Read Online A Summer With Snow (Frosted Seasons #1) by Hallie Swanson - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Hallie Swanson
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chuckles. “What say we check out what’s on TV?”
Holding a slice of pizza in one hand, he leans forward and takes the remote from the wooden coffee table. I’m surprised he can’t see the shock on my face; he’s a stranger, yet he’s acting like we’re the best of friends. I try to inch away from him, but the pizza box rocks between us and he inches closer. I tear a piece off, and the warm cheese stretches and parts. Not over keen on the mushroom and pineapple topping, I take small bites.
“So what’s this thing with you and Snow?” he quizzes between sips of beer.
“There’s nothing between me and Snow,” I blurt out.
“Then how come your face doesn’t tell me that, and why can’t you look me in the eyes?”
“I’ve just got nothing to say, that’s all.”
Leaning forwards, he tilts his head slightly; I can feel his stare.
“There’s one thing that puzzles me…” He pauses for a second. “Are you two related somehow? Aren’t you his sister?”
I shake my head vigorously. “No, we are not, we’re not related in any way. We spent one summer together over ten years ago, that’s all.”
I blank him, staring at the TV, and as I nibble on the crust of my pizza I can feel an awkwardness growing between us. It’s a relief when Chase sits up and places the empty pizza box on the coffee table, and in a matter of moments works his way to the other end of the settee. The moments we sit in silence extend into what must be a couple of hours.
The doorbell finally rings, and I shoot forwards in my seat. Sam! I try to push my concern away, but now he’s here at the door, I can’t help wondering what I’ll do if there’s something seriously wrong with Hooper.I try to shake away my negative thoughts as I step from the lounge. Flicking up the catch, I open the front door to a large smile on a broad face framed by dark curls.
“Long time no see.”
Sam’s face lights up as he steps forward and kisses my cheek. He doesn’t move his face from mine, making me feel he’s waiting for more. I edge away.
“Come in,” I say, beckoning him towards the kitchen.
“What’s with the rose petals?”
“Don’t ask,” I call out as he walks behind me.
“Fuck me, what’s with all these flowers? And who’s the guy sitting in the lounge?”
My head flicks round into Sam’s widening stare. I watch his eyebrows rise not once, but several times.
“He’s a friend of a friend, bit of a jerk to be honest, but I can’t go into it now.”
Sam rakes his hair with his hand.
“I could always kick him out.”
“No, I can deal with Chase, my main concern is Hooper. It’s probably me, I worry too much. He’s eating fine, been out for his walks. It’s just his head, his eyes…”
“Don’t worry, Darc.” He squares up to me, placing his hands on my arms. “It’s probably something and nothing.”
He hitches up his trousers and kneels down on the kitchen floor next to where Hooper is lying down. He opens the clasp on his black leather bag. I kneel at his side as he listens to his heartbeat, and watch Sam’s face for any change of expression. He opens Hooper’s mouth, checking his teeth, then with a small light looks into his ears.
“Darc, walk over to the table and call him to you.”
I get to my feet and head to the far side of the kitchen. I crouch down.
“Here, boy.”
He runs towards me, his paws clicking on the tiles. I can’t help but frown; his head is even more lopsided than it was earlier.
“Okay, Darc,” Sam says, walking towards me.
He scoops Hooper up, holding him like a package under his right arm. He bites the corner of his bottom lip as he shines the torch into his eyes.
“Have you got him insured?”
My heart almost stops, and for that split second I can hardly breathe.
“No,” I say, hitting the palm of my hand against my forehead. “I forgot to renew it.”
“Look, don’t worry for now. As you know, my uncle’s a vet, a specialist. He recently opened his
Holding a slice of pizza in one hand, he leans forward and takes the remote from the wooden coffee table. I’m surprised he can’t see the shock on my face; he’s a stranger, yet he’s acting like we’re the best of friends. I try to inch away from him, but the pizza box rocks between us and he inches closer. I tear a piece off, and the warm cheese stretches and parts. Not over keen on the mushroom and pineapple topping, I take small bites.
“So what’s this thing with you and Snow?” he quizzes between sips of beer.
“There’s nothing between me and Snow,” I blurt out.
“Then how come your face doesn’t tell me that, and why can’t you look me in the eyes?”
“I’ve just got nothing to say, that’s all.”
Leaning forwards, he tilts his head slightly; I can feel his stare.
“There’s one thing that puzzles me…” He pauses for a second. “Are you two related somehow? Aren’t you his sister?”
I shake my head vigorously. “No, we are not, we’re not related in any way. We spent one summer together over ten years ago, that’s all.”
I blank him, staring at the TV, and as I nibble on the crust of my pizza I can feel an awkwardness growing between us. It’s a relief when Chase sits up and places the empty pizza box on the coffee table, and in a matter of moments works his way to the other end of the settee. The moments we sit in silence extend into what must be a couple of hours.
The doorbell finally rings, and I shoot forwards in my seat. Sam! I try to push my concern away, but now he’s here at the door, I can’t help wondering what I’ll do if there’s something seriously wrong with Hooper.I try to shake away my negative thoughts as I step from the lounge. Flicking up the catch, I open the front door to a large smile on a broad face framed by dark curls.
“Long time no see.”
Sam’s face lights up as he steps forward and kisses my cheek. He doesn’t move his face from mine, making me feel he’s waiting for more. I edge away.
“Come in,” I say, beckoning him towards the kitchen.
“What’s with the rose petals?”
“Don’t ask,” I call out as he walks behind me.
“Fuck me, what’s with all these flowers? And who’s the guy sitting in the lounge?”
My head flicks round into Sam’s widening stare. I watch his eyebrows rise not once, but several times.
“He’s a friend of a friend, bit of a jerk to be honest, but I can’t go into it now.”
Sam rakes his hair with his hand.
“I could always kick him out.”
“No, I can deal with Chase, my main concern is Hooper. It’s probably me, I worry too much. He’s eating fine, been out for his walks. It’s just his head, his eyes…”
“Don’t worry, Darc.” He squares up to me, placing his hands on my arms. “It’s probably something and nothing.”
He hitches up his trousers and kneels down on the kitchen floor next to where Hooper is lying down. He opens the clasp on his black leather bag. I kneel at his side as he listens to his heartbeat, and watch Sam’s face for any change of expression. He opens Hooper’s mouth, checking his teeth, then with a small light looks into his ears.
“Darc, walk over to the table and call him to you.”
I get to my feet and head to the far side of the kitchen. I crouch down.
“Here, boy.”
He runs towards me, his paws clicking on the tiles. I can’t help but frown; his head is even more lopsided than it was earlier.
“Okay, Darc,” Sam says, walking towards me.
He scoops Hooper up, holding him like a package under his right arm. He bites the corner of his bottom lip as he shines the torch into his eyes.
“Have you got him insured?”
My heart almost stops, and for that split second I can hardly breathe.
“No,” I say, hitting the palm of my hand against my forehead. “I forgot to renew it.”
“Look, don’t worry for now. As you know, my uncle’s a vet, a specialist. He recently opened his
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