Page 35 of The Heart Shot
Resisting the crackling lightning between us that beckoned me closer, I led her across the patch, praying she wouldn’t change her mind and make a beeline for her car. By the time we got there, a closed sign swung in the window of the empty shop, and the parking lot was vacant aside from my truck and Elsie’s little black Civic. The metal knob was ice cold as I opened the door, the bell tinkling overhead before we were suffocated by the sweet scent of cider and donuts.
“Back here!” my aunt yelled.
We followed her voice, squeezing through the narrow aisles, which forced Elsie and me closer together, our shoulders bumping into each other. A pink tint colored her cheeks, and it was so cute that it might have become my new favorite color.
“Don’t be shy,” Aunt Jo said, emerging from the doorway of the walk-in refrigerator along the back wall. “Grab a crate from the shelves and get moving!” Despite her age, she bounced on her feet as she carried heavy wooden crates of apples into the fridge.
A throbbing started at my temples, and I rubbed at them to ease the ache. I wasn’t embarrassed by my aunt—not at all—but I didn’t want Elsie to be scared away, especially by Aunt Jo’s overzealousness. I waved at the shelf where a dozen wooden boxes waited to go into their overnight resting place.
“Some places don’t refrigerate their apples overnight as it’s not necessary, but you’ll never convince Aunt Jo of that,” I explained when Elsie turned her confused eyes on me. “You don’t have to lift these heavy crates,” I added, moving to pick one up. “I’ll just be a minute and then we can leave.”
With a raised brow, completely ignoring me, she walked to the closest shelf and put her arms around a crate, as if to prove she was stronger than she looked. However, the moment she tried to lift it, the apples shifted and it toppled to the side. I jolted forward, putting my hands over hers to hold it steady. Heat shot straight up my arms and spread through my chest. Her skin on mine was like sticking my finger in an outlet—electric and shocking—except instead of painful, it was exhilarating.
“You okay?” I asked, losing myself in the jade flecks in her eyes.
A small squeak came out of her, and I choked back a laugh. She cleared her throat. “Mmhmm. Fine. Heavier than I thought.”
“Can I help you?” I asked, not wanting to make her feel small by taking the crate away from her. If she wanted my help, I would give it, but I wouldn’t force it upon her.
“I’m not weak,” she whispered.
“I would never dare to think so.”
Small puffs of air escaped her mouth, and she glanced at my lips. I was vaguely aware of Aunt Jo humming somewhere in the shop, but my focus narrowed on Elsie and me, inches apart, her floral scent making me dizzy. I leaned toward her, her soft lips beckoning me forward.
“I’m glad you’re here, deary,” Aunt Jo declared to Elsie as she came around the corner. Elsie took a giant step back, relinquishing the crate into my hands. A groan worked its way up my throat at yet another interruption, but I swallowed it down. “I haven’t seen my nephew smile like that in ages.”
“Aunt Jo,” I sighed, face growing hot. It wasn’t a lie, but she didn’t have to say it out loud.
Elsie bit her lip, holding back a smile. I forced myself to put one foot in front of the other, walking the crate into the fridge before coming back for the others. Their low voices filled the shop, but I couldn’t quite hear which embarrassing stories my aunt was telling Elsie. Probably about the time I had pooped my pants on a Ferris wheel as a kid.
To my horror, when I came back around the shelf, Aunt Jo was saying, “You take care of him, dear. He’s had a rough time with—”
“Aunt Jo,” I interrupted, crossing my arms. I didn’t need her sharing anything about how hard the past decade had been. I didn’t need her scaring Elsie away before I had the chance to get to know her. “Stop interrogating the poor woman.”
She waved a hand and retorted, “What kind of an aunt do you think I am?”
“The meddling kind.”
Exaggerated outrage twisted her brows low over her eyes, but I spoke before she could utter a word.
“Apples are in the fridge. I’m going to walk Elsie to her car before you start pulling out my baby pictures,” I said, my hand hovering over Elsie’s lower back.
Aunt Jo studied me through narrowed eyes before sighing. “Fine. It was a pleasure to meet you, Elsie, dear. I do hope to see you again soon.”
Elsie gave my aunt a sweet smile and nodded before heading toward the door. “It was a pleasure to meet you too, Aunt Jo.”
Elsie calling heraunt, even if everyone called her that, made my heart squeeze in my chest. A smug smile lit Aunt Jo’s face as she met my gaze briefly before disappearing once more into the back room.
I blew out a breath. “Shall we?” My fingers skimmed her low back, and she shivered.
“Sorry for my aunt,” I apologized as soon as the door shut behind us. “She’s a little temperamental sometimes.”
“She’s sweet,” Elsie replied, pressing her lips into a firm line.
The stars were bright overhead as we walked to the parking lot, the brisk night air biting through my flannel.
I needed to say goodbye and let her drive away, but my shoes were glued to the ground. All I could do was stand there, staring into those caramel-colored eyes as we stopped next to her car. That strange pull lingered between us, like two magnets being drawn together, and I dared a step closer. Elsie fidgeted with her keys as she leaned against the door.
