Page 58 of Wrapped Up in Christmas Love
“I know how your brain works, Blondie. You’re just happy you had free labor.”
“I tried to pay you,” she reminded, her whole body focused on where she held his hand. Big, strong, and yet capable of such gentleness.
“Don’t worry. I remember and plan to collect.”
She lifted her gaze to his. Happiness filled her at seeing the gold flecks back to their usual teasing twinkle. Zach’s mood shouldn’t have such an impact on her. And yet she fought smiling as she feigned disbelief. “You don’t seriously want me to make a banana pudding just for you?”
His eyes stared into hers, almost daring her to look away. “Yep, and you’re going to invite me for dinner when you make it.”
Barely able to breathe, she swallowed. “Fine, but only because you’re my pretend boyfriend.”
Zach must have thought her whispered comment too loud, because he glanced around. “You’d never make it as a secret agent.”
“Which you’re an expert at?” she asked a bit flippantly, letting go of his hand.
He hesitated long enough that she realized that he likely was, which had her feeling a little intimidated that who he was in Pine Hill was only a shadow of who he was in his day-to-day life.
“Some might say that,” he finally answered. “But that comment wasn’t about me, other than my surprise you’d risk Sophie finding out what we’re doing with Butterflies in the vicinity.”
Isabelle glanced around, glad to see that the Butterflies were completely enamored with Greyson showing them Andy’s tricks. “You’re right. I need to keep quiet. It’s just that when you’re near, I—” She clamped her mouth shut before she said too much yet again.
“You what, Blondie?” he prompted.
“Get so aggravated that I forget to control my temper,” she covered. “Speaking of aggravating,” she mumbled. “It would serve you right if I called you soldier boy all the time.”
“At least get it correct and call me soldier man.”
More like soldier hunk.
*
“I hope mysister told you how much we appreciated your help yesterday.” Sophie placed a red, white, and blue quilt on a table, taking care to fold the material to showcase an embroidered label for all who visited their Quilts of Valor booth to see. “I told her we should permanently put you on the payroll and we’d have the mortgage paid off lickety-split. No one seemed able to tell you no when you asked them if there was anything else you could help them with.”
Zach paused from where he was unloading brochures from a box. Did they owe a lot on their shop still? Their business seemed busy enough to be profitable, but what did he know about hidden costs and the like? His family ran a huge transport company based out of Atlanta, but Zach had never given thought to the details of what went into making the business successful.
“She expressed her appreciation,” Zach told Sophie, continuing to unpack boxes onto the tables for her to arrange. “No permanent job offer, though, which is just as well, since she knows I’d decline.”
“Because you work for Bodie’s friend?” Her question made iSecure sound like some run-out-of-a-basement business rather than an international security firm that offered a variety of specialized services. “Maybe you’ll fall in love with our little town and decide to stay.”
It wasn’t Pine Hill he worried about falling for.
“I won’t stay, Sophie. I’ll be back to work as soon as… after the holidays.”
“Well, I’m sure you’ll visit Isabelle as often as you can, and you’re welcome at the shop when you’re in town.”
Did Sophie really think he and Isabelle would continue their relationship once he left? Were they doing that good of a job in their pretend relationship? He didn’t buy it and expected someone, everyone, to point out the obvious—that Isabelle would never really be in a relationship with someone like him unless it had something to do with the woman smiling at him.
“We all enjoyed having you at the shop,” Sophie continued, as they arranged the booth for the evening’s events.
“Not Isabelle.” Although, to be fair, she’d been busy. They’d all been busy. But he couldn’t say he hadn’t enjoyed immersing himself in Isabelle’s world.
“She was glad you were there. Just know that Izzy’s a private person and doesn’t like mixing business with personal. Other than working with me, of course.”
“Of course.” Little did Sophie know that he was business, and only business, as far as what Isabelle vocalized.
But he was no fool and saw how she looked at him. Although she didn’t like it, they shared a connection. One that had them both off-kilter because her taking his hand earlier had the effect of shaking the ground beneath his booted feet. She’d thrown him off-balance from the moment they’d met.
“She also doesn’t like that you’re volunteering during my shift.” Sophie gave an impish smile. “She was mumbling about it earlier. I think she’s afraid of you being alone with me.”
