I braced myself. “What?”
“Nothing.” He furrowed his brow and puzzled at the sky. “But is this–is that your default setting?”
“Is what my default setting?” I fought to keep the defensive edge out of my voice.
He vaguely gestured to the universe. “Loving the holidays and being happy.”
“I’m not faking, if that’s what you’re asking,” I said flatly. A beat or two passed, the silence pressing down on a scribble of frustration ribboned around my heart. “I’m a real person, you know? With a whole range of feelings.”
“I know.” He rubbed his face. “Sorry, it’s still kind of weird for me. You’re not selling anything. You work the same bullshit hours as me. But you’re so nice to everybody. You problem-solve when it’s not even your responsibility.”
That almost sounded like he admired me.
“You don’tneedto make art on delicious treats. But you do, because it makes you happy," I said.
“I guess we both ‘play’ at work in our own ways,” he joked.
I giggled and tapped my sheepskin boots to his combat leather. “Do youwant to play with me?”
Please, please, please…
Harvey smiled, laid back, and spread his limbs. His fingers curled into the snow and brushed my angel.
Yes. Maybe.
I traced the frozen ridge between us with shaking fingers. “Our wings are almost touching.”
His gaze met mine, as dark and inviting as the night. “Are you cold?”
“I don’t know.” I didn’t think so. Heat radiated through my chest and neck.
He extended his hand. “May I?”
I nodded.
He cupped my hand with his and exhaled, rubbing his warm breath into my pink fingers.
My heart nearly launched into the air.
Harvey touched me.He cared about me. He was taking care of me, wasn’t he?
Gently rubbing his thumb in circles, he smoothed my knuckles. “Better?”
“A little.” I was going to faint. Or throw myself at him right in the parking lot.
“Let’s get you warmed up properly, then.” Harvey helped me to my feet.
I stood with the grace of a baby deer, my limbs sliding and sprawling. “Sorry. My boots don’t exactly have the greatest grip.”
He held my hand and guided me down the aisle. “Where are your bell shoes?”
“I remembered to take them off before the end of the shift today.” I grinned, gripping him tightly.
“Shame. I kind of miss them.” Rolling his lip ring between his teeth, Harvey adjusted his cap, his dark brown locks falling into his face. It took every ounce of self control I had not to touch his hair and find out if it was as soft as it looked.
We walked in relative quiet towards my car. Our hand-holding was less romantic and more of a death grip because of my near-wipeouts, but Harvey would just whisper, “Easy, easy,” and flex his fingers, laughing. After the third slip, he asked, “Do you want me to carry you to your car?”
My lips parted. Would he do that for me?
