Free Fierce: New Adult Sport Romance (The Boys of Winter Book 4) by Violet Vaughn Page A

holds it for a moment. Heather eats up the charm, and darn if she doesn’t get a little flustered. I know how that feels.
    She says, “I hope you’re ready for training on Monday. We’ll work you hard.” She winks at me and I smile, but my stomach clenches a little.
    Christian grins, showing off his killer smile, and says, “I look forward to it, especially if you’re the one telling me what to do.”
    Seriously? I’m not sure a night full of Christian flirting is going to be fun. Especially since he told me he reserved it for special people. Right. I need to pawn him off on someone else for a while and find Kelly.
    Casey and Megan are waving from further down the deck, and I breathe a sigh of relief. I also notice they’re near the keg. “Excuse us, Heather. We’re going to make our way to the beer.”
    Christian touches Heather’s arm and says, “Nice to see you again.” I walk off with the assumption he’ll follow.
    When we get to the girls, Casey throws herself into Christian’s arms for a hug that lifts her off her feet. “It’s so great to have you here for the winter.”
    “It’s going to be awesome skiing with you.”
    When he sets her down she says, “You remember Megan, right?”
    “Of course. Can I get anyone more beer?” He holds up our cups, but both girls decline.
    I scan the crowd, looking for Kelly, because I’m comfortable leaving Christian with Casey. I find him grilling burgers on a supersized grill with Jason and Kaleb. Megan is watching me and says, “Go to your man. We’ll take care of Christian for you.”
    “Thanks.” I approach Christian as he returns from the keg, and when I try to take my beer he holds on to it for a moment before letting go. Weird. “I’m going to mingle while you chat with Casey, okay?”
    “Yeah, sure.”
    The smell of beef increases as I get closer, and my stomach growls. I touch the soft cotton of Kelly’s worn sweatshirt and snuggle up to him. “Hey.”
    He slips an arm around me and gives me a quick kiss. “Hey yourself. Hungry?”
    “I am. Are you going to make me the perfect burger?”
    He keeps his arm around me and flips burgers with his other hand. “Of course. How do you like it cooked?”
    I duck out from him so he can work and answer, “Medium rare please.”
    Kaleb bumps me with his hip. “Hey there, knuckle-dragger.” It’s a slang term he uses for snowboarding based on the racers that lay their boards so far on the edge that they can drag their hands along the snow, and it makes me smile.
    I ask, “Where’s Lori?” Meat sizzles on the grill, and a flame jumps up when Jason smashes a burger flat to cook faster.
    “She’ll be here later. She had to work until seven.”
    Kelly plates up a burger for me, and Jason says, “Eat with your girl, we’ve got this.”
    I take the dish from Kelly, and he grabs one for himself. We wander over to a picnic table that has condiments and various sides set out. I set my beer down, and ketchup squirts as I put some on my burger.
    When we’re done filling our plates, Kelly walks me around to the side of the house. It’s quieter away from the crowd, and he leads us to two rocking chairs. He says, “Here, hold this,” and hands me his plate. He drags a small table over and arranges the chairs so we can each put our meal down.
    I perch myself on the edge of a chair and place our dinners on the small table. “Good plan. This smells delicious.” I lift my burger and take a bite. Hot juice from the beef drips down my chin as the flavor satisfies my tongue. “Mmmm.”
    Kelly wipes my chin with his napkin and brushes my lower lip with his thumb. I stop chewing and look at him as I melt into his touch. He moves his hand so that he’s tilting my face up toward his. I gulp down my mouthful and set my food down. Reaching around his neck, I pull him in for the kiss he invited.
    It’s a hungry connection, and the beer flavor of his mouth melds with the salty residue of meat in mine. By the time