“Well, I’m glad you made it over,” she said warmly before turning her attention to Christian.“And who’s this?”
“This is Christian,” I introduced him.“He’s new in town.”
“Welcome to Holly Ridge, Christian,” Lucy greeted him with a smile.“You’re just in time for our best hot chocolate.”
Christian nodded politely.
Lucy set about preparing our drinks with practiced ease, her hands moving deftly as she mixed melted chocolate, steamed milk, and a secret blend of spices into steaming mugs.She topped each one with a generous dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon before handing them over.
“There you go,” she said with satisfaction.“Two hot chocolates."
“Thanks,” I said sincerely as I accepted my mug before paying for our hot chocolate as Christian reached for his wallet.The warmth seeped into my fingers, chasing away the winter chill.
Christian took his mug with a nod of thanks, and we moved aside to let the next customer order.
"You know, I would have paid?—"
"It's okay," I replied.
"I don't need your grandmother lecturing me about not being chivalrous."
I laughed.I couldn't help it."It'll be our secret, okay?"
He looked at me, and my heart skipped a beat."You do that a lot, don't you?"he asked.
"What?"
"Take care of everyone else."
I sucked in a breath and took a sip of my hot chocolate.It was like he could see through me, and I wasn't sure how I felt about that.Instead, I focused on my drink.It was just as rich and decadent as I remembered, each sip like a warm hug from the inside out.
“Good?”I asked Christian, curious about his reaction.
He took a cautious sip and nodded slightly.“Not bad.”
I laughed softly at his understated approval.“High praise from you.”
At that moment, a snowball hit Christian right in the face.
Chapter13
Christian
The cold stung my cheeks as a sudden impact to my face shattered my solitude.Snow cascaded down my collar, chilling me to the bone.
Laughter echoed around me.I wiped the snow from my eyes and scanned the area.A group of kids stood a few feet away, their giggles dying down to whispers as they noticed my reaction.
"Is that him?"one of them murmured.
"Yeah, that's Christian Cross," another replied.
"Heard he's some kind of soldier."
"Nah, he looks more like a runaway."
Their voices carried hints of fear and fascination.I sighed, feeling the weight of their curiosity.
"You shouldn't have done that," I warned, my voice steady.
