“What happened to the fair board judge?” Marissa stiffened.
“Letty paid that teenager last year, I know it. I think a big city lawyer would be the perfect impartial judge.” Ashley sneered at Marissa. “As long as you aren’t entering.”
Marissa’s eyes narrowed. “I’m not entering, but it wouldn’t matter if I did.”
“Right.” Ashley rolled her eyes.
“I heard you are taking up photography. You shouldn’t take pictures of people and send them without their consent.” Marissa folded her arms and glared at Ashley.
Ashley turned from Marissa. “Mr. Elliot, will you do this town the great service of being a pie judge at the fair?” Ashley looked up at me, fluttering her eyelashes as her cat hissed in her left arm.
I felt like I was standing on the outside of a storm and did not know what to do, where to take refuge.
Marissa stepped closer to my side, and I liked this sudden show of jealousy from her.
“I enjoy pie. When is it?”
Ashley giggled. “Silly boy.” She swatted at my shoulder. “It’s always the first Saturday in November, sugar plum.”
I could be mistaken, but I think Marissa might have growled. I grinned.
“Ok, yeah . . . I can make that work.”
“Oh, thank you so much.” She winked and sauntered out the door.
Marissa shook her head. “Be careful.”
I smirked. “With Ashley or the pies?”
“Both.” Marissa bristled. “Definitely both.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
MARISSA
I puton another layer of deodorant. It wasn’t anything serious. Scott wanted to plan my London trip, which meant he wasn’t thinking of me staying. I grabbed my pink lip gloss and ran my fingers through hair I had taken the time to curl, even though I knew it would be flat in an hour.
Did I want tonight to be a date? It was safer if it wasn’t. The front doorbell rang.I better get that before Nan pesters him. I ran through the living room and threw the door open.
“Hey.” It came out breathy. I cleared my throat. “Hey, come on in, I need to grab my jacket.”
He looked amazing. He wore a light-blue button up with khakis and his hair was gelled. As always, his scent wrapped me up like a warm cinnamon roll. I held the door open as he passed and, I admit it, I checked out his backside and was not disappointed.
Nan came hustling in from her bedroom to the front door.
“Good evening, Nan.” Scott walked toward Nan and gave her a quick side hug.
“It is now,” she wiggled her eyebrows at him, causing Scott to chuckle.
I grabbed my jacket and gave Nan a hug. “I’ll be home soon. Let me know if you need anything. I know Bert is out of town until Thursday.”
Nan rolled her eyes. “I’m not an invalid. Now go have fun on your date.”
My cheeks flushed as I checked Scott’s expression. He gave away nothing. “It’s not a date, Nan. I told you Scott is helping me with my London trip.” I glanced at Scott, but his face was stoic.
Nan peeked around me and looked at Scott. “Oh trust me honey, it’s both.”
Scott grinned, and I tried to keep the jitters down. It had been so long since I had felt this excited about anything. Especially considering thedateword kept coming up.
