Page 30 of Blame it on the Mistletoe
Faith’s stomach flipped at the possibility of finally getting Pax his wish. She didn’t want to reward bad behavior, and she sure as heck didn’t want Pax comfortable holding a gun, but she also didn’t want him to be excluded anymore. This might be her last chance to get him his Christmas wish.
They’re toys,she reminded herself,clearly marked as toys. And he had so much fun playing commando with the other kids, it would be great if he didn’t have to wait for someone to “tap out” to play.
“Do all of the items go for more than they’re worth?”
“Mrs. McKinney told me that it’s all over the board,” Shelby explained. “A twenty-dollar doll can go for a hundred. And a three-hundred-dollar bike can go for eighty bucks. The PlayStation? Cody will end up paying double for it rather than wait the two weeks for a new shipment. Plus, he hates to lose.”
Faith could relate to that. She didn’t care so much about winning as she did about being wrong when it mattered.
Her heart sped up on the off chance that, if she were lucky, maybe everyone would be so dazzled by the iPads, they’d overlook the laser guns. Pax would go ballistic if he found those under the tree on Christmas morning. Even if it meant cutting into her blender fund, it would be worth it to see the look on his face.
“Judge Hardy donated the iPads,” Gina said. “He’s a scrooge. Squeaks when he walks. He steals pens with the county logo from the courthouse to hand out on Halloween. I don’t know what you did, Shelby, but I’m impressed.”
Shelby had come a long way in the past few months, proving to folks around town that even though she was a big-city girl, she had a small-town heart. It wasn’t until she’d single-handedly saved the Summer Spectacular bake-off that people started treating her like one of their own.
Faith hoped that being more involved in the community, in a public way, would get her a little closer to finding what Shelby had found.
“So?” Shelby wiggled her brows. “Noah got home awfully late the other night. Said he was helping you with your cookies.”
Skipping right over that, Faith said, “I only have an hour before I have to get back to baking so how can I help—”
“Uh huh. No way.” Shelby stepped in front of Faith, blocking her way. “I’ve been dying to ask you since the storm. But I knew you were busy with the cookies, so I waited.” Shelby crossed her arms. “I’m done waiting. Spill.”
She turned to find Gina sitting on an ottoman, making herself at home—right in front of the doorway.
Faith sighed and plopped down on the couch. “Fine. He brought the generator over so I could—”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Gina twirled the chicken leg around. “Did you kiss or not?”
“Yes?” Faith said, then covered her face with her hands before ducking down.
“That was a question,” Shelby pointed out.
Faith peeked through her fingers. “Yes. We did. Just a little one.”
“Twenty bucks.” Gina held out her hand and Shelby forked over the cash.
“You bet on my dating life?”
“So you’re dating now?” Shelby turned to Gina. “One of my best friends is dating my brother-in-law and she didn’t even bother to tell me.”
“Stop.” Faith’s arms shot out, making aT. “We are not dating. Who said we were dating? Not me.”
Shelby laughed. “Say that one more time and maybe I’ll believe you.”
“You also didn’t deny it.” Gina pointed the chicken leg at her.
Faith crossed her arms because suddenly she didn’t know what to do with them. “What, are you being Prosecutor Gina right now?”
“You bet she is. And before you try to deflect, let me remind you that she’s the best prosecutor in three counties,” Shelby said, and Gina grinned. “She’s going to get it out of you one way or the other.”
Faith took a big breath. “We aren’t dating, but he said he wants to court me.” God, she sounded so ridiculous saying it. Felt even more ridiculous because her lips tingled when she did.
Shelby wiggled her fingers in front of her mouth and more squealing commenced. “That is the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard.”
“Yeah, a real Prince Charming, that one,” Gina deadpanned.
“Oh stop. You’re pissy because Noah took Logan’s side when the Sheriff’s Office blocked your attempt to redistrict some of their parking spots to the County Prosecutors’ Office.”
