Page 31 of A Newport Christmess

I lifted my hands in disbelief. “Are you serious right now?”

A delighted smile danced on her face. “Friend seems a subjective term around here, but I guess I’ll claim him.”

Okay, I deserved that.

Jim sent me an apologetic look. “Sorry, man. With how intently you were watching her, you kind of gave off stalker vibes.”

Quinn covered her mouth, her eyes bright with suppressed laughter.

“Nope,” I said through a grimaced smile. An uncomfortable amount of heat flooded over me. “Just friend vibes.”

Jim shook his head, a smirk visible through his beard. “No wonder she’s confused about your friendship. I definitely don’t look at my friends like that.”

I opened my mouth to defend myself but shut it again when I couldn’t think of an adequate response.

Quinn reached out and touched Jim’s arm, and I refused to feel envious of him. “Thank you,” she said. “I’m glad to know there are people willing to step in when they feel the need to.”

He winked at her. “I’m glad my services weren’t required. Though I’ll be standing right over there”—he pointed to the register—“if you change your mind about him.”

Quinn awarded him with her smile, then she turned it on me when he’d walked away. “You were watching me intently?”

My eyes flicked to the ceiling. “Jim exaggerated. I wasn’t watching you that intently.”

The laugh she’d apparently been suppressing finally escaped. “He thought you were a stalker. You’re lucky I came to your rescue. Did you see the size of his arms?”

“You’re going to hold this over my head, aren’t you?”

Her expression turned mockingly thoughtful. “Yes, I think I will.”

I started toward the other side of the store with purpose.

“What are you doing?” she asked, following me.

I stopped in front of the rack she’d been looking at earlier. “I’m making a deal with you.”

Her face scrunched up in confusion until I grabbed the coat I’d seen her check the price on and held it up. “You won’t say a word about any of this, and I’ll buy you this coat.”

She lifted her brow in challenge. “That coat is a hundred and twenty dollars.”

I didn’t budge. “Do we have a deal?”

“I already have a coat.” She gestured to her jacket as proof. “I don’t need another one.”

I rubbed the material of her sleeve between my fingers, careful to not actually touch her. “That’s not a coat. It’s a snowboarding jacket. Those are two very different things, especially on the East Coast.”

“And what would I do with that beastly thing when I get back to San Diego? I’ll never use it.”

“I don’t care what you do with it when you get home.”

She shook her head. “I’m not letting you buy me anything else. You’ve already paid for my medicine and my groceries.”

“That was different. This is a trade, and I’d be very grateful if you’d agree—preferably before Nikki gets back and has more blackmail to use against me.”

Quinn grabbed the coat, and I was sure it was a deal closure, but she put it back on the rack instead. “I won’t say anything to anyone. I promise.” Her expression was so sincere I nearly faltered. But this had never been about her not telling anyone. It was about her needing a real coat so she didn’t freeze while she was here.

I grabbed the coat again and started toward the register.

“Landon, I won’t accept it.” She trailed behind me.