Page 17 of Secrets Hidden In The Glass

“That wasn’t my intention. I ended up having something small to eat at the cottage.” She’d made quick work of shoving half a granola bar into her mouth as she slid on her sandals on the way out the door.

“I tried to snag you a brownie, but people around here are pigs when it comes to Molly’s baking, so…” He shrugged.

She smiled. “I appreciate the effort.”

He looked to his left, did a double take, and smiled, letting go of Callie’s hand long enough to send up a quick wave. “Ah, shit,” he said under his breath as he captured Callie’s fingers, lacing them with his.

She frowned. “What?”

“Mrs. Beckle.”

Callie casually glanced in the direction Nate had just waved, where two women looked his way. “I take it Mrs. Beckle’s not the tall brunette?”

“No, that would be Anna, Mrs. Beckle’s daughter,” he said on a bit of a sigh. “Mrs. Beckle is convinced that Anna and I are fated or something.”

Callie looked Anna’s way again, noting her enviable curves filling out her red sleeveless top and black maxi skirt, then back into Nate’s eyes. “She’s very pretty.”

“Yeah, but she’s not very nice. She put gum in my hair when we were in second grade—a huge wad of Hubba Bubba. It was two pieces—maybe three. My mom tried getting it out with ice cubes and peanut butter, but she ended up shaving my head.”

Callie laughed, truly delighted with the man staring into her eyes. “So you’re a grudge holder?”

He frowned. “I thought you’d be on my side. Shaved head. In January. Do you know how cold it is around here that time of year?”

Callie threw her head back, laughing in a way she hadn’t in far too long—or maybe since Saturday night when Nate had held her in the frigid Atlantic waters.

He laughed too and pulled her closer against him. “It’s true. And I’m only half joking right now.”

It was hard not to really like Nate Carter. “You know, if law enforcement doesn’t work out, you should give comedy a try.”

He eased back enough to touch a hand to his heart. “The pain is real.”

Chuckling, she shook her head. “You’re a funny guy.”

“I’m glad you think so.”

It seemed she didn’t do much else but think about Nate, especially after seeing him again this morning.

The musician strummed the last few notes of the song, and the band picked up the pace with Tom Petty’s “American Girl.” Callie looked at her fingers intertwined with Nate’s, knowing she needed to let him go. “Thanks for the dance.”

He kept his arm around her as they stood among dancers now moving with the upbeat tempo of the new song. “You know, you would be doing me a major solid if you kind of just hung out with me for the next three or four hours.”

She smiled, more than happy to oblige. “All right.”

He smiled back. “All right, then.”

“What should we do?”

He raised his brow. “Tell me you’re kidding.”

She looked at him, not quite sure what to expect. Nate certainly kept her on her toes. “I think I’m a little afraid.”

He sent her a mischievous wink as he finally let her go. “We have to do the Ferris wheel.”

She glanced over her shoulder, looking farther in the distance where half a dozen rides were set up. The Ferris wheel and Tilt-A-Whirl were bound to be some serious fun. “Okay, let’s do the Ferris wheel.”

“We have to make a stop first.” He took her hand. “Come on.”

She moved with him through the tent, aware that several people were looking their way. “Where are we going?”