Page 38 of The Christmas Blueprint

“I just don’t want Sophia hurt.”

“So, you’re trying to blind me?”

“No, wanting you to see clearly,” Riley said as if this whole conversation was rational to have at this time of her big light show reveal. He would have been sweating bullets. He planned his presentations down to the second and had backups for his backups.

“I am not going to hurt Sophia or panty chase her or any other woman while I’m in Bear Creek. I’m here to get a city planning position on my résumé and serve as temporary guardian for Harlow when needed.”

Riley nodded. “I know you have great intentions, Killian. But you will be working closely with Sophia. The Applegate Mill Market is important to her.”

“It’s important to me,” Killian felt defensive.

“Is it?” Riley finished her fix. “You said you’re only here for a year to help Hunter. But Sophia and I chose to stay in Bear Creek. It’s our home. We want to build for the town’s future.”

“As do I. I did study urban planning, Riles.” Not that Bear Creek approached anything resembling urban, but pointing that out wouldn’t soothe Riley’s concerns.

“You’re book smart,” Riley said. “And I love you, Kills. I know you are a good person, but book knowledge isn’t everything. Sophia and I have been discussing how the building can be used for more than six months. She and Zhang and I have had multiple conversations. Sophia’s smart and creative. She has so many ideas for the town. I don’t want you to shut her down, thinking you know better.”

“Give me some credit, Riley.” He resented her attitude and yet, hadn’t he chafed against collaborating before he’d had a chance to wrap his head around the project?

“I do. I’m sorry.” Riley touched his arm. “I just know that she’s passionate about the project and also susceptible to you.”

“We’re a long way from high school, Riles,” he said gently, loving how Riley was so loyal to her friend but wishing some of that trust would extend to him. “And I’m not the Romeo you think I am,” he said sourly.

“Number thirteen.” Riley waved him farther down the path. “Fix. Now.”

“You sound like Dad,” he objected but jogged down to the fixture and worked the fix Riley had indicated. It was surprising how easily the skills came back, considering he was still obsessing about what Riley had told him. Sophia had crushed on him? Not that he could act on any of that now. High school was years ago. And now they had the Mill Market. And he had Harlow.

“Last one.” Riley’s voice edged with excitement. “Number nineteen.”

Killian stalked off to make the fix, his heart pounding nervously, wanting this project to be perfect for Riley.

He was also uncomfortable, forced to admit that he hadn’t been taking the Bear Creek job as seriously as he should. He’d assumed that he’d nail it, but he hadn’t had any emotional investment. It was Bear Creek—how hard could it be?

But he had to get it right. He couldn’t waste a year. He had to have a killer project as well as a growth master plan for his portfolio. He’d known Bane would be in his way, but now he realized that Sophia would be too.

Unless you really learn to work together.

“I’m going to rejoin Harlow,” he said, deliberately leaving Sophia’s name out of it.

“Killian, I just want you to be careful with her heart.”

“We are colleagues,” he said stiffly. “She is your friend and Enrique’s fiancée.”

He had to remember those three things. All of those labels pushed her firmly out of bounds.

“She’s also beautiful and alluring and single.”

“I have self-control,” he objected.

“I’m more worried about hers.”

He thought Riley was teasing, but she looked unusually sober.

“You can’t help your charisma and charm, Killian. You don’t even try to turn it on, but it’s like a homing beacon, drawing others in. And now with you taking care of Harlow, I’m worried that she might start to think of the three of you like a family.”

Family. His heart jumped to his throat, and his eyes inadvertently sought out Sophia in the crowd. She was staring at them, looking worried. He smiled through the bile churning at the back of his throat and gave her a thumbs-up.

“Stop borrowing trouble.” He tried to laugh off Riley’s list of concerns.

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