Page 33 of Fake It Till We Fall
“You’d better go handle that,” he said.
“Sorry, Ollie.” I pushed back from my desk. “I really do want to discuss this with you. I have some thoughts about?—”
“We’ll talk,” he said with a vague wave of his hand. “Take care of what you need to take care of.” He gathered up the reports I’d printed out for him. “I have a lot to deal with myself.”
And just like that, the conversation was over.
I strode out of the office, already bracing myself for the chaos waiting for me. But frustration burned a hole in my chest. Every time I got my foot in the door, something or someone yanked it away.
This store mattered to me. Maybe more than it should.
But it mattered.
And all I could think of was theoptionsOllie had mentioned and how they might be able to take it all away from me before I even had a chance at it.
Chapter Nine
Harper
Iwas running late.
It was Kevin’s first full dinner service by himself. He was an experienced chef, and our menu wasn’t complicated. There was no reason that everything wouldn’t be absolutely fine. Logically, I knew that.
Still.
I found a million reasons to drag my feet and delay leaving until finally Erin pushed my parka at me and more or less shoved me out the front door.
By the time I got to the open field just behind the plaza, half the town was already there for the annual snowman build-off.
Rows of half-built snowmen dotted the area. Some were little more than lumpy mounds, while others looked to be almost done, wearing scarves, hats, and, in one case, a princess dress.
Kids darted around, shrieking with laughter as their parents tried in vain to wrangle them back into focus.
Grayson was already there, standing next to a mound of snow. In his dark jacket and matching knit toque, he looked likehe belonged there more than anyone else. My heart did a weird little stutter at the sight of him, but I didn’t have a chance to think about it before I heard my name being called.
I turned to see Quinn waving at me. “You made it!” She stood with Delaney and Ethan, and a very tall snowman.
“Hey.” I waved back. “Looking good, you guys.”
“Tell Dad our snowman should be holding a book andnota beer.” She rolled her eyes dramatically.
I laughed. “I think I’ll stay out of this one.” I turned back toward Grayson.
His eyes found mine, and again, there was that same little hitch in my chest.
“Hey there.” He closed the distance between us and put his hand on my waist, drawing me in.
By reflex, I hesitated until he whispered, “Everyone’s watching.”
Of course.
I forced a smile as he pulled me in for a chaste kiss on the lips.
It may have been no more than a peck, but I felt it through every cell in my body.
“Are you ready to show off your snowman building skills?” Grayson stepped back and pulled his gloves out of his pocket. “That is, if you still have any.” He wiggled his eyebrows.
I smacked him lightly on the arm. “Don’t sound so doubtful. I happen to be excellent at snow sculpture arts.”
