Page 67 of Lethal Threat

Whap!

A shower of snow explodes all around me. I first look up, expecting to see a tree branch overhead that’s lost its pile of snow. But the sky is wide open above me.

I whirl around to find Cole smirking.

“Gotcha.”

“You devil!” I scoop up a handful of snow and prepare for battle.

“Good luck, babe.” He pelts me with another snowball before I can even launch my first one.

But something’s wrong. The snow doesn’t stick together well, or I’m doing something wrong. No fair! My only option is to take off for the trees. I need somewhere to hide.

But he’s fast, and my boots suck. I’m sliding all over the place as I scurry across the yard. He pelts me with three more hits that burst into whitepowder puffs.

I take aim with my only snowball and manage to hit his shoulder. “Take that!”

But before I can duck, he hits me right in the boob.

“Hey! Watch it, buddy, those are delicate.”

He raises a brow. A devilish smile turns up his irresistible lips. “And delicious.”

I take advantage of the distraction and hit him with a double-decker snowball, right in the crotch.

“That’s a low blow.” Obviously, it doesn’t faze him because he’s gathering more snow for the battle.

I’m laughing and running again. Until I tumble to the ground in a puff of white flakes. Snow goes down my coat. Up my sleeves. In my mouth.

God, it feels good. Tears sting my eyes from my laughter.

Free.I feel so free.

Cole moves to stand over me. His eyes are lit with happiness as he lowers to his hands and knees, pinning me to the ground below him.

He brushes at the melting snow on my cheek as he searches my eyes. “I love seeing you happy.”

“I am. It’s so silly. I know things are chaotic, but I am really happy right now.”

His smile falls away as his eyes move slowly over my face. “I am too.”

I slip off the gloves I found in his coat pocket and press my palm to his cheek. “Then why are your eyes so sad?”

After a sigh, he says, “Because I wish it was this simple.”

I blow at the flakes that are landing on my lashes. “Can’t it be?”

He kisses me then, as if he’s done talking. Things get hot and soon the snow isn’t the only thing that’s melting.

Time floats away. Snow forms a layer over us as we forget the world… even if it’s only for now.

When Cole drags me to my feet, I protest. “Hey, I was enjoying myself…” But I stop talking when I see him looking at the tree line with alert eyes.

“Is everything okay?”

“I heard something. I need you to go inside.”

The whip-crack tone of his voice leaves no room for discussion.