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Heat prickled at her that felt like more than the simple warmth of her hands. Sparks prickled over her skin even through the thick wool of her sleeves.

“What are you doing?” she flushed, scandalized.

“Warming you up. I can’t have you freezing on me.”

Amber’s flush deepened. She found herself leaning into his touch despite herself.

“Is this helping?” he asked, voice rumbling against her chest.

“I- I think so.”

“Good, then I’ll keep doing it.” He grinned down at her in a way that made Amber’s stomach flip.

“Do you need to be so close?” she grumbled.

“What’s wrong? Don’t you like having me close? This was your plan after all.”

“Of course, I don’t. Why would I like this?”

“Come on, you can admit it. You’re doing this because you want me close. You came up with this whole elaborate plan just to make it happen.”

“Shut up,” she flushed.

“Why? Is it hard to hear the truth?”

“I’d say it’s hard to hear such lies.”

“Is that right?”

“It is! I?—”

“Quiet!” He cut her off, leaning in even closer. “Here they come.”

Both of them fell silent, listening to the voices in the distance as they crept closer and closer.

Amber’s heart pounded in her chest. This was it. They were going to get caught then she would be free and?—

“Didn’t you say you had a new rose bush planted in the greenhouse?” one of the voices asked.

No,Amber’s heart sank. That was on the other end of the grounds.

“Maybe they won’t go,” Christopher whispered.

“Of course, we did. Not too long ago if I remember correctly. Why do you ask?”

Don’t say it.

“I thought it might be a nice change of pace to take a quick detour and take a look if you don’t mind.”

Say no!

“Of course. Good thing you said something now. Otherwise, we would have had to wait until the end of our walk.”

“And what a shame that would have been,” Christopher muttered.

Amber bit back a laugh.

The pair were helpless to do anything but listen as the voices moved further and further away from them.