Page 41 of Fall at Once

He was stiff and awkward.

He was also pink-cheeked and embarrassed, and I swear I fell a little bit in love with him.

I snapped a few pics as he squirmed and tried to smile.

“Hey, I might have a better idea. Give me a second.” I dropped my hand, holding the camera to the side, and hitched my hip as I contemplated the truck, his body, and all the awkwardness, and tried to figure out if there was any way I could make him more comfortable with this whole thing.

He was the chief. He had to be in the calendar. It would be wrong to make it without him.

“Please do not ask me to keep standing here like this.” He dropped his head back between his shoulder blades and threw his arms to the sides. “It’s like I forgot how to work my face or something. Why is smiling so hard? I can’t even lean against this truck right?—”

“It’s okay. Shh, I got this. Come on.” I headed to the truck’s rear, where Kenzie had been sitting, and patted the back. “Sit here.”

“I don’t know about this,” he joked. “Sitting might be too complicated for me too.”

At this moment, Evan and Natalie headed up the street, looking all windblown and adorable with their pink cheeks and messy hair. Sure, they were both in their teens, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t be cute.

“Hey, you two,” I called. “Come help me take your dad’s picture.”

“Great,” Cole muttered. “Now, I’ll never hear the end of it. You’re giving them ammo to tease me with, you know.”

“Nope. I have an even better idea now, and you’ll love it, Ipromise. Sit tight.” I gestured to his arms. “May I adjust you?”

“Yeah.” His eyebrows shot up. “Do whatever you need.”

I stepped into him, taking his hands in mine to place them near his thighs at the edge of the truck. They were warm, his palms wide and strong. I managed to avoid tracing the fascinating trail of veins leading up his forearms, but it was hard.

“Hold on right there and just pretend you’re at home on the couch relaxing instead of the middle of Main Street getting your picture taken while wearing a tight T-shirt.” Our eyes met, and his crinkled at the corners in that swoony way that was quickly becoming an essential part of my days here in Cozy Creek. “You look hot, Cole,” I added under my breath. “You’re gonna raise a lot of money.”

“If we do, it will be because of you.” His voice was deep and husky. Hearing it felt like taking a shot of whiskey. It sent a thrill zipping through me, but I couldn’t focus on that right now. His kids were here.

“Oh, it absolutely will; I know it,” I answered with mock severity. “Natalie and Evan. Come over here and stand behind me.”

They ran up, breathless and flushed from the chill in the air. “Is this for the calendar?” Natalie asked.

“Yup. And I’ll take a few shots of you together when I finish.”

Cole’s eyes warmed on me. “Thanks,” he murmured. “I’d like that.”

I gave him what I told myself was a jaunty, non-flirtatious wink. “I promise at least one of them will be suitable for framing.”

He chuckled. “This might take us all night then.”

I shivered at the idea of doing anything all night with Cole.

Yum.

“Don’t you worry about a thing. I’ve got skills. Hold on to the truck, lean forward, shoulders back, and flex every muscle you have. Don’t think. Just react. Natalie and Evan, it’s time to dance with me. We’re going to shake our tail feathers.”

I started shaking my booty and wiggling my body in a ridiculous, rhythmless display of nonsense.

Evan cracked up and started shaking his hips immediately.

“That’s right, Evan. Shake that thang,” I encouraged. “Who needs music? Not us.”

Cole burst out laughing.

Click.

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