“Oh, Marley Creek is a Hallmark movie-level town. They really should start filming some of their Christmas movies here.”
“I know, right? So, my ex was an influencer. Well, I mean, she still is one. The trips were all business expenses, and we filmed lots of content. Sometimes I wonder if the reason we ever got together in the first place was that she needed a camera person to help film her. Then, when I’m really feeling bitter, I start wondering if I was just her great queer experiment, and when she got tired of that, she ran back to her ex-boyfriend.”
The back of Kate’s eyes stung. She took a drink of her coffee and enjoyed the slight burn of the hot liquid.
Hannah grabbed her hand. “That’s some bullshit. She was an idiot, and there is no way you were an experiment.”
Hannah put a kiss on Kate’s hand. “You’re gorgeous, smart, and in bed you are, like, there aren’t even words to describe your skills.”
Kate frowned slightly, “That’s so sweet of you to say.” If Kate weren’t the first woman Hannah had had sex with, it would be easier for her to believe Hannah’s words.
“I can see you don’t believe me, but one day maybe you’ll change your mind.”
Kate sighed. “I’m sorry I’m digging up all this insecurity and past trauma, and all you wanted to know was what brought me to Marley Creek.”
“Don’t apologize. I’m here for all of it.”
Kate gave a half smile. “We saw the for lease sign when we were walking down the street,” she said, “and I’d been working for years managing a Pet, Inc. store. I understood the pet supply part of the business, and I’d been selling my pet cookies and treats at a couple of farmer’s markets for years in the summer. I used that money plus severance from my old corporate job to put down the deposit and the first three months’ rent.”
Hannah fanned her face. “Do you have any idea how hot your financial competence is?”
“Business talk turns you on? Noted.” Kate mimed writing in a notebook. Then she looked back at Hannah’s face. The sweetest rosy blush covered her cheeks. She squirmed in her seat. Too bad there wasn’t time to take Hannah back to bed. But they both needed to go to work.
Hannah took a long drink of her coffee.
“Let me top you off before you go.”
Hannah handed Kate her coffee cup.
“Since business talk turns you on, remember how I told you I might buy the building?”
“What’s up? Is everything okay?”
Kate poured fresh coffee into Hannah’s cup and brought it back to the table. She wasn’t sure if it was just the energy from the caffeine or if talking with Hannah about the building was causing her heart to speed up. Kate nodded, “I’m working on it. I need to come up with a twenty-five percent down payment by the end of December. On the plus side, I’ve got someone who is going to rent the other storefront once they review the legal paperwork. Business has been good, and I’ve got some savings.But I’ve got to figure out how to make a killing at the Mistletoe Market to close the gap.”
“I know you are going to make it happen.” Hannah put the top on her coffee and stood up. She walked the few steps to the door where her shoes lie on the welcome mat. Kate followed her. Once Hannah had her shoes on, she turned to Kate.
Kate pushed Hannah’s hair off her shoulders. She ran her thumb along Hannah’s bottom lip that was still a little swollen from the night before. “Send me good vibes. I don’t have much time before the market is here.” She dropped her hand from Hannah’s face but wasn’t ready to stop physical contact, so she locked her pinky with Hannah’s. She loved Hannah’s elegant hands, the long fingers that ended with short nails painted sparkly black. Those fingers knew exactly how to touch her. She swallowed hard.
“I should have brought my cards,” Hannah said. “We could have done a reading. Although…”
“What’s up?”
“It’s not a big deal really; I mean, I hope it’s not a big deal. I did a reading and I’m afraid I upset the person.”
“What makes you think that? Maybe you just misinterpreted their feelings.”
Hannah averted her eyes. “I don’t think so. She cried and then she left quickly.”
Kate wrapped her arms around Hannah and kissed her cheek. “I’m sorry that happened. I still think there was probably more going on, and you didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I hope not.”
“You know what, to prove it, I’ll come to Zaina’s, and you can do a reading for me. But I can’t do it until tomorrow after closing.”
“Are you sure?” Hannah asked hopefully.
Kate put her hands on Hannah’s face and looked into her eyes. Once again, she wished they could spend the day in bed. “A hundred percent.”
