Page 19 of A Christmas Bargain

I groaned, and she flashed a quick, curious smile my way.

“I want a dog,” Naomi announced confidently as she took my hand to hold it again.

“I thought you bumped it up to wanting two dogs,” I replied.

“Three,” she shot back.

“Oh, heck. Make it a pack,” Claire joked.

“A pack?” Naomi raised her brows. “Like wolves?”

“Sure. Dogs are like wolves, aren’t they?”

Naomi nodded. “All canines, of the speciesCanis familiaris, are descendants of the gray wolf,Canis lupus.”

Claire whistled, stepping closer to me to avoid another group of carolers squeezing through. Her shoulder brushed against mine, and I wondered if she smelled like apples because of the dessert stall she’d visited or if she was always that sweet.

“You do read a lot, huh?”

Naomi nodded. “Do you?”

“What?” Claire asked.

“Read.”

“Are you asking me if Iknowhow to read?”

Naomi frowned. “It’d be difficult for you?—”

“Naomi!” I scolded lightly.

“—with the presbyopia and all, but…”

Claire laughed, not offended. “Yes, I know how to read. And yes, I like to read. Just not factual stuff.”

“That’s called non-fiction.”

“And I’m not a fan.” Claire smiled, not ashamed or embarrassed about it.

“Whatdoyou read?”

“According to you, nothing,” Claire teased.

“As soon as we reach the pharmacy, that can be easily remedied.”

Claire squinted. “I’ll admit that I struggle with seeing tiny fonts up close, but if I’m not mistaken, the pharmacy is closed up there.”

I turned, following where she pointed. Sure enough, the big white and red marquee stated that they’d closed an hour ago for the holiday market day.

“That’s a bummer.” Naomi glanced at me and tugged on my hand. “But that means we can go to the hot cocoa stand now.”

I caught myself smiling as I glanced at Claire. Feeling the full hit of her direct attention on me startled me. While she seemed interested, she wasn’t.

“What do you say, Claire?”

Now, I was making a move. I was asking, without any room for guesswork.

I wasn’t sold on this concept of dating, but getting hot cocoa with her wouldn’t be a date. It wasn’t a romantic adventure or even a getting-to-know-you event.

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