“What?” screeched Jenny. “You didn’t tell me about that.”
“Because it was three little girls. It’s not like I have fans or anything.”
“I beg to differ.” Breck took his phone out of the inside pocket of his coat and unlocked it. He scrolled a bit and then handed it to her. “You’re getting a lot of fan comments.”
Harmony maintained eye contact with him just a little longer than necessary, letting the attraction between them tickle her butterflies. She finally looked down and began to read.
Your assistant stole the show.
The Winter Princess is gorgeous—make one appear at my house. I’ll provide the snow.
Jenny tugged the phone toward her. “The assistant makes the channel. We need a name—I want to start a fan page.” She stared at Harmony. “Youarea superstar.”
Harmony rolled her eyes. “And you should be on soap operas with that drama.”
“Speaking of drama …” Breck reached for his phone. “There’s a 12-hour sale on shaving kits, and one of them has my dad’s name on it. I’ll see you tomorrow for practice?” He ran his hand down her arm and gave her fingers a squeeze.
Harmony’s heart thudded. “I’ll be there.”
He grinned and headed to the men’s grooming and odd gift section, where they had shower radios and fuzzy slippers in the shape of elk heads. Harmony sighed. The view of Breck walking away was just as pretty as him coming.
“Okay—you lit up for that man.” Jenny waved her hand in front of Harmony’s face.
Harmony blinked. “He makes me feel happy.” She lifted a shoulder and grabbed the candy cane sweater. It had the head of a reindeer on the front and the end of a reindeer on the back. It was perfect. She tucked it under her arm.
“Then you should date him.” Jenny shook her arm.
“There’s no point. I’m leaving in three days.” She moved over to a rack of flannel shirts. Her dad would be in heaven with new flannel since her mom refused to buy him any more, claiming she’d laundered enough flannel in her life to dress the whole North Pole.
“So?”
She shook her head. “I’m damaged goods.”
“You are not!” Jenny was outraged. “Sam was the issue—not you.”
She rubbed her slightly chapped lips together and then began digging in her purse for some ChapStick. “It takes two.”
“Not to ruin a marriage. Trust me—a determined man can do it all on his own.” She snapped her fingers. In the case of Jenny’s dad, one man could ruin a marriage. He was the type of man that inspired girl-power country songs involving shotguns and scorned women.
Harmony smeared coconut-flavored ChapStick across her lips. “I guess.” Sure, one person could mess things up, but really, there had to be a reason Sam had wanted out, gotten bored of her. She just wasn’t the kind who could keep a man’s attention. Not Sam’s—and, she was afraid, not Breck’s. He was all illusions and magic, and she was plain black clothing and a ponytail. His job was showmanship, and he’d realize that he wanted a woman who sparkled 24/7.
Jenny went back to compulsively folding shirts and straightening hangers.
Harmony continued to silently argue with her friend. The marriage counselor she’d made an appointment with in a desperate attempt to save her marriage had told her that she needed to own the parts of herself that led her to such a destructive relationship with a man who was emotionally unavailable. She’d only seen him the one time, because it was Sam’s insurance that covered the visit and he’d removed her from the policy. But she’d gotten the message loud and clear—she was broken.
No matter how many futures she pictured with Breck—and how happy they seemed—she wasn’t marriage material. He’d be better off once she left town and he could find another assistant.
She hugged the sweater to her chest. She had to go home. Home had been her watch cry since she’d found out Sam had run off. Home was the place where she’d laugh again.
Except she’d laughed with Sam. Lots. She stared at nothing while the memories rushed through her mind.
“Excuse me.” A teenager bumped into her. He’d been looking at his phone.
She righted herself. “No worries.” As if being bowled over by a six-foot-two toothpick wasn’t enough to clear her thoughts, she shook her head. No matter how good things seemed now, she’d be a fool to believe they’d turn out any different with Breck than they had with Sam. She was going home, so she’d better get her shopping done.
Chapter Thirteen
December 22
