Heartbreaker Bay [04] - Chasing Christmas Eve by Jill Shalvis

Author:Jill Shalvis [Shalvis, Jill]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary Romance, Fiction
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2017-09-26T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

#HolyMacAndCheese

Colbie left the pub and walked across the courtyard. She had an hour to rejuvenate herself for her date with Spence, figure out how exactly to tell him about her pseudonym, and worry about if by doing so, she was about to blow the best thing that had happened to her in forever.

After all, ruining one’s life did run in her family.

What was it that made some people good at loving those in their lives and others self-destruct those same relationships—as her mom had with every relationship she’d ever been in? And though Colbie had always assumed she was nothing like her dad, she was starting to fear that wasn’t true at all. That in spite of herself, genes were genes.

She was thinking how much she hated that as she walked by the alley and Old Man Eddie flagged her down with a wave.

“What’s up, dudette?”

“Nothing much,” she said.

He shook his head. “No use lying to Old Man Eddie.” He tapped a finger to his temple. “I know all. And I know you’re . . . off.”

She had to laugh. “If that’s true, then you tell me why.”

“Simple,” he said and stared into her eyes. “You’re hiding your true self.”

“What?” she asked, startled at the truth of that statement.

“Yeah, you’re walking with your shoulders up to your ears and your eyes are on your feet when you walk. That tells me you’re closed off, not wanting to share yourself. You’re hiding from the world and probably yourself.”

She blinked.

He smiled. “So what did you think I meant? I’ve got a feeling whatever you’re hiding is better than that bullshit I just made up.”

Ha. He hadn’t been all that far from the mark. “Nothing. I’m just . . . tired. And maybe a little stressed.” Or you know, a lot. “I’m not hiding anything. At all. Why would I? Hide anything, that is.”

“Hmm. Say it one more time and maybe I’ll believe you.” His smile was kind as he patted the bench next to him.

She sighed and sat. “You’re deceptively laid-back, but you’re not really laid-back at all, are you?” she asked. “You’re sharp as a knife.”

He laughed. “Here,” he said, and held out a clear plastic bag filled with brownies. “You need one.”

In the very worst possible way. So she took a brownie and dove in.

“So,” he said, smiling as she inhaled it and licked her fingers. “About that thing you’re hiding . . .”

She waggled a finger at him and eyed the baggie of brownies again.

“Not yet,” Eddie said. “Let the first one settle another minute first. These are a rather potent batch.”

She swallowed and stared at him as his meaning sank in. “You mean . . .”

He smiled.

“But . . .” She trailed off, a little horrified. She’d smoked a few times in college. She’d been a total and completely embarrassing lightweight who’d spent the rest of the day giggling and eating everything in sight.

Old Man Eddie shrugged.

Colbie narrowed her eyes. “Eddie, did I or did I not just eat a .

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