Page 7 of Holidate Fail
“I got you an Italian crème soda.” Heath handed it to her before sliding into the backseat.
“That’s really my favorite,” Dahlia said, tamping down her annoyance. Heath better not be one of those people who thought he knew better.
“What a coincidence,” Heath said.
Lacole handed Kelly a drink as well. “You seem like a cold brew kind of guy to me.”
“Half sweet iced tea, half lemonade,” Dahlia said. Her dad made sure to always have some on hand since Kelly was over at their house all the time.
Oh, crap, had she said that out loud? Her three companions were staring at her. “At least, that’s what I think you used to drink. And damn, I just did to you what I asked you not to do to me.”
“Don’t worry about it. You have a good memory. Though I outgrew Arnold Palmers a long time ago.” Kelly took a sip of the cold brew as the rich scent of coffee filled the space. “Perfect. Thank you.”
Heath relaxed into the seat as Kelly started the car. “We’ve been searching for restaurants and hotels that might possibly have a gargoyle theme, but this far away from Halloween? Forget it.”
“I think Dahlia figured it out.” Kelly’s gorgeous smile in the rear-view mirror had her spinning fantasies about how she could get him to smile that way all the time. “We’ve got Arthur Miller. Beatrix Potter.”
“Oh, and Tom Clancy,” Heath added. Dahlia blinked at him.
“So we’re not naming random authors?” he asked.
***
“My favorite library is a converted house.” Kelly tapped the steering wheel as he pulled back onto the street in front of Cuppa Joe’s. “At least, it was. It’s been a while since I’ve physically been there. I borrow ebooks now.”
“So no gargoyles.” Lacole wrapped one of her braids around her finger. “And what is this tomorrow and yesterday crap? The Beatles and Annie?”
Kelly belted out a line about his troubles being far away.
Lacole put her hand on his arm. “Oh, honey. No.”
Kelly grinned at her, knowing full well he couldn’t carry a tune. And wasn’t this interesting. Hugging Dahlia had produced a pleasant tug in his gut. Lacole’s touch was just friendly.
Which was fine.
“So we’re going to a library?” Heath asked.
“Seems like,” Kelly answered.
“The library I live near. One county over,” Heath said. “I don’t know for sure, but I remember there being stone steps. And the architecture is old looking, so gargoyles would fit.”
“Well, let’s go!” Kelly said. “Heath, be my navigator.”
“Aye, Captain!” He saluted with his frozen chocolate drink.
They drove out of Claremont to the next county with Heath telling Kelly when to turn. Streets turned into the highway, and then back to small town roads. After about forty-five minutes, they pulled into a parking lot in front of a brick building with older-style architecture surrounded by sleeker government buildings. There were a few people wandering around, some of them entering the library. None of them had the urgency the scavenger hunt would create.
Dahlia got out of the car behind him and peered up. “Yup. Those are gargoyles.”
“And those are stone steps.” Lacole grabbed Kelly’s hand. “Race y’all.”
Okay. Kelly matched the smooth pace of Lacole’s long legs moving with sure, even strides. Not surprising since she was a fitness instructor.
Heath and Dahlia whooshed past him, hand in hand. Rather, Heath whooshed past him while Dahlia got dragged along, her free arm windmilling. One braid got loose, its end snapping around her head.
Kelly lead Lacole to pick up the pace.
Dahlia was still breathing hard by the time Kelly caught up to them, sucking in breaths in the air-conditioned lobby while pinning her loose braid back in place, the flowers askew. How had he never noticed how warm and rich the brown in her hair was? And how much he wanted to have it draped across his body?
