“It feels like you’re stalking.” When he opened his mouth to argue, I added, “You even planted a spy in my classroom.”
“That was pure luck.” When I narrowed my eyes at him, ready to file a restraining order, he added, “Foryou. Or do you not remember me stopping your little runaway the other day?”
“Yeah, but now he won’t stop telling anyone who will listen that his uncle wants to kiss me.”
I thought I’d won the argument, because clearly—look at the facts! But my words brought a smirk to his stupid, too-full mouth.
“I don’t remember you ever getting this flustered, Holly.” His green eyes darkened, and his tongue dragged a slow line over his lower lip. “You okay?”
No, I wasn’t okay. And every time I thought I was going to be okay, ghosts from Christmas past kept popping up. Like him. And Cat! And I was hungry and still adjusting to being back home, and I’d gotten out of a semi-serious relationship only, erm, four months ago. And sure, I was glad to be rid of Hudson and his inability to commit or be flexible to things I might likeor want. And also yes, he was incredibly cranky. And not the sexy kind of cranky. The I’ll-leave-a-bad-review-on-your-Yelp-page-just-because-I-hate-your-napkin-choices kind of cranky. But whatever Sam was thinking felt much too soon.
And much too familiar.
And why was he still looking at me like me being so stressed my hair had started to curl was the sexiest thing he’d ever seen?
“I’m fine,” I told him in a placid, serene voice that would have won an Oscar under the right judging system. “Totally fine. Just here with Teags. Looking for dinner.” I glanced around the store, desperate to find the best friend who’d abandoned me. “It’s Bunko night for Linda.”
He waved the bacon around again. “Don’t I know it.”
I took a step back. Why was it so sexy for a grown man to be holding a loaf of fresh sourdough? “Well, I should be—”
“I would like to take you out.” His face had lost the teasing amusement. He was all sincerity and focus now. “I’m not just saying that. I’d like to catch up with you, Holls. I’d like to hear about your life.”
I winced. Who had the stamina to fight a man who wanted to hear about my life? “Maybe,” I said weakly.
His brow furrowed. He wasn’t convinced. “It’s been a long time, Haden. I think we should talk.”
“I’m just really busy right now. With the new job.” That I was only filling in for and not doing any of the hard work. “And the holidays.” Even though my family consisted of one other person and she was across an ocean right now. “And . . . teaching Teagan how to cook, and eat, and be a normal adult person.”
He chuffed a laugh. “Good luck with that.” He made a show of looking over my shoulder. “I think she’s found the Little Debbie endcap.” He was so stealthily dramatic about it, I almost didn’t look. But in the end, I caught sight of her adding Oatmeal Pies and Swiss Rolls to the cart.
I put a hand over my face, embarrassed. “You have to start somewhere, you know?”
He chuckled again. I ignored him again. “Agreed.” His smile was bashful, apologetic . . . charming. “So dinner? This weekend?”
“You’re crazy.”
His grin split his face, making his eyes twinkle. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
Shaking my head, I hollered a goodbye over my shoulder and hunted down Teagan so I could drag her out of the store by her hair.
“Next week for sure then,” Sam hollered after me.
Where was Teagan?Oh, there. Elbows deep in snack cakes.
She might not have known why I rushed her out of the store, but she didn’t put up a fight. Although in hindsight, I wondered if she was compliant so I wouldn’t notice that she’d filled our cart with junk food.
I might not have said yes to Sam Autry for a date. But the flip side was that Teagan and I ate ice cream sandwiches and Starcrunch bars for supper.
CHAPTER 7
Funnel Cake Capers
Friday night, after a long week of first graders, I was excited to join Teagan and her family at the city park for a night of Christmas movies and BYOB. It was a time-honored Mistletoe tradition.
Everyone wore their warmest cold-weather gear, huddled under park-provided heat lamps, sipped cocktails out of Yetis or beers held in mittens, enjoyed Christmas classics likeThe Grinch who Stole Christmas,ElforRudolf, and enjoyed a wintry night under the stars.
I’d lived in a couple different cities since moving away from home, and I’d hunted for something similar to replace this beloved tradition everywhere I’d gone. I’d never found anything quite so charming.
