Free Chilled by Death by Dale Mayer

Particularly the controversial ones. Her Eternal series.
    Her room choice for sleeping had also been indicative of how she felt. She’d chosen the loft. Maybe for the reason she had voiced, but also so she didn’t have to share a room with anyone, again keeping herself separate. He’d planned to go up to the loft with her, needing to be close. Not too close, but close enough to keep an eye on her. So she would know she wasn’t alone. He’d actually hoped that she’d be waiting and watching to see if he was sharing a room with Yvonne. Instead, by the time everyone had crashed, well after she’d left, she’d been sound asleep.
    He should know. He’d crept up the stairs intent on putting his bedroll up there as well.
    Instead, he’d decided she’d slept so well, he’d stay down by the fire and let her have her space.
    That might have been the right thing to do as she’d slept soundly. He’d shushed the second group as they left to avoid waking her. And it had worked. She’d slept though the ruckus. Now she was comfortably in the middle of the group, as if she’d never been so separate. A little too comfortable with Geoffrey though.
    “Hmmm…” George said in a low voice. “She’s not interested in him, you know?”
    Heat washed up Royce’s neck. Damn. He’d hoped George hadn’t noticed. She was always so relaxed, so playful with Stevie and Mark that he couldn’t help but wonder about her closer connection to Geoffrey.
    “They’re just friends.”
    Royce pulled his belt on and slammed it home, checking his buckles.
    “I’m sure they are.” He knew that, it’s just that he didn’t want them to become anything more.
    “Good.” Sounds of more clicks and snaps said George had put his helmet on. “Are you good?”
    “Yeah.” And he was. He always was. Like he and George had discussed, they’d do everything they could to look after Stacy and see that she enjoyed her first holiday since that fateful time.
    Then maybe they could coax her out of her shell again.
    *
    Bitch.
    That was the nicest thing he could say about her. She’d slipped into place with the group, and damn if he didn’t feel like he’d been ousted to make room for her.
    Stupid bitch. There, that was better.
    Maybe he’d do a series of portraits too. Her face in stupid positions so that everyone could see her true colors.
    The thoughts only festered in his mind. He’d tried to clear them out. And failed.
    She was like mold. Insidious and all encompassing. Everything she touched succumbed to her will.
    Like hell.
    If anyone was the ruler in that department, it was him.
    And she’d learn that lesson soon enough.

Chapter 10

    S tacy stopped, stabilized her breathing, and then climbed up another rise. Ski boots were not made for walking. It was an easy climb. Her movements were strong and steady. She’d been more overwhelmed by the extreme beauty of the frozen waterfall than the physical exertion. She’d forgotten the sheer joy of feeling the fresh air fill her lungs and the burn of her muscles, but her heart was full of laughter.
    The scenery was spectacular.
    She was glad she’d come. She crested the top, and damn if Royce wasn’t waiting for her there. She did a quick step and laughed out loud. Life was good. She dropped her skis and clicked her boots in the bindings.
    “You aren’t as out of shape as I thought you’d be,” Stevie crowed at her side, giving her a big hug. Their helmets clanged against each other.
    She let him. It went with the day and the scenario. She’d have stomped him if he’d tried that at work.
    “You’re doing great out here, you know.” He gave her a big grin.
    She rolled her eyes at him. “I haven’t been that bad.”
    He gave her a serious look. “Yes, you have.”
    Startled, she took a closer look and realized from the deep dark troubled look in his eyes that he cared, like really cared. And she was touched.
    “I’m better now.”
    “Now,” he muttered. “Finally. It’s been a