Page 9

Kyle stopped walking. “Wait. So you’re saying you know all the shoppers’ names? Surely that’s hyperbole. How small is this town?”

I tilted my head from side to side. “Within the category of small towns, we’re not the smallest, but not the biggest. However, I must say—”

“Please do.”

“I will. Our tourist population is rapidly multiplying. We’re becoming a player in the vacation game.”

“Helpful for your new venture.”

“Entirely the reason for it. The tourists’ names are harder to pin down, though, especially if they’re only in town for a week.”

“Wait. Are you saying you try and learn their names, too? The one weekers?”

“Oh, yes. That kind of thing matters.”

Kyle shook her head in amazement. I already had a major thing for her hair. The dark color, its thickness, and the way it fell haphazardly into perfection. “You get bonus points for tourists’ names. That store is lucky to have you.”

I absorbed the compliment, feeling taller and consequential. A foreign state. “What are you? Five nine?” I asked. Height now at the forefront of my thoughts. Would I go up on my tiptoes to kiss someone her height? Innocent inquiring minds.

“Close. Five eight. And you’re…five six.”

“Wow. Impressive and correct.”

She nodded. “Just part of the job. Like knowing your customers’names.” She gestured ahead of us with her chin. “The park two blocks that way is lit up at night. It even has a little suspension bridge over the pond. Want to check it out?”

“Definitely.” I really did. I also would have gone with her to watch a haircut on Mars. “I’ll follow you.”Anywhere.

“Tell me what you think about this,” she asked as we landed on the sidewalk in front of When in Rome.

“All right.”

She paused dramatically, as if to saywait for it. I braced for whatever it might be.

“Can I take your hand?”

I smiled, melting. Not only would I welcome the opportunity to hold her hand, but the fact that she’daskedwith such respect in her voice left me hovering happily, my feet surely not anywhere near the cement. “I’d like that. Yes.”

Our fingers intertwined loosely as we strolled the sidewalk lined from above with twinkly lights, benches every ten feet or so. It was an area meant to be welcoming at night, and the people of Charleston seemed to know it. The park was bustling. I pulled my jacket tighter around my body as the wind rustled by. Several couples walked their dogs ahead of us. Another read by the warm illumination of the curvy streetlamp above their bench, warm beverages cradled in their hands. God, give me a curvy streetlamp to read beneath. I loved everything about this park. “What’s this place called?”

“Nightingale Plaza.”

The name was perfect. “You know what? They did it justice.” Just then, the heavenly aroma of cinnamon pecans wafted over like a holiday sweater you didn’t know you wanted but secretly loved. Cozy, a little bit over the top, but hard to pass up. “Okay. That smells too good to ignore.”

Kyle gestured to the cart a few yards ahead. “I think we have to.” She didn’t wait for a response before dropping my hand and hurrying over to the vendor. I followed slowly, unable to pull the grin off my face. My pseudo date was attentive and thoughtful. When she returned moments later with a small bag of warm almonds, pecans, and cashews, I smiled up at her. “Thank you. Somehow, my night keeps improving.”

“You had a hard day. Anyone attacked by a door deserves a nice bag of nuts.” She froze, probably playing that back.

“Yeah, maybe I’m not so hungry,” I said with a laugh and held up a hand.

“I will spend the rest of my life apologizing for that line.”

“Well, in that case…” I made the gimme gesture and accepted the bag.

“By the way, I’ve decided I like you.” She grinned and promptly walked on, leaving me there staring after her, heart thudding. A sexy hit-and-run. The kind they put in the movies, but it was happening to me in real time with no one around to notice. I had to prompt my brain to keep up with my heart and memorize every detail about tonight.

I hurried the handful of yards required to catch her, now wishing I’d gone with the other shoes. “You like me, huh? That’s a nice thing to say to another person. That you like them.” I was staring straight ahead, surely matching her grin.

“Did I say like? I mean, you’reokay.” She offered me a wink.