Page 73 of Smoke and Fire
A tentative smile appeared on her face, banishing the uncertainty that had originally shown up. I tucked my fingers into my palm to keep from reaching out for her. No, it was too soon. Although I craved her touch and dreamed of how soft her skin would feel, I couldn’t break that barrier yet.
Then Dahlia launched herself into my arms.
I caught her out of shock. My arms went around her, but bright, blaring alarms rang through my mind. What did I do now? What was appropriate? If I had my way this second, we’d be in the empty loft, tearing—
She gave a little sigh. Seconds later she extricated herself out of my arms. Once she stepped back, her missing warmth felt like a lost limb. I wanted to claw it back.
“Glad you’re safe,” she said.
Her beaming smile rendered me further speechless. No sign of sheepishness appeared in her grin. I went with it, eager for any sign that she could be as interested in me as I was in her. Because I was.
No denying that now.
“You’re back and you’re safe.” She put her hands on her hips. “That’s a great starting point. You look like you’ve showered. Did you get back earlier today?”
I nodded and followed her farther into the shop. She returned behind the counter and reached for a coffee pot. I sat at the closest table, not far away. This was the girl I’d been mooning over through video and dreams. Part of me expected to be a little bit disappointed at real life Dahlia. How could any girl, even Dahlia, measure up to the version that I’d built in my head while in the mountains?
She did.
“Around noon.” I cleared my throat, managing an awkward smile. “You definitely didn’t want to smell me then.”
She grinned. “I’m glad you came over. I’m closing in an hour and I’m starving. I bet you are too?”
“Always.”
“Great! We can go to dinner then. Will that work?”
“Sure.”
I stuck my hands in my pockets, suddenly awkward. I had no computer to hide behind, and didn’t have any apps on my phone. What was I supposed to do while she worked? Retreating back to my place until she left made the most sense, but that wasn’t what I wanted.
Not at all.
“You can stay.” She gazed around. “With the forest and the reservoir closed now, hardly anyone is up here. I’ve spent most days reading.”
I grinned. “Oh yeah? The books are good?”
I made myself ask it before I found a reason to back out. The delighted smile that illuminated her face made it totally worth it.
“Fantastic.”
She drummed her fingers together, then gestured to a stack of books on the floor behind the counter, out of sight from any customers. I stood up and peered over the top. Jess’s books.
My books.
Her grin spread as she grabbed a book off the top and slammed it on the counter between us.
“Now that you’re stuck here with me, I have you all to myself.”
The sound came out like a threat, but I wanted it as a promise. If I had Dahlia all to myself, the things I wanted to do to her—
She continued, breaking apart my escalating thoughts.
“Because I just . . . I have so many questions. Let’s start with book one.”
“WHAT?”I cried forty-five minues later. “No. Just . . . no.”
Dahlia’s jaw dropped. “You have to be kidding me? You’ve totally set it up for them to be together.”
