Beyond the Mistletoe: A Christmas Romance (Beyond Love Book 7) (10 page)

BOOK: Beyond the Mistletoe: A Christmas Romance (Beyond Love Book 7)
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I slid my hand into his and felt the immediate connection I so desperately craved but was afraid to let myself have.

We stopped at the front desk where they had a bag of marshmallows and skewers waiting for us. Derek grabbed everything with his free hand and led me down the hallway to the large wooden doors that opened onto the covered patio.

I expected to see other people around, but outside was completely empty. Large benches circled the fire pit and several outdoor heaters warmed the space up. The white of the snow caught the amber glow of the flames. There were two wool blankets folded on the bench in front of us. He placed the marshmallows and skewers on the bench and shook out one of the blankets, wrapping it around me before he looked up and smiled.

“What?” I whispered, following his gaze to the tiny green bundle dangling above us.

“We have to follow the rules,” he murmured, closing the gap between us.

Even in the frigid temperatures I immediately felt a rush of heat run through my body as he pressed the strength of his body against me, making my world spin. He tilted his head slightly and pushed my hair to the side, whispering for me to come closer. I nodded, and before I even had chance to move, his lips touched mine.

My blanket fell to the ground as I closed my eyes and melted into his embrace. His lips slowly parted, and I kissed him back, hungry for the companionship I was afraid to let myself have. I ran my fingers through his hair as our kisses deepened, and everything else drifted away. I no longer cared where I was or where I’d be tomorrow. For now, I was where I needed to be.

He ran his hands along my sides, and my body shuddered with the slightest touch. His fingers gently dipped along the curves of my waist; our kisses deepened, and the sweetness of his lips tasted beyond anything I’d imagined. I wanted so much more.

And that was the problem. No matter what I told myself, I wanted more than just a good time over the weekend. I wasn’t wired any other way, and he sensed it.

His lips slowly parted from mine, leaving a tingling sensation as I opened my eyes to see Derek smiling at me, his gaze taking me in.

He let out a deep sigh and shook his head while bending over to pick up the blanket that had slipped to the ground. I stood almost paralyzed by the longing that flooded my veins. I wanted to be kissed all over. I wanted to experience more of Derek. He sat on the bench and pulled me onto his lap before covering us both in the blanket.

“I’m not sure I can do just fun with you,” he murmured, his words landing deep into my core.

I rested my head on his chest and let out a sigh, feeling the strength in his arms as he held me.

“It’s always the way, isn’t it?” I whispered.

He nodded and placed a sweet kiss on my cheek.

 

Chapter Nine

 

 

I’d replayed our kiss over and over since the weekend away. I could still taste the sweetness of his lips as I sat here in the bakery on the Wednesday before Gabby’s wedding. The rest of the weekend had gone by in a blur. Derek and I’d managed to team up on the treasure hunt and chili cook-off. I looked for any reason to accidentally rub against him or feel his electrifying touch dance off my skin. The chemistry was undeniable, which made it even more difficult not to wind up in bed with him.

But if I had, I’d be even more obsessive about Derek, and there’d be feelings involved besides lust and daydreaming. I’d done an amazing job of protecting my heart since my divorce, and I wasn’t about to throw away all that hard work.

The door of the bakery chimed, and I made my way out front. Rush hour had already passed, and now was when the more leisurely crowd appeared.

“Hi there, Mr. Gibbs,” I said, waving at one of our regulars. His pure white hair was mostly hidden under his driving cap, but his blue eyes sparkled with pure joy.

“Good morning there, Emily,” he replied, tilting his hat slightly. “I see you’ve got the Christmas decorations up.”

“We finally made it happen.” I began working on his drink, a cappuccino, and asked what he’d like for a pastry. “Between Gabby’s wedding this weekend and her party last weekend, I thought I might not get to it.”

“They look splendid, especially the train. I’ve always had a fondness for trains.” He cleared his throat a few times. “I’d actually like to add an extra cappuccino, and two slices of cranberry bread instead of one.”

I spun around and flashed a grin. Walter Gibbs’ smile widened before speaking. “My lady found me.”

“A lady found you?” My brow arched. “How does a lady go about such a feat?”

Mr. Gibbs had lost his wife seven years ago, and he’d thrown himself into the antique store they owned. At eighty-five, he was considered the area expert on rare coins and decoys.

He gave a wry grin, which deepened the wrinkles around his kind eyes, and I couldn’t help but delight in the details of his recent find.

“She had a trunk full of ducks, and one of them turned out to be carved by A.E. Crowell. I put her in touch with an auction house, and let’s just say she doesn’t have to worry about the rest of her years any longer.”

I smiled, pouring the steamed milk into Mr. Gibbs’ cup.

“She had no idea what she had on her hands,” he continued. “One of the rarest of the rares.”

“A lot of dealers might have just bought it off her and sent her on her way.”

He frowned as my words settled over him.

“Isn’t that the truth?” he grunted. “And our world is only getting more ruthless, but I refuse to be a part of it. I’ve seen that if ya kick someone while they’re down, life has a way of cutting ya off at your knees, and I like my knees. Even though they’re really not mine any longer after all my surgeries.”

I chuckled and handed him a drink carrier and the bag with two slices of cranberry bread before ringing him up.

“So what’s her name?” I asked.

“Dorothy,” he answered. “Sweet Dorothy. I’m lucky our distance didn’t sway her to another. She’s a real looker.” Mr. Gibbs winked and I chuckled.

“A long distance relationship, huh?” I asked, handing him his change. “That seems like it could be really difficult.”

The door jingled and in came Gabby. Her cheeks were flushed with excitement.

“Distance should never be a problem when the hearts are one. Better to have someone you’re fond of somewhere than have no one you’re fond of anywhere,” he whispered.

His words made more sense than I cared to think about.

“Have a good morning, Mr. Gibbs.”

Gabby held the door open and took a deep breath in, waving with her free hand as Mr. Gibbs trundled out of the bakery.

“How are you doing this fine morning?” Gabby asked.

Mr. Gibbs didn’t respond, rather he made his way into the parking lot, and I answered for him as Gabby shut the door.

“Mr. Gibbs has found a lady friend,” I said.

“Is that so? That’s a surprise. He always seemed so disinterested in dating after his wife’s death.”

“Maybe he got too lonely. So what brought you in? I doubt it’s just to make sure the Christmas decorations are up.” I put both hands on my hips, knowing full well what was coming my way.

 “I wouldn’t have had to come all the way here had you answered my questions over text. This phone thingy is a really neat little gadget,” she said with a sarcastic undertone.

“I honestly don’t have an answer for any of the texts you sent.”

“You were interested in Derek, right?” she prompted, taking a seat at one of the tables.

“Yes.”

“Well, that’s the only answer you needed. We could all see the sparks flying between you two the entire weekend.” She furrowed her brows in confusion.

“It was fun to flirt a little,” I offered.

“What we witnessed wasn’t just flirting, Emily.”

“And maybe that’s the problem. It wouldn’t just be flirting, and he’s moving to Montana.” I dipped a teabag in a cup of hot water and wandered over to where Gabby was sitting. I glanced around the bakery, admiring my handiwork. I’d even managed to screw together the Christmas tree and spread fake snow around the base. “It’s so festive in here.”

“Don’t change the subject.”

“I’m not. There’s just nothing else to say. I don’t want to get wrapped up or invest in the idea of something that isn’t realistic. And I realized after last weekend, that no matter how much I think I could have a one-night stand, I can’t. It’s just not in me, even if it’s my only shot at a celebrity,” I teased, trying to lighten my delivery.

Gabby let out a deep sigh and nodded. “Well, you certainly left an impression on him.”

“How so?”

“He’s texted me nonstop asking if there’s going to be a seating chart for the reception and if there’s a chance his chair might be close to yours.”

“That only sounds like it would take one text.”

“And then he texted me to see if you’d mentioned him at all to me.”

My cheeks reddened. I hadn’t texted a word to anyone about Derek.

“And what did you say?”

“I hadn’t heard anything…but not to take it personally.”

I groaned.

“And he texted back about his ego having had it since meeting you.”

I chuckled.

“And finally he asked for your address.”

“You didn’t give it to him.”

“Would it matter?” she asked. “Maybe he wants to send you a Christmas card when he gets to Montana.”

The door jingled, and I stood up as another one of our regulars, Chloe, hurried inside. The breeze had picked up, and it almost felt like snow as she quickly guided her toddler into the warmth of the bakery.

“I think a blizzard is on the way,” Chloe announced as her toddler jumped up and down happily.

“If only we can get it to wait until after Saturday,” Gabby said, grinning.

“That’s right. You’re about to walk down the aisle,” Chloe said, blowing into her bare hands to warm them. “What on earth are you doing here? Emily can take care of the place.”

“Thank you,” I said, standing behind the counter.

“I’m trying to convince her to give this particular guy a shot,” Gabby said. “But she seems to want nothing to do with him.”

“Eggnog latte?” I asked Chloe. She often switched between eggnog and sugar cookie lattes during the holidays.

“Sounds perfect. Now spill,” she commanded, as she watched her little girl trundle over to the toy area. “I don’t get much adult time and this sounds fascinating.”

“Well, there’s this guy who is single, attractive, and extremely interesting and interested in Emily.” Gabby stood up to make herself a cup of tea.

“So you’re not attracted to him?” Chloe asked, keeping an eye on her little girl.

“Oh, no. She is very interested,” Gabby answered for me. “In fact, sparks flew all weekend between them.”

“Then what’s the problem?” Chloe asked, as I finished up her eggnog latte.

“Beats me,” Gabby answered.

“For one, he lives in Montana.”

“In all fairness, that could be an issue,” Chloe said, taking her cup to a table.

“Exactly.” Finally, someone on my side.

“But that can be overlooked. One of you can always move,” she added.

“He technically hasn’t moved to Montana yet,” Gabby said.

“So maybe he’ll fall madly in love and decide not to go,” Chloe said.

“Have you been borrowing my reading material again?” I teased. “Whose side are you on anyway?”

“I’m on no one’s side, which makes me a perfect person to bounce ideas off of.” She took a sip of her latte and shivered. “This hits the spot. What’s the worst that could happen if you continued seeing him?”

“My heart could get broken,” I offered, thinking that was a pretty fair worry to announce between women.

Chloe shrugged and wiggled her fingers in the air.

“That’s not the worst thing in the world. I’ve had my heart broken many times.”

I took a seat and propped my elbow on the table.

“I’m sure there are worse things out there, but it ranks as one of my top two life lessons not to repeat.” I grinned.

Chloe shook her head with determination, her dark curls falling below her shoulders. She wasn’t going to let me slide by with that assessment. I could see it in her eyes. “Come on. You’re alive. You’re healthy. Those are the blessings you should focus on. Not whether some man has control over your emotions.”

“Very true. I’m very grateful I’m alive and healthy, and I love my family. I love my life. So why do I want to invite in a complication that could turn out sour? I became so cynical and bitter after my divorce, and honestly, I just don’t want to see that side of myself again.” Hearing the words come from my own mouth felt liberating, and I had no idea why. Maybe I’d made light of things for so long I didn’t realize how much everything still bothered me.

“I can understand that,” Chloe said, nodding. “After my first divorce, I swore off all men and all complication.”

I glanced at Chloe’s little girl, sitting amongst wooden building blocks and chuckled. “How’d that work for you?”

“Exactly. If I had continued with that life motto of swearing off half of the world’s population, I wouldn’t be blessed with my little girl. Now, I’m not saying you need children to be fulfilled, but my husband turned out to be someone I can lean on when times are tough and vice versa. I can’t imagine facing some of the things alone that we’ve faced.”

BOOK: Beyond the Mistletoe: A Christmas Romance (Beyond Love Book 7)
7.33Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
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