“I’m good. I’m good.” It was like I’d forgotten how to form complete sentences. For an editor, I was lacking in any use of the English language.
“That’s good to hear,” he said. I wanted the moment to end, but I also wanted to think of something adorable or clever to say. If I could smack myself in the forehead without him seeing I would have.
“What are you shopping for?” It was the best I could come up with. Dorky small talk was what I’d been reduced to. I edit bestselling novels for a living, and I couldn’t come up with anything better than What are you shopping for in a toy store at Christmas.
“Oh, my daughter’s bike. It’s about that time for an upgrade, so of course Santa needs to get one.”
I knew it. He was married with kids. Of course he was. Who would let a stunner like this guy go? I bet his wife was a knockout too. “That’s awesome. I’m sure she’ll love it. How old is she?”
“She’s eight. She’s at choir practice for the show right now, so I’m taking advantage of a few minutes to myself to get this taken care of. Who are you shopping for?” He looked at the items I was holding and then met my gaze again. “Looks like you’ve got an artist and a scientist on your hands?”
“Oh yes. These are for my nieces. They’re also eight. I like to get them one fun present to go with all the stuff their mom insisted they need. How boring to get what you need for Christmas.” I let a little giggle escape.
Letting out a laugh himself, he nodded. “Yeah, I agree. You get what you need when you need it. There’s no fun in opening up a wrapped pair of socks. Even as an adult that’s super lame.” He tilted his head, thinking. “Your nieces are both eight? Are they the Jameson twins?”
My eyes widened. He knew them. Oh, this was getting so much more awkward. “Uh, yeah. They are. How did you know that?”
He laughed again. “My daughter is in the same class as Daisy and Delilah. They hang out together … or play rather. I guess eight-year-olds don’t really hang out.” That made both of us grin, and I loosened up my death grip on the box of forensic tools for children.
“Small town, I guess.” I didn’t know what else to say, and my general awkwardness was about to return at any moment. Then I remembered that he knew my name, and I wanted to know how. “You knew my name, how is that?” I squinted at him suspiciously.
“Oh, Gabe told me your name.” He shrugged.
“Gabe, the homeless guy?” Why would he be talking to Gabe about me?
“Yeah, I bought him coffee the other day, and my daughter and I got him some dinner a couple nights ago. I keep running into him.” He paused. “He mentioned that Samantha brought him coffee the other day, which obviously I saw you do. So I put two and two together,” he said hurriedly as if he were trying to change the subject.
“I see,” I replied.
“Well, uh … in the interest of full disclosure, allow me to introduce myself. I’m Jason Hayes.” He stuck his hand out, so I awkwardly put my purchases down on the nearby counter to shake his hand. His handshake was firm and soft at the same time, and I definitely didn’t mean to keep my hand in his for as long as I did.
“Nice to meet you, Jason. I’m guessing you’ve figured out that Robin is my sister, and I’m here for the holidays?” I asked.
“Yes, I didn’t even need a detective kit either.”
I didn’t get the joke, then he nodded toward the kit I was getting for Delilah. I let out a little giggle, but I was still feeling like I needed to get the hell out of there for fear of inserting my foot in my mouth again at any moment. But the world had other plans for me.
“So listen, can I buy you a drink or something? A coffee? I drink a lot of coffee, and obviously you drink coffee too?”
What was happening here? Was he asking me out? I was so confused. So of course I said something dumb. “Don’t you have to get home to your family?” So that came out far ruder than I meant for it to, and it was my way of shutting down coffee with a married man because he was way too good looking for me to go have a beverage of any kind with.
“Actually no, I don’t. It’s just Emily and me. Is that what you’re really asking me?” His grin spread across his face. He called me out on my trickery. I pretty much just asked him if he had a family to get back to, but damn, he caught me fishing.
My face was hot with embarrassment again, but I folded. “Yeah.” I had to laugh at myself. Not smooth. Cool and collected was something I very much was not, unless it was related to my work.
“I am very much available for a cup of coffee and would love for you to join me before you wrap up your afternoon of shopping. I know you can’t stay late. Robin has Christmas on a tight schedule. She’s known for it, so I know you have some Yuletide celebration of one kind or another just about every night. But, if you could spare a little of your afternoon, I’d love to continue chatting.”
What the hell. I didn’t have anything to lose. And my coffee addiction was never truly quenched. I could drink it day and night and never have enough. Plus he was right. There was some kind of activity I couldn’t quite remember that the caffeine would surely make better.
“Sure, why not?”
“Okay great. You get those presents taken care of, and we’ll take this bicycle out to my truck and head over to Wallflowers. We can sit, and I promise not to spill coffee all over you again.”
His smile was warm. In fact, I wanted to rip my coat off I was so hot. Between his smile and the fact that I was perpetually blushing and the temperature inside the store, I was dying.
But I was going to have afternoon coffee with a handsome stranger while on vacation. Life could be worse. For a few minutes, I’d forgotten how little I cared for the season, and I was enjoying myself.
Chapter Eight