“That’s up for debate.” Cody caught Jenna eyeing a rotating rack beside the front counter. “Find something you like?”
“Yep.” Jenna held out a brass keychain in the shape of Alaska. “Get over here so we can take the photo.”
“No.”
“What do you meanno?”
Ava watched with amusement from behind the checkout counter, so Cody enlisted her help. “Ava, if you had to pick out something from your charming gift shop for yourself just because, would you pick out a simple keychain?”
“I prefer the clothing section myself. Lots of beautiful scarves perfect for fall.”
“Hey, no fair ganging up on me,” Jenna interjected, holding her prize up so it dangled from her finger. “I happen to like this keychain.”
Cody wondered if money was the issue but was not about to ask such an invasive question. “I’m going to bet when your grandpa made this list,heplanned to buy you whatever you picked out.” He hooked his finger through the loop of the keychain, grazing Jenna’s soft palm in the process. He pretended it didn’t affect him, but the zing of electricity traveled quickly up his arm and warmed his chest to life. “Your grandpa would never have agreed to buy you a keychain.” He turned his attention to the owner and said, “Ava, put whatever Jenna wants on my tab. But only if she picks out something splurge-worthy.”
When Jenna hadn’t moved from the keychain display, Cody dropped both hands onto her shoulders and steered her to the women’s boutique clothing section.
“Every piece of clothing in the store is made in Alaska,” Ava explained. “Many of the pieces are one of a kind.”
Cautiously, Jenna thumbed through a rack of silk shirts, some solid, some with gentle floral patterns. Cody could imagine her in any one of them, but Jenna wore a hesitant expression. “Ava, do you have a dressing room?”
“I do.”
“Great. Jenna would like to try on some shirts.”
“Hey—”
“If you want me to take that picture, you’ll have to put some actual effort into this.” He lifted three different choices off the rack and held them out to Jenna. “If you don’t like any of them, you don’t have to get one. Youaresupposed to buy something you want, after all.”
“I want the keychain.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Did anyone ever tell you that you’re frustrating?” Jenna asked with narrowed eyes.
Cody pretended to think about it for a minute, then shook his head. “Nope. You’d be the first.”
With anugh, Jenna shut the dressing room door behind her.
“Cody Evans, do you have an actualgirlfriend?” Ava asked, her tone barely above an excited whisper. He could understand her curiosity, considering the last serious girlfriend he’d had—yes, he’d given Jenna’s question serious thought, not that he’d let her know that—was when he was seventeen and still in high school. Ten years ago. He was careful to avoid dates when he was home unless he could take a woman out in a neighboring town, forthisexact reason. The small-town folks loved to speculate, especially on love lives.
“No, she’s just a friend.”
A mischievous twinkle in Ava’s eyes revealed she didn’t believe him. Before he could set the record straight, though, the dressing room door opened.
“I don’thatethis one,” Jenna admitted, her lips contorting as if she were fighting a grin she didn’t want him to see. She looked radiant even without the full smile. The burnt-orange long-sleeved top with smocked cuffs seemed to be made for Jenna’s slim figure. It wasn’t just flattering on her, it was stunning.
“You look amazing,” Ava said sincerely, moving from behind the counter. Making a brief stop at a rotating tower of necklaces, she selected one and approached Jenna. “Here, let me put this on. I think it’ll pair nicely with that top.”
The sparkle in Jenna’s eyes when she looked at herself in the mirror was unmistakable. “I actually like this.”
“Like it?” Ava teased. “That look says you’re madly in love.”
Cody didn’t remember moving his feet, but suddenly, he was standing beside Jenna in the mirror. He draped an arm over her shoulder, softly squeezing her against him. He wished he could read her better, because then he might understand why the sight she saw in the mirror now was so surprising to her. “You look ravishing.”
Jenna raised an eyebrow at him. “Nobody saysravishinganymore.”
“I just did.” Because the physical contact was having unexpected effects on his pulse, he dropped his arm. “What do you think? Have you found your special thing?”
