mad. If I’ve read you wrong, I’m sorry. But you can’t blame me entirely for getting my signals crossed. It’s not often I run across a woman who’s as open and outspoken in her conversation.”
Shadow stepped away from him, breaking contact. “I’ve been told before that I should censor my thoughts before I voice them. I try, but sometimes it’s just too annoying, having to pick myself apart before I can say what I think.”
His severe expression softened. “So you’re attracted to me?”
“Yes, of course.”
That got her a smile. “And you wouldn’t mind getting to know me better?”
“I’d like to. But not if you’re only biding your time until you can score.”
“Oh, I think being with you would be interesting,” he said with a crooked smile, “no matter what the outcome.”
There was that disarming sincerity again. “Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome.” He looked relieved, and determined. “So how about we try lunch again? Say, Wednesday?”
She knew she should refuse, but instead she asked, “Will you enter the contest? I still need you.”
It was his expression that made her realize how her words had sounded. She needed him. He looked at her mouth as he asked, “How about if I let you know on Wednesday?”
It was like being kissed, the way he looked at her. Her heart pumped hard; her lungs constricted. There was no way she could refuse.
Shadow stuck out her hand. “It’s a deal.”
His palm was hot, his grip strong, and he carefully tugged her forward. Shadow froze as he bent down, but she didn’t pull away. His lips were warm, firm, brushing over her cheek in the lightest of touches. She was as stunned by her reaction to that simple kiss as she was by his audacity.
Unwilling to give him the upper hand, even for a moment, she said, “That was nice.” She drew a deep breath to steady her voice. “Maybe on Wednesday you can improve upon it just a bit.”
Brent laughed. “I’ll see what I can do. In the meantime…” He opened his coat to reach inside his pocket. Extracting a business card, he handed it to her, instructing, “If you change your mind about dinner, give me a call at the office. I’m usually there late.”
He whistled as he left, and Shadow wondered if she’d eventually figure him out. One thing was certain, getting to know him would be fun, and wasn’t that her business? Fun? It had been awhile—a long while—since she’d reacted to a man like this. But she had a feeling it had been just as long since Brent had enjoyed any real fun. She had a feeling they were both in for some surprises.
THE BITTER COLD was refreshing. Originally from California, Shadow didn’t think she would ever be bored with Ohio weather. It changed with each month, and she relished waking every day to something other than continual sunshine. Not that it was cloudy today. She had to squint to tolerate the almost magical reflection of sunlight off snow and ice.
The wind whistled down the little sidewalk in front of her shop, whipping the scarf around her neck and nearly dislodging the colorful red bow in her hair. She supposed a dress hadn’t been the best thing to wear while hanging Christmas lights, but she rarely planned her days completely. Usually, she just did what she felt like doing, when she felt like doing it.
Today she felt like being outdoors, decorating. And she felt like seeing Brent Bramwell.
She’d thought of him often the past few days. She knew she had him confused, but he didn’t seem to mind overly. He had made that crack about her being a little nutty, but she was used to that. Everyone thought her nutty. She liked to think it was part of her charm.
Even throughout her school years she’d been different, always occupied with gaining independence and maturity so she wouldn’t have to conform to anyone else’s rules. Other girls had been interested in clothes and boys and music. She’d wanted only to garner enough knowledge to understand why people couldn’t be more accepting, more open to change. Unfortunately, the more she learned the more she understood just how different she was, and how rigid society could be when faced with the different and unique. She’d also learned to accept what she didn’t care to change.
The wind gave a particularly vicious swipe at her skirt, blowing it up and over the hem of her coat. Shadow squealed, frantically trying to push it back down and nearly toppling from her stepladder in the process. It was sheer bad luck, or maybe good, depending on your point of view, that Brent happened along just then.
* * *
BRENT COULDN’T BELIEVE his eyes when he saw Shadow balanced precariously atop a rickety stepladder on the slick walkway, her skirt billowing upward to give him an unhindered view of her nicely rounded backside in a pair of red tights. Her arms were stretched high over her head as she struggled to attach twinkle lights to the framing. When he saw her begin to flounder, tangling herself in the lights, he bolted forward.
However, the icy pavement wasn’t accommodating to heroism, and he reached Shadow just in time to lose his footing, thereby knocking her from her perch. They both went down, Brent on the bottom, Shadow landing in a sitting position on his stomach.
Stunned, she twisted around to stare at him. His eyes were closed, but they opened immediately to peer up at her.
“Are you all right?” she asked breathlessly.
“This is becoming a habit.” The lights she held were now draped over his chest, and her bow had slid forward to hang over one eye. Brent laughed, which wasn’t easy, considering Shadow sat on his diaphragm. She bounced slightly with his movements. “I think I would be better if you could remove yourself.”
“Oh.” She flushed, then quickly scrambled to her feet. It was an ignominious process and Brent, gaining several glances of her slim legs and lush backside in the tights, realized her bottom half was as enticing as her top half. Perhaps more so. He levered himself up to a sitting position, then came slowly to his feet. The seat of his pants was wet from the snow, and when he felt his head, he discovered a bump.
Shadow still wore a pretty blush, but she brazened it out, untangling the lights from her arms and leaving them draped over the stepladder. “Come on inside to my office and let me look at your head.”
Déjà vu, Brent thought as she literally dragged him inside. “My head is fine, it’s just my pants that are a mess.”
Shadow peered around behind him. Luckily, he hadn’t worn a suit today, opting instead for casual corduroy slacks, a thick fisherman sweater and a bomber jacket. She looked at his butt, made a tsking sound and hurried him through the door.
Kallie glanced up as they came in, called a friendly hello to Brent, then went back to her work. There were a couple of customers loitering, but they didn’t seem to have noticed the comedy on the front walk. He supposed that was something to be grateful for.
Inside her office, Shadow closed the door and turned to Brent. She bit her lip, looked him over, then blurted, “You could maybe take them off and I could try to clean them.”
Brent smiled. “First, thank me for not feeling compelled to make any sexual comments in response to your offer.”
“Thank you.”
He nodded. “The pants will dry. Don’t worry about it. Did you hurt yourself?”
“No. You broke my fall.” She cleared her throat. “Thanks again.”
“What exactly were you doing out there, anyway? You should have a handyman do that sort of thing for you.”
“I can take care of anything that needs to be done. I’m not helpless. Besides, I was enjoying