The Mistletoe Kisser - Lucy Score Page 0,37
him a long look then shook her head. “Nope. I can’t do it,” she said.
“Can’t do what?” he demanded.
“I can’t take you seriously with those ear flaps.”
He whipped off his hat and ran his hand through his hair. “Now can I be judgmental?”
“You can be whatever you want as long as you’re buying me a Christmas cookie latte.” She nudged him toward the counter. “I’ll keep an eye on the Recycling Committee.”
Grudgingly, he headed to the register to order.
Sammy unwound her scarf and unzipped her vest. She had just started for the table in front of the window when a redheaded blur appeared in front of her.
“Is that Sheep Guy?” demanded Eva Cardona, the sheriff’s bride, baby-mama-to-be, and Sammy’s newest friend. She wore a white winter coat over rumpled rainbow pajama pants. Her cheeks were a dewy pink from either the cold or the pregnancy. Judging by the curls escaping her messy top knot, it had been several days since she’d washed her hair.
“Shh!” Sammy hissed, looking around to make sure Ryan wasn’t within earshot. “Yes, that’s him. What are you doing here? I thought you had words to write today?”
“I was procrastinating, of course, by visiting my incredibly handsome husband at the station when Minnie Murkle told us you and Sheep Guy were going to be here.” She peered around Sammy. “Wow. He’s really good-looking. I mean like really.”
“I’m aware,” Sammy said in exasperation. “How did Minnie know we were coming here?”
Eva was still ogling Ryan. “The gossip group. How else? Wow. I’m digging the broody, stubble look,” she said with approval.
Sammy closed her eyes. Ugh. The damn gossip group. Blue Moon was so committed to keeping up on the latest gossip they had created a group on Facebook to spread news and rumors faster.
“His car wouldn’t start this morning. I gave him a ride into town to help him track down Rainbow.”
“Oh, she already left,” Eva said, oblivious to the fact that she’d just peed all over Sammy’s get-back-on-track parade. “Said she had an important errand to run before lunch at Dad’s restaurant.”
Eva’s father, Franklin, ran the Italian place in town. His bread was to die for, and his hugs were as legendary as his Hawaiian shirt collection.
“Damn it,” Sammy grumbled. “Do you know what time she’s heading there?”
“Twelve thirty. It’s a business ladies’ lunch. They usually linger over wine and cannoli for at least an hour after they’re done with their meals,” Eva said. “Ooh! Incoming.”
“Here’s your Instant Diabetes,” Ryan said, handing Sammy a pretty gold to-go mug.
Touched, she accepted the mug. “You got upsold.”
“I get ten percent off every order when I bring this in,” he said, holding up his own green mug.
“Isn’t your departure imminent? You’re not going to be around to collect the discount,” she reminded him.
He shrugged. “Yeah, well. They got me with the whole ‘proceeds benefit the Quiet Hour’ thing.”
Sammy and Eva both grinned up at him.
The Quiet Hour was a committee of adults and kids that organized early admission to town events for families with sensory issues. Aurora and her brother Evan had come up with the idea after befriending new Mooners Rubin and Claudia, who were both on the autism spectrum.
“It’s a great cause,” Sammy agreed.
“I thought it was a decent idea,” Ryan admitted. “My sister has autism. She loved Christmas lights when she was a kid, but had a hard time with the crowds.”
“Have sex with him now,” Eva coughed into her hand.
“This is my friend Eva,” Sammy said glaring daggers at the woman who was sizing Ryan up like he was the hero in one of her novels. “She’d stay and introduce herself but she has to go away right now.”
“Oh, no. I have all the time in the world,” Eva said, grinning evilly. “It’s so nice to meet you, Ryan.”
“Don’t you need to deliver your husband’s coffee?” Sammy stared pointedly at the cup in Eva’s hand.
Ryan frowned. “You don’t by chance have a daughter who hangs out in liquor stores? She’s about this tall,” Ryan said, holding up a hand.
“Ah, you met my niece Aurora. She belongs to my sister, Gia.”
“Strong family resemblance,” Ryan said, eyeing Eva’s pajama pants.
“There is, isn’t there? Now, tell me, when you seduce a woman, are you a flowers-and-wine kind of guy or do you get more creative?”
Sammy clamped a hand over her friend’s mouth. “Please excuse my inappropriate friend. Eva is a romance novelist, and she’s definitely leaving.”
“I don’t do flowers and wine,” Ryan said, looking amused. “I find it more