Page 17 of Slow Kind of Love

“We’re waiting for our chili dogs. Do you want one?” Poppy asked.

“No. I’m here for the hot chocolate.” He knew Elise had a fondness for it—even in the summer, she kept packets of the stuff in her kitchen cupboard. One time, she’d made them each a big mug and covered it with whipped cream, and watching her slowly lick off the thick, creamy stuff had been enough to make him drag her back to bed before she was able to finish her mug.

“She’s here with David.”

Distracted by the memory of Elise naked and panting beneath him, Link cranked his head up. “What was that?”

Poppy nodded toward the pavilion. “David’s here.”

“We’ve been introduced.”

“And?”

“I’m sure he’s a decent sort. But he’s not meant for Elise.”

“Are you talking about my Nana?”

Bollocks. Elise’s grandson missed nothing. Link cleared his throat and shook his head. “No one you know, mate.” He stepped up and ordered two hot chocolates with marshmallows and whipped cream, then turned to Poppy and winked. “I got this.”

It only took a few minutes for his order to be readied. He grabbed the thermal cups, then stepped toward the pavilion.

“Good luck,” Poppy murmured, but he barely heard her. His focus was on the blonde woman across the way. Even from here, he felt that invisible thread, the one that was buried beneath skin and bone. The one settled into his soul. It was a thread not easily broken, and he knew she sure as hell felt it too. As if she knew what he was thinking, Elise touched her mouth, and in that moment, there was no Poppy or Benji. No birds calling from the bare branches of the trees overhead. No murmur of voices or children’s shrieks as they ran madly about.

There was Elise and Link and nothing else.

He strode toward the pavilion like a predator after prey, eyes not leaving her face, and he felt some kind of satisfaction when she did the same, ignoring the man at her side and the few souls asking after raffle tickets or information on the upcoming Mayor’s Gala. Link didn’t stop until he stood inches from Elise, that energy between them big and electric. He was surprised no one saw it. Surprise it didn’t melt the snow surrounding the pavilion or set off sparks and start a fire.

It was warmer up here because of the large heaters plugged in on either side of the table, but still, her breath puffed in little clouds as she stared up at him.

“Hot chocolate,” he said, enjoying the splash of pink that flooded her cheeks. He handed a cup over. “With marshmallows.”

“Thank you,” Elise replied softly.

“And chocolate mint.”

“Just how I like it,” she murmured, taking a sip.

Link wasn’t wasting time. “We need to talk.” He stood back and waited. At first, Elise looked confused, but then she slowly nodded and sidestepped David.

“What’s going on?” David asked politely, though his eyes were hard.

“You’re okay to take over?” Link asked when Elise joined him on the other side of the table.

“Uh,” David stumbled over his words. “I guess.” He frowned. “Elise?”

“I’ll be back in a bit,” she replied.

Link followed her across the park, aware of the looks and raised eyebrows. She paused by a bench, but he shook his head and took her elbow, gently guiding her across the street over to the boutiques. He walked down the alley between Poppy’s shop and a candy store, then grabbed his keys from his front pocket and, with the spare Poppy had given him months ago, opened the door and turned off the alarm.

Elise stood in the shadows.

“Come in,” he said, stepping to the side. When she followed him in, Link let out a breath and took a big gulp of hot chocolate, if anything just to give himself a few seconds to get his shit together.

The two of them stood in silence for a few seconds, there in the dim light of Poppy’s stockroom, and it took everything Link had not to drag her into his arms like an animal and kiss Elise Avery into tomorrow. Alive with the kind of energy he only felt with her, he set down his cup.

“What did you…want…” She started to speak, but then her words faded as she looked up at him from beneath thick lashes.

“What are you doing with him, Elise?” he asked lightly, watching her closely for any kind of reaction that would tell him he was way off base.

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