Page 35 of A Very Titan Christmas
No, she wasn’t reacting to Bryce; she mentally shouted that her shivers and flutters were due to muscle memory. Bryce of the past was stealing her breath. They’d stood like this so many times before. She daydreamed. He nuzzled her neck. School and life faded away, and she was so completely sure they would be together forever that she never doubted Bryce. Not until the day he’d ended everything. The warm, fuzzy feeling in her blood went cold. She glanced over her shoulder. “What are you doing?”
“Your parents are coming back toward the lobby. Figured this was a good way”—he nuzzled her neck—“to keep them from making another pit stop on the patio. Unless you want to talk with them again.”
“No.” Goose bumps skittered up onto her scalp.
“Then stay still and try not to look like I’m holding you down against your will.”
Of course, he was playing a role. Bryce Richmond was not trying to rekindle the past. He was playing a part so that she melted. Rachel pressed her lips together. “Are they gone yet?”
“You smell great, Rach.”
She leaned closer. “Don’t smell me.”
Warm laughter brushed under her earlobe. “Want me to hold my breath?”
“Yes. Are they gone yet?”
“Don’t think so.”
Every part of her was quickly revving to life. She needed his mouth away from her neck before she accidentally swayed and swooned. She cleared her throat and semi managed to straighten her shoulders. “Since we’re stuck here, want to fill me in on the summit?”
He stopped nuzzling her skin. “Same answer. Nope.”
“If there’s a threat that involves me, someone should explain it.”
“That someone won’t be me.”
She turned in his arms and was forced to tip her head back. “Then there’s a specific threat?”
He shook his head. “I see your parents. Put your arms around my neck.”
Reluctantly, she did. His hands wrapped around her heavy coat, and damn if she wished it wasn’t zipped. Then his hands could have slid around her waist. She could feel his fingersflexing into her. A blush was rising in her cheeks. She had to push these thoughts away. “I’ll find out what’s going on.”
“I have no problem if you know, Rachel. I just don’t have anything to share.” He scrutinized her face. “All right. They’re gone.”
She inched back and hated the way they broke apart. It was like they were on stage, which waspreciselywhat it was like. They were playing a part in this silly charade. “I have to work this afternoon.”
“And I have to go with you. What are we doing?”
“Research.” She ran through her options: ice skating, weaving, and visiting Santa’s workshop, also known as the toy store, that would host the teddy bear tea. Her mother wouldn’t be anywhere near the ice-skating rink. Rachel grabbed his hand and tugged him toward the lobby. “Your car or mine?”
Bryce fished his hands into his pockets and then tossed his keys to himself. “Are you going to tell me where we’re headed?”
“It’s a surprise.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“Turn down MainStreet and park anywhere.” Rachel pointed to an open parking spot along the top of the block. “Right there.”
Bryce maneuvered into the parking spot and turned off the vehicle. His gaze roamed the street. “Not much has changed, has it?”
“Some has. There’s a dry cleaners a block behind us, and there’s an artist co-op in the old McGregor space. There’s a textile weaver that I’m dying to go check out.”
His eyebrows arched. “You took me to look at fabric?”
“Nope.” She opened her door. “I took you for research and a good time.”
Silverberry Ridge’s town hall resided on Main Street. During December, its parking lot was used for everything from the Christmas marketplace to staging the town’s Christmas tree. It stood ahead of them in all its glory in front of the idyllic government building run by volunteers.
