Page 3 of Just One Spark

"I'm sympathetic to that?—"

I touched her arm, and to my surprise, she didn't pull away."It's just for a few weeks.four to six tops.I promise.Then we say that we broke up because I was too focused on work, or something like that."

Her gaze lowered."That's believable."

I should have asked her what she meant by that but I was too excited that she was giving into this."So you'll do it?"

She sighed."I don't want to."

I looked at her hot cocoa bar, the slow cooker vat, and the fixings in containers."Maybe there's something I can do for you."

"You're opening a brewery, and I sell hot chocolate.It's not even in the same wheelhouse."

"They're both drinks," I said, not understanding where she was coming from.

She waved a hand."Let's be real, Row.My little table can't possibly compare to a brewery and whatever else you're building."

My heart fluttered at the familiar way she used to say my name—Row.I liked it more than I should."I'm sure there's some way I could return the favor."I had a lot of ideas and it had nothing to do with business, and more to do with getting to know the woman she was now.

Hattie's hand covered mine, and she smoothly moved it off her arm."I'll pretend to be your fiancee But I don't need anything in return."

I smiled."You won't regret this."

"I already do," she murmured, but I was too pleased to argue with her.

For the next few weeks, I'd be engaged to Hattie Collins.She'd have to spend time with me.We'd talk, and I’d finally find out why she didn't want to be friends anymore.And maybe, just maybe, she'd realize that there was something between us.

2

Hattie

"You have some explaining to do," my friend Jovie hissed before she turned to ask the next customer how she could help.

I couldn't believe that Rowan had declared me to be his fiancée in front of a reporter.The entire town would know by the end of the night.

My hands shook as I tried to focus on serving hot chocolate to the line of people at my table.I couldn't hide in my truck tonight.I was exposed to everyone at the Hart's Holiday Illuminary.

We didn't even talk anymore.No one would believe that we'd secretly dated and were engaged.

We'd have to be seen around town, holding hands, eating out, and attending holiday events.

I'd spent years avoiding the man I was now engaged to.

No one was going to believe it.

After Rowan pressed the button on the lights, the band took the stage and started playing.A few couples were dancing under a canopy of lights.

I had to admit that the Harts' property was magical tonight.As a general rule, I avoided the Harts.I specifically avoided Rowan Hart.

The line slowed as more people broke away to step onto the dance floor.

Rowan appeared in front of me, startling me out of my reverie."Will you dance with me?"

Jovie nudged me with her shoulder."Go.I've got this."

She wasn't officially an employee.She was a friend who asked to be paid in hot chocolate.It was a small price to pay to have help on a busy night.

Not seeing a way out of it, I walked around the table and put my hand in Rowan's.Ever since he'd gotten over the panic of naming me as his fiancée, he'd seemed relaxed, as if he was pleased with this arrangement.He shouldn't be happy about being forced to spend time together.I certainly wasn't.