Christmas Therapy
Page 19
She wrapped her arms around herself. “I love nights like this.”
“How come?”
She faced him. “They’re peaceful.”
Allen’s body went still. Heather’s pupils dilated. He needed to go home. Her furtive gazes made his insides melt like butter. She was as beautiful as the purple flush of dawn. Meeting her eyes with his, he sensed a shifting feeling near his heart.
“Is there a reason you’re staring?” she asked.
Allen’s lips parted to answer, but he lowered his gaze as his ears felt impossibly hot. “Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize.”
His eyes met hers once more, and she smiled. “I almost didn’t come tonight.”
Heather raised an eyebrow. “Glad you did?”
He rubbed the back of his head. “You don’t hold back.”
“Get to know me and you’ll get used to it.”
“So you think I’ll stick around to find out?”
Her lips curved into a grin. “You don’t look like the type that scares easily.”
“What type do I look like?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
“I’ll let you know. I barely know you.”
He chuckled. “You can read people though?”
She walked over to the other side of the walkway. “I won’t say I’m an expert, but I try to be discerning.”
“So these discerning skills, have you been right usually?”
Her face slackened. “I wish but we all make mistakes.”
Mistakes? Someone well acquainted with those, he had a list of them he wished he could take back.
“Heather!” a young woman’s voice called out. “Did you seriously leave? You forgot your scarf.”
Heather pivoted to face the woman talking to her. “You know you could have driven yourself.” She gave him one last smile before she hurried to retrieve her scarf.
“Heather! Are you alright?” the woman exclaimed.
Allen blinked. Heather was writhing on the ground clutching her leg.
Chapter 5
Heather bit her bottom lip as pain shot through her knee. How did she lose her footing? She saw the ice, so why wasn’t she more careful? She expelled a grunt at the exertion. Panic spread through her like wildfire.
Did she break something? No, the pain would’ve been ten times worse. Instead, she rehearsed in her mind it wasn’t as bad as it seemed, but her shuddering breaths only escaped from her lips.
Sonia stooped beside her. “Oh no, sis. Are you okay?” Her sister angled her body towards the house. “Help! Help!”
“Sonia, don’t wake the whole neighborhood. I’m sure I’m okay.” If only her brain believed that lie. Clenching her teeth, she winced from the throbbing in her knee.
“Will you let me take a look at it?”