Troping Through the Snow by Alexa Riley

North’s laughter grows and grows until I turn around and see him bent over and grabbing his waist. There are tears in his eyes as he laughs harder, and my confusion turns to anger.

“It’s not funny,” I say, my voice cold.

North holds a finger up as he tries and fails to hold in his laughter. The last time I saw him like this was the time we got locked out of our dorm and I had to climb in the second-story window and ended up getting busted by campus security. I might have peed a little in the process, but that’s not something I like to bring up.

“What the fuck are you laughing at?” I cross my arms over my chest and give him another chance to knock it off.

“I’m sorry,” North says as he wipes away his tears and tries to catch his breath. “It’s just you were so serious when you said it.”

“Yeah, I know.” I’m beginning to get angry at how he’s dismissing what I just said. “I am serious about her.”

“No, I mean the way you said it was like I didn’t know.” He laughs again, and I stand there in confusion

“What?”

“Did you think I didn’t know?” He looks at me, and his smile gets impossible wider. “Wow, I can’t decide if you think I’m that stupid or you’re actually that stupid.”

“Watch it, North. I kicked your ass once, and I’ll do it again.”

“You accidently hitting me when I jumped out and scared you does not count as you kicking my ass.” North walks over to his desk and leans up against it with his big stupid smile in place.

“I thought I was fighting for my life.” I wave my hand to change the subject. “What the fuck, North? You knew this whole time and you never said anything?”

“It wasn’t my place.” He shrugs like I haven’t been suffering in silence for years. “You haven’t so much as glanced at another woman since you met her. Hell, I knew the first time I brought you home and you couldn’t stop staring at her. I just assumed that one day you two would finally figure it out.”

“All this time.” I feel like North lied to me, but he didn’t. It’s this strange weight off my shoulders, and now I’ve got to figure out what to do with it.

“You know how I feel about you, Jack. You’re my brother by another mother.” He nudges my side. “I couldn’t wish for anyone better to date my sister. But there’s one problem.”

“What?” I sit up, wondering what kind of bombshell he’s about to unleash on me.

“You’ve got to convince her of that.”

“Fuck,” I whisper as I look out his office window onto Main Street. “What the hell?”

Pushing off the desk, I go over to the window and see Tinsel walking into Carol’s dress shop. She’s wearing a long trench coat and—

“Has she got on a wig?” North asks, and I shake my head.

“This is going to be harder than I thought,” I admit, and North laughs.

“Welcome to the family.”





CHAPTER 9





TINSEL





Carol does a double take when I enter her dress shop. “What the hell are you doing, Tins?”

“You recognize me?!” I was sure this disguise was perfect.

I’m doing my best to avoid Jack at all costs. After what happened, I don’t think I can look him in the eyes. He spanked me and then came inside me before he just walked out. A girl can’t get some cuddle time? Not that I wanted any, but I would have liked the option to turn it down.

“I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but maybe undercover work isn’t your thing.”

“I’m not doing undercover work,” I mutter.

“Then what are you doing?” Carol laughs as she rubs her stomach. I’ve never seen anyone more adorable while pregnant than her. She has the perfect little baby bump that just popped out recently.

“What’s with all the questions? I’m the cop here. You want to tell me where you got that baby bump?” I point at her stomach, and Carol flushes.

“Your mama never told you about the birds and the bees?” she teases me.

Oh, she told me. She just happened to leave out the parts about the bees spanking the birds.

“Why is it even called that?” I scrunch my nose.

“I think it has to do with bees pollinating flowers, which symbolizes male fertilization, and the birds laying eggs equates to female ovulation.”

“I think they need to do an updated story.”

Carol snorts a laugh. “Why don’t you write one?”

“I’m a cop.” Why do I have to keep reminding people of this? Carol shakes her head at me like I’m ridiculous. I should investigate what bee pollinated Carol. Now that’s a mystery I’d love to solve.

“Is there something that brought you in here? You want to get your mom a dress for Christmas?”

“Hey, what if I want a dress? I rocked that red sweater dress the other night.”

“That was Frostie’s.”

“Jeez, you have to call me out?”

“All right, let me pull some dresses for you to try on,” she challenges, and I fold like a cheap chair.

“Whoa, let's calm down. I was only testing my disguise.”