“Get it together,” I mutter, but I’m still smiling as I close my eyes, letting the memory of snow, winter wishes, and coffee kisses carry me into dreams.
CHAPTER 17
NATE
The shrill ring of my phone yanks me from a particularly good dream involving snow-dusted black hair and warm lips. I fumble for my phone, squinting at the screen. Addy’s name flashes back at me, along with the ungodly hour.
“Someone better be dying,” I grumble into the phone.
“Good morning to you too, sunshine,” Addy chirps, far too cheerful for this hour. “So, I had an interesting conversation with my favorite would-be niece this morning.”
I sit up, suddenly more awake. “Lottie called you? It’s seven in the morning. On a Sunday.”
“Oh yes. She was very excited to tell me all about Uncle Nate’s new friend, Caspian.” I can hear the grin in her voice. “Apparently, he said Lottie can help him pick children’s books to stock at Special Blend, so she’s excited about that. Oh, and you couldn’t stop looking at him during her party.”
“Jesus,” I mutter, running a hand over my face. “How does she even notice these things? She’s seven.”
“Children are surprisingly perceptive,” Addy says sagely. “Also, according to Lottie, you were ‘making googly eyes’ at him. Her words, not mine.”
I groan, falling back against my pillows. “I was not making googly eyes.”
“Sure, sure.” Addy’s laugh fills the line. “But seriously, Nate, what’s going on? Last time we talked, you were adamant about keeping your distance from your cute neighbor.”
The memory of last night floods back—Caspian’s smile in the snow, the way he felt pressed against me, the soft sound he made when I finally kissed him. “Things changed.”
“Obviously,” Addy says dryly. “Come on, spill. What happened?”
“We kissed,” I admit, and my chest warms at the memory. “Last night.”
“Oh shit, did I interrupt… Is he there with you?” Addy asks in a rush.
“No, he’s not here.”
“Why not? Nathan Stone, I taught you better than this.”
I’m saved from answering by the distinct sound of a shovel scraping against concrete. I get up and move to my window, pulling back the curtain to see Caspian bundled in his too-light winter coat, clearing the fresh snow from the driveway.
Why is he wearing that when he has my coat? Is he trying to catch his death?
“Earth to Nate,” Addy sing-songs in my ear. “You went quiet. Is that the sound of you being distracted by your hot neighbor?”
“He’s out there shoveling snow again,” I say, watching as Caspian pauses to adjust his scarf. “In that ridiculous excuse for a winter coat.”
“Oh my god, you’re watching him through the window right now, aren’t you?” Addy’s delight is palpable. “This is amazing. I haven’t heard you this gone over someone since…well, ever.”
My phone buzzes with a notification, and I pull it away from my ear to check. “Shit, there’s a storm warning. It’s supposed to keep snowing for the next couple of days.”
“Perfect excuse to check on him,” Addy says. “Maybe offer to warm him up?”
“Goodbye, Addy,” I say firmly, but I’m already reaching for my warmest sweater.
“Use protection!” she calls out cheerfully before I end the call.
I dress quickly, pulling on my boots and heavy coat before heading outside. The temperature has dropped even farther overnight, and the snow is coming down steadily now. Caspian looks up as my boots crunch through the fresh powder, and his whole face lights up.
“Morning,” he says, slightly breathless from the exertion of shoveling. His cheeks and nose are pink from the cold and snowflakes are caught in his dark eyelashes. It takes everything in me not to kiss him right there.
“You know,” I say instead, stepping closer, “normal people wait until the storm passes before shoveling. Where’s your coat?”
