Page 29 of Love Under Snowfall

“Nah, I like that there’s someone giving her grief in my place. It’s comforting.”

“Apologies,” Benjamin began. “The disruption is my fault. Please continue, Lucy.”

Frankie mouthed a silentsorryto her mother, who pursed her lips, though it almost looked like the older woman was stifling a giggle.

Great, yet another person enjoying my misery.

Lucy nodded and wrapped up her final thoughts. Frankie suddenly felt exhausted. What should have been a fun, enjoyable week was quickly turning out to be nearly as draining as her family law class. Ironically, she’d been stoked to leave Seattle and get some space from the dreaded Professor Clark, but what she got instead was more face time with him than she could tolerate. She needed another glass of spiced wine and the comfort of her cozy bed.

She flipped over her phone, angling it away from certain prying eyes, and responded to Clint.

Frankie:

I’m sorry, but I’m exhausted from the drive and have an early start tomorrow. I’d better conserve my energy for snowshoeing with the group.

How about tomorrow evening? Dinner?

Sheriff Howards:

Sure, sounds good.

Chapter sixteen

Sunday, 5 days until the wedding, Stevens Pass: Benjamin

Benjamin sat in the back of Johnny’s Subaru strapping snowshoes to his winter boots. He triple-checked the buckles to ensure a snug fit and prayed they would stay on during this god-forsaken “adventure.”

He peered out through the open hatchback, taking in the trailhead and excited hikers bustling about. The conditions were perfect for the excursion, according to his best friend anyway. Thick cloud cover, paired with the utter lack of wind, kept the temperature at Stevens Pass at abalmyfourteen degrees. The night before, the skies had opened wide and dumped a fresh twelve inches of powder along the Pass—which Johnny assured him would make the late morning trek more fun.

Benjamin had to admit the view was spectacular. Blankets of snow on the surrounding peaks melded with the dense cloud cover, creating the feeling of being under a wintery dome. The sensation should have been suffocating, yet Benjamin found the illusion of confinement rather cozy. The base layer and puffer jacket he’d borrowed from his friend no doubt helped matters since the chill had yet to reach his skin.

Like many western Washingtonians, Benjamin was not a fan of snow. Aside from preferring milder conditions in general, dealing with anxious and unskilled drivers on the notoriously steep Seattle hills raised his blood pressure. The second a coupleflakes drifted into view, the commute around the city went to hell. Simple drives could quickly become treacherous.

After a final check that his snowshoes were secure, Benjamin hopped from the back of the SUV. He baby-stepped carefully back and pulled the hatch shut.

“They’re on the wrong feet.”

The smokey voice sent shivers down his toasty spine. The lilting melody of her cursory tease burrowed deep beneath the down and insulation, zapping straight into his veins. Hypnotized, he watched Francesca smirk as she passed without giving him a second look.

The thick, cream-colored waffle knit henley and fitted slate snow bibs failed to camouflage her shapely little body. Twin honeyed braids tailed one on each shoulder, and a soft lavender beanie was pulled snugly over her ears. He caught a glimpse of her glittering amber eyes and cheeks, pink from the cold. Boots securely—and correctly—fastened into her snowshoes, she glided gracefully along, navigating around others in the wedding party like she’d been born wearing the clunky footwear.

Speaking of treacherous.

Benjamin was doing a horrible job of keeping his distance from Francesca. He’d agreed to give her space and, in the very next breath, remained glued to her side, periodically picking on her like a fifth grader at recess. There was something about the way her cheeks flushed with equal parts rage and embarrassment. The combination was better than any opioid.

Riling her up was pleasurable, but Benjamin had to continually remind himself why he was in Leavenworth in the first place.

Johnny and Lucy’s wedding.

His presence was meant to add to the joy, not amp up the drama by harassing the maid of honor. He had to figure out a wayto stifle his mutinous inner teenager and act like the mature adult he was.

“Need a hand, my friend?” A solid clap on his back snapped him out of his trance and sent his glasses flying into the packed snow at his feet.

Benjamin removed his glove and scooped up the eyewear. The left lens must have landed just right on a rock beneath the snow. The resulting twin scratches were small but dead center in his line of vision.

Fantastic.

He buffed the specs as best he could and deposited them back on his chilly nose.

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