Kiss of Ice (St. James Family) Read Online Free PDF Page A

was featured on a billboard in Times Square. Seeing her model cousin's face twenty feet wide had freaked Annata out every time she passed. How nice that Viv was living it up in Rio or God knows where, while their grandmother worried herself into an early grave. “Next time you see her, tell her to call home once and awhile.”
    “ It was crazy.  I was at some club, drunk off my ass—”
    “ Typical,” Annata murmured, forcing her eyes back to the newspaper.
    “ And this beautiful woman comes up to me. She asks me if I'm Christophe Van der Kind, and she says her cousin works with my company.” He smiled slightly. “She looked like you, but not. It was trippy.”
    “ She looks nothing like me. Her mother is Vietnamese.” Annata turned a page fiercely.
    “ She didn't have your eyes, true. Yours are more golden-brown.” He rolled his head toward her, watching her reaction. She pursed her lips. A thought occurred to her, and she was surprised at the anger that flared up.
    “ Did you fuck her?” she asked, careful to keep her eyes on the page.
    “ Jesus, Annie. Of course not.” He laughed. “She was drunk, too. Very drunk.”
    “ Sounds like a match made in heaven.” She dropped her paper, unable to keep from looking at him any longer. “What else did she say?”
    “ She said to tell you hello.”
    “ Great. Just great.” Annata snorted. “My 87-year-old grandmother waits by the phone for her to call. When her brother Holland was injured in Iraq a few years ago, did she call? No. But she walks up to you, in Rio of all places, easy-peasy, and says hello. How rich.” Christophe held up his hands in surrender.
    “ Sorry. Didn't mean to stir up anything,” he said. Then he stood. “You want a drink?”
    “ Whatever.” Annata shook her head. She took a deep breath and forced her anger aside. Vivica was not her problem. Her biggest problem was standing right in front of her, and she had no idea what to do about it. Christophe busied himself at the small wet bar. The private company jet was well stocked with all of William's favorite spirits. He clinked ice cubes in a glass.
    “ Vodka tonic?” he asked, his back to her. She took in his broad shoulders, clad in an black cashmere sweater.  His muscles rippled under the rich fabric as he unscrewed the cap on the vodka bottle. His ass looked great in his designer jeans. His cologne, she realized, was taking over the air in the cabin of the jet. The fine scent was all around her, pushing the air out of her lungs. Damn him. A drink suddenly sounded heavenly.
    “ Please,” she murmured. She cleared her throat. “Thanks.” He turned and held out a glass of clear liquid.
    “ With a splash of lime, just how you like it.” He smiled, his white teeth flashing.
    “ What do you know about what I like?” she asked, careful to not touch him as she took the glass from him. He turned back to the bar.
    “ You think you're the only one who pays attention?” Amusement tinged his voice as ice clinked in his glass.
    “ Let me guess. Whiskey on the rocks?” she asked, taking a sip of her drink. It was perfect. He mixed it exactly the way she liked. She couldn't suppress a low moan as the spicy liquid slid down her throat. “This is good.”
    “ You're welcome.” He gracefully slipped back into his seat, a whiskey on the rocks in his hand. She had guessed right. He held it out for a toast. “To Paris.” Annata narrowed her eyes, but clinked her glass against his. They sat in silence for a moment, the muffled roar of the jet engines the only sound in the cabin.
    “ So.” Annata broke the silence first. “How's your sister? I didn't see her at the party.”
    “ Kat is in Africa until next year. I think she's keeping her distance from Miranda.” He laughed into his glass.
    “ Why?”
    “ She came out. You know that socialite,  Jana Stephens? She and Kat have been together, for a few months. Really down low, obviously. Miranda blew a gasket. I wish I had been