Page 11 of Holiday Hook Up

“Yeah.” He reached behind him for a platter loaded with appetizers and set it in front of her. “It’s strong. You might want to nibble on these while you drink it.”

She popped one of the mini grilled cheese sandwiches in her mouth and her eyes rolled back. Abby’s Potion and grilled cheese sounded like exactly what she needed to get through this crummy party. “So why did Abby curse you?”

“She had a hard time accepting we belonged together, but it all worked out.” He grinned over at his wife who had come out of the kitchen to greet the guests. She was chatting it up with Adam’s sister-in-law, Bridget.

“Well, I’m glad you two are together. Although, were the rumors true last year that you made out with her on our date?” She couldn’t help asking that juicy question. Before Brandon had gotten together with Abby, he had participated in a series of dates for a special bachelor feature Jason’s former editor was doing. Bethany had been selected to take part in a Halloween excursion.

For their one and only date, they had dressed up as a witch and zombie to scare the daylights out of people who entered the town’s haunted corn maze, but Brandon had mysteriously vanished before they even got started.

He leaned in, resting his elbows on the bar. “Would you think I was a jerk if I said the rumor was true?”

She picked up another mini grilled cheese and popped it into her mouth. “Not really.” Though she and Brandon had been paired up, even that night, she knew that there was zero chemistry between them. She went for the tall, lanky, class clown type.

It was too badthatguy was being courted by a former Homecoming Queen. Bethany took a long sip of her drink and held up her glass. “I’m glad one of us found true love.”

“Cheers to that, and your time will come. Maybe Adam is the guy.”

Bethany began to choke on her drink. What was Brandon suggesting? She coughed. “Sorry. You were saying.”

“Maybe Adam is the guy who could predict your soul mate.”

“Oh . . . um . . . yeah . . .” Of course, Brandon wasn’t suggesting Adam was her true love. “Maybe.”

“That is if he ever gets the spell right. He’s worse than Abby.” He shook his head and then nodded to a couple who’d approached the bar. “Duty calls. Enjoy your night, Bethany.”

“You, too. Thanks for the drink.” She turned and scanned the crowd. Adam was in deep conversation with Zoe Mathews, the owner of the Ice Heaven frozen yogurt shop next to the Star Lite, and of course, a blonde.

What was it with him and that hair color? She ran her fingers through her own chocolate brown locks.

If only she could transformintoan alluring mystery blonde to keep Adam occupied so Rachel couldn’t make him hers for the next two weeks.

Someone he wouldn’t consider only a friend.

A woman he wouldn’t be able to resist.

She spun around. “Hey, Brandon, can you watch my camera for a minute?” Not waiting for his answer, she dashed back upstairs.

Adam grabbeda longneck beer from Brandon and walked through the crowd. No more Abby’s Potion for him. He’d stick to his drink of choice.

This night wasn’t going quite like he hoped. He’d gotten his flirt on with Zoe Mathews before Will Jenkins had cut in and asked her to dance.

That was actually fine by him. Zoe was nice, but beyond her piquing his interest in how many different flavors of chocolate yogurt she’d be unveiling next summer, he wasn’t really feeling they had much in common, and he wasn’t about to feign interest just so he could have first dibs on her chocolate peanut butter marshmallow concoction.

He’d probably end up alone tonight—no doubt karma for what he’d done to Pauline.

Although judging by the way the mortician was currently grinding with Evan, the botanist, on the dance floor, Adam might be forgiven.

Being alone for the holidays actually didn’t bother him. He’d gotten rather used to his dinner for one routine when he wasn’t hanging out with Caitlin and Josh or spending time on his porch with Bethany.

Speaking of which.

He glanced around for his neighbor, but there was no sight of her. Shouldn’t she be running around snapping pictures? Maybe she’d ditched her camera and was already hooking up with some schmuck. Well, good for her. Bethany was easy on the eyes, and he could name a half a dozen guys down at the fire department who would kill to spend the next two weeks with her.

Although, if she did get into a Holiday Hook Up, they’d have to wrap it up by New Year’s Eve because he didn’t want to lose his partner for watching college football the next day. They’d been talking about squatting in front of his flat screen for weeks, and she’d promised to make her famous seven-layer dip while he supplied the alcohol. He couldn’t think of a better way to start the new year.

“Hey, handsome devil.” Caitlin shimmied up to him wearing a short black mini dress with sky-high heels. She held her black and silver mask over her face. “Guess who?”

“Well, look at you, you sexy vixen. Glad to see you’ve broken out the mini dress again.”

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