“Thanks, Rowan,” she says, and I like the way she says my name too much.
I should stop noticing the little things. The way she blushes. The way her laugh is both husky and sweet. The way she fits so easily into my day.
We reach her car, and she stands beside the passenger door, her breath fogging in the chilly air. “I have a fewinitial women for you to meet on Saturday,” she announces.
Right.
Another reminder—tonight was for observation. Like I’m an animal at the zoo, and she’s writing the report. My shoulders slump, but really, I shouldn’t be bothered. Thatisthe whole point of this time we’ve spent together these last few days. But to be sure, just so I’m crystal clear on where things stand, I ask, “You were figuring out who to introduce me to during our dinner?”
“My brain doesn’t like to stop,” she says with an apologetic shrug. She leans a little closer, giving a coy smile. “Alsosomeonegave me a deadline.” She pokes my sternum with her finger, and I want to grab it and pull her close. I want to keep finding little ways to touch her, like I’ve done all day.
This is getting to be a problem.
But really, the sooner I get through this dating project the sooner I’ll pay my debt to my teammates. I’m doing this matchmaking adventure for them. Going along with the dates so I don’t grinch too hard at their gala. And, I suppose, I’m also doing it for Jason, since he wanted me to use his sister’s services. I’d do well to remember this isn’t a chance to let my crush run roughshod over my common sense.
“What’s the plan then?” I ask, all businesslike.
“We’ll do a cookie swap, since I know you have a sweet tooth. Everyone will make some cookies and we’ll share them, like a potluck. Plus, it’ll help with the time crunch you’re under.”
“How so?”
She bounces on her toes. “It’s a little like speed dating, since I’ll have three men and three women I’m working onmatching. See? I told you the deadline would be totally doable.”
I barely gave her time to match me and instead she saidhold my beerand rolled three potential dates into one? “Great,” I mutter.
“And since I learned a little more about you after today, I’m confident I can make sure the women are all good matches. So you didn’t need to worry at all about the Evergreen Falls timing issue.”
I wouldn’t say I was worried. “Cool,” I say, a little toneless, because she’s thwarted me again.
But that’s for the best. I don’t need to fall into the trap of mistaking all this time we’ve spent together for anything else. It’s wise to be one step ahead ofanyoneyou have feelings for, whether it’s a crush or more. That way you can’t be hurt.
“Sounds like a plan.” I say.
“So you’ll bring cookies to the swap and you won’t grumble and complain?”
“Please. I don’t do that.”
“You do.”
“I don’t.”
“Rowan.” She sounds so hopeful as she pleads with me.
“Fine,” I relent. “I’ll be festive as fuck.”
She rolls her eyes. “Really?”
“Don’t you want festive as fuck?”
She sighs, then nods. “Yes. I’ll take festive AF.”
“That’s what you’ll get then,” I say.
Isla lingers for a second, like she’s debating something. But she says nothing. I take the bait, arching a brow at her. “What is it?”
She shakes her head. “Nothing.” She nibbles on the corner of her lips. “Just…today was fun.”
Fun? The day I nearly messed up school pickup? The day I let my crush drive me around like some kind of chauffeur? The day I realized Isla’s terrifyingly good at fixing problems? The day she sounded like she…enjoyed doing all those things? Really and truly?
