Heart of Ice Read Free

powerful and dark in his gray vested suit—and the fragile ball shattered under the pressure.
    “You little idiot,” he muttered, moving forward to force open her hand.
    She let him, numb, her eyes falling to the sight of his dark hands under her pale one where blood beaded from a small cut.
    “I…wasn’t expecting…you,” she said nervously.
    “Obviously. Do you have some antiseptic?”
    “In the bathroom.”
    He marched her into it and fumbled in the medicine cabinet for antiseptic and a bandage.
    “Where’s Ada?” he asked as he cleaned the small cut, examined it for shards, and applied the stinging antiseptic.
    “Out getting pizza,” she muttered.
    He glanced up. He’d never been so close to her, and those silver eyes at point-blank range were frightening. So was the warmth of his lean, powerful body and the smell of his musky cologne.
    His eyes searched hers quietly, and he didn’t smile. That wasn’t unusual. She’d only seen him smile at Ada or his mother. He was reserved to the point of inhibition most of the time. A hard man. Cold…
    Something wild and frightening dilated her eyes as she met that long, lingering look, and her heart jumped. Her lips parted as she tore her gaze downto the small hand that was visibly trembling in his big ones.
    “Nervous, Katriane?” he asked.
    “Yes, I’m nervous,” she bit off, deciding that a lie would only amuse him. If granite could be amused.
    “How long did it take Ada to talk you into this visit?” he asked.
    She drew in a heavy breath. “All of a half hour,” she said gruffly. “And I still think it’s a horrible mistake.” She looked up at him defiantly. “I don’t want to spoil Christmas for her by fighting with you.”
    His chin lifted as he studied her. “Then you’ll just have to be nice to me, won’t you?” he baited. “No snide remarks, no deliberate taunts…”
    “Look who’s talking about snide remarks!” she returned. “You’re the one who does all the attacking!”
    “You give as good as you get, don’t you?” he asked.
    Her lower lip jutted. “It’s Christmas.”
    “Yes, I know.” He studied her. “I like presents.”
    “Is anyone going to give you one?” she asked incredulously.
    “Ada,” he reminded her.
    “Poor demented soul, she loves you,” she said, eyeing him.
    “Women do, from time to time,” he returned.
    “Ah, the advantages of wealth,” she muttered.
    “Do you think I have to pay for it?” he asked with a cold smile. “I suppose a woman who sells it expects everyone to…”
    Her hand lifted again, but he caught it this time, holding it so that she had to either stand on her tiptoes or have her shoulder dislocated.
    “Let go!” she panted. “You’re hurting!”
    “Then stop trying to hit me. Peace on earth, remember?” he reminded her, oddly calm.
    “I’d like to leave you in pieces,” she mumbled, glaring up at him.
    His eyes wandered from her wild, waving red-gold hair down past her full breasts to her small waist, flaring hips and long legs. “You’ve gained a little weight, haven’t you?” he asked. “As voluptuous as ever. I suppose that appeals to some men.”
    “Ooooh!” she burst out, infuriated, struggling.
    He let her go all at once and pulled a cigarette from his pocket, watching her with amusement as he lit it. “What’s the matter? Disappointed because you don’t appeal to me?”
    “God forbid!”
    He shook his head. “You’ll have to do better than this if you want to keep a truce with me for the next few days. I can’t tolerate hysterical women.”
    She closed her eyes, willing him to disappear. It didn’t work. When she opened them, he was still there. She put away the antiseptic and bandages and went back into the living room, walking stiffly, toclean the debris of the shattered ball from the beige carpet.
    “Don’t cut yourself,” he cautioned, dropping lazily into an armchair with the ashtray he’d found.
    “On what, the ball or you?” she