“Oh! The Sanders used to live here, before they moved out west. I didn’t know somebody’d bought it! It’s a great little house. Big lot. We used to trampoline in it. But it used to be blue!”
“I painted it, yeah. I like yellow. Weird, that you knew the people who used to live here. I never met them.”
“Well, small towns. You probably know who lived in all the houses in your town.”
“They all still live there,” Stacy said dryly.
Keith snickered. “Yeah, okay, to be fair, there’s not a lot of turnover in Virtue, either. Although Mom’s said there’s been an influx of new shi—shakers and movers in the past couple years.”
Stacy’s eyebrows went up. “Shi…take?”
“No! Not shitake—isn’t that a mushroom? Just new people. Changing things up some. It’s not a bad thing.” Keith looked faintly panicked, like he’d really blown it. “It’s just that Virtue was kind of…I don’t know. You know how small towns are. They dry up. It’s part of why I went to Jersey to work. But things have been turning around here for a while, I guess. New people, new ideas, new businesses. It’s good. It’s good!”
“Well, you don’t have to convince me. I’m one of the newbies, and I’d like to think I’m adding something to the town with my presence.” Stacy paused. “If only random antler attacks.”
Keith threw his head back, laughing aloud and losing his antlers a second time. At least they only fell off the back of his head this time, fwumping down to the snow to leave an imprint. “Nooo! My antlers!”
“I’m going to get you a ribbon and tie them on,” Stacy said, amused.
He picked the snowy antlers up and put them back on his head, shivering as snow fell down his neck. “This not having hair thing is cold! Why didn’t you warn me about that?”
“And break Noah Brannigan’s heart?”
Keith almost groaned this time. “Yeah, that kid is too cute for his own good. Look, can I walk you to your door? Or I’m sort of afraid I’ll keep you standing here in the snow all night, talking to you.”
“It’s better to stand on the porch all night?”
“I think so. Our feet won’t get as cold if we’re notinthe snow, right?” Keith smiled and offered his elbow, so Stacy put her hand in it and he walked her up the driveway. “Are you busy tomorrow?”
“I’m working until seven.”
Keith blanched. “That’s late. Do you work those hours all the time?”
“During the holidays, yeah. Nine to seven. Nothing to be done about it. My boss is really pushy about a lot of hours during this time of year.”
Stacy watched a flash of indignation rush across Keith’s face before suspicion settled in. “Wait a second, aren’t you your boss?”
“Yeah.” She grinned as she got her keys out, although she didn’t really want to go inside. “So when I tell you the boss is a real stickler for the hours, I’m not kidding.”
“Does she at least give you a lunch break?”
“Eeeh.” Stacy wrinkled her face. “She’s not great about it, honestly.”
“Right,” Keith said firmly. “What time should I bring lunch over?”
“Really?” Stacy blinked at him, then ducked her head to hide embarrassed delight. “Twelve thirty, maybe? That’s kind of in the middle of a couple of coloring appointments, so I could grab a minute to eat.”
Keith drew himself up and saluted. “Twelve thirty it is. Any allergies I need to know about?”
“I have a faint allergy to long-haired cats, but I assume you won’t be bringing one of those for lunch.”
“Well, I wasgoingto, but obviously now I won’t.” Keith hesitated. “I’d really like to kiss you good night, if that wouldn’t be too much.”
A thrill shot through Stacy, warming her from head to toe, although a lot of that heat seemed quite centered around the middle of her. “I think it would be just right.”
He lowered his head toward hers a little, a smile playing on his lips. “I may have garlic breath.”
“That’s okay. So do I. Kiss me anyway.” Stacy curled her fingers into his coat and stood on her toes, surprised at her own impatience.
