Read Online Marry-Me Christmas by Shirley Jump - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Shirley Jump
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story behind the story came back to Sam. She’d have to be on guard tonight. Flynn MacGregor could be doing all this simply to get her to open up.
And not because he wanted her.
She should be happy. For one, she had no time for a relationship. She had a business to run, a business that was on the cusp of taking off and becoming something so much bigger than this little town, that corner location. She had people depending on her to take Joyful Creations to the next level—and getting sidetracked by dating was just not part of the recipe.
But what if it could be?
The lasagna arrived, and Flynn immediately took a bite of the steaming Italian food. “It pays to follow the locals when ordering food. This is delicious.”
“I know. It may say steaks and ribs on the sign out front, but the owner is a full-blooded Italian, so that’s his specialty, which also explains the décor. I think he just has the other things on the menu, because that’s what tourists expect when they come to Indiana. Not that we get many in Riverbend, at least until the last few weeks.”
“Because of the airline magazine’s mention of the shop.”
Sam buttered two pieces of bread, and handed one slice to Flynn, who thanked her. “That article, and the boost in business, was a blessing and a half, but one that has kept us hopping from sunup to sundown. In fact, after I leave here, I’m going back to the shop to get a start on tomorrow’s baking.”
“Tonight? But you already put in a long day, didn’t you?”
“That’s the life of a baker. No free time.”
“And yet, you want more.”
“I’m not a sugar addict, Flynn. I’m a success addict.” She shot him a smile.
Flynn pulled his notepad over and jotted down those words. If anything reminded her this wasn’t a date, that did. A flicker of disappointment ran through her, but Sam brushed it off.
For a minute, he’d given her the gift of a normal life. Let her feel again like a normal woman, a beautiful woman. That would be enough. For a while.
A really long while.
“Why?” he asked.
“Why does anyone want success?” Sam bent her head and took a bite of food, chewed and swallowed. “To prove you did well with your business.”
“That’s all? No other reason?”
No other reason she wanted in print. “That’s all.” She signaled to Holli to box up her dinner and pushed her plate to the side, her appetite gone. But that wasn’t what had her wanting to get out of the restaurant so bad. It was the way Flynn kept studying her, as if he could see behind every answer she’d given him, as if he knew she was holding something back. “Is that all you need? Because I really have to get back to the shop.”
“Sure. Thank you for your time, Miss—” He paused. “Sam.”
She reached into her purse to pull out some money for dinner but Flynn stopped her with a touch of his hand on hers. A surge of electricity ran up her arm.
“My treat,” he said.
“I thought you said this wasn’t a date.”
“It’s not. I have an expense account.”
Once again, disappointment whistled through her as brisk and fast as winter’s winds. “Oh. Well, in that case, thank you.” Sam rose and grabbed her coat off the back of her chair. “If you have any other questions, call me at the shop. That’s pretty much where I live.” She turned to go.
“Wait.”
Sam pivoted back, part of her still hoping—some insane part—that all this really had been a date, and not an interview. “Yes?”
“You mentioned something about having dial-up Internet access at Joyful Creations. Do you think I could come by tonight, if you’re going to be there anyway, and access my e-mail?” A grin flashed on Flynn’s face. “I’m having acute withdrawal symptoms. Fever, aches, pains, the whole nine yards.”
She’d been wrong.
He wanted her—but for her Internet connection only. That was for the best. Even if it didn’t feel that way.
“Certainly,” Sam said. “Like I said, that shop
And not because he wanted her.
She should be happy. For one, she had no time for a relationship. She had a business to run, a business that was on the cusp of taking off and becoming something so much bigger than this little town, that corner location. She had people depending on her to take Joyful Creations to the next level—and getting sidetracked by dating was just not part of the recipe.
But what if it could be?
The lasagna arrived, and Flynn immediately took a bite of the steaming Italian food. “It pays to follow the locals when ordering food. This is delicious.”
“I know. It may say steaks and ribs on the sign out front, but the owner is a full-blooded Italian, so that’s his specialty, which also explains the décor. I think he just has the other things on the menu, because that’s what tourists expect when they come to Indiana. Not that we get many in Riverbend, at least until the last few weeks.”
“Because of the airline magazine’s mention of the shop.”
Sam buttered two pieces of bread, and handed one slice to Flynn, who thanked her. “That article, and the boost in business, was a blessing and a half, but one that has kept us hopping from sunup to sundown. In fact, after I leave here, I’m going back to the shop to get a start on tomorrow’s baking.”
“Tonight? But you already put in a long day, didn’t you?”
“That’s the life of a baker. No free time.”
“And yet, you want more.”
“I’m not a sugar addict, Flynn. I’m a success addict.” She shot him a smile.
Flynn pulled his notepad over and jotted down those words. If anything reminded her this wasn’t a date, that did. A flicker of disappointment ran through her, but Sam brushed it off.
For a minute, he’d given her the gift of a normal life. Let her feel again like a normal woman, a beautiful woman. That would be enough. For a while.
A really long while.
“Why?” he asked.
“Why does anyone want success?” Sam bent her head and took a bite of food, chewed and swallowed. “To prove you did well with your business.”
“That’s all? No other reason?”
No other reason she wanted in print. “That’s all.” She signaled to Holli to box up her dinner and pushed her plate to the side, her appetite gone. But that wasn’t what had her wanting to get out of the restaurant so bad. It was the way Flynn kept studying her, as if he could see behind every answer she’d given him, as if he knew she was holding something back. “Is that all you need? Because I really have to get back to the shop.”
“Sure. Thank you for your time, Miss—” He paused. “Sam.”
She reached into her purse to pull out some money for dinner but Flynn stopped her with a touch of his hand on hers. A surge of electricity ran up her arm.
“My treat,” he said.
“I thought you said this wasn’t a date.”
“It’s not. I have an expense account.”
Once again, disappointment whistled through her as brisk and fast as winter’s winds. “Oh. Well, in that case, thank you.” Sam rose and grabbed her coat off the back of her chair. “If you have any other questions, call me at the shop. That’s pretty much where I live.” She turned to go.
“Wait.”
Sam pivoted back, part of her still hoping—some insane part—that all this really had been a date, and not an interview. “Yes?”
“You mentioned something about having dial-up Internet access at Joyful Creations. Do you think I could come by tonight, if you’re going to be there anyway, and access my e-mail?” A grin flashed on Flynn’s face. “I’m having acute withdrawal symptoms. Fever, aches, pains, the whole nine yards.”
She’d been wrong.
He wanted her—but for her Internet connection only. That was for the best. Even if it didn’t feel that way.
“Certainly,” Sam said. “Like I said, that shop
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