Page 91 of Rosie and the Beast Next Door

“Okay, we’ll come by for dinner then.” He hesitated, still acting off. There was no way he could still think I’d be upset with him for posting a video about my store. The orders were steadily coming in, and I hadn’t even shared his post to my page or done any of my own advertising.

I pulled him into a tight, reassuring hug. “I like your teammates. They’re fun.”

“They’re pretty great. Have you watched the video yet?”

“No. I’ve been too busy.”

His tight expression loosened. “Okay. See you tonight. Save me some pizza without pineapple.”

I put a hand behind my ear. “Extra pineapple, you said?”

He pointed at me as he walked away backwards. “Don’t give me that disgusting fruit.”

I laughed and pulled up the video to finally watch it once he left. It was vintage Dylan—holding the phone down so we got a great view of his chin and nose—but he was standing in front of some really good light.

I grinned, watching him talk about my store, and halfway through, a miracle must have happened, because he decided to move his phone up so we got a full-on, straight look of his gorgeous face. When he smiled and asked for them to check out my shop, I knew exactly why I had so many new visitors to my website. Who could resist that smile? Not me.

That so many of those visits had translated to sales was definitely a boost my ego needed. People might check out awebsite because a hot hockey player had told them to, but they weren’t going to set down several hundred dollars just because of that.

“… love. I know I did.”

Wait. What had he said? I’d been so busy thinking about his smile and my website visits, I wasn’t paying attention. I went back through the video.

“I promise you’ll fall in love. I know I did.”

I watched it about twenty more times just to be sure I’d heard him right.

FALL IN LOVE. What?

My brain absolutely knew he was referring to my artwork. Of course he meant my art. That’s what the entire reel was about.

But the way he’d been acting weird all morning. The way his smile had softened when he said it. The way my breathing hitched and the blood in my veins turned to fire when I’d heard it.

My heart went rogue—completely off the rails—and hoped he meant … me.

Whoa. My logic and feelings warred with each other as I watched the video once again.

Brain: Get it together, heart.

Heart: That smile, though.

Brain: This is all fake.

Heart: The chemistry between us is zero percent fake.

Brain: What about Max?

Heart: Who?

Brain: MAX ERIKSSON. THE LOVE OF YOUR FREAKING LIFE.

Heart: Oh. Yeah.

Brain: Dylan will leave. Max won’t.

Heart: But Dylan said the word love.

My brain was such a buzz-kill. But not entirely wrong.

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