Zoe

One month later

“Have you met Logan Chance?” Hope, the host of “Holidays with Hope,” asks me as the stylist for LGC flatirons her wavy blonde hair into silk. Tonight, I’m her guest for thirty minutes, showcasing all of my soaps. To say I’m nervous is an understatement.

“The owner of this channel? No, not yet. What’s he like?”

“He’s a great guy. It’s funny, he became addicted to a shopping channel and decided one day to buy it. And that’s how LGC was created.”

“Ah. Where does the ‘G’ come from?” I ask, adjusting the red bow tying my shirt together.

“Graham Steele, you must know him. He’s the other owner.”

Just the mention of his name, sets my heart racing. To say I’m not sad about the fact I haven’t seen or heard from Graham would be a lie.

His purchaser, Mark, held up Graham’s end of our bargain, even though I never would have expected that, and I’m currently in production to have my soaps in every cabin of Mountain Goat Resort. I debated whether to accept, but in the end, Mark convinced me by saying Graham really wanted the deal. It feels flat somehow.

“Oh, I didn’t know that,” I finally respond. “I know his sister is a VP. That’s who offered me the deal.”

The producer of the show calls us on set, and everything is pushed out of mind except for the fact I’m about to be on television.

“We’re going to sell the fuck out of your soap,” she assures me, rising from the makeup chair.

“Let’s hope.” I laugh. “No pun intended.”

She cringes, slightly. “Honey, you just leave the funny stuff to me.”

I follow her on set, unable to believe I’m really here. Ever have your life happen in a whir of commotion? That’s how the past month has been. Busy on top of busy, getting ready for LGC to run a Valentine’s Day promotional preorder for my soaps. We have a seat on the white, comfy couch, and I smooth down my black skirt, and take a deep breath.

The cameraman counts down and then the red-light flicks on, showing us we’re live. My heart jumps into my throat, but I keep a smile glued on as Hope does her little intro.

“So, next up, we have Zoe Walters here with her Serendipity Soap collection. I just love these soaps.” She turns to face me.

“Thank you, Hope,” I say, not really sure where the words are coming from, but somehow, I launch into a little memorized promo spiel about my soaps.

“Let’s go show everyone what you’ve made.”

We stand and move over to a display table with a variety of my products. Hope picks up the peppermint bar shaped like a heart. “This is great for a Valentine’s Day gift. It not only moisturizes, but it also leaves the skin feeling supple and smooth.”

“That’s right. These soaps are designed with that sensitive winter skin in mind.”

“Be sure to grab these soaps,” she speaks to the viewers at home with a toothy grin, “they’re currently flying out the door.”

“We should shut that darn door, Hope,” I say, giving her a wink.

She smiles back. “We have a caller on the line. Let’s see what they have to say.”

“Hi, this is for Zoe,” the caller says. The familiar timbre of the voice on the line sends chills all over my skin. “I’ve used the soap and I have to say,” he chuckles softly, “it kind of turns me on.”

Unable to believe Graham would call, I stand statue still. Hope intervenes as quickly as possible. “Well, thank you for calling.”

“Wait,” Graham’s voice calls through the speaker, “Zoe, I want to talk to you.”

Hope glances nervously at me, and the cameraman talks rapidly into his headset. I still have my smile plastered on my face, trying my best to remain calm, but my heart is galloping a million miles a minute. Say that three times fast.

“Graham,” my smile slides off my face as I stare into the camera, hoping Trudy doesn’t see any of this, “it’s probably not a good idea for you to call in?” I need to end this call, stat.

The Christmas music lightly playing in the background comes to an abrupt halt. I’m not even sure if the camera is even still filming at this point, and I no longer care. All I care about is the man on the other end of the phone line.

“Zoe, I’ve missed you. And not the ‘hey, I haven’t seen you in a while’ type of miss you. But, more of the ‘I need you here right now’ type of miss you.”

My heart aches, my eyes misting over with unshed tears, and I can’t do anything but tell him the truth, “I’ve missed you too.”

“I have something for you.”

I stare into the camera, because I’m not sure where to look at this point. All I want more than anything is to see Graham. Just this one time. “Ok.”

“Come outside.”

I look over at Hope. “Well go, honey,” she urges.

“Oh ok, right.” In a rush, I remove the microphone pack from around my waist, set it on the table with my soaps, and exit the set. I grab my coat and then rush out the back door. When I step outside, the wind blows the last of the snowfall around from last night. And then I see him. Graham, in all his glory, standing next to a one-horse open sleigh.

“Graham, what are you thinking? What if Trudy sees that or someone tells her?”

“What are you talking about? Why would I care if Trudy sees that? She can fuck off.” He moves closer. “I wanted to call you so many times,” he whispers.

“I wanted you to. But, I don’t want you to lose the resort.”

“What? How would I lose the resort?”

I tell him everything Trudy told me about the marriage, and her father taking over if their wedding didn’t happen. I tell him how I just wouldn’t be able to live with myself if he lost his resort.

He laughs. “Yeah, well that shit is just not true.”

“No part of it is?” I ask unable to believe she’d be so manipulative.

“None of it.” He kisses my cheek. “He isn’t even on the board.” Then he kisses my other cheek.

“I could’ve never seen you again…” my words fail me.

“You should have asked me.” He kisses the tip of my nose. “It’s ok. I forgive you.” He gives me a sexy smirk. “But, this means you more than care about me.”

“Was it you who got me the deal here?” I ask, stepping closer to him, trying my best to read his eyes.

The cold wind can’t put out the heat between the two of us. He steps closer, his arms wrapping around my waist. “You got that on your own. I was telling the truth your soaps turn me on.”

Even though I know it’s selfish, I can’t help myself. “Are you turned on right now?”

He leans in. “Very turned on.”

Wanting to feel him again, I wrap my arms around his neck. “We should take care of that.”

He smiles against my lips. “We really should.”

He helps me into the sleigh and nestles me under a faux fur blanket with him. The horse trots off through a small park filled with snow as we sit cuddled in the back. The driver steers the sled around, and I smile up at Graham.

I pull back, gazing into his chocolate eyes.

I kiss his lips, his nose, his cheeks, his lips again, and then lean back. “I do more than care about you.”

A light snow falls all around us and Graham gathers me in his arms, holding me close.

“See isn’t this fun?”

“Yeah, it kind of is.” I rest my head on his chest and can hear his heart beating faster. “You were right, baby. I just wasn’t with the right person.”

He’s so perfect. I’m going to love dating this man.

And I’m going to make sure he loves dating me too.