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Blake lowered his head and his voice, his hushed tone running deliciously across her skin. “Are you double dog daring me?”

This time, she burst out laughing. “I’ve never seen this side of you.”

“What side is that?”

“Like a naughty little boy.”

“Oh, you want to see naughty? I can show you naughty.” He grabbed her hand unexpectedly and started pulling her toward the register.

“What are you doing?”

“If you don’t witness it, then it didn’t happen.”

A bolt of joy shot through her as Blake actually laced his fingers with hers. She liked this side of Blake. It wasn’t the glowering, sad man she’d come to know or even the softly teasing one. This side of him was un

fettered by doubt and grief.

Once they reached the checkout line, she pulled away reluctantly.

“It only works if I’m not around. Otherwise, they’re going to think you’re just buying it for me.”

Blake nodded, and when he stepped up to the register, Hannah heard him say loudly, “This book is for me. It’s not for her.”

Hannah rolled her eyes with a laugh.

The clerk smiled politely, obviously not believing him, and when Blake finished, she was startled again when he took her hand.

“I thought you wanted a NOOK.”

“We’re going to Best Buy first to look at the Kindles, and then I’ll decide.”

They left the store and walked across the parking lot to his car, her hand still grasped in his. As Blake got her door and released her hand to close it, he dropped the book in her lap.

“Hold that for me, will ya?”

Hannah had no idea why holding a Barnes & Noble bag thrilled her so much, but as she watched Blake climb inside, she couldn’t help thinking that tonight sure felt like a date.

And she would have been happy to live in the moment a little while longer.

AT BEST BUY, Blake kept ahold of Hannah’s hand. Not because he was helping her across the street or trying to prove something to himself.

No, Blake held her hand because he just liked the way it felt in his.

They stood in front of the Kindles, studying the features.

“So, do you prefer e-books?” Blake asked.

“Actually, I like to read paperbacks. Something about the smell is comforting. E-readers do save space on my bookshelf, though.”

Blake glanced over at her, a smile tugging at his lips. “What do they smell like?”

“Hmm . . . a little musty, maybe. Like paper, I don’t know. It’s nice.”

He squeezed her hand and found himself twirling her down the aisle toward the iPads. “Oh yeah, it sounds nice. Just what I want to sniff, a musty pile of books.”

Hannah was giggling now, letting him continue to spin her. “Don’t knock it till you try it.” Finally, she grabbed onto his arm with her free hand, weaving a bit. “Whew, I’m a little dizzy.”

“Okay, no more spinning. Wouldn’t want you to hurl on the DVDs.”