“Sooooo … My family …” She’d never known anyone who was as cripplingly shy as Cliff. She should have read a few articles on how to help him maneuver the chaos that was her family.
“Yeah?” His eyebrows went up and his voice cracked.
She sank in her seat. “I think I should give you the rundown. They can be sort of overwhelming if you’re not used to them.”
He went still. Like a cornered animal in the wilderness still. “Okay.”
Her second thoughts turned to 200ththoughts. “You know what? I didn’t really think this through all the way. You may not be comfortable in a house full of strangers. I’m going to turn around and take you home.” She leaned forward in her seat, looking for a turnoff or a section of road wide enough to facilitate a 5-point turn.
Cliff’s hand landed on her arm, and her whole body sprang to life with tingles. She glanced down at where they made contact and then back up at him—then jerked her attention to the road.
“I’m fine,” he said in a low voice. One that was strong and commanding and kind of delicious.
It took her a moment to remember to breathe. “A-are you sure?”
He turned in his seat, giving her his full and undivided attention. His hand was still on her arm, and she was aware of how big and strong it was; it warmed her to her very core. “I want to hear about them.” He glanced down as if realizing that he was still touching her and yanked his hand away.
She took a steadying breath and swallowed loudly. She must have been the only one who’d felt the earth move when they touched.
She paused before mentioning the engagement miscommunication. He’d made sure that they were only going up as friends, and if she told him her mom thought they were engaged, he might throw himself from the vehicle and run all the way back to town. But she suddenly didn’t want him to. She liked having him here, and she liked the interest in his gray eyes. He didn’t need to know about the engagement. Her mom was Fort Knox on this. “Okay. Just remember, you asked for it.”
His beard twitched with an almost smile again.
She gave him a wicked grin. “My Uncle Al ran for mayor—twice. He lost both times. Don’t talk politics, or losing, or kangaroos.”
“Kangaroos?”
“It was a publicity stunt gone terribly wrong. Google it. But only if you’re locked away in the bathroom with your earbuds in and a towel stuffed under the door. Are you ready to turn back yet?”
They turned off the main road and onto the private drive. It wasn’t as well kept as the city roads, and she had to shift into 4-wheel drive.
He shrugged. “Everyone has a weird uncle.”
“Oh, he’s not the weird one.” She warmed to the subject. Cliff focused more on her than on the road, and she thrilled under his attention. “The weird one is Uncle Tom. He likes puppets—or I should say Muppets.”
“Oh? That’s his job?”
“He wishes.” She giggled. “I mean. I guess it’s cool to talk to a puppet when you’re 6, but he still brings it to the dinner table and pretends to feed it.”
“It?” Cliff asked for clarity. He tugged on his shirt.
She nodded. “Er, him? I guess. He has a Christmas elf. Think ‘demented Elf on the Shelf comes to life.’”
Cliff scoffed, which sounded oddly like a half-laugh. The sound was so new, Diana didn’t know if she’d heard it before. She raced through her memory, searching for a time she’d heard Cliff laugh, and came up empty-handed. That just wouldn’t do—especially if they were going to spend the next three days together.
“You’re making that up,” he accused lightly.
“Oh that I were.” She wiggled around in her seat, excited about the way he was opening up. This had to be their longest conversation to date. “My aunt Sue will ask you to try her fudge. Don’t. She’s been working on a sugar-free, chocolate-free, milk-free recipe for years. Last year it tasted like a knit hat dropped in the lake, wrung out, and dried over a moldy heater.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” His hands relaxed and settled on his knees. The action made her feel all warm inside.
“Don’t give my cousin Joey any money.”
“How long has he been out of rehab?”
“Rehab? Never. He’s not into drugs.” She flicked her hand dismissively.
“Oh. I assumed—”
