Page 9 of Fire and Ice
Grady shifted his arms on his cart. “And you’re a star.”
For a moment, she seemed to be far away, thinking of a different time and place. “That was a lifetime ago.”
Grady watched Chelsea. “I work with Archer Roberts.”
She came back from wherever she’d been in her thoughts. “I see him every now and again around town. I forgot he’s a firefighter.”
After a pause, Grady said, “I was hoping you would call.”
She looked as if she was deciphering his words, and then she straightened. “Oh. I didn’t—I mean I couldn’t.” She let out an audible breath. “I can’t.”
He studied her. Pain filled her expression, pain from something that came straight from her heart. He didn’t know what that something was, but he wanted to find out.
“You’re blocking the aisle.” An elderly woman’s voice cut through the sudden tension. “Take it somewhere else.”
* * *
The small woman instantly reminded Chelsea of her grandmother in both manner and appearance. The thought of her abusive guardian gave Chelsea a bad taste in her mouth. She let out a slow breath as she moved her cart out of the way. She didn’t know this woman’s life story, what she’d been through, what might have happened this morning. Even though she looked like Chelsea’s grandmother, that didn’t mean they were anything alike.
“Excuse us,” Grady said at the same moment, Chelsea said, “So sorry.”
The woman grumbled something beneath her breath as she pushed her cart past them.
Chelsea looked at Grady, who shrugged.
“Where were we?” He tipped his head as if in deep thought. “Oh, yeah. We were just talking about you going out with me.”
Grady shifted his stance, and Chelsea’s throat worked. God, his forearms and biceps looked so strong, his hands big and his body firm and sculpted beneath his T-shirt. Fire-ice blue eyes—that’s what she had thought the moment she had first seen him at the skating rink. She didn’t normally notice eyes, but in this case, she was drawn into his vivid gaze.
His lips curved into another smile. “How is Friday night? I can pick you up at 6:30.”
Taken off guard, she couldn’t think of a word to say. When it came, she found herself feeling disappointed, even as she said it. “No.” She shook her head. “I—just no.”
“Why not?” His expression was open and genuine.
“I—well.” She bit her lower lip.
“In other words, you don’t have an excuse.” He winked, clearly teasing once again. He reached into his back pocket. “Do you still have my number?”
She shook her head.
“Do you have a pen?”
“I think so.” She dug in the cross-body bag before she produced a pen and handed it to Grady.
He opened his wallet and pulled out a business card for a local insurance agency. He crossed out the information on the front before flipping it over and writing the number she recognized as the same one he had left for her the first time they had met.
She watched him as he took her hand, opened it, and pressed the card against her palm. The warmth of his hand heated her through as he closed her fingers over the card.
“Call me.” He held her gaze. “I promise I don’t bite.” His lips quirked. “Unless you want me to.”
Her lips parted, but nothing came out.
“I shouldn’t tease you so much.” He smiled and released her hand, taking away the warmth.
“It’s okay.” She lowered her hand and almost said, “I like it,” but stopped herself and said, “I’m used to it with the bunch I raised.”
“Good.” He reached for her as if he couldn’t stop himself and touched the soft skin beneath her ear. He slid his finger along her jaw. “Call me tonight.” He let his hand drop from her face. “I’m off, so I’ll be home.”
