Infinite Ink (Pinch of Grinch #4)

Chapter 1

LUCAS

“I’m not taking your dinner reservation, Olivia,” I grunt out in between bites of gingerbread cookie. A few crumbs fall on my cashmere navy blue sweater, and I lightly brush them off. I contemplate changing the topic of conversation.

I still want Olivia’s input on my career dilemma.

But I also don’t want to deal with it right now.

“Besides, who would I even take with me?” I think about my two younger brothers at our family home, their wives, their kids, my parents. It’s a very full house. Christmas is in full swing both in Kastle Harbor and on the outskirts of town near my family’s Christmas tree farm, Mistletoe Tree Farm.

Maybe a night away from the chaos would actually be perfect.

“Take your mom, or one of your brothers. You can tell them all about your job situation.” Olivia sets a stack of books down on the counter. Her maroon hair is pulled back in a tight braid and tied with a bright red velvet bow.

I shake my head no and eat more of the cookie.

“Please just take my reservation,” she pleads. “I don’t want the hostess over at the Waterfront Bistro to get annoyed at me and add me to a secret list of people who always get waitlisted for prime times.”

“That’s not a thing,” I grumble as she tries to plead her case. I look around the Second Chance Books bookstore. After some fresh paint and small renovations, the store looks fantastic. There are a few people milling about. I spy Kristen talking to a tall customer with long black hair.

And a great ass.

I wonder what her face looks like.

I physically shake the thoughts of the stranger out of my mind before Olivia pulls me back to our conversation.

“It’s totally a real thing.” Olivia jabs her finger at my chest. “You know how hard it can be to get reservations on Friday and Saturday nights.”

“You’re not that busy, why can’t you leave early and go meet Jackson for dinner?” I turn to face my friend.

Hell, Olivia is probably my only non-work friend.

“Lucas, come on, just take your mom to dinner. It’ll at least get you a night away from all the holiday events. I'm sure you’re swamped with being home for the month.”

She steals the other half of my gingerbread cookie and munches on it. I roll my eyes. Olivia and I’ve been friends since we were in elementary school together. She was there for me when the fire happened and we’ve been glued to each other’s sides ever since.

That accident changed both of our trajectories.

After witnessing the heroic firefighters save me, she decided to become a firefighter.

For me, after skin graft surgeries and lengthy hospital stays, I was determined to become the best pediatric doctor in Maine.

Even with college and living in different cities, we’ve stayed in touch all these years.

An inseparable duo that never once thought about being a couple.

Much to my mother’s dismay.

I should really know by now that when Olivia is determined to get something done, it’s bound to happen.

“Fine,” I throw my hands up, “you win.” Olivia chuckles as I pull my phone out. I’m about to text my mom about dinner when the stranger comes up to us.

“Oh, hey Lillian,” Olivia cheerfully greets the customer with raven hair. As she moves closer, I get a much better look at the beautiful stranger.

I stick my phone back in my pocket. I’ll call my mom before I leave town for the farm.

I tug the hem of my right sleeve down to make sure my arm is completely covered.

My scars have faded over time. But even though the fire happened more than twenty years ago, there are still shiny slivers of scars down my body.

They cover my right side from shoulder down and make for pity stares or too many questions.

Lillian is tall, maybe only a few inches shorter than my six-foot frame.

Her hair almost has a blue tint to the dark, ink color, and her eyes are a warm umber color.

She’s dressed in jeans and a very festive red and green striped sweater that has dancing snowmen wearing top hats on the front.

It’s a lot of holiday cheer for a single person.

“I hope you guys do well tonight at the wine tasting,” Lillian replies. She tucks a strand of raven hair behind her ear and smiles before saying hello to me.

I extend my hand to greet her, “I’m Lucas Wright.” As our hands touch, there’s a little shock of electricity.

Or just static.

“Nice to meet you, Lucas,” she flashes a smile. My throat is suddenly very dry, and my tongue too large. I momentarily forget words.

“Thanks, Lillian,” Olivia interjects. “We’re hoping to sell a bunch of ‘blind date with a book’ bundles tonight.” Olivia’s eyes widen as a mischievous grin spreads. “You know I was telling you about how Jackson is stuck at work and we can’t use our reservation tomorrow night?”

“Yeah, that sucks. Did you find another couple to take your reservation?”

“Even better,” Olivia slaps me on the back, “Lucas is going to take you out to dinner. Sort of like a blind date, except now you’re meeting instead of at the restaurant.”

“I don’t think I can,” Lillian turns to face me, “I’m sure you’re great and all, if you’re friends with Olivia,” She stammers before I wave her off.

“Don’t feel pressured by Olivia. I already told her I’d call my mom.”

“That’s pretty sad, Lucas,” Kristen chips in as she brings tubes of wrapping paper to the cash wrap where we’re all standing. She’s wearing a red and green flannel and jeans.

Am I the only one in town not feeling the holiday spirit?

“It’s not sad,” I scrunch my nose.

“I can watch Poppy if that’s what’s holding you back,” Kristen tells Lillian.

Before I can even ask who Poppy is, Kristen continues, “I’m sure Riley would love a sleepover with Poppy.

She can finally have someone else to play pretend astronauts versus dinosaurs on the moon with besides me and Seth. ”

“Are you sure?” Lillian questions as she bites her bottom lip.

For some reason, I want to run my thumb across that puffy lip.

Kristen agrees as Olivia elbows my stomach and angrily whispers, “You better take Lillian out, Lucas. Be a gentleman, not a grinch for once.” I glare at Olivia and try to imagine her stuck in cartoon quicksand and missing her precious night out with Jackson.

Just typical best friend shit.

She bats her eyes as if nothing happened.

“If you’re free tomorrow then I’d love to take you out.” I try to turn on my doctor dealing with worried parents mode and attempt to ooze charm. “Let’s take Olivia’s dinner reservation and go out on a not-so-blind date.”

I smile wide until my cheeks hurt and hope she doesn’t see right through the facade. My stomach is all tangled in knots pulling me in different directions. A date is just dinner and conversation. Nothing more. No expectations, especially since it’s set up by Olivia so last minute.

“Okay,” she replies as her plump strawberry red lips form a small smile. “It’s a date.”

I feel a tightness form in my chest as she offers to exchange phone numbers.

After I save her details, I mumble some excuse to the ladies about needing to pick up something for my mom before leaving. I say my goodbyes and leave the bookstore. The frosty air hits my face as I walk down the street towards my car. Reality sinks in.

I have a date tomorrow night.

I can’t remember the last time I went out on an actual date. And now I have one with a gorgeous woman whom I know barely anything about.

What do I know?

I know she’s friends with Kristen and Olivia, so she must be somewhat outgoing otherwise she’d never get a word in with the two of them.

She’s new enough that I’ve never met her.

Which just means she’s moved to Kastle Harbor within the last five or six years.

I haven’t been back much since I went off to do my pediatric residency.

Then came my fellowship and the official start of my career as a doctor.

Basically, twelve years of schooling and lots of short trips back to Kastle Harbor.

Now I’m thirty-five and about to make a life-altering career decision.

But first, I need to get through Christmas with my family on our family’s Christmas tree farm.

They’re going to eat me alive when I go home. My family is already too involved in each other’s lives. There's no way I can get through this without someone knowing.

I won’t tell anyone about the date until after it happens.

Just in case it goes terribly wrong. I don’t exactly have a good dating history for things turning out well.

Oh well, just need to get through the date without anyone finding out and badgering me questions I don’t have the answers to.

Hopefully, Olivia doesn’t run into my mom and spill everything.