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“I know how to get to the coffee shop, book store, hospital, Abby’s, and here.”
“Abby’s…” He shakes his head and looks down at his daughter before returning his attention to me. “I forgot all about that place. I don’t think I’ve ever taken the kids out that way.”
“You should. The burgers are to die for.”
“I know. We used to go back in high school after the football games. And then I graduated, got married, had two kids, got divorced, and forgot all about it.”
“Life always has a way of interfering in our plans, doesn’t it?”
“That’s an understatement.”
“Abigail?”
I whirl around at the sound of my name. Drake is standing a few feet away, hands on his hips, and a frown marring his gorgeous face.
“Hey, stranger,” I say. “What are you doing here?”
“Figured I should stock up on a few things with this storm coming in. What about you?” His eyes flit to the man and his daughter standing behind me.
“Realized I didn’t have any gloves, so I stopped by to grab a pair, and I was just talking to this wonderful little girl and her father about Abby’s.” I turn to the side so he can get a look at the guy.
The man holds his hand out. “Drake Merritt, I haven’t seen you in ages.”
“Ben. It has been a while.” Drake shakes the guy’s hand but doesn’t seem too pleased about it.
“I was just telling this beautiful young woman where she could find some good sledding hills.”
Releasing Ben’s hand, Drake looks at me. “You want to go sledding?”
“I was thinking about it. I’ve never been.”
“I’ll take you.”
“You don’t have to do that. I know how busy you’ve been.” I really don’t, though, since I haven’t heard a word from him.
But in his defense, I haven’t exactly gone out of my way to get ahold of him either, so I can’t be all that upset.
Drake steps forward until he’s all up in my personal space, which I don’t mind one bit. The smell of sandalwood fills my nose, and all coherent thought flies out the window.
“I want to.”
“Huh?”
“I want to take you sledding.”
“Then we better buy a sled.”
He nods and gives me a once over. “We also need to get you some warmer clothes and insulated boots.”
* * * *
A hundred and twenty dollars and thirty minutes later, we’re finally pulling into the city park. Per Drake’s request, I followed him from the hardware store, and it’s a damn good thing I didn’t try to come here by myself because it was about ten different turns through six stoplights, and I’m certain I would’ve gotten lost. I pull into what I hope is a parking spot—who the hell can tell with this much snow on the ground—and pop my trunk.
I wore the snow pants and boots out of the store, so all I’ve got to put on are the gloves. When I grab a hat out of the bag in my trunk, Drake takes it from me.
“Are you attracted to that guy?” he says, pulling it over my ears.
I brush a strand of hair from my face and tuck it under the hat. “What guy?”
