Page 16 of Frozen Play

“Mitch? That guy is superstitious as fuck.”

“He’s still dating Jayna, the hockey player?”

“Yeah, but she can’t play anymore. Knee.” Damn, I hoped Ducky wasn’t done.

Skye’s shoulders dropped. “Well, Petrov wouldn’t approve of me because I pollute my temple. Some mornings, especially in winter, it’s the only thing that gets me moving.”

I liked my morning coffee but I didn’t require it. “Are you telling me you’re not going to move today?”

She turned her head to the window. “Not without help.”

Right.That was out of my hands so I opened another cabinet, finally finding bowls, and started to put together our makeshift breakfast.

I shoved a bowl over to Skye and stirred the berries through my yogurt. It wasn’t the best breakfast I’d ever had, but it wasn’t the worst either.

Skye licked the yogurt off her spoon, pink tongue caressing it and inspiring illicit thoughts in my head that I had to shove away. She dug up another spoonful and asked, “So how does your stepmother survive here without any cell coverage? She hasn’t managed to get someone to build a cell tower nearby?”

“Pretty sure she has one of those satellite things, Starlink, that provides Wi-Fi for everyone.”

“Then why isn’t it working now?”

I snorted. “The modem requires electricity.”

“She really should have a genny, then.”

I was sure Lina hadn’t imagined getting stuck here without power. “Now that the snow’s stopped and we have daylight, I’ll check around to see if there’s something.”

Skye slipped off the stool and brought her bowl to the sink. “I’ll help. My phone is probably dead but I can send a message through the truck radio to let the family know I’m okay and where I am.”

As if called up like Beetlejuice, a truck horn blasted from the road.

Skye grinned. “I bet that’s them.” She ran for the door.

I nodded, but inside I was disappointed. I’d rather scavenge food and be permanently cold than miss time with this woman. But still, I knew where she was. I wouldn’t disappear again.

Chapter 8

Know how to play poker?

Skye

I was relievedto hear the familiar horn. I’d wrapped myself around Phin while he slept, and then stared while he stretched and his sweater pulled up. I wasn’t sure anyone with a pulse could have blamed me. I’d like to say it was the firelight that had made me think he was that attractive, but now that it was daylight he had creases on his cheeks and his hair was flat on one side. And he was still hot.

Ogling him wasn’t fair. He stuck with me, after I’d been a bitch to him. He was nice enough to put the bitchy stuff aside but it wasn’t like anything was going to happen between us. He might even be interested in me—there’d been something in his gaze. But. He was only here for a few days and who knew if we’d see him again? I didn’t need someone for a couple of days. I wanted a lifetime.

I pulled on Oscar’s jacket and my snow boots. Phin put on his coat and shoes and gloves. They weren’t going to be enough to keep him warm for long. Falling temperatures came with the clear skies following a storm.

Once we opened the door, I saw my brothers in the distance on the other side of our smaller truck, Phin’s car still attached. They must have driven up the road until they spotted it. I was surprised they hadn’t come right up to the house and pounded on the door.

Shit.I’d forgotten about the downed power lines. I needed to warn the guys where they were. I didn’t want them to risk getting shocked by getting too close. I plowed through the snow, up to my knees where it had drifted, hearing Phin slipping behind me.

“Stay there!” I yelled. I came to a clumsy stop by the end of Phin’s Honda.

Oscar crossed his arms. “What the hell happened, Skye?”

“Nice to see you too, asshole.”

Oscar grinned at me, then abruptly dropped his smile. His jaw tightened.

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