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I swore her eyes searched mine. What did she hope to find there?
“We were a couple for six months before she met my brother. I should’ve seen it developing between them. Allthe signs were there. They were both so awkward together when she came for Christmas dinner. They kept looking at each other, then jerking their gazes away. We all grew up together, though he’s older than us. I don’t think he noticed she was around until the holiday. Then, he saw her.”
“Did his skin heat for her?”
I shrugged. “If it did, he hasn’t shared that with me. They told me when I got back from my mission.”
“She stayed there with him while you were gone?”
“I live only a few towns away from my brother’s place, but yeah.”
“Were you . . .” She pinched her eyes shut, and when she opened them, they searched mine even harder. “Did you two . . .” Her growl ripped out. “Sorry. I shouldn’t ask that. It’s none of my business.”
“We didn’t, actually.”
Her head tilted. “Why not if you were together for six months?”
“I’m not sure why we didn’t. I was away a lot with my job. She was busy too. She’s a lawyer and in court a lot.”
“I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you two.”
“I’m not.” For the first time in months, I could say that and truly mean it.
“Why not?”
I was taking a chance here. We’d only met a short time ago. But she had the right to know what I’d confirmed this morning.
I met her gaze. “Because my skin has heated for you.”
9
MELLY
Icouldn’t breathe. I could barely think. All I could do was press my fingertips into his forearms. Stroke them with my palms and press deeply as if I could sink beneath his skin and feel the warmth he spoke of.
I was perched on his lap with my thighs spread around his hips, my knees pressing against the counter behind him. My skirt had hitched up high enough he could probably see my undies if he squinted in that direction.
“Heat. You said that . . .” If I spoke the words aloud, would that break them?
“That when an ice lord meets his fated mate, his cold heart warms. Everything inside him heats up and stays that way.”
“Fated mate?” I flashed my gaze up to meet his, and I found fire there.
For me.
“About that promise.” I was borrowing his words, butI couldn’t help it. “How badly would you feel if you broke it?”
“My word means a lot to me but . . .”
But was the best word in the world.
“But what?” I croaked. Damn frogs were at it again, sunning themselves by the river.
“I’m desperate to kiss you.”
“Are you asking or making a statement?” I couldn’t hold his gaze. What if I saw glaciers in his eyes now instead of the heat I swore I’d seen before?
“A question. It’s always polite to ask,” he growled.
