“No. I never put my hair in a bun. I’m not ninety.”
“Ageist much?”
She flushed. “Why are you so annoying?”
“Let’s get back to you spilling Jeff’s secrets.”
She groaned. “I didn’t mean to. I’m worried about him.”
“Why? He’s a grown man with a thriving veterinary practice. I don’t know him well, but if he tolerates you, he has to be confident. You scare weak men.”
“Thank you?”
He continued, “You know me well enough to know I’d never tell anyone that you’re sharing your best friend’s secrets with your lover.”
“Lover? Man, that sounds so sordid.” She smirked at him. “Sordid means?—”
“I know what it means,” he said, mimicking her pique. “I’m big but I have a brain.”
“Oh, I know you’re big.” She batted her lashes at him.
“You’re so mean.” He squeezed her in a hug, never wanting to let go.
She groaned but hugged him back.
“Oh, sorry.” He pulled back, keeping her in his arms. “Did I squeeze too hard?”
“No. But now we’ve been seen hugging in public.”
“And?”
“And now rumors will start that we’re seeing each other.”
“And that’s bad? I mean, I don’t mind if people think I’m pity-dating you.”
Her eyes shot daggers at him. “Laugh it up, Conan. But you’re Mr. Popular. I bet your picture gets on some entertainment site about you cuddling up with strange women.”
“I’ve told you before, you’re not that strange.”
“Odd how that joke is just as not funny as it was before.” She pulled back and crossed her arms over her chest.
But he saw her fighting back a smile. “Why are we out here in the cold when I’m supposed to be treating you to another meal?”
“You trying to buy my affection, stalker?”
“Why? Is it working? Want me to buy you a restaurant?” He was only half-joking. “All the food you’ll ever want.”
“Very funny. I know you have a party with the team later, and I know they’re going to give you shit about me, but?—”
“Whoa, whoa. I don’t have anything. We have a party to go to. If I go, you go. I only got into this thing in the first place to get into your pants.”
“How romantic.”
“Right? And now that everyone loves me, I can’t disappoint them. So you can’t disappoint them either.”
“I…what?”
He thought he made total sense. “Yep. You’re my date for everything in Hope’s Turn. And maybe Portland.”
