I shot him a look. “You meandistraction.”
He winked. “Tomato, tomahto.”
Drew handed me a steaming mug, the scent of peppermint and chocolate filling the air.
Lydia winked at Drew. “Try not to murder each other before dessert.”
“No promises,” I said, but my lips twitched despite myself.
“To surviving Christmas in Reckless River.” Drew raised his mug and I clinked mine with his.
Our fingers brushed. Just a light touch, fleeting, but it was enough.
Electricity.
Heat.
Trouble.
And when I looked up, he was already watching me, that same unreadable look in his eyes like he was remembering every mistake we’d made together and wondering if we were about to make another one.
Lydia cleared her throat, saving me from saying something I’d regret.
“I think we have a couple of errands to run before the place gets swamped,” she said to Callum. “Let these two… catch up.”
Callum grinned. “Think they already are.”
“No, I don’t think that’s a great idea. I haven’t even made it to your apartment upstairs to unpack.”
Lydia waved at the air like a mosquito. “Ah, you’ll handle it like you always do. You’ve got the key. Besides, we’ll be back.”
The door closed behind them, leaving me alone with Drew and the hum of the twinkle lights.
He leaned on the counter, voice low. “You know, Mel, for someone who says she’s not staying long, you sure make a dramatic entrance.”
A few customers drifted into the bar, and Drew waved at them. “Your usual?”
They must have nodded because he began mixing a couple of drinks.
“Nothing about what I did was dramatic,” I said, taking a long sip of cocoa. “I parked and I came in here for something to drink.”
“You could have left when they did.”
“Is that what you want?” I cocked my head slightly.
“You tell me.” The way he looked at me made my knees feel wobbly, and I was sitting.
“I’m just thirsty.”
He smiled. “Something tells me this Christmas is gonna be a hell of a ride.”
I should’ve told him to stop. Should’ve shut him down. Should’ve remembered the ship that supposedly sank.
But instead, I smiled slowly, dangerously, and just a little recklessly.
“Bring it on, Benedict.”
The place had gone quiet, except for the faint hum of Christmas music playing through the jukebox and the whisper of snow against the windows.
