Page 203 of Secrets Hidden In The Glass

“Hey,” he said as he settled his hands on top of hers.

She pressed her nose to his smooth skin. “You smell good.”

“I don’t think you would have said that ten minutes ago.”

She smiled, resting her cheek against his shoulder blade. “How was your workout?”

He laced their fingers. “Good.”

“What did you do?”

“Some treadmill sprints and a couple of quick sets with the weights.”

“Our sheriff has to keep his sexy muscles in shape.” She waited for some sort of silly retort and wrapped her arms tighter around him when she got nothing in return. The last couple of weeks had been busy with preparations for her final show, but she wasn’t oblivious to the fact that her case was taking a toll on him. “Tell me more about your day.”

He shrugged. “There’s not a whole lot to say. It’s too cold for anyone to do much more than take care of their business in town then head back home.”

“When does Mac take over for the night shift?”

“He did about twenty minutes ago.”

She stepped around to face him, settling her hands on his waist, wanting to feel close to him when he seemed so distant. “I’ve been really preoccupied lately.”

“You have stuff to do.” He stroked her cheek and tucked her hair behind her ear. “I know how important this is for you.”

“Not more important than you.”

His lips curved up.

“I brought dinner upstairs with me.”

He sighed and closed his eyes. “I forgot the salad.”

“That’s okay. We’ll live on the edge tonight. The soup has plenty of vegetables in it.” She captured his hand, studying his troubled gaze. “I’m worried about you.”

He frowned. “You don’t have to worry about me. I’m fine.”

She shook her head. “My case is bothering you so much more than I realized it would.”

“I want to solve it—mostly for you, but now I need to figure it out for me too.”

She hated that she had finally found her rhythm again when Nate’s seemed off. Currently, her work energized her as much as it frightened her. Working with glass again felt right, even when the dream pieces she recreated disturbed her. “What if—how about letting it go for a little while—like I did with my glass? Put it up for a few weeks and take a break.”

He shook his head. “The odds are already against us. If we let it go, you’ll probably never get your answers.”

She wanted them. Of course she wanted to find her mother, but not at Nate’s expense. “I have plenty of answers. More than enough.”

“Callie—”

She shook her head adamantly. “I know so much more than I did. What you’ve found has helped me so much. I know what she looks like—where my gift comes from. I know my birth name, Nate. I’m no longer Callie Mae Something.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. “What you’ve done is…I can’t even put it into words. If this is as far as we get, I can live with that.”

He steamed out a breath and scrubbed at his jaw, growing more agitated. “It’s not that simple. I can’t just brush my hands and bury it—be done.”

“What about for tonight?” She cupped his cheeks, desperate to see him smile—to see the Nate she’d fallen for staring back at her. “Let’s snuggle up in bed and have dinner. Maybe we can watch something funny on TV. I want to laugh with you.” She kissed him again, sliding her hands along his chest, watching goosebumps pucker his skin as he clenched his jaw and his eyes changed—desire replacing misery. “Laugh with me,” she said quietly, snagging her bottom lip with her teeth as she traced his erect nipples with the pads of her fingers.

He closed his eyes, exhaling.

This was what he needed right now—the same escape from his troubles she’d craved not all that long ago. “How hungry are you?”