Jennifer ran upstairs to run a brush through her hair. After last night, she didn’t want to get too excited about being with Shane, but yet, she couldn’t help but notice how her skin tingled when he was around. And how she hadn’t felt like this in years.
By the time he knocked on her door, she had worked herself up into a ball of nerves. She opened the door and he stood there, his dark hair slightly ruffled as if he had been running his hand through it. She wanted to reach up and smooth it down, but refrained. “Hey,” she said as she slipped her coat on and stepped outside.
“Thanks for coming with me.” He looked down at the porch. “I didn’t want to go alone.”
She looped her hand in the crook of his arm. “It will be okay. Let’s go check it out.”
On the way to Harrison, Jennifer tried to keep the conversation light and upbeat. She didn’t want Shane getting depressed. She clicked on the radio and turned it to the Christmas music station, then started singing along when her favorite, “Jingle Bells,” came on.
Shane looked at her sideways. “I didn’t know you sang.”
She laughed. “Well, I don’t know if I’d call it singing. It’s more like me trying to keep a tune.”
“You sound good. Keep singing.”
She tried to, but as he stared at her, she started laughing. “Only if you join me. I feel too self-conscious otherwise.”
“All right.”
They sang along to the Christmas songs on the radio the rest of the way to Harrison. When Shane arrived at The Shady Pine, Jennifer was happy they were both in a good mood. Shane looked at the brick building and took in a deep breath. She reached over and squeezed his hand. “Don’t worry. Let’s go inside and look around.”
“Thanks.”
Jennifer walked with him into the building. A woman approached them right away, graying hair pulled back, and a smile on her face. “What can I do for you?”
When Shane didn’t speak, Jennifer jumped in. “Can we have a tour?”
“Sure. Let me get Kelly. She’s the one who usually does them.” The woman disappeared behind a door and a younger woman appeared, wearing a pencil skirt.
“Welcome to The Shady Pine. My name is Kelly and I’d love to show you around the facility.”
Shane swallowed and Jennifer nodded. “Yes, thank you.”
Kelly took them to the cafeteria, which looked more like a nice restaurant with large open spaces and tablecloths. “We serve home-style meals, and we let the patrons order what they’d like. We find it suits their needs better. Makes them feel more comfortable.”
They passed through the commons areas where people were watching television together or playing games. Kelly showed them a room and how the patron decorated it like home. “We don’t like the hospital look here. We want our guests to feel at home.”
As they walked, she could see Shane nodding. When they got to the end, Shane picked up a pamphlet. “Thank you for the tour.” He shook Kelly’s hand. “I appreciate you showing us around.”
After they got in the car, Jennifer turned to him. “What did you think?”
“This is a very nice facility. I’m sure Mother would feel comfortable here.” He scrubbed his hand over his face. “I’m just not sure I’m ready to remove her from her home.”
“Take your time. You don’t have to decide right now.”
“You’re right.” Shane started the engine and leaned over, giving her a peck on the cheek. “Thank you for coming with me today. You’ve been a real support.”
Chapter 9
Shane peered out of the window, watching the snow fall. It had been two days since he’d seen Jennifer, and his muscles were aching to walk over to her house. What was wrong with him? He knew she was leaving in just a few days. Plus, she was not in his league. She never was. But if he were honest with himself, he missed talking to her. Missed being with her.
What a sucker.
Five more days and she’d be gone. She was all about getting out of this town when they were kids. And she’d gotten her wish. She had some fancy job in New York. She would never be able to think of him as anything other than a loser who still lived at home with his mother. A nobody.
Her words from so long ago stung and he shoved away from the window. He had to stop looking at her house, wishing things were different. A moment later he heard a scraping sound and couldn’t help himself. He looked out again.
Jennifer was outside, shoveling her mother’s walkway. Her hair was pulled up into a messy bun, and she had no gloves on. He sighed and grabbed his coat. He may be out of her league, but he wasn’t going to let her shovel the walkway by herself. Before he stepped out he grabbed a second pair of gloves.
She looked up as he walked up toward her, carrying a shovel. He extended the gloves. “The cold isn’t good for your skin.”
She blushed and shoved her hands into them. “Thanks. I actually tried to find mine, but couldn’t.”
“Glad I could help, then.” He began scooping off the part she hadn’t gotten to yet.
“Have you been busy?” She eyed him.
A bit of guilt wormed its way through his chest. He’d been ignoring her texts. “Yeah.”
“Your mom?” she asked, her voice softer.
“No. She’s been having a good couple of days.”
“Oh.” Jennifer pressed her lips together.
After a few minutes of silence, Shane couldn’t stand the guilt any longer. “Sorry I haven’t been very responsive.”
“That’s okay. You’ve got your own stuff going on.”
Crud, he could see the hurt in her eyes, and even though he resolved to distance himself, he couldn’t stand to see her like this. “Want to go to the Christmas tree lighting ceremony with me tonight?”
She looked at him, her gaze measured. “Would this be a fake date, or a real date?”
He didn’t want to call it a date, but didn’t want to hurt her even further. “How about two friends getting into the Christmas spirit?”
She smiled. “Sounds good to me.”
He pointed. “I’ll finish up this way if you want to take the end.”
“Sure.”
After he scooped for a minute, Jennifer stopped and turned to him. “Shane?”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks for coming over. I appreciate the…friendship.”
He wasn’t sure how to take the way she’d said it, but nodded and pretended to tip a hat. “You’re welcome.”
“I was hoping you weren’t mad at me.”
“Mad at you?” He leaned a hand on the top of his shovel. “What for?”
She stared down at her boots. “I guess I’ve been imposing on you the last few days. I didn’t mean to, and I’m sorry.”
Imposing? Gah, he hadn’t meant to make her feel that way. He shook his head. “You’re never an imposition.”
She gave him a small smile. “Thanks.”
He continued to shovel, but the mood had shifted, and he wanted to keep things light between them. “You remember that summer we had that block party?”
She looked up at him. “Yeah. They squirted water out of the fire hydrant and we thought that was the coolest thing. All the kids were running around it, getting soaked, while the adults grilled hot dogs.”
“And you found that tiny frog.”
“Oh, my gosh.” Jennifer pointed her shovel at him. “You wanted to put that thing in your mouth, and I wouldn’t let you.”
He chuckled. “I was showing off. I had a crush on you.” Shane almost choked. Why had he said that? He hadn’t meant to tell her about his life-long crush. He froze, waiting to see her reaction.
She laughed, shaking her head. “You were determined to get that frog in your mouth. I thought you were going to kill the poor thing.”
Shane sucked in a breath. She’d completely ignored what he’d said. Maybe it didn’t matter to her? Or she hadn’t paid attention? Whatever the reason, he was glad she hadn’t stopped to comment on it. “I never would ha
ve killed it.”
“You scared me to death.”
“For that, I sincerely apologize.”
She gave him a wide smile. “You’re sweet, Shane.”
He just shook his head at her and continued to shovel. He had to admit, his mood had lifted since he’d come outside to be with Jennifer.
Chapter 10
Jennifer walked beside Shane, the sound of the gathering crowd sending excitement through her. She’d missed this town tradition, and hadn’t even realized it. Along the sidewalk food trucks sold funnel cakes shaped into Christmas trees, hot chocolate with whipped cream, and marshmallow snowmen on a stick. A horse and carriage gave people rides through the small downtown district.
Shane’s hand brushed against hers and he looked down at her. “Your hands are freezing. Did you forget your gloves again?”
“No. I made an executive decision.”
He made a face. “You decided to let your fingers freeze?”
She held in a giggle. “No, I decided that gloves would be too bulky for tonight.” She pointed to his hands. “You’re not wearing them.”
“All right. You win. But we should get you some hot chocolate to warm up your fingers.”
She grinned at him. “Deal.”
Shane steered them toward the line. As they waited, he rubbed his hands together. “So, tell me about your fancy job in New York.”
She raised an eyebrow. Where had he heard that? “Fancy job?”
“Yeah, your mom told me about some high-paying gig you found. She was bragging on you one time. I forget what she said you were doing, though. What is it you do?”
Oh, brother. Her mother had been lying to people around town? That’s just great. Jennifer snorted and felt her cheeks redden. “I don’t have a high-paying job. I’m an assistant.”
He seemed surprised. “Really? I’m sorry. I could have sworn your mother said—”
“I’m sure she did,” Jennifer interrupted. “But Mother is a bit too concerned about appearances.”
“Oh.” He shifted. “Well, an assistant is a fine job. Who do you work for?”
“Thomas and Williams. It’s an ad agency.”
“Are you an assistant to Thomas or Williams?” Shane chuckled at his own joke.
“I’m actually an assistant to an assistant.” She blew a strand of hair from her face. “I know it sounds glamorous, but I really spend the day running errands for people.”
Shane slipped his hand around hers and his warm skin sent tingles up her arm. “I’m sure you’re invaluable.”
She squeezed his hand. “Not really, but thank you for trying.”
It was their turn to order, so Shane stepped up to the window. After a moment he handed her a cup of hot cocoa, keeping one for himself. He paid and they continued to walk toward the square, cups of steamy liquid in hand. He turned to her. “Are you happy in New York?” Then he winced. “Sorry. I didn’t mean it to sound like that. I was just trying to make conversation.”
She didn’t mind Shane asking about how she liked New York. To be honest, she’d been trying to find a way to bring it up since part of the reason he didn’t want to get too cozy with her was because she was going back there. “No, it’s okay. I know what you meant. And I don’t know, to be honest.” She snuck a peek at him. “I have been wondering what things might look like if I decided to move back here.”
Shane had just taken a sip of his hot chocolate and choked on it. He coughed for a second before staring at her. “You what?”
She bit her lip self-consciously. Was it too presumptuous for her to say? She didn’t want Shane to feel awkward, but yet, she wanted him to know she liked him enough to explore where a relationship could go between them. “I, uh—”
“Jennifer?”
The voice made Jennifer freeze and turn around slowly. “Mark?”
Jennifer felt the color drain from her face as Mark stood there, his arm around some Barbie doll blonde. He pointed to her. “Hey, it’s been a while. How’ve you been?”
A while? Try, since he left her standing at the altar. The humiliation descended upon her once again, and she had a hard time not digging a hole in the snow. “I’m fine.”
Mark’s gaze traveled over Shane, and then back to Jennifer. “I heard you’d moved to New York. Things not work out there?” He said it like he was talking to a child, and Jennifer’s neck heated.
Shane took a step forward. “She’s doing fine in New York.”
“Really?” Mark shot a sneer at Shane. “And who are you?”
Jennifer wanted to punch Mark. Or sink into the earth. He really was a supreme jerk. How could she not have seen it when they were dating?
Shane put his arm around her. “I’m her boyfriend, and I think you’d best be getting on your way.” Jennifer might have imagined it, but she thought she saw Shane flex his muscles, which did look intimidating, especially since Mark’s arms were about as thick as wet spaghetti noodles.
Mark scoffed a little, then tugged on his Barbie doll’s arm. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.” The woman just followed him away, her plastic smile in place.
Jennifer peered up at Shane. “Thanks.”
“What a jerk.”
“I know. I was so dense. I have no idea what I ever saw in him.” How embarrassing to realize you were with someone like that. He was a charmer, but she should have seen him as he truly was. A handsome face with rotten insides.
Shane took a sip of his hot cocoa. “Give yourself a break. You’re too hard on yourself.” He pointed to the large fir tree the town always decorated. “Hey, they’re about to turn on the lights.”
She turned to look and the mayor signaled. The tree came to life with a thousand twinkle lights, a golden star on top. The crowd made an appropriate “Ahh” noise and Shane chuckled. “It looks the same every year. Why does everyone act like it’s something new and exciting?
“Tradition.”
He smiled down at her. “Come on. Let’s take a carriage ride.” He pointed to the man guiding the horses to the side so the couple could get off.
Jennifer melted a bit. She’d always wanted to take a romantic horse-drawn carriage ride through the snowy streets. Maybe now would be a good time to continue their conversation about her moving back to the small town they’d grown up in.
Chapter 11
Shane regretted his rash decision to suggest the carriage ride as soon as they got in and Jennifer snuggled up to him. Her hands were freezing, as always, so he held them between his own and now his stomach was filled with nervous energy. He couldn’t stop thinking about the amazing kiss they’d shared just a few short days ago, and how he wanted another taste of her lips.
He was such an idiot. He should have learned his lesson years ago. And now Jennifer was going to break his heart again, he knew it.
She looked up at him, a smile stretching across her face. “This is nice.”
The horse’s hooves clopped along as they traveled through one of the town’s quaint neighborhoods, the lit-up houses making the scene picturesque. “Yeah, it is,” he had to admit.
“So, about me moving back…”
Before Shane could think, he pressed his finger up against her lips. “Let’s not talk about that right now.”
Touching Jennifer’s soft lips had been a mistake, but he couldn’t pull away. His finger trailed down to her chin, hooking it and lifting until their lips were so close he could feel the heat from them. He cupped her face, his fingertips exploring the softness of her skin. She closed her eyes and that’s all the invitation he needed.
His lips moved over hers with a mind of their own. Kissing Jennifer was a dance he could get easily get lost in. Maybe he already was. Her lip balm tasted of strawberries, and a fire ignited in him as she placed her hands on his chest.
He wanted this feeling to last forever, but he knew it wouldn’t. Someone better would come along and Jennifer would forget about him once more. Someone with more money, or more social status. She was not
, and never would be, his. He pulled back, the torture from wanting her too much for him to bear.
Jennifer studied him. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” He swallowed, sure she could see everything in his mind written across his face.
“You’re lying.”
Yep. She could tell. He sighed and rubbed his forehead. “I can’t have a relationship with you.”
She looked down at her hands. “What if I moved back here?”
And there it was again. What was he supposed to say to that? Guilt rose in him for lying in the first place. He had to tell her, or he would forever be lying to her. “It’s not that.”
“Then what is it?”
“I know what you really think of me.” There. He’d done it. He’d opened up that can of worms, and now he sat there and watched the look on her face, knowing there was no way he could go back now.
She pulled her eyebrows together. “What are you talking about?”
He swallowed, trying to find a way to explain himself. “Look. You and I aren’t really friends anymore.”
Confusion entered her expression. “Sure we are.”
“When was the last time we talked? Before this Christmas?”
He could see her mind working, trying to puzzle out what he meant. She backed away from him. “I don’t know. In high school, I guess.”
“No. Not in high school.” His chest ached as he watched her shake her head. She really had no clue.
“What are you saying?”
“We haven’t been friends for a long time, Jennifer. Not since you chose the popular kids over me.”
“I did not. There was no choosing. There was—”
“I heard you,” he blurted out. The carriage slowed and he looked out, realizing they were back at the square where they’d started.
“What?” she said as she took the driver’s hand and he helped her down. Shane climbed down after her.
“Thanks,” he said, tipping the driver. Then he turned back to Jennifer. He drew in a breath and let it out slowly. “Look. I heard you with your friends. They wanted to know why you hung out with me all the time. You shrugged it off. Said I was nobody.” Shane tried to make it sound like it wasn’t a big deal, but bringing it up also brought up the pain from those words. He flinched and turned away from her.
Love, Snow and Mistletoe: Four Sweet Christmas Romance Novellas Page 4
