Frost & Bothered Read Online Free

him to the ground. “Nick and I aren’t getting back together. Your good cause is a lost one.”
    Patrick shoved his hands into his pockets. “He loves you.”
    Not sure how to respond to that, I simply nodded.
    “Won’t you please give him another chance?”
    Soames groaned. “This is the problem with wolves: The men don’t know how to deal with rejection.”
    “Oh, and you pussy,” Patrick paused to smile. “Cats do?”
    My partner smiled back, showing plenty of teeth. “Most of us do, because we’re taught that women are people too.”
    “I know women are people.”
    “Too bad your dad doesn’t,” I muttered.
    “Dad’s old-fashioned.” Patrick flapped his hand. “Come on, Psychic Girl. Nick’s heart is broken. He’s suffering.”
    As though I didn’t have enough guilt weighing me down lately. I had to work to keep my voice pleasant. “Look, it’s great to find out you really care about your brother, but you’d help him more by convincing him to find someone who wants the same kind of life he does. I’m really sorry he’s having a hard time right now, but dude, I’m not responsible for anyone’s happiness but my own.”
    Patrick’s face crumpled into a frown. “You don’t love him.”
    “No.”
    “Then why were you looking at houses together?”
    I managed to keep from sighing. “I was looking for a house for me. It would’ve been rude not to include Nick because we were dating then.”
    “Oh. So you’re definitely not going to go with me to talk to him?”
    “Definitely not.” What good would it do to see Nick and possibly explain exactly why I’d gotten together with him in the first place? None. The only results would be more hurt.
    “What if I got on my knees and begged?”
    Amusing as the idea was, I shook my head. “Not even then.”
    Patrick sighed. “I tried.”
    “Yes, you did.” I had to fight a smile, because funny as it was, his “try” had included attempted kidnapping, and then laying a big, old guilt trip on me. Heart in the right place or not, both were jerk moves.
    “All right.” Patrick pulled his hands free of his pockets and squared his shoulders. “Please accept my apologies for bothering you.”
    I studied his face for a second before saying, “Apology accepted.”
    “Thank you.” He inclined his head to first me then Soames. “You two have a good evening.”
    “Thanks. You too.” We watched him turn and walk away. I looked over at Soames, who shrugged. “Might be just me, but he seemed less douche baggy than usual right then.”
    “If you say so.”
    I unlocked the door. “I did. Must be running a fever.”
    Opening the passenger door, Soames laughed before dropping out of sight to take a seat. I followed suit after a final glance in the direction Patrick had taken, and started my car.

THREE

    A layer of ice had formed on the windshield, and I switched to defrost. In doing so, I glanced in the rearview mirror to find Ginger had returned. She crouched in the cargo area, her face lurking between the front seats. Her eyes were red.
    Determined to ignore her, I cast about for a conversation starter. “Why do you still call me Discord, instead of Cordi?”
    “Habit, I guess. That’s how Logan introduced you to us.”
    “Well, we’re partners, friends, and clan now. You can call me Cordi.”
    “Okay. Should I mention you prefer that to the others?”
    “Sure. Would it be weird if I called you Dane?”
    He chuckled. “A little, since only my parents call me that anymore, but it’s cool.”
    “Awesome.” I turned the windshield wipers on, clearing away bits of melting ice. They skated over a good portion of it, but I left them on. “I’ve been wondering. Do you think of yourself as a tiger, a human, or...?”
    Soames, I mean, Dane, shrugged. “A person. We’re just people who happen to have two shapes we can switch between.”
    Had that been rude to ask? He didn’t look offended. “Sorry. I’m being too nosy.”
    “Nah, you’re