Yep, he looks properly horrified.
“That’sthe mascot for a small-town hockey team that you hope families will come watch? Seriously?”
I grin. “OurRougarou is Rougie, and he’s really cute and fluffy. My friend Andi designed him. We’ve even had stuffies made. He wears a Mardi Gras mask and beads and throws candy and toys to the kids. And he only eats King Cake.”
“That makes it better?” Alex asks.
“Sure. We’re taking a scary old fairytale and making it fun and kind.”
Alex shakes his head. “I’m definitely not in Portland anymore, am I?”
I laugh. “Not even close.”
“Are you going to help me navigate this?”
“Of course.” I smile. “I really want you to be successful here. Anything you need.”
He looks relieved. Then his gaze turns a little…hotter. His eyes once again drop to my mouth before returning to mine. “I’m going to hold you to that.”
Did that sound flirtatious? Probably not. I’m making things up. “Okay.”
He steps back from the truck with a smile. “See you later, Wildflower.”
“Wildflower?” I ask, feeling a swirly curl of heat in my stomach again.
He glances at the back of my truck, which is filled with wildflowers. They’re flung all over the truck bed from the wind as we drove, and I’m sure the highway is littered with them.
“Yeah. Wildflower.”
“Oh.” He’s given me a nickname. I feel my cheeks heat. I’m actuallyblushing.
Wow.
I need to be careful around Alex Olsen.
We’re going to be spending time together, and we need to work as a team to make everything come together with the Revelers. But I can’t develop a crush. He’s not staying. And he won’t fit in here at all.
I’ve learned, the hard way, to only date men who want to make Rebel their home. For good. Like grow old here and be buried in the pretty cemetery on the hill that overlooks the town.
I do not think Alex will think the cemetery is pretty. Or that growing old in Rebel is a good plan.
So, no crush. No flirting. No fling.
Alex is here for hockey, and that’s it.
My gaze slides past Alex’s wide shoulder as I see movement in the big front window of Perks and Rec. I roll my eyes, sigh, and shut off the truck.
There is a crowd watching us.
“You know what? I think I’ll go in with you,” I say, opening my door.
Leo, Brewser, and Wilson aren’t back from New Orleans yet, but plenty of the people inside the coffee shop signed that damned petition.
CHAPTER 4
ALEX
Nora Delaune,with her big, round brown eyes that are the color of my favorite porter, and her bright smile that says even-a-chaotic-as-fuck-airport-is-fun, who looks absolutely perfect in sunshine yellow overalls, and who tastes like spearmint and happiness and lust, needs me.
