“I work with them a lot,” he said, a fond smile on his face. Then he must have remembered that we had been flirting before. “So, Hugh’s the town grump. What areyouknown for?”
“Why do I have to be known for anything?”
“This is a small town. Doesn’t everyone know everything?”
He wasn’t wrong, but I wasn’t sure how to answer. I was known for being kind. So kind to everyone in hopes I could make up for Brooke.
But that wasn’t an answer a guy like this was expecting.
“Makeovers. And cute outfits.”
“Definitely agree on that one. I think that skirt will be imprinted in my memory forever.”
“I could give you more to remember than a skirt.”
“Please do,” he said lowly.
I was pretty sure my heart would explode if I didn’t take a second to breathe. I stepped back and eyed him.
“How about a whole makeover? Just for you. The jeans and tight shirt can go—”But what a tragedy that would be.“And I could put you in ... the new frilly pink dress I just got in stock.”
He raised an eyebrow, a smile on his face. “Think I could pull itoff?”
“Probably. You should show the whole town to be sure, though.”
“Set the time and I’ll be there.”
I was hoping to make him blush as much as he was making me blush. I could see I was dealing with an expert.
“Where’s your manly pride?”
“I know who I am. Don’t need anything else.”
“I like the confidence. More men should take after you.”
“I don’t think the world could handle that.”
“I could,” I replied. “I could handle anything you give me.”
His eyebrows crept up. I could tell he liked that I was flirting back, and I wanted nothing more than for people to like me.
He opened his mouth to say something else, but we were interrupted by a loud voice. “Dean! I told you not to—” Wren looked at me. “Ignore him!”
Wren was a former reality TV star turned resident of Strawberry Springs. I hadn’t gotten many chances to talk to her, but we were friendly. She was currently working with Theo, the town’s former handyman, on the new coffee shop that everyone was excited about.
“She’s everywhere,” he muttered before turning to Wren. “For the record, she was making sure I was alive after a harrowing accident.” He gestured to the curb he’d hit.
Wren wasn’t moved. “Yeah, yeah. You’re alive, all right. Remember what I said?”
Dean let out a long sigh before turning to me. “Sorry to cut this short, but scary boss lady calls, and she says I need to make sure my reputation doesn’t reflect badly on her.”
“You’re known for having a reputation?”
“You could say that. Nice to meet you, Grace.” He gave me a heart-stopping smile before walking toward Wren.
I stared the whole way.
2