by J. L. Jarvis
About Lydia’s Pine Harbor Christmas
They'll be best friends forever, and that is the problem.
Marco is the best friend a girl could ever want. Lydia just wishes he loved her, too, but it's hopeless. So she takes charge of her life and sets out to put distance between them. Otherwise, she risks pining away for the rest of her life all alone, like her mother once did. Except even her mother has found someone to love. So when a guy in one of Lydia's college classes asks her out, she sees her big chance to get over Marco.
Marco has breezed through his love life, but the rest of it hasn't been quite so breezy. He was orphaned at ten, and his older brother raised him. Now eighteen, Marco owns the Silva Brothers' Brewpub with his brother, Theo, and works the bar and charms the ladies. But his old pain-avoidance tactics have caught up with him. He's kept Lydia at bay. They're best friends, but best friends can grow close. By the time he realizes he's in over his head, she finds someone to date. He didn't see that coming.
In the small coastal town of Pine Harbor, Lydia's Christmas wish could come true, but she’ll never know it.
Also By J.L. Jarvis
Pine Harbor Series
Allison’s Pine Harbor Summer
Evelyn’s Pine Harbor Autumn
Lydia’s Pine Harbor Christmas
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Holiday House Novels
The Christmas Cabin
The Winter Lodge
The Lighthouse
The Christmas Castle
The Beach House
The Christmas Tree Inn
The Holiday Hideaway
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Highland Passage Series
Highland Passage
Knight Errant
Lost Bride
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Highland Soldiers Series
The Enemy
The Betrayal
The Return
The Wanderer
* * *
Highland Vow
* * *
American Hearts Romances
Secret Hearts
Runaway Hearts
Forbidden Hearts
* * *
For more information, visit jljarvis.com
Lydia’s Pine Harbor Christmas
Pine Harbor Romance Book 3
J.L. Jarvis
LYDIA’S PINE HARBOR CHRISTMAS
Pine Harbor Romance Book 3
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Copyright © 2020 J.L. Jarvis
All Rights Reserved
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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
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The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book via the Internet or any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author's rights is appreciated.
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Published by Bookbinder Press
bookbinderpress.com
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ISBN (paperback) 978-1-942767-98-5
ISBN (ebook) 978-1-942767-99-2
One
The scent of gingerbread wafted in from the kitchen of the Silva Brothers’ Brewpub as Lydia, Christmas greenery draped over her arm, climbed a ladder. She merrily hummed along with a jaunty Christmas carol as she pressed an adhesive hook onto a beam and draped the last of the greenery over it. The repurposed-warehouse-turned-seaside-bar had been sufficiently transformed for the holiday season. With its view overlooking Pine Harbor, Maine, the place already had more than its share of seaside charm. Fresh evergreen garlands entwined with red ribbon surrounded the windows and wound around every overhead beam. Holly, strategically placed mistletoe, and wreaths bedecked with fairy lights completed the effect.
“There. How does that look?” She looked over at Marco, but he was busy pouring a glass of wine for a pretty young brunette at the bar. The poor woman had the same dumbstruck expression Lydia had seen so many times. It was the look of a smart woman turned senseless by Marco’s effortless charm. When it was combined with his manly square jaw, deep-set brown eyes, and dark wavy hair, he was irresistibly attractive. Of course, Lydia was biased, but she also had eyes. She couldn’t fault the young woman for the look on her face. With practice, Lydia had learned to hide Marco’s effect upon her, but she felt it nonetheless.
No woman had ever reduced Marco to a drooling dumbstruck shell of a man. Lydia wondered what that might look like, yet she didn’t want to see it because someone else would have prompted it. She sighed. It was pointless to ponder such matters. Marco wasn’t looking for love. He breezed through life, blissfully unaware of his effect upon women. No doubt he was over there thinking he was simply doing his job, manning the bar and serving drinks while playing the sociable-bartender role. But for Lydia, moments like that served as a reminder that she and Marco were friends—good and reliable friends but most importantly platonic friends. She had always known it intellectually, but her heart needed frequent reminders.
“Hello? Lydia? I said that looks perfect!” came Allie’s voice from below.
Lydia awoke from her reverie and climbed down the ladder. Side by side, she and Allie surveyed their handiwork. Neither spoke as they took it all in.
Finally, Allie said, “The windows and beams look fantastic. As for the rest, it’s not nearly enough.”
“No, not even close.” Lydia had concluded that minutes before but had waited to hear Allie’s thoughts. Allie was her boss and the owner of The Gallery, a gift shop in town, but she was at the brewpub on a personal mission. Theo Silva was also Allie’s boyfriend. He’d mentioned in passing that he had no plans to decorate the bar for the holidays. Appalled, Allie emphatically offered to decorate the bar for him. She assured him it would be good for business, and of course, she was right. Even Marco leaned toward her side of the issue. Once Lydia agreed to help Allie, it was more or less a done deal. Theo had no strong feelings one way or the other, so if Allie and Lydia wanted to spearhead the project, he had no objections. As for Lydia, she was happy to help. Her feelings for Marco had nothing to do with it. It was a Christmas emergency. They had no other options. The Silva Brothers’ Brewpub would have holiday cheer. If it meant spending a couple of afternoons in the same room as Marco, she would take one for the team.
Allie called, “Marco, we need your opinion.” She lowered her voice so much that Lydia wondered if she was thinking out loud. “We’ve run out of greenery. I might have another box of ornaments back at the shop, but that’s pretty much it.”
Lydia studied Allie. “And Marco’s opinion affects matters how?” Sure, Marco was a half owner—a tremendous accomplishment for someone so young. He had his older brother to thank for getting the business on its feet, but Marco was amazing at his job. Sometimes he looked more like a monarch holding court than a bartender serving drinks. Perhaps she was biased, but she recognized his flaws too. Lydia wouldn’t trust the guy to match his own socks, so she was baffled by Allie’s sudden interest in his decorating opinion. Theo was no better, unless the goal was to deck the place with sports memorabilia. Lydia could only imagine what that would look like. Deck the halls with balls of volley, ball-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la.
Marco dried his hands on a bar towel and joined them. “What’s up?”
Allie looked around helplessly, which made Lydia smile. Very little in life rendered Allie helpless, so she had to be up to something. “We’re out of greenery.”
That didn’t make sense. If Allie was angling for more
money to buy decorations, she could easily have asked Theo. Unless he’d just snuck out the back door, Lydia was pretty sure Theo was in his office, which was just a short walk through the kitchen.
Marco took the greenery news well. “This looks amazing.” He turned and looked back toward the bar, but before he could leave, Allie hooked her arm around his elbow. “This is only the beginning. Marco, when’s the last time you got out for a good whiff of fresh air?”
He eyed her skeptically. “I took the trash out ten minutes ago.”
She laughed. “But wouldn’t it be fun to go strolling through the woods, gathering evergreen branches and twigs?”
His eyebrows drew together. “Frolicking through the woods isn’t really my thing.”
“Frolicking? I believe I said strolling. By which I mean hiking with your blue jeans tucked into a pair of good, sturdy boots and an ax resting on your plaid-flannel-shirted shoulder.”
“So, like, a regular day.” His eyes twinkled. “Look, Allie, why don’t you work out this Paul Bunyan fantasy of yours with my brother. I’m not judging. What happens with you two stays with you two. I just don’t want to know.”
“Very funny! I just need some greenery to finish decorating here. You may not be able to envision it now, but you’ll thank me later. People want to see decorations at this time of year. It puts them in the holiday spirit.”
“I’ve got a few bottles behind the bar that’ll put people in the holiday spirit.”
“Wrong spirit. Here’s my dilemma. I’ve got some inventory coming in tomorrow, and I really have to be in the shop. So if you could gather some greenery, that would be a huge help.”
Lydia tried not to smile as Marco’s face took on a pained but polite expression. “What kind of greenery?”
Allie’s eyebrows furrowed a little too much. “Oh, you know. Tell him, Lydia.”
Lydia shot a look at Allie, who in turn did an excellent job of avoiding eye contact. That left Lydia to explain. “You know… evergreen stuff like you see on the trees and wrapped around… things at this time of year.” She looked sideways at Allie.
Allie narrowed her eyes and appeared to be thinking. “You’re not going to know what to get. No, you’re going to need help, aren’t you?” Before he could answer, Allie said, “Unfortunately, I’ll be stuck at the shop.” Her face brightened. “Oh! But Lydia here knows exactly what’s needed.”
Lydia forced a smile. Allie, no. I know you’re trying to help because you see me staring at Marco all the time, which I’ve really got to get better control of, but you’re not helping me get over this hopeless crush, so…
“Lydia! Why don’t you go with Marco? I can check my inventory while you gather all that we need to finish decorating the bar. Perfect! Problem solved.”
Your problem, maybe, but you’ve just made mine worse.
Allie cast a purposeful look Marco’s way. “Lydia will know just what I need, and you’ve got just the right muscles to get the job done.” She smiled at Lydia. “I’ve got an old sled in the back of the shop. You could use that to drag the heavier branches and whatnot. We need enough to finish decorating the entrance, and we’ll need some smaller bits for the table arrangements. Oh, and some pine cones would be nice. Make that a few dozen. I’ll find some red ribbon—or red plaid, even better—and floral wire. Keep an eye out for some mistletoe, but just to be safe, I’ll stop at the florist.” She clasped her hands to her chest. “Oh, it’s going to look so gorgeous in here!”
Marco seemed confused, but that was the least of Lydia’s worries. She’d been counting on Marco to nix the whole thing, but he hadn’t. The whole greenery-and-pinecone-gathering outing was beginning to look like a done deal. Lydia took a breath and prepared to protest, but Allie continued.
“The bar opens at eleven, so you’ll both need to be out bright and early so that Marco can make it back in time for the lunch rush. How does seven o’clock sound?”
“How about eight?” Marco offered. Marco tossed a questioning look at Lydia, and she responded with a helpless shrug. Sounding resigned, Marco said, “Okay, I’ll pick you up at eight. I’ll bring coffee. I know how you are in the morning.” He grinned then returned to the bar.
In disbelief, Lydia watched him walk away. “I’ll bring coffee?” Isn’t it enough that he sets off my smart watch’s health app cardio alarm? Does he have to be so thoughtful too? It looked like they would be spending the morning together. So much for putting distance between them. It would be so much easier if he were a jerk or unbearably dull. Then it wouldn’t matter how handsome he was. He would be easy to dismiss. But every moment she spent with him, as much as she enjoyed it, made her heart cry out for something that it could never have. They were never going to be more than friends.
Allie cleared her throat loudly. Oh no. I was staring again, and she caught me. Lydia did her best to appear nonchalant, which was futile since the damage was done.
But Allie was kind enough not to comment. Instead, she thrust a large cardboard box into Lydia’s arms. “Careful. It’s a little heavy. Would you mind taking this out to the car? I’m just going to duck into the office to see Theo.”
“No problem.” As Lydia headed for the exit, Marco called from behind the bar, “Need some help?”
A guy at the bar swiveled around in his bar seat. “I’ve got it.”
Her eyes darted to Marco, who assured her, “It’s okay. He’s a friend. This is—”
“Bryce?”
Marco stared with surprise.
Yes, Marco, I know people.
Before she could explain, Bryce looked over his shoulder at Marco. “We’re in the same Global History class. Here, let me help you with that.”
Lydia wasn’t sure, but she thought Marco’s jaw might have gone a bit slack as Bryce practically leaped from his stool and took the box from her.
As they walked out to the car, Lydia looked up at Bryce. “You’re a lot taller in person—I mean out of class.”
“Really? Well, in class, I’m usually sitting at a desk.”
“Yeah, right.” She chuckled awkwardly. “What was I thinking?” That you were tall and had brilliant blue eyes?
“So, you and Marco…”
“Me and Marco…?”
He grinned. “How long have you two been together?”
“Zero… time.” Well said, Lydia.
He looked surprised. “Oh. But I’ve seen you together a lot on campus.”
“Yeah, we carpool. Sort of. Not really. He drives me to school.”
“Oh, that’s nice.”
“Yeah, that’s Marco. He’s nice.” Really nice.
Bryce looked satisfied enough with her answer to look straight into her eyes. “So are you.”
“You don’t even know me.” But who cares? You are excellent at making eye contact and—oh no, I’m blushing.
“I’m a pretty good judge of character.”
“I’m an ax murderer.” Lydia didn’t crack a smile.
Bryce burst out laughing. “You’re funny.”
Most people just laugh, but thanks for the explanation. Lydia tried not to furrow her eyebrows. She wasn’t sure what to make of him.
They arrived at Allie’s car, and Lydia tore herself away from his tractor-beam gaze long enough to open the hatch. He loaded the box and pulled down the hatch, then they stood for a moment in silence. It should have been awkward, but Lydia actually enjoyed it. That was new. A guy was completely focused on her, and she was only a little bit nervous. Bryce flashed a grin, as though he’d just come to his senses. “Well, see you Monday.”
“Tuesday,” she corrected.
“Oh, right. Global’s a Tuesday-Thursday class.”
Allie gave a sort of limp wave and said, “Bye.” What was that? ‘Cause that was not even close to a wave. That was more like a flailing dolphin. Just when I thought I’d make it through one conversation without embarrassing myself. I just can’t be around men. That’s all.
Two
Lydia l
eft with Bryce, leaving Marco trapped behind the bar and feeling left out. Bryce looked like a puppy in a park, chasing after a frisbee—if Lydia were brightly colored, plastic, and round. Marco wondered about his new buddy Bryce. He only knew him from school. They were in the same English Comp class, and more often than not, they hung out after class with a few other students—not so much from a thirst for knowledge as a thirst for the coffee shop in the building next door.
Bryce returned to his stool at the bar. “So, what’s the story with Lydia?”
“Story?”
“Yeah. She’s cute. What’s her story?”
Yeah, she is cute. That’s her story. The rest is none of your business. “She’s a local. We went to the same middle school and high school.”
Bryson peered at Marco. “Oh, sorry. Are you… interested in her?”
Marco practically recoiled. “No. Why would you think that?”
“I don’t know. I just got a vibe.”
A vibe? With Lydia?
“I guess you must be pretty close friends.”
“Yeah. I guess we are.” So hands off, loser. You don’t deserve her.
“Is she dating anyone?”
Bryce was really getting on Marco’s nerves. He looked toward the end of the bar to see if he could use something as an excuse to get away from the guy. “No, she’s not dating anyone.”
“Good.”
“Because Lydia doesn’t really date.”
Bryce seemed to find that amusing. “Why? What makes you think that? Because she won’t go out with you?”
