Love on the Lifts Read Free

it would start to disappear like Dad’s was now doing.
    â€œYou’re building a snowman? What are you, like, two years old?” he taunted.
    I was stunned. My brain wouldn’t function, no words would come forth. Because standing right beside him, grinning as well, was…
    Brad Connor.

Chapter 2
    â€œY ou’re one to talk,” I finally tossed back at him when my brain kicked into gear. “Throwing snowballs. What are you, like, one?”
    Okay, so maybe my brain was still in lockdown mode. It was trying to putter along, but it obviously wasn’t warmed up yet.
    â€œGod, Kate, your comebacks are sharp enough to…well, heck, I guess they aren’t sharp.”
    Nothing more humiliating than having someone point out the obvious, especially in front of someone you like. I glowered at Sam. “What are you doing here, anyway?”
    â€œAunt Sue invited me and my buds to use the condo over winter break.”
    My mouth dropped open. “Not this condo!”
    â€œYeah, this condo.”
    â€œBut we’re using it.”
    â€œWe can share. You remember my roommate, Brad, right?”
    Since he made a nightly appearance in my dreams and was plastered all over my computer screen at home, yeah, I remembered him.
    â€œHey, Brad,” I said.
    He leaned forward, folded his arms on the railing, and gave me a smile that could have melted our snowman, because it was sure melting me. “Hey.”
    I didn’t think I’d ever heard one word sound so incredible. He made it seem so important, and I know I was probably grinning like an idiot, but I couldn’t help it.
    â€œAnd this is Joe Foster,” Sam said.
    My mother had raised me to be polite. I tore my gaze from Brad “the hunk” Connor and shot a quick glance at the grinning guy standing on the other side of Sam. “Hi.”
    â€œCool snowman.”
    â€œThanks. Going the nontraditional route was Leah’s idea.” With my thumbs, I pointed to my friends standing on either side of me.“Leah and Allie.”
    â€œHey, Sam,” Allie said, sounding a little breathless. Cold could do that to you. “Brad, Joe.”
    The guys muttered their greetings, but Brad’s gaze never wandered from me. I was completely down with having him stay in the condo, but no way did I want Sam around. I would be too self-conscious flirting with Brad while Sam looked on. Especially since I knew Sam would give me a hard time about it once he realized I had a serious interest in Brad. It’s just the way Sam was.
    Besides, we’d gotten here first and staked our claim. After all, this area of Colorado used to be mining country, and that was the way it was done. You staked your claim. Let Sam find someplace else to bed down.
    I forced my attention back to him. “You can’t stay here. There are only three bedrooms, and we’ve already claimed them.”
    Sam held up a finger. “There’s the main bedroom on this level—”
    â€œI’m familiar with the bedrooms. We’ve already checked them out and settled in. Thatone is mine.” Although it had a king-size bed in it, I wasn’t about to share it with anyone. Okay, not completely true. I could see myself sharing it with Brad, but not if Sam was around.
    â€œâ€”two bedrooms at the level below,” Sam continued as though I hadn’t spoken, holding up two more fingers like he was talking to a kindergartener. “Each has a set of bunk beds. That’s five beds.” He flashed five fingers. “And the couch. Six people, six places to sleep. We can work it out.”
    â€œSam could sleep in my room if he wanted,” Allie said quietly.
    â€œ Please ! He snores and has stinky feet. He can stay with Aunt Sue. She invited him.”
    â€œKate, this is non-negotiable.” Sam liked to throw around words like that, like he was always in charge, just because he was fifteen months older. Another