Page 6 of Pumpkins & Promises
Emily is quiet for a long moment, and I can practically see her weighing the pros and cons. Finally, she shakes her head.
"Thanks for the offer. Let me think about it. This could get complicated."
Chapter Three
Emily
"So," I say, wrapping my hands around my coffee mug at Novel Sips, "we need ground rules."
Wesley sits across from me in the cozy bookstore café, looking slightly amused by my notepad. "You made a list."
"I always make lists. It's how I function." I flip to a fresh page. "First, our story. We started seeing each other this week. We met when I went up to the cabin to get my sweaters, we had that whole awkward thing, but then we kept running into each other and realized there was something there."
"How recently are we talking?" Wesley asks, pulling out his phone to make notes.
"Monday, maybe? We can say we've been talking and spending time together, but it's brand new enough that I wasn't sure if I should bring you to dinner yet."
"That works. Very believable timeline." He looks up from his phone. "What made us decide to give it a shot after that rocky first meeting?"
"You brought me coffee as an apology, I gave you the water heater tip. We realized we'd both been ridiculous and that there was something worth exploring."
"And how long have we been seeing each other?"
"This week. We can say it's been... nice."
"Nice?" He raises an eyebrow. "That's not exactly a ringing endorsement of our fictional romance."
"What would you prefer? Epic, all-consuming passion?"
"Point taken." Wesley leans back in his chair. "What about physical contact? Are we holding hands, sitting close, or keeping things platonic?"
Heat rushes to my cheeks. "I hadn't thought about that part."
"Well, we should probably figure it out before we're sitting at your family's dinner table. They'll notice if we act like strangers."
He's right, of course. But the idea of Wesley holding my hand or putting his arm around me makes my stomach do weird flips that definitely shouldn't be happening in a fake relationship.
"Hand holding is fine," I say, trying to sound businesslike. "Maybe sitting close. And if we absolutely have to sell the story, a kiss on the cheek. But only if it's really necessary."
"Got it. Cheek kisses only in emergencies." There's amusement in his voice. "What about the why? Why did we click?"
I look up from my notepad. "What do you mean?"
"Your family's going to want to know what we see in each other. What made you decide to date the grumpy writer, and what made me fall for the baker and pumpkin grower?"
The word 'fall' makes something flutter in my chest. "You're different from guys I usually date. Quieter, more thoughtful. You actually listen when I talk."
"And you?"
"Me what?"
"What do I see in you?"
I stare at him, suddenly self-conscious. "I don't know. You tell me."
Wesley's quiet for a moment, studying my face. "You're genuine. No pretense, no games. You say what you mean, andyou care about the people around you without making a big show of it. You're the kind of person who brings peace offerings to grumpy strangers and gives helpful tips about temperamental water heaters. Plus, you make incredible apple cider donuts."
My throat feels tight. "That's very specific for a fake relationship."
