Baby It's Cold Outside by Addison Fox Page B

here don’t get treated to whatever they want at the Indigo Blue. Although—” He broke off, nodding in the direction of the bar. “You’d better keep an eye on Hooch. He’s been drinking their single-malt Scotch like it’s water.”
    Walker couldn’t suppress the smile at her wide eyes and dropped mouth when she zeroed in on Hooch and his wife, Chooch, laughing merrily at the bar. “What?”
    “They don’t call him Hooch for nothing, after all.”
    He was impressed when she didn’t move to give an early end to the old couple’s evening, instead turning her attention back to him. “I’m not flashing cash, as you so rudely put it. And even if I were, it doesn’t change the fact these people hadn’t given her the time of day until someone poured a bit of liquor in them.”
    “So you’re going to play the avenging angel and make it all better?”
    “No.”
    “Then what are you doing here?”
    “I’m lending some support.”
    “Let me give you a hint, Princess.” He leaned forward, not quite sure why he had gotten engaged in this idiotic battle of wills in the first place. “Your friend’s a lot tougher than you give her credit for. Why don’t you just try being her friend?”
     
    Sloan knew she should be feeling profound joy that her idea had taken off, but all she felt was a sensation of dark melancholy working its way through her. Her little ploy had worked. They’d been in the hotel for only an hour and already Grier was the center of attention, the townspeople anxious to meet her, introducing themselves in groups as they sought to get acquainted.
    She should feel joyous and happy for her friend and all she felt was the one-two punch of bitchy and manipulative.
    And where in the hell had that come from?
    Grier was an awesome person and these people had judged her without benefit of a fair trial or even a friendly conversation. All she’d done was facilitate a few meet-and-greets, letting everyone get a chance to hear Grier’s side of the story.
    A father she’d never met. A sudden inheritance that necessitated a trip as geographically far away as she could get from home and still stay in the United States. And a new family member who’d decided she was no more interesting—or welcome—than a pile of moose droppings.
    So why were Walker’s comments so upsetting?
    Why don’t you just try being her friend?
    Damn it, that was what she was doing. Grier deserved better treatment than she’d been receiving from the townspeople of Indigo.
    And if the sense of anger and annoyance she felt for her best friend matched the disappointment Sloan felt at being an outcast in her own hometown . . .
    Well.
    She just wasn’t going to go there.
    And as for the disillusionment she felt in finding out the hot man with the broad shoulders and warm brown eyes was Grier’s useless, good-for-nothing lawyer, well, she just wasn’t going there, either.
    On a whispered shit , she discreetly dragged her coat out of a pile in the far corner of the lobby and headed for a side exit of the hotel. A few minutes of fresh air would clear her head and kick whatever glum ache had settled itself in her heart to the curb.
    A few minutes to gather herself.
    A few minutes before she had to get back to being the gracious hostess with the burning platinum card.
    “That really is quite the party you’ve got going on in there. Although, you’ll be pleased to note Hooch and Chooch just bundled themselves up for the walk home.”
    Sloan shrieked as she whirled around to see Walker’s large silhouette framed in the doorway. Before she could reply around the pounding in her throat, he moved forward, the door closing gently behind him. “You’re going to freeze yourself. Here. Put this on.” He held out a large man’s coat to her as he shrugged into his own.
    “I have a coat,” she informed him primly.
    “And you need another one. Put it on.”
    She took the offered garment, already understanding his point as the frigid night