Page 14 of Broken on the Mountain
Then he brings that same thumb to his mouth and licks the whipped cream off.
"Waste not, want not," he says with a grin that's pure trouble. "You okay there, Chicago? You look a little flushed."
Flushed?!
I'm standing there like a malfunctioning robot, clutching my take-out cup as he studies my face with those impossibly green eyes.
I nod, not trusting my voice.
"Come on," Chase says, winking andtotallyaware of what he's doing to me. "I know a place just up here that you're gonna love."
Before we can move, a strong breeze kicks up again, sending my scarf flying. Chase catches it with reflexes that remind me exactly why he's in mountain rescue.
"Can't have you freezing to death on my watch," he says softly.
He wraps it back around my neck with gentle hands, tucking the ends into my coat with the kind of care that makes my chest tight.
"You know," Chase says, glancing over my shoulder with that mischievous grin, "I think I might have accidentally just given Etta and Mabel enough material to fuel the gossip mill for the next six months."
I turn to see the two elderly women from the café standing outside the post office, not even pretending they aren't watching us. Etta waves enthusiastically while Mabel clutches her purse like she's witnessing a historical event.
"Gossip mill? Seriously?" I ask, cocking a brow. "Two adults can't just… help each other out?"
Help each other out?
Who am I kidding? The man just licked whipped cream off his thumb like some kind of pornographic food commercial. That wasn't helping. That was foreplay disguised as chivalry.
"Fuck no. They're probably already planning our wedding," Chase laughs, his voice warm with amusement. "This town takes everyone's love life very seriously."
A splash of cold mountain air washes over my skin.Love life?
I force a laugh, but internally I'm spinning. We literally just signed a napkin agreeing to keep things casual. No strings. No feelings. Definitely noloveanything.
"Well, they'll be disappointed when I disappear back to Chicago in a few days," I manage, taking a sip of hot chocolate to hide whatever expression is threatening to betray me.
"Yeah. I guess they will." Chase looks away quickly, like he's just as disappointed as I am. "Come on. We're nearly there."
Chapter Four
Piper
Chase's hand finds the small of my back, guiding me up the winding cobblestone street. The scent of old paper drifts toward us, mixing with the lingering sweetness of my now finished hot chocolate on my tongue.
Soon, I'm staring ahead as dark green ivy climbs a small log cabin like nature's claiming it for herself. Lace curtains flutter in windows that glow with warm amber light, making me feel like I'm floating towards the cabin.
"Here," Chase says, stopping in front of a hand-painted sign that readsThe Mountain Bookshopin elegant script.
My heart does something stupid and hopeful.
"A bookshop?"
"Not just any bookshop." His grin turns wicked. "Trust me."
The Mountain Bookshop's bell chimes as we push through the door, and I'm immediately enveloped by the most intoxicatingscent combination known to humanity—new books and fresh coffee.
"This place is dangerous," I murmur, already gravitating toward the nearest shelf.
Warm lamps turn everything golden, the low light making me want to grab the nearest paperback and disappear into its pages.
