Blaze of Winter: A Loveswept Contemporary Romance (3 page)

Even as she shivered from the contact, he swept the key from her hand, unlocked the door, stepped into the room, and shut the door behind him.

Right in her face.

Avery stood there for a few seconds, frankly shocked. Finally, she came to her senses, releasing the breath that she’d unconsciously been holding. More disturbed at her reaction to his touch than she was by his obnoxious manners, she turned and slowly descended the stairs, fervently hoping—no, praying—that as long as Theo Grayson was at the Star Harbor Inn, he would stay in his room and out of her way.

CHAPTER 2

“What the hell are you doing?” Cole demanded, looming over Theo, who was stooping to throw a pair of socks into his large duffel bag. Theo should have known that it would never work for two huge men to share such a minuscule space.

“Thought you were working tonight,” he responded coolly.

“Hank’s on shift now,” Cole said, referring to one of his deputies. “But you didn’t answer my question.”

“I’m packing,” Theo finally said. “I’d have thought that much was obvious. You
are
the sheriff, right?” He glanced sidelong at his brother, a small smile forming on his lips.

“I can see that you’re packing. The real question is, why?”

Theo raised an eyebrow. “Are you going to ask me nicely?”

Cole rolled his eyes. “It’s annoying as crap when you dodge my questions. I’m just looking out for you. You know I won’t quit bugging you until you tell me what’s up. Are you heading back to California? Going to visit a friend?”

“Enough.” Val’s calm voice filled the tiny room. “Let him alone.”

Cole stepped back. “Our little brother won’t tell me where he’s going,” he said, his voice heavy with irritation, “because I didn’t ask
nicely
.”

“Where
are
you going?” Val asked mildly.

“To stay at the Inn. Our brother here,” Theo said, jerking his thumb at Cole, “is making me nervous.”

“I don’t blame you. You’ll get some good writing done there.”

“That’s what I’m hoping.” Though he wasn’t sure he could convince himself of that anymore. One more second in the presence of Avery Newbridge this afternoon and he would
have lost whatever small amount of composure he had left. Slamming the door in her face had been inexcusably rude, but it wouldn’t have been any less rude if he’d shoved her up against the wall and kissed her senseless. And that’s exactly what he would have done had he stayed in that damned hallway. He
never
did things like that. Didn’t even contemplate them—unlike his twin, Seb. But for that woman, he was ready to do an about-face.

His mouth had gaped open when he first stepped into the Inn. Thankfully, her head had been turned away from him and he’d had a moment to compose himself. At least he’d kept it together while he was with her. Barely.

A more fascinating woman he’d never seen. Avery Newbridge dressed just like her sister. She looked like a librarian—a very sexy librarian—in an ivory blouse, a gray cardigan, and a fitted navy pencil skirt that hit just below her knees. She was tall and lithe, with wide-spaced cornflower-blue eyes and a light smattering of freckles dotting her nose and cheeks. Her lips were ripe and pink, like a summer rose in full bloom. High cheekbones and a little pointed chin gave her the otherworldly aura of a fairy creature. And that hair—oh, Lord, that hair.

Shimmering copper tresses, the color of the sunset, swung past her shoulder blades. Long and straight, it framed her inquisitive, elfin face so perfectly, Theo could hardly believe it was real. He’d wanted nothing more than to reach out and touch the strands. Then he had.

“Next time I’m going to ask nicely,” Cole muttered, breaking into his thoughts, before pushing past Val out of the room and up onto the deck. Theo didn’t smile this time. It was too easy to get a rise out of Cole lately. Some days, he acted like he was still leading his Special Forces unit in Afghanistan. Taking a job as the sheriff of Star Harbor had been a good move for him, but he still had a hair-trigger temper. The change in Cole nagged at Theo, but he wasn’t sure what to do about it.

Once Cole was gone, Val leaned on the door frame. “You leaving your Jeep parked at the wharf?” he asked.

Theo nodded. “Yep. That is, if it’s okay with you that I’m taking up one of your parking spots.”

“No problem. So,” his brother said casually, “this wouldn’t have anything to do with a certain redhead, would it?”

Startled, Theo looked up at his brother, who was standing there with a curious expression on his face. Avery wasn’t the reason he’d booked a room at the Inn, but her presence made his move all the more enticing. He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “Why do you ask?” Theo said slowly, knowing his interest was already betrayed by his hesitation. It was hard to get something past Val at the best of times, and Theo was making things far too easy for him.

“She’s a sharp one, isn’t she? Knew just what you needed.”

“Uh … yes,” Theo stammered. “Just.” He tried to keep on packing, pretending that Val’s words hadn’t fazed him.

“Jimmy sure lucked out.”

Jimmy?
Oh, man. Val was talking about Emma, not Avery. Damn, was his brother trying to give him a coronary? “Yes,” he managed to mumble. “Very lucky.”

Val picked up a blanket from the floor of the cabin and placed it on the bottom berth. “I’m just glad that you’re in town. It’ll give you a chance to start over.”

“Why exactly would I need to do that?”

“You’ve spent the last few years being someone you’re not.”

Theo came up short. “I’m exactly who I always was.”

“No,” Val said, shaking his head. “You’re different. It’s inevitable. You leave home, you change. You were always smart, no doubt about it. But you could’ve cared less about what other people thought of you. Too many years in San Francisco made you care, and you’ve surrounded yourself with other people who care, too.” He paused. “Why do you think I live here instead of in Boston? Because Star Harbor grounds me. It keeps me sane. The people are real, and I can
guarantee you they’re more interested in finding out about you as a person than the fact that you’re on the bestseller lists.”

“That’s enough,” Theo said gruffly, cutting him off.

Val sighed. “Look, I know you’re struggling. Hell, I would be too, if I was in your position. Seems like you just need some time to figure things out for yourself.”

Theo didn’t respond.

Val glanced up the short stairway, where Cole had disappeared. “I’d better go check on Sheriff Sunshine.” He ducked out of the cabin and headed to the deck.

Theo sighed and continued packing. Boy, did his brother ever have him pegged. As usual, Val was right—on every count. It wasn’t just that he’d gotten stalled out on his book; his life was on the wrong track. When he’d first moved to the city, San Francisco had seemed so vibrant, and it had been all about the writing. Feverish days—and sometimes nights—spent working on his manuscripts or attending book release parties for famous authors. And then there were the beautiful, intelligent women who were happy to be on the arm of someone good-looking, well informed, and famous—in literary circles, that was. It had been exhilarating, and he’d gotten swept up in the crush. The collateral damage had been his writing. After a few strong years he’d just completely petered out, unable to even start his next book, which was already under contract.

Without the writing, he didn’t know who he was anymore. But even before then, his life had started to seem like a glittery jewel—bright and shiny on the outside, but cold and empty on the inside. He was missing something huge, something he couldn’t put his finger on, even as he grew more and more disconnected, feeling like he was just playing a part in a badly written play. The last party he’d attended, in mid-September, had been the final straw. As he’d stood there, listening to everyone’s superficial natterings, seeing one friend suck up to another friend, knowing that as soon as they separated they’d pick each other apart, watching the woman he’d slept with the night before cozy up to an editor visiting from New York, he had the strangest feeling that he was living another life—a life that wasn’t his own. He tried to look objectively at
who he’d become, and he didn’t like what he saw: the man with the scotch in his hand and the artfully worn tweed jacket, leaning on a bookshelf with a jaded expression. Was he really that guy?

Right then and there, a little voice started whispering in his ear, telling him to go back to Star Harbor for a while. That it would be good for him. And he listened. It made sense—by escaping the scene, he hoped he’d be able to come to grips with himself. Figure out who he was and where he was going. The next week, he’d made a plan. It took a couple of months, but he’d sublet his apartment, packed his bags, and headed to Massachusetts, leaving everything behind.

Now that he had some distance from his old life, it was starting to seem farther and farther from the reality he wanted to carve out for himself. He knew it was more than just the writing. Being in San Francisco simply wasn’t getting him where he needed to be. Where he wanted to be.

But where
did
he want to be? He couldn’t stay in Star Harbor permanently, could he? For the briefest second, a flash of bright red hair wicked its way through his consciousness. Theo grunted. Avery had put up her guard the moment she laid eyes on him—giving him that
you’re going to play me
look.

Thinking about her, he was struck by an intense desire to see her again, to break down those defenses. He was shocked that he was even having that thought. Sure, he was attracted to her, but he couldn’t act. He
wouldn’t
act.

But he’d be damned if he didn’t want to.

Throwing the rest of his clothes in his bag, Theo zipped it up, suddenly feeling exhausted. Conversations with Val had a way of doing that to him.

He slung the bag over his shoulder, then stepped up the stairway and onto the deck. Val and Cole were gone, so he was able to leave without further discussion, using one hand as a brace to hop over the rail and onto the pier. Mindful that there was ice on the wooden wharf, he carefully made his way back to the main boardwalk, which had been well cleared, and then up to
Harbor Street. Would Avery be there when he got back? Damn, he hoped so. He hitched his bag up higher on his shoulder, then quickened his pace until he reached the front door of the Inn. Crossing his fingers, he swung the door open and stepped into the warmth of the front room.

She was there behind the reservation desk, sitting primly in a small wooden chair as she pored over a binder, making notes in the margins. As soon as he stepped into the foyer, she scrambled, snapping the binder shut and standing up fast. For a brief moment, she looked unbearably sad, but her expression morphed into one of cool politeness so quickly that Theo wondered if he’d imagined it.

It was warm in the small room and she’d taken off her sweater, revealing her slim-cut blouse, which displayed her soft curves to perfection. She blushed under his gaze and he desperately tried not to give her body a leisurely perusal. The last thing he wanted to do was frighten her.

“May I help you with something?” she asked stiffly, twisting her pencil in her hand.

“The Wright Read,” Theo rasped. “Is it still open?”

Avery nodded, seemingly relieved to be asked a simple question. “Yes. The bookstore isn’t closed during winter. I think it stays open until five.”

Theo blinked. She’d moved her head as she spoke, and that fabulous hair had swung around her shoulders, temporarily mesmerizing him. The color and luster of it were beyond description—and from him, that was saying a lot. Suddenly, a huge gust of wind blew outside the front window and she turned toward the sound. When she looked up, a thin stream of late-afternoon light hit her face and Theo sucked in his breath.

Her hair was real, all right. Even her eyelashes were that same orangey color. At that moment, he wanted nothing more than to step around the desk, sweep her into his arms, and bury his face in the shimmery mass. She turned back from the window to catch him staring at her. As if she could read his thoughts, she blushed more furiously, the redness suffusing her cheeks and
starting a slow creep down her neck. She crossed her arms under her chest and blinked once. “May I help you with something else?”

“Dinner,” he croaked, his mouth suddenly dry.

A little crinkle formed between her eyebrows before smoothing out. “I’m sure you know this already, but the LM Kitchen is open late. They have good omelets.”

“Join me?” he asked, not intending his voice to come out so huskily.

“I—ah—” she stammered, a fresh flush suffusing her face, finally realizing what he really wanted: a date.

“Please,” he added. His need to know everything about her clawed at him. Suddenly, it was very important that she say yes.

After a too-long pause, she answered. “All right.”

It was a start. He let out the breath he’d been holding. “I’ll be down at eight to pick you up.”

Avery simply nodded. Taking that as a sign that he should make his exit before she changed her mind, he stepped through the foyer and into the hallway, heading up the stairs to his room. She’d said yes.

For the first time in a long time, he was actually looking forward to some good conversation. And maybe, just maybe, something more.

CHAPTER 3

“Avie, honey, are you all right?”

Avery turned as her Aunt Kate walked into the foyer, holding a small box filled with cleaning supplies. She couldn’t help but smile. Kathleen Everhart, her mother’s only sister, was wearing the most brightly colored head scarf Avery had ever seen—vibrant purple with shocks of fuchsia. Kate hadn’t been afraid of the chemo or of losing her hair, choosing to fight her breast cancer with the same optimism that she brought to the rest of her life. Even before she’d gone in for treatment, she’d headed to Cameron Stahl’s store, the Front Street Boutique, and special-ordered large scarves in every color of the rainbow. And she’d chosen well. As usual, Aunt Kate’s crazily patterned scarf elevated Avery’s mood considerably.