Troping Through the Snow by Alexa Riley

Me: How dinner?

Shit. I glare at the message with one eye closed and then I see a text from Noel appear.

Noel: As I imagined it would. It’s late, why are you still up?

She changed the subject. What’s she trying to hide?

Me: Long day. Was the layer a love?

Noel: A what?

Fuck, I’ve got to slow down my fingers.

Me: Was the lawyer your love story?

Noel: Not from the lack of our mothers trying. But thankfully he’s gone for now.

Me: For now? He coming back?

Noel: I’m sure my mom isn’t done yet. How's the pirate romance I sent you?

Again with the change of subject. I finish my drink, and when I go to pour, the bottle is empty. “That’s not good,” I mumble to myself.

Me: Not enough fucking.

I reach down and adjust my cock as I think about the story that left me hard up on the plane.

Noel: LOL! I told you it wasn’t as dirty as the last one, but that scene at the end was swoonworthy.

It takes me a second to type my reply because I’m still seeing double.

Me: I liked when he cut off the guy's hand for touching his bride.

Noel: So possessive

Me: And when she said she would heal him with her love

Noel: Gah, you’re making me want to read it again.

Before I can type my reply, she’s already sending another text.

Noel: I’ve got work early tomorrow. We’re doing a cookie crawl, and I’ve got to set up treats.

Me: Okay

Noel: Night, Snow!

Me: Night Noel

The phone stays in my hand until the screen dims and then eventually cuts off. The snow is coming down outside, and I watch it, thinking that Noel and I are under the same cloud tonight. The same flakes that blow by my window might just reach hers, and that promise has me closing my eyes and drifting off to sleep.

I jerk awake when the sunlight comes across my face and I realize I slept more soundly last night than I have in weeks. Maybe it was the bottle of whiskey? That hasn’t helped in the past, so maybe it’s something else I’m not willing to admit.

After showering and getting dressed in a black sweater and jeans, I grab my coat and check my phone. I got a text from Noel first thing this morning, and it’s a picture of a plate of cookies. Looking at the map the lady at the reception gave me last night, I realize that I’ve got the perfect built-in excuse to visit the library and start up a conversation.

Sending Noel a quick drooling face emoticon, I make my way out of the hotel.

Once I’m on the street, I notice a few things right away. The first is that the town is just as crowded as it was last night, and there’s a line for coffee at what seems to be the only bakery in town. The other thing that sticks out is me. Apparently black isn’t a Christmas color because literally every person is dressed in something sparkly and bright.

“What the fuck?” I mumble to myself as I put on my black jacket and turn the collar up around my neck.

Deciding I have to have coffee no matter how long the wait is, I get in line. After only a few seconds, a tall man in a bright red suit comes up to me and holds out a card. He’s also wearing a Christmas tree tie that lights up, and although I don’t think it’s meant to be serious, this town has me second-guessing everything.

“Hi, I’m Mayor North. We're glad you’re here in Troping. Have a free coffee on me.” He passes me the card and then walks away like some kind of GQ Santa Claus.

“What the fuck?” I say again, and the person in front of me turns around.

“He does that a lot,” the older lady says, and then she smiles before moving forward.

When I’m inside the coffee shop, I’m greeted by the overly happy owner and given my free coffee. Then she slides me a free cookie and tells me about the crawl happening today. I’m barely able to make it out of there without more people trying to talk to me, and when I’m back out in the cold, it’s a relief.

“What the fuck?” Is that all I can say about this damn town?

Taking a sip of coffee, I’m surprised when it’s good. Really fucking good. Lifting my grimace a little, I drink some more, and the grouchy mood that I couldn’t seem to shake melts away. Or maybe the hangover is starting to subside. Either way.

Once my cup is almost empty, I look down the street and see the place I’m after. It’s been a long time since I was inside a library, but I have a feeling I’m going to enjoy this.





CHAPTER 5





NOEL





“No!” I half scream in the middle of the library. Everyone turns to glance my way, and Joy’s face starts to turn red. “Sorry,” I whisper.

Way to go, Noel. I can’t keep quiet in my own freaking library. Not that it’s super quiet here today, anyway. Still, I’m pretty sure what Joy is telling me is a secret at the moment.

“Noel.” Joy tries to hiss under her breath, but the girl is too sweet to hiss at anyone.

“I got excited.” I whisper this time. “When did you find out?” I’m trying not to burst with excitement. All my friends are going to end up pregnant. I have a feeling Frostie and Tinsel will be pregnant any time now, and Carol already is. Will I be the oddball out? Maybe I’ll be the quirky aunt with a house full of cats and books. That doesn’t sound terrible. I've always wanted a cat, but I also want to experience true love.