Page 7 of Wintertime Love (Holiday 2)

I glare at the brat. “Nobody wants to marry this lightweight. He’s a disgrace.”

“Hey!” Danny looks up, offended, his mouth stuffed with food. “You’re a disgrace!”

“Oh, shut up.” I sneer at him. “I’ve seen you get drunk after just one shot!”

He glowers at me, chewing manfully and swallowing, only to say, spitefully, “I heard you got so drunk last night that you climbed all over some foreign guy.”

“It was one kiss,” I splutter. “And he kissed me!”

“Who kissed you?” Lucia pops up out of nowhere, looking gleeful. “Who’s this foreign guy? Dr. Hensen mentioned something this morning as well.”

“Dr. Hensen?” I gape at her. “How did he—?”

Lucia waves her hand in the air, casually. “Oh, he ran into Elliot just as Elliot got home this morning.”

“Oh, I heard I it from Zack,” one of the customers pipes up. “He was also there.”

I frown at them all. “Is nothing sacred in this town anymore?”

Lucia cackles and sidles up to me. “Your business is everyone’s business. Now tell me about this stud.”

I steal my arm back from her. “He’s no stud and I’d rather not talk about him.”

“I resent that,” a deep voice came from behind me.

Upon hearing it, I stiffen.

Everyone around me turns to look.

Lucia’s eyes widen and she lets out a sharp breath, smacking me on the arm with each word in excitement, and hissing, “He is so freaking hot!”

I grit my teeth and remember my resolution from this morning. “Everyone, this is Finn McCarthy. He’s staying…” I hesitate and then swallow, knowing that this will spark the rumor mill like no other. “…he’s staying at the B and B.”

My friends look at me now, mischief in their eyes.

Danny smiles at me, innocently as he states, “How convenient.”

I glare at him.

He averts his eyes, grinning like a fool.

Finn nods in greeting. “It’s nice to finally meet Clara’s friends.”

Why is the jerk making it sound like I am introducing my boyfriend to my friends?

Unfortunately, Lucia gets the impression he’s trying to give and she blinks at me. “Wait—have you two been…?”

“I just met him last night!” I exclaim, flustered.

“And this morning,” Finn adds, helpfully with a smile that says he’s definitely up to no good.

What did I ever do to you?

As my friends stare at me in amazement, Finn leans closer to me, “Helen told me that you run a very popular diner out here. I thought I’d come take a look.”

I bare my teeth at him, hating the way my nipples harden when his hand brushes against my back. “Sadly, we’re full right now. You’ll just have to—”

“Join us, Finn.” Danny gestures towards the two free seats across the table from him and Ben. “Clara’s friends are our friends.”

---