Page 18 of The Holiday Fail

“So, what brings you to town?” I turned my focus back on Andy, scooting closer to him, and finger mindlessly drawing tiny circles onto the hardwood bar.

Andy watched me with a tiny smirk. He took a drink out of his glass too, then licked the splatter of water that stained his top lip.

“Work,” he finally replied.

“What do you do?”

“I’m a chef over at Fated Encounters B&B.”

“That’s a good place to work. I know the owners,” I said. I couldn’t help but puff up with pride at the mention of our family’s B&B. I’d always been proud of the place. It was a family legacy, one that I was excited to take over one day.

“Oh, yeah?” Andy twisted his body toward me as well. He was playing along with my questions and answer game, but he clearly found this funny.

I cleared my throat, giving him a gentle reminder to stay in character. This was his idea, after all!

“Yeah. Have you explored the mountains behind the B&B?There are some fantastic trails that lead to the most breathtaking vistas. Maybe I can take you sometime.”

Andy frowned. “Do you always invite strangers to the middle of nowhere where they can do who knows what?”

I raised a brow, but that only made Andy cross his arms. “What? It’s not safe, you know? Stranger danger is a thing,” he said in a huff. “And speaking of, we need to talk about how you got so drunk all by yourself the night we met. What would have happened if I wasn’t there?”

His reaction had me barking out a laugh. “First, we’re not mentioning that night, remember? And I think living in the city has made you too cynical. Nobody around these parts is going to do all these scary, unimaginable things you’re mentioning.”

Andy looked at me skeptically. “It only takes one bad seed…”

“Even if they do want to try something, I can handle myself,” I said and raised my arm to flex my muscles. I wasn’t bulky in the way of a bodybuilder, but that didn’t mean I was weak either.

Andy eyed me. His dark gaze moving up and down my body had the beers in my stomach heating me up. He poked my arm. “Okay, Mr. Big Strong Man.”

I rolled my eyes and smacked his hand away. “You’re out of character. You’re supposed to be the hot stranger I’m picking up, remember?”

“If you think inviting a man into the middle of the woods is picking them up and not the prologue to a horror movie, then I think we have very different definitions of what flirting is.”

“Well, if you’re such an expert on flirting, then why don’t you show me how it’s done?” I gritted out.

Then suddenly he was all in my space. His hand landed on my arm, all hot and firm. His thumb rubbed tiny strokes against my forearm that did something to the chemistry of my brain.

“Instead of the outdoors, I’d much rather you show me someplace moreintimate. Maybe with a nice dinner and wine first?”

Hot breath hit my ear, making it hard to distinguish between what was part of the act and what was real. My voice lost its way and seemed to have no plans of returning, so all I could do was nod.

Chapter Nine

ANDY

“Good. Let’s go then,” I said, draining the last of my water before sliding off the bar stool. The room was feeling a bit hot. Or maybe it was Levi’s reactions that were making me feel a bit stuffy.

It was clear by his action that he wasn’t flirted with often. Which was a shocker, honestly, since he was, by any and all definitions,hot.

Though, what I wasn’t expecting, was thinking he was cute too. The way his eyes went all wide and shining was too adorable and had me feeling way tootight.

I needed some fresh air.

“Where are we going?” Levi asked. His brows knitted together in confusion.

“Home. I think that’s enough for tonight,” I said, then used his elbow to guide him out to grab our jackets and leave the pub. I didn’t let him go until the blast of cold night air brought some clarity to my now foggy mind.

“Did I do something wrong?”

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