Page 12

Story: A Country Quandary

Kitty winced at the sharp sting at her hairline but soon settled into its soothing numbness.

“How does that feel?”

“It feels incredible.” Her breath hitched. “I mean, it feels great. No, I mean, it feels better,” Kitty babbled, pleading with herself to calm down.

Heat rushed to her cheeks, and she put her hand up to hold the bundle of cubes, brushing his skin as their fingers passed. She opened her eyes, and Josh’s face swam into semi-focus. Soft, smiling blue eyes greeted her, crinkled at the corners, and fringed by fair lashes. His tanned skin, brown from being outdoors, stretched over cheekbones that could slice bread, and his blond hair, cut short, framed his face like a halo.

Kitty smiled. Not Huckleberry Finn. More like Huckleberry Sin.

“How embarrassing. I’m so sorry,” she said with a grimace.

“Don’t worry. I have this effect on most women. Five minutes with me, and they start head-butting furniture.”

Kitty laughed. As the quiz continued around them, her hand reached out to her glasses, the remains of which Josh’d placed on the table.

“They’re a write-off,” he said. “I’m assuming you can still see something without them?”

“Yes, just about. I have contacts at home. I only wear these to make myself look smarter at trivia nights.”Kitty fell into his smile as his fingers reached up to her forehead.

“Is it okay to touch you?” he asked.

“Oh, yes, please,” Kitty said without thinking.Shit!That hardly sounded PG. It was a reasonable question from a medical professional, and she’d made it sound like something from365 Days.

Josh’s eyebrows raised. “Your head, I mean. After all, we hardly know each other.”

His low chuckle swept over her, curling her toes. She nodded, mortified. And as his hand hovered over her skin, an involuntary shiver ran through her body. Not an internal shiver. Not even a small, becoming shudder, but a full-blown jelly wobble. Kitty sucked in a breath pleading with her body to behave. Katherine Cameron, ice queen and mistress of self-control, was in danger of making a total fool of herself.

“I’m sorry, it’s just sore.”

“We’ll need to be careful you’re not going into shock,” he said, laughing. “I’m Josh, by the way. You might remember me.”

Kitty winced internally. Had Jonty told him she hadn’t had a clue who he was?

“Nice to meet you again, as grownups. I’m Kitty.”

Josh smiled, his blue eyes sparkling in the pub lights.

“The last time I saw you, you were bleeding out in my dad’s consulting room. I hope your toe survived into adulthood?”

Perhaps he was laughing with her, perhapsather. But Kitty, who always took herself too seriously, didn’t mind. His eyes were still on her head. This close to him, the light freckles that peppered his nose reminded Kitty of an eggshell.

“I’d hold back on the ice,” Josh said. “The skin on your forehead is quite thin. It can burn.”

Josh dropped his fingers and brushed away a strand of long hair that had escaped Kitty’s ponytail. As their skin touched, their eyes met, and she fought an overwhelming urge to turn her face into his palm.

A cheer went up at the table, startling them both. Their team had won the penultimate round and was now within striking distance of the leaders.

“It’s all up to you now, Josh,” Holly said as she pushed the answer sheet for the Famous Faces round towards him.

“I’m no help on this one, so I’ll check the damage instead,” Kitty said, pointing at her head. “Let’s hope I can make it to the bathroom without bumping into anything else.”

“I’m pretty sure the table didn’t mind,” Josh grinned.

8

DANIEL

At the bar,Daniel toyed with a glass of whisky, watching Kitty and Josh. Their gentle flirting wasn’t lost on him, and the smile they’d exchanged as she walked away wasn’t entirely innocent.