Blissful Valentine: A Novella Read Online Free Page A

me. Ah, what the hell.
    “Okay, deal.” I hold my hand out to shake his.
    His eyes widen. “Deal.” He slides his hand into mine for a firm shake.

    I squint from the sun reflecting off the thin coating of snow along the roadway and sidewalk. The crisp breeze blows a few stray strands of my hair around, tickling my frozen cheeks on the three block walk to my apartment. The sidewalks are empty, except for a few people high-tailing it to their cars. Dean slides his hands in his pockets. I glance over at his ruddy cheeks.
    “Cold today.” I fold my arms over my chest and pull my coat tight against my body.
    He takes a deep breath of winter air . “Nah, I’m used to playing in the early season when it’s still freezing.”
    I scrunch my eyebrows and turn toward him. “Playing what, beer pong? ” I chuckle.
    He raises one eyebrow flashing a glassy stare. “Baseball.”
    Ah, that explains the Yankees poster. I shuffle forward, my teeth chattering. “A frat boy and a jock,” I say, nudging him playfully with my shoulder.
    He flashes a quick smile. “Sounds like a death sentence when you say it that way. Does my full baseball scholarship redeem me?”
    My lips upturn into a smile and I nod my head slightly. “Impressive.”
    “Even more impressive than my vast knowledge of awesome movies?” he asks, scrunching his eyebrows, holding back a smile.
    I chuckle. “Maybe a close second.”
    I rub my fingers against the sleeves of my jacket, trying to generate heat. Note to self: always keep gloves in your pockets . A small gust of frigid air blows against my face. My teeth chatter. It’s like it dropped ten degrees in a few seconds. This walk seems like it’s taking an eternity. I trudge forward, my black heels slip against the ice forming on the sidewalk.
    Dean looks over at me. “I bet you’re more of a beach girl.”
    I shiver and meet his gaze. “As long as the beach isn’t in Antarctica.”
    “You’re freezing.”
    Wow, maybe he should change his major to rocket science. Standing here in the middle of the sidewalk won’t make me any warmer.
    He takes a step closer and slides his hand over mine. My numb skin tingles, causing goose bumps to erupt along my skin. He takes my hands, one at a time, and warms them between his. My muscles relax and I take a step closer, erasing the distance between us. He opens his hands slightly and blows warm air across them.
    My fingers throb from the warm air’s contact with my freezing skin. I close my eyes and breathe deeply, taking in the scent of fresh falling snow with a slight fragrance of musky cologne.
    Dean lowers our hands. His eyes lock with mine . “Better get you home before you turn into a block of ice.”
    I nod slowly, mesmerized by his stare. I take a step back and pull my hands away. “I’m around the corner, second house on the right.”
    We walk side by side through the winter wonderland of dancing snow flurries and gray clouds. Even though my fingers are throbbing and my toes numb, I trudge slowly as if I’m in no hurry to get home or to leave Dean.
    Dammit . This is the whole reason I avoid frat parties. Besides getting drugged and waking up in a guy’s bed I hardly know like some whore, now I don’t want him to leave. It’s like I regressed two years overnight. Thought I was done with drunken parties and random hookups after I grabbed my diploma and practically ran off the stage at Mountain View High’s graduation. No need to gain the reputation of desperate easy party girl again. Heat creeps across my face.
    I stop at the bottom of the driveway and glance over my shoulder at the cozy little Cape Cod house. I turn back toward Dean. “This is me.”
    His eyes shift from the black pavement to the top of the roof, and then lock onto me. He shuffles his foot along the driveway, kicking a few loose pebbles underneath the light coating of snow.
    “Nice place.” He bites at his lip. “Rule number four: Always walk a beautiful woman to her door.” He