Read Online Snowbound by Scarlet Blackwell - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Scarlet Blackwell
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paused on the steps, cursing himself and his failure to see this through. What was he going to do? Hang around town like a hobo and come back later? Drive all the way back home and come back another day? Oh God, he would never be able to do this again. Not ever.
He stopped as a tall, lean man climbed from his patrol car, carrying his hat. His hair was cut shorter than Hayden remembered, still that glossy chestnut brown. Prior to today, Hayden hadn't been able to visualise Dylan's face completely any longer. Time had dulled the lustre of those golden eyes in his mind, blanked out the curve of Dylan's chiselled jaw and the quirk of his sensual mouth. The slow disappearance of Dylan's face from his memory was like an extra slap in the face. He had wished fervently with all his heart that he had one photo.
Now that beloved face came back, imprinted forever, as Dylan turned around to face him.
For a moment he didn't seem to recognise him. He came to the steps and it seemed like he would walk straight past Hayden and then Dylan stopped.
Standing one step down from Hayden, he stared. His eyes were bright with green sparks in the sunlight, like shards of emerald glass. Fine lines emphasised them, and curved around his beautiful mouth. His short haircut only drew further attention to his stunning face.
Dylan, if it were possible, had merely grown more handsome in the intervening twelve years.
"Hello, Dylan."
Dylan's hat fell from his hands. He grew pale beneath his summer tan. His mouth worked but it seemed he couldn't speak.
Hayden picked up his hat. He waited for Dylan to get himself together, while inside he barely held himself intact.
"What are you doing here?"
"I came to see how you are."
Dylan continued to stare, dark brows drawn together in a frown as though he simply couldn't comprehend why Hayden had turned up now, after all this time. But that was okay, he hadn't expected Dylan to understand.
"I…" Dylan shook his head. He blinked as though coming up from underwater. He took his hat back, glanced around. "Okay, let's go get a coffee." He set off, walking back to his car.
Hayden followed quickly on trembling legs.
****
They drove the short distance up the road to a diner, Hayden looking at Dylan covertly out of the corner of his eye, tracing the strong curve of his smoothly shaven jaw with his gaze and wishing his tongue and lips could follow the path his eyes took. Dylan didn't look any different. Age had only improved him, like a fine wine. He took Hayden's breath away.
Dylan glanced at him as he pulled over to the kerb. Hayden looked away. He climbed out and followed Dylan's lead.
It was strange to be back in Blackstone during summer, strange not to be in five layers and half-frozen to death. Hayden wore jeans and a T-shirt. Dylan wore a short-sleeved black shirt and matching pants, which hugged every curve of his lean hips and strong thighs. The light dusting of hair on his forearms was golden. The gold star on his chest glittered in the sun. Hayden trailed behind and stared at the weapons on his utility belt, dropping his gaze lower to admire Dylan's firm buttocks.
Dylan led Hayden through the diner. Several people greeted the sheriff as he passed and the waitress called him honey. Clearly he commanded respect around here. Hayden wondered if he was out, if these people knew which gender he preferred in his spare time. Maybe Hayden had been an experiment, the way Dylan had been for him. Maybe Dylan had a wife now.
Dylan directed him to a booth at the back, near the serving hatch. Hayden sat opposite, and immediately checked Dylan's left hand. No wedding ring.
He tried to relax, sitting back, but nausea clawed at his throat and his heart beat so hard he was sure Dylan could hear it. He stretched out his aching right leg under the table. He accidentally made contact with Dylan's foot and pulled it back.
"You still limp," Dylan said, his gaze fixed unblinkingly on Hayden's.
Hayden shrugged. Some things
He stopped as a tall, lean man climbed from his patrol car, carrying his hat. His hair was cut shorter than Hayden remembered, still that glossy chestnut brown. Prior to today, Hayden hadn't been able to visualise Dylan's face completely any longer. Time had dulled the lustre of those golden eyes in his mind, blanked out the curve of Dylan's chiselled jaw and the quirk of his sensual mouth. The slow disappearance of Dylan's face from his memory was like an extra slap in the face. He had wished fervently with all his heart that he had one photo.
Now that beloved face came back, imprinted forever, as Dylan turned around to face him.
For a moment he didn't seem to recognise him. He came to the steps and it seemed like he would walk straight past Hayden and then Dylan stopped.
Standing one step down from Hayden, he stared. His eyes were bright with green sparks in the sunlight, like shards of emerald glass. Fine lines emphasised them, and curved around his beautiful mouth. His short haircut only drew further attention to his stunning face.
Dylan, if it were possible, had merely grown more handsome in the intervening twelve years.
"Hello, Dylan."
Dylan's hat fell from his hands. He grew pale beneath his summer tan. His mouth worked but it seemed he couldn't speak.
Hayden picked up his hat. He waited for Dylan to get himself together, while inside he barely held himself intact.
"What are you doing here?"
"I came to see how you are."
Dylan continued to stare, dark brows drawn together in a frown as though he simply couldn't comprehend why Hayden had turned up now, after all this time. But that was okay, he hadn't expected Dylan to understand.
"I…" Dylan shook his head. He blinked as though coming up from underwater. He took his hat back, glanced around. "Okay, let's go get a coffee." He set off, walking back to his car.
Hayden followed quickly on trembling legs.
****
They drove the short distance up the road to a diner, Hayden looking at Dylan covertly out of the corner of his eye, tracing the strong curve of his smoothly shaven jaw with his gaze and wishing his tongue and lips could follow the path his eyes took. Dylan didn't look any different. Age had only improved him, like a fine wine. He took Hayden's breath away.
Dylan glanced at him as he pulled over to the kerb. Hayden looked away. He climbed out and followed Dylan's lead.
It was strange to be back in Blackstone during summer, strange not to be in five layers and half-frozen to death. Hayden wore jeans and a T-shirt. Dylan wore a short-sleeved black shirt and matching pants, which hugged every curve of his lean hips and strong thighs. The light dusting of hair on his forearms was golden. The gold star on his chest glittered in the sun. Hayden trailed behind and stared at the weapons on his utility belt, dropping his gaze lower to admire Dylan's firm buttocks.
Dylan led Hayden through the diner. Several people greeted the sheriff as he passed and the waitress called him honey. Clearly he commanded respect around here. Hayden wondered if he was out, if these people knew which gender he preferred in his spare time. Maybe Hayden had been an experiment, the way Dylan had been for him. Maybe Dylan had a wife now.
Dylan directed him to a booth at the back, near the serving hatch. Hayden sat opposite, and immediately checked Dylan's left hand. No wedding ring.
He tried to relax, sitting back, but nausea clawed at his throat and his heart beat so hard he was sure Dylan could hear it. He stretched out his aching right leg under the table. He accidentally made contact with Dylan's foot and pulled it back.
"You still limp," Dylan said, his gaze fixed unblinkingly on Hayden's.
Hayden shrugged. Some things
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