Page 11 of Secrets Hidden In The Glass

Her eyes went huge as she gaped at him. “What are you talking about? What happened to your thick, native Sandersonian blood?”

He chuckled, enjoying the gorgeous woman who’d forgotten she was shy. “My blood’s probably right on par with yours. I just wanted to get you out there.”

She laughed and swatted at him. “That’s a dirty trick.”

“Maybe.” It concerned him a little that her lips were turning a light shade of blue. He rubbed his hands up and down her soft, smooth arms. “Come up to the house. I’ll get you a towel and you can warm up by the fire and have a beer.”

She looked over her shoulder toward the noise and small crowd of people. “That sounds fun, but I should probably head home.”

He struggled with a wave of disappointment. “Are you sure?”

She nodded, holding his gaze as they stood inches apart. “Maybe next time.”

“Next time,” he repeated, knowing the moment they’d shared was over. He gave her a final rub and stepped back. “It’s a couple miles to the cottage. You’re good to get there?”

“Yeah. Definitely.” She bounced gently from foot to foot in her attempt to keep warm. “Thanks for the walk. I can now say I’ve partaken in my very own version of a polar plunge.”

He grinned. “I think you have to jump in during the winter for it to count as a polar plunge.”

A look of horror filled her eyes. “That’s never happening.”

He chuckled.

She smiled again. “Thanks, Nate.”

He nodded. “I’m sure I’ll see you around town.”

“Okay.” She walked backward for a few steps, waved, then turned and ran. She swooped down for her shoes and headed toward one of the bike racks several hundred feet in the distance.

He started back to the house in no hurry to get there, even though his shorts were soggy and he was freezing his ass off. His teeth started chattering and he smiled. As far as he was concerned, every minute with Callie was worth his current discomfort now.