Small Town Christmas (Blue Harbor #4) - Olivia Miles Page 0,29

let Gabby grab her by the hands and squeal, just like when they were kids again and had been asked out on a first date.

“Okay, coffee first, then tell me everything,” Gabby said matter-of-factly, immediately snapping them back to adulthood.

Cora considered the time, but then she saw that she had half an hour before her shop opened. Technically she could stay for one cup of coffee and still have time to get the store lights turned on—something that wasn’t always a brief task when you owned a holiday shop. Natalie wouldn’t be in until ten today.

“His name is Phil,” she said.

“Phil? Just Phil?” Gabby expertly started her small coffeepot that was plugged in near her computer.

Cora frowned for a moment and then shrugged. “I guess I haven’t caught his last name yet.”

“Well, you’d better, in case you marry him!” Gabby shook her head. “What if his last name is something really hard to spell? Or what if it rhymes with your name?”

“Then I’ll keep Conway,” Cora replied, then, catching herself, she scolded, “And who said I’m going to marry the guy?”

Gabby shrugged. “You never know. Things have to start somewhere, don’t they?”

It was true, but still, Cora didn’t want to get her hopes up too much. Besides, she didn’t even know him yet—and not knowing his last name was proof of that.

“What does this Phil do?” Gabby asked as she prepared the coffee machine at the back of her workspace.

“He’s a businessman. Very successful, I gather,” Cora said, unable to hide her smile.

She was rewarded with a knowing look from Gabby. Yes, this guy was a major catch. But it wasn’t necessarily a slam dunk.

“He’s divorced,” she told Gabby.

“So he’s not afraid of commitment,” Gabby said, ever the optimist.

Cora had to laugh. “He’s from Chicago. He’s only in town through Christmas.”

There. That should sober her cousin, and get her off her back a bit. Still, she had to admit that it was fun to get excited about something, and it was always easier to let her guard down with her cousins rather than her sisters, especially the older two.

Gabby mulled this over as she plucked two mugs from a lower cabinet under her counter. Cora spotted neat rows of glass vases in all shapes and sizes.

“He…he invited me to decorate his tree tonight.”

Gabby did a poor job of hiding her smile. “Did he now?”

“Yes,” Cora said, flushing. “He did. But it was only because Georgie asked…”

“And Georgie is the little girl, I assume.” Gabby shook her head and slid a mug of steaming coffee to Cora. “Don’t sell yourself short, cousin. He would have made up an excuse if he didn’t want you there. For all you know, he set her up to it.”

Cora really laughed now. “You read way too many romance novels, you know.”

Gabby shrugged good-naturedly. “Professional hazard. I’m in the business of the simplest form of a sweeping romantic gesture.”

“And I’m in the business of Christmas.”

“Yes, but that never stopped you from enjoying it in the past,” Gabby said. “And you know that when people fall in love at Christmas, it’s the most romantic time of all.”

Cora rolled her eyes, even though she knew this was all too true. What beat snow-frocked trees, twinkling lights, soft music, and a crackling fire?

“I’m going to have to talk to your cousin about hiding those books from you.”

Cora happened to know that Gabby spent a fair share of her paycheck at her cousin Isabella Clark’s bookshop.

Gabby gave her a cheeky smile. “There’s always the library.”

The bell behind them jingled and Cora turned to see her sister Amelia come in through the door, shivering from the cold and staring longingly at the hot mugs in their hands.

“Oh!” Gabby set down her mug and held up a finger. “I have your arrangements in the back. Let me grab them.”

Firefly Café, like every other establishment in town, went all out with holiday decorations. In fact, most store owners were Cora’s best customers.

Gabby disappeared through the back door, leaving Cora and Amelia alone. Cora braced herself for another probing conversation, even though she usually didn’t have to worry about Amelia with things like that. Amelia was more sensitive, and more private, and like her, she was less keen to meddle into other people’s business.

But today she was looking at her a little nervously.

“I’ve been meaning to call you,” she said slowly. “You won’t mind if I celebrate Christmas Eve with Matt this year?”

Cora tried to hide her shock, even though she knew that she