Page 60 of The Holiday Hate-Off
It felt like the whole town, maybe even the whole state, had shrunk to just us, with a short stretch of sidewalk between us, dirty snow piled all around.
The air had felt charged with possibilities.
I’d thought he was about to dip in and kiss me, which had pissed me off and excited me in equal measure.
But he hadn’t.
Instead, he’d chosen to revive our war.
I’d truly intended to make peace, but Enzo obviously doesn’t want peace. At least not with me.
So I’ve decided I’m going through with my dinner date plan.
I just told Eileen as much via text message. She left the Sipearly today to talk to Amanda, which went “very well,” and then headed over to Erica’s house to make cookies with her.
Five minutes after I sent my text, she replies with a clapping meme—the delay either a result of Hideaway Harbor’s perpetually slow cell signals or because she and Erica are gabbing.
Probably the latter, because she starts sending me minute-by-minute updates, and each of them comes through immediately.
Hudson just put on a dress shirt. Ooh, this is so exciting.
He looks very handsome, Lucy.
You know, this is just the kind of practice you need! I wish I’d thought of it sooner.
I understand you said it’s a “fake” date, but if there’s chemistry, you should go for it! He is SUCH a nice boy.
Erica and I already talked about what we’d do for the wedding.
No pressure, though. ;-)
Ooh, he just stepped out the door! You’re in for a treat.
I mean, honestly.
I pace around my apartment, tempted to watchTheGolden Girlswith my probably elderly pen pal instead of going out, but Hudson arrives exactly on time.
I open the door to find him grinning at me. “Well, damn, I wasn’t sure how I felt when I overheard my mother planning my wedding, but I don’t have any objections after all.”
I feel myself blushing all the way to the roots of my hair. So he’s charmingandgood-looking. His mother is petite and blonde, but he’s tall, dark, and very handsome with thick,muscular arms. Like, seriously thick. The man is as fit as a bodybuilder.
Truthfully speaking, he’s much better thanperfectly okay, and if he’s as nice as Eileen says, he’d be a great candidate for Project: Lose The V, but I’d never sleep with him. For one thing, his mother and Eileen are already planning our wedding. For another…
Well, isn’t that enough?
So, no, I will not be sleeping with him tonight, but I’ll be totally honest: I want to convince Enzo that’s my plan.
“Keep up the shameless flirting,” I encourage him with a grin. “It’ll drive Enzo crazy.”
“Ah, yes,” he says with a knowing smile. “I’ve heard all about the holiday hate-off.”
“You’ve read Lady Lovewatch?” I moan as I follow him out of the apartment and lock the door behind me.
“Of course. But that’s not the first time I’ve heard people mention your feud. You know, I’ve got my money on you.”
“People arebettingon it?” I ask in horror.
His grin widens as we head to the building’s front entrance. “Not literally.” He shrugs, pausing in front of the door. “At least not the people I know. But people like to talk, especially since some think Enzo’s gotten too high-and-mighty after being in New York City so long.”
