Falling For Christmas: an Angel's Lake novella

by Jody Holford

  Cam looked down at her, lowered his head. “We won’t be long. You okay here? We’ll go see the lights as soon as Elliot and I get back?”

  She smiled up at him. “I’m fine. You’re dropping me off with one of New York’s hottest fashion designers and a bunch of adorable little girls.”

  “Ha,” Kate said loudly. “New York swallowed me whole. I was never at the top of their elite list.”

  Elliot placed Janie on her feet, watched her toddle off toward the hallway, then pulled his wife into a hug. “You’re on mine. Always have been.”

  Good lord. This was a Hallmark move wrapped in warm and fuzzy slippers.

  The guys left and Kate asked her again if she wanted a drink.

  “I’m good. Thanks.”

  When they went into the living room, Georgia was drawn to the tree. It stood in the far corner, next to the fireplace. A dog bounced off the couch, running over to greet them.

  “This is Indy.”

  Georgia knelt down, petting the dog. She’d taken the cat when her ex was out because she’d known it was the humane thing to do. But she’d always wanted a dog.

  “Hi, Indy. You’re sweet.”

  The dog whole-heartedly agreed and proved it by trying to climb on Georgia’s knees.

  “Down, Indy.”

  The three girls, Janie in the lead, joined them in the living room.

  “You’re the candy lady.” Beth—or Grace—grinned down at her.

  Indy abandoned Georgia in favor of one of her people but Janie toddled over, handing her a book.

  “You read.” She sat on Georgia’s lap.

  Georgia sank all the way to her butt, inhaling the powdery scent of baby and the feeling of family. A sharp pang rocked through her as she realized how lovely it’d be to have this for her very own. With the right man.

  While Georgia read, the girls chatted with Kate, doing an admirable job of negotiating a movie in her and Elliot’s bed.

  “Mooey?” Janie looked up, hopeful.

  “She gets to watch with you,” Kate said. Her stance said no-nonsense but her gaze was soft.

  “Okay,” sighed one of the twins. “Come on, Janie.”

  “Say goodbye to Georgia,” Kate reminded.

  “Bye, Georgia,” the twins chorused.

  “Mama, come,” Janie said, making a grabby hand toward Kate.

  Argh. How freaking adorable. Since when does your heart melt over babies. You were afraid to get attached to the cat.

  “In a bit, sweetie.”

  When the girls left, Georgia joined Kate on the couch.

  “The guys will be back soon, so dish,” Kate said, pulling her knees up to her chest to wrap her arms around them.

  Georgia laughed. “Excuse me?”

  Kate rolled her hand in a ‘go-on’ gesture. “He’s so quiet. It’s nice to see him with someone who might pull him out of his shell a little.”

  Warmth spread through her at this veiled approval from someone she admired. “We’re just dating. It’s not—"

  “Please,” Kate interrupted. “You matter to him. He’s had casual dates here and there. I’ve never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you. Rumor has it he brought you to the Andrews’ cabin. That’s a big deal. That place is for family and the people they love. Or, could fall in love with.”

  Nerves pummeled her like fists on a heavy bag.

  Kate slapped a hand over her mouth. “I’ve scared you.” Her words were muffled but Georgia heard them.

  “It’s just…I’m not the kind of girl he needs. He is sweet and quiet and so incredible but I tend to lead things off the rails.”

  Kate grinned, wrapping her arms around her legs again. “Maybe you haven’t been driving the right train.”

  Georgia’s mouth opened. Closed. Opened again and then she burst into laughter. She’d spent so long worrying about things, living paycheck to paycheck, town to town. She was always checking over her shoulder to see if her ex was coming for his cat, and she hadn’t even realized she was missing the most basic of things: friendship.

  “This town has some pretty incredible men. I can’t believe he’s not already married with kids.” The thought sliced a nick in her heart. He’s not yours. He’s not a cat you can steal, telling yourself you’re giving it a better life.

  “He’s never even come close. He was with his high school girlfriend for a long time.”

  They continued to chat about everything from their guys—whoa, that felt good to say—to work, Kate’s family and what it was like living in New York.

  By the time Cam picked her up, Georgia knew she was becoming attached to more than the place and this man. She could definitely see why so many people came to Angel’s Lake and decided to stay.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Three nights later, Cam knocked on Georgia’s door, hoping he wasn’t overstepping. When she opened—she’d been expecting him—her jaw dropped.

  “What’s all that?”

  Her gaze travelled over the huge bags he carried. “Just some decorations. I thought maybe we could add a little holiday cheer.”

  She grinned, letting him in. “Sounds good, Martha Stewart.”

  When she shut the door, he placed all the bags down, snagging her wrist before she turned away. Pulling her up against him, he closed his mouth over hers in a kiss that made it clear just how much he’d been thinking about her today. Hell. Every day. Every minute.

  When he pulled back, her gazed had gone dreamy. “Uh? What’s that?”

  “You keep referring to me as women. I’m going to get a complex.”

  Her hands stroked up under his bomber jacket, pressing against his muscles like she was trying to brand him. “No complex needed. It’s very clear you’re a man. I’m just not used to a guy being so sweet or aware of things like holiday cheer.”

  Pressing a kiss to the tip of her nose, he smiled. “That’s because you were with the wrong guys.”

  Because the good ones are hard to find and harder to keep. She kept the thought to herself.

  “I’m making nachos. I know I said dinner but I was feeling snacky. Is that okay?”

  She let him take the bags over to the couch while she went back to dicing toppings.

  “Nachos are always okay. You might be the perfect woman.”

  She glanced over her shoulder, sending him a playful grin. “What would seal the deal on that title?”

  His chuckle did strange things to her belly. She liked him in her space more than she should. “You’d have beer in the fridge.”

  She pointed the knife she was holding and gave a victorious, “Yes! I do. Help yourself.”

  His laughter wrapped around her and when he brought her a beer as well, she couldn’t fight the happiness she felt.

  “I think I deserve a sash or a crown or something,” she said. She grabbed a cookie sheet from the cupboard, opening a bag of tortilla chips.

  “I agree. Even better would be if that’s all you had on.”

  She almost dropped the chips. She stared at him. His cheeks went the color of Santa’s suit. Setting down the bag, she closed the distance between them.

  “What happened to Officer Shy Guy?”

  He chuckled, buried his nose in the crook of her neck. When his lips trailed up, she shivered. They stopped at her ear. “He gets more comfortable around you every time. Then he says things that are maybe better thought than spoken.”

  She pulled back. “No. It’s always better to say what’s on your mind.”

  Georgia couldn’t stand guessing games. It’d be a refreshing change to be with a man who didn’t mind sharing how he felt, what he thought.

  Cam’s fingers threaded through her hair. “Okay. I’m a little in love with you.”

  Her heart spasmed. She wondered, as dots danced in front of her vision, if her lungs could actually close down. He’d sucked all of the air out of them.

  “Hey,” he whispered. He pulled her close. “Breathe. It’s okay. You said to share what’s on my mi
nd. It’s you. That doesn’t mean you have to feel this way back.”

  “You deserve so much.”

  “I’m happy right here. Happier than I can remember being in a very long time.”

  Her heart raced but her lungs made an attempt to work again. “That’s a lot of pressure.”

  His one-sided grin was so boyish and charming, she wanted to hug him tight. “No pressure. I say this to all the girls.”

  She half-laughed, half-sobbed. “Sure, you do.”

  Cam pressed a kiss to her forehead, lingered there a moment and she let herself imagine…what it’d be like. Niffy wound between their legs, purring loudly. Cam leaned down, picked him up.

  “Hey, bud.”

  The cat meowed in response making them both laugh.

  “I’ll get these in the oven and then you can show me what you brought.”

  “Sounds good.”

  He’d scared her. Awesome. You either can’t talk to women or you scare them off. Way to find a happy medium. Still, she looked happy, her brows scrunched in concentration as she looked for a perfect spot to place the miniature ornament on the small tabletop tree he’d brought.

  “Where did you get this stuff?” She chose the closer to the back, by the window.

  “At a store. It’s weird but, this time of year, a bunch of stores carry all sorts of decorations, trees, candies. This whole Christmas thing is really catching on.” Cam added garland to her narrow mantle place. She’d been joking, calling him Martha Stewart but he’d grown up with a mom and three sisters. He knew how to pitch in or take the lead.

  “You are a very funny man.”

  Her arched brow said otherwise. “Wait, seriously? Did you buy this for me?”

  He joined her by the tree, wrapped his arms around her waist. “Georgia, it’s some decorations. It’s not a big deal.”

  She narrowed her gaze, poking him in the shoulder. “You’re behaving very much like a steady boyfriend, mister.”

  Pressing playful kisses along her cheek, across the bridge of her nose to her other cheek he murmured, “When you say stop, I stop.”

  The hitch in her breath when his lips touched her ear spurred him on. He couldn’t get enough of her and wondered if the urgency was because she was so intent on putting a time limit on them.

  When his hands slid down, he stopped, chuckled. “Your ass is vibrating.”

  He loved her smile. She pulled her phone out of her pocket, glanced down at it. Cam did the same, not to be nosey but because his head was tilted that way.

  He saw a quick flash of the text before she stepped back.

  You took what’s mine

  “Georgia?” He didn’t like how pale her face had gone.

  She shoved the phone back in her pocket. “Uh…what?”

  He gestured to her hands even though she’d tucked the cell away. “What was that and why do you look like you’ve seen a ghost?”

  “It’s nothing. Spam. Wrong number.”

  Irritation flared quick and hard. He stepped up to her, nudged her chin up with two fingers. “You can tell me to go. You can make the rules and I’m okay with that.”

  She started to speak but he cut her off. “I’m not okay with lying. So, don’t. I’d rather you say nothing than lie to me.”

  Her lips trembled. He wanted to pull her in, soothe her but he wasn’t negotiating on this. He couldn’t be with someone who lied to him. No matter how hard or fast he was falling.

  His breath felt shallow as he waited her out.

  “I stole something from my ex.”

  Shit. “Okay.” He knew how to keep his voice level. Calm. Knew how to use silence.

  Georgia stepped back. “Niffy isn’t mine. It might have been wrong to take him but he was half starved by the time I went back to get my stuff.”

  If he’d let her go, her ex was already an idiot. If he abused animals, he was a whole host of other things, too.

  “He wants his cat?”

  She looked up at him, her gaze guarded. He wondered how many people had let her down in the past.

  “I’m not giving Niffy back. He’s mine now.”

  Relief filled Cam’s body that it wasn’t something…more. Irritation that her ex was screwing around with her over an animal he didn’t want beat some of that relief back.

  “Have you tried talking to him?”

  “No. He doesn’t know where I am.”

  Cam shook his head, put both hands on his waist. “We haven’t been able to pin anything on Dave. I wish you’d told me earlier that you suspected your ex. We could have watched for different things.”

  “I’m trying here. Because it’s you. Because, as much as I didn’t want to, I care about you. Relationships are my kryptonite. I suck at them.”

  “I don’t have a cat for you to steal so we should be okay,” he said before thinking his words through.

  Georgia’s lips formed a little ‘o’. Then she laughed, shaking her head as she walked back over to him. “You are a surprise, you know that?”

  “So are you. Cat-napper. I’ve never dated a thief before,” he said, enjoying the way teasing her eased the tension from her stance.

  “Stop.”

  Pulling her close, his smile faded. “Seriously, though. If he comes after you and tries to press charges, there could be issues. We could be proactive.”

  “There’s no we in this, Cam. This is me. My ex. My cat.”

  Cam pressed his teeth together to keep from arguing.

  “I won’t lie but you don’t get to step in and handle things for me.”

  “Just promise me you’ll tell me if there’s anything else.”

  They could compromise. Whether she liked it or not, he’d keep her safe.

  “I promise.”

  They finished the decorating, snacking on the nachos she made. It wasn’t until they were watching a movie on her couch that he brought it back up.

  “Is your ex dangerous?”

  Her shoulders stiffened under the arm he had wrapped around her. “He isn’t violent. He makes a lot of stupid decisions and not all of them were completely legal.”

  “What’s his name?” Cam could run him through the system, know who he was looking for.

  Georgia tilted her head back. Her hair tickled his chin. “I said I’d handle it.”

  “From what I’ve seen, your idea of handling it means ignoring the warnings and threats. You said he didn’t know where you are but if it’s not Dave vandalizing your things, someone else is. It could be him.”

  Niffy jumped up onto Georgia’s lap, nudging her chin with his pink nose. “Hey, buddy. You’re a good boy.” He watched her pet the cat, felt like she was using the time to gather her words.

  When Niffy jumped down, Georgia sat forward, turned to him. “I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time. You’re used to taking care of others. We’re going to have to find a way to meet in the middle.”

  The fact that she was willing filled him with happiness and hope. This was the same woman who, a week ago, told him there was no chance for the two of them.

  Cam leaned in, pressed his lips to hers, letting one hand drift up her arm to curl around the back of her neck. “I think middle ground would be me staying the night.”

  He felt her smile. “To make sure I’m okay.”

  Her hands pressed against his chest as she worked her way closer.

  “Not just that,” he whispered. “I can keep you warm. If you want water in the middle of the night, I could get it.”

  She laughed, soft and quiet. “It sounds like you’re a very good houseguest.”

  “The best.”

  When she leaned into him, he went back onto the cushions of the couch, taking her with him.

  It was a couple moments before she whispered in his ear, “Then I guess you can stay.”

  He knew he was putting his heart on the line when his immediate thought was, for good, I hope.

  One step at a time. Or maybe, one kiss at a time. Either way, he was
in no rush.

  Chapter Seventeen

  The days leading up to Christmas were hectic. It was as if Angel’s Lake had decided she was welcome in the fold. Georgia felt like she didn’t stop moving from the second she opened the store until the minute she closed.

  Fortunately, she hadn’t had any other incidents and she’d just convinced herself that her ex was done being an idiot. Things with Cam had been good but she knew he was tiptoeing around his concerns for her. She saw it in the way he stayed on alert while they went shopping in the village. He kept her tucked close to his body when they were out and when they were at her place or his, he checked the rooms, kept the doors locked.

  She wondered, if they took things further, if this was how things would just be with him. It was his job in addition to being such an intrinsic part of his personality.

  Glancing up at the clock, she realized that she’d lost time thinking about him and now he’d be here any minute. She needed to run upstairs, feed Niffy and change. Skipping over baby steps, Georgia had taken a giant leap and invited Cam for dinner at Anna and Sam’s tonight.

  Anna was feeling better. She was still under strict orders to rest but a check up at the doctor showed everything was fine with baby. Resting on the couch wouldn’t hurt, nor would having some company.

  Coming around the counter to lock up, she sighed at the sight of someone coming in.

  “Hey. Sorry, we’re clo—” her words died in her throat.

  Her ex, Hunter Parsons, filled the doorway. He’d lost weight since she’d seen him last—likely due to a little too much recreational fun. One of the many reasons they’d split.

  “There’s my girl.” His voice was menacing. How had she ever found it sexy? What she’d once heard as a seductive rasp, sounded more like a harsh growl.

  “I’m not your girl. You need to go.” Her phone was in her back pocket. She tried not to show her fear.

  “I’m not going anywhere until I get what I came for.”

  As he moved forward, the door shutting behind him, Georgia moved back. Her heartrate quickened, making her feel overheated.

  “There’s no way that’s happening,” she said, her voice surprisingly even.