Chapter 43

Zachary returned within ten minutes, and Jessica met him at the doorway. His face was flushed from the wind and snow, while faint wisps still curled from his lips. His hair was damp with melted snow, and his hands, gripping a black plastic bag, had gone stiff from the cold. She gently brushed the snow from his hair, then cupped his icy cheeks with both hands. Taking the bag from him and setting it aside, she brought his frozen hands into hers, breathing warm air onto them. "You ran out like that without even putting on an extra layer," she scolded softly. At five-foot-five, she had to tiptoe just to reach his chin. Zachary's face turned red, and he instinctively bent down a little to meet her halfway. His body began to warm up almost instantly. Jessica reached up again, brushing his face, wiping the tiny droplets clinging to his lashes. Her hands, warm and gentle, kept moving across his skin, cupping his face like she didn't want to let go. He couldn't bear the unintentional i