“In the cemetery.” he said. “We’ll stop for coffee and breakfast on the way.”
My mouth twitched and I dipped my head to conceal my smile, but he was already moving past me into the hall. He was in a good mood this morning, not that that was unusual, but it was unexpected. After our soured date and distant week, I’d expected things to be tense. It was nice that there didn’t seem to be any bad blood.
He took our coats from the closet and I followed him out to the car. When he helped me into the front seat, his hand brushed up my arm. A little thrill of heat moved through me and my heart fluttered.
Stop that, I chided myself.
He slid into the driver’s side and deposited our coats into the back seat. I kept my eyes on my lap as he drove us into the city. Neither of us spoke until he pulled up outside the Italian café I liked. I wondered for a moment if he also preferred it or if he knew it was my favorite. He cut the engine and turned to me, flipping the keys over his finger and into his palm.
“A caramel cappuccino and a cheese danish?”
“How did you know my order?”
His mouth jerked up in the corner and he leaned across the console. I had a fleeting impression of his golden eyes up close and then he kissed my mouth briefly, as if we’d been married for years and it was the most natural gesture in the world.
“It’s my job to know things about people,” he said. “And I see the cups and empty bags you leave in the back of my assistant’s car.”
I blushed and he stepped out and crossed the street. My God, he was handsome in that green sweater. His confident stride pulled it all together and I saw heads turn as he slipped through the café doors. It took me a moment to realize I was ogling my husband just as hard and I shook myself and took my phone out.
What the hell was wrong with me today?
Maybe it was the weather. I loved autumn and winter, but I always got moody when the first cold front hit. Deciding it was probably just a mix of that and hormones from my period being due in the next few days, I curled up in the seat. When he returned, he handed me my coffee and set his into the cup holder.
“What did you get?”
“Coffee.”
“Nothing fancy?”
He shook his head and took a sip from his cup. “They have a good house blend.”
His breath was saturated with the rich smell of coffee and my nipples prickled against my sweater. Without thinking, I bent over the console and kissed his mouth. He stiffened as our lips touched and then he inhaled abruptly and kissed me back. Our tongues brushed and the bitter taste of coffee blossomed in my mouth.
“What was that for?” he asked, drawing back.
I flailed inside, trying not to blush.
“It’s nothing, sorry.”
“No, tell me.”
I took a quick breath as he pulled back out onto the street. “You know those things that just…make you feel so good and cozy? Like getting your pajamas out of the dryer right before bed?”
“I sleep naked,” he said. “But I get the sentiment.”
“Well, the taste of coffee on your mouth is better than the actual coffee,” I admitted. “It’s just…comforting.”
The silence in the car was deafening. He kept his eyes straight ahead, only moving to lift his cup to his lips. I was clutching my own coffee and slowly dying inside, wishing I’d never said anything. Finally he put his cup aside and his lean hand slid up my thigh. Gripping me gently.
“I like it when you tell me things,” he said quietly. “You’re an interesting person.”
For some reason, his words stung. Being interesting was more of a neutral thing. I fell quiet, curling up against the door, as he drove through the city to the cemetery on the opposite end of town. The great iron gates were pulled ajar, the chain hanging loose and trailing into the dirt road. Peregrine pulled off and got out, circling the car to open my door. I liked the way he always helped me out. It made me feel safe.
The air bit my face and I clutched my coffee against my chest. He pushed his hands in his pockets and we began walking up the gravel road. The leaves overhead were bright orange and yellow and the sky was overcast with occasional spots of sunlight. Below our feet, wet leaves and gravel crunched pleasantly. A flock of crows circled once and disappeared into the trees.
I shivered.
“Are you cold?” he said. “I’ll get your coat.”