Chapter 9 Logan #2
“Fine. No horror movies, but definitely a fun Halloween-themed flick. Hocus Pocus or Nightmare Before Christmas.”
I scrunch my nose in confusion. “Gwen, you can’t be serious. That’s a Christmas movie. It’s literally in the title.”
Her face goes completely blank. “I cannot believe you just said that. Wow, I’m going to have to reevaluate our relationship.” She shakes her head in disappointment and sighs.
“Oh,” she points at the next couple bullet points. “These two are my personal favorites.”
“Kissing booth and a date auction?” I look over. “Sounds very 2000’s teen romantic comedy.”
“Exactly why I think it’ll be a hit. It’s just competitive enough to be playful and fun. It will drive up fundraising dollars when you get some lonely housewives in the audience and a good looking man like yourself up on stage. It’s a no brainer.”
I pop an eyebrow in her direction, my chest warming with her words. “You think I’m good looking?”
She lightly shoves me while rolling her eyes. “Tell me I’m wrong. It’s a recipe for success.”
“Honestly,” I drag out the word for suspense before looking up. “I think this is going to be the best donation year this town has seen.”
Gwen nibbles on her lower lip, her eyes darting to the notebook and back to me from under her lashes. Her green eyes brighten. “You’re not just saying that? You can be honest, you won’t hurt my feelings.”
I shake my head. “I’m serious. But I can tell you right now I’m not being put up for auction.”
She scoffs. “Why not? You know everyone would be fighting over a date with you. We could put you up as the big-ticket item.” Her hands go up like she’s showing off a sign.
“Win a date with the future mayor of Willow Grove.” Gwen’s smile is wide, pretending to look up at the imaginary sign.
Her hands fall slowly when her gaze catches on my face. “Did I say something wrong?”
I school my features back to something soft rather than the hardness that immediately took over my muscles at the reminder.
“No,” I force a false grin on my face and I can tell she doesn’t believe me as her teeth sink back into her lip again.
One of her tells, I’m learning, when she’s uncomfortable.
Not wanting her to feel that way about me, ever, I push on. “I’ll think about it. Only under one condition, though.”
She looks at me skeptically. “What’s that?”
“You place the winning bid for me.”
I don’t really think about the implications of the words, but as soon as I say them I know I mean them.
Because, even though we have only spent a little time together since I’ve been back, I know I want to go on a date with Gwen Prescott. I want to spend more time with her easygoing smile and be the reason her face lights up with happiness.
The chemistry between us is palpable. I have to believe she can feel it, too. But the look on her face says she thinks I’m joking.
She forces a chuckle out. “You’re funny. Something tells me I don’t have enough money in the world to bid against the women of Willow Grove for you. Hell, probably even a few men. But we both know a certain someone who definitely wouldn’t allow anyone to win a date with you.”
“What do you mean?”
Gwen’s green eyes dart around the room as if I were missing something. “Camila would fight anyone who gets in her way of you.”
“I’m not with Camila. Haven’t been for a long time.”
She just shrugs, taking the notebook from our laps and moving it to hers. She highlights the rest of the ideas we both agreed would work well for this year.
I want to elaborate, make sure she knows where I stand with Camila, but she’s already moving on.
“I got an email from your mom earlier saying that she wants to meet Monday morning to approve the plan.”
I turn toward her as she places the notebooks together on the table in front of us. “I knew she couldn’t give up full control.”
“Well, someone has to approve the budget upfront. I think we can save some money by reusing old decorations and booths for the vendors, but I need to take a trip out to the storage barns at the old mill to see if they are still in good condition. I think the high school did the take down last year, so it’s really anyone’s guess what state everything is in. ”
“Let me know when you want to make the trip out there. I don’t want you going by yourself.”
“I’m a big girl. I can handle myself.”
“I have no doubt that you can, but that building should have been condemned a long time ago. I don’t need my partner getting hurt. There’s no way in hell I could do this without you.”
“Fine, I’ll let you know when I plan to go out there.” She takes a deep breath before pushing off her thighs to stand. She quickly glances at her watch and sighs. “I think we have everything we need for now. I promised Stacy I would cover the rest of her shift.”
“Always working, aren’t ya?”
A huff of a forced laugh escapes her as she stretches her arms out.
A flash of creamy skin has my gaze darting down to her waistband.
Her stomach is partially exposed as she reaches up, causing her sweater to ride up.
Heat floods me as the thought of running my fingertips over her skin invades my mind, just to see if it’s as soft as it looks.
“You good?” Her voice breaks through my thoughts, and her sweater falls back down to cover her from my view. Mentally, I slap myself back to reality.
“Ye–yeah,” I clear my throat against the thickness forming within it. “Just got lost in thought for a second. Did you say something?”
One of her perfectly sculpted brows arches up as she looks at me.
“I asked if you wanted to join us at Daisy’s tonight? Show you that I don’t always work.”
I probably shouldn’t say yes. I probably shouldn’t crave some more time with Gwendolyn. But I do on both accounts. The former being a little more eager in my quick yes than I meant to show. I can’t find it in myself to worry about embarrassment as Gwen’s green eyes twinkle with laughter.