Free A Kiss in the Snow (Kindle Single) (Fool's Gold) by Susan Mallery Page A

turned up. “Didn’t Gladys tell you? I’m her handyman. I take care of things around here. Keeping her driveway clear when it snows, fixing leaky pipes. I put up her Christmas lights before Thanksgiving. That kind of thing. She’s a cool old lady.”
    “Don’t let her hear you call her old. She’ll scalp you.”
    Nancee rubbed her eyes. She’d only been in town for two days and was still trying to adjust to all the changes in her life. She was tired, a little crabby and confused to be facing the only man she’d never been able to forget.
    “How are things with you, Nancee?” he asked.
    How was she? How was she? Was he kidding?
    “You want a recap?” she asked, her voice sharp. “Really?”
    “Yes, really.”
    She picked up the icing spatula again. It wasn’t much, but holding it made her feel a little more in control.
    “Let’s see. The last time I saw you, or rather didn’t see you, I was standing in a chapel in Las Vegas. Where you were supposed to marry me. I’m not sure if you remember that we planned to elope.”
    The muscles in his face tightened, but otherwise he didn’t react. “I remember.”
    “Good. Because I do, too. So after you left me at the altar, I went back to law school and finished there, then got a job in DC. I met a really nice guy named Sean, and eventually we moved in together. Well, it turns out he wasn’t as nice as I thought. Three months ago the FBI, Homeland Security and a whole bunch of other people showed up at our condo to arrest him for suspicion of terrorism. They were also investigating me. Which was the coolest thing ever.”
    She could hear her voice rising but couldn’t seem to control it. Nor could she stop shaking. She clung to the spatula.
    “I was quickly cleared, but let me just say having that happen really did a number on my career at the law firm. Then I had to hang around until the various agencies said it was okay for me to leave town. About then Sean was released on bail, so I could break up with him. Oh, I tried to take my cat, but technically he’s considered Calvin’s owner and wouldn’t let me. Even though he’s never once cared about Calvin and that cat is all I have.”
    Tears filled her eyes, but she blinked them away. “Then I got fired for, you know, living with a terrorist suspect and then I came here. I’m staying with Gladys until I can figure out what to do with my suddenly broken life.” She pointed to the dozens of cupcakes on the counter. “In the meantime, I’m doing contract work for a local bakery. At least it’s practically Christmas and everyone is in a cupcake-buying mood.”
    She took a step toward him. “So that’s how I am, Shep. Just peachy. Except for, you know, being investigated by the FBI, being fired and losing my cat. And you?”
    “I’m fine.”
    “You never were much of a talker, were you?” She threw down the spatula and told herself to breathe.
    “No. I’m more of a doer.”
    Shep closed the space between them. Before she could figure out what he was planning, he cupped her face in his large hands and pressed his mouth to hers.
    At the first touch of his warm lips, all her worry faded. There was only this moment and the magic of this man. He’d always had the power to transport her, to convince her with a single kiss that everything was going to be just fine. It wasn’t, of course, but for those few seconds, she could relax and simply be. Then he drew back and reality crashed in on her. She pushed him away.
    “You should go,” she told him.
    “All right.” He turned toward the door, then looked back at her. “It was nice to see you. I hope we run into each other around town.”
    She was less sure about wanting that. Shep had always been trouble for her. What was that old saying? Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Well, she was zero for three with Shep. Giving him a fourth chance didn’t make her stupid, it made her pathetic. No way, no how. She was done. With a