Page 144 of Frozen Flames

“Claire.”

She puts a bag of oatmeal in her cart and looks up at me. “I didn’t think I’d see you here. It’s good to see you out and about.” She smiles andfuck my lifedid I miss that smile.

“Yeah, well…” I run my thumb along my jaw as I continue. “I go out a lot more now since I got my job back at the tattoo parlor.”

“Seriously? That’s really good!” She pushes the hairs that have fallen around her face back. “I didn’t know that you reapplied.”

“I didn’t want to tell you until I knew I could pull it off…”

“Well, I’m happy for you. You seem happier.” She beams as she says this.

“I am, in a lot of ways. Anyway…you’re doing good?” I ask, changing the subject.

“I am. I got two in-home contracts.”

“That’s great.” I wheel closer to her, taking her hand boldly. We both swallow and stare at each other in the cereal aisle as if we’re somewhere else, away from everyone.

It’s our world.

And we can do or make anything we want out of it.

I’m learning that and then some this year.

“Can I take you out on a date?” Our fingers intertwine, and I add, “Please,” as I squeeze her hand gently.

“Promise you’ll be a gentleman?” She curtsies flirtingly.

“I’ll keep my hands to myself. My mind, on the other hand…”

She shakes her head, and I’m grinning. “Are you sure?” she asks, serious this time. “We can wait longer if you need to.”

“Claire, I’ve never been surer of anything in my life.”

“Okay.” She nods, clutching her purse now. “I’ll go on a date with you, Harvey.”

“Tonight?”

She cocks her head to the side. “This is the part where I pretend to be busy.”

“Usually, yeah, but you love me, and you know I’m in love with you, Claire.”

She sighs. “You don’t play fair.”

I shrug, giving her a bit of space. “I know what I want.”

“Tell you what, I’ll agree to dinner tonight if you’ll consider going to a therapy session with me.”

“Done. I’ll schedule our session with Dr. Lee.”

She looks at me perplexed, no doubt having expected some backlash. That’s when I move closer to her again. “I want you, this,us, Claire. I’m all in. Things will be different this time. And this time, we take it at your pace.”

She’s sporting the biggest smile on her face.

Claire

It’s a powerful feeling—being in love.

To hear Harvey’s words again—that he’s in love with me—surrounds me with an aura of what seems like magical particles.

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