Unfortunately, she'll have to rein it in because my lucky day keeps getting better when customer after customer stops by the stand to buy their produce, and I'm all but depleted by lunch time.
"What's happening today?" Nicki says, coming over. "I've sold out all the chocolate bars, assorted chocolate boxes, and I've already sold a lot of the expensive gift hampers too."
"Same here. And I'm not going to complain. This is the best day ever," I say, smiling wide.
"It's about to get better, but first, give me one of those cookies you teased me with earlier."
I retrieve the cookie bag from the small shelf under the stall, where I usually keep my belongings, and notice my phone.
Xander hasn't sent me his daily message, so I decide today I will send him a message instead. But first, I need to get rid of Nicki because she'll start filling out college applications for all the kids Xander and I are never going to have if she catches wind that we're still in touch after our date.
Fortunately, a couple of customers take Nicki away to her stall. I laugh as she takes the cookie bag with her, and then unlock my phone.
A throat clears, so I look up.
"Xander."
He's in his usual suit and coat combination that makes me swoon a little. Okay, a lot.
"I was going to send you a message," I say, raising my phone.
"Well, don't let me stop you." He's wearing a teasing smile that makes my tummy tingle.
I unlock my phone and look his name up in my contacts.
Ash:Hi Xander, Pigs&Things has a sale on hotdogs.
Xander:Is that an invitation?
Ash:Would you say yes if it was?
Xander:Hmm, how big are their hotdogs? I'm really hungry.
Ash:They say if you can handle the footlong, you get it half price.
Xander:You'd be surprised how much meat I can eat if I set my mind to it.
I snort but message back,seriously trying not to look at him.
Ash:A footlong is...long
Xander:Sometimes you have to approach these life challenges with conviction and determination.
Ash:Are we still talking about hotdogs?
I look up,and Xander is now in front of me inside my stall. His green eyes, bright but deep, look at me as if they're waiting for an answer to a question he hasn’t asked yet. How did I not notice last time that he had a tiny dusting of freckles on his nose?
He looks at my mouth and I just know he wants to kiss me.
"If you're waiting for me to say no, you might be disappointed," I say, with a degree of boldness I didn't know I had.
Xander's eyes move up to mine as his slow smile threatens to turn me into mush. He places one hand on the back of my neck, and I expect to be pulled in for a hard, rough kiss.
Instead, Xander caresses my face tenderly. He comes closer, but it's not my mouth he goes for.
"I want to kiss you so bad, Ash. But I am hungry. Too hungry to do it here," he whispers in my ear, and then gives me a chaste kiss on my cheek.
I inhale deeply and close my eyes, taking in the fresh scent of his aftershave. I'm sure I'll be an old man before I forget what Xander smells like.
