Paige - Cold As Puck: A Cold Love Series Novel

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Ray Charles

Oh, come back, baby

Oh, mama, please, don't go, yeah

'Cause the way I love you

Child, you'll never know

Oh, come back, baby, yeah, yeah

Let's talk it over one more time

Oh, now, now

Well, I admit, baby

That I was wrong

Don't you know, baby?

Child, you been gone too long

Oh, come back, baby, yeah, yeah

Let's talk it over one more time

Oh, now, now

Say, if I could holler

Like a mountain jack

Yeah, yeah, oh, people

I'd call my baby back

Oh, come back, baby, woo, yeah

Let's talk

I inhaled deeply. The smell was practically orgasmic. The fresh scent of a newly cracked spine. I ran my finger along the first page and leaned back in my chair. I might have moaned.

My satiated moment of bliss didnt last long. My foot was jostled to the floor with a bang as an incredibly rude athletic frame bumped into me.

Hey, I squealed, trying to get my voice low and appropriate for the Undergrad Library's standards. There is a person right here.

Sorry. The hulking figure turned around. It seemed like an afterthought. He would have plowed on and hit another victim if I hadnt said something.

My eyes rose from his knees to his waist, over his broad chest, and finally landed on his eyes. I passed right over the square jaw and plump lips. It was the ice-blue eyes that snagged me the first time we met.

I bit my lip, knowing if I didnt do something quickly, I would turn red from my neck to my temples. The guy was hot. Over-the-top hot.

Wait, I know you. Even his voice was sexy. Deeper than most guys in college.

You do? My heart started to race. This stud knew who I was? Doubtful. It was a line. Had to be. But I was willing to hear him out.

Yeah. Youre a freshman, right?

I nodded, my mouth suddenly going dry and salivating at the same time. He knew at least one detail about me.

Thought I recognized you. You moved to Penny Hills last year.

My head tilted to the side. Are you a stalker or something? I teased. Now he was racking up details. I considered that he might actually be serious about knowing who I was.

He laughed. It was a beautiful, rich laugh that made the other students near us turn their heads and stare. I held in the impulse to shush him. His laugh was too pure to be squashed.

Not a stalker, but I live there, too. Graduated two years before you. Thats what Ive heard.

Youre from Penny Hills? It seemed unlikely. Small town in the Virginia mountains with a population of fifteen hundred?

My mom and I moved there when I was ten, he explained.

Hmm. I folded the new book in my arms. Where is your house?

You dont believe me? His thick, dark eyebrows rose. It gave me a better chance to see how long and black his eyelashes were.

How have we not met back home? I questioned, trying to keep my tone light.

Sexy pulled up a chair and mounted it backward. My jaw started to drop, but I snapped it closed.

Lets see." He held up his hand to count off the possibilities. "Maybe because I graduated two years before you. Maybe because Im never home in the summers. Maybe because you dont know the good places to hang out.

I pinched my lips together. That one is not a good reason.

He chuckled. I did that, I thought. I made him laugh. I wondered if I could do it again. Was I clever, or was he flirting?

Where are you all summer if you arent in Penny Hills? I asked.

Hockey camps. Working with scouts. Always on the ice. Last summer I was working out with the university team. Im here on scholarship. Full ride, actually.

Wait, a minute. I might know who you are. I leaned forward in my chair. Something had clicked when he'd spoken. I remembered hearing parts of this story before.

Little sparks in his eyes made them glow as if there were embers on the other side.

You do, do you? He drew out the words. He was enjoying this game of trying to make me guess who was behind the curtain.

I heard the lady who fitted my prom dress has a son who plays hockey. That he might go pro soon. Hes good. Like NHL good. Is that you?

The grin on his face was enough to brighten the dim basement beneath the library. I had done that, too. Made his sexy, forlorn lips turn upward.

Bingo.

I picked up my book and flipped open the cover again. Id never have the experience of cracking the spine again, but this was equally as satisfying.

Thats it? He leaned over the cover of the book. Dont you want to know my name?

Oh, sure. I lowered the book.

Roman Sorrow. He shoved his hand in my face.

Sophie Fairchild.

I knew that. He winked, sending a shiver from where our palms connected to the top of my shoulder.

I still dont know how you recognized me. I pulled my hand back to my lap. It felt too personal to touch for so long.

I saw you at Homecoming last year back at Penny Hills High.

You did? I didnt know how I had missed Roman Sorrow, but I had only been in Penny Hills two months by then. I didnt have a group of friends. I had promised my father Id go to the game, but I'd left at halftime.

I heard you were a military brat or something like that. Your dad is a spy. Thats the rumor, anyway.

I huffed. Id heard that story my entire life. People poked and prodded me for details about Dads work. Hes not a spy. I rolled my eyes. We moved to Penny Hill when he was transferred to Sugar Grove.

Sucks you had to move your senior year.

Yeah, it really did. Military life, though. I knew it was a possibility in high school. I didnt add in the part where my dad could have deferred the position for another year. The first time I had told someone, the look of pity in their eyes was enough to teach me that lesson. I didnt want to see it again.

He crossed his arms over the back of the chair. His forearms were toned, his hands solid and strong. I noticed a long scratch on the underside of his arm where the skin should have been smooth.

Funny we ended up at the same college, dont you think?

Small world. I smiled. I may have batted my eyelashes. It had been a long time since I had considered flirting. I was here to make top grades. My dads orders. I was halfway through my second semester, and so far, I had straight As. I didnt know why, but sitting and talking to Roman made me question whether that accomplishment had suddenly been put at risk.

Two hours from home isnt bad, dont you think? You like it here? He wasnt leaving. He hadnt moved an inch. He was still asking me questions. His eyes were as locked on me as they had been the instant he turned around and recognized me.

The way he looked at me, I wondered if he could see something I hadnt let anyone else see before. I shifted in the seat and reached for my backpack. I wasnt sure I could handle the answer.

Well, it was nice meeting you, Roman. I stood in front of him. His head lifted to follow my movements. Maybe Ill see you over spring break, I offered just to be nice. He needed to know I wasnt taking this one step further.