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“Look, Ethan, you’re a busy n the divorce papers and I’ll be on my way”

“No”

I blinked at him and he blinked back at me

“No? You don’t get to just say no”

“I do I get to just say no”

Ugh I needed Henny to tell me what to do in this situation

“Why?” I crossed my arms over my chest

“Because…you just got here Because we got ht I did I really thought I did “But I wouldn’t do that lightly”

“It was the tequila”

“There’s not enough tequila in the world tolike this unless I wanted to”

“So…you’re suggesting what? We stay married? You realize how insane that is, don’t you?”

“I do But…I don’t want you to leave”

“Well, hate to break it to you, but you don’t get to decide that”

“I know,” he said, stepping closer, and I stepped back “It’s your decision Entirely your decision But I have an idea…”

“That was how this whole thing started You having an idea”

He smiled at me, the dimple in full effect, and I’ in me not to kiss him That was the power of that smile

“That was my assistant on the phone,” he said

“City Council presidents have assistants?”

“We do…how do you know that? I didn’t have that job last year”

“I did some research on you”

On the plane to Denver I’d done a deep dive on my husband And his family He’d been elected City Council president pro teot back froas last year There were some pictures of his whole family and the inn and farm over the years Two happilyar red barn

They looked…fake Like a fairl could trust

‘”Then maybe you know that Christmas is the e part for the town My brother, who despite being a Neanderthal, is a big deal and his being here is bringing ined”

“Those guys in the face paint?”

“Yeah”

“That’s probably great for you”

“It is But we need help And you…you were a on the front desk”

“I was a bathrooh school” I shrugged “It’s like a crash course in difficult interactions”

“Lexie…is there any way you would stay and work the front desk? Just for a little bit Teeks Three tops”