“Here, I think you need this more than I do.” An open container of chocolate pudding appeared in front of me without warning.
Startled, I looked up to find a boy grinning down at me from across the table.
He was about fourteen, fifteen at most. Bald and pale, his illness impossible to miss. And yet he was beautiful.
His blue eyes flashed with mischief, bright enough to steal my breath.
He dropped into the chair across from me. “I had a bite already. Hope you don’t mind. It’s really good pudding. Lots of sugar. I was enjoying it, but then I saw your face and figured you needed it more than me.”
“I look that bad, do I?” Not that I needed the confirmation. I hadn’t showered in two days, my hair was a tangled mess, and I was wearing a sweatshirt with a spot of yesterday’s dinner on the sleeve.
A total disaster.
But next to him—a sick kid who was smiling at me like I was the sun—I was the perfect picture of health. It was disgusting that I’d spent even a moment worrying over my imagined symptoms.
First chance I got, I needed to toss the pamphlet.
“Hell no. You’re the hottest woman I’ve ever laid eyes on,” he said with a straight face. “But you looked sad, so I figured I’d make you smile. I bet you’d look even hotter with a smile.”
A loud, ridiculous snort of laughter escaped before I could stop it. My hand flew to my mouth like that would somehow hide it.
Maybe he was working overtime to flirt. Maybe he was genuinely trying to make me feel better. Either way, it was working.
I dropped my hand and gave him the biggest, brightest smile I could manage.
“There it is. Yeah, that’s stunning.” His face shone with sincerity.
“Is this a prank? I’m not going to end up looking like a fool in your next social media video, am I?”
His smile vanished. “What? You think I hand out chocolate pudding to every woman I see just for likes?”
My chest tightened again at the hurt in his voice. “No, of course not. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.”
His expression cracked wide open as he burst into laughter.
“I’m kidding.” He wiped imaginary tears from his eyes. “But hey, you smiled. Did I mention how pretty you are when you do that? Keep it up.”
For the first time since I’d arrived in Copper Ridge, the ache in my chest eased. It wasn’t much, but enough that I could finally breathe without effort.
Until a low, commanding voice cut through the moment. “Caleb. Are you hitting on unsuspecting women again?”
Tingles shot down my spine, and all the wonderful breathing I’d been doing stopped.
Who was this magnificent man?
He was tall and broad, with the kind of presence that demanded attention. Everything about his stance said he was used to being in control.
My gaze dragged over his strong, shadowed jaw to the cleft in his chin. Like a beacon, it seemed designed to draw my attention to his wide, perfect lips. His expression was amused but assessing, highlighted by incredibly expressive blue eyes. Even his slightly untamed eyebrows somehow worked.
Everything about him worked.
“…don’t you think?”
I blinked, dragging in a gasping breath before managing to stutter, “W-what?”
He huffed a quiet laugh, stepping closer. “Caleb can be a bit in your face. If he’s bothering you…?” His sapphire eyes danced over my face, his lips tipping into a slow, knowing smile.
That smile said, I see exactly what I’m doing to you. And I like it.
