Page 27 of Sleigh Bells and Snowstorms
“It is.”
“Why didn’t you use an alias?”
“I often do. But in this case, it didn’t seem necessary.”
She nodded slowly. “Well, if you want to stay on the down-low in this town, you need to use the gossip line, not be in the gossip line.”
“And how does one do that?”
“Good question.” She paused, glancing away, and when she turned back toward me, her eyes brightened. “I know what we do.”
“What?”
“Keep them talking, but point them in the wrong direction. I assume you were hoping to lay low so the thief doesn’t know why you’re here?”
“Precisely.”
Her mouth lifted, and I found myself mirroring her smile.
“So we throw them off,” she said. “Spread a rumor that’s wild enough to catch on but completely untrue. Then if the thief does hear about the mysterious British man in town, he won’t suspect who you really are.”
“Brilliant. What’s my story?”
“How about… you’re the son of a wealthy businessman who arranged a marriage between you and his rival’s daughter, hoping to form a partnership worth billions. You’re in hiding to escape the wedding.”
“Rather sounds like something I would do if my father was inclined to such machinations. A bit outlandish, though, don’t you think?”
“Oh yeah. They’ll eat it up.”
“And you can plant this rumor?”
She nodded as she pulled her phone from her pocket. “Like a seed in the garden in spring. Hold on.”
I watched while she made a call and waited for the other person to answer. A buzz of excitement swept through me. I was enjoying our little collaboration.
“Hi, Mrs. Dallas, it’s Natalie. I just ran into my guest again. Yes, him. I actually found out why he’s in town, and it’s not what everyone has been saying.” She paused, grinning at me. “No, they have it all wrong. Get this. His father is some kind of wealthy businessman, and he arranged a marriage for him with his rival’s daughter.”
The squeal on the other end caused Natalie to move the phone away from her ear.
“I know, right?” she continued. “He doesn’t want to marry her, so he’s hiding out here until everything blows over. Can you imagine?”
Our gazes met, and she paused while Mrs. Dallas talked. Natalie’s dark eyes sparkled with amusement, and the way her lips twitched upward did strange things to me. I felt the electricity sparking between us, to be sure, but there was more. Something that wasn’t purely sexual.
“You’re welcome,” she said. “But don’t spread it around, okay? I think he wants this to stay quiet.”
I chuckled softly at that. Probably the best way to get a rumor to spread.
“Anyway, I should go, but have a good afternoon.” She ended the call and set her phone down. “That should do it.”
“I’m impressed.”
“Thanks,” she said, and her smile infused a strange sense of warmth in my chest.
The phrase “trust her” ran through my mind again.
Where was that coming from? Did I want to trust her because I found her so alluring? Or were my instincts pushing this agenda?
I decided to go with my gut.
