Page 24 of Holiday Hook Up

“And did he get his precious picture?” Zoe asked with more than a little disgust.

“Yeah, and it was so good that theButtermilk Advocateran itandthat led to a national paper picking it up. He scored a modeling contract for a men’s sports clothing line shortly after we graduated.”

“You’ve got to be kidding? Will modeled men’s clothes?”

“Yep. He was in several magazines for a year or so right out of high school. Running shorts. Speedos. Tanks. I’m not sure what happened, but I don’t think his modeling career really took off. He started working for his dad’s auto body shop when he stopped getting gigs. Maybe that’s why he’s so preoccupied with his looks. He wants to make sure he’s picture ready in case he gets another fifteen minutes.”

Zoe brought her hands to her face. “I can’t believe I have to date an ex-model for two weeks.”

Bethany offered a supportive hand squeeze and looked out onto the rink. Rachel and Adam had finally arrived, and despite herself, Bethany’s heart fluttered. Adam looked so darn cute in his blue jacket and matching knit hat.

He’d been rocking a five o’clock shadow for a few weeks that was incredibly sexy. Bethany grinned, thinking how awesome it’d been to brush her lips across that stubble.

She moved her gaze over to Rachel who, of course, looked fabulous in her bright fuchsia ski jacket. She offered her hand to assist an unsteady Adam onto the ice.

Bethany turned to Zoe, trying to ignore the liveRachel Wants Adam Backshow going on in front of her. “I know how awkward this is, but remember it’s only three dates and the First Kiss Ball, and then you never have to spend time with your Holiday Hook Up again.”

She sighed. That pep talk was more for her than Zoe. Would Adam make it through these two weeks with Rachel with his single card intact?

Zoe kept talking, oblivious to how uncomfortable being here was for Bethany. “It was a stupid kiss. Stupid drunken kissing. One time. That’s all . . . And the next day, his name shows up in my batter. I should have never gone to the stupid eve—”

Bethany turned to see why Zoe had clamped up. Will had arrived.

“Hey, Will,” Bethany greeted her former classmate while Zoe whipped out her phone, immediately proclaiming that she needed to call her mother. Excusing herself, she jumped over the bleachers.

Bethany shook her head at Zoe’s lame attempt to avoid Will. If these two were going to fall in love and validate Adam’s prediction, they would first need to talk.

Yes, Will Jenkins was preoccupied with himself and did ooze arrogance, but no woman could deny he was totally hot—especially with the smudge of grease often worn across his cheek.

“How’s your mom doing?” Bethany asked. Marilyn Jenkins had been traveling back and forth to Florida to spend time with her husband in Tampa. His dad had already moved down there, and Marilyn planned to do the same once she sold her shop. The talk around town was that they were going to be snowbirds, spending half the year in Florida and half the year in Buttermilk Falls.

Will shoved his hands in his pockets. “Good. She just left for Florida this morning.”

“She didn’t sell her business by chance to MR Wedding?”

Will looked puzzled by her question. “No. She actually made the decision to hold on to it for a couple of years. She’s going to miss most of next summer’s wedding season because she and my dad have already made plans to take an extended cross country road trip, but she’s planning to be back in August.” He chuckled and then glanced behind his shoulder, no doubt looking for Zoe. “She’s holding out hope that she’ll be planning my wedding. That’s probably why she’s hanging on to the store.”

Bethany grinned up at Will. Why Zoe was so turned off by him she didn’t get. If her own stupid heart would stop pining for Adam, she might consider him dating material.

“Hey, if you know anyone looking for a store manager position, I’m sure she’ll be hiring in the new year.”

“I’ll put on my thinking cap,” she said right as Zoe returned, and after a couple minutes of awkward chitchat, Will asked his Holiday Hook Up if she wanted some hot chocolate.

“Go on.” Bethany gave Zoe an encouraging nod. “I’ll look after your skates.”

Bethany couldn’t help but chuckle as she watched them walk to the refreshment line. Will hadn’t quite caught on that Zoe probably thought she was proceeding into her imminent doom.

Some Holiday Hook Ups were, no doubt, harder to get through than others. Still, kissing him couldn’t have been all that bad for Zoe.

Zoe’s words rang in her head.It was a stupid kiss. Stupid drunken kissing. One time. That’s all . . . And the next day, his name shows up in my batter.

Bethany thought about that for a minute, glancing over at Pauline demonstrating to Evan how to turn on his blade in the center of the rink. Adam’s name had appeared in Pauline’s batter. A man she’d recently made out with in the Buttermilk Tavern.

All of Adam’s bachelorettes—Wendy Prewitt, Annie Parker, Pauline Maycock, and now Zoe Mathews had recently kissed the men whose names appeared in their batter, whether they were into them or not.

These guys weren’t soul mate material—at least not for these women. The only thing they seemed to be was the last man they’d kissed.

Oh, my God.Bethany’s hand flew to her mouth.No! That can’t be.

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