Page 41 of Make-Believe Match

She laughed. “Try it and see what happens. So what should I call you?”

“Daddy, of course.”

She snorted. “In your dreams.”

“What about you?” I asked. “Didyoualways want to get married?”

“Yes. In fact, I was engaged once.”

I decided not to mention her grandmother had already spilled that tea. “What happened?”

“He was an operations manager at Snowberry. But he got an offer from a big resort out west last year, and he took it.”

“That must have been tough.”

“It was. But I’m over it now. Or at least over him.” She was quiet a minute as she stared out the passenger window. “It was my own fault. I fall fast, and I pick the wrong people.”

“How so?”

“I just always seem to choose leavers.” Her voice grew quieter. “I need a stayer next time I fall in love.” She looked at me. “Did you love McKenna?”

“I’m not entirely sure.”

“What’s that mean?”

“It means I cared about her to the extent that I’m willing and able to care about someone. Maybe it was love, maybe not.”

She grunted. “If you told her that, I can see why she left.”

“Ididn’ttell her that, andshedidn’t leave. Next question.”

Sighing, she looked at her phone again. “Mountains or beach for a romantic getaway?”

“I like the beach.”

“I like the mountains. Favorite season?”

“Summer. Definitely. You?”

“Winter.”

“Of course winter.” I grinned ruefully. “So far, we’re perfect for each other.”

“Come on. Snow is so beautiful,” she enthused, “and there’s nothing better than spending a day on the mountain and then curling up under a blanket in front of the fire with a mug of hot chocolate.” She took a deep breath, like she could smell the burning logs or cocoa in her cup.

“That last part does sound nice.”

She looked at her phone again. “Do you have trust issues?”

“Not really. I tend not to trust people, so it’s never an issue.”

“And I tend to trust everyone, which gets me in trouble.”

“You don’t trustme,” I pointed out.

“I did when we met. If you recall, I left The Broken Spoke and went out to the parking lot with you after knowing you for like ten minutes.”

“That’s true,” I conceded. “You’re lucky I’m a good guy.”