Page 128 of Meowy & Bright

“Yeah. I did sort of take the day off unannounced.” I shrug.

“Oh, that makes sense.” Her face brightens. “Actually, that makestotalsense.”

“Who did you think it was?”

She looks away again. “I didn’t know if maybe you were seeing someone before you came to Snow Hills.”

“No.”

“You weren’t seeing anyone?”

“The only person I’m seeing is you, Liza. I’m not interested in anyone else.”

She beams at that, and my tension begins to ease. I can’t exactly give her details on why Mayor McGovern was blowing up my phone, but I’m not lying to her. He was calling me incessantly as part of my work. The asshole is impatient for news about how Snow Hills pulls off the win every year. But I don’t have anything for him. Not yet. Liza doesn’t even know who the judges are.

“Does your mom talk to the Spirit of the Season judges?” I ask.

She cocks her head to the side. “Not that I know of. Why do you ask?”

“I was just curious. It seems like a big deal to win it, especially three years in a row. I bet she’s really proud of your work and would love to brag about you to the judges.”

“It’s silly, really. I want to decorate because I want everyone in town to feel loved and warmed by the holidays. Like I said, I’m not into competition.” She sighs. “I wouldn’t care if we didn’t enter the competition at all.”

“But your mother insists?” I ask as we pull into the diner parking lot.

“Not ‘insists.’ I mean, we pay the entry fee every year, but if I told her I didn’t want to do it, I’m certain she’d sit it out for me. But it makes her happy, and plenty of the residents love being winners, too. I wouldn’t want to take that away from them.”

I nod. “Makes sense.” The more I get to know Liza, the more I’m certain there’s no way in hell she’s cheating to win. But that doesn’t mean someone else in town wouldn’t do it.

“You sure are interested in the competition. I’m beginning to think you might be as cutthroat as Mom and Eve when it comes to winning.”

“I’m competitive when it comes to things I want.” I bring her hand to my lips and kiss it. “Now, let’s get some food in you. Then I’ll take you home.” I jog around and open her door right as a rust bucket truck pulls up nearby. Ladders are haphazardly strapped along the back, and the exhaust pops a few times before the engine dies a rattling death.

“Oh, great.” Liza stands and forces a smile for the man who steps from the truck. “Hey, Mick.”

“Liza.” He gives her a nod, then looks at me. “Evenin’. You two getting dinner?” He glances at the diner. “Me too. Maybe we can all–”

“Actually, I was just picking up an apple pie for our dessert. I’m making dinner for Liza at my place.”

“That so?” Mick tucks a greasy strand of dark hair behind his ear.

I glance at Liza.

“Yes. I’ll just, um. I’ll go in and get the pie.”

“Tell them to put it on my tab.” I watch as Liza makes a hasty escape.

Mick walks up to me as my phone buzzes again. “You gonna get that?”

“You do a good job with the lights.” I glance at the nearest power pole with the old-timey Santa at the top. “I’m sure Liza appreciates your hard work, especially when the town wins the Spirit of the Season award.”

“She appreciates me, but not as much as I appreciate her.” He glares up at me.

I step to him. “I suggest you keep your appreciation to yourself.”

“That’s how it’s going to be, is it?”

“That’s how itis.” I try to size him up, to figure out if he’s the one who broke into the library, but he gives nothing away.

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