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I hold my hands up. “No, I wasn’t looking at him and I certainly wasn’t drooling.”

She leans against the cart and laughs. “It’s okay, you can admit it. I don’t know of a single employee here who hasn’t had a crush on him.”

“Really? What about you?”

“Oh, girl, I had the hots for Colton for an entire year when I started working here.”

“Did anything happen between you two?” I ask, feeling a stab of jealousy, even though I have no feelings whatsoever for the guy.

She shakes her head. “Colton’s not an easy catch. Perhaps something could’ve happened between us if I had tried harder and been able to accept that it would only last a few weeks, but I couldn’t. I didn’t want some fling, you know. A long-term relationship is more my thing, like the one I’m in right now with my boyfriend.”

I frown. “So, he’s a player?”

“No, that’s not what I mean,” she says with a laugh. “His sister keeps setting him up with dates, and he does go out with those women, but it never turns into something real.”

“Wow, you seem to know a lot about him and his love life.”

She shrugs. “Nah, news just travels fast around here. Fair warning, it’s hard keeping secrets at The Magic Wonderland.”

“Okay,” I say, not sure whether I like that. I don’t want everyone to know everything about me. Then again, why would they care? I’m just some girl manning a hot dog cart. There are far more interesting people working here.

“Like, a little birdie told me you and Colton drove into work together this morning,” she says while refilling the bun tray.

I feel my face get as red as my ketchup hat. “It’s true. I’m kind of living with him. His sister is my best friend and she offered me a room in their house until I find something myself.”

She whistles. “You’re sharing a house with Colton Wilson? You’re one lucky girl,” she says louder than I want her to. The last thing I need right now is for her to draw people’s attention, especially not Prince Charming himself. He’s been glancing at me since his shift started, probably snickering at my ridiculous outfit.

“Well, he’s my best friend’s brother, so nothing can happen between us. Not that I want it to,” I quickly add. I don’t want her to get any wrong ideas and start spreading them around the park like truths.

“You’re not the slightest bit interested in him?” she asks, one brow up as if my statement surprises her.

I shrug. “Not really. Am I open to dating? Sure. Do I harbor any secret feelings for Prince Charming over there? Not in the slightest.”

Her eyes grow wide, almost as if my words made a light bulb go off in her head. “You know, that’s actually perfect. I could set you up with my cousin. He’s a great guy. Laid-back, sweet, good-looking as well. Oh, and I’ll be moving out soon, so my apartment will become available. My landlord hasn’t found any new renters yet. Wouldn’t it be great if you two could move in together there when I move out? You can even have some of my old furniture that I’m not taking with me to my new place.”

I open my mouth, but don’t know how to react to that. She wants me to go on a date with her cousin and assumes I’ll be moving in with the guy if it goes well? I mean, she might as well pick out my wedding dress and send me a link with house listings in a five-mile radius.

“So, what do you say?” she asks.

I pull a face. “To moving in with your cousin?”

“No, to a date with him.”

I glance at the castle gardens, where Colton is causing moms to laugh like nervous teens while their kids get their pictures snapped with him and the park’s princess. So what if he’s hot as hell? His looks shouldn’t concern me. He’s got his own life to live, and I just happen to stay at his place. It means nada. Zilch. Nothing.

I look at Layla and nod. “I guess one date won’t hurt.”

She grins. “You are going to have the best night ever.”

“That’s a tall order.”

“Not where Zeke is concerned. That’s my cousin’s name, by the way.” She takes her phone out and asks me for my number. I dictate it to her, all the while wondering whether this is a good idea. I just hope this Zeke guy isn’t some weirdo.

“I’ll have him text you as soon as possible. This is so exciting,” she says with a sigh.

“Yeah, I can’t wait,” I reply.

Before she can do anything else, like plan my and Zeke’s honeymoon, a group of hungry teenagers needs our attention. I squirt condiments onto their hot dogs, skillfully ignoring their comments about my costume. I know they don’t mean it in a bad way, and I do look horrible, so technically I can’t even hold their snorting against them.