I didn’t like that he knew that about me.It made me feel vulnerable.
I didn’t reply.
We made it to the top of the hill and Archer set the sled down.“You get on first.”
“You sure?”
“Yep.”
He held the sled in place while I got situated, moving as far forward as possible.He sat down behind me.His legs bracketed mine and then he scooted so close that I was pressed against his chest and his arms wrapped around me.Not too tight.But tight enough that I felt secure.
Protected.
For just a moment, we sat there.Together.
He lowered his head and rested his chin on my shoulder.“Ready?”
“Yep.”
He pushed off, sending us flying down the mountain.
When we got to the bottom of the hill to a waiting Lenni, her smile bright with excitement and happiness, I felt more right in Archer’s arms than wrong—which scared me more than anything I’d ever felt before.
I hastily shook him off.
“Well?Did I earn my hot chocolate?”I asked as Archer dropped his arms from around me.
“And a donut,” Lenni informed me.
“Let’s pack it in,” Archer said as he stood.
He held out a hand to me.
I looked at it for a moment and then gave him my non-injured, gloved palm.He helped me rise but didn’t drop my hand.
Something had shifted between us this morning.Maybe it had been when he saw that I hadn’t slept well, or when he took care of my burned hand.But Archer was different with me now.Charming and playful, yes.But honest and solicitous too.
“You’re a good partner,” he said, staring into my eyes.“And not just when it comes to sledding.”
“You want Mildred back?”Lenni asked, completely oblivious to what was going on between me and her father.
“Nah, you keep her,” I said.
“I wanna say goodbye to Ms.Thomas.Be back in a sec!”Lenni said as she scampered off.
“Ms.Thomas,” I huffed.
Archer leaned down and picked up the sled, chuckling.
“She doesn’t even look old enough to have a seven-year-old son,” I said.
“Do I look old enough to have an eleven-year-old daughter?”he fired back.“And if the answer is yes, lie to me.”
ChapterTwenty-Two
The Bakery
We dropped Mildred off at the house and walked the few blocks to Sweet Teeth.The bakery was crammed full of customers and a harried Gracie waved to us from behind the counter.
