Page 87 of Fallen Flame

The cooler hummed around me, cold enough that I could see the faintest puff of my breath every now and then.

At least I’d gotten the freezer over with first. Ever had wanted to do rock-paper-scissors to decide who got inventory duty.

I’d lost, naturally. “So unfair,” I muttered, making another mark.

The cooler door opened behind me and I glanced over my shoulder. Oliver stepped inside, immediately pulling the door closed behind him.

The corners of my mouth lifted. “Worried about me in here?”

His eyes traveled over me before a small smile appeared. “I waited until you were out of the freezer.”

I laughed, tapping my pen against the clipboard. “I always do that first.”

“Yeah?”

“Then I get to warm up in here.”

“Smart.”

“I have my moments.”

He leaned one shoulder against the steel racking and crossed his arms. Then he just watched me.

“What?” I asked, reaching for another carton.

“Nothing.”

“You’re staring.”

“I know.”

“You planning on helping?”

“I wasn’t invited.”

“You could’ve volunteered.”

“I could’ve.”

“But?”

“I’d rather watch you.”

Heat crept into my cheeks. “You’re ridiculous.”

“So I’ve been told.”

I shook my head, smiling to myself as I moved farther down the shelf. “Twenty-six...” Another mark. “Twenty-seven...” I worked my way down until I reached the section where Oliver was standing.

He didn’t move and I stopped directly in front of him.

The clipboard rested against my hip. “You know...”

“What?”

“I don’t think your daddy was a glass maker.”

One eyebrow lifted. “No?”