Free Snowed In by Sarah Title Page B

arms full of what looked like cookbooks—was Gavin.
    â€œOh my God,” she whispered. He still looked like a god. A god with dark circles under his eyes, but a gorgeous god all the same.
    Pippa turned to see what she was looking at.
    â€œYeah, he’s pretty easy on the eyes. But listen, he’s been a real mopey-dopey lately. Hey, maybe you should—”
    â€œYou know him?”
    â€œGavin? Sure, he lives next door.”
    â€œNext door?”
    â€œWhat are you, deaf? Yeah, next door. Takes good care of me, too. He shoveled my driveway during the big storm. He and this little cutie—” Pippa squinted her eyes, getting a better look at Maureen. “Wait a second. You’re his little cutie!”
    â€œShh!” Maureen said. Gavin still hadn’t spotted them, and she was hoping to escape unnoticed. If she didn’t, she was pretty sure she was going to pass out behind the desk.
    But it was too late. As Pippa waved her arms and called her “cutie,” Gavin looked up. His eyes immediately locked onto hers, and he nearly dropped the books he was holding. “Shit,” he muttered, gathering his wits and bringing the books to the desk.
    â€œHi,” he said, breathless.
    â€œHi,” she whispered. He looked so good, and she’d missed him so much. What was the reason she wanted to stay away again?
    â€œI missed you,” he said. “I would have called, but—”
    She wanted to be alone, that was it. She wanted to find herself so she could be strong, and not lose herself in another relationship. She didn’t want to be in a position where she loved her partner more than he loved her.
    But he could have called her.
    He probably would’ve called her, but she hadn’t given him her number. She’d run away like a coward, and now here he was, not mad, not proud, just glad to see her.
    She could love a man like that.
    She already did.
    â€œDang, you two, get a room,” Pippa said, snatching the cookbooks from the desk. “I’ll meet you in the car, lover boy. Don’t leave without her number.”
    â€œHow have you been?” she asked, lamely.
    â€œFine.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Miserable, but fine.”
    â€œMe too,” she admitted.
    â€œDo you think—” he started at the same time as she said, “I’m sorry I was such a—”
    â€œGo ahead.”
    â€œYou first.”
    â€œOkay,” Maureen said, taking a deep breath. “I’m sorry I was such a coward. I just got out of a long relationship and I thought I needed to figure out what I want, and that meant time alone.”
    â€œThat makes sense. It would have been nice to know that, but it makes sense.”
    â€œBut that’s not what I want, Gavin. I don’t want to be alone. But I’m afraid. I’m afraid that you’ll break my heart worse than Dave ever could.” She paused. “You didn’t fire him, did you?”
    â€œNo. I took someone’s advice and showed compassion.”
    â€œOkay, good. Thank you.”
    â€œI don’t want you to be afraid,” he said, reaching across the desk to brush her hair off her forehead. That gesture, already so familiar, brought tears to her eyes.
    â€œI’m not. I mean, I am, but seeing you again . . . I’ve been such a fool.”
    â€œNot a fool,” he said, wiping her tears. “We’ll take it slow, okay?”
    â€œSlow?”
    â€œHow about dinner tonight?”
    â€œTonight?”
    â€œSure. I know this great little pub. They serve the best fries, and I know the owner. I can get you extra.”
    â€œYes. Okay, tonight.” Maureen smiled. “Actually, tonight will be perfect.”
    â€œWhy is that?” Gavin asked, running his fingers over her hand.
    â€œThey’re predicting snow.”

Read on for an excerpt from the next novel in Sarah Title’s Southern Comfort series, Two