Snowed In Read Online Free PDF Page B

something in mind?”
    42
    We tossed ideas back and forth until Shaun showed up at her place. Then she hung up to be with him.
    I brought my knees up to my chest, wrapped my arms around my legs, and gazed out the window. It really was pretty at night. And so quiet.
    Except for the wind howling.
    I really liked my room, and I was definitely going to keep it.
    But just for tonight, I might sleep with the light on.
    43
    4
    I am so not a morning person. And early morning? Forget it. As far as I’m concerned, it should have never been invented.
    I was snuggled in my bed, under a mound of blankets, my head beneath my pillow, trying to ignore the wind shrieking around outside. Because the house was old, it wasn’t very well insulated or sealed. Everything seemed to rattle.
    I rolled over and sighed. It was still dark and dreary, but my internal clock told me I needed coffee.
    Wearing my not-so-sexy flannel trousers and long-sleeved shirt, I clambered out of bed and put on my fuzzy purple slippers. Shivering, I slipped on my thick robe, but didn’t bother to tie it. I was going to head quickly down the stairs to the bathroom, where hopefully I could find more warmth, along with my toothbrush and hairbrush.
    The stairs did their usual creaking as I hurried 44
    down them. Briefly, I stopped to look through the circular window and saw the silhouette of someone trudging along the street. I wondered how long it would take me to get used to all the snow.
    I dashed down the narrow steps. When I got to the bottom of the stairs, I turned into the hallway and came up short.
    A lumberjack was standing there.
    Or at least, that’s what he looked like. A really young, really hot lumberjack. He was tall and broad, with midnight black hair that curled around his ears and across his brow, creating the perfect frame for his startling blue eyes.
    He was wearing an unbuttoned red plaid flannel shirt that was so thick it was almost a jacket.
    Beneath that he wore a black turtleneck sweater.
    He was turned slightly so I couldn’t see his other hand.
    Lumberjacks carried axes. I had a flashback to The Shining . My heart hammered against my ribs. I didn’t know this guy. Who was he? And where was Mom?
    He grinned. “Hey.”
    “Who are you?” I snapped, jerking the sides of my robe together and tying the sash.
    His eyebrows shot up. “Most people I know respond to a greeting with another greeting.” 45
    “Well, I’m not someone you know, now, am I?
    For all I know you’re a serial killer.” He chuckled. How could anyone chuckle in the morning?
    “Do I look like a serial killer?” he asked.
    I guessed not, but still . . .
    “What are you doing here?” I demanded.
    “Your mom hired my dad to do some repairs.
    They’re in the kitchen discussing details.”
    “So you just decided to make yourself at home?” He narrowed his eyes. “Your mom said I could look around. I’ve never been in this house before, but it’s always interested me because of the turrets.
    I have this thing for turrets. I’m Josh Wynter, by the way.”
    “And do you become Josh Summer in June?” I asked.
    Okay, it was totally lame, a stupid thing to say, but I was still reeling from the fact that a hot guy—
    were all the guys on this island hot?—was roaming the halls and I was . . .
    Not at my best. Ratty robe. Fuzzy slippers. Hair tangled. Teeth unbrushed.
    And have I mentioned that I am not a morning person?
    “Actually,” he said at last, as though finally catching on to my not-so-witty banter, “I stay Josh 46
    Wynter all year. Do you stay unfriendly?”
    “That does not deserve an answer,” I mumbled as I shoved past him as quickly as I could and went into the bathroom. I slammed the door shut.
    Okay, I had been unfriendly, rude even, but he was so unexpected. And so hot. And I already had a date for Friday night.
    What was I supposed to do? Flirt with him?
    Would that make me the island slut? Nathalie had been dating the same guy for years! Was that