Oliver shrugs again, lips thinning with thought. “A little bit of everywhere.”
I snort, grabbing two fresh cups of thick, luxurious hot chocolate topped with a homemade whipped cream that bobs with the movement.
“That was vague. Here, I’ll be more specific. Tell me about all the winter destinations you’d take your new hat to.”
He blows on his drink, eyeing me over the rim as he seems to seriously contemplate the question. “It depends; winter travelcan be a little finicky. If you’re looking for a getaway to escape the cold, you can’t beat Thailand. Koh Phi Phi is something everyone should experience at least once in their life, plus the markets are every foodie’s dream. But if you’re someone who likes to embrace the cold, Iceland is the place to be. Between the hot springs, northern lights, and glaciers, you can’t go wrong.”
My hand pauses halfway to my slack-jawed mouth, the steam from my cup tickling my half-frozen nose. I didn’t expect an answer like that. I thought for sure he’d go on about some ski town he visited with a group of friends in college, or maybe a beach trip to Florida with family. Instead, he talks about Thailand and Iceland as if he’s been there, and recently at that. As if he’s experienced those hot springs for himself.
The thought instantly has my mind spiraling, picturing his large frame poking out from a steaming pool against a backdrop of pristine snow and ice. The mental image has my cheeks heating, something stirring deep in my stomach, and I’m suddenly completely consumed by the need to blow on my drink so I can take the perfect sip. Anything to avoid those steely eyes that must be the same color as an Icelandic sky.
“So, what are you?” His voice lowers as he leans in closer and removes his new hat from his head as if about to share a secret. The air between us thickens, and this time, I know exactly what it is.Magic.“A beach or glacier kind of woman?”
Briefly, I meet his gaze before quickly looking away and starting our stroll once again. Putting space between us has the magic settling, making it easy to breathe once again. “I don’t know. I’ve barely left Ashwood Haven, let alone enough to have preferences. I’m not particularly adventurous.”
He side-eyes me. “Huh. You don’t strike me as the homebody type.”
I chuckle sheepishly. “Well, that goes to show how little you know me. My perfect vacation is a staycation where I curl up on my porch every morning with a book and a cup of coffee.”
He eyes me warily. “That doesn’t sound very exciting.”
We stop at a booth, and I make a show of examining the crystals on display. I finger a rose quartz heart, tracing the smooth, cool curves, and shrug. “I disagree. Losing yourself in a good book is the opportunity to live a thousand lives and visit a thousand new places. In the time it took you to climb the nearest mountain, I’ve ridden dragons, been swept away in a whirlwind romance, and defeated villains on a battlefield. That sounds pretty exciting to me.”
I glance up from beneath my lashes to find Oliver studying me with a pleased gleam in his eye and the shadow of a smile on his lips. “Oh, I’m not disagreeing that books give you a chance to escape. But don’t you ever want to experience those things in person? Or at least the closest thing?”
His warm, deep voice wraps around me, making my stomach flip in all sorts of chaotic ways. Swallowing the feeling, I cock my hip to the side and give him my best insolent smirk. “I fail to understand how a trip to Thailand will help me understand what it’s like to ride a dragon.”
Oliver laughs and shakes his head. “Okay, maybe not that. But there are so many other things in life worth experiencing.”
“Like?” I wonder, regretting it the moment he leans in closer, making my heart hammer against my breastbone until I’m sure he can hear it. I hold my breath when his gaze flits to my lips, ever so briefly, as if that’s where he’ll find the answer to my question.
His fingers brush mine, and he grabs the rose quartz heart, holding it up in the small space between us. “Love, for one.”
With a deep, shaky breath, I push down the way his words make my heart (and other areas) clench with anticipation. Ibarely know this man, yet I’m already wondering what he could mean by the wordlove.Is he talking about the feeling, a person, or something more physical?
Clearing my throat, I pluck the crystal from his fingers and hold it up for emphasis. “We have love here in Ashwood Haven.”
The corner of his lip curves, showing off that dimple once again. “I don’t doubt it.”
For several breaths, we remain like that, nearly chest to chest, my heart beating so fast it could be a hummingbird’s wings. But I refuse to be the first to look away, to give in and reveal how off-balance he’s made me. With our eyes locked, something flutters in my chest, making my heart thud so hard it hurts.
I recognize the sensation immediately.
The town’s magic is bubbling again, and the sound of someone shrieking breaks the tension between us.
In unison, we spin around, searching for the source of the outcry. The flutter of magic draws me toward two familiar girls standing at a soap booth, though I can’t quite recall where I know them from.
“Rach, what is going on? Are you having a stroke?” one cries, eyes wide and round.
Her friend is holding a hand over her mouth, seemingly frozen.
I shove my drink into Oliver’s hand and hurry over, not quite running to avoid adding to the panic. The last thing I need is to cause another scene and draw Stacy’s disapproval once again.
I plaster a friendly smile onto my face, doing my best to sound calm. “Hi, is everything okay?”
The first girl shakes her head frantically, never tearing her gaze from her unmoving friend. “I don’t know. I don’t know what she’s saying. It’s like she’s lost control of her tongue.”
My mouth falls open, but no words come out. I have absolutely no idea how to respond to that, and it takes me what feels like forever to compose myself enough to turn to her friend. She’s shaking like a leaf but is otherwise motionless, as if moving will somehow make the whole situation worse.
