SwitchBack: A Paranormal Werewolf Romance (Knightsbridge Canyon Series Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

Nordic Chalet where they still sold winter sports equipment. I marveled how it seemed some things changed and some things never did.
    “Come on, let’s walk,” I said, just to clear my head, and proceeded to stroll down my hometown version of Main Street USA, Will trailing a bit behind.
    “I can’t believe the Frosty Freeze is still here.” I kept up a running commentary as we walked. “And there’s the studio where Amber and I took jazz class. Knightsbridge School of Ballet was just around the corner, up there in that window, see?” I pointed and Will sneaked up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist.
    I folded myself into him and looked up into his smiling baby blues. “What are you doing?” I asked, my heart pounding in my ears.
    “Reminiscing,” he said as he leaned down and kissed me again. Long and slow, and soft, like a lover. My body melted into his. I whimpered as my heart threatened to crack and I knew that I had it bad.
    Where the hell did this all come from? Old flames rekindled from banked fires.
     “Um, that was nice.” I inhaled his scent as I hid my face in the crook of his arm.
    “You’re welcome.” Will laughed and kissed me again on the forehead. Lots of kissing going on here. I liked it.
    This was the last thing that I was expecting. But there’s something about the people in your hometown, something very familiar, the same familiarity that breeds contempt, but when the right strings are played, it makes you feel like they know you inside and out…even when you know they really don’t.
    But you can never go home again, though I thought I could right then.
     
    I slipped out of his arms and walked a few steps ahead of him again. “I know what you’re doing.”
    “What am I doing?” he asked, daring me to answer.
    “Don’t think you can come in here all hella wonderful and worm your way back into my life that easy.”
    “Hella wonderful?” Laughter from him.
    “I got out of this hick town years ago and I’m not going to be dragged back here in the lined bed of a Chevy with intertwined hearts on it,” I said, referring to the etching on his back window.
    “I never thought you would,” he told me, eyes glittering in the sunlight dappled through the maples. I hated it when men did that, with their eyes. Hated it.
    Okay, I’m lying.
    “Well. Good. So back off, ’cause this girl’s not ready to settle.” I crossed my arms and looked at him defiantly.
    “Since when have you settled for anything, Ash?” he asked and grabbed my elusive hand. “And if I was that kinda guy, I’d be insulted. Come on. I want to show you something.”
    I let him drag me a few paces, then decided that with his bulk it would be a losing battle anyway and matched his steps. Before we knew it, we were in front of Crave.
    Keith and Dawn Snyder had opened Crave Donuts when I was a kid when one of those horrible chain donut shops was the only game in town. Pretty soon the other place closed. How’s that for entrepreneurial? They made the best Bavarian crème I have ever tasted in my life, so when he pulled me in the door, I thought I was going to die.
    “Hey Ash!” came a voice from behind the counter. “I didn’t know you were in town.” Jill Snyder, now Jill Blumenthal, came around the corner and gave me a big hug. I was taken aback for a moment. We’d never been that close in high school, but it just goes to show you that people’s memories of the past are often more rosy than we expect.
    “Yeah. I’m holed up at Amber’s for a few weeks recovering from a surgery. Bullet wound on assignment. I see you’re still in the doughnut biz.”
    “Bullet wound?” she said, her mouth a big O.
    “Just a ricochet. Nothing serious. Forget I said anything. You look great by the way.” And she did. Married life looked really good on her.
    Jill’s face lit up. “Oh, you’re so sweet.”
    That was the difference between her and a city girl, who would have taken my comment as one-upmanship.