Snowflake Bay Read Online Free Page B

Hannah’s type. Of course, according to Owen she’s traded in her high-powered, D.C. lawyer gig—which seemed exactly like her—for hanging a shingle back here in small-town Maine, so what do I know?”
    â€œCalder’s not one of the Cove Blues,” Fiona told him. “He’s from the St. Croix River branch. Owen didn’t tell you? I’m surprised, seeing the role he played in all that happened last summer. He and Calder have become good friends.”
    Ben’s mouth actually dropped open for a few seconds before he closed it again, which had the unfortunate result of making her look at his mouth, and those firm lips, and forget, entirely, the thread of their conversation.
    â€œWe were interrupted by a few customers coming in to the store, so he never had the chance to finish his story.” Ben’s grin grew wider still. “Wow. The Hatfields and McCoys of Pelican Bay have ended the feud? I guess I have a lot more catching up to do than I realized.”
    â€œWell, I wouldn’t go that far, but steps have been taken, olive branches extended,” Fiona said, forcing her attention back to the conversation at hand, relieved to have current events to discuss, thereby leaving their past where it belonged. “I’m sure Logan will fill you in. Or drop by the Rusty Puffin. A single beer with Fergus and you’ll be all caught up in no time.”
    â€œI’d enjoy that, story or no story. How is he doing?” Ben’s smile was one of affectionate reminiscence, and it struck Fiona how disparate their shared childhood memories would be, at least when it came to each other anyway. His memories of the McCraes were likely all warm and glowing, whereas her memories of him were shadowed a little by all that adolescent pining, and the big-brother-like teasing she’d taken from him.
    She was getting really warm and not just from his proximity. Being even more flushed was not the look she was going for, though why it mattered at this point, she didn’t know. Regardless, she began unbuttoning her coat to remove at least one of her many layers. Naturally she had to wrestle with the leather loops that held the front of the parka closed, unable to manage freeing so much as a single one of them as her rapidly dwindling patience was tested beyond the breaking point. She was really, really done with looking like a hot mess in front of him. It was the last straw. Her last straw, anyway.
    At least that’s what she blamed it on when, while wrestling with and failing to free any of the five loops, her mouth opened and she stupidly said the first thing that popped into her head. “They’re really happy. Hannah and Calder,” she added. “As perfect for each other as Alex and Logan. So, if you were hoping to remount your campaign for my big sister’s heart, you’re going to be disappointed all over again.” She immediately squeezed her eyes shut. Idiot. Stop talking. Forever.
    To her relief, he laughed. “No, that wasn’t on the agenda. I’m happy for her. Truly. In fact, I was surprised she hadn’t already been snapped up. Is that why she’s back in Maine? Because of Blue?”
    Fiona shook her head and finally gave up on the leather loops altogether. She couldn’t look any more like a stewed tomato than she already did, so what the hell. “No, she came back to get away from the city rat race, same as me. She met Calder after she came back. He has a horse farm out on the river. She’s doing some work for him and his family’s construction business in Calais. Any shingle hanging she does will happen out there.”
    He looked surprised. “So, that’s a bit of a whirlwind, huh? I guess when it’s right, it’s right.” He’d said it easily enough, but something told her he might not be all that sold on the reality of the sentiment.
    It was on the tip of her tongue to ask him about his