Read Online Wild Ice by Rachelle Vaughn - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Rachelle Vaughn
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away a relationship like that and just abandon her? The worst part was that he wasn’t even around to provide an explanation. She was left to answer everyone’s questions when she didn’t even know the answers herself.
On the upside, there was an upside to their breakup. It was nice not having a set schedule to abide by anymore. No wedding plans to see to, no appointments to go to. For months it had been nothing but wedding this and wedding that . Flowers, bouquets, dresses, seating charts… It made her heart ache that all the preparation had been for nothing. Some things just weren’t meant to be and she was okay with that. She’d get her happy ending sooner or later.
Lauren hissed out an irritated breath. Here she was rehashing the incident just like she’d told herself not to.
Up ahead, the Red Valley National Wildlife Refuge office sat encircled by laurel trees and crape myrtles. It was a plain looking building with a flat roof and tan paint. The parking lot was empty, but that was understandable in the summertime. During the school year, there would be busloads of kids on field trips and people walking on the trails and mingling throughout the museum. Groups of birders would be clustered around the viewing platforms and the photography blinds would be reserved by dedicated enthusiasts.
When Lauren pulled on the door handle, the door didn’t budge. Huh. Maybe it was just stuck. Th e second time, she pulled harder and still the door wouldn’t open. She cupped her hands around her eyes and peered through the glass. A display of stuffed water birds flanked the entryway. The lights weren’t on and nobody was home.
Lauren stepped back and t he sign in the window caught her eye. She squinted to read it through the smudged glass. According to the sign, the Visitor Center was open Monday through Friday from 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. The road for self-guided auto tours was open to the public one hour before sunrise and one hour after sunset.
That was all fine and dandy, but according to Lauren’s watch, it was ten o’clock now. The office should be open.
Lauren had foolishly imagined that an older woman in the office would greet her with a warm smile and a boisterous hello. She would be a kindred spirit who shared Lauren’s fascination with birds and nature and they’d discuss wildlife until closing time. Maybe she’d even remind her of Aunt Cora or maybe she would have known her. They’d become fast friends and Lauren would visit her at the office throughout the summer.
So much for that idea. The office was locked up tight and there were no signs of human life anywhere.
Lauren sighed and turned back toward the cottage. She was always doing that—having grand visions of the future only to have them crumble at her feet like day old bread.
* * *
Th e next morning, JD found himself getting out of bed just to catch another glimpse of the woman in the field. He certainly wouldn’t admit that was the reason he’d developed a preoccupation with the kitchen sink, but he camped out there all morning nonetheless.
For some reason she seemed familiar to him even though he was one hundred percent positive he’d never met her before. Yesterday, even though he hadn’t gotten a good look, he was sure she was pretty. Pretty? Now where had that come from? Why in the hell would he think she was pretty? He must’ve been spending too much time alone. Now he was conjuring up beautiful, skipping, free-spirited women frolicking in the meadow behind his house. If he’d been the only one to see her then that might be the case, but Mel had seen her too. The grinning, frolicking traitor.
After twenty minutes of standing in his kitchen like a reverse peeping tom, JD began to wo nder. What if that was the only time she decided to walk that particular trail? What if he never saw her again? Something in his gut told him she’d be around again. He didn’t know why, but he did. It wasn’t like anyone lived around here. There
On the upside, there was an upside to their breakup. It was nice not having a set schedule to abide by anymore. No wedding plans to see to, no appointments to go to. For months it had been nothing but wedding this and wedding that . Flowers, bouquets, dresses, seating charts… It made her heart ache that all the preparation had been for nothing. Some things just weren’t meant to be and she was okay with that. She’d get her happy ending sooner or later.
Lauren hissed out an irritated breath. Here she was rehashing the incident just like she’d told herself not to.
Up ahead, the Red Valley National Wildlife Refuge office sat encircled by laurel trees and crape myrtles. It was a plain looking building with a flat roof and tan paint. The parking lot was empty, but that was understandable in the summertime. During the school year, there would be busloads of kids on field trips and people walking on the trails and mingling throughout the museum. Groups of birders would be clustered around the viewing platforms and the photography blinds would be reserved by dedicated enthusiasts.
When Lauren pulled on the door handle, the door didn’t budge. Huh. Maybe it was just stuck. Th e second time, she pulled harder and still the door wouldn’t open. She cupped her hands around her eyes and peered through the glass. A display of stuffed water birds flanked the entryway. The lights weren’t on and nobody was home.
Lauren stepped back and t he sign in the window caught her eye. She squinted to read it through the smudged glass. According to the sign, the Visitor Center was open Monday through Friday from 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. The road for self-guided auto tours was open to the public one hour before sunrise and one hour after sunset.
That was all fine and dandy, but according to Lauren’s watch, it was ten o’clock now. The office should be open.
Lauren had foolishly imagined that an older woman in the office would greet her with a warm smile and a boisterous hello. She would be a kindred spirit who shared Lauren’s fascination with birds and nature and they’d discuss wildlife until closing time. Maybe she’d even remind her of Aunt Cora or maybe she would have known her. They’d become fast friends and Lauren would visit her at the office throughout the summer.
So much for that idea. The office was locked up tight and there were no signs of human life anywhere.
Lauren sighed and turned back toward the cottage. She was always doing that—having grand visions of the future only to have them crumble at her feet like day old bread.
* * *
Th e next morning, JD found himself getting out of bed just to catch another glimpse of the woman in the field. He certainly wouldn’t admit that was the reason he’d developed a preoccupation with the kitchen sink, but he camped out there all morning nonetheless.
For some reason she seemed familiar to him even though he was one hundred percent positive he’d never met her before. Yesterday, even though he hadn’t gotten a good look, he was sure she was pretty. Pretty? Now where had that come from? Why in the hell would he think she was pretty? He must’ve been spending too much time alone. Now he was conjuring up beautiful, skipping, free-spirited women frolicking in the meadow behind his house. If he’d been the only one to see her then that might be the case, but Mel had seen her too. The grinning, frolicking traitor.
After twenty minutes of standing in his kitchen like a reverse peeping tom, JD began to wo nder. What if that was the only time she decided to walk that particular trail? What if he never saw her again? Something in his gut told him she’d be around again. He didn’t know why, but he did. It wasn’t like anyone lived around here. There
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