Free Unwrapped by Erin McCarthy, Donna Kauffman, Kate Angell Page B

that’s okay with you?” she asked politely.
    What was with the sudden solicitous manners? It didn’t suit her. He liked it better when she just said what she was really thinking, not this tea party attitude.
    “Sure,” he said easily, reaching down to get the second unopened bottle of tequila he had bought at the gas station. He handed it to Roy. “Just a little thank you for putting us up.”
    Roy’s eyes lit up. “Tequila. Alright, sir. Haven’t had a worm since I don’t know when.” He got up and shuffled over to a kitchen cabinet where he stowed it away. “I won’t be sharing that with the grandsons. They can get their own liquor.”
    After handshakes and Blue giving Roy what seemed like a spontaneous hug, they headed out into the parking lot. Christian had already loaded up the car with all their stuff.
    Blue started walking in the direction of their room.
    “Where are you going?”
    “To the bathroom if you need to know,” she said testily. “And no, I don’t need help.”
    That was it. He didn’t deserve the cold shoulder. Bending over, Christian packed some snow together. As Blue stomped off, back to him, he launched a snowball at her. It smacked right between the shoulder blades, bursting on the velvet of her jacket. She came to a grinding halt and whirled around, face furious.
    “Did you just throw a snowball at me?”
    “Well, I doubt it was Roy,” he said, fighting the urge to grin. She looked so outraged.
    “You’re a jerk.”
    “Come on, lighten up. It’s Christmas. Throw one back at me, you’ll be amazed at how good it feels.” Christian held his arms out. “I won’t even duck.”
    Blue hesitated but then she bent over and scooped some snow up, packing it quickly. She hurled it at him and he took it right in the face. Fortunately her packing skills sucked so he didn’t break a tooth or his nose, but it was damn cold when it burst in powdery wetness all over his face.
    “Lucky shot,” he told her.
    She was laughing, wiping her hands off on her jeans. “You’re right, I do feel better.”
    That was more like it. He hated seeing her so aloof. “Run, Farrow, or it’s on.”
    When he launched another snowball at her she shrieked and ducked.
    Then they were engaged in full-out combat, Christian landing five snowballs to every one she managed. She was having trouble getting them to stick together and half of hers fell apart in the air, but they were both laughing, snow falling off their coats, hands red and raw, snow kicked up all around them as they dodged each other’s missiles.
    He stalked towards her, a ball in each hand ready to launch as she frantically tried to scoop up more snow, her cheeks pink, eyes bright. When he was two feet away, she slipped and went down on her ass, laughing, hands up.
    “Ack, shit! I give up. Don’t hit me.”
    Christian pretended to throw one and she screamed even louder. “Just kidding.”
    Grabbing a handful of loose snow, she tossed it at him, but it just blew back all over her, coating her hair, her eyelashes, her lips. “Crap!”
    “Ah, poor baby.” She looked so cute and cold, Christian squatted down and brushed her hair and shoulders clean. He leaned in to kiss her.
    And ate snow instead. Her eyes danced as she laughed, and Christian blinked at her, a mass of snow crammed into his mouth.
    “It was just too easy.”
    Christian spit out snow and shook some off his nose. Damn, he loved her sass. “Good one. Now get in the car before I throw you in the snow plow pile. You’ll sink to the bottom and no one will find you for a week.”
    As he helped her to her feet, she said, “Liar.”
    “Only on Christmas.”
    She laughed. “That’s ridiculous.”
    “I’m pretty ridiculous.” Christian smacked the bottom of Blue’s jeans.
    “Hey.” She swatted at his hand.
    “I’m getting the snow off.”
    “Uh-huh.”
    “We should have made a snowman,” Blue said, glancing around the parking lot.
    Christian didn’t want to make a