Heart and Snow (Texas Highlanders Ice Hockey) Read Online Free PDF

Newspapers and blogs across the country have compared me to my dad.” Cody shook his head. “I can’t get away from that.”
    “There are similarities, but that’s surface only. I wouldn’t have married you if you were anything like your dad.” Jo sighed, leaning back in her chair. She looked disappointed. “Cody… I wish you’d see what I see.”
    “Look, I know it’s not the most ideal situation. But it’s a reality, and our responsibility to make sure we’re positive about this.”
    “Is that the only reason you’d consider being a father? Responsibility? Doesn’t any part of you want this baby?” She didn’t mean it as an accusation—he could see that—but it felt that way.
    The shrill tone of Jo’s phone broke through their conversation, saving him from answering the question that he just wasn’t sure of. She glanced down at the screen and groaned. She took in a cleansing breath, exhaling on a shudder and answered her phone. “Hi, Mom.”
    Cody leaned back, his heart in his throat. Parents made him nervous. His had been hideous people. Or at least his dad had been. The only good thing they’d ever done for him was let him have his hockey practices growing up and generally leave that aspect of his life alone. Of course, his dad would have had to be around to be involved, and he’d been too busy screwing puck bunnies and drinking his liver away to care about his family. He’d never made even one of Cody’s games growing up.
    Jo’s parents were nothing like his, which he’d found out the first time he’d met them. And maybe that was why he didn’t run screaming in the other direction when they called their daughter. Cherry and Ed Reynolds were amazing parents to their three kids. Maybe if he’d had them as parents, this pregnancy wouldn’t have sideswiped the two of them so thoroughly. Maybe he could look forward to being a dad, instead of having this intense dread.
    *~*~*
    “Hi, Mom,” Jo straightened in her seat, and pasted on a fake smile. True, her mother couldn’t see her, but Cherry could smell drama miles away. And honestly, Jo wasn’t ready to tell her nosey family about this mess just yet. “What’s up?”
    “Oh, I’m going shopping for Christmas dinner today, and I wanted to make sure you and Cody were still coming. You are, right?”
    Jo dropped her head into her hand, leaning forward on the table. Shit. She’d forgotten about Christmas since they were dealing with this baby stuff. She’d never missed a Christmas with her family. But she wasn’t sure that she could face her family this year.
    Cody’s hand brushed against her arm. She looked at him and mouthed “Christmas” to him. His eyes widened as he understood and leaned back in his chair again. His eyes flickered with something, but he shuttered his expression just as quickly as his emotion had surfaced.
    “Joey?” Her mother inquired again.
    “I don’t know, Mom. Um, Cody might have a game that weekend.” Or a baby. Whatever.
    “Nonsense. You guys always manage to make it out on Christmas Day no matter what. Doug is bringing his new wife, and I really would like you two to get to know each other. She seems nice.”
    What Cherry failed to mention was that Doug’s new wife was actually New Wife #4. His marriages had stopped being a cause for celebration a long time ago, and Jo had stopped trying to be friends with the women that would eventually divorce her brother.
    Cody tapped on her arm.
    “Hang on a sec, Mom.” Jo covered the phone and whispered, “What is it?”
    “We should go,” he said.
    Jo blinked, processing what Cody had said. “I’m sorry, what?”
    “We should go. We go every year. They’ll know something is wrong if we don’t. And with everything going on, it might be nice for you to spend some time with your family.”
    Jo lowered the phone. “Cody, my family doesn’t know about the baby. And if they find out, there will be a whole other issue. And what about you? You’re always