Release: New Adult Sport Romance (Fire and Ice) Read Online Free PDF

inches apart, and my breath catches in my throat. His low voice rumbles softly. “Being nice to you is easy. I’m dying to get you on a board, or skates.”
    “Skates?” Excitement and heat course through my veins.
    “Yeah, I played hockey in college. I miss the ice. There’s a great rink at the rec center. Maybe we could go some night I don’t work?”
    I miss the ice, too. Except…
    Except he’s in rehab and I have nothing to fear. It would be nice to skate again, but not the way I used to. I’ll wear jeans and a cute fleece. And add a hunky guy and hot chocolate, too? A smile creeps over my face. “I’d like that.”
    “I’m free Thursday,” he says.
    “I didn’t bring my skates. I’ll have to get my mom to mail them to me. How about next week?” Only, I don’t want to wait that long to spend time with him again.
    His smile disappears and he rises up. “Sure.”
    Oh, no. He doesn’t think I’m interested. I can’t have that. His disappointment makes me brave. “Since we can’t skate Thursday, want to do something else? Casey told me the food’s super yummy at the Baked Bean.” Oh my God! I just asked him out.
    His face lights up. “I’ll text—” He shakes his head. “I’ll wait for you after work on Thursday.” He pauses. “It must be strange not having a phone.”
    “It’s only strange for other people. I’ve never had one and don’t know what I’m missing.” Well, unless you count my panic phone.
    “Oh, the things I can teach you.” He winks and turns to ski away.
    My insides tingle. Oh, the things I want to learn. I float toward the Kids’ Castle as my mind fantasizes about Kaleb Wakefield.

Chapter 6

    Thursday was two long days away. Training yesterday and today left me with only brief sightings of Kaleb. But each time we caught each other’s eye, heat flushed through my body. Those dimples of his should be illegal.
    Kaleb’s warm, ungloved hand reaches for my mitten-covered one as we make our way down the sidewalk, and I marvel at the way it completely encases mine. “Don’t you ever wear gloves?”
    He grins. “My hands never get cold. Usually they’re sweating. I wear spring gloves on the coldest days.”
    “I wish that were my problem. Must be nice.” The late afternoon temperature makes me shiver. After a long day outside, I’m hungry and cold.
    Kaleb drops my hand and wraps his arm around my shoulder, bringing me in close to his body. I melt into him when he says, “Hey, we’ll warm you up in a minute.” He points. “It’s right over there.”
    A log building with a large window is ahead. Fogged up around the edges, I imagine that steamy lattes keep the usually dry mountain air moist inside the Baked Bean. When we step inside the door a myriad of smells hits my nose. My stomach isn’t the least bit confused, and it growls in response.
    “I don’t have to ask if you’re hungry.” Kaleb’s eyes dance with amusement. “The soups here are what I recommend. They’re hearty, and the big piece of bread that goes with them is homemade.”
    “Perfect. That’s just what I’m in the mood for.” I look at the odd décor. I have a ’70s flashback with the split-log chairs and tables. Streamers with triangle scraps of fabric draw my eye to the ceiling. Open beam, it has a rustic quality that insists everything is organic. The interesting interior also lets my eyes wander freely and disguises my need to scope out the occupants.
    I order a bowl of butternut-squash soup and honey-oat bread with hot rooibos tea while Kaleb gets chicken chili and a roast beef sandwich with water. He carries our tray to the pickup area. Garlic tints the odor of his spicy chili, but I’m tempted by the sweet, earthy smell of my soup instead.
    After we pay, Kaleb walks with our steaming tray to a table in the back. It’s a cozy corner a bit tucked away, and I smile and think it looks romantic. I seat myself with my back to the wall.
    “Everything smells so good in here. I see