Page 12 of A Christmas Bargain

He nodded, checking out the stalls without interest.

“And second of all, it’s not right for her to project what she wants on me. I’m not interested in dating anyone right now.”

“Just right now?” he asked. He wasn’t nosy or pushy about it, like my sister was. Just curious.

I shrugged, shoving my hands in my pockets. “I don’t know. I’m not in the mood to go looking for anyone, but I will admit that I’ve been wondering if that’s selfish of me.”

He laughed once, rudely. “Why, because Stace’s BFF is butthurt that you don’t want her?”

“No.” I smiled, glad that he tolerated Mackenzie but didn’t really like her either. “Because I know Naomi wants a mom. I swear she’s going to write it on her letter to Santa again, the one she does at home.”

“That’s not so bizarre, though,” he said kindly. “It’d be the same if she only had Jenna and not you. I don’t think she’s saying she wants a mom so badly because you’re lacking.”

I shook my head. “I don’t think that either.” Naomi and I were close, with a similarly serious sense of humor and wit. “But sooner or later, as she gets older, shewillwant a maternal figure in her life. Stacy will be there as an aunt, but…”

“I hear you.”

Right then, Stacy popped up next to me. “Stacy will be an aunt, but…?”

I scowled at her. “I thought you were with Naomi.”

“One of her classmates showed up at the crafts. Amy. Her mom’s watching them.” She looked between me and her husband. “What are you talking about?”

“Nothing,” Nicky and I replied in unison. I appreciated how he would side with me and not give her anything else to say about that topic.

“Come on, Derek,” she wheedled. “If Mackenzie isn’t checking off everything on your list?—”

“I don’t have a list.”

She groaned, strolling with us past the carolers who butchered the end of “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” and moved on to another tune. “You must have a list if you reject everyone I suggest you date.”

“No. No list. I’m just sick of your pretending you’re a matchmaker.”

She gestured at the crowd around us. “Fine. You can’t seriously tell me you’re not interested, even on a basic level, in any of this.”

I pretended to look around. “No. I’m not interested. I don’t need a crocheted hand towel in the shape of a snowman. Or a weird pottery looking thing that looks like it would break into millions of sharp pieces. Or that grinch sweatshirt. Or his Christmas spice marmalade, or her fruitcake. Or that wreath, or?—”

“Stop being obtuse,” she said over Nicky laughing. “I know you don’t want anything in the artsy stalls. I’m talking about women.” She flung her hand out again, to indicate the gaggles of women shopping. More than half had to be married, but there was no denying that this holiday thing attracted a lot of women in a shopping mood. “You haven’t been interested inanywoman in the last couple of years?”

I shook my head, glad that we’d completed a circuit up and down Main Street. We were right back to the crafts tent. I didn’t need Naomi hearing Stacy heckle me about dating again, and she wouldn’t talk about it in front of her. But?—

Wait a second…

I furrowed my brow at the woman in the dessert stall next to the crafts. If anyone were to ask me, having a vendor selling baked goods positioned right next to where small craft items could go awry wasn’t a brilliant idea.

I’d never seenherbefore. I hadn’t been seeking out women. But I would’ve noticed this woman.

Long brown hair was tied back in a complicated braid. It peeked out from beneath a white beanie. That was the only thing that appeared simple on her. Her pantsuit was so stiff and official. Even her boots were clean and immaculate, not a speck of dust or a spot of wear showing on them.

She looked proper and prim. Too tidy and neat. Not laidback like the rest of us here.

I couldn’t look away, curious about this businesswoman out of place in Preston, seeming to argue with the vendor.

Huh.

I blinked, glancing away at last and realizing two things.

My sister had noticed that I was checking this stranger out.

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