Page 46 of The Merry Matchmaker

I could, she insisted.

No, you couldn’t. Too old or too young—it doesn’t matter which you pick, either one will end up leaving you. Older men die, and the younger ones find greener pastures.

“I get it,” Brock was saying. “You’ll still be full from lunch. How about we start with drinks at Carol’s Place and see where we go from there?”

Frankie rarely went out for drinks—occasionally with Camille or Stef, and in December with Mitch after the Santa Walk, and... There was no other and. Her social life consisted of movie nights, family time and watching cop shows with Mitch. Drinks could be fun.

Adele didn’t say anything, but Frankie could feel her watching. “Okay, drinks,” she said, and told her saner self to butt out. She had a right to go out for a drink with a nice man if she wanted.

“Great.”

“I’ll meet you there,” she said before he could offer to pick her up.

“I can pick you up, you know,” he said. “I promise not to kidnap you.”

Or kiss me in your car?The idea was both tempting and scary. The fact that she was nervous about being kissed by a man spoke volumes. She wasn’t ready to date.

She was never going to be ready to date.

“So, seven?” Brock suggested.

“Seven,” she agreed.

Bad idea, said her saner self.

Probably.

Elinor emerged from the back of the store with a box of nutcrackers to replenish the diminishing display on a table by the window. Her Holiday Happiness apron hid the full effect of her new pants and black sweater, but there was no hiding the face of the new and improved Elinor.

Brock did a double take. Yep, Mission Makeover had been a success.

“What do you think of Elinor’s new look?” Frankie prompted loud enough for Elinor to hear.

“Fire,” he said, giving Elinor two thumbs-up.

Elinor blushed and murmured a thank-you.

Hmm. Maybe something could end up happening between this new and improved Elinor and Brock if Frankie stepped out of the way.

The bell over the door jingled, and in walked William Sharp. He made a beeline over to where Elinor stood blushing and arranging nutcrackers and said a soft-spoken hello.

He was in the process of asking if Elinor liked nutcrackers when Mitch made his appearance. Probably shadowing his manager. “I was on my way to get coffee,” Mitch said. “I thought I’d see if you ladies wanted something.”

“I’m good,” said Frankie.

“Caramel latte, please, extra syrup,” said Adele from her post at the cash register.

“You got it,” said Mitch. He turned his attention to where Elinor stood. “Elinor, would you like something?”

“That’s so nice of you,” she said.

“How about an eggnog latte?” he suggested.

“That would be great,” she said.

“By the way, you look very nice today,” he added, deepening the blush on Elinor’s face.

“Thank you,” she said.

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