,” he said softly before releasing her. Without his touch, the tension and heat building within her dissipated. To her chagrin, Avery realized that she wasn’t sure whether she was relieved or disappointed. “Here.” He offered her his own gloved hand.
    She hesitated before taking it. Though she wasn’t at all keen to repeat what had just happened between them, hanging on to him was probably better than winding up on her rear end on an icy sidewalk. His leather gloves dampened some of the electricity that skin-to-skin contact would bring, but they couldn’t mask his strength. He gripped her hand gently yet firmly, and together they continued down the street.
    “It doesn’t snow in San Francisco, so how come you don’t slip?” she asked accusingly, eyeing his boots. “Are you wearing cleats?”
    “I’m from Star Harbor, remember? And winter and I agree with one another,” he responded.
    “What does that even mean?”
    “Stick around and you’ll find out.” He gave her a slow smile. “And a whole lot more besides.”

    As reluctant as he was to admit it—it was way too soon for him to even be thinking like