Page 17 of Snowed in with the Enemy

Freedom was overrated. That was the first thought that came to mind at her words. “That wasn’t my wish Nix.”

“Wasn’t it?” One brow arched slightly higher than the other but there was an inquisitiveness in her gaze that told me my answer mattered to her.

“No. It was just curiosity.” Both personal and professional. “I could do with a few more days in here with you,” I admitted.

Her cheeks flushed prettily as she sat up and put some distance between us. “These few days have been great Lee. Really fucking great if I’m being honest. I didn’t know things could be like this.”

My heart pounded in my chest. “Hell neither did I.”

“Yeah?”

I nodded. “But it sounds like you’re saying goodbye. Why?” Probably because she realized the same thing I did after last night’s fight.

“Because you are who you are and I am who I am, and neither of those things will change anytime soon.” She wore a sad smile as she rolled her eyes. “The first guy I like and it’s impossible.”

“I don’t think it’s impossible.”

“That’s because you’re still on a sex high. But how long will one or both of us get tired of having the same argument overand over? It’ll become exhausting and eventually we’ll hate each other.” She sounded sad about it, which gave me some hope.

“Or we morph into mature adults who can talk out their differences?”

Her smile was so torn I felt my own heart rip in half. “What can we talk about? I love Holiday Grove. IamHoliday Grove and there’s a real chance that your big, wonderful resort will put me and my friends out of business.”

She was right, of course. But that wasn’t what I wanted to hear from her lush lips. “I reserve the right to prove you wrong.”

“I really wish you could but I fear it’s impossible.” She gasped at the sound of the harsh knock on the front door. “I’ll get that.” She wiped her eyes and stepped into the discarded pajamas on the sofa. “JB,” she smiled wide. “Thanks for getting around to this side of town. I’m sure you’ve been busy the last twenty-four hours.”

“More than busy. I plan to sleep for a week once all the powder is cleared. You all right in here? I found an abandoned car up the road.”

I stepped behind Nix and extended my arm to the silver haired man. “That would be mine. The snow caught me coming back from the airport and I swung it into a ditch.”

The old man was sharp, taking in our clothes and overall appearance with a smirk. “If you want I can give you a ride to town. I’ve already called the tow truck.”

“You did? Thanks, I’d love a ride.” This town really was too good to be true.

“All right, then. I need to plow up another mile or so and I’ll swing back around for you. Ten minutes. Be ready.” He eyed me closely, nodded and then trekked back down the stairs.

“I guess this is it,” Nix said as she turned to me with a sad smile. “Thank you for keeping me company, Lee.”

“It was my pleasure, Nix. I’ll see you around. That’s a promise.”

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Mr. Lancaster.”

When she called me that, I wanted to prove her wrong. “I don’t. Not ever.” Our gazes connected for a long moment and I hoped she saw how sincere I was in my desire to see her again.

With no time to waste, I changed into my own clothes, packed the others to wash and headed to the door. I waited for Nix to appear, certain she’d want a proper goodbye but she never reappeared and when JB honked his horn I knew I was out of time.

It was goodbye for now, no matter what she thought.

Chapter 11

Nix

“Okay what’s going on with you Nix?” Torey stared at me with a mix of curiosity and sympathy as if she already knew what or ratherwhowas responsible for my melancholy mood. “You haven’t been the same since before the storm.”

“Nothing’s going on, I’m fine.” I wasn’t fine. Not at all. “It’s just been busy catching up on everything that was at a standstill for three and a half days.” That was also true and work kept me busy, too busy to think about a certain sexy billionaire who had undeniably rocked my world.

“Pants on fire, Nix.” Her sing-song tone made me smile but the determined look that followed it told me I wouldn’t get out of this without an explanation. “You’ve got exactly ten minutes before the cookie bake-off begins to tell me. Or else.”

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