Read Online One Night in the Ice Storm by Noelle Adams - Free Book Online Page A

coat.
    She
didn’t move from her position at the bay window. She couldn’t move.
    She
felt him enter the room, but she didn’t turn around.
    Then
she felt his arms wrap around her middle and his big, warm body press into her
back.
    “Hi,”
he said.
    It
felt so good. His voice sounded warm, fond, exactly as she wanted to hear it.
    Exactly
as he’d sounded after he’d fucked her eight years ago and then dumped her.
    “So,”
he continued slowly, tilting his head as if he were trying to see her face.
“Last night was really good.”
    “Yeah.”
Her voice was weak. No more than a breath. She was shaking helplessly inside,
but her body was frozen.
    When
she was twelve, she’d insisted on going on a hike up a mountain with Brad and
David. She’d missed a step and had to catch herself from falling, tearing a
ligament in her shoulder in the process. She hadn’t told them until she got
home, making it through the hour remaining of the hike in agonizing pain. She’d
refused to admit she wasn’t as capable as the boys were.
    She’d
spent her whole life making sure no one thought she was weak and silly.
    She
might be crushed now but—just like last time—she wouldn’t let anyone know. She
would at least hold onto her pride.
    She
made herself smile and turn around.
    David’s
dark eyes were so deep and full. They seemed to be offering her so much.
Everything.
    Just
as they’d seemed eight years ago.
    Before
he could say anything, she stretched up and gave him a light kiss on the side
of his mouth. “It was great. We’re really good in bed together.”
    “I
agree.” He tried to deepen the kiss.
    She
pulled away, holding onto the smile that was one of the hardest things she’d
ever done. “But let’s not pretend it means anything more than the one night.”
    He’d
been reaching out for her again, but at her words he stopped. Froze. “What do
you mean?”
    There
was something strange about his expression, but she was trying so hard to keep
her casual composure that she couldn’t even really see it. “Well, it was fun.
But neither of us will be fooled into thinking it was serious, so there’s no
reason to go through the motions.”
    He
still hadn’t moved. “Rachel? I thought—”
    She
managed to give a somewhat convincing laugh, afraid he would know—afraid he
already knew—that she was absolutely crazy about him. “It was even better this
time than last time. Maybe eight years from now we can do it again. But I’m
pretty happy with my life in Richmond so have no worries about me hanging out
here mooning over you.”
    She’d
meant the last sentence as a joke, and she thought she’d done a decent job with
the teasing inflection. But David didn’t laugh.
    He
didn’t say anything.
    Rachel’s
eyes were burning now. She had to end this conversation—get him out of the
house—soon. She turned to peer out the window. “How did the road look?”
    He
didn’t answer, so she glanced over her shoulder. “How did the road look?” she
repeated. Her voice sounded strange in her ears, but she hoped he wouldn’t
notice.
    “Fine,”
he said at last. “It’s drivable now.”
    “Good.
You’re welcome to take off then, whenever you want. No need to hang around on
my account.” Since her voice broke on the last word, she covered it with a
cough.
    “I’ll
stay until Brad and your mom get here.”
    She
limped over to the couch and started to gather up the blanket and flannel
sheets so she could throw them in the washer, still holding on to her fake
smile. “No need. I’m a big girl, remember? Self-sufficient.”
    The
reference to their conversation last night was torture, since she’d felt so
close to David then. It had felt so real . But she said it anyway, as a
kind of self-punishment.
    She’d
been the one who was stupid, so she now had to pay the price.
    “Okay.
If you’re sure.” His voice was a little hoarse, but she barely noticed, so
focused was she on holding back the sobs tightening in her