Page 55 of Just Add Mistletoe
“Oh? A girls’ night out?”
“Not exactly.” Lori balanced her phone against her shoulder and picked up the casserole dish that was still warm. She headed toward the shop door, but paused before opening it. “It’s the girls and the guys. But I’m running late.”
Not late quite yet, but there was the risk of that. Not that she couldn’t be a little late. She tried to balance the casserole dish with one hand and open the door, but it really needed to be carried with two hands.
“Who’s your plus one?” her mom asked.
“What?” Lori gritted her teeth. She’d said too much. “Uh, my friend Malcom.”
And now he was out of the truck. Probably seeing that she was having a bit of difficulty.
“I’ve asked around about him—” her mom started.
“What do you mean you asked around?”
“Well, I talked to Lydia, and she said—”
The door opened, and Malcom was suddenly standing there. “Need an extra hand or two?” he asked.
“Is that him?” Her mom’s voice came through loud and clear. “Maybe I can say hello?”
“You’re not saying hello,” Lori bit out, then regretted her sharp tone. It would only be another thing to apologize for. Besides, Malcom could hear everything.
She handed the casserole dish to him, then grasped her phone. “Look, I’ll call you later. Love you.” She hung up before her mom could reply. “Sorry about that.”
When she looked up at Malcom, he only smiled. “I’d be happy to say hello to your mom.”
Lori huffed out a breath. “Don’t you dare.”
His brows shot up. “Dare what? Speak to your mom?”
She waved a hand at his person. “Be all amazing and stuff. My mom will be making wedding plans before you can hang up with her.” She turned to lock the shop door, giving her flaming cheeks a moment to cool off.
His chuckle was low. “She sounds like an entertaining person.”
“Oh, she is.” A text buzzed her phone, and Lori glanced at it. “Speaking of my mom, she’s now texting me. Wants to know where you grew up.”
Malcom’s eyes creased with his smile. “Tell her Montana.”
Lori put her phone on silent. “I think she can wait. How about we change the subject?” She crossed to the truck, and Malcom barely made it in time to open the door for her. She climbed into the passenger seat. “I’ll just hold the casserole on my lap, so it doesn’t slide around.”
Malcom set the dish on her lap after she put on her seat belt.
When he climbed into the other side of the truck, he paused before pulling out onto the road. “How are you?”
She released a slow exhale. “Fine. How are you?” How did he do that? Amid all the chaos, a simple question made her feel seen and noticed by him.
“I’m great,” he said, putting on his blinker. “The rest of my afternoon has been kind of crazy, but I’m hoping it’s all going to lead to some great stuff.”
Now Lori was curious. “Like what?”
He glanced over at her as they reached a stop sign where they’d turn left. “I want to bid for the condo project,” he said. “Take it over. I’m lining up investors. Austin is interested, he said. And there are a few others too. If I can get the final person on board, then I should be able to qualify for a bank loan.”
Lori stared at him. Austin was going to invest and . . . “You’re going to take it over from your brother?”
He smiled over at her, then turned onto the next road. “Essentially. I mean, he’s off the project because of his bankruptcy, so I’ll be approaching the city again. But I’m pretty sure the mayor will be happy to have my offer so quickly. We can start up again as soon as the bank approves it.”
“Wow.” Lori wasn’t sure what she felt. She was impressed, that was for sure, but it was more than that. A fluttering had started deep in her belly. “So you’re sticking around if that approval goes through?”