“He's married?” Nicholas asked, relief filling his voice.
“Of course he's married,” Molly scoffed. She turned and looked at him. “He has absolutely no interest in me. I can't believe you'd think that we were a couple. If I didn't know better, I'd say you were...”
She trailed off as Nicholas went pale and refused to meet her eyes.
Jealous.
Molly’s eyes widened as the realization hit her like a ton of bricks.
Her thoughts melted into one, huge blur. She’d been so busy making sure he was enjoying Christmas that she'd never even considered him as a romantic option.
As much as she was growing to like him, she knew it was a terrible idea.
“Nicholas...” She didn't know how to finish her sentence. “We work together... You're kind of my boss... It's not a good idea.”
That was just one problem between them, but it seemed like the biggest.
They were two completely different people, and they lived in two completely different worlds. Nicholas would never be able to be at peace in a small town like this. He was made for New York with his fancy suits and expensive watch.
And Molly would never be able to be at peace in New York, not when she’d be so far away from her family, her friends and the school she held so dear in her heart.
It would never work.
“We’ll just get these, then,” Nicholas said quickly, plastering a smile on his face. He left Molly staring at him as he hurried to the nearest cash register. “Grant, we’re ready to check out.”
“You got it!” Grant was soon in place behind the cash register, striking up a friendly conversation with Nicholas.
Molly kept her distance, standing a few feet away, her mind still reeling.
Chapter 14
Nicholas
Nicholas's ego was bruised.
Usually, women were excited to go out with him. Usually, they smiled and giggled when he asked them to dinner. Usually, he didn't feel like a complete idiot.
But not Molly. She made him feel like an idiot. She even turned him down wearing a elf costume.
It grated on Nicholas’ nerves and made him second-guess himself.
Maybe he was being a fool.
Maybe the foolish spirit of Christmas had somehow gotten under his skin.
Maybe it was all the snow, all the Christmas lights, all the cakes, and all the snowballs.
Maybe he was falling hard for her.
Nicholas sank into the living room couch and sighed. He was already wearing one of his best suits for the concert tonight. He'd brought it for a potential client meeting, but was wearing it now. He wanted to look nice for Molly on her big night.
He then groaned, knowing that he really was being an idiot.
He looked down at his watch and tried not to panic. It was 6:15.
Almost time to leave.
Except, he felt like he couldn’t move a single muscle. He was afraid. Afraid she would look at him again like she did in that store. That she would say he was her boss and that they shouldn't. That she'd stop talking to him. That she'd stop smiling at him.