Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 76647 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76647 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
“Hey, what’s that thing?” Tristan asked.
“Now,” Carter ordered.
We popped up and I happened to lock eyes with Tristan. His eyes widened as Carter’s snowball hit him in the chest. I aimed at Drew, who was closer, and he put up his arms in self-defense. “It’s an ambush,” he cried.
It sure as hell was. Carter threw with deadly accuracy, and Tristan was already looking around for shelter. Drew, abandoning all thoughts of self-preservation, crouched down to gather an armful of snow. But we were too well-armed for him to muster much of a defense. My snowball clipped his shoulder, and he looked up at me with an expression that clearly said: this means war.
Tristan had taken cover behind a large tree trunk and frantically scooped snow to make his own missiles to fire back. But then Zeus joined the fray. He playfully bounded over to Drew and accidentally knocked him over. I couldn’t help laughing as poor Drew went face first into the snow, and then again when the dog tried to chase my next snowball.
“Don’t let up,” Carter shouted. We’d used about half our ammunition. We were throwing at least five snowballs for every one they managed to form.
“Where’s Drew?” I said, scanning the surroundings, but Carter didn’t seem to hear me. He was too intent on keeping Tristan from advancing.
Since Tristan was still pinned under incoming fire, I threw a snowball high in the air for Zeus. It exploded when he caught it in his mouth.
Then I heard a battle cry behind me. I turned in time to see Drew leaping over the back wall of the fort. He had a huge clump of snow clutched in his arm, and he raised it over his head.
I shrieked and backed into Carter. Snow rained down over my head as I lost my footing. Carter twisted, catching me in his arms as he fell onto his back. We broke through the front wall of the fort and Tristan gave a cry of victory as he stormed in after us.
I tried to get up, but Drew had liberated our remaining snowballs, peppering us both with them. Carter pulled me toward him, holding my head against his shoulder, shielding my face from the worst of the onslaught.
Tristan was determined to get revenge on Carter, but since I was on top of him, I got hit with snowballs from both directions.
We all laughed madly as the carnage continued. Carter had both arms around me and had rolled to the side, trying to shield me as best he could. Drew slammed handfuls of snow at everyone, including Tristan.
“You’re getting your coat wet,” I yelled at him, since I had his jacket on. That didn’t stop him, though.
Finally, we ran out of ammo. Drew slid down and settled on the log I usually used for a chair. I was pinned down both by Carter’s large body and the remains of the wall that’d given way. I couldn’t see where Tristan was, but I had a feeling that if Carter or I came up for air, he’d be ready with more snow.
It took me a while to stop laughing and catch my breath. When I finally did, it dawned on me just how close Carter and I were. He was practically wrapped around me. His long, lean form provided not just protection, but also warmth.
“Was that really necessary?” Tristan asked from somewhere above us, but he didn’t sound angry.
“Yes,” Carter and I said together. His face was inches from mine, and I couldn’t help looking at his soft lips—possibly because of Tristan’s recent lessons on the pleasure of a good kiss. But we weren’t alone, and I had a feeling it would be a while longer before I’d truly feel at ease with the tall, dark, and handsome man—if ever. But for the first time, I hoped that someday I would.
Zeus barked from close by. “No room in here for you, boy,” Drew told him. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Tristan’s hand extend down to pull Drew up. “Should we go make lunch?”
“Or we could beat them back to the cabin and lock them out,” Tristan countered.
But I wasn’t really worried they’d do that.
And I wasn’t entirely ready to leave the comfort and warmth of Carter’s embrace.
I definitely never thought that would be the case.
That afternoon, I wrote two new scenes in my screenplay. Part of my productivity kick came from the fact that Miranda would look at it during the press tour—and part of it was that I was in a hell of a good mood after the morning snowball fight. I still couldn’t believe it had been Carter’s idea, but I think we all needed it. It was a good way to blow off steam. Good cardio, too. But ugh, between zinging the snowballs and shooting the bow, my right arm was a little stiff. It was almost enough to make me try some stretches when the men took their exercise break, but by that time, I was on a roll with my writing. I’d even managed to ignore how hot the three of them looked with their shirts off.