Page 4 of Holidate Scramble
"Six o'clock in the town square. I need to be there by five-thirty for setup."
"I'll be there at five-thirty." He stood, pulling out his wallet. "If we're doing this, we do it right. That means showing up to support you, not just appearing for photos."
I blinked up at him, surprised. "That's... really considerate."
"I don't do anything halfway, Ms. Summers." He dropped cash on the table. "See you tonight."
He was halfway to the door when I called after him. "It's Piper. If we're supposed to be dating, you should use my first name."
He glanced back, and amusement flickered across his face. "See you tonight, Piper."
After he left, I returned to the counter where Maisie was waiting with my latte and a knowing look.
"Well," she said, sliding the cup toward me with a grin. "That was the most interesting conversation I've witnessed in months."
"Don't start."
"I'm not starting anything. Just observing that you and Dr. Tall, Dark, and Grumpy have some serious chemistry."
"We have a mutually beneficial business arrangement." Even as I said it, I remembered the way his eyes had held mine.
"Keep telling yourself that." Maisie winked. "But I saw how you looked at him."
"How did I look at him?"
"Like you weren't sure whether to argue with him or kiss him."
Heat crept up my neck. "You're imagining things."
"Am I?" She started clearing the table. "Either way, this should make for an interesting December. Try not to fall for your fake boyfriend, okay?"
"I'm not going to fall for him," I said firmly, gathering my belongings. "This is purely professional."
But as I left the Little Red Hen, I couldn't shake the memory of those brown eyes or the low rumble of his voice or the way his presence had filled that booth.
This was going to be a very interesting December.
BY FIVE-FIFTEEN THATevening, the town square glowed with pre-Christmas magic. White lights spiraled up the massive fir tree, waiting to be illuminated. Vendors had set up booths selling hot chocolate and roasted chestnuts. A choir from the community church practiced carols near the gazebo.
I stood at the base of the tree, clipboard in hand, checking off last-minute details. Sound system: check. Mayor's speech notes: check. Emergency kit: check.
"You look like you're orchestrating a military campaign, not a tree lighting."
I spun around. Rhett approached through the crowd, hands tucked into the pockets of a black wool coat. He'd changed into dark jeans and a gray henley that somehow made him look both approachable and unfairly attractive.
"Preparation prevents panic," I said, tapping my clipboard. "When three hundred people show up expecting Christmas magic, you'd better deliver."
"Three hundred?" He glanced around the rapidly filling square. "Impressive."
"Starlight Bay takes Christmas seriously." I checked my watch. "Mayor speaks at six, choir performs at six-fifteen, we flip the switch at six-thirty."
"You've got this down to a science."
"I've had to. The foundation's reputation is riding on these events." I tucked my clipboard under my arm. "Ready to do this?"
"Lead the way."
I slipped my hand into the crook of his elbow, aware of solid muscle beneath the coat. "We should probably look at ease together if we're selling this."
