Snowbound Read Online Free PDF Page A

out,
or…?”
    “I don’t drink it, and I don’t buy it,” he
said with an air of finality. “Guests can bring their own, but I
don’t provide it.”
    There was more to that, but she decided not
to pry for the moment as she got them glasses of water instead. She
sat across from him and put the linen napkin over her lap. She’d
found the set of table linens in a bottom drawer, and though they’d
been a bit dusty, a quick shakeout had made them usable.
    “This is real nice.” He passed her the
serving platter first before loading his plate. “You didn’t have to
do this, Beth.”
    She shrugged. “I know, but I didn’t have much
else going on. I’m sure you don’t feel like cooking or waiting on
me after a day spent out in that weather.” With a reflexive look
out the nearest window, she shivered.
    “Still, ain’t your job.” He took a mouthful
of the meat, eyes closing for a moment as though he savored it.
“It’s my job, in point of fact.”
    Beth grinned. “As I said, I wasn’t doing
anything else. I enjoyed it.”
    “Where’d you learn to cook?”
    Her grin widened. “I wouldn’t call my skills
cooking, exactly. I took a culinary unit in school, and I sometimes
hang out in the kitchen at home, watching the chef. I can cover the
basics, but that’s about it.”
    He lifted a forkful of meat and carrots.
“This ain’t the basics, girl.” With an appreciative sound, he ate
another bite.
    She blushed. “Well, thanks. I’m glad it
wasn’t a disaster.”
    “No disaster here. This is like a restaurant
meal, which is pretty uncommon around here.”
    Again, she looked outside. “It’s so dark and
isolated. Do you ever get restless?”
    He paused to sip his water, looking
thoughtful. “I suppose, but if I do, I go for a walk or take out
the snowmobile.”
    “I meant being so alone out here, and not
being near other people or things to do.” Licking her lips, she
asked, “Don’t you get lonely?”
    He shook his head. “No. By the time I’m done
with guests for the year, I’m usually heartily sick of people.”
    “The silence doesn’t get to you, out here on
your own?”
    Reed shook his head. “Nah, my own company
don’t bother me. It’s other people I usually can’t stand.”
    She smiled, though she didn’t think he was
entirely joking. “I think I would miss being able to walk down the
street for coffee or Thai food.”
    He nodded. “This life ain’t for most,
Beth.”
    Taking a deep breath for courage, she said,
“Plus, I’d get lonely. I couldn’t live out here alone, with no one
to talk to.” He didn’t answer, so she prodded a bit more. “I mean,
how do you ever date around here?”
    Reed looked up from his plate. “I don’t.”
    She cleared her throat. “Well, how are you
ever going to meet someone to spend your life with?”
    “Don’t want to.” He seemed far more
interested in the food than the conversation.
    Feeling a tad exasperated by his lack of
communication, she said, “Fine, but what about sex? Don’t you miss
that?”
    He froze before carefully lowering his fork.
“Tomorrow’s goin’ to be a busy day again, so I can finish the rest
of the chores before the bad weather really hits. I spent most of
the day fooling with the main and backup generators, so you’ll have
to entertain yourself again.”
    She frowned. “Are you just going to ignore my
question?”
    “Damn right I am. It’s personal and not
appropriate.”
    With a sigh of frustration, she returned to
her meal, her mind still buzzing with curiosity. Surely, he had sex
sometimes, but she couldn’t puzzle out how. Unless… “Have you ever
slept with any of the women who hire you?”
    He sighed, long and loud. “They’ve all been
wives or girlfriends of my clients, Beth.”
    She arched a brow. “But do you?”
    Reed looked offended. “’Course I don’t.
Belonging to someone else is a stop sign for me, girl, as it should
be for anyone.”
    Beth smiled. “I agree, though my parents