Page 83 of Out of the Cold

“Are you serious? It’s not...it’s really more for girls, so it’s okay if you didn’t like it.”

“I liked it a lot, or I wouldn’t have read the whole thing.” He wasn’t embarrassed anymore. He was too busy being annoyed she didn’t think more of her own work. “Maybe it’s meant for girls, but a good book is a good book. Besides, I liked getting a peek inside your brain.”

“Oh.” A smile, sweet and uncertain, bloomed on her lovely face. “Thank you.”

“I don’t know why I didn’t tell you. I guess I didn’t want you to know I was such a goner for you.”

She kissed him. “I think I get it.”

He smoothed a hand down her arm. “Do you want to go back to your cabin for dinner?”

“Actually, I had another idea. Did you know it’s New Year’s Eve today?”

“Huh. I’d completely lost track of the days.”

“There are things happening all over town. What do you think? Do you want to go?”

He’d been avoiding these exact kinds of activities for the past year, but she looked so eager, he couldn’t say no. “Sure. Let’s do it.”

An hour later they were in his truck and heading toward town, Lucy practically bouncing off the seat. As soon as they turned onto Main Street, everything exploded into light and color.

After the isolation of the past week, not to mention the last nine months, being among so many people was disconcerting. But Lucy’s face glowed, and when she turned her smile on him, all his resistance melted.

He still didn’t exactly want to go, but he wanted to make her happy. And in the end, it wasn’t bad. They got food from sidewalk vendors and listened to music at bars. He’d been here a couple times before on New Year’s Eve and done these same things. Walking around with Lucy was like traveling back in time to his old self—happy and social, content to enjoy whatever came next.

He stood with his arm around her as they watched an ice sculptor carve a man on skis flying over a jump, and he smiled at the look of wonder on Lucy’s face.

It wasn’t a memory of happiness. It was happiness itself.

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Chapter Fifteen

Gabe woke up earlyand lay in bed, his body curled around Lucy. She was warm and soft, and it was nearly painful to let go and slide out of bed. She shifted and opened her eyes, looking at him sleepily as he pulled on his clothes from the night before.

“What are you doing?”

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