Page 13 of A Bridge to a Troll's Heart
“I had to let him have the slice of cake with the most frosting on my birthday once,” said Toby.
Timothy gave his brother a playful shove. “Hey, I shared it with you!”
Toby shoved him back. “Only because Mom made you.”
“Boys!” Regina broke in, chin tilted, an amused expression on her face. “Stop showing off for Arlo. He has better things to do than watch you scuffle.”
“Sorry, Mom,” they said in practiced unison.
Regina ignored them and cast a radiant smile at Arlo. “Brothers.” She rolled her eyes. “They’ve bickered like this since Timothy taught Toby to say the word no.”
“Blaming me, Mother? Really,” Timothy huffed.
Regina gave a put-upon sigh. “We must be going, dear, but we’ll make sure to bring you something from the festival on our way home.”
“You don’t have to,” said Arlo, but Regina wouldn’t have it.
“Of course, we must. You’ve clearly done an excellent job of maintaining this bridge.” She gestured to the improvements Arlo had made: stone-lined walkways leading up to each side, flowers transplanted at the entrance, and slates crisscrossed neatly beneath the lowest rail for safety.
Toby swelled with pride for his friend’s achievements. “The flowers are a nice touch.”
The purple blush barely had time to leave Arlo’s cheeks before staging its return. “Thank you.”
“Come along,” said Regina to Timothy. “Good-bye, Arlo. We’ll see you this evening. Toby, don’t lag too far behind.” Toby’s family hurried along to catch up with the others.
When they were alone, Toby caught Arlo’s gaze and grinned. “I told you they would like you.”
“I’m glad you were right. I like them too.” Arlo pulled a daisy from the bouquet in his basket, then set the tribute down. “Come here.”
Toby stepped closer and looked up, his breath caught in his chest. Arlo’s fond gaze felt heavy in a way that warmed his stomach and sent tingles up his spine.
The troll reached forward and swept Toby’s hair behind his ear. He tucked the delicate flower there as well. His fingers lingered, then trailed down Toby’s throat, leaving a blazing line of sensitivity in their wake. Toby swayed on his feet.
“Your family is kind. You are lucky.”
“I am.” Toby didn’t want to think of his mother and brother right now, though, not when Arlo stood so close…not when his slate-gray lips parted just so, and his cornflower-blue eyes had darkened to sapphire. “Arlo,” Toby whispered.
Arlo jolted backward, breaking the spell, his face a shade of violet Toby found painfully alluring.
“You’d better git.” Arlo kept his eyes on the trail. “You’ll have to skedaddle to catch the rest of ’em.”
Toby wrangled his disappointment with a sharp sigh. “Right.”
“Have fun at the festival.” Arlo lifted his big strong hand to wave good-bye.
Toby wanted to snatch his hand from the air and put it back on his throat. Instead, he said, “Thanks, Arlo. Have a good day,” and went to join the others.
He cast a glance over his shoulder. Arlo hadn’t budged from his spot. He stared after Toby with an expression of longing.
Toby wished Arlo would leave his bridge for the day and come to the festival with them, but he knew the troll would not waiver from his duty. He never did.
How could he give Arlo what he really seemed to want—something more than endless trinkets of tribute—while allowing him to stay true to his instincts? The impossible task begged for a solution, but as Toby’s thoughts spun around his head, a useful idea failed to surface.
He imagined what it would be like to kiss Arlo’s plump, gray lips. This time Toby had been certain Arlo wanted to kiss him too. He spent the rest of the journey to Fern Pack daydreaming until his little nieces demanded his attention instead.
“No, Sophie, Arlo wouldn’t like one of your boogies as tribute. You’ll have to think of something else. And wash your hands.”
CHAPTER5
