Going around the corner, Aspen found herself facing a group of folks that she hadn’t liked even when they were in school. Apparently twenty years didn’t change her opinion. Still, she smiled as she passed them.

Laughter at her back made her stiffen. But she stopped dead when she heard them mention how the only way a man would kiss her was on a dare. Brown fire raged in her eyes as she turned toward them. The five people shut their mouths and before Aspen could say a word, that potent male voice from her dreams became reality beside her.

Colt Larkin.

“Hey, guys,” he said to the group. Then he put his attention on the woman next to him. With one index finger, he brought her eyes around to his. Her eyes lost their fire and filled with uncertainty. “What time do you want me to come over and help trim your tree?”

Aspen couldn’t speak. If she didn’t know better, she would say he was trying to help her. “I don’t know,” she mumbled.

Leaning in close, he looked over her head and into the cart. Whispering in her ear, “Eight.”

“Eight?” she barely managed to get out.

“Sounds great.” He moved away from her body, his hand lingering along her back. “By the way, thanks for a wonderful breakfast this morning.” He winked at her and glared at the people watching them dumbfounded before walking off.

Aspen was mortified. Not that the first rumor wasn’t bad enough, now this one would be circling around town. Livid, she stormed off after him, “Colt!” she yelled at his retreating back.

With effortless movement, he turned back around. “Yes, Aspen?”

She stomped over to him, leaving her cart behind along with the knowledge that they had an audience. “What the hell were you thinking, telling me ‘thank you’ for breakfast this morning?”

A gleam grew in his eyes that made her think of the devil-may-care attitude he had in high school, when he did what he wanted to get what he wanted. “So I shouldn’t have thanked you for breakfast, then? And, afterward, in the living room?”

“That is not what I meant. I don’t see the need to tell people.” She didn’t see the astonished looks from the town’s members.

“But it was six-thirty this morning. I didn’t want you to think I forgot.”

Fuming, Aspen actually stomped her foot in frustration. “Ohh, it isn’t anyone’s business that you were there. So kindly keep that to yourself from now on.”

“Like you are doing, right now?”

Realization crashed in. “You…you can rot in hell for all I care!” Aspen shouted, as she grabbed her cart and shoved it up to the line.

Copyright © Aliyah Burke, 2008.