Tyler Stevens scowled at the blinking Christmas tree lights as they twinkled mockingly in his face.  He couldn't let it happen.  He would not have Karen Price go to another man's bed.  Not now, not ever.

And definitely not while he was under the same roof.

The wind rapped against the windowpanes.  Tyler saw the snow blowing violently across the night sky.  Damn inconvenient blizzard.  If Karen wanted to solidify her relationship with Corey, tonight would be the night.

The only thing he could do to stop it was to speed up his plans.  But not too fast or he'd risk pushing Karen right back into Corey's arms.  Tyler's sigh shuddered through him.  What was he thinking? It was never going to work.

And why couldn't he have been snowed in with only Karen?  That would have worked perfectly.  But no, Tyler reluctantly surveyed Zack's living room.  He was stuck with ten of his childhood friends.  As much as he appreciated them, they were the kind of guys you called when you needed help, not when you needed to set a seduction scene.

While most of the Christmas party guests were comparing tall tales of the last blizzard, others talked on cell phones, checking in with their families in the area.  Karen was nowhere around.

But then, she had neither tales to swap nor family to call.  He remembered when her family coasted into town, their ancient minivan billowing with smoke.  People still talked about that day.

The Price family had no intentions to live in the area.  They stayed for about a year, enough time to scrape money together to fix the van and leave an indelible impression on the town.  By the time the Prices left in a cloud of dust, Karen had turned eighteen and refused to join her family on their next journey.

Tyler had never understood Karen's insistence to live in a place that was slowly dying into a ghost town.  He had craved adventure, had been desperate for some excitement.  The moment he'd graduated from high school he'd joined the army and never looked back. He'd sworn nothing would entice him to return home.

Funny how people change.

He smiled wryly and decided to look for Karen.  He wouldn't have much time alone with her.  If he was going to set his plan into action, he had to do it now.

Tyler strode around the house and heard the clatter of dishes.  Karen.  His heart started to pound.  He swallowed back his sudden nervousness and stepped into the kitchen just as she turned to look at the doorway. 

Their gazes collided, and Tyler felt the spark hold and hum between them.  His skin flushed and tightened.  His memory zinged back to that moment he found her in his bed.  And how perfect she had looked there.

She had been naked, the thread-bare cotton sheet draping her lush curves, offering tantalizing shadows.  Her long red hair had shielded her identity in vibrant waves.  His chest had tightened when she flipped her hair back, revealing her beautiful bare face.  Karen's blue eyes had widened with surprise.  Her full lips parted —

"Where's the aluminum foil?"

"Huh?"  Tyler blinked, and shook his head as if that could clear it.  His mind landed back in the kitchen with a thump.  Karen was fully clothed in tight faded jeans and a chunky red sweater dotted with snowmen.

"Foil," Karen repeated briskly.  "To cover the dishes."

"Next to the sink, left drawer," he answered hoarsely, trying his damnedest to keep his distance before he grabbed.  He smiled as she reached for the right drawer.  "Other left," Tyler said.

Karen paused and curled her fingers into a fist. "Thanks," she muttered, and hastily grabbed the handle of the left drawer.

He leaned against the counter, trying to look casual as blood roared through his veins.  His nerves rattled like the windows against the fierce winds.  He wasn't sure how to bring up the subject.  He needed to just say it or lose the opportunity.  "What do you think about having an affair?"

The rectangle box fell from her hands.  "What?" Her voice whipped across the kitchen walls.

Okay, maybe he should have set it up some more.  Tyler crouched down and picked up the box.  "You and me," he clarified, just in case she had some crazy ideas.

"Have an affair?" she repeated dully.  "With you?"

That response didn't sound good for him.  "Aw" – he flashed her a lopsided smile as he handed the box to her – "when you say it like that, it makes me worried."

She retrieved the box cautiously, as if he'd had time to attach strings to it.  If only.  "I am dating someone right now," she reminded him.

"Yeah, what's up with that?"  He came back to town and found Karen dating a jerk.  "Corey isn't your type."

"And you are?" The rip of aluminum punctuated her question.

"Yeah."  The lights flickered.  He glanced at the overhead light before looking out the window.  Snow swirled chaotically around the bowed trees. 

"I appreciate the offer," Karen said dryly as she walked back to the bowls and casserole dishes, "but I'm not sleeping with you."

He wasn't going to admit defeat.  Tyler went back to leaning against the counter. "Why not?"

She paused.  "I'm still dealing with the fallout from the last time I was found in your bed."

"I wondered when you were going to bring that up."

She ripped the foil again with a vicious swipe.  "I've tried not to."

Tyler rolled his eyes.  "That goes without saying.  It's been what?" He shrugged and crossed one ankle over the other.  "A year?"

Her hands shook as she covered a bowl.  "Valentine's Day," she reminded him with great reluctance.

"And don't you think I've been a gentleman about it?" he asked.

"You?" She whirled around.  "A gentleman?"

He flattened his palm against his heart.  "I never said a word to anyone."

She jabbed a hand on her hip.  "How difficult was that?  Everyone already knew, and you left town the next day."

"Yeah," Tyler folded his arms across his chest.  "Whoever thought being a gentleman could be so easy?"

Karen pressed her lips together.  He couldn't tell if she was trying hard not to laugh or throw the box at his head.  "I'm with a real gentleman now," she informed him.  "And Corey isn't going to appreciate your proposition."

Tyler raised his eyebrow.  "It's not him I'm propositioning."

Karen glared at him.  "I'm with Corey." She emphasized each word through clenched teeth.

"You should be with me." He knew it, knew deep in his bones that he was right.

"Why do you think that?" She splayed her hands in disbelief.  "What do you think you can give me that Corey can't?"

"Sex, for starters."

Karen flinched.  Her mouth opened and closed.  "Excuse me?" she squawked.

"Come on, it's obvious." Tyler pushed off the counter. 

She blushed and turned her back on him.  "You don't know what you're talking about."

"Yeah, I do."  He crossed the kitchen floor in long, confident strides.  "The two of you don't touch and aren't even aware of each other when you're in the same room.  I know you guys haven't had sex."  And if he had anything to do with it, they never would.

"We've only started dating," Karen said, taking a step away as he drew beside her. "Not to mention he recently broke up with Sherri."

"If I started dating you, we would have been to bed," Tyler predicted, his voice turning husky.  "And everyone would know it by the way I watch you.  The way I wouldn't be able to keep my hands off of you."

Karen speared him with a withering look.  “And how is that different from now?”

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.  "I would be watching you with satisfaction."

Her eyes glittered, but he didn't look away.  Didn't want to.  He couldn't keep his eyes off of her.  Soon he wouldn't refrain from touching her.  He wanted her so much that he shook with it.  Tyler didn't care if she knew it as long as she took him out of his misery.

Karen's eyes darkened.  Tyler's breath caught in his throat.  Was she considering his offer?  His heart threatened to hammer out of his chest.

The lights flickered and plunged them into darkness.  He heard Karen gasp.  His control snapped, and he reached for her, but she wasn't there.  "Karen?"

"Hey, Stevens!" Zack called from the other room.  His friend's voice scraped at him.  "Where are you, man?  Looks like we're going to need some flashlights."

End of excerpt. Like it? Order it.

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Snow is very rare where I live, so it was a surprise that the day after I started working on "Snow Day", everything in town was shut down on account of snow.  Coincidence or yet another example of my power over the forces of nature?  Hmm… (posted September 28, 2004)

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"Hot of the press, this lively anthology of contemporary short stories by an assortment of Brava's established and up-and-coming authors – Donna Kauffman, Nancy Warren, Erin McCarthy, MaryJanice Davidson, Lucy Monroe and Susanna Carr – is sure to heat up the holidays for readers who like their romances with a little extra zing. Although varying in quality and style, each story has its particular charm. While the high sensuality level won't appeal to everyone, this collection will be just the thing for readers who like their romances on the spicy side." – Library Journal (posted December 1, 2004)

"Snow Day by Susanna Carr is the perfect ending to a sensual and satisfying anthology. Incredibly sexy and enchanting, this is one Snow Day that has a very happy ending." – Nicole Hulst, CataRomance Reviews (posted December 1, 2004)

"A wonderfully warm romance to warm up a Snow Day is this tale by Susanna Carr. Karen and Tyler being friends and then lovers make this story more heartfelt and interesting. Readers will feel for Karen and hope others will see her for who she truly is. A great romance to round out this anthology!" – Tracey West, Road to Romance (posted December 1, 2004)

"Ms. Carr does an excellent job creating a story that is very believable, yet humorous at the same time." A FAR Recommended Read. – JoAnn, Fallen Angel Reviews on "Snow Day" (posted December 1, 2004)

"Snow Day was an interesting story primarily about Karen. She felt as though no one had emotional ties to her, not without reason, and she wanted them so bad. Christmas started out as a reminder of that, and turned into something different. I really loved Ms. Carr's ending, even thought it took me a minute to realize the significance of something. When I did, I nearly cried. Tyler, at first, seemed like nothing more than a bad boy wanting a little nookie on the holidays, but he changed my opinion by the end. I really liked him. The lovemaking in this story was fiery and sensual, and the entire story made a nice ending to Merry Christmas, Baby." 4 stars, Hot rating – Dani Jacquel, Just Erotic Romance Reviews (posted October 13, 2004)

"Snow Day will tug at your heartstrings as you feel for Karen as she deals with a reputation that others won't let her forget." – Barb Hicks, The Best Reviews (posted October 13, 2004)

"This story is a great and quirky season read. The sparks fly high between this couple and you'll laugh out loud at some of the antics that go on. An excellent read for the Christmas season." – Angel Brewer, The Romance Studio on "Snow Day" (posted September 28, 2004)

"The authors of these six passionate stories give readers steamy romance at its best."  4 ½ stars. – Romantic Times BOOKclub (posted September 28, 2004)

"A thoroughly engaging look at the search for a home and the realization that home is not necessarily a physical structure but a place where love lives.  Snow Day is a wonderful ending to an uplifting anthology." – Kathy Samuels, Romance Reviews Today (posted September 28, 2004)

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