While Harper froze to the spot, Georgia Rae took control of the situation. “Mr. Scotts, you and I will run interference. Linc, you take Harper here and stash her somewhere until it’s safe. Sheila, you run distraction if he gets too close. Everybody move!” She clapped her hands and they dispersed.
Harper watched as Peggy Ann hurried back toward her register and Mr. Scotts steered his cart of frozen shrimp and canned dog food toward produce with Georgia Rae.
She remained rooted through the blur of activity until Linc took her by the arm and dragged her into the beverage cooler.
“Wait! My cart,” she hissed.
“Leave it,” he said, shutting the door behind him.
Harper put her hands over her face and bent at the waist trying to catch her breath.
“Are you okay?” Linc asked, laying a broad hand on her back.
“If you offer me mouth to mouth right now, I’ll kill you.”
His laugh had her straightening.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I don’t mean to laugh, but I believe you. You look like you’ve been put through the ringer and are ready to come out swinging.”
“That’s actually kind of nice,” Harper said with suspicion.
“I’m a nice guy,” Linc insisted.
She shivered. Between the snow, the cooler, and the danger of coming face to face with the man who broke her heart, Harper didn’t think she could get any colder.
“Come here before you turn into a ice pop.” Linc wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in to him.
She resisted for a second, but the heat coming off of him was too comforting. Harper tried to hold herself stiffly against him, but when he shoved her head against his chest, she gave up the struggle and let herself be held.
“You’re not going to start crying, are you?” Linc asked.
Harper sighed. “No, I think I can control myself.”
“Good. It’s going to be okay, you know?”
“Really? Do you have some magic fireman crystal ball?”
“It’s more like one of those magic eight balls.”
This time she laughed a little. It sounded foreign to her ears.
“What does your magic eight ball say?”
“That you’re going to be just fine. You’re strong and smart and look really, really good in a bikini. You’re not meant for a life of misery and hiding in beer coolers.”
“That’s an oddly specific magic eight ball you have.”
Linc gripped her shoulders and made her look at him. “You’re going to be good. You’re a fighter. That counts, especially when life sucks.”
“Thanks, Linc.” The small smile felt good.
“And if that asshole out there doesn’t figure out what an amazing catch you are, you just come by the fire station and —”
Harper clapped her hand over his mouth. “Don’t ruin this touching moment by being gross.”
“I was just going to tell you I’ll let you slide down my pole,” he said through her fingers.
This time the laugh was real. “And the moment is over.”
