Page 6 of Ice Palace Prince
I shook my head and walked back to my desk. I had other things to think about, such as the final preparations for the Valentine’s Day and Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations.
Event coordination was on its own calendar, and therefore I was always looking several months ahead.
I was reviewing the numbers from last year’s Easter Egg Hunt when there was a knock at my door.
I looked up, knowing it wasn’t Elaine, since she never knocked, but wasn’t quite prepared to see Lowell standing in the doorframe.
“Um, hi,” he said as our eyes met. “Is now a good time?”
I nodded and motioned to the guest chair.
Lowell strode across the room and dropped into the chair, rugged and gorgeous in his open-collar flannel and scruffy beard.
I swallowed, still thinking about how rude I’d been. “H-how can I help you?”
He cleared his throat. “I wanted to let you know that the Ice Palace is done, so crews can start decorating. We should have the rest of the buildings done in a few days, and merchants can begin moving in next week after we test all the electrical outlets.”
“Thank you,” I replied, voice far steadier than I felt.
Why was he so damn handsome? I’d been much more confident around him in high school, when he’d been one of the skinniest alphas in our class. He’d been approachable, and fun to be with. Now he deserved to grace the covers of magazines, and I didn’t know how to act.
He smiled. “Good participation this year?”
I nodded. “Every building sold out within a week, and the tables in the civic center only took a few more days.”
“Sounds like a good opportunity for people to shop local,” he replied.
“That’s the idea.”
He chuckled and ran one hand through his hair. “I guess that’s why the spots get taken so quickly.”
“Yeah…”
It was so hard to concentrate on conversation when all I wanted was to round the desk and sit on his lap. But that would be highly unprofessional, and sure to make him uncomfortable.
He sighed and stood. “I guess I should get back to work.”
I blinked several times. “Thanks for letting me know that you’re ready for them to start decorating.”
“No problem.”
I watched him leave, then groaned.
Apparently all my ability to converse with Lowell had disappeared after high school, leaving only a disaster of a man with a crush.
