Page 16 of A Very Titan Christmas (Titan #14)

“Then let me take a guess.” His hazel eyes narrowed on Rachel, and she could see flecks of gold.

He’d grown out of the light smattering of freckles on his cheeks.

The faintest hint of them lingered and added a boyish charm to his rough exterior.

“All right, all right. Your type.” His lips pinched together as if he were assessing her. “Responsible—”

“Of course, the man of my dreams is responsible. No one hopes an irresponsible man will sweep her off her feet.”

The tight corners of his mouth pulled up. “Someone calm to counter your…”

“Careful, Bryce,” she warned but heard the tease in her own words.

“Spunk.”

“Spunk?” Her smile curved. Spunk had a peppy connotation. Spunky was like feisty but more wholesome. Spunk was kinda cute. She had to ignore the warm surge in her belly and cut off any more of his guesses. “What about you? What’s your type?”

His brows raised, and his hazel eyes danced as they issued a challenge. “You don’t have a guess?”

It was as if he was trying to read her thoughts.

A chilly breeze picked up. She pushed her hair from her face, returned her gaze to him, and felt a little jolt in her stomach.

Rachel shook her head and painted on a mental shield.

She hadn’t asked him to pretend because she intended to fall for him. “I wouldn’t presume to know.”

“You wouldn’t, huh?” He grinned. “Fair enough. I’ve always been partial to blondes.” He rubbed strands of her hair between his fingers and then tucked them behind her ear. “Intelligent, a little sassy, sweet.”

She fidgeted with the zipper of her jacket and turned toward the overlook. Bryce pressed against her and placed his palms on the wall. “Green eyes have been known to be my undoing.”

Though they were dressed for the weather and had enough layers between them to insulate an elf in the North Pole, tingles spread from the small of her back and worked their magical way up her spine.

Her breaths became shallower, and she detested the butterflies that raced in her stomach. Reacting to him was ridiculous.

No, she wasn’t reacting to Bryce; she mentally shouted that her shivers and flutters were due to muscle memory.

Bryce of the past was stealing her breath.

They’d stood like this so many times before.

She daydreamed. He nuzzled her neck. School and life faded away, and she was so completely sure they would be together forever that she never doubted Bryce.

Not until the day he’d ended everything.

The warm, fuzzy feeling in her blood went cold.

She glanced over her shoulder. “What are you doing?”

“Your parents are coming back toward the lobby. Figured this was a good way”—he nuzzled her neck—“to keep them from making another pit stop on the patio. Unless you want to talk with them again.”

“No.” Goose bumps skittered up onto her scalp.

“Then stay still and try not to look like I’m holding you down against your will.”

Of course, he was playing a role. Bryce Richmond was not trying to rekindle the past. He was playing a part so that she melted. Rachel pressed her lips together. “Are they gone yet?”

“You smell great, Rach.”

She leaned closer. “Don’t smell me.”

Warm laughter brushed under her earlobe. “Want me to hold my breath?”

“Yes. Are they gone yet?”

“Don’t think so.”

Every part of her was quickly revving to life. She needed his mouth away from her neck before she accidentally swayed and swooned. She cleared her throat and semi managed to straighten her shoulders. “Since we’re stuck here, want to fill me in on the summit?”

He stopped nuzzling her skin. “Same answer. Nope.”

“If there’s a threat that involves me, someone should explain it.”

“That someone won’t be me.”

She turned in his arms and was forced to tip her head back. “Then there’s a specific threat?”

He shook his head. “I see your parents. Put your arms around my neck.”

Reluctantly, she did. His hands wrapped around her heavy coat, and damn if she wished it wasn’t zipped.

Then his hands could have slid around her waist. She could feel his fingers flexing into her.

A blush was rising in her cheeks. She had to push these thoughts away. “I’ll find out what’s going on.”

“I have no problem if you know, Rachel. I just don’t have anything to share.” He scrutinized her face. “All right. They’re gone.”

She inched back and hated the way they broke apart. It was like they were on stage, which was precisely what it was like. They were playing a part in this silly charade. “I have to work this afternoon.”

“And I have to go with you. What are we doing?”

“Research.” She ran through her options: ice skating, weaving, and visiting Santa’s workshop, also known as the toy store, that would host the teddy bear tea. Her mother wouldn’t be anywhere near the ice-skating rink. Rachel grabbed his hand and tugged him toward the lobby. “Your car or mine?”

Bryce fished his hands into his pockets and then tossed his keys to himself. “Are you going to tell me where we’re headed?”

“It’s a surprise.”