Page 47 of Flake It Til You Make It

Whatever Taylor was willing to give him, he’d take,gratefully.

“No, I’m good.”More than good. He gestured towards the stage. “You hear about the engagement?” he asked, changing the subject.

“Hear about it?” Taylor was smiling, Rocco could hear it in his voice. “I feel like that’s all anyone’s wanted to talk about since Thanksgiving. But I’m surprisedyou’veheard about it.”

“Oh, well, Marlene came in for a late afternoon pick-me-up, right before we closed.”

It felt good that he could say that.

Rocco had been pleased, because she was one of the first who’d come back, for her pumpkin spice latte, and she’d returned half a dozen times now. Doubly pleased, because she’d stood there with him, as she sipped her coffee, and inducted him truly into Christmas Falls by giving him all the good gossip.

And the biggest gossip was that last weekend, at the pie bakeoff, Jem had gone down on one knee and proposed to Murphy. Murphy, who’d had his own engagement surprise planned.

“Part of the Christmas Falls gossip circle now?” Taylor teased. “You must be thrilled.”

It had felt damn good, that was for sure. Maybe not as good as the way Taylor felt behind him, his warm body encircling his.

“I am. It’s really beginning to turn around.”

“I’m so glad for you,” Taylor said, and it sounded like he meant every single word.

“Oh look, there’s that movie star guy.” Rocco gestured towards a spot in the middle of the crowd where the mayor was standing with Griff and Heath Kelly.

“I think Mona may never get over her disappointment that I ended up with you instead of him,” Taylor said with a chuckle.

Rocco rolled his eyes. Not feeling jealous at all. Nope. No way. Morettis didn’t get jealous. They were the ones whomadeeveryone else jealous.

“But I’m not disappointed,” Taylor said in a low voice, and Rocco swore his lips brushed his neck, and he had to restrain his resulting shiver. Or maybe he’d just imagined it.Wantedit so badly that he’d hoped it into existence.

“Good.” Rocco could hear the smugness in his voice and decided that if Taylor heard it too that it didn’t matter. He’d hardly made his attraction and affection secret.

But before he could point out that Heath Kelly wasn’t all that handsomeorthat good of an actor—really, you’re not so hot yourself, Moretti—Rocco could feel Taylor tense and then force himself to relax.

A second later, he was letting go of Rocco and coming to stand next to him. Rocco swallowed his disappointment and tried to figure out what had caused the change.

It was coming towards them now. A tall man, not quite as tall as Taylor, walking with purpose in their direction, blond hair,with maybe a touch of gray at the temples, and a complexion that said he definitely didn’t usually spend winters in Christmas Falls. He was wearing a designer quilted jacket and a politician’s smile, all empty charm.

“Hello, you must be Taylor Hall,” he said, extending his hand. “Steve Mills. I’m glad we’ve finally met.”

Ah. This was the guy who was Taylor’s competition for the city manager job.

Rocco leaned closer, letting his whole side plaster against Taylor’s, and this time it was his arm wrapping aroundTaylor’swaist.

After they shook, Steve glanced over at Rocco and Rocco stuck out his chin and his hand. “Rocco Moretti. I own Jolly Java,” he said firmly.

He had a weak handshake. Rocco hoped it was only one of many chinks in this guy’s armor.

“Ah, the coffee shop. Looks charming.”

But Rocco knew this guy had never been through its doors, and even though plenty had shunned him at the height of the pumpkin spice debacle, he took Steve Mills’ absence more personally.

He wanted to run this town, he needed tounderstand it, and there was no way he could, or that he loved it even a fraction as much as Taylor did.

Taylor had made it a point to come by, and he didn’t even drink coffee.

“Thanks,” Rocco said dryly.

“I’m glad I ran into you, because I wanted to tell you what a great job you’ve done as deputy mayor. Everyone talks about what a great assistant you’ve been to Mayor Grayson.”

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