Page 4 of Lighting Up Christmas

And why was she thinking about that instead of business? Sheesh, she was getting way out in front of her horse. But Zhang Shi could kill at poker. He rivaled the Easter Island statues with their impassive regard.

Riley shoved down her trickle of unease.

“I’m happy to take a look at the existing infrastructure and bid out an upgrade that meshes with your future plans. No cost for a bid. No pressure. Flanagan & Sons have been serving the electrical needs of the Rogue Valley residents and business owners for three generations.”

Silence.

One. Two. Three.

“No.” Awkward silence.

No movement. Then another one, two beats, and why was she counting like she was back in jazz band?

“Thank you.”

But he didn’t move.

“Excuse me,” he said finally, his voice deep and melodic but curt.

That was when Riley realized she was pressed up against the door of his truck like she was slow dancing with it.

“Oops.” She laughed. “Can’t blame a businesswoman for trying.” She hopped up on the curb, still enjoying the view of him. Dang, he was broad-shouldered. He looked fit. There weren’t all that many men she didn’t look directly in the eye or secretly enjoy when they had to look up at her. “Sweet truck.” She gestured to the classic 1965 F100 she had bought and restored in high school. “That’s my baby. Pippy.”

He looked at her truck and then at her. She waited for him to ask about the name. If she could engage people in conversation long enough, they came over to her side. Unless they were named Jeff Bane. Men with trucks liked to talk about them. But she got nothing. He nodded and then opened his truck’s door and reached in to put his massive coffee drink in the cupholder.

Charmer.

What a waste of his movie star good looks. Riley shook her head at his quick dismissal and returned to Sophia’s store.

“That was a total bust,” Riley announced. “That man may be hot as hell but about as appealing as a blood blister.”

Sophia stared at her, her dark chocolate eyes wide and pouty lips pursed in shock.

No. Way.

Riled shoved her hands in her back pocket and rocked back on the heels of her work boots. Sucking in a breath she turned around. Her pounding heart dropped to her stomach. It wasn’t like she hadn’t created more than her fair share of awkward moments in her life, since her mouth often popped open before her brain fully engaged, but usually she avoided disaster with clients. And future clients.

What was one more?

She somehow grabbed a hold of her cheeky attitude that often saved her and turned around. “Hello again. Fancy meeting you here.”

Chapter Two

Her hair wasa deep and vivid red brown. Rust.

Her smile shiny white. Like her two-toned classic truck.

He’d been struck stupid by her enthusiasm and hadn’t really processed what she said when she pulled the weird trick with her business card. She couldn’t be serious. Who did that?

This woman who glowed like the sun, apparently.

He still wore his sunglasses. Inside. Like a celebrity. But who cared what she thought?

Easier this way. The brightness of the fresh layer of snow as he drove down from his vineyard had been tear-evoking, but even on a gray day he’d wear them in town. They made him feel safer, more comfortable, less on display, and less of a target for an ambush conversation.

Except she’d had no problem cornering him.

What was her name? She’d told him. It was on the card she’d showily handed him. Didn’t matter. Not like he was going to call her and have a stranger tramping all over his land giving opinions, making assumptions, and gossiping about what he was or wasn’t doing right.

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