Release: New Adult Sport Romance (Fire and Ice) Read Free Page A

the inserts and puts them in my boots. He holds a boot open for me. “I want you to put these on and walk around for a bit. We can make adjustments if they don’t feel quite right.”
    I squeeze my foot into the boot. Pressure all around my foot, I have yet to adjust to this torture. The hard plastic makes them hard to put on, and once you do, your foot is cramped until it acclimates to the tight fit. I ask, “Have you been skiing all your life like everyone else here?” I walk back and forth from the bench to the counter. The deliberate heel-toe action clunks steadily, and I wonder if I’ll ever look natural the way the other instructors do.
    “I think I started when I was about five. So, yeah, most of my life. How about you?”
    “I grew up in ski country but never tried it until I was in college. Once I did, I was hooked. I scheduled my classes for Tuesdays and Thursdays so I could sneak away and ski almost five days a week.”
    “Wow. You must love it to have come out here.” He leans against the counter and watches me. His arms are crossed over his chest, and his biceps bulge. Yum.
    “I do. Skiers and boarders are nice people. I figured if it was great back East, I’d be in heaven here.” And it’s the last place he would look for me.
    I stop in front of Kaleb. “My feet feel great. Is there anything else I need to do?”
    “No, you’re all done.” He cocks his head and looks at me for a moment. “Pasta and a book sound boring. Would you want to hang out for a while? It’s slow, so we could eat takeout and talk. As long as you don’t mind me waiting on any customers who come in.”
    My heart flutters, and a goofy grin covers my face. “I would like that. Should I go get us something?” I sit down on the bench to take off my boots.
    “We can go together. I’m sure Nick won’t mind. He can take a break from tuning to watch out front while we’re gone.”
    “Sounds like a plan. I’ve been craving Thai. Any good places here?” I stifle a grunt as I yank my right foot out of my boot. Kaleb pulls the tongue of the other boot open for me, and taking my left foot out is much easier. “Thanks.”
    “There’s Thai Time down the street. It’s not bad. Let me go get Nick.” He walks behind the counter.
    I clench my fists with an inner scream of excitement before I lace up my hiking boot. This is so much better than being alone in my tiny garage apartment. Not that I’m not grateful for the rental in a ski town—but it’s hard to be alone. Matt’s wife, Nadine, really went above and beyond when she got me an apartment over the local police chief’s garage. She understands my need to feel safe, but I still find I pace the tiny space and fight off panic attacks when I have too much time to think. And remember.
    As I finish tying the laces, Kaleb breaks into my thoughts. “All set. We’ll pick up something for Nick, too.” I grab my coat, and as I put my arm in the sleeve, Kaleb holds it for me. How sweet.
    Unfortunately my mind flashes to someone else, and a chill slices into me. No. I’m not going there. I turn and look into Kaleb’s face and try to memorize the color of his eyes. Anything to push the terror from my mind.
    “Is something wrong?”
    Darn it. “No.” I shake my head. “I’m sorry; I was kind of lost in your eyes for a minute there. They’re so blue.” Oh goodness, that was corny, even if it was kind of true. I see him blush a little.
    “Yeah, it’s hard to tell looking at me, but my mom is a blue-eyed blonde. Other than the eyes, the rest of me is all Dad.”
    “He must be a handsome guy.” Since I’ve already started down this path, I may as well keep on going. A flush rushes to my cheeks at my brazenness.
    Kaleb blushes even more. “You keep this up, and I won’t fit my head through the door.”
    I chuckle. “Sorry. I’ve never been very good at hiding my feelings.” Lie. Total lie. I could win an academy award for my acting skills under pressure. But I’d