Page 45 of Hoax and Kisses
But that was before I knew who she was and why she’s here.
“So what do you think?” I ask.
Lola closes the folder, then slips her glasses off and sets them on the counter. “I hate to say it, but this is impressive.” She exhales. “I like that the focus is to connect people to nature and take them on excursions in the area. The small individual cabins are also a nice touch. They’d be much more fitting here than a luxury resort. I don’t know, Matt. She thought of everything.”
“Hmm.” I prop my elbows on the counter and lean against it.
My hope was that Lola would go over the documents and find glaring reasons why this project wouldn’t work for Pine Falls. But no. Her take is similar to mine. It’s almost too good to be true, coming from Oscar’s daughter, and that’s what makes her so unreliable. Like father, like daughter, right?
But when I sat down to read it last night, I was struck by the level of detail and care she put into her proposal.
Which, I know, I know, makes me an even bigger jerk. She’s on the town’s most-hated list because of me. The least I can do is help her get off it.
Lola flips through the pages again, stopping at the section on services offered. “The core focus of her plan is teaming up with small businesses. From coffee suppliers to construction crews. She even noted Carl’s company as a potential partner for her nature excursions. She really did her research.”
A lump forms in my throat. “Do you trust her?”
“Not sure. I don’t know her like you do,” she says with a teasing smile. “But I’d be open to hearing her out.”
I hide my face in the crook of my elbow and groan. “Please don’t remind me I slept with Oscar’s daughter.”
Even if I can’t stop going back to that night in my mind.
Lola pats my head lightly. “There, there. It’s gonna be okay. There are worse things in the world.”
“She’s coming to the store in an hour so we can strategize the best way to do this dating thing.”
“Oh, how romantic,” Lola rests her palm above her heart. “They say chivalry is dead, but look at you. A true modern Romeo.”
I huff. “Please, don’t start. This is embarrassing enough.”
“It’s not.” She leans in, brow arched. “Your sister is your priority, and without you, she can’t get the education she needs. Your heart is in the right place, Matty. I just hope you won’t get lost in this make-believe and end up breaking it again.”
“Not a chance,” I scoff, pushing off the counter. “I’ve learned my lesson. I know better than to get tangled up with city folks. This is a professional agreement, nothing more, and I’ll treat it as such.”
“Sure you will.” Lola gives me a stern look. “Still, be careful, okay?”
“You don’t have to worry, Lols.” I round the counter and pull her into a bear hug. “She and I will never happen.”
Never happenagain, that is.
All morning, I muddle through the day’s orders mechanically, cutting flowers, wrapping bouquets in tissue paper, and slipping personalized notes inside. It’s a routine after all this time, but today my mind is elsewhere. I fidget more than usual. I dropped a vase, then spent far too long cleaning up the pieces scattered across the floor. And at the faintest sound, my eyes keep darting to the door, thinking she’s finally here.
She’s late. Over an hour late. Damn, I hate it when people waste my time.
Just as I’m ready to move to my office to start on the day’s paperwork, the bells above the door jingle and Zoey bursts in.
“I amsosorry,” she says, chest heaving. “I got held up in a meeting and couldn’t get out of it. I rushed here as soon as it was over.”
It’s warm today, and the sight of her in more casual clothes—a snug black top that reveals her collarbone, tucked into a suede skirt that stops mid-thigh—sets my blood pounding. I force my focus away from her legs, from her sheer black tights and high leather boots. The last time I lingered there too long, I ended up fucking her against a wall, and nobody wants a repeat of that. Sort of.
“I thought you’d bailed on me.” I swallow thickly, fixing my attention on her face.
“Oh, no. I wouldn’t.” Her eyes drift to the folder next to the register. “Did you take a look?”
“I did. Last night.”
She pops a hip to one side, placing her hand on it, smug. “And?”
