Free A Late Thaw by Anna Blaze Page A

drew a cross over her heart and wished for untold tortures if she broke her word.
    She still hadn’t.
    “So why’d you come then?”
    Kiley shrugged. Way to make a girl feel welcome, Cole . “It’s home.”
    “Wasn’t enough to bring you home last Christmas, or the one before.”
    Yup. She was a horrible daughter, and her mom let the whole town know it. Mother dearest undoubtedly left out that Kiley couldn’t afford to pay for a rental car sturdy enough to make the several-hour trip in wintry weather.
    Before she had a chance to respond, the blonde sitting with Cole tilted her head to the side and frowned at her. “I remember you.” She smiled then, broadly, as though remembering anything was an accomplishment worthy of her pride.
    Kiley tried to smile at the woman, but her lips were too tight. “Go Bobcats,” she said weakly.
    “Yeah, you were in my gym class. Didn’t you get hit in the face with a tennis ball one time?”
    Kiley had long ago accepted that, despite the lack of any reasonable scientific explanation, her face clearly attracted sporting equipment. She’d absolutely gotten hit with a tennis ball, as well as a volleyball, a softball, and a Frisbee. Once she’d even managed to get wacked in the nose with a broom while they’d attempted to play a grounded version of Quidditch. “Yup, that was me.”
    The other woman nodded. “I knew it. I’ve always been good with faces.”
    “Wow. Catching up is super fun , but I have a bunch of tables. So…”
    “Were you even going to give me a call?” Cole looked hurt, and Kiley wished she didn’t care.
    “Sure. Once I got settled and all, I —”
    “Right.” He scowled. “Why don’t you bring us a couple of drafts. Whatever’s on special is fine.”
    His cool tone sliced through her resolve and made her stomach churn. Why couldn’t she just move on? Being Cole’s friend, watching him date every other girl in town, hurt too much. She’d promised herself she wouldn’t fall back into his well-meaning but clueless clutches this summer. Kiley had come home to work and to save up enough money to live on for the final semester of classes she needed to earn her Master’s in Meteorology. That’s it. She already had job prospects for after graduation in January. This would be her last summer at home.
    She nodded. “I’ll be right back with your drinks.”
    He’d already turned back to the blonde.

Chapter Two
    COLE WASN’T REALLY SURPRISED to see Kiley; seeing her was the only reason he’d brought his date to the cheesiest bar in the tri-county area. Still, it shook him more than he’d ever admit. She looked great, prettier even than she’d been the last time he’d seen her. She looked good enough to make him reconsider his thoughts on the ridiculous, shiny German maid costumes the waitresses wore. A glance around the large, heavily drinking, and mostly male clientele gave him second thoughts about his second thoughts.
    She ought to be wearing a sweater, he decided, an ugly, baggy one that covered her from her little pointed chin all the way down past her knees.
    Even seeing it with his own eyes, Cole had a hard time believing Kiley was the newest waitress at Buddy’s Bierhaus. She undoubtedly considered it tacky, demeaning, and beneath her considerable talents. He agreed.
    He ought to feel bad that he’d taken Andi out with such duplicitous motives . But she seemed unconcerned as she chattered away about people he didn’t know and, frankly, didn’t care to if her repeated use of the word parole officer was any indication. He forced himself to look especially interested in the story she was telling when Kiley returned with two large frosty mugs of beer and a chipped bowl filled with stale pretzels. Locals knew better than to eat anything served at Buddy’s.
    Andi turned and thanked her . “You know, you’re prettier than I remember.”
    He bit back a chuckle at Kiley’s pained expression.
    “Umm…thanks?” Kiley tapped her pencil