Free Love on the Lifts by Rachel Hawthorne Page A

explanation than having parents with a wicked sense of humor.”
    â€œIt’s only wicked if they’d known she was going to work in a bookstore.”
    â€œGood point.” He grabbed the mug of Delightful Decadence and walked away. No, it wasn’t exactly a walk. It was more of a swagger, brimming with confidence.
    And confident was surely what he was. He’d never worked here before, but the customers couldn’t tell from looking at him. He smiled and chatted and took their orders as though he’d been doing it all his life.
    I was impressed. He was really quite charming, and I thought his ability to fit in would probably serve him well if he did ever go to work for the FBI or the CIA. Watch out, badguys. Joe would have their number, charming them into confessing their illegal activities.
    Twilight had arrived by the time the crowd diminished enough so that Joe and I could leave.
    â€œDon’t forget about the party,” Paige called out as Joe and I were walking out the door.
    I waved back at her. “We won’t. See you soon.”
    â€œBoth of you!”
    I looked back at her and gave her a thumbs-up sign. When Joe and I were on the sidewalk, walking up the hill toward the condo, I said, “Paige has the hots for you.”
    Joe stopped walking. I stopped as well and looked at him.
    â€œYou’re kidding.”
    I shook my head and smiled. “Nope. She told me.”
    I wasn’t sure if he was blushing or if it was the cold breeze chapping his cheeks.
    â€œMaybe I’ll skip the party.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œYou think I want to get involved with someone in the witness protection program?”
    I laughed. “That’s just my theory. Besides, if you get close to her, maybe you can learn the truth about her name.”
    â€œWhat’s it worth to you?”
    I stared at him. “What are you talking about?”
    â€œFor me to go undercover, to get the information you want.”
    I rolled my eyes and gave him an impatient look. “Don’t do it for me. Do it for yourself, because you’re interested in her.”
    â€œOnly I’m not. So I guess we’ll never learn the truth about her past.”
    He started walking again and I fell into step beside him.
    â€œHow can you not be interested in her?”
    â€œHow can you be interested in Brad?”
    Okay. I wasn’t expecting that. Now I was the one to stop walking, my heart pounding hard enough to start an avalanche. Joe stopped as well, turned slowly, an eyebrow raised as though he actually expected me to answer his nosy question. I won’t even go into why his question was nosy and mine wasn’t, but it had something to do with my heart being involved and his not.
    â€œMy interests are none of your business,” I finally managed through the lump of emotion that had settled in my throat.
    â€œAnd my lack of interest in Paige is none of yours.”
    â€œYou don’t have to get so touchy. I wasn’t trying to butt into your business. I just thought you might want to know that someone thinks you’re hot.”
    â€œWell, I don’t need you doing any matchmaking for me. I happen to be very interested in someone else around here.”
    â€œThen you should have asked her to the movie.”
    â€œI did.”
    â€œAnd she said no?”
    Sighing, he shook his head. “Forget it.”
    He started trudging up the hill again.
    I hurried after him. “Did you meet her on the slopes?”
    â€œNone of your business.”
    â€œDoes Sam know about her?”
    â€œNone of your business.”
    â€œIf you point her out to me tomorrow, I’ll put in a good word for you.”
    â€œI don’t need you putting in a good word for me.”
    He was walking so fast that I was having a difficult time keeping up. He really was in good shape. He had to do aerobic workouts in addition to the weights or whatever it was he did to keep those