had survived being played with by a group of children, only to be abandoned on the floor. Retrieving it, Rick stood the elf on the table next to Ash’s hip.
At her raised eyebrow, he shrugged. “You looked lonely.”
“I’m not lonely.” Except Ash spent a lot of time by herself, flying supplies up and down the state. Years of knowing her had taught Rick that the lonelier she felt, the more she smoked.
“You’re not not lonely.”
“I suppose I’ll have to go to Lana’s stupid party.” Sighing, she finished her cigarette. “Zoey will make sad eyes at all of us if we don’t.”
“It’s free cookies,” Rick said. “Who’s going to pass on those?”
Ash’s lips curved. “I don’t know, but the more that pass, the more leftovers for me.”
They’d known each other all their lives, so Rick wasn’t buying the tough routine.
“You’d go even if Zoey didn’t say anything,” he said. “You’re much nicer than you pretend to be.” Rick unplugged the coffee urn and handed it to her. “And more useful.”
“Yeah, yeah.” She slid off the table, coffee urn in one arm, and managed to light up a second cigarette one-handed.
Two cigarettes in a row was a definite sign this holiday season wasn’t going any easier on Ash than it was on Rick.
Everyone else had finished clearing up after the meeting. Since the Lockett twins were both on the town council, Easton had keys to lock up. Rick tried not to focus on Lana saying her goodbyes and heading for her Mercedes SUV. Ash and Easton went straight to Ash’s Jeep while Graham wrapped an arm around Zoey’s shoulders, the pair lingering on their way to his truck. Lana had parked right next to Rick, on the far side of the lot. Meaning he had to trail her across an empty parking lot after dark.
Well, that wasn’t creepy at all.
Stuffing his hands in his jacket pockets, Rick hoped it didn’t seem like he was following her, even though technically, he was. He had no idea if she even knew he was there…her head was down as she rapidly scrolled through a message on her phone. Rick hadn’t spent much time around Lana, but over the last several years, the socialite had visited Moose Springs enough that she was a familiar fixture in Graham’s diner, the Tourist Trap, a drink in her hand and a grin on her face. She and the bartender had been friends for a while now.
Lately, Lana’s bright smile had been replaced with a focused expression and a frown more often than not. She’d been in “work mode” ever since this summer, when the town had learned of her condominium project. It was as if Moose Springs consumed her every waking moment.
It didn’t escape Rick’s notice that he was overly aware of her facial expressions for a man who could barely get a word out when she said hi. Yep, definitely not creepy at all.
Slowing his pace so Lana reached her SUV well before he reached his car, Rick waited for her to unlock her door. She had parked facing away from the barn while he had backed in, and there wasn’t much room in between the two vehicles.
“I promise I don’t bite,” Lana told him sweetly.
Her voice was this combination of smooth and husky that made him think of blankets in front of a fireplace, warm red wine, and slow kisses beneath the firelight.
“I didn’t want to crowd you,” Rick explained, allowing himself to scoot an inch closer. He watched her unlock her SUV and set her purse on the passenger seat.
“My personal bubble is less inflated than most.” Lana offered him a warm smile as she took a step toward him. “I think I was born with it leaking.”
Rick had the sheer brain-destroying pleasure of the scent of her perfume lingering in the cold winter air.
“Mine is made of duct tape and plastic pipe,” he said randomly. “It’s indestructible.”
Lana laughed softly. “Why does that not surprise me at all?”
He shouldn’t be this focused on her eyes or how long her lashes were. Rick really shouldn’t be wondering if his own personal bubble could stand to be deflated a bit. He didn’t try to keep people at arm’s length, but he still managed to do so.
Rick probably should have said something clever, but he was saved by Graham’s truck pulling up and the window rolling down.
“Hey, Lana,” Graham called through the window. “Hold up a second. I forgot to give you something my ma made for you.”
Graham hopped