Page 106 of Worst in Show

His fingers slide into my hair and pull me closer. “What part?”

“All the mean stuff.”

“Ah, that.”

He covers my lips with his, and we’re finally done talking.

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The snow doesn’t stop. Over the next week, the temperature drops further, and layer after layer of white reshapes the town.

We wake up to muted winter light falling through Leo’s curtains. I stretch and roll into him. It’s our first morning together in a while. He’s been as busy as I’ve been it seems. I’ve missed him, but it’s also allowed me to catch up at the store. Holiday decorations are up, December promotions are underway, the guy who’s installing the stairlift for Harvey is coming tomorrow, and I’m only a few orders behind on sewing. Judging by the slowed speed of new Etsy orders, I do think that bad review hurt me. But like Micki says, I have no choice but to move forward. She’s also the one who told me to get over myself about the Best New Business thing.

“Happy Paws can’t be nominated for that anyway,” she said. “The council has like three stores to choose from. Don’t you agree it should go to Leo?”

And I do. I wrap my arm around his shoulder beneath the covers and rest my forehead on the spot at the base of his neck. He takes hold of my hand and brings it to his lips.

“Did you sleep?” he mumbles.

“Like a rock. I wish I didn’t have to get up.”

He turns to face me, a pillow indent marring his beautiful face. I run my fingertips across it, and his lashes sweep low. “I’d ask you to stay,” he says between little sighs of pleasure as I paint featherlight trails across his features, “but I know you’ve got a full plate.”

He’s mentioned that several times this past week and has given me time and space. I appreciate it, I do, but there are moments, like right now, when I wish his restraint didn’t come quite so easily. A vain part of me wants him to claim my time because he can’t help himself. If letting go after a night like the one we just had evokes no stronger emotion than “you do what you have to do,” then what’s to say he won’t tire of me before the year is up? Or, say, pack up and leave town?

“Do you want me to go?” I whisper, nestling into the crook of his throat.

“I want you to do whatever is best for you.” He kisses my head.

I roll away from him and sit up. My toes tentatively try the floor, and I shiver as the chill creeps up my legs.

“What does it look like outside?” Leo asks.

I pull the curtains open and take in the winter wonderland before me. “The good news is it stopped snowing.” I let the curtain fall closed again. “The bad news is we got another eight inches or so overnight.”

“Probably best not to drive out to the farm today, then.”

“Yeah, I don’t care how well your car handles. I’m not risking it.” I sit down on the chair next to the bed and pull on my jeans. “And to be honest, I think Cho is as good as she’ll get. At this point, she either has it or she doesn’t. I’m going to focus on her talent this week.”

Leo nods to himself. “Probably a good idea. Plus, if you’re not going to train, there’s no point in me doing it either since Tilly won’t do a thing without Cholula nearby.”

I grimace. “What can I say? They love each other.”

His expression lightens. It’s like hearing the L-word spoken jolts him out of whatever rigid fist has him in its grip, whatever idea of “correct behavior to please Cora” he’s operating from.

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