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“Are you trying to butter me up, Mr. Templar?” I tease.
His lips tip up on one side. “Maybe.”
I’d meant it as a joke, but now I’m curious. What is up Devlyn’s sleeve?
I narrow my eyes at him. “What’re you up to?”
Leaning in, he presses his lips to mine and kisses me breathless. All too soon, he breaks the kiss. He rises from the couch, swipes the empty bottle from the table and takes a step away. Peering over his shoulder, he taps his temple then leaves the room.
I love this side of him. Happy and optimistic and flirty. Much as I want to pry the plans from his lips, I won’t ask what he has in store. Something about the surprise has me jittery, in all the right ways.
* * *
While I lock Desirée’s carrier in the car seat cradle, Devlyn loads our purchases in the back of the car. Warm air floats from the vents and replaces the cooler December air. Jolly holiday music echoes from the speakers at a low volume. The sky a little more gray than blue as the sun hides behind puffy clouds.
Once he has everything stowed, Devlyn hops in the driver’s seat and holds his hands in front of the vents.
A minute passes. Then another. Devlyn has yet to put a hand on the steering wheel or gear shifter.Is he really that cold?I note the outside temperature on the dash display. Fifty-seven. Chilly, but not cold.
“Everything okay?” I ask as he rubs his hands together.
Green eyes flick in my direction. I study the lines of his face that are a hint deeper. The corners of his lips and eyes turned up a touch. And I swear I see his eyes twinkle a second before he blinks.
“Fine. Just trying to feel my hands again.” He makes a fist with each hand, then flattens them out again.
“It’s notthatcold,” I tease as I reach for his hands and sandwich them between my own. Immediately, I note how warm his hands feel. Not warm. Hot. I loosen my grip on him.
A soft chuckle spills from his lips. “Theywerecold. Now I’m just trying to feel them again.” He jerks his chin toward the back of the car. “My fingers went numb after store number two.”
Heat crawls up my neck and floods my cheeks. While I pushed the stroller through the mall and ogled all the festive decorations, Devlyn walked beside me and carried all the bags from our purchases. We visited ten stores over the last two hours, easily. Which means Devlyn grinned and trudged through the numbing pain for more than half that.
“Why didn’t you say something?”
He waves a hand. “It’s no big shake.”
“I could’ve put bags in the stroller basket or carried one.”
“Shelly…” He cups my cheeks, leans in and kisses me softly. “I didn’t mind.” His words are calm and barely above a whisper. “I’ll carry twice that to see your smile again.”
My eyes dart between his and look for things left unsaid. As he stares back, all I see is his truth, out in the open.
“Okay.” I press my lips to his. “Now take me home,” I demand, sitting back in my seat and buckling my seat belt. “Time to decorate.”
He blinds me with a bright smile before he buckles up and drives us home.
THIRTY-FOUR
DEVLYN
I’m goingto be sick.
The blinker ticks at a deafening volume as I wait to turn into the neighborhood.Ticktock. Ticktock.I blink a few times in an attempt to clear the fog coming in from all sides. Swallow past the building lump in my throat. Breathe slow and steady as I tell myself everything will be okay.
It will be, won’t it?
With a break in the traffic, I steer the car into the neighborhood. If I drive slow enough, I can stretch the minute and a half to two minutes without Shelly asking questions.
Everything will go according to plan.
