Page 30 of Sugar & Shadows

As we walked down the long hallway toward the exit that would take us to the parking lot, he loosened his tie, tilting his chin up and giving the silk a smooth tug one way, then the other.

The gesture was so confident and so masculine.

Gabriel Harding was, despite what I wanted to think, competent.

And that was a problem.

Because I was very attracted to competence.

As we approached the door, he gave me one of those charming grins that probably dropped panties in the roadside dives he frequented up here in the sticks.

“How’d I do, boss?”

We stopped, and I busied myself with my folders, choosing my words carefully. “You weren’t terrible.”

“High praise,” he said with a smirk, holding open the massive door for me.

Icy wind whipped at my hair and my face, stunning me.

“Well, shit,” he said. “Looks like they weren’t kidding about that nor’easter.”

Chapter 8

Gabe

This dumbass middle finger car was total shit in the snow.

Snow that was piling up by the minute. We’d wasted precious time chitchatting with State Senator Tomlinson, not realizing how quickly the weather had turned.

Now there was a good chance we would freeze to death by the side of the road.

When they found our bodies in the spring, Sabrina’s face would be fixed in a scowl.

“This vehicle is excellent in the snow.” She huffed. “Superior four-wheel drive; locking differentials.”

Frustration bubbled up inside me. “Do you know what a locking differential is?”

She sniffed. “At this precise moment, I cannot recall.” She squinted, shifting closer to the steering wheel. “But I did heavily consider it while debating this purchase.”

Her hands were at ten and two and the windshield wipers were on at full speed, though the road in front of us was barely visible.

“It’s this fucking state,” she complained.

“It’s January. And we’re driving through the Green Mountains,” I added. “What did you expect?”

“I’m just saying. If Vermont had wider highways this would be easier.”

“The mountains aren’t the easiest place to pave spacious highways. There’s only so much room.”

She glowered at me, those red lips curling. “If you’re going to be an asshole, you can get out and walk home.”

I barked out a laugh. “It may be safer than riding with you.”

“Kindly fuck off.”

“Wish I could. I’d rather take my chances with frostbite,” I retorted. “Getting some distance from you would be worth losing a few fingers.”

“Hey, at least your dick is tiny enough not to fall off.”