Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 67831 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 339(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67831 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 339(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
“Honored to be called a keeper,” Leo says, pushing past the awkwardness that suddenly prickles in the air between us. “Though I confess I do have my flaws. Trying on hats and forgetting to pay for them before I walk out of a store is a big one. I’d really love to avoid setting off the alarm this time.”
“I’ll add it to your tab now and be sure to scan it for security devices before you leave,” the woman assures him, beaming. “I’ll have the shoes sent right over, as well as socks and hose to choose from.” Shifting her gaze my way again, she asks, “You’re a size seven, right?”
I curl my bare toes into the carpet. “How did you know?”
She winks. “I know things.” She points a finger at my chest. “And tea, right? Earl Grey? Touch of milk and honey? Does that sound good?”
I nod, awed. “Yes, actually. And yes, please. That sounds great.”
“Perfect, I’m Georgia, by the way,” she says. To Leo, she adds, “I’ll have a coffee sent over for you. Black, half a teaspoon of sugar.”
“Make it a whole teaspoon,” he says. “I’m feeling wild.”
Georgia arches a brow. “Wild enough to let me bring your girlfriend a few other things I think will look fantastic and elegant on her this holiday season?”
I start to protest, but Leo is already saying, “Yes, please. But keep it respectable, Georgia. I may look like a movie star, but we’re working on a producer’s budget. Get me out of here for under three grand, and I’ll send my costume team straight to you the next time we need to make a big, juicy purchase.”
Her eyes flicker with excitement as she counts the dollar signs floating through the air. “Not a problem. Now sit back, relax, and we’ll have some fun!”
When she’s gone, I hiss, “Three thousand dollars? Are you insane?”
He grins and shrugs. “No, a residual check from the Sandy show just hit my bank account last night, and I already have everything I need. I mean, except for this hat, of course. Thoughts on this hat?”
“I told you I love the hat.” I cross my arms. “But I’m not sure how to feel about this extravagant gesture.”
His brow furrows. “I feel bad about this morning. Really bad.”
“You don’t have to. It wasn’t your fault, and it’s in the past.” I wrinkle my nose as a sudden realization hits. “Until everyone I know watches it on television…”
“See? This isn’t just a bad morning. This is going to come back to haunt you. Hell, they might make a meme, and you’ll be tortured by the internet fallout forever. The least I can do is make sure you’re dressed to impress if that happens. And seriously, you look beautiful.” His lips quirk up as he adds, a little sadly, I think, “The single men of Vermont won’t know what hit them.”
I start to tell him that I’m not interested in the single men in Vermont.
I’m not interested in single men, at all…unless they’re him.
But then Vivian’s face flashes behind my eyes. Her face, and the faces of my sweet brother-in-law and two adorable nephews, Gilly and Greer. Even if I eventually decide my cousin’s wild lies—and the force of my attraction to Leo—might make it okay for me to violate the girl code, I can’t put her family in that position.
Frank would want to know why I was dating the guy who’d traumatized his wife. And how would I explain that without exposing Vivian as a fraud and potential sociopath? Frank might start to feel that he doesn’t know his wife at all.
I could break up a happy family, and for what? A steamy affair?
Even if Leo wanted more, my entire world is in Reindeer Corners, and he’s the consummate big city guy. Even if he could find a way to do his job remotely, he would hate it there, and our relationship would quickly crash and burn.
There’s no future for us.
There’s just today, and however many more days I’m granted before I lose the competition and get sent home. I just have to enjoy this for what it is—a thrilling moment in time that will be over too soon.
And in that case, why shouldn’t I let this very nice, very sexy man take me shopping…just this once?
I sigh. “All right. I’ll accept your generosity on one condition.”
“Name it.”
“You let me treat you to food and a craft of your choice at the fair.”
He smiles. “Done. Though I confess I’m not much of a craft guy.”
“You will be,” I promise. “This fair is going to be next level. The pictures on the website from last year’s event are incredible. We should probably bring a grocery cart, just in case we end up with too many crafts to carry.”
“I’m a real New Yorker,” Leo scoffs. “I don’t do grocery carts. I carry one insanely heavy bag of groceries home twice a week, the way God intended.”