Free Winter Interlude by SANDY LOYD Page A

break the spell he innocently cast, she glanced out at the water and took deep breaths, without noticing the view this time . If she didn’t know better, she could ha ve sworn he was flirting . But she did know better . Paul Morrison never flirted with anyone, not even Judith, whom he loved more than life itself . More likely, he was trying to rattle her .
    As her gaze remained fastened on the scene outside, big white feathers began floating in the air, increasing in density by the second . Her attention refocused on the view. She pointed . “Look, it’s snowing.”
    “Really ?” His gaze followed her finger , to see snow now falling in earnest , but the flakes dissolved as soon as they hit the water. “Wow ! Look at it . I hope it keeps up.”
    “Maybe we should do the snow dance,” she teased, glad see that his thoughts had moved to something else besides tormenting her .
    “Snow dance ?” His eyes narrowed.
    “Yeah . It’s a lot like the rain dance only it produces snow , not rain .” Tsking , she shook her head . “Surely, you’ve done one?”
    He laughed . “No, you’ll have to educate me.”
    “I’m sure there’s not much I can teach you .” She mentally groaned at the unintended double entendre . Good job, Kate . Why not give him an open invitation to torment her more ?
    “Oh ? I’m sure you’re full of surprises and could teach me a lot,” he said, without missing a beat .
    His mischievous voice, full of innuendo, sent a small thrill up her spine . If that wasn’t enough to worry her, another infectious grin reaching all the way to his eyes had her stomach turning somersaults . For h eaven’s sake, he belonged to her best friend and just because Judith’s biological clock wasn’t ticking as loud ly as hers didn’t change that fact .
    Don’t look at him . He reminds you of James . That’s why you r insides are twisting like a pretzel .
    “Whoa, back up, b ucko,” she said, once she found her equilibrium . “We’re getting way off base.”
    “Oh, come on . We’re just having a little fun . It doesn’t mean anything . Y ou can’t tell me you’re not enjoying this as much as I am .” His eyes flashed pure amusement , sending enough warmth to her core to further impair rational thought.
    She couldn’t stop the smile from forming . “That may be so .” Why deny it ? She was enjoying him for once in her life . But she wasn’t without some sense . This was Paul , a nd he and Judith loved each other . “We’re still sworn enemies . I’m willing to be nice, but I don’t think I’m ready to bury the hatchet yet.”
    He shrugged . “Okay, it’s your loss .” He sighed and took a sip of his drink . “But let me know when you’ve buried it deep enough because I find I don’t mind playing nice with you.”
    Twisting her napkin in her lap with one hand, she cleared her throat and concentrated on bringing a fry to her mouth with the other . To answer him would be pure madness . Oh , he was good . So good at rattling her . Instead of humor and snide remarks, he was now using the in famous Morrison sex appeal and charm.
    The man is not attractive . Repeat ten times and stop stealing glances at him . He was Jame s’ brother , for Pete’s sake . She needed to ignore him . She needed to remember he was Paul Morrison, her hated enemy . She needed a drink . No , w hat she needed most was distance .
    Remaining silent, she sighed and resumed eating .
    Paul didn’t seem to notice her newfound absorption in her food . He continued talking while she pretended not to notice the cute way his eyes crinkled at the edges when he smiled or the devilish gleam in them when he found humor in something and shared it with her . F eeling trapped like a charmed cobra unable to break away from the charmer, she breathed a sigh of relief when he got up to go to the restroom.
    She couldn’t wait until the meal was over so she could escape to her secluded room .
    ~
    P aul washed his hands and glanced into