Page 13 of Just One Spark

My face was burning hot, and my fingers were tingling.My nose was filled with the scent of Rowan, and I couldn't get the press of his body out of my mind.I opened the window."How can I help you?"

Wynter, the local photographer, stood there with a knowing smile on her face."I hate to interrupt, but I'd love a hot chocolate.I just have to have one when it's snowing."

I smiled."Of course.Would you like the special flavor today?I made gingerbread."

"I'd love gingerbread.Do you have those candy-cane shavings too?"

"Of course.Coming right up."I moved around the truck, hyper aware that Rowan still stood inside, just out of site of the window.I'd closed it to keep the cold out."What are you still doing here?"

"I'm watching you work."

I gave him an exasperated look."I pour hot chocolate.It's hardly rocket science."

I added whipped cream and candy-cane shavings and sprinkled nutmeg on top.Then I added a cover before moving back to the window.I handed Wynter the cup.

When she was gone, I sighed and looked over at Rowan."You can't hang out in my truck all day."

He smiled as if he knew how much his presence affected me."I'll stop by later to make sure you can get out with the snow forecasted."

"You don't need to."

He moved away from me and unlocked the door."I'll be here."

I touched my still tingling lips.That kiss had been something else.

How was I supposed to remember this thing between us was fake when he kissed me like that?

5

Rowan

I'd intended to check on her with the excuse of needing a hot chocolate.Instead, I'd kissed her.

For some reason, I'd felt compelled to kiss her, to see how she'd react.And I wasn't prepared for the result.

She'd been so responsive, the chemistry between us explosive.

We had to look like an engaged couple, but was kissing in her food truck the best way to go about that?Wynter had clearly seen us, so the news of that kiss would probably spread around town by lunchtime.

I also wanted to throw Hattie off a little, loosen up that control she held over everything and everyone in her life.

We hadn't talked to each other in years, but there was no mistaking her reaction.She wanted me.

I might have surprised her, and maybe she was caught off guard, but you couldn't fake something like that.

I'd obviously lost my mind because I'd gone way further than the peck on the lips I'd planned.I'd slipped my thigh between hers and felt the heat of her pussy through her leggings.That wasn't a friendly kiss.It had been an exploration.A confirming that I wanted Hattie, even after all this time.The feelings I'd harbored over the years had grown into something far beyond a crush.

I opened the door to the brewery without feeling the usual pride at what I'd built or anticipation for the opening.Today, I was all mixed up inside because of that kiss.My feelings for her hadn't dissipated over the years.They'd only grown bigger.

The door slammed shut behind me, and I started to pace.What the hell was I doing with Hattie?I'd wanted to get closure, to confirm that we'd grown apart when we were kids and there was nothing between us anymore.Instead, I'd ignited something else.

I flexed my fingers as I walked, but the familiar smell of my brews didn't settle me.Something was building inside me that I couldn't stop.

The door to the back storage area opened, and Boone walked through, carrying one of his stools.He stopped when he saw me."What's going on with you?"

"Nothing.Everything," I ground out.

He set the stool at the bar."I heard you made an announcement last night."