Holiday Bound Read Free Page A

movement of falling snowflakes, “…is it any surprise he’s not here?”
    He shrugged carelessly. The action made her glance down at his chest. A strip of ridged abdomen and lightly haired, muscular chest was left exposed. She resisted an urge to blurt out that he needed to grow up…and cover up right this instant. When she glanced into his face, she realized he’d been staring at the exact same place on her body as where she’d been gawking at his. Her flash of defiance drained out of her. She shivered uncontrollably. Her nipples pinched tight.
    “It’s only going to get colder,” he murmured, his eyes still fixed on her breasts.
    Angeline shifted uneasily on her feet. Had he noticed her nipples becoming erect beneath her sweater? Is that why he’d mentioned the temperature completely out of context to their conversation? The knowledge that it hadn’t been the cold air that made her body respond left her flustered. It suddenly felt too confining in the flame-lit room. She grabbed one of the lanterns and headed toward the kitchen.
    “Do you have anything to drink?”
    “I’m going to finish my shower and shave while there’s still hot water. Get whatever you want.”
    Angeline set the lantern down on the counter and watched as the large shadow sauntered down the hallway. Her mouth hung open. His manners were beyond inhospitable. They were intentionally rude. And the way he’d looked at her just now—
    Alex Carradine seemed determined not only to insult his father, but her as well.
    Or maybe he considered it one and the same thing?
    She’d already guessed that Mitchell and Alex’s relationship was rocky. Why hadn’t Mitchell told her it verged on full-out battle? She noticed the phone on the counter and grabbed the receiver. She was thrilled to hear a dial tone—apparently the lack of electricity didn’t affect this type of phone.
    Figured that grouchy Alex Carradine hadn’t told her.
    Mitchell picked up on the second ring.
    “Mitchell?”
    “Angeline! I’ve been so worried. I left two messages,” Mitchell exclaimed.
    “I keep dropping the cell here. I couldn’t make any calls out.”
    “Where are you?”
    “At Alex’s.”
    “You actually made it there?” Mitchell asked. “The news is saying the interstate is closed.”
    “They closed it after I took the exit, apparently. Conditions are a bit better coming from the north versus the south. I’m surprised you didn’t get stuck in the thick of this mess. Surely you would have had to leave Chicago before two to make it here by four thirty—”
    “I got caught up with that Millington account. Good thing too, or who knows where I’d be spending the night tonight. By the time I finished, they’d already closed the interstate.”
    “Oh…yes, it’s a good thing, then,” Angeline said with a little bit too much warmth. She knew they hadn’t closed the interstate until 3:50 p.m., well past the time when Mitchell would have had to be on the road if he wanted to make their scheduled rendezvous. She told herself the flash of disappointment and hurt she experienced had absolutely nothing to do with Alex’s comments about his father’s undependability.
    It was fortunate Mitchell hadn’t tried to come. He would have wrecked, most likely…or ended up bedding down in some God-awful roadside inn filled with irritable holiday travelers whose Christmases had been ruined.
    Like hers had, she admitted, thinking of spending Christmas with a surly, unpleasant man who clearly didn’t want her in his house. Perhaps there was a motel in the nearby town? But then she thought of the miles down the treacherous, winding road and regretfully dismissed the flickering hope.
    May as well admit she was stranded with no hope for immediate escape.
    “What a mess. Those weathermen ought to be shot,” Mitchell said irritably. “They say a hell of a snowstorm is moving in, just to top everything off. At least you’re someplace warm and safe.”
    Angeline rubbed