“Wait.” She reaches under the counter for a bag and then fills it up with candy. “Here. You can’t leave the candy store empty-handed.”
“Thanks.” I grab it before Lacee pulls me too far away to reach.
“Tonight then,” my mom calls after us. “Stop by for some chicken pot pie for dinner.”
“We will.” I grab my coat on the hook by the door and wave to her as we exit.
“Dinner?” Park eyes me as we walk down the sidewalk. “I thought this date was probationary until noon, and then you’d reassess.”
“That’s still the case, so if you want my mom’s chicken pot pie tonight, you’d better be on your best behavior.”
“Will do.” Park nods dramatically. “Now, what’s on the agenda for today?”
I smile. “Everything.”
“Everything? Do we have to do it all before noon too?”
“Nope.” I shake my head. “But we are on a tight schedule. Up first—” I gesture to the building in front of us that looks like a real-life gingerbread house.
Park’s brows lower as he reads the sign hanging above the door. “World Famous Nutcracker Museum?”
“That’s right. Leavenworth has the largest collection of nutcrackers from all over the world, and you’re about to witness it.” I loop my arm through his, leading the way.
“Nothing says a romantic Christmas date like thousands of nutcrackers.”
“Oh, don’t worry.” I pull open the door, holding it for Park. “I’ve got plenty of romantic stuff built in for later.”
He dips his head down, whispering in my ear as he passes. “Good, because I’ve got to work my way up to a ten on the kissing scale.”
I don’t miss the smirk on his lips just before he turns around.
My, oh, my!
My heart’s on fire, and it’s the best kind of combustion I’ve ever experienced.
SIXTEEN
PARK
This isn’t real life—goingto the Nutcracker Museum with Lacee and now walking around a reindeer farm.
Two days ago, when I stuck the computer chip on the clothing tag of her scarf, I never would’ve imagined it would lead tothis. Not the reindeer specifically, although that’s shocking in its own way. I’m talking about the entire experience as a whole.
The casual holiday fling.
The kissing-our-way-through the Christmas season.
It’s fake.
I’m faking it—just trying to stay close to her so I can get the package as soon as it arrives in the mail. At least, that’s what I’m telling myself.
But the problem is, I’m notfakinganything. I’m genuinely having a good time with her. Every playful touch, every flirtatious look, it all adds up to something stirring inside me that I can’t explain. And that makes this the most dangerous mission I’ve ever been on. Because what happens once the computer chip arrives? Do I just leave? Or do I stay and finish out the holiday seasonwithLacee? Sienna said she’d find me. Could she find me in Leavenworth, Washington?
Lacee darts to the next section on the farm, where guests can go inside the reindeer pen and feed them.
“Oh, look!” She points to the sign nailed to the fence post. “This baby reindeer is named Blitzen.” She stops and reads some facts about the animal. “He’s almost two years old and weighs about 170 pounds.”
I follow after, smiling at her enthusiasm. She’s like the Energizer Bunny. She never stops, but I like that about her. It’s easy to feed off her high energy.
