Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27480 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27480 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
“No!” I sat straight up, suddenly wide awake, my chest heaving and my legs tingling. A burning hot shower helped, some, but I couldn’t shake his handsome face from my mind.
Was I really so shallow that all it took was a pretty face and hot body to make me rethink my stance on men and romance? No, it was hormones, plain and simple. I hadn’t been with a man since Adam, and I was just hard up. Horny.
Feeling better now that I knew this was just a physical thing, I settled into my pre-work routine, which consisted of choosing an outfit to maximize tips and then shoes and accessories before I started on my makeup. I noted a few signs of aging around my eyes and my mouth, noting my eyes weren’t as bright as they used to be. You’re never going to be prettier than you are today. It was a sad truth we all had to face, but most people had more going for them than the way they looked.
I told myself to stop obsessing about it. I needed to put on a happy face and do my damn job. So I slicked on a deep red matte lipstick and smiled like I meant it, hoping beyond hope that eventually, I would mean it again.
Chapter 4
Brock
“Didn’t realize you missed me so much.” I patted my full belly and pushed away from the giant wooden dining table with a wide smile. “I could get used to a feast like this every night.”
Lee grunted. “Don’t get used to it. This was just the hook to reel you in.”
I laughed. Lee was one of my oldest friends, and he was an ornery bastard who only got away with it because he was a damn good businessman. “Maybe I’ll add this to our contract terms.” I had money, plenty of money. I’d grown up with it and a private chef, but as an adult, I didn’t like the idea of having too many people in my home. So I ate out a lot and ordered in on the nights I didn’t feel like being surrounded by people.
Mac, Lee’s rock star younger brother, laughed. “This town is crazy about two things: holiday festivals and matchmaking. Say the word, and you’ll have more food than you can eat every day of the week.”
I squirmed uncomfortably at those words. “No thanks. I want this food, not casseroles.”
Ryan laughed. “Don’t knock the power of a good casserole,” he warned. “They reheat easily and last for days.” He wore a satisfied smile that was contagious.
“Festivals?” I sipped the top-shelf whiskey and watched as the men’s faces lit up. “I heard something about the Week of Giving Thanks, but what is it?”
“I’ll start,” Ryan said. “I grew up here, so I’ve been going to these things my whole life. Back then, they were smaller and usually just a few days, but over the years, they’ve all gotten bigger.” He gestured wide with his arms, his eyes lit with excitement. “The Week of Giving Thanks officially starts tomorrow with the craft fair, where you’ll find all manner of holiday décor. But it’s not just a craft fair. There’s also food and drinks, games, and everything else you’d expect.”
I blinked and looked around at each of them. “That doesn’t sound so bad.”
Ryan laughed. “That’s the normal part of the week. There’s the pie-making contest and the pie-eating contest, Black Friday tailgating, which is pretty much a town-wide block party, and of course, the Gratitude Carnival, which is a Thanksgiving-themed carnival in the park.”
“Okay, that does sound like a lot. But it doesn’t sound so bad.” I looked at Lee and then Mac for confirmation. They were new to town too, so their perspectives might change my own.
“It’s not,” Mac began with his trademark smile fixed in place. “Kayla and I fell for each other during the St. Patrick’s Day week. Now it’s my favorite holiday.”
Ryan nodded. “Torey and I pretended to be together during Valentine’s Day to keep the matchmakers off our backs. It worked out perfectly.”
“Wow.” I turned to Lee with a skeptical look. “Is there something in the water?”
He nodded as a slow smile formed. “Yeah. Gorgeous women.”
His words immediately brought Sela to mind. Truth was, the woman wasn’t far from my mind since she rushed out of the bakery. “Speaking of, where’s Nix?”
“At Ol’ St. Nick’s with Torey and Hailey.”
My brows dipped. “What does that mean?”
Ryan laughed. “Ol’ St. Nick’s Pub is the best bar in town.”
“And Hailey got Vegas married during my wedding weekend,” Mac added proudly, as though he had something to do with it.
I shook my head. I knew there were small towns, but Holiday Grove was the smallest town in the world, right? “Wow.” There was nothing else I could say to that, so I let my mind wander back to the bombshell blonde I shouldn’t still be thinking about. She wasn’t interested, and neither was I.