Page 3 of A Bridge to a Troll's Heart
Arlo couldn’t guess what he hinted at. “And?”
“Well, we could sit and have a cookie together before I go.” Tobias blinked. “If you wanted to, that is.”
Arlo liked that idea. The butterflies in his stomach fluttered. He’d dined alone ever since taking over the bridge and relished the thought of eating with a friend. But he was getting ahead of himself. Tobias wasn’t his friend, just a passing traveler. Still…no reason they couldn’t share refreshments. Tobias had probably walked a long way, and a rest would do him good.
“All right,” Arlo grunted. “Tea?”
A wide smile lit Tobias’s face. “Please.”
“I’ll be a moment. Have a seat.” Arlo tottered below to fetch their cups. Tobias settled along the wooden planks, dangling his lanky legs over the side, swinging his brown leather boots in the air. Arlo chuckled. Tobias had a lot of energy for someone who’d been on the move all day.
After pouring their drinks, Arlo placed the cups on the decking, swung a leg over the joist, and hauled himself up onto the bridge. Tobias’s steady green gaze never wavered.
“You’re very agile for someone of your size.” Tobias took the tea with a murmur of thanks.
“Am I?” Arlo clambered down next to him. He didn’t feel agile next to the lithe and lean Tobias. “You must be agile also. You’re a wolf shifter, aren’t you?”
“I am. How’d you know?”
“You mentioned Fern Pack and River Pack earlier. Humans and fairies and goblins don’t go around talking about their packs, but wolves do.” Arlo offered him a cookie. “So I figured.”
Tobias took a star-shaped cookie covered in yellow frosting. “Do you meet many goblins in your line of work?”
“Sure.” Arlo tossed an entire cookie into his mouth and chomped. A few crumbs escaped. “Don’t you?”
“I can’t say I’ve had the pleasure.” Tobias grinned, then ate his cookie with more care.
“It isn’t a pleasure, really.” Arlo scrunched his wide nose. “They stink of rotten plums and try to trick their way out of paying tribute. Muck-spouts, the lot of them, best to avoid the buggers if you can.”
“I shall keep that in mind.”
Arlo nodded and chose a second cookie. This one an evergreen tree with extra sprinkles. “These are delicious.”
“My great-grandmother’s recipe. She added extra cinnamon.”
“Smart lady.” Arlo held out the plate. “Want another?”
Tobias pushed it back gently, smiling as their hands touched. “The rest are for you.”
He set the plate in his lap and took a swig of tea. He wondered what else he should say. He’d liked Tobias’s fingers on his, liked the subtle heat of the smaller man seated next to him. He watched a puff of breath from Tobias’s lips float away on the wind. Tobias turned and caught him staring. Arlo glanced down at the cookies.
“What will you do for Christmas?” asked Tobias.
“I will guard my bridge,” said Arlo with no hesitation. What else would he do?
“I live only a short distance over that hill.” Tobias pointed. “Around the bend, through the meadow, and across the little creek. You could come celebrate with my family if you like.”
Arlo shook his head. “Oh no, I could never do that. Mustn’t leave my bridge unattended.”
“But you will be alone on Christmas.” Tobias gazed up at him through his long black lashes.
Their eyes met. “I am always alone.”
The river burbled beneath them as the setting sun stole away the day’s warmth. Chilled air raised gooseflesh on Arlo’s forearms.
Tobias opened his mouth to say something when a fluffy, white snowflake landed right on his nose. Whatever words he would have spoken fluttered away on a giggle.
Arlo reached forward and swept away the snowflake before the heat between them could melt it. “You’d better get going.”
