Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 145731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
“My brain doesn’t like to stop,” she says with an apologetic shrug. She leans a little closer, giving a coy smile. “Also someone gave 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 on matching. See? I told you the deadline would be totally doable.”
I barely gave her time to match me and instead she said hold my beer and 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 of anyone you 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?
Like a date would?
Nope. I can’t get caught up in those thoughts. Best to think of her like Mia does—as a friend. A friend who came through in a pinch. Which means I should stop teasing her about dating me in any fashion or I’ll get too wrapped up in her. “Thanks again for the save. Really appreciate it.”
Isla gives me a knowing smile, one that says she’s aware I’m not great at this—accepting help, acknowledging kindness, letting someone in. “Anytime, Rowan.”
I walk Isla to the driver’s side door and she slides into her car, her fingers tapping the steering wheel as she hums a holiday tune, presumably. She drives off, her ridiculous Christmas-light-covered vehicle disappearing down my street.
While I appreciate, even admire, Isla’s efforts to excel at her job, that doesn’t mean I want to find real love.
I have to double down on my plan to play along. To fake it so I can finish this commitment. Yes, she helped me today and I’m grateful. But playing along won’t hurt anyone. In fact, it’ll help both of us be done with this romantic charade sooner.
When I go back inside, I head upstairs to Mia’s room. She’s all ready for bed in her reindeer jammies, her teeth freshly brushed, her book on the nightstand. After she hops into bed, she pats the side of the mattress next to her.
I sit down so I can listen to her read.
But she doesn’t crack open the book yet. Instead, she says, “You like her.”
I clench my jaw. This is bad. I can’t have Mia getting ideas. I scoff, but with a smile. “We’re friends. Like you and Isla.”
She rolls her eyes. “Sure, Dad.”
But this is exactly why I can’t just say we’re friends and leave it at that. My daughter is too smart, but also, I don’t want to lie to her. Sure, Isla might fit broadly under the friend umbrella, but she’s not really in my life in that capacity. She’s sending me out on dates. Best to be honest with my kid. “She’s also looking for a date for me for the team’s Christmas Eve gala. My teammates hired her for me at the auction,” I say, rolling my eyes, letting her know what I think of that detail.