She started toward her car and stilled when she notice Cannon leaning casually against it, arms crossed. He was watching her with a soft smile on his face.
He’d come in this morning for a cup of coffee but after he’d left she really hadn’t expected to see him again today.
“Hey stranger,” he greeted.
“Hey yourself.” She wished her heart would listen to all the reasons she’d given it for caution and not beat with such joy simply at the sight of him.
“Where are you headed? Can I talk you into dinner?”
She stopped in front of him. Despite all the fleeting reminders of why she shouldn’t agree, she said, “Dinner sounds great. Then I was headed to church for Bible study.”
“Mind if I join you?”
Mind? “Not in the slightest.”
They drove in her car to her favorite Chinese place and Chelsea couldn’t believe how quickly the evening sped by. Before she realized it, the Bible study leader was closing out their time in prayer and she and Cannon were walking through the doors of the church toward her car.
“Hey you two, how about some coffee and pie at The Pie Palace?” Havyn and Levi joined them in the lot.
Chelsea glanced at Cannon, not wanting to answer for him. He might have had enough of her company for one day.
He grinned. “I’m game if Chelsea is?”
She nodded, pleased that she wouldn’t have to say goodbye to him just yet. “I do have to be done in about an hour so I can go close up the store.”
Just then Pastor Chad poked his head out the doors. “Hey Cannon? Can I speak to you for a minute?”
Cannon frowned indicating he couldn’t come up with a reason why the pastor would want to talk to him, but answered in the affirmative anyhow. “Sure.” He looked at her. “Can you wait for me a few minutes?”
“Of course.”
Levi clapped Cannon on the shoulder. “Havyn and I will just head to The Palace and get us a table. You two come along as soon as you are free.”
“Sounds good.”
With one hand at the small of Chelsea’s back, Cannon directed her return into the warmth of the foyer of the church. She sank into one of the plush chairs and for a few minutes she enjoyed taking in all the Christmas decorations that someone had placed around the foyer. Lighted wreaths decorated with sparkling red poinsettias and snow white doves. A huge Christmas tree that stretched the full height of the two-story building, where people could leave wrapped and labeled presents that would be delivered to homeless people by a team of volunteers on Christmas Eve. Soft carols still filled the room with gentle Christmas melodies.
Weariness settled over her. She propped her head against one fist and closed her eyes. She would just rest for a moment.
The next thing she knew Cannon was shaking her awake. “Chels, I’m here. Sorry that took so long.”
She pulled in a breath and stretched, glancing around to get her bearings. Oh boy, she’d fallen asleep hard. She swiped at her mouth, hoping she hadn’t drooled or anything embarrassing like that.
Cannon grinned at her and reached down a hand to help her up.
“What did Pastor Chad want?”
He didn’t let go of her hand once she was on her feet, but turned and tugged her toward the doors once more. “We’d better catch up to Havyn and Levi before Levi eats all the pie.”
Curiosity piqued her interest. Had he not heard her question? Or did he simply not want to tell her what the pastor had wanted? She thought about asking again, but then decided that it was probably none of her business. If he wanted to tell her about it, he would in his own time.
She glanced at her watch. “Listen, I hate to rain on the fun, but I really don’t have time to go for pie now. I need to get to the store and close up.”
Cannon winced and seesawed his hands in a weighing gesture. “Pie and ice cream, or closing up shop with Chelsea.”
She laughed and smacked his arm. “You can just drop me off and then go eat with the soon-to-be Mr. and Mrs.”
He leaned close and tapped her on the nose. “Not on your life. But how about this… I help you close up tonight and you agree to find someone to do it for you one day this week and let me take you up to Leavenworth for an evening. Maybe tomorrow?”
She bit her lip. It would have to be tomorrow because they had the rehearsal and dinner on Friday and the wedding on Saturday. Aunt Flo wouldn’t like her taking time away where she wouldn’t be available to close the shop. But maybe what Aunt Flo didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her? Anna had worked at Flo’s nearly as long as she had, and with just a couple pointers would do a perfectly fine job of closing up. “Okay. You’re on. Better text Levi to let him know our plans had to change?”
“I’m on it.” He sank into the seat on his side of the car as she slid behind the wheel. He sent off the text then whimpered exaggeratedly. “Please tell me you at least have something sweet to eat at the shop?”
She laughed. “I think we can find you a muffin. Maybe even a frozen one. That would be like eating pie and ice cream at the same time.”
He groaned. “Not even close. The sacrifices I make for you, woman!”
Something warmed inside of her at that. Not many people had made sacrifices for her in her lifetime. Not many at all.
The next morning, Chelsea climbed from her car and stumbled her way through the back lot of Flo’s Coffee Shop. A yawn of colossal proportions stretched her jaw and her breath frosted the gray morning air. There was something criminal about having to be up before the sun – especially when visions of a certain handsome blond man had plagued your restless sleep all night long.
She rounded the corner, intent on digging her keys from her purse, and was almost to the door before she noticed—”Ted! What are you doing here?”
He shrugged lackadaisically. “Your aunt called me and told me to report for work today.”
“She did not!”
Another lazy lift of one shoulder. “Call her yourself. She said you had overstepped and that I still had a job if I wanted it.”
Anger hotter than a steamed latte surged through her. She thrust her key into the door and then slammed through it, sending the bell above clanging a warning. Storming to the tiny cubicle of an office in the back, she dropped her purse onto the desk, banged the door shut, and grabbed her phone. She didn’t care what time it was, Aunt Flo could just wake up and tell her she had to continue working with the man she’d fired.
“Hello?” Aunt Flo’s voice purred like a kitten with a belly full of milk, the picture of calm and not a hint of sleepiness. She’d obviously been expecting this call!
All of Chelsea’s anger drained into a puddle of betrayal around her feet. “Aunt Flo, how could you?” She didn’t care that her pain was obvious in her voice.
Aunt Flo tsked. “Chelsea, you are nothing if not impulsive. You obviously fired that boy on the spur of the moment and for no good reason. We can’t have him bringing a lawsuit against us for unlawful release.”
“Did he threaten that? Because I can document my reasons. And it wasn’t only because he tried to kiss me when we were alone together in the store yesterday morning!”
“I’m sure you must be mistaken, dear. No man in his right mind would want to kiss you. You really need to come to grips with that. Now stop whimpering like a babe who’s lost its pacifier and get to opening up the store.” An emphatic click signaled that Aunt Flo deemed the conversation over.
The strength left Chelsea’s legs and she collapsed into the office chair that was thankfully right behind her. Sometimes Aunt Flo’s cruelty knew no bounds.
Her mind flashed to Cannon’s pleas at the ice rink. Maybe he was right. She probably should… What? What would she do if she didn’t work at Flo’s? She’d been working here since her sophomore year in high school. Had skipped college. Had no other skills. Who was she kidding? She couldn’t quit. She had nothing to fall back on.
And besides all that. No matter the size of her bark, Aunt Flo r
eally did depend on her. She would be lost if Chelsea up and walked away.
She closed her eyes and allowed herself just a minute to dream of being free. Free from the constant pressure to perform to a level where she wouldn’t be put down. Free from the constant need to keep the shields around her heart in place. Because it was times like this – times when Aunt Flo seemed to barge right into her chest and knock all the shields down – that Chelsea really felt the painful impact of so many hurtful words.
She blinked hard to keep the tears stinging her eyes carefully bottled up where they belonged. Mechanically, she went through the motions of getting the cash for the till out of the safe, putting the tray of scones prepped the evening before into the oven, and starting the mixer for this morning’s batch of muffins.
Each time she had to pass Ted, he had a little smirk on his face, and a subtle, but definitely arrogant, glint in his eyes that made her shiver.
When Cannon was the first customer through the door after Jim and Rose, she couldn’t have been more relieved.
He took one look at her and stilled. “What’s wrong?”
The emotions that had been riding so close to the surface all morning welled up and pooled in her eyes. The man had a way of reaching right down into her center and honing in on everything she tried to keep hidden. It was so refreshing to have someone actually care about her feelings. But—she blinked hard—this was not the time or the place to deal with it. And yet, at the same time, she didn’t know if she could go all day with all this confusion bottled up inside her.
Thankfully, Ted was helping Jim and Rose, so that gave her a few moments to chat with Cannon.
He leaned into the space next to the till and took her hand. “Chels, you’re breaking my heart. Talk to me.” His thumb stroked over her knuckles.
“Aunt Flo hired Ted back.” She tipped her head to where he was frying eggs on the grill and spoke the words so low she wondered if Cannon would hear them.
Cannon tensed and lasered a look in Ted’s direction. “That’s him? The guy you fired just a couple days ago? Is she crazy?”
A bubble of laughter escaped. Cannon’s support was so refreshing.
“Are you in danger?”
Only of having an emotional breakdown. No matter her reasons for firing Ted, he wasn’t a dangerous guy. She thought of him trying to give her an unwanted, unasked-for kiss, and had a whisper of second thought. Hopefully. She bit her lip. Shook her head. “It’s just really awkward to work with him today and I’m hurt that Aunt Flo would do that.” She worried her lip and studied him. “I’ve really been thinking about what you said the other night while we were skating.”
He tilted his head, questioning.
“I just…” She shrugged. “What else would I do? If I quit and went out on my own, I have no idea what I’d want to do.”
An impish gleam leapt into his eyes. “How about building churches with a guy who’s a little bit crazy about you?”
Her jaw dropped before she could stop it. Even he looked a little surprised and sheepish that he’d said that.
He cleared his throat. “Never mind that, for now. But I’m not leaving you alone in here with him. I don’t have anything planned today. I’ll just grab my iPad and read at the corner table. What time do you get off?”
“Two thirty, today.”
“Well, consider me your personal watchdog until then.” He winked.
She couldn’t deny that a big weight had just lifted off her shoulders. “Cannon…” She didn’t quite know what to say so she just said, “Thank you.”
He nodded. “You bet. How about a couple bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches, and a large black coffee.”
“Certainly.” She nodded. “On the house.”
He shook his head. “Not on your life. Ring me up.” He tapped the register and dug for his wallet.
“Cannon…”
He matched her tone. “Chelsea…”
She laughed. “Fine. But lunch is on me.”
His eyes crinkled at the corners. “Are we still on for our trip to Leavenworth?”
She had talked to Anna and she’d agreed to close up for her tonight, but she couldn’t resist teasing him a little and pretended to consider while she waited for her heart rate to quiet. “I’m not sure. I might be having second thoughts about it. But…maybe.”
She could tell by his grin that he knew she was teasing him. “Well, I’ll just have to put my mind to work coming up with a way to convince you it’s a great idea.”
When his gaze dropped to her lips, she felt her face flush.
She rang up his order and handed him his change, then turned to make his sandwiches, anticipation over their afternoon together zinging through every pore.
Chapter 8
“Ready?” Cannon stood and waited for Chelsea to join him.
They’d driven north and eaten at Chick-fil-A, and Cannon’s concern had ramped up with each passing minute. Chelsea had not been her normal talkative self. She was obviously more hurt by her Aunt’s actions and words than she wanted to let on. What she needed was a break from it all, and he was really glad they’d been able to find this segment of time to get away together.
He spoke as he held the door for her. “Do you think Havyn needs us to do anything for the wedding before we leave town?” A chill wind whipped up and scuttled down the sidewalk.
She shook her head and tucked her hands into the pockets of her parka, pulling her neck down into the collar. “No. I finished writing out the place cards the other night after work. I think everything is pretty set now until the rehearsal on Friday.”
He looked at her over the top of the car. “Good. We’re all fine then? You got someone to cover for you?”
She worked her teeth over her lower lip in a way that was becoming most familiar and endearing. “Yeah. But I didn’t tell Aunt Flo and I’m feeling a little guilty about that.”
“Is the person you asked competent and capable of doing the job?” He unclicked the locks and they both sank into their seats. He started the car to get the heat pumping, but didn’t put the car into gear. He looked over at her.
Her expression still held uncertainty. “Yes, it’s just that Aunt Flo is very particular and has always insisted that I be the one to do it.”
He narrowed his gaze. “What about training another person? Have you ever asked her about that?”
She nodded. “But she wouldn’t allow it.”
“Why not?”
Chelsea pressed her lips together and thought for a moment. Finally she said, “I’m not sure really. She just always expects me to.” There was so much exhaustion in the words, his heart nearly broke.
He reached over and took her hand, willing her to know he only wanted the best for her. “When was the last time you didn’t have to go back and close up again at night after working a full morning shift?”
She shook her head. “I don’t remember.”
He squeezed her hand. “Well we are going to Leavenworth and we are going to have a blast and you are not going to worry about what’s going on back home with the shop, understood?”
She grinned. “Getting a little bossy, aren’t we?”
He hoped she could see the depth of his concern in the look he gave her. “Only because I care about you.”
Her face turned a pretty shade of pink that emphasized the red of her hair. “Fine, Mister Bossy Pants. I’ll try.” Just then her phone rang. She dug it out of her purse and every part of her seemed to deflate. She let it ring two more times before she finally pressed the green circle on the screen and reluctantly lifted it to her ear. “Hi, Aunt Flo.” She cringed.
As he listened to her side of the conversation, it quickly became apparent that her aunt had somehow found out she’d asked someone else to close up the shop tonight.
“It’s only for one evening and Anna is more than capable. I didn’t just leave the responsibility to anyone.”
There was a pause. Chelsea picked at the zipper on her coat.
“Aunt Flo, it’s just for one night. Couldn’t we just—”
Another silence. More fidgeting.
“I see…well, okay then, I’ll be—”
Before Cannon even realized what he was doing he had his hand out asking for the phone.
Chelsea gave him a panicked look. And probably rightly so because there was so much frustration pumping through him right now he needed to take a breath and remember to be polite to a woman who might one day be family.
He could still hear her aunt’s strident recriminations as Chelsea slowly pulled the phone from her ear and handed it to him. He lifted it and listened.
“…that you think you can just run off and not do your duty to the store only proves how irresponsible you are. How many times are we going to have to talk about this, Chelsea Anne? Now you’ve gone and given me a migraine.”
That did it. “Actually, I think you are the one who gave yourself a migraine, Mrs. Tan. Chelsea needed a night off. She covered all the bases. I don’t see what the problem is here.”
“What?! Who is this?”
“As for responsibility, who has worked six days a week at the coffee shop for the past” — he looked at Chelsea— “How many years?”
“Six,” she murmured.
He launched right back in. “Who has worked six days a week at the coffee shop for the past six years, Mrs. Tan? A full shift in the morning and another couple hours each night to close up. Was that you? The one who was supposed to be the adult in this situation?”
There was a sputtering sound from the other end of the line. “Well! I never. Who is this? You put Chelsea back on this phone at once you impertinent upstart!”
Cannon took a breath. “No, ma’am. I’m sorry. I won’t do that. Chelsea needs a break. She will not be available to close up the store tonight. If you aren’t sure the girl she chose can do the job, then maybe you should find someone else.”
“But there is no one else!”
“Oh I’m sure you could find another — Hey, how about Ted? Since he’s such a fantastic employee that you hired him back after he almost assaulted your niece, I’m sure he’s probably more than capable of closing up?”
Mistletoe and Mochas: A Christmas Romance Novella (Hearts of Hollywood Book 2) Page 5
