My fingers tighten around the heavy plate at his muttered words, as I try not to show how they affect me. I suppress the shiver that rolls through my body, quickly placing some of the turkey slices on my plate and handing it off to Flora.
More plates get passed back and forth across the table, as everyone takes a little of everything, ham, carrots, buttermilk biscuits . . .
‘Mashed potatoes?’ I stiffen again, turning slowly toward the firefighter whose expression is innocent, but his eyes flash with hooded mischief as he holds out the terrine toward me, his huge hands pressed to either side, meaning that I have no choice but to touch him if I want to take it.
‘Thank you’ I bite out, taking the dish, my fingers grazing his as he holds my gaze, keeping his hands on the dish for a beat lon
