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“Should we play rock paper scissors for it?” I ask, squaring up my shoulders. “Because I’m not going to let you just waltz away with the pizza, and it seems you’re dead-set on having it. So we need to work this out in an equitable fashion.”
The man heaves out an exasperated sigh. “Not sure how a game of chance like rock paper scissors is equitable. But I guess it’s better than flipping a coin.”
“Okay, then. Um—” I stare down at the pizza box. “You’re going to have to let go of the box to play.”
“Oh, right. Let’s put it back into the freezer. A neutral place until we sort this out.”
“Fine.”
He shoves the pizza box into the cooler, then shuts the door. My heart pounds hard in my chest, the fate of the frozen pizza hanging in the balance. I set the plastic basket down on the floor and hover my hand in the air, ready for action.
“Rock.” We bounce our fists. “Paper.”Bounce. “Scissors.”Bounce. “Shoot!”
I ball up my fist, choosing rock, while the suit throws out two fingers in a scissors sign.
“Yes!” I scream, jumping up and down, joyful victory running through my veins.
The man shakes his head, but pulls open the freezer and gamely hands me the pizza. “Here you go. All’s fair in rock paper scissors.”
“Thank you very much.” I accept the cold box, shoving it into my now-overflowing basket. “There’s still a lasagna left.”
He locks his dark caramel eyes on mine and I squirm under his disapproving gaze. This guy is one-thousand percent business— he probably works as a trader or a lawyer or something else very serious.
“I’m going to pass on that, but thanks for the suggestion.”
I shrug and smile, trying to give off my most charming vibe. “You do you. See ya!”
Sashaying away, I’m fairly certain he grumbles something to the effect of“hope not,”but I can’t be one-hundred percent sure.
I head up to the register and unpack my basket, the white-haired clerk ringing up all my items and making friendly small talk.
“How long you in town for?”
“A few days. I’m renting a cabin up the mountain. A holiday gift from my brother and future sister-in-law.”
“That sounds nice. Hope you have some firewood stocked up there. We’re in for some bad weather. It’s rolling in later this evening.”
“Really? Good to know.” A tiny tug of anxiety pulls low in my gut, but I ignore it.
I’m sure everything will be fine.Wes wouldn’t send me up here if the place wasn’t fully stocked and absolutely safe. That’s the kind of brother he is, always looking out for me.
“Need anything else, young lady?” The clerk bags the last of my groceries, the red pizza box winking at me from the paper sack, the cherry on top of this shopping trip.
“I think that’s it, thanks so much!”
The clerk shoves the bag across the counter and I glide out of the store, eager to make it up the mountain before darkness descends and the bad weather rolls in.
CHAPTER2
JACK
My holiday break’soff to a fantastic start.
Not.
Thus far, my flight was delayed, the grocery order cancelled, and apparently Spruce Ridge is under a winter weather advisory, cutting my skiing days short.
Like I said, not a fantastic start to the trip.
