Page 27 of A Christmas Bargain

What hustle? This isn’t the city.

I had yet to reacclimate to this slower, non-rushed lifestyle.

“Go ahead,” he said as I walked in. “You can be on time, and I’ll be late.”

Wait. That makes no sense. Why’s he?—

I spun to face him as he followed me inside. “Are you…?”

He smiled then, slow and sexy, almost smug in making sure I was surprised. “I’m the person you’re here to talk to.”

“You’re the one I emailed? The person behind Tocs, Inc?”

“Tocs, which is the inverse of Scot?” he replied, walking further into the warm, cozy shop full of the best aromas on earth—coffee, bitter yet mellow.

“Wow.” I laughed to cover the shock of my surprise. I hadn’t counted onhimbeing the owner. “What a surprise. A pleasant one.”

“So, do you forgive me?” he asked playfully, gesturing at a table.

“Forgive you?” I asked as I took a seat.

He jerked a thumb toward the door. “For being late.”

I smiled. “I’d hardly call that late.”

“Good.”

So he owned all those acres along the river? I was kind of curious why he didn’t mention it at the market when I said I was here to check out land.

Well, why would he? We’d only just met.Discussing land ownership within five minutes of meeting wasn’t the norm.

I breathed easier, calmer, just to see him again. He sure was fine to look at. Handsome despite the beard. I wasn’t a fan of them, usually, but on him… He was sexy as hell. Like he worked with those big, callused hands I hadn’t forgotten the feel of yet since the market. Like he knew exactly how to use them, too.

“Sorry to trick you,” he said.

“No. You didn’t.” I smiled again. “Lots of owners are covered by names and corporation titles.” I flicked my hand up, as if to gesture that it wasn’t an issue. “I’m just glad.”

“To talk to me again?” he teased.

I nodded, but turned it into a shrug. “Well, yes. But also just because I wasn’t ghosted. You wouldn’t believe how many people can agree to discuss a property and flake out. Or they never intend to sell and just want to play around with negotiations.”

He furrowed his brow, looking down at the table. “Huh. Well. Can I get you anything to drink?”

“Still trying to get me a hot cocoa, huh?”

One corner of his mouth lifted up in a smile. “Whatever you’d like.”

“Sure. I, uh, let me look.” I pulled the menu over, but I wasn’t ready for a server to cast a shadow over our table that quickly.

We just walked in. Hold on. They have servers here? Not a counter where you order from a barista?

I glanced up, first noticing Derek’s pained smirk. The blonde standing at our table didn’t seem to be a barista or any coffee shop type of employee. She had a lanyard draped around her neck, but I couldn’t see what the plastic ID card said.

“Derek,” she greeted, not even looking at me. “I didn’t know you’d be in here today.”

He raised his brows. “I’m… not even sure how to reply to that. Whywouldyou know my whereabouts on a random Wednesday?”

I bit my lower lip, keeping my gaze down.Talk about awkward…

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