by Taylor Hart
“Man, I know this stuff isn’t good for you, and I don’t eat it often, but on a cold night like tonight, it just hits the spot.” He reached into his bag for some fries and devoured them. “You better eat, or I’ll have to eat some of yours too.”
She focused on the road and said, “Talking with your mouth full is rude.”
Laughing through the full mouth, he said, “True.”
She shivered a little, relished the warmth. She’d been so cold.
“So you said your place was by the university. That’s coming up.”
She guided him around the university, then to a dumpy, unshoveled apartment complex that looked deserted. “Right here.”
“Alrighty,” he said, pulling into the parking lot and taking her right to the door. He put it in park and looked around. “There’s nobody here.”
She shrugged and left the food, but took her box. “Thanks.” She pushed the door open.
Mike was fast, already around the truck and holding out his hand to help her navigate the snow to her door.
She put the key in the lock, pushed in the front door, and turned back. “Thanks again, but I’ve got it from here.”
“You don’t have your food.” He rushed back to his truck.
She watched him, wondering why she felt a connection to this mountain man.
He was back, but abruptly stopped just before running into her. If he were to lean in, their lips would be touching. “You have to take the food, because it’ll go bad and I don’t want to be sick eating both of those burgers.”
Stupid tears rose to her eyes. “Thank you.” She felt overwhelmed by his generosity, by the fact that someone had shown up when she’d said that prayer. “Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas.”
She waited for him to leave, but he didn’t.
“I saw you praying up there.”
“What?” Her heart rate picked up a notch.
“Up on that roof. What were you praying for?”
She shook her head and moved quickly up the stairs. “Thank you again, but please go.”
He was following. “I think you owe me a simple explanation, because I did help you—twice.”
She rushed into the fourplex and then went to her apartment. She put the box down and set the bag of food on top of it so she could unlock her door. “No way. The true story is, you almost killed me twice.”
He picked up her stuff before she could scoop it up again. “I never let a lady carry things when I can do it.”
Unnerved, she gestured him into her apartment. “On the table, please.”
He put the stuff down, then did a full three-sixty to inspect the room. “Not bad.”
Zoey tugged off her gloves and hat. She knew it wasn’t that good, but she didn’t care to correct him. “I’m just finishing school. I waitress, and I do an internship. The place might not be that great, but it works.” She unzipped her coat and pulled it off.
He shrugged. “At least it doesn’t smell like my place. I share with a couple of guys, and I’m always cracking the windows.”
She smiled in spite of herself.
He gestured to the hallway. “Could I use your bathroom?”
It shouldn’t have mattered, but she was surprised he’d asked. Why? Well, she didn’t know him, and if it was messy, she wouldn’t want someone to use it. “Sure.”
He nodded and walked down the hall.
Nervously, she flipped on the living room light and went back to the box. She’d found a safe, the one that she thought had the bonds. She’d been unable to find anything like that in the other boxes. The key was in the slot, so she turned it and opened it.
Nothing. It was completely empty. She was stunned. There was nothing in the stupid safe? Her mind went back to the night before Josh had shipped out. He’d told her there were some bonds in it. She’d completely forgotten until that dream. Her hand trembled. Dang it. She wasn’t one who believed in much, but she did believe in her dreams.
The dream had been so real. She went back over it, thinking about how it felt to be in Josh’s arms. He’d told her to go to the storage unit. She paused. He’d never said anything about the bonds; she’d just assumed that was what he’d meant.
Feeling off-kilter, she picked up the remote on the table and turned on the news to distract herself. Dang, she needed that money so she could get to Salt Lake and that tryout.
She didn’t have cable, but she got the free channels. She turned it to the weather, wondering how bad it was going to be to get to her waitressing job tomorrow.
Alert. Alert. All roads in Billings are closed unless you have chains. You will be ticketed if on the roads without chains.
She bit her nails. Dang, it would be really difficult to get to her job. She stomped her foot. She was already in a heap of trouble with Rick, her boss, since she hadn’t been able to get there yesterday because of her car.
Mike walked out of the hallway and turned to see the television screen. “What?” He put his hands up in the air, then winced. “This is not good. What am I supposed to do? I need to get to the hotel.”
A nervous rustle went through her. She felt bad for the guy, but worse for herself. “At least your truck works.”
Jerking his head around, he frowned. “Is your car broken? Is that why you hitched?”
She kept her eyes glued to the television, watching the weather woman motioning to her monitor. “Yep. Died yesterday. Don’t have the money to fix it, which makes it hard to get to work. The real problem is getting to my job tomorrow.” She shrugged. “My boss told me if I don’t get there tomorrow, I’ll be fired and he won’t give me my last check.”
“Your boss can’t do that.” Mike frowned. “That’s against the law. You can call his corporate office and report him. I bet you’ll get your check really quick. Or file a police report.”
She was uncertain. “Really?”
Mike nodded. “We’ve talked about this stuff in my business classes. Employers are not allowed to withhold the last check. No matter what.”
Hearing this lifted her heart a little. “Good to know.”
He pulled out his wallet. “I don’t have a ton, but take my cash.”
She looked back at the television. “I wouldn’t do that, hero. Please don’t insult me.”
“Of course you wouldn’t. You’re stubborn.”
She kept her focus on the news, a bit unnerved by his presence.
He let out a long sigh and moved to her window in the small dining area, which looked out onto the parking lot. “Dang, this snow.”
“Right, you have to get to your sister’s wedding,” she remembered, turning to him. “When is it?”
“In three days. On Christmas Eve. Trouble is, I need to get there to help prep for it tomorrow. We’re having it at our place, and my mom owns a flower shop. They have all these flowers that need to go on, like, twenty-one trees. Before that, we have to clear the property and put down a fake floor and put up the tents. Can’t have Grandpa doing it. It’s—” He broke off, looking around her place. “You don’t have any Christmas decorations up.”
Feeling pathetic, she threw a hand into the air. “Nope,” she said, letting out a fake laugh. “The staff hasn’t had time for it yet.”
“Zoey.”
The sadness in his voice made her pause. She was interested in this guy’s life. A wedding, tents, a small town … it sounded nice.
His pale blue eyes seared her. “Take my money, please.”
Once again, she felt that flutter in the lower part of her stomach when this guy was around. He had sandy blond hair and a dimple in his left cheek. Man, why had she noticed that? She shook her head. “No, not my style.”
“Can I help get your car to a mechanic?”
She frowned. “What? No.”
“If you have a place, it would be no trouble to tow it for you.”
It amazed her this guy was so generous. She turned away from him. “No, thank you. I’ll have the mechanic send a t
ruck.” Which was laughable, but she didn’t want to be this pathetic.
He sighed. “Okay.”
She thought of him trying to get to Snow Valley tonight and knew it wasn’t possible. “Look, I don’t ever do this, but you can stay on the couch tonight.” Had she really just offered that?
“What?” He jerked around to stare at her, like it hadn’t even crossed his mind. Which was a good thing, she guessed. “No. I couldn’t.” He backed up and headed out of her dining area. “I’ll go to the gas station and see if they have some chains. I’ll figure this out.”
She shrugged. It was funny how he wouldn’t accept her help when he’d insisted on helping her. “Okay.”
He paused at the door and spun back to her. “Ah, Zoey.”
“Yeah.”
He flashed a grin at her, and it melted her heart. Which was stupid and weird, right? Because she hadn’t felt all mushy and stuff about a guy in forever. “I’m glad you said a prayer. I’m glad I was the one to show up. And I’m really glad I didn’t kill you either time.”
She smiled. “Me too.”
He winked at her as he walked out the door. “Merry Christmas.”
“You too.” She stood there and watched the door shut, not knowing why she suddenly felt lonely without him. That was so stupid.
Her phone buzzed, and she picked it up. It was a message from her boss. You’re fired.
Tears of shock came to her eyes. She’d thought she only needed that money so she could possibly get to Salt Lake and to an audition. But now, she didn’t even know if she would be able to pay the rent. “Merry Christmas to me.”
Then determination from Mike’s words ran through her. She texted her boss back. I need my last paycheck, or I’m calling corporate.
Chapter 5
After a half an hour of driving around, not finding chains and getting a ticket, Mike pulled to the side of the road as snow came down even harder. He hit the steering wheel. “Dang it.”
He didn’t want to call his family and tell them the situation. His mother and sister were worriers. His father wasn’t normally, but he might be about this.
So he did what he’d seen Zoey doing. He prayed. He asked for God’s help and asked that he be shown a way. That he’d be able to help those around him and that he’d be safe. When he finished, he put his truck into gear and knew exactly what he needed to do.
When Zoey pulled back the door, Mike could tell she’d been eating the cheeseburger because she had ketchup on her face.
She quickly put down the fry she was holding. “I’m not on the roof of a building, so why are you here?”
Putting up his hands, he said, “You’re not, but I am.”
She stepped back. “Come in and tell me what you mean.” Her fingers brushed her face and found ketchup, and she blushed.
Tentatively, he walked into the cozy apartment. “It’s not a big deal you’re eating the burger. I bought it so you’d eat it.”
Zoey rolled her eyes. “Talk.”
Man, this woman was tough. “I need a place to stay tonight.”
She looked outside. “No kidding. Did you get a ticket because there’re, like, no chains to be bought anywhere?”
He grunted. “Yep.”
She relaxed and moved to the couch. “It’s not amazing, but it will do in a pinch. I have some sheets. And—”
“That’s not all I need.”
“What?”
“I …” There was no easy way to say this, so he just went for it. “Look, I mentioned my sister’s getting married. What I didn’t mention is that I was supposed to bring a date. My girlfriend was supposed to come to the wedding, so she could meet everyone. We’d been together about three months.”
“Don’t tell me she dumped you.” Zoey cocked an eyebrow.
He nodded. “Two weeks ago, but I haven’t told anyone yet.”
“You didn’t want to steal your sister’s thunder.” She sighed. “Typical hero.” Moving into the kitchen, she picked up the cheeseburger, took a bite, and leaned back against the table. “Continue,” she said through her bite. “This is interesting.”
He winked at her. “You shouldn’t talk with your mouth full.”
She fluttered her eyes sarcastically at him.
He wanted to tell her she kind of looked seductive when she did that, but he didn’t. “Anyway. I was thinking about how you’re here and I don’t know if you have plans for Christmas, but …”
“My boss at the truck stop just told me I am fired, so I guess not.”
“Did you tell him you get your last check?”
“Yes, but he hasn’t responded.”
He frowned. “Let me talk to him. What’s his number?”
“No. I’ll go over and talk to him in person soon.”
He sighed. “Sorry. That stinks.”
She nodded.
He had a funny sensation, like maybe this was all meant to be.
“So what did you want to do?” she asked.
“Will you …” He chickened out. No, it was stupid.
“What?”
He gulped. His palms were sweaty like when he was sixteen and about to ask Nellie Bells to prom junior year.
She crossed her arms. “Spit it out.”
The fighter in him pushed through. “Will you be my Christmas girlfriend?”
She looked perplexed.
The words came out fast. “Listen, my sister Lacey is marrying a guy named Dom. Two years ago, she brought him home as a fake boyfriend and everyone kind of fell in love with him, and now they’re getting married.”
“No,” she said flatly, letting out a rippling laugh. “That story is not helping your cause, by the way.”
This was coming out all wrong. “I don’t want that. I just … my dad was questioning me earlier. It’s like he knew I was lying about the girlfriend. I was driving around just now, and I kept thinking, what if I paid you to be my girlfriend for a couple of days? No expectations, just keep the town off my back, my dad off my back. Put a name with a face and smile and do the whole show. Then you’re back to your life in Billings.”
“You’re crazy. No.” She threw the cheeseburger down on the table and pulled a glass out of the cupboard. “No way.” She filled it and took a drink.
Following her, but keeping a distance, he shed his hat and gloves. “Why not? You need the money. I know you do. Your car is dead, and you just lost your job.”
She turned her back on him and put the glass on the counter.
Mike closed the gap, standing right behind her. “I could pay you two thousand dollars. I have it in savings. I could give you half now and half after if everything goes well. Then you could get your car into the shop. I’d even tow it there for you in the morning.”
She let the silence stretch just long enough to get awkward. “What about your cousin, Chelsea, in my nursing program? Is she going to be there?”
He sifted through the mounds of family information his mother had been giving him. He snapped his fingers. “Luckily, she’s not. Her family left on a cruise. My mom has been complaining that they’ll miss the wedding.”
When she turned back to him, she looked stumped.
Mike got nervous, like he’d really offended her. He raked a hand through his hair. “Never mind. This was a bad idea. Clearly.” He headed for the door, thinking he would just find a hotel. If they were all full, he’d just hunker down in some truck stop and settle in the café for the night.
“Wait.”
He stopped with his hand on the knob, his heart pounding. Slowly, he pulled back to face her.
“Let’s talk about this.” Her eyes were red, and she was blinking. She opened her arms. “Talk me through this.”
Hope sprang into his heart, and he thought about not having to face the Snow Valley gossips by himself. Zoey was beautiful, and it might be fun having her on his arm. “Okay, we tow your car to your mechanic tomorrow.”
“I don’t have a mechanic.”
“Right, we
find someone for you. Then we head to Snow Valley. It’s a little over an hour from here.” His mind was spinning. “When we get there, it’s going to be controlled chaos because my dad and I are clearing the snow for the tents and my mom will be on flowers. She owns a flower shop, so believe me, the wedding flowers are going to be amazing.” He could smell them already.
“Flower shop?” She looked confused.
Mike nodded. “She’s so good at it. She’s one of the largest online dealers in Montana too. Anyway, Christmas Eve is the wedding. It’s at two o’clock. Then there’s the reception and dancing. Do you see why I can’t face all of this by myself? The whole town will be there.” He sighed. The wedding hadn’t even happened yet, and it had still worn him out. “Dom and Lacey will fly out on the night of Christmas Eve to go on their honeymoon. Christmas will be chill at my grandpa’s. Then on the twenty-sixth, we do a toy drive, and that night I’ll bring you back.”
“So I would be back for sure by the twenty-sixth.”
“We’ll just say you’re flying back to Boston.”
“Boston?” She snapped her fingers. “Right. That’s where you go to school. You’re at Harvard, aren’t you?”
How come it felt like a bad thing when she said it? “Yeah.”
She shook her head emphatically. “Rich, snooty, Harvard? No. I can’t do this.”
Closing the gap between them, he touched her forearm. “Please.” He found he not only wanted this for her; he wanted it for himself. “Listen, I told you that Snow Valley weddings and Christmas are awesome, and I told you how I wasn’t bringing a girlfriend. Frankly, that turns everything brutal for me. There will be all of the town gossips, the pity in my mother’s eyes—and if you knew everything she went through, you would agree she shouldn’t have to deal with a loser son.”
For a moment, she simply stared at his hand on her. Zoey Harper was breathtakingly beautiful. The red hair, the white, porcelain skin, the thick eyeliner that made her green eyes mesmerize him. Even the little stud in her nose. She was different from the other girls he’d dated. Scrappy. He liked it.
