Page 43 of Holiday Hook Up

“I forgot you did this. It looks great.”

“Thanks.” He smiled, wanting to turn the conversation back to her. “Would you ever think about opening your own shop?”

“Not really. I mean, I’d love a bigger studio. What my dad set up for me in the back of the store is okay, but it’s more than a bit cramped, not to mention, I don’t have enough space to do a proper photo shoot.”

“Why don’t you think about leasing a space?” He snapped his fingers. “I got it, the one next to the fire station. That place has been vacant for years. I could help you with any construction.”

“And carpentry?”

“You got it. Anything you need.”

“I don’t know. I’m not sure there is enough business to sustain it. Buttermilk Falls High School only graduates sixty students a year for senior pictures, and there aren’t that many area weddings.”

“You won’t know until you try.”

“Maybe . . .” her voice trailed. “It’s just I’ve never gone out on a limb and did anything that involved risk.”

“You’ve never thrown caution to the wind and done something completely unpredictable? C’mon. I find that hard to believe.”

She blinked before admitting, “I did once.”

“And how did that work out for you?”

“Not so good.” She raked her fingers through her hair. “I tried being a blonde.”

“You did?”

“Yeah.” She shook her head. “It wasn’t me.”

He studied Bethany for a second, wanting to tell her that she was beautiful just the way she was, wavy chestnut hair and all. Instead, when her eyes met his, he blurted out, “Would you like to go to the First Kiss Ball with me?”

And that question caused her to spill a little of her wine. “Really?”

“Yeah.” He was quick to add, as to not freak her out, “As friends.”

She set her glass down and opened the plastic container holding Ralph’s special sauce. “Am I being promoted from fill-in to full-time Holiday Hook Up?”

He grinned. He’d love nothing more than to delete the word ‘holiday’ and full-on hook up with her, but there was no way in hell he’d act on that impulse. “Sure. We’d have a great time. Plus, I can’t go alone. Betty would find a way to corner me in the projection booth.”

“Well, we can’t have that.” She giggled. “I’d love, too.”

“It’s a date.” He paused, correcting himself. “Not a date. And we don’t have to kiss at midnight. Not at all.”Man, shut the f up.

She handed him Ralph’s special sauce, offering him the first dip. “Why don’t we have some dinner. I’m starving.”

“Don’t mind if I do.” He took a slice and angled it in, absorbing the sauce, but then

offered it to her. “Ladies, first. Thanks for coming out tonight.”

She took the slice. “Anytime. Plus, I love this movie.”

“Me, too!”Chill, dude.He slapped himself mentally for sounding so eager to share they had that in common. “Although,Christmas Vacationis a close second for best holiday film.”

“Obviously.” She laughed.

He relaxed in his chair, taking a bite of his own sauce-drenched slice as the movie began. All seemed good between them, and he was happy he hadn’t royally screwed things up last night. They watched the movie from above, mostly in silence, but every now and then, upping each other on what was about to happen next. Toward the end, he leaned in. “Spoiler alert. He gets his wings.”

“Adam! You’ve ruined Christmas for me.” She reached over to swat him, but he preempted and grabbed her hand, giving it a squeeze.

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