Page 17 of Winter's Kiss

“Nice to meet you,” I replied as I sat. “My name is Natasha.”

“Nice to meet you as well. Tell me, when did you get to town?” I chuckled at the question and cleared my throat as I looked at her.

“Just a couple of days. I kinda arrived here by mistake. Got turned around in the storm.” The woman took a drink from her cup with a sideways grin.

“That’s easy to do, how most people come to find this small slice of heaven we have here.” I grinned with a slight nod. “Course, most people head for the hills once the snow melts. Don’t recall ever seeing one get a job.” She paused; her gaze locked on me as though she worked to size me up. “Tell me, are you staying at the inn?” I blushed at her question.

“I’ve been staying at the Quinn farm.” Bella laughed with my answer, her brows raised as she took another quick drink from her tea.

“That explains it.” She lifted her cup to her lips with a small sip. Bella didn’t act as though someone who would live in such a small town, a big city is the read I got from her.

“I take it you’ve met our Mr. Rowland Quinn, then?” She continued with a lowering of the glass. Could this be my chance to get information about him? Should I pry into the man’s life more than I had?

“He’s the one who saved me after my car died on the side of the road.” She sat in silence; her stare locked on me as though she could read my mind. “He’s been very welcoming.”

“Oh, I bet he has.” She tilted her head with another laugh. There was something behind her laugh, the way she looked at me, the slight glow with the mention of Rowland’s name. It angered me, more than perhaps it should have.

“What does that mean?” I asked before I could stop myself.

“Get comfy dear, I’ll tell you all about Rowland Quinn.” My chance to learn about him arrived and yet I wanted to get as far from this woman as I could. There was something about her, something off that caused the hair on the back of my neck to stand up.

“I really should get back to…”

“I’m sure they can manage it.” Bella paused. “You know you want to hear about him. He’s a mystery and a dish, our Rowland.” I cleared my throat and shifted my frame on the wooden chair, my arms crossed across my chest as she continued. “Since we were young, Mr. Rowland Quinn had always been what you might call a lady’s man.”

“I’ve heard those stories already.” I snapped, Bella with a smirk at my statement.

“From whom, his mother?” Her words were spoken with a tease; my gaze lowered briefly to not give her confirmation. “Rowland has bedded more women in this town than one can count. Some married. Just something about him seems to weaken the opposite sex.” Bella sighed with a pause. “Least, until he met that woman from Frostford.”

“From what I saw in pictures, that woman made him happy.” Instantly I came to his defense, to the defense of his marriage with Paige. I was an outsider and even I could see in the small memories frozen in pictures that they loved one another. Bella arched her brows and turned, snatched up her purse before she returned her attention toward me.

“Thank God I got to him before, at least for a night. After that woman, he just hasn’t been the same.” My brows furrowed from the annoyance in Bella’s voice, annoyance at the death of Rowland’s wife. Was I hearing that right? I asked myself.

“The woman he loved and married was murdered. That tends to change a person.” I continued. Bella smirked, her head a slight tilt.

“You’ve got a thing for him, don’t you?” She shrugged as she pulled out her wallet. “Not surprising. Every woman in town has been trying to get back with him since his wife died.” Shocked, that could be the only word to describe how the woman’s attitude made me feel. “Hope you’re not holding out for that, sweetheart, because there is a lengthy line for it.” I scoffed as she finished talking, my head a quick shake.

“Is that right?” I asked.

“Sadly, minus the occasional oral satisfaction, he’s been pretty closed off.” There it was, I thought. My lips curved to a crooked smile at the jealousy this woman had over Rowland’s late wife. The desire she had to have him. I knew her type, a woman who could never be satisfied with her life, always wanting what the woman next to her had.

“What’s going on?” My head snapped up at the sound of his voice, and my smile instantly sweetened. No longer did I feel annoyed or angry. Bella sat back with a sultry smile up at him.

“Just sharing stories with our new friend, Natasha.” I could see his expression change instantly; his stare focused only on the woman from his past. “Won’t lie. I’m a little jealous she’s had you all to herself during this storm.” Bella leaned forward; her finger traced lightly over his hand. “How have you been?” Rowland licked his lips and nodded his head. His gaze shifted onto me.

“Natasha, your car is in the garage. I can walk you over there now.” I quickly nodded my head and stood from the table.

“Wonderful.” With a smooth motion, I slid next to him.

“Enjoy yourself, sweetheart, just be warned.” I stopped and turned toward the woman; my lips curved to a smile.

“Be warned?”

“He’ll pull you in and leave you lost. He’s still in love with a ghost.” Rowland stood up straight.

I could see the tightness of his jaw even under the thickness of his beard. How could someone who looked so beautiful be so vile?

In a matter of a single sentence, I understood why Rowland was how he was. Why do people seem to think they understood the man he was and yet in the brief time I had known him, I had learned who he was really? He was a kind man. It would have been easy for him to leave such a small town, he was forced to relive a tragedy, yet he remained for his family. He might have left a wake of hurt women behind him, but who could blame the man seeking company after such a loss?

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