Page 32 of Ink & Snow
“Yeah, I got it. You’ll give me issues if you keep saying that.”
“Get better. I’ll tell you how hot you look once you’re better.”
He licked his dry lips. “Do you promise?”
“Sure.” I gave the tea a pointed look, and feverish though he was, he got the message and sipped some.
“Hey.”
“Hmm?”
He coughed, looked off to the fireplace I’d readied to heat the room later. “Is this real? I’ve been thinking and… Is this real?”
I crouched on the edge of the couch, but he moved his legs to give me more room. “Is what real?”
He moved his bandaged hand back and forth between us. “This.”
“I’d say if you’re not sure about that, you have more than a simple cold.”
“No,” Amory said. “That’s not what I mean. I think I like you, and you are just so…so nice. Do you have a husband somewhere? Or a wife?”
Leave it to the high-maintenance one-night-stand-that-never-was to dig at just the right scab. I considered bullshitting him—being creative with the truth, as I’d always called it with clients. But I couldn’t bring myself to do that any more than I could have kicked Cherry out of my bed.
I said, “I’m not married and never was. I have an ex though. I’d say we were in a pretty serious relationship, but he’s an asshole. It took me a while to realize that—anyway. There’s nothing there anymore.”
“Ah,” Amory said, face falling. “You’re getting over him. With me.”
Fuckfuckfuck. “No, and stop.” He was trying to get up, but I gently put a hand on his chest. “Let me finish. When I first saw you, yes. The idea of a night of fun was floated. By me. I mentioned that.” I took a deep breath. “But then you asked me to go on a Christmas date with you, and I said yes. If I’d just wanted to get you to sleep with me, I wouldn’t have done that. I’m not that much of an asshole.”
“But you’re all, you know. Fancy. And you look like you have your life together. You don’t live with your mother, stepfather, and sister. I started thinking I’d have to finally cave and go to theSilken Chainsif I ever wanted to, uh, get laid, as it were. With more than a hand.”
He flushed wildly. Well, I had not expected that. “To think a man as well traveled as you are saved himself for me.” That gave me his attention, and an adorable look full of insecurity I ached to wipe away. “How about this: It’s about four weeks until our Christmas date. Will you allow me to prove myself until then? Let me convince you my intentions toward you have changed since the first time we met.”
He smiled. “There you go again. You totally sound fancy.”
“Fancy enough to convince you to get some more rest, finish that tea, and watch the kitten while I head out and collect my table and hopefully all the cash Garnet has collected for me?”
Amory took his time answering. I watched his jaw work as he thought it over.
“Okay. I’ll wait here,” he finally said.
Back outside, I had a chance to really appreciate my new clothes in silence for all of two minutes. Then they descended. The townies, all of them, clapped me on the shoulder to welcome me and express how vile it was for Nick to have attacked me, both verbally and physically.
People introduced themselves, but I quickly lost track. Ella was standing by the Moonlight coffee cart, a massive cream-topped peppermint latte in her hand. She offered me a fist bump, which I accepted with only minor reluctance.
“I sold your entire mistletoe stash,” a beaming Garnet informed me, taking out his phone. “And I took orders from people as well. Lynn wants one with a couple of red bows, and Mary asks if you do fully decorated ones. She left her phone number. Rosa—”
“Can you send me an email with all that info?” I asked.
Garnet looked from the screen at me. “Sure.”
I gave him my new business email, and he sent off his notes.
“That worked out?” Simeon asked, looking over while making a drink. A line had formed for his warm beverages and delectable sweets.
“Yes. And I apologize. He’s your employee.”
Simeon topped the drink he was making with cream and crushed candy canes. “Don’t mention it. Consider it the Moonlight’s appreciation for an ass well-kicked. But, Garnet, if you two’re done, I do need you back here.”
