Page 45 of Love, Lies and Sleigh Rides
“I, uh—” She looked toward the exit.
“You’re in a hurry. That’s fine. I should get back to the hospital anyway.” Maybe it was his imagination, but she didn’t seem excited to see him.
“Thanks for the flowers, by the way,” she said.
“You’re welcome. I debated sending them.”That’s a stupid thing to say, you idiot.
Her lukewarm smile hinted that she thought so too. This encounter was fast becoming one he wished hadn’t happened, a terrible lead-in to Friday night.
His breath wavered. “That’s not what I meant. I only wondered if it was too…much.”
Fallon shifted the weight onto her other foot like she was impatient to leave.
“You know, sending roses instead of something more…friendly.” Now he was babbling.
That got her attention. One side of her mouth quirked up. “Roses can be friendly.”
“So, you’re not…they, the flowers, didn’t overwhelm you?” Because I didn’t want to do that. It’s just…I don’t have much experience with…flowers. You know?”
Shut up already. Now she was full-on smiling. Laughing to herself probably.Smooth, Romeo. Real smooth.
“The flowers are beautiful, Kade.” She nodded, still grinning. It was worth making a fool of himself. Her smile was genuine now, less guarded. “So, you found something for Friday?”
“Not really. I tend to overthink and end up with colors that clash. And really gaudy ties.”
Fallon gritted her teeth. “Would you like help?”
“You’d probably save the sanity of the guy who was just helping me.” He craned his neck to look for the sales associate. “And you know what? He’s disappeared. Probably took an early lunch break so he wouldn’t have to deal with me anymore.”
Fallon laughed. “Let’s see what you have.”
The gray pants he’d picked passed her approval, as did the dark red shirt out of the three other colors he hadn’t weeded out yet. She led him over to a tie table and started holding up one after another against the shirt.
He watched her rifle through ties like pages in a book. Her focus on the task was undeterred. “You’re good at this.”
Fallon tossed her hair behind her shoulder as she held one of the ties at arm’s length.
“Picking clothes is like decorating your home, only you have this to work with—” her free hand fanned out toward him—“instead of four walls.”
He snorted. “Those are the most flattering words I’ve ever heard. I’m comparable to a wall.”
“That’s not what I meant and you know it,” she said with a wink.
“Now we’re even.”
“I love this. What do you think?” Fallon held up a gray-and-red tie with an abstract pattern.
“That’ll work.”
Their hands brushed when he took the tie. Fallon’s eyes flitted to his and held his gaze. Her mouth parted ever so slightly; plump, pink lips hid the barely there smile. He caught himself staring at her mouth, wondering how they’d feel against his. Wondering if she’d daydreamed about a kiss too.
Fallon blinked. She clutched the strap of her handbag on her shoulder and laughed nervously.
“That was easy,” she said brightly.
“Very,” he said. It came out as a croak.
She backed away. “I should go. The workday isn’t over yet.”
