“I can carry things.”
“You’re limping.”
“I’m wearing a medical boot. I’m practically invincible.”
“Hardly.” He side eyes me. “I can tell it’s still sore. I saw the way you limped out of the dressing room.”
“I was trying on clothes. It was too cumbersome to keep taking the thing on and off.”
“Still, I saw it.”
“That’s irrelevant.”
A full laugh escapes him this time, deep and warm. “How?”
My stomach flips violently.God help me.I really like hearing him laugh.
“Because I didn’t have the boot on.”
He rolls his eyes. “No. You’re not carrying anything more than that small bag.”
“It’s a pair of slippers.”
“Yes. Lightweight. That’s all you’re carrying.”
“Fine,” I mutter, earning another smile from him.
He likes me challenging him… but seems to like it even more when I give in.
We continue down the sidewalk together while the early September wind brushes through the trees overhead.
The entire town feels cozy. Warm lights glowing through shop windows. People leisurely walking around carrying coffee cups. Hints of orange and red creeping into the leaves.
Vermont is starting to feel less temporary every day. Which is a problem.
I’m still thinking about that when Daltyn suddenly stops walking.
“What?” I ask.
His expression goes oddly blank. Then wary.
Oh no.
“What?”
He points silently across the street.
My eyes follow the direction of his hand. And immediately widen.
Lace & Lavender.
My pulse spikes.
Absolutely not. There’s no way I’m going in there with him.
“No.”
Daltyn stays suspiciously quiet.
