The cartoonish napkins had a reindeer front and center. “Nope, sure doesn’t.”
“Ugh!” Sophie showed him the plates next, then the cups and bowls—the same cartoon animal displayed on all of those as well. Except they held an overwhelmingly Christmas theme to them. “If I wanted Rudolph, I would’ve asked for that.” Despite the pink in her cheeks, her tone was even and quiet. He’d never seen Sophie get truly upset, but he imagined it was terrifying.
“I’m sorry, Soph.” On instinct, he touched her shoulder. The bare skin beneath his own sent a jolt of electricity through his entire body, as if he’d stuck a fork in an outlet. Startled, he dropped his hand and stepped back. He’d always felt her touch before, but in gentle tingles. This was something else. Something was . . .different.
“It’s fine.” She backed up a step, too, creating a wider gap between them. The charge in the air thinned, but it definitely didn’t disappear. “I’ll just give them a call. Don’t want to hold you up . . . from Malcom.”
“Right.” Still in the process of slowing his erratic heartbeat, he hurried away, stopping in the doorway. “Did you want me to go with you to see the rental? Never hurts to have a second set of eyes,” he suggested, hating how long it would be before he saw her again. As their gazes connected, pent-up emotion churned.
“I’ll let you know.”
He nodded once, then stepped out into the fresh air.
Something was definitely different between them. He wasn’t sure what it meant, but it felt like a sign. He leaned against the side of the lodge, out of sight from the kitchen windows, and gave himself a moment to breathe. “A year is enough,” he said aloud. “It’s time for more, Soph.”
