People passed Jamie’s booth and picked up the cookies. She saw smiles on their faces. It didn’t matter what came next. Whether it was the flotilla or the Snow Ball, she couldn’t turn down a job because of Evan. They had gotten the sex out of their systems. Now she had to work to survive .
People were going to talk. They were going to whisper about them. He was going to give her the cold shoulder. She just had to get used to it. The Sweet Treat was all she had, and he wasn’t going to ruin it for her .
“Cami?” Jamie prodded .
“Huh?”
“You look lost over there. Mrs. Hamilton wants to know if she can order some fudge .”
“Oh.” She blinked, realizing she had zoned out for too long. “Hi, Mrs. Hamilton. Fudge?” She chewed nervously on her lip. “When do you need that by ?”
“Well, I’d like to ship it to my nieces in Connecticut before Christmas .”
Cami picked up a pad of paper to jot down some notes. “Ok. And how much do you need ?”
“I usually order a pound for each of them .”
“And how many nieces do you have ?”
She waited while the woman counted on her fingers. “Twelve .”
“Twelve nieces?” Cami almost choked .
“Yes. When can I pick it up?” she asked. The holly leaf earrings she wore shook every time she talked. She was an animated speaker .
“Why don’t I take down your number, and I’ll call you as soon as it’s ready? I’ll have it for you this week.” Her stomach twisted in knots as soon as she said it. She knew the fudge recipe wasn’t ready .
“That would be lovely. I’ll stop by as soon as it’s ready .”
“Did someone say The Sweet Treat is selling fudge again ?”
Cami smiled. “We sure did. Are you interested in placing an order ?”
A woman in cat-themed Christmas sweater stepped forward. “I love that fudge. We live in Hopper’s Glen, but drive up every year for the mistletoe shoot and fudge. I’d be willing to drive back if you have some .”
Cami felt the anxiety start to creep in. She was making a promise she wasn’t sure she could keep. Her fudge was adequate, but it wasn’t extraordinary. She was also facing an empty bank account if she didn’t make some sales .
“Then I will make sure to have some for you.” She smiled at the woman .
She turned to Jamie and Samantha who were standing behind her. “I think I’m going to be making a lot of fudge this week .”
“You’ve got this,” they whispered .
* * *
I t was nearly dark. The barn sparkled with Christmas lights. Mason jars flickered with vanilla candles, dangling from wire. Cami looked around and remembered why she loved this event so much when she was a child. It was like there was Christmas magic in the air .
Every corner of the barn was decorated to perfection. Somehow it didn’t feel forced or contrived. It was part of the wonder of Harpers Point. The people here knew how to celebrate Christmas in a way she had never experienced anywhere else .
Why had she spent so many Christmases without this? Why had she separated herself from her heritage? It was hard to shake the guilt and remorse. Last Christmas she had dinner with her manager as they tried to map out her final launch strategy to re-negotiate her contract. A year later, and he was someone she hadn’t spoken to in months .
There was nothing magical about that Christmas, or the eleven others that came before it. Why had she lost so much of herself? Before she could fall down the road to regret, the crowd inside started to murmur .
Cami looked up from the basket. She had rearranged the last few snickerdoodles. She had to catch herself from sighing .
The atmosphere changed as soon as the hunters walked through the doors. The barn erupted in applause. A few of the designated gatherers started to string the mistletoe on the beams overhead. It hung low in graceful swags over the dance floor. The band in the corner started to play music .
And there was Evan in the center of it all. Tall, dark, and handsome. Her heart leapt into the back of her throat .
“Look who’s back,” Jamie chided. “And manly as ever .
Samantha leaned in. “I’m supposed to head home to get supper ready, but I wouldn’t mind staying to watch you two dance.” She winked. “Nate can handle the kids a little while longer. I left a casserole out for him anyway .”
“Oh no. There will be no dancing.” Cami shook her head. “Go see your husband and kids,” she begged .
“You two were prom king and queen. You have to dance. I’m not missing it.” Samantha ’s perfectly arched eyebrows were high on her forehead. Cami knew she wasn’t the only one expecting a show .
Cami spun on the heels of her boots. “Says who ?”
“Says all the people pushing Evan over here.” Samantha pointed .
“This is ridiculous. And silly .”
Oh no. Damn it. The interference was as bad on his end as on hers. Evan reluctantly crossed the worn wide-planked floors and stopped in front of Jamie’s booth .
“Hi again.” Cami smiled. She couldn’t stop the butterflies. “Good shoot ?”
The crowd behind him strained their necks to eavesdrop. She wanted to tell them to back off. It was obvious what was happening. They were being pushed together, even though something told them to resist like the opposite ends of magnets touching .
“Yeah. I think it was the best shoot we’ve had. It will be good for the budget .”
“Oh, that’s good.” The budget? That was about as impersonal as he could get. If he was going to be like that, then she’d pretend they hadn’t had the hottest sex in the history of Harpers Point. Two could play this game .
“Yeah.” He nodded, eyeing Jamie and Samantha with a cynical stare. Shit. Why did it make him look sexier? They quickly pretended to be busy with ribbons and straightening the display signs for Jamie’s Creations .
“Look. You don’t have to say yes. But as mayor, I have to start the first dance for the barn dance.” He looked over his shoulder. Cami could see the frustration in his eyes. “Would you dance? We can get it over with quickly .”
She frowned. “That’s not much of an invitation.” She stood firmly behind the booth .
He groaned. “Sorry. I don’t like being pressured into things .”
Her stance softened slightly. “You could dance with someone else. It won’t hurt my feelings.” Although, she wondered if it would make her jealous. Could she watch Evan dance with another woman in his arms only a few feet away from her? After that night they shared ?
He held his palm forward. “Dance with me, Cami. Come on. Just this once ?”
She bit her lower lip. “All right .”
She pretended not to hear Jamie and Samantha whispering behind her when she rounded the corner of the booth and her hand landed in Evan’s. His grip was firm and strong as he walked her to the center of the dance floor .
She swallowed hard, knowing everyone in the barn was staring at them—only at them .
“Shouldn’t someone else dance?” she whispered .
“I wish.” He leaned toward her ear. “We just have to get through the one song .”
His hand clasped at her waist and she aligned with his body. Maybe that was the problem. One song was too long, or it wasn’t long enough. She couldn’t tell. Everything felt different when Evan held her. They swayed together, turning slightly to the beat .
How could one man make her feel dizzy like a teenager all over again with just one dance? Somehow at the same time the years were layers between them. Either a boundary they would never surpass, or layers they would have to chip away. The dance felt like it was both .
Cami closed her eyes and inhaled his spicy masculine scent, mixed with a hint of the wilderness .
As the song ended, they stopped moving. Cami heard a low chant from the crowd, but she couldn’t quite make it out .
“What are they saying?” She looked into Evan’s eyes for answers .
> He cocked his head to the side and paused. “They’re saying look up .”
Cami’s gaze drifted to the bough of mistletoe over their heads. Her cheeks turned an instant crimson color, but it didn’t stop the crowd .
Evan pressed his lips together before leaning toward her and planting a kiss on her cheek. Then he dropped his hold on her waist and walked off the dance floor .
Twelve
Evan
“G ood morning, Mayor.” Georgia Hawkes wore a cat-caught-the-canary grin when Evan walked into the mayor’s office Monday morning .
“Hello, Georgia .”
He collected the memos and email lists she had compiled for him off her desk .
“Did you see the front page of the Post yet?” she asked .
He was almost in his office when she held up the paper, shaking it to stand tall. His eyes bulged. Above the fold was a picture of him dancing with Cami at the mistletoe shoot over the weekend. What the fuck ?
“Let me see that.” He took the paper from her hands. “Who published this? What in the…” he grumbled, closing the door behind him in his office. Shit .
Things were getting out of control quickly. He only danced with Cami to quiet things down, instead he seemed to have heated up the entire situation. He threw the paper in the trash without reading the rest of the story .
As mayor, Evan did everything he could to avoid being the subject of gossip, instead he wound up being on the front page. And why? Because it fed some kind of feel-good romance for the town? Did they have any idea what they were talking about? He and Cami were not getting back together. The harder he tried to dissuade everyone, even his best friend, the worse it got. The sex was fucking incredible, but it wasn’t happening again. No one in this town even knew what happened. They could go to hell if they were going to keep pushing this on him .
For lunch, he walked to Hurricanes and ordered the usual, only this time he placed it for two .
He carried two grilled cheeses and chicken noodle soups a block around the corner. Today, the white bags were decorated with candy canes. He walked up the ramp of the old Victorian home and through the ornately carved wooden door. The crystal glass on the front was frosted so he couldn’t see through into the foyer. Otherwise, he would have stopped before going inside. He would have at least had a warning .
He heard her voice in the parlor. No one else had a voice like that. The piano seemed secondary even though the notes filled the room. He stopped in the doorway. Cami couldn’t see him. She faced the keys and played a familiar Christmas carol while his grandmother hummed from her chair .
Her voice did something. It always had. It was the reason when he heard her music on the radio, he had to switch to another station. It was the reason he had fought so hard to keep her off the tree lighting stage. It was why now, his heart was twisted in a million directions .
His grandmother looked up, spotting him in the doorway. Instead of recognition, she looked puzzled. He crossed the room and Cami stopped playing. She leaned toward his grandmother and saw him too .
“Hi Grandmother.” He leaned to kiss her on the cheek. “I brought you lunch today.” He held up the bags from Hurricanes. He wondered what things she would recognize today .
She tilted her head from side to side. “I can’t believe I would have a grandson as handsome as you .”
He laughed. “Don’t know that I’m handsome, but I am your grandson. Are you hungry? I have your favorites .”
She pointed to Cami. “This young lady here came to play Christmas music for me. And what a voice. Sweet and pure like a nightingale .”
He eyed Cami. She was wearing a red sweater with a snowflake in the center and a pair of jeans that hugged her waist. She looked beautiful. Her hair cascaded along her shoulders .
“Did she ?”
Cami folded the sheet music on the easel. “I hope it’s ok. I thought I’d drop by and say hi. And you know Aunt Sophie and your grandmother were best friends. We started talking, and she asked if I would play .”
She must have thought he was some kind of monster, if she was worried he’d be upset about her visiting his grandmother. He’d let his anger be visible all these weeks when it should have been hidden .
“It’s fine. I’m sure she enjoyed it .”
“This girl knew Sophie. Isn’t that, right?” His grandmother looked to Cami for reassurance .
Evan nodded. “Yes, grandmother. It’s Sophie’s great-niece. You know Cami. Camille Addison .”
She shook her head. “We only met today, but she’s lovely. And who are you again? You’re handsome. Isn’t he handsome?” She looked at Cami .
“I’m Evan, Grandmother. Your grandson? I’m here almost every day .”
She shook her head. “No. I don’t know about any grandchildren. Don’t think I ever settled down long enough for that.” She laughed, and for a second he realized how young she sounded. It must have been the effect of feeling so free and single .
“Why don’t I set up lunch in the kitchen?” he offered. “Where is Miss Bette ?”
The older woman looked confused .
Cami whispered, “In the laundry room. I told her I’d keep an eye on Miss Lily out here for her so she could get some chores done .”
“Ahh. Got it. Well, why don’t you help me?” He looked at Cami. “We’ll be right back, Grandmother. Don’t go anywhere.” He shook a finger at her in a teasing gesture .
Cami rose from the piano and followed Evan to the kitchen in the back of the house. It was the same 1920s two-story house his grandmother had grown up in. It was right across the street from the water, in a line of Victorian homes. There had been a few updates to the structure, but it had maintained its original design. The only real difference was that now the house matriarch slept downstairs in the guest suite and could no longer climb the stairs. There was an entire upstairs of five bedrooms, a sitting room, and a sleeping porch that was virtually untouched, other than when Miss Bette walked up there to dust and open the drapes occasionally .
“I can go,” Cami sputtered before they were even inside the swinging door of the kitchen. “I didn’t know you were coming for a visit. I didn’t mean to invade your time with her .”
“No. I’m sorry. I’ve been an actual Grinch. I need to apologize .”
Cami laughed. “Did you just call yourself a Grinch ?”
He winced. “Yeah. Don’t know any other name for it. My grandmother can’t remember who I am. Or you. But you came anyway, and you made her smile. Believe it or not, she’s very selective who she lets into the parlor. And she might not have her memory, but no one is allowed to touch that baby grand.” He stared at the floor. “I’ve been hard on you .”
“Maybe a little .”
“Did you see the paper today?” he asked. He wasn’t sure how to approach the topic .
She twisted her lips together. “I did. I didn’t know anyone took our picture. I had no idea we could make the front page .”
Evan sighed. “We’re the biggest story this town has ever seen.” He couldn’t help but wink .
“I’m sorry if that’s my fault. I didn’t want anything like this.” She slouched into one of the iron bistro chairs. Evan began to set up lunch. He grabbed two china plates from the cupboard. She may no longer have her memory, but his grandmother still liked things a certain way, and that meant always eating meals on the good china .
She didn’t complain if they had breakfast and lunch in the kitchen, but dinner was always served in the dining room under the massive chandelier and with candlelight .
Cami continued, “I wanted to come back and open The Sweet Treat . I didn’t want to drag you into anything. It was never what I had planned. I didn’t think we would see each other this much. I don’t know what I was thinking. It certainly wasn’t to make things worse between us .”
He poured the soup into a bowl. “I think I realize that .”
“You do ?”
He nodded. “I do .”
/> “The other night….” Her voice quieted .
“Yeah?” He knew it wouldn’t take much for his cock to start craving her again. Just the thought of what they did was enough to make him want another taste .
“I don’t want you to think I expect anything. Because I don’t. I mean. I’ve grown up a lot since high school.” She sighed. “Ok, now I sound like I’m in high school. What I’m trying to say is — ”
“Cami, don’t. It was hot. It was a fun night. Don’t say anything else about it.” He didn’t want to put a label on it, or analyze it. And if they talked about it, he could promise her he wouldn’t sling her over his shoulders and climb up the Victorian staircase and fuck her in one of the guestrooms .
The table was set. He moved a vase of paperwhites from the windowsill and placed them in the center of the table. “Listen, I have to get my grandmother. I didn’t know you’d be here. I only have lunch for two or I’d invite you to join us .”
“That’s all right.” Cami stood. “I need to get back to the shop. I have orders to fill. I’ll be working the rest of the night .”
“Really?”
“The mistletoe shoot really helped me out this week. It was Jamie’s idea, but it was a good one .”
“I’m glad things are going well for The Sweet Treat . That’s good for downtown. It’s good news for our small businesses .”
“I guess it is.” She shrugged. “I’m just trying to sell candy .”
“Thank you for doing this.” He grabbed her by the elbow as she tried to walk past him .
“For what?” She searched his eyes .
“For visiting an old lady with no memory .”
Cami’s eyes misted. “Miss Lily was a huge part of Aunt Sophie’s life. She would have wanted me to check in on her.” Cami paused. “I can come more often if it helps. Miss Bette has her hands full.” She grinned .
“Yeah, that would be nice. She’d like that, even if she doesn’t remember it .”
Cami hadn’t moved. His fingers pressed into her arms. It was hard not to pull her towards his chest and kiss her. But he held back. There was something tangible between them in the small space in the kitchen .
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