Page 17 of Flirting with the Scrooge

Over the loudspeaker someone announces that the store will be closing in fifteen minutes and to bring all your items up to the check out.

I glance to Tatum. “Enjoy the rest of your evening.” I push my cart past her, not wanting to make eye contact. When I reach the end of the aisle, I glance back and she’s still standing in the same spot I left her, like a statue. Slowly she lifts her head and her lips part when our gazes meet. I flash her a wink. I’ve seen the little telltale signs she doesn’t completely hate me by the way she brushes her hair behind her ear to the slight color change in her cheeks when we talk. But the biggest sign is the subtle way her lips fall open a fraction of an inch as if she’s waiting for a kiss. From that look alone, I know she’ll be thinking about me later tonight, and it won’t be about how much she wants to strangle me.

ELEVEN

YOU LIIIKE HIM

Tatum

I’ve been sitting at a table across from Olivia at Porter’s for the past two hours. We’ve been going over paperwork full of rules and guidelines for a New Year’s party we’re coordinating. Being in the middle of the afternoon, Porter’s is much quieter than normal, plus they have food.

As much as I’m trying to concentrate, my head’s not in it. I’ve read the same paragraph three times and each time the words smash together. I glance out the window next to our table as snowflakes flutter down from the gray sky. It’s almost hypnotizing as they dance around before they land softly on the ground. Suddenly, a gust of wind causes a pile of snow to tornado across the parking lot as. A shiver runs down my spine. The snow reminds me of Connor shoveling, then it drifts to our run in at the grocery store the other night. I still can’t believe he found my underwear. I’ve never been so embarrassed, but surprisingly, he wasn’t a jerk about it. He didn’t swing them over his head and make a crude joke about getting into my panties. But he did joke about me pouring caramel sauce on his body and licking it off. I won’t lie, after I got home and crawled under the covers that exact image filled my thoughts. A heat creeps through my body as I rehash it all over again.

“Hello? Tatum?” Olivia’s hand flashes in front of my face and I startle. My gaze flits to hers. “So, what do you think?”

“Yeah. Yeah. That all sounds good.” I flick my wrist.

“Oh my God. You have no idea what I just said.” She laughs. “Are you bored already? Because we still have about five more pages to go through.”

“A little. I wasn’t expecting snow today.” Quickly, I change the subject so I don’t blurt out I’ve been daydreaming about Connor.

“Me either. I thought it was going south.”

“Yeah, that’s what the meteorologist said. I really should’ve become a meteorologist so I could get paid to be wrong all the time. I could say that there’s a fifty percent chance of snow in the middle of July and no one can be mad at me because it will either snow or it won’t.” I push the papers away. “Time for a career change.”

Olivia laughs. “I’m not sure that’s how it works.”

“But it’s the truth.” My gaze drifts between the snow falling outside and the TV to see if there’re any new updates. It’s been coming down all day and doesn’t seem to be letting up either.

“They’re saying it could be one of the biggest snowstorms of the season. So far, they’re predicting ten to eighteen inches are possible.”

“If you ask me, there’s a big difference between ten and eighteen inches.”

“Even more so when we’re not talking about snow.”

We both laugh. I’ve lived in Harbor Highlands my entire life, so I’m used to the snow. Somedays I like the winter more than others. Mostly when I’m at home snuggled with a big, fluffy blanket and cup of piping hot coffee, watching the sun rise and how it causes the snow to sparkle like a sea of diamonds. And I hate it when I have to drive. There’s always some jerk who thinks just because he has a big truck with even bigger tires he can go as fast as he wants. Even big tires are no match against icy roads.

The server drops off two burgers and fries at our table. The comforting aroma of a toasted bun and melted cheese causes my stomach to rumble. I dip a french fry in ranch and pop it into my mouth. We eat in silence for a few minutes. The farther the sun dips toward the horizon the harder the snow falls and again my mind wanders to Connor.

“Do you find beards sexy?” I ask between bites of my cheeseburger.

Olivia taps her chin, pondering the question. “I do like a little scruff. Nothing too big or bushy. And definitely not one that hangs to his chest, but I love the rough, scratchy feeling, especially when he’s going down on you. Ledger has the perfect amount of scruff.” There’s a small sparkle in her eyes.

“You and Ledger are complete opposites. He’s grumpy, you’re bubbly. Did you find it hard to navigate?”

“Honestly, it fueled our connection. We fed off each other and it kinda brought us together more than pushed us apart. Plus, it’s a lot of fun.” A bright smile covers her lips as I’m sure thoughts of her boyfriend flit through her mind. The tell-tale sign is when her eyes gloss over like they are doing now. She swallows a bite of her burger. “Why do you ask?”

“Oh. No reason.” Quickly, I dip another fry and shove it in my mouth before I say anything else.

She swallows a sip of her drink. Her eyes go wide and light up like a Christmas tree as she fights to not spray liquid all over the table. “Wait! Are you talking about your neighbor?”

“No! I’m not,” I spit out entirely too fast.

“Omg! You like him!”

“No. I don’t.” I keep my eyes trained forward and bite the inside of my cheek to prevent the smile that wants to take over.

“Yes! You do! I know that look! You liiike him.” She throws her hands up in the air. “How did I not see this earlier?”

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