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April looks like she's about to ask more questions when the bells on the front door ring and Raine Hart walks in, shaking off the snow from his coat.
Suddenly April's interest in our conversation is lost, her eyes only seeing the man that just walked in.
"Talk later, Hawk," Mesa mumbles as he passes me on his way out while Oz stays behind to chat with Raine.
When I came to the Ridge, I learned quickly who the big family names are around here-- who has friends and who has enemies in this small town and where those bonds and feuds were formed.
The people of Moonshine Ridge either love or hate the Hart men. Mesa's on the hate side of the line, so I'm not surprised to see him make his hasty retreat.
After I've finished my coffee and made small-talk with the remaining occupants of the cafe, I zip up my jacket and adjust my hat while I stand under the porch awning outside April's cafe.
Across the way, Terra's outside, shoveling snow that's built up from this morning's flurries from the entrance of her daycare center so no one slips on their way in or out.
I ought to leave her be and go on with my day, but dammit, she's got a building full of little ones that need her attention, she doesn't need to be out there shoveling snow off the sidewalk.
Pulling up my collar, I make the short walk to her building, preparing myself for whatever she has to tell me and hoping she doesn't say it with that shovel to the side of my head.
"Let me do that." Reaching for the shovel, my hand brushes hers and feels that it's freezing cold from being out here without gloves on.
"I've got it," she yanks back on the handle but I've already got a firm grip so there's no way for her to win this fight.
"Your hands are freezing, Tee."
It doesn't take any effort at all to uncurl her frozen fingers but it does take a hell of a lot of effort not to hold them against my chest to warm them for her.
Settling for gently massaging her hands with mine, I notice the way her breathing kicks up at the casual contact and I can't help but take advantage of it.
Pulling her a little closer to me and kneading her small hands till they're a little less cold, I do my best to hide the pride I feel at the way she allows me to take care of her and the soft look in her eyes.
"I'll clear the sidewalk off. You get inside and get yourself warmed up. I don't want to see you back out here without some gloves on, hear me, Rebel?"
She casts a glance at the snow shovel leaning against my hip and quirks an eyebrow at me but doesn't argue.
The tip of her tongue swipes along her lip and she pulls the lower one between her teeth. I can tell she's considering whether or not she wants to fight me on this, but she's freezing and she's got a bunch of kids inside waiting for her to come back and start their day.
After a pause, she gives me a nod.
Before I drop her hand and let her get back inside, I lean down to whisper in her ear.
"Good girl."
A shiver that has nothing to do with the cold shakes her shoulders before she looks back at me with narrowed eyes. She doesn't get a chance to snark at me though, because her assistant is at the door asking for her help.
Terra disappears inside and I do my civic duty, pitching in to help the local businesses and keep the people under my jurisdiction safe.
Or maybe I'm just a hopelessly love-struck guy shoveling snow off the sidewalk for a pretty girl.
5
TERRA
Zeph: Are you sure you know what you're doing?Me: They never even lock it. No one's going to see me. I just have to know.
Zeph: Don't get caught, I can't afford to bail you out.Me: Pffff. As if. Hawk won't arrest me, he's too busy asking my dad if he can date me.
Zeph: (heart eye emoji)
Me: (puke emoji)
