The wagon moved forward agonizingly slowly, and all around them, actors banged on the sides. Their hands were wrapped in what looked like torn clothes covered in blood, and as they moaned and gnashed their teeth at the wagon, Rafe thought this was probably the best Haunt the Park ever.
Mostly because Liv was practically in his lap, but the entertainment factor was pretty high, too.
When the wagon burst into a clearing on the far side of the administrative building, everyone cheered and a few people close enough clapped the driver on the back.
The unloading zone was at the opposite end of the parking lot from where they got on. Before they disembarked, the driver turned in his seat. He scrubbed his face with his hands and waited for everyone to give him their full attention. “Listen, folks. I know this is going to be hard to do, but you can’t tell anyone else what we saw in the woods. The park rangers will make sure we clear the park safely, but if we tell anyone over there—” He gestured to the crowd waiting for their turns. “It will just cause panic.” And then he winked, which caused everyone to laugh. “Now, if you want to head in the direction of Butterfly Hall, you’ll find hot chocolate and apple cider, courtesy of Anna’s Kitchen, and a really excellent silent auction. There’s also colouring tables for the kids, and zombie face-painting for a dollar.”
As they were at the back of the wagon, they were the last ones off. The group headed for the main doors of Butterfly Hall, but Rafe had other plans. He had a few minutes before Dean would be looking for him. He intended to make the most of them.
— FOURTEEN —
BREATHLESS and vibrating with excitement, Olivia let Rafe pull her toward the post-Haunt activities until she remembered that his family was serving the community mugs of cocoa on the other side of the building. She said his name a few times, finally yanking on his arm to get him to stop.
He turned and looked at her. Why did he have to be so good-looking? Dark hair, strong jaw, gleaming eyes. She mock scowled at him and he laughed. “Regretting this already?”
“We haven’t done anything untoward.” She crossed her arms over her chest and hopped up and down. It was cold enough that just standing around wasn’t fun.
He winked. “Not yet.”
“Your mom is serving hot chocolate, so we can’t just walk up hand-in-hand.”
He gave her a scathing look. “Please. I’ve got ten minutes before I need to go back to work. You think I’m wasting that on hot chocolate, my mother or anything to do with other people?” He notched a thumb in the direction of the side door. “We’re going in there.”
Her heart skipped a beat. “Why?”
He moved closer and slid his hands up and down her upper arms. “To warm you up.” He got a wicked gleam in his eyes. “Maybe from the inside out.” She started to say his name, loading it with reproach and concern, but he cut her off with a quick kiss on the cheek. “We’ll keep our clothes on.”
That didn’t fill her with confidence, even though she’d been the one to draw that boundary. There was a lot that Rafe could do to her with their clothes still on that would make it difficult for her to think straight enough to drive home. “Is this just because you have fond memories of necking with teenage hussies here?”
He laughed and pushed her toward the building. “Jealous?”
Maybe a little, but she still scoffed. “Of something you did like, twenty years ago?”
“Ouch, you’re aging me a bit more than necessary, baby.” The side door swung open silently and he wrapped an arm around her waist. The possessive hold twisted around more than her body. “Maybe I just missed you.”
She’d missed him too. She didn’t think he’d intended his absence from her space to inspire such longing. The last time she saw him, he didn’t give any indication that he was playing hard to get. More that he was trying hardnotto get. Being good.
But it was a futile effort, avoiding the chemistry between. And now… “I believe that. The feeling is mutual. We actually have a lot to talk about.”
He pressed her up against the wall and lifted her chin with the point of one finger. “That’s definitely what we should do right now. Talk.” He winked, and even in the shadows of the dimly lit hallway, she could tell he was teasing.
What could it hurt to scratch the itch one more time? She ignored the obvious answer—it could hurt both of them in a really big way. Itwouldhurt both of them. But it also seemed inevitable, the slide back together. Maybe if they could control it. Boundaries to protect their hearts and ensure that no one else would ever find out.
Ha. Unlikely. If they did this, it wouldn’t be a fling. It would be the start of something big and messy. And awesome, right up until they ran into the same old problems.
“I’m not working Friday night, we could talk then. Over dinner. Maybe go dancing.”
She laughed. There wasn’t really anywhere for them to go dancing, unless one counted the sketchy dive bars in Owen Sound. She did not. Stag and does and weddings were pretty much it for that kind of thing.
“Is there a dance at the legion you want me to meet you at? You tried that, remember? I’m not ready for that kind of public statement.”
“I remember you giving up before we even got a chance to dance.”
“What is it with you and dancing lately?” Although she had liked having his arms wrapped around her at the bonfire.
His lips curved into a naughty smile that made her melt on the inside. “It’s the only type of bumping and grinding I’m going to get with you, right? We can do anything as long as the clothes stay on?”
She propped one hand on her hip and wagged the other in his direction. “Yes, and don’t you forget it.”
