I head to my office, grateful for the heat. I look over some contracts, read a few emails, and do whatever I can to get the curvy fireball I just met out of my head. When I can’t take it any longer, I grab my phone and call Dean. I saw him earlier with Harper at her bookstore, watching my exchange with Madison.
He answers on the third ring.
"Yeah?" he says.
There’s chewing. Loud chewing.
"You’re eating," I say.
"Mmm."
"Is that—"
"Cinnamon bun."
Of course it is.
"Gross," I mutter.
Dean chuckles. "This is my second. So damn good. Harper told her we just got engaged and she gifted us a dozen."
"So you had the balls to pop the question after all, huh?"
"And she said ‘yes’. I can’t believe how lucky I am," he replies.
"Congratulations man, that’s great news. What are you doing to celebrate?"
"A bottle of champagne and some nice steaks are waiting on us at home. We’re about to leave. Or we were, but Harper’s been over there chatting Madison up for the last twenty minutes. Again."
My jaw tightens.
"Chatting about what?"
"Her truck. Her recipes. Her marketing strategy. Apparently she quit some big job to chase her dream. Harper likes her. Got her to agree to plug in to the heavy-duty outlet I installed outside. Said her generator was almost out of fuel."
I lean against my office window and look down the street. Madison’s truck is glowing warm against the snow. She’s inside, filming something on her phone, gesturing animatedly.
Wild dark hair tied back with a bandana. Curves that should be illegal. Blue eyes the color of a frozen mountain lake.
Not soft. Not fragile. Confident. Stubborn.
"You’re staring, aren’t you?" Dean says.
"I’m assessing the weather."
"Of course." I can hear his grin.
I could’ve been out with those girls right now. Normally I would’ve gone. Today, I didn’t even consider it.
I exhale slowly. "You staying in town long?"
"Not much longer. Roads are turning bad."
"Yeah."
"She booked a room in Heart River," Dean adds casually. "Told Harper she was heading down this evening."
I look toward the mountain road. Looks like it’s about to start icing under the fresh layer.
