Page 27 of Love Under Snowfall

“One clarifying question,” he braved.

“What?” She glared over her shoulder. A puff of condensation released from her glossy, parted lips. Her frustration was palpable, and for some reason, he wanted nothing more than to continue egging her on just to see what might happen.

That wasn’t right.

He wanted even more to ensure his friend’s happiness as best he could, especially after all he’d done for Benajmin.

“What are we going to tell Johnny?”

“The truth. I don’t lie to my family. But I will downplay how dickish you really were. I would hate for my brother to stain his rented tux with your bloody nose.”

Benjamin’s pulse spiked at her smirk as she turned and marched away.

Chapter fifteen

Frankie

“A-ma-zing,” Frankie whistled as she walked into the banquet hall at Bella Notte, the only Italian restaurant in downtown Leavenworth. Strings of white lights twinkled between the rustic beams holding up the low ceiling. Iridescent white balloons clustered around the perimeter of the room, camouflaging the bulk of the dark, outdated wood paneling. Mellow jazz drifted from speakers in all four corners at a volume that couldn’t be more pleasant. To one side stood a long table covered end to end in food-warming trays. The waft of Parmesan cheese and garlic permeated the room. The scent was so delicious that Frankie half expected a cartoon hand made of mist to escape a lid and lure her over to the fettuccine Alfredo.

The transformation from musty restaurant basement to elegant banquet setting was so remarkable that Frankie didn’t protest—or notice at all—when Benjamin helped her remove her coat.

She scanned the crowd and laid eyes on Jonathan first. He stood toward the middle of the room, arm securely wrapped around Lucy’s shoulders, beaming like a fool in love.

“Think we should go say hello?” The velvety voice tickled her neck and she shuddered before she realized it was Benjamin conferring with her like they were some kind of co-conspirators.

Instead of responding, she marched over to her brother and soon-to-be sister-in-law. Lucy spotted her first and squealed withdelight. She detangled herself from her fiancée and practically skipped over to wrap Frankie in a disproportionately tight hug. How that woman could squeeze so tightly was a mystery.

“I’m so happy you’re here,” she gushed, gliding her hand along the sleek waves framing Frankie’s face. “You look beautiful. Now that I think about it, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you all gussied up before.”

“Probably not. Jeans with a sweater is about as fancy as I usually get.”

Lucy smiled warmly and flitted her eyes back and forth between Frankie and whoever stood just behind her. The bride-to-be leaned in a little, wiggled her eyebrows, and asked, “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your hunky date?”

Frankie’s eyes widened in alarm before she steadied her features. “He’s not my date. This is—”

“Benji!” Jonathan bellowed. He rushed over and wrapped his arms around his friend.

“Thisis Benji?” Lucy leaned over and murmured behind her hand, “What a dish?”

“I’m sorry you meandick, right?”

Lucy peeled her gaze away from the two men embracing and produced a cheeky grin. “Is there history I’m unaware of? Jonathan said you two hadn’t met.”

“Oh, we’ve met all right,” she snorted. In a louder voice, she announced, “Lucy, allow me to introduce you to Professor Benjamin Clark. He happens to teach family law at Northwest Washington University.”

“No, that’s not right. He’s a divorce attorney in Seattle,” Jonathan corrected then paused and turned a curious expression to his friend. “Is . . . is that true?”

Frankie thought she spotted a blush flash up Benjamin’s stubbled face, but it dissipated just as abruptly.

“Yes, it is. I left the practice a few years back and started lecturing full time.” He shifted on his feet and gestured to the scowling blonde at his left. “Francesca was one of my students this last quarter.”

Lucy and Jonathan’s jaws dropped.

“Shut up. You’re Professor Prick?” Lucy didn’t even try to contain her shock. Frankie elbowed her in the ribs.

“It appears I’m one and the same, and you must be Lucy.” Benjamin held out his hand and she took it with hesitation. After a moment, she tightened her grip and intensified her eye contact.

“You’d better behave this week, buster,” she warned then flashed a radiant smile.

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