Page 30 of Holiday Hook Up

“Tell me about it.” He grinned and snapped his gum. “So I need someone to take her place. You game?”

Bethany blinked. “You want me to be your Holiday Hook Up?” she asked, stammering. “Um . . . I mean, stand in . . . er . . . stand in for Rachel? That’s what you want?”Oh, Bethany, shut up.

“Yes. Adam the Elf has a reputation to uphold. Plus, I don’t trust Mrs. Claus and her roaming hands.”

She couldn’t help but chuckle envisioning Mrs. Claus, AKA Betty, squeezing Adam’s tush, which she was sure to do. The Star Lite waitress had one big ole crush on him. He probably shouldn’t show up stag.

Spending the evening handing out toys with Adam did sound like fun, and maybe it would help her get her Christmas spirit back. “I’d love to, but I don’t have a costume.”

Adam spun around. “Are you kidding me? We’re in aChristmasstore.YourChristmas store.” He grabbed a Santa’s hat off a nearby rack, placing it gently on her head. “I don’t think this is going to be a problem.”

And it wasn’t. Twenty minutes later, Bethany was all decked out from head to toe looking just as much like an elf as Adam.

“Wow,” she said, watching Adam attach small red and silver jingle bells to her green flats.

He straightened, pleased with his work. “Impressive. I know.”

“If you get bored with your matchmaking, this might be your calling.” She dashed into the back to grab her coat and camera. Though she’d made up the story of following Adam and Rachel on their dates, she needed to keep up the pretense. Besides, she could take pictures of the other couples and offer them to Jason.

“Okay, Bethany the Elf is ready for duty.” She crossed the room, meeting Adam at the entrance where he suggested they ride together in his truck to the event. Afterwards, he’d bring her back here to get her car. She didn’t argue with that suggestion, rather liking they’d have some alone time and the fact that showing up and leaving together did seem like a date.

“So, LB. When are you going to let me do you?” He held the door open for her.

“Excuse me?” Where did that question come from?Right here, if you want.

“You know. Predict your soul mate. We could stop by the bakery if you’d like. I’m sure Emma wouldn’t mind.”

Right. The batter. Of course.Bethany played with the buttons on her coat, not knowing what to say.

There was no way she’d let Adam try the spell on her, because if her theory was right, his name would definitely show up in the batter since he was the last man she kissed.

But if he did the spell correctly, would his name show up as her soul mate or would another man’s name appear? And if his name did appear, would he totally freak out?

“I don’t know.” She pulled her scarf tight around her neck. “I kind of like the mystery. Besides, you had your chance the day Mary gave her instructions for Josh to give the spoon to you, remember?”

“Oh, I remember.” He reached down and touched her hair. “I also remember your cute highlights foils.”

She laughed. That part was true. Her hair had been full of them. Abby had dragged her into the Sugar Spoon halfway through her full foil appointment at the Spring Curls salon next door to be Josh’s bachelorette for the spell. It was then and there that they all learned that Mary Reed had a different owner in mind for the shimmering blue mixing spoon.

Adam continued as they headed for his truck, “But I couldn’t agree with you more about it being a mystery. It’s one of the reasons I passed when Emma drew my name out of the hat last year.”

“You didn’t want it to be Rachel?”

“Yeah, I guess I did. I don’t know. I definitely wasn’t ready back then to see another woman’s name in the batter.”

“And now?” She paused and let him open his passenger side door for her, surprised how fast that question flew out.

“You know. I think I am. Not that I’m going to run to Emma.” He chuckled. “Unless my soul mate is the beautiful woman I made out with the other night. Then I’d at least have her name.”

Bethany looked away, biting her lip. But would he freak out if he knew that name?

“Although, I’m not even sure she was real at this point.”

Oh, she was very real and standing right here.She wanted to confess, but she wasn’t quite sure how to do it. She also wasn’t totally convinced he was one hundred percent over Rachel. Sliding into the truck, she waited to respond until Adam was in. “I’m sorry about ruining your ice skating date.”

Adam shoved his key into the ignition and turned slightly to her. “Don’t sweat it. I’m kind of glad it happened.”

She raised an amused eyebrow. “That Evan clobbered me?”

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