Page 20 of One Sweet Match Up

“How could I say no to that romantic proposal?” she joked, rolling her eyes. “You know . . . pretending to get married will fuel the gossip.”

“The heck with this town. I say fill it up.” He grinned, his eyes dancing with mischief.

“I don’t know.” Zoe grabbed a nearby dish rag and began to wipe down the counter. His cute dimple indents weren’t fooling her for one minute. She knew who the woman was that he’d rather have walking toward him in a wedding dress, fake ceremony or not, and it wasn’t her. “What about Rachel? I’m sure she would love to be your bride.”

From the way Will’s gaze dropped to his feet, Zoe could tell she’d aggravated a fresh wound. “Things aren’t going well with Rachel?”

He raised his chin. “You could say that. She won’t even talk to me.”

“I’m sorry. She can’t still believe that we’re going to be together.” Her thoughts went back to opening the antique hope chest in front of Rachel, Adam, and Bethany at the Lakeside Inn right before the holidays.

It wasn’t like the hope chest had flat-out predicted Will was Zoe’s soul mate. When she’d opened it, there was nothing in it. No wedding dress. No note saying that she and Will would be together.

The only remnant from her opening the trunk was a little oil grease on her hand.

Rachel had immediately taken the giant, ridiculous leap that it meant Will was Zoe’s soul mate because he was a mechanic.

Nonsense.

It was an old trunk.

Okay, owned by a dead witch that liked to play matchmaker . . . or so it appeared. And yeah, when Rachel had opened the trunk minutes before her there hadn’t been any grease transferred to her hand.

She ran her thumb across her palm where the grease had been, giving it a good rub. “Maybe Rachel’s going through a phase. I’m sure things will work out.”

He shrugged. “Whatever. I’m used to it. She’ll be back. She knows what she’s missing.” His mouth curved upward.

And cocky Will was back in a flash. Self-assurance he was not lacking. “You get an A plus in the confidence department.”

“I’ve known Rachel all my life. I followed her up and down the Buttermilk Falls High School halls my entire sophomore year, but there’s no way I’m going to chase her around town as a grown man. No. She knows where I work.” He gave Zoe a wink. “So, what do you say? Be my bride for an hour or two?”

Zoe studied him. There were certainly worse things she could do than spend the afternoon wearing a beautiful wedding dress, pretending to marry one of the town’s hottest bachelors. “You know, if I do this, the ‘are they or aren’t they a couple’ gossip will truly never end.”

“Do you want it to?” He waggled his eyebrows.

“Yes!” She couldn’t help but laugh at how desperate that came out. “But I’ll still do it. Count me in.”

“You’re the best, and I’ll be sure to follow up with the center to see if they’d like you to bring over some of your frozen yogurt. I’m sure they’d love it.” He adjusted his tie and spun on his heel. “I should probably get back to the shop. Got to help the ladies find their perfect wedding dresses.”

“Remember they’re in there because they’re engaged,” she called out.

Just then the door opened and Zoe’s heart went into massive overdrive as Will fist-pumped an entering Donovan.

She pushed in a deep breath, hoping her heart would get the urgent message that it needed to calm itself down. Now.

What was Donovan doing here?

She doubted he wanted frozen yogurt.

Oh, God. What if he had finally recognized her? He’d been so confident that they’d met before. It was only a matter of time before he’d put two and two together.

Not going to happen today. She grabbed her coat and the lavender purse, beelining for the exit.

“We’re closed,” Zoe snapped over her shoulder and opened the door, holding it for her wanted guest.

Oops!Unwantedguest.

She definitely meant unwanted.

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