AllFreeNovel
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She took another sip of wine. Tangy, bright, it warmed her through.
The door opened, and Shae came out. She carried a glass of wine and a wooden board. “I found some Manchego cheese and cut up some bread.”
“Fancy.”
She set the board down on a small table and sat on the lounger where Iris’s father had been. Shae had her blonde hair back, wore a pair of cargo pants, an oversized Montana Grizz sweatshirt. She might have even gotten it out of Iris’s closet, back in Minnesota.
“Is that abruisearound your eye?”
Shae’s hand went up to touch her eye. “Yeah. I forgot. It’s almost gone, but—”
“What happened?”
“I was in fight.” She reached for the cheese.
“Afight?”
“In gulag. On the ship. It was an escape tactic.”
So much to unpack in that sentence. “Did it work?”
“Yep.” She grinned. “But enough about me—I want to know everything that happened between you and Hunk.”
“Hud.”
“Hunk.” Shae cupped the bowl of the glass with her hands. “Spill.”
“First of all, don’t hold your glass like that—you’ll warm the bowl, and white wine needs to be chilled.”
“Oh my gosh, you Marshalls. So many wine rules.”
“Can’t help it. When you grow up with a vintner for a father, it’s in the blood.”
“Stop dodging. You spent five days with the man, and he just walks away? No looking back? No kiss goodbye?”
“Wearejust friends.”
“Sure you are. Or rather, are you sure you want to be?”
Oh.
And suddenly, she was back in the cave, the night thick around them, his arms, his body, her only anchor to safety.
“You’re blushing, even in this light.” Shae had repositioned her hands to hold the stem. “You do like him.”
“He’s…surprising. I told myself I’d never date a football player.”
“Why? Because they’re so consumed with the sport?”
Well, she was consumed with the sport, so no, but the real reason felt too much right now, so, “Yes.”
“I can see that. Who ditches the woman he loves to go home and lift weights?”
“Hud doesn’t love me, I promise.”
“Maybe that’s overstated. Let’s go with really likes, with a dash of protective warrior in his gaze when he looks at you.”
She laughed. “We just—had some adventures together is all.”
