Had they just bumped into each other and their arrival together been a coincidence? Or had they bonded over tree-carrying and popcorn-tossing?
After Sophie had gotten her bag, Isabelle followed her sister and her fiancé to the front of the shop, then locked the door behind them.
“Making sure I can’t escape?” Zach asked, his eyes twinkling.
“You’re the one who said yes when Sophie called and invited you here after hours,” she reminded, walking toward the sewing machine area.
“She asked so nicely, I didn’t have the heart to say no, even though her sister is quite scary.”
He was the one who was scary.
“Sophie wouldn’t have taken no for an answer, even if you had.”
“Because she thinks I desperately need to learn to quilt?”
“Sophie believes everyone needs to quilt.” She motioned toward where they had several different sewing machines, a cutting machine, and a longarm set up. “Ready?”
“I was born ready.”
She glanced his way, trying to picture him as a newborn and couldn’t.
“I was a cute baby, the cutest, in case you were wondering.”
“What happened?” she couldn’t resist asking, even as she wondered if the military had taught him mindreading along with whatever other skills he’d acquired.
Grinning, he snorted. “Sophie sure upped my entertainment for the night when she called. Nice lipstick, by the way.”
Her cheeks no doubt matching her lips, Isabelle ignored his comment. “Sarah’s at the church meeting?”
His gaze lingering at her mouth, he nodded. “She and Jeannie are there. Bodie’s working. He’s pulling extra shifts so he can take vacation over Christmas.”
“Sarah loves Christmas as much as Sophie does.”
“We’re going to have to do something to up your love of the holidays.”
“I like the holidays. They’re really good for the shop. Our biggest day of the year is this coming Friday.” So true and she hadn’t been lying when she’d said she had several things to do after they finished his lesson. She did. “I should be getting things ready for our black Friday and shop local Saturday sales rather than giving a sewing lesson.”
“The lesson can wait. What do you need to do? I’ll help.”
“Oh, no, you don’t.” She pointed her finger at him. “We’re doing your lesson tonight and then you’re leaving.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He walked over to the table and picked up a piece of fabric. “Snowmen?”
Isabelle closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Why would her sister have chosen that material? The one with the jolly snowmen that she’d hidden away on the night of Sophie’s dress fitting.
“Do you want me to find something else?” Please say yes. “She has other kits.”
Ones that didn’t make Isabelle think of abdominal snowmen.
He shook his head. “Your sister picked this one. Let’s impress her with how well we do.”
Rather than answer, she pulled an extra chair over to one of the smaller sewing machines. “Let’s get this over with. I want to be home for dinner by eight.”
“Hungry? We could order pizza.”
“Dinner is not included in our deal.” She shook her head. “Besides, I wouldn’t risk getting sauce on the fabric.”
“We could take a break, sit outside on one of the benches,” he suggested. “How do you like your pizza? I’m an everything kind of guy.”
