Page 35 of Snowed In for Christmas

Grace's surprise melted into a heated response, her hands gripping his shoulders as they deepened the kiss. Tommy felt a thrill race through him, a fire that threatened to consume them both.

This was nothing like their first, gentle kiss—this was a fierce declaration of desire, and it left him breathless and wanting more.

As they separated only far enough to bring their foreheads together, both panting slightly, Tommy knew one thing for certain: this woman was dangerous.

And if he wasn't careful... he was going to get burned.

CHAPTER11

Grace

Grace's heartraced as she stepped out of Tommy's embrace, her breaths coming in shallow and rapid. She hadn't expected the intensity of their connection to hit her so hard, and it left her feeling both exhilarated and unnerved. Retreating into her room, she put distance between them, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

"Hey, no need to look so flustered," Tommy joked, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "I didn't come here just for a kiss, you know."

The tension in the room eased as Grace laughed, grateful for his light-heartedness. "Oh? Then what did you come for?" she asked, attempting to regain some semblance of composure.

"Actually, I have something for you." Tommy's grin widened, but before he could elaborate, Grace's eyes darted towards her laptop sitting on the small desk, its screen glowing softly with her latest project. "Working on something?"

"Ah, yeah," Grace replied, her initial discomfort melting away as she found herself eager to share her recent endeavor with him.

As Tommy took a seat at the desk, Grace launched into an animated explanation of how she'd broken down her original Snow Hill article into a weekly series, detailing her plans for each segment.

"Readers have been loving it," she said, excitement bubbling up inside her. "I've gotten messages from people who can't wait to see what happens next!"

Tommy leaned back in the chair, a proud smile playing on his lips as he watched Grace's enthusiasm shine through. "That's amazing, Grace. You really have a gift with words. I live here and your writing still makes me wanna come visit."

"Thank you," she replied, more laughter blooming in her chest.

"By the way, did Snow Hill's Biggest Fan have anything to say about your new series?"

Grace hesitated, her mind racing as she considered how to answer him without revealing too much. She didn't want to tell him that the emails from that particular reader had been strangely absent since the night they kissed.

After the woman had sent her the ominous message about Grace not being who she thought she was.

"Oh, you know," she began, trying to keep her tone light, "I'm sure you can imagine how she felt."

She hoped that would be enough to satisfy his curiosity without lying outright, and Tommy chuckled, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "You know, I've been wondering if maybe it's Mrs. P. The emailer definitely has the same kind of energy she has."

A flurry of emotions washed over Grace. When the emails were sweet—though overwhelming, it would've been a comfort to find out they'd been from Mrs. P all along.

But now? She hated the idea that the woman could be so nice to her face and send something that strange to her inbox.

"Mrs. P? Really?" she deflected, forcing a laugh while trying to ignore the unease in her stomach. "Well, I guess that would make sense. She's always so interested in everything that happens here, and being the owner of the inn, it makes sense she'd want people to come visit."

"Not that she'd hide behind a screen name. She'd just come right out and tell you it was her."

"True."

"Either way, I like the idea of it being some sweet old woman. Less weird, right?" Tommy's expression softened, his relief evident.

The realization that he was truly concerned for her well-being struck Grace like a bolt of lightning, sending shivers down her spine. And just like the way she'd retreated from the power of his kiss, something inside her wanted to shy away from the depth of his feelings, too.

"Anyway," Tommy said, shifting the mood, "I was wondering if you'd like to join me for a ride-along sometime. You know, take a break from your work and see what it's like on patrol."

Grace raised an eyebrow, intrigued yet puzzled. "Why the sudden change of heart? Robin told me she asked you about it when I first got to town, and you said no."

Tommy looked surprised. "How did you hear about that?"

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