Page 22 of Knotty, Nice, & Holiday Lights
Will already knows, and the last thing I want is for Izzy to have unanswered questions. That wouldn’t do to convince her she belongs with us.
“I can smell smoke.”
I peer up at Will in surprise. “Where?”
He laughs. “Coming from those wheels spinning in your head.”
Ah.
“What’s going on?”
Another sigh escapes me, and I frown. “I made a mistake looking at the news on my phone.”
Will gives me a piteous look. “Sorry, brother. Fame at its worst.”
“Tell me about it.” My jaw sets, eyes narrow. “I want to find a way to tell Izzy about what really happened so she doesn’t think ill of me.”
“I don’t think she does, but I support her knowing the truth, of course.” He leans on the doorway to the kitchen and crosses his arms. “I have a good feeling about Thanksgiving.”
This draws a grin from me. “Nothing like a cozy gathering to bring us closer.”
Will’s head bobs. “Exactly.”
Chapter Thirteen
Ahh. Nothing like grocery shopping the day before Thanksgiving.
I cringe at myself in the produce aisle. I should have done this yesterday, but we wound up making so many cookie platters for the food drive that it took much longer to transport and load into the trucks than I’d expected.
But the idea of people enjoying those desserts fills me with such joy that I can’t let last-minute perishables get me down.
As I push the cart through the mushrooms and green beans, my eyes fall on a guy I don’t know, but have seen around a bit lately. He’s just slightly shorter than me, with very dark brown hair combed back and poofed somewhat in the front, a full, well-manicured beard and mustache on his face. His patchouli scentdraws me closer, like it’s familiar somehow, even though this Alpha is a stranger.
When he stops in front of the yams with a frown, I take the opportunity to speak to him. “This store usually still has great quality produce this late in the season,” I tell him.
He jumps a bit, looks up from the root vegetables with wide eyes, one hazel-brown, the other deep green.
Very interesting.
“Uh, yeah,” he says, eyes darting around before landing back on me, his nostrils subtly flaring. Those eyes narrow a second before he says, “I’m Matthew.”
“Will,” I tell him. There’s something about this guy that I can’t put my finger on, but seems to make me run at the mouth. “I have a house guest I don’t know very well staying for Thanksgiving. I’m trying to see if anything stands out to me that they might like.”
Matthew blinks, brows drawing. “You own that B&B in town, right?”
I’m surprised he knows, considering I haven’t seen him around much. “Yeah, I do.”
“Is your guest Izzy Ross?”
I still the moment her name crosses his lips, Izzy’s voice echoing in my brain, telling Asher and me that her ex-boyfriend was in Crescent Lake. That they didn’t hate each other.
My voice is slightly wary as I reply, “It is.” I work a jaw a moment before adding, “You’re the ex she ran into the other day, aren’t you?”
He winces. “That’s me. ‘The Ex.’” Then, he looks over my shoulder, nods his head. “Iz loves pumpkin pie with lots and lots of fresh whipped cream.” He pauses a moment. “She also loves garlic-butter roast turkey and roasted garlic mashed potatoes with cheddar.” He blinks, a fond expression crossing his face. “Ifyou really want to impress her, make some good hot cocoa and add peanut butter whiskey to it.”
I stare at this man, gaping a bit. He just gave me a treasure trove of information. “T-thank you,” I get out on a low whisper, brow drawn tight.
Matthew nods at me before turning to leave without a word, lost in his own thoughts. He didn’t even pick out any produce.
