Page 36 of Breaking the Ice

“Friands!” she exclaimed, holding up the packet as she opened the shop door.

Nick pointed to the two plates he’d already laid out near the cash register and within seconds they were taking their first bites. The sugar rush, even if only temporarily, improved Samantha’s mood tenfold.

“God, these are good. I may have to take a supply with me to New Brunswick.”

She quirked an eyebrow. “Surely you can afford to have them flown in fresh each day?”

“Hmm,” he said around a mouthful. “Good point.”

“I mean, who knows how your hockey might suffer from friand withdrawals.”

“Better point.”

And then they were grinning at each other and Samantha’s heart was suddenly light again. Light enough to float away had the bell not dinged.

“You were supposed to flip the sign,” Nick mouthed.

Samantha rolled her eyes as she stuffed in the last morsel of her friand and wiped at the crumbs around her mouth. “Can I help you?” she asked as she turned to greet their customer.

The smile that had been forming died as Ray stood before her, his expression smug.

“So it is true. Youareslumming it.” He laughed then. A laugh that would have done a wicked stepmother from a fairy tale proud.

She bristled internally but refused to rise to the bait. “It’s called biding my time,” she said with what she hoped was a menacing smile.

Samantha was aware of Nick tensing in her peripheral vision as Ray strolled over to the closest bookshelf and appraised the spines disparagingly. He pulled one out, turned it over and read the title, a sneer lifting his lip. “The Pirate’s Mistress?” He shook his head and replaced the book like it had fouled his hand.

She smiled sweetly. “I didn’t realize you could read, Ray.”

If the jab landed, she couldn’t see as Ray continued along the shelf. “When they told me at the office you were working here, I didn’t believe them. How the mighty have fallen.”

“Keeping my chair warm, Ray?” she asked, ignoring his taunt.

He laughed. “Your chair’s gone, Sammy. It was too basic for my liking.”

“It was functional.”

“Yes. Functional. Like the rest of your office. Don’t worry, I completely redecorated.”

Samantha wondered how much that had cost tight-fisted Bob and knew for sure that Ray’s days were numbered. “Did youcome for a particular reason? You know, we don’t sell how-to books here.”

Ray appeared from behind the shelves. He frowned. “How-to books?”

“Yes, you know,How-To-Bluff-Your-Way-Through-A-Job-You-Know-Nothing-About. Or maybe you’re after something likeAccountancy for Morons?”

His smile slipped slightly. “Just came to let you know Uncle Bob has promised me the corner office.”

It took all of Samantha’s willpower not to flinch. Ray knew – hell, everyone in the building knew – she’d been gunning for that corner office. And there wasno fucking wayit’d be his. She’d hadn’t worked her butt off for the last five years to hand it over toRay.

“You need to be able to count past ten for that.”

It was Ray’s turn to flinch as Samantha hit her mark. He took a step toward her, barely concealed fury smoldering in his eyes. “You underestimating me again,Sammy?”

“Hey.” Nick’s voice rumbled around the bookshop. It wasn’t loud, but it was menacing, something she imagined his opponents knew only too well. “Don’t take another fucking step.”

Samantha turned to find Nick eyeing Ray, his eyes as frigid as resurfaced ice. Her eggs swooned. And then something even stranger than cheering eggs happened. Her heart did a mad little flop in her chest.

“Buy a book. Or leave.”

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