Snowbound - Harlequin.com

76 SNOWBOUND
games that went on for weeks. We’d play after school.
We got truly vicious.”
He was definitely smiling now, although it was more
a matter of that hard mouth softening than actually
curling up at the corners. “Now that I can’t imagine.”
“Really.” She got a mug down from the cupboard.
“We had ever shifting alliances trying to put each other
out of the hotel business. Half the time, one of us would
go home mad.”
“Yet you didn’t grow up to be a real estate tycoon.”
Pouring herself coffee, Fiona laughed. “I invariably
lost in the end. One of my friends was more ruthless.”
“And she’s now a real estate tycoon.”
“Something like that.” She splashed milk in the
coffee, then returned the carton to the refrigerator.
“Carol is a mid-level executive with some division of
Procter & Gamble.”
Behind her, John’s grunt might have been a laugh.
“And did you let your friends visit your Monopoly properties
free when they were too broke to pay the rent?”
“I told you,” Fiona said with dignity, as she set down
her mug on the table and pulled up a chair, “I was way
tougher than that. I’m no pushover.”
“Aren’t you.” It wasn’t a question, although his
brown eyes studied her thoughtfully.
“I have a reputation as a tough teacher, I’ll have
you know. I’ve heard kids telling freshmen that Ms.
MacPherson is nice, but you really have to work in
her classes.”
“The ultimate compliment.”
“I thought so.”