Page 75 of Unlawful Seduction

“See. You don’t know everything. Watch and learn, buddy.” I pushed off, lying on my back far enough away I could spread my arms.

“What are you doing?” He rose onto his elbow, shifting so he could watch me.

“It’s called having fun.”

With a quick glance, I could tell he was more perplexed than ever before.

“That’s interesting. Are you certain you’re not having a seizure?”

“Very funny. Lie down.”

“What?”

“You heard me.”

Sighing, he thumped back on the snow. “You’re a tough taskmaster.”

“You honestly have no idea. Now spread your arms and legs. Just do it and don’t argue with me.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

I looked over, biting back a grin since he was doing what I asked. We both continued the movements until I was certain he was freezing. I still had a little evil streak in me.

“Now, get up carefully. Don’t disturb the snow more than you need to.”

He looked over at me, grumbling like I knew he’d done the first time I’d met him. But he followed my orders, stepping away carefully. “It looks like a blob in the snow.”

“Back away a few feet. Then you’ll see.” I beckoned to him, so he’d do what I said.

The man had the most adorable expressions even when he was griping about whatever was going on. His brow was furrowed and he folded his arms, finally joining me a few feet away. When he turned back, I could tell the instant he figured out what he was looking at. His grin was entirely different, almost loopy like a kid would do when discovering a hidden Easter egg.

“Incredible,” he finally admitted.

“You never did that as a kid?”

“Considering until I moved to New York after I got out of the Marines, I’d never seen snow except on television, no.”

“A sand and surf boy.”

“Try a jungle and swamp kid. We moved a lot, at first anyway. My dad was always running from something.”

Interesting. I glanced up at him, uncertain whether he was telling me the truth. He was. He was also remembering something as he’d been doing when I’d found him playing music.

“Not fun,” I said quietly. “Every family has secrets.”

“Maybe so. You might be surprised how much fun I did make it. I learned how to wrangle snakes.”

“Oh, God.” I laughed, but could tell he wasn’t kidding.

I realized I was cold a few seconds later, freezing in fact.

Beckett turned his head, now eyeing me critically. “You need to dress warmer.”

“Well, if a big burly dude would have allowed me to bring some clothes with me, I’d be fine.”

“Oh, you are asking for it.” He pulled me against him using the lapels of my jacket to drag me closer. “You are freezing to death. You might need another shower.”

“You think so, huh?” I teased.

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