Merrie:In my shop?!
Olivia:Just wandering around outside.
Olivia:He’s clearly waiting for you.
Merrie:He’s just there to harass me. Call the Christmas carolers to sing in front of the shop. That should scare him off.
“Merry Christmas!” several people called. I looked over to the front door to see Tabitha sail through the crowd to greet Hensley and Brody.
“Hensley,” Tabitha said, giving her the barest of hugs you could.
They air kissed. Hensley looked around the impeccably decorated living room.
“You have a lovely house.” Jealousy skittered across her face.
Tabitha was smug. “Yes, being married does have its perks—a wonderful husband, a beautiful child. Too bad your wedding was canceled. We were so looking forward to going.”
“It will be rescheduled,” Hensley insisted.
Tabitha looked pointedly at Brody.
“He’s not—” Hensley sputtered. “We just happened to arrive at the same time.”
The sorority girls practically meowed as Brody cut through the crowd, looking like a picture-perfect small-town romance in his jeans, white T-shirt, and flannel, a dusting of stubble on his strong jaw. He saw me and gave me a megawatt smile
“Do they have any good food?” he asked.
“Oh, uh…” My brain short-circuited. Was this it? Was this my big Hallmark romance moment? Would I get the guy and have a merry Christmas after all?
My nose started tingling.
“Only if you’re a rabbit,” I said. “Though there are meatballs in the kitchen. And stuffed wonton wrappers. We weren’t allowed to put them out.”
Brody smiled and reached around me. I caught a whiff of flannel.
He grabbed a plate from the stack.
“I just want something that tastes good.” He gave me a smoldering look.
OMG, is he flirting with me?My nose felt stuffy.
Don’t sneeze.
“Maybe your girlfriend wants some kale chips.”
Brody raised an eyebrow. “Girlfriend?” He looked down at me. A patch of chest hair peeked out from under his white T-shirt.
God, that flannel looks itchy.
“Achoo!”
Everyone at the party looked over at me as I sneezed. Hensley was furious. I blew my nose.
“We’re just benefits,” Brody said.
“Like friends with benefits?” My eyes were watering now.
“Not friends, just benefits.” Brody tucked a napkin down the front of my shirt. “Do you want me to chop some firewood for you?”
