Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 96312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 482(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 482(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
I cleared my throat. “My family never really had home-cooked meals. We had a chef who came in once a week and prepared things, or we ate at restaurants. It was always something I envied when I went to friends’ houses for dinner.”
Sadie’s eyes went soft. “Well, maybe we’ll have to surprise you with something before you leave. What’s your favorite comfort food?”
I shifted uncomfortably under their collective attention. “I… honestly don’t know. I’ve never really done comfort food.” I felt like an idiot. Like I was missing out on some base human experience. “As an adult, food has always been about nutrition or presentation or whatever was trendy. I have to be careful about what I eat because of my job.”
The silence that followed was profound.
“Never?” Sadie asked quietly.
I shrugged. “I’m used to it. It’s not just my job. My parents were very focused on appearances. And the guys I’ve dated…” I trailed off.
How did I explain that most of my relationships had been as carefully curated as my Instagram feed?
“Comfort doesn’t have to be food related. What about movies?” Maya asked suddenly. “When you need cheering up, what do you watch?”
“I don’t really have a go-to.” I paused, then admitted something that felt almost embarrassing. “I mostly watch whatever’s trending for content ideas.”
“Favorite Christmas movie?” she asked.
Before I could respond, the door opened again and Alex Marian walked in, looking harried.
“Maya, please tell me you have something that can fix a broken beer tap.”
“O-rings and gaskets are right over there, plumbing section,” Maya directed.
In hopes of getting the focus off me again, I asked, “Alex, what’s your favorite Christmas movie?”
Alex paused, clearly confused by the nonsequitur. “Uh… Die Hard? What about you?”
“Never seen it,” I admitted. “But I remember liking the Snoopy one.”
The collective gasp at my response surprised me. I looked around at their shocked faces. “You guys don’t like Snoopy?”
Alex stared at me like I’d just admitted to never having heard of Christmas. “You’ve never seen Die Hard?” He shook his head and wandered over to the plumbing section, throwing another comment over his shoulder. “It’s true what they say about people from LA.”
Maya laughed and called back to him, “You’re from Napa. Don’t go acting all local on us just yet. You’ve been here five minutes.”
Mrs. Hoffman laughed and moved toward the display of little Christmas ornament hooks, grabbing a box of them.
Alex grinned and returned to the counter with the part he needed. “I’ve been here full-time for three years, and that’s after a decade of summers in Legacy, little lady.”
Mrs. Hoffman fell in line behind him but continued eyeing me. “So what are you filming next?”
“Oh, uh… Actually, I’m going to a holiday bonfire and s’mores tonight with, um…” I tried to remember the guy’s name. “The fire chief? I can’t remember his name.”
Alex’s head whipped around. “Oh my god, Maddox set you up with Kincaid after all? For real?” His nostrils flared, and he shook his head. “Good luck, I guess. He’s the grumpiest human you’ve ever met. Makes Maddox look like a happy ray of sunshine in comparison.”
I shrugged. “My business manager hooked me up with a small sponsorship to create fire safety content and just sent me the information this morning. He arranged it with the people at the search and rescue training program who are putting on the bonfire—”
“SERA,” Maya supplied with a nod.
“Right,” I agreed. “So we’re going to film out there tonight.” I’d hoped to ask Maddox to do the filming, but since he wasn’t here, it would mean tracking him down elsewhere.
Alex headed toward the door, waving his hand over his shoulder. “Like I said, good luck. Chief Kincaid’s an ass and ten times more stubborn than one. Enjoy!”
Mrs. Hoffman chuckled as he left. “Judd Kincaid’s a nice man. And very professional. I’ve been to SERA’s Holiday Bonfire a time or two. You’ll have fun, I’m sure.”
She didn’t sound enthused, but I appreciated her sudden neutrality nonetheless.
“Well, if Maddox isn’t around to handle the cameras, I might be back begging Maya here for a favor,” I said, shooting the younger woman a smile.
Maya shook her head. “I’m sure Maddox will help.” She met my eyes with a knowing look. “Although, after he stood me up last night, I’m not so sure.”
My stomach dropped. “Stood you up?”
“Yeah, we were supposed to get started on the Christmas cookie dough for the open house here at the store. I guess he found someone better to do.”
She’d coughed a little bit on the “someone” part, but all of us had heard it. My face ignited.
“Um, well…” I shuffled backward toward the door until I remembered I still hadn’t gotten my keys from her. “If you’ll, ah, point me to those car keys, I’ll get out of your hair.”
After finishing Mrs. Hoffman’s transaction and thanking her, Maya reached under the counter for my keys. As soon as she reached out to hand them to me, she pulled them back again.