A Soldier's Valentine

by Jenna Mindel

  His parents had offered him land to build on, but now more than ever he needed busywork. Distraction from his thoughts. A vision of that perky redhead named Ginger flashed through his mind. She looked too young for him. And cheerful in a cheeky sort of way that intrigued as much as irritated him. She probably hadn’t experienced an unpleasant day in her short life.

  It didn’t take long before he pulled into the narrow back alley that ran the length of one block of Main. Streetlights above gave him plenty of light to see the back entrances of several buildings that were on each side. Each one had its own stout driveway, and he pulled next to a cherry red Volkswagen Beetle with a ladybug decal on its trunk. Right below that was a Love Michigan bumper sticker in the shape of a heart. Hometown pride. Or rather, home state.

  The car had to be Ginger’s. She rented not only her shop but the larger apartment of the two above, on the second floor.

  The woman he’d purchased the building from had tried to make the long-term lease with Ms. Carleton and her tea shop a condition of the purchase. Zach had negotiated those terms down to a year at a time with the promise that he wouldn’t simply kick Ginger to the curb without proper notice.

  Zach had no intention of taking over the whole building just yet. Not until he grew his business. Having a stable rental income right off the bat appealed, but he couldn’t have kept the ridiculously low rent. He’d had to raise it to help cover his loan payment.

  He got out of his Jeep and looked at the car. The VW fit his vibrant tenant with the flaming hair and soft freckles. He heard the back door open, and Ginger stepped outside dressed for a jog. Her reflective striped clothes announced a serious runner.

  “Morning,” he said.

  Startled, she grasped her neck, which was draped with a pink fleece scarf. “You scared the living daylights out of me!”

  He chuckled.

  She wasn’t nearly as tall as he remembered from the parade, but she wasn’t short, either. In fact, Ms. Carleton was perfectly sized.

  Snow fell softly in the still morning darkness, wetting his face. He realized that he stood in her path and turned sideways, giving her room to pass.

  She flashed him a nervous-looking smile and walked closer, then slipped on the ice.

  He reacted fast.

  Her arm slammed against his, knocking the thermos of coffee out of his hand. It hit the cement with a metallic clink. Zach managed to grab her waist and pulled her close.

  “Oof.” She landed hard against his chest and looked up. “Oh!”

  As if receiving a blow to his head, he lost his bearings staring into her big brown eyes. She made a really nice armful. But before he could shift, or even wrap his other arm around her, she scrambled out of his grasp.

  “Sorry.” With cheeks blazing, Ginger wouldn’t look at him. Instead, she searched the ground.

  He’d forgotten about his thermos but found the silver tube resting against his tire and went for it. She did, too, and they bumped heads.

  Rubbing her forehead, she giggled. The nervous, girlish sound slapped his ears, reminding him that she was too young. “I’m so sorry.”

  “No problem.” He stood, empty-handed. This immediate attraction that flared in him might be a problem. Big problem.

  “I hope it’s not glass inside.”

  “What?” He couldn’t form another word. Ms. Carleton had a way of tying up his tongue.

  “Your thermos. If the center is glass, it’s likely broken.”

  He bent and retrieved his mother’s container and shook it. It rattled like a rice-filled salt shaker. There went his morning coffee. He looked around. “Is there any place I can get a cup of coffee this early?”

  “Not this time of year.” She looked thoughtful a moment and then smiled. She had a beautiful smile. Warm and sunny. “I make a mean cup of spiced chai if you like tea.”

  “I don’t.”

  She shrugged. “The least I can do is fix you a cup of coffee then. I have a single-serving machine inside and there might be some coffee packs left over from my Christmas help if you’re interested.”

  “Yeah, sure.” He followed her and tossed the broken thermos in the outside trash bin.

  She pulled a small bundle of keys from the zippered pocket of her fleece jacket and unlocked the back door. There was one entrance into a small foyer with two doors leading to their respective shops and a flight of stairs up to their apartments above. She flicked on the lights and stepped into the back room of her shop. “In here.”

  The first thing that hit Zach was the pleasant scent of cinnamon and something more subtle but sweet. He scanned the relatively bare shelves with rolls of Christmas-colored wrapping paper and bows and wicker baskets. There was a small table with a couple of chairs shoved against a wall opposite a microwave, half fridge and counter with sink. Magazines littered that table.

  “Your break room?” he asked.

  “And lunch room and basket-making room and office. You name it, this is it. I have a college girl who works for me during the summer months and over Christmas break. She drinks coffee, so there might still be some in here.” She dug into a wire basket of little plastic containers and lined up three, side by side. “Take your pick, mocha or hazelnut flavored and plain.”

  “Plain.”

  He watched while Ginger inserted the container of coffee into the machine. Then she slipped a mug under the spout. She didn’t wear a trace of makeup that he could tell. And she looked about college aged, even though he knew she couldn’t be that young. Maybe midtwenties.

  Still, a baby compared with his thirty-eight years.

  “It’ll take a few minutes to warm up.” She leaned against the counter. “Cream or sugar?”

  “Just black.”

  They fell silent while the coffee machine revved and beeped.

  He nodded toward her store. “Mind if I take a look?”

  “Go ahead. The light’s on the right-side wall.”

  He was already in motion and gave a cursory glance at the racks of spices and huge glass jars of what looked like dried-up twigs and leaves. Decorative tins and teapots lined one wall. The Spice of Life was a nice play on words. Cute. Like the owner.

  “Many of those teapots were made by Sally, the woman who used to own this building.” Ginger stood next to him and offered a cup of steaming, strong-smelling coffee.

  He accepted the mug with a nod and took a deep sip. “I never met Sally. I dealt with her Realtor for the most part.”

  “She’s a super nice old lady. Our shops connect through that sliding glass door.” She pointed at their shared wall that was mostly glass. “Sally and I left it open during business hours. Comes in handy watching each other’s store, and we shared many of the same customers.”

  “Hmm.” Probably a good idea to continue. Especially since he was going it alone until he knew what kind of income he might expect.

  “Well, sorry to push you out, but I really need to get my run in before a chamber staff meeting later this morning. You can return the mug later.”

  He held up his coffee. “Thanks.”

  “Sure. We have an open chamber meeting later this week. You should attend, meet the other merchants and see how we can help support your business in this community.”

  “I’ll think about it.” He wasn’t much for local politics, nor was he good at mingling.

  She gave him a smile that nearly knocked him over. “There’s really good food. The fancy dinner club around the corner is sponsoring it this month. You won’t be sorry.”

  Did she realize the power she wielded with a simple look? “Maybe.”

  “I’ll hold you to that.”

  “Uh, yeah.” He made his escape before he said something stupid.

  Ginger Carleton was cheerful with tart-sweetness rolled into one attr
active package. Not that he’d ask her out. Dating his tenant would be completely inappropriate, like dating a woman under his command. And he was tired of seeing people under his command damaged—or worse. Not to mention that she was too young for him and better kept off-limits. Way off-limits.

  * * *

  “Well, Ginger, what do you think? Can you get the merchants on board?” Brady Wilson, the chamber president, waited for her response.

  Ginger leaned back in her chair. The scowling face of Captain Zach came to mind, but she pushed that image aside. As liaison between the merchants and the chamber, it was her job to rally the troops, so to speak. “I don’t know. I mean, other than the slight chance of our town being highlighted in the statewide tourism campaign, what’s in it for them?”

  Or her, for that matter.

  Decorating specifically for Valentine’s Day was an expense she hadn’t planned for. She had a few things, everyone did, but a big storefront display contest meant going all out. Something everyone did at Christmas. She couldn’t afford to buy new stuff to do that. She could barely afford to restock her inventory.

  “We could award prizes,” the chamber secretary offered.

  They’d done that for their Christmas Shopper’s Walk. Ginger had heard several complaints that the judging was biased. The same couple of businesses won every year regardless of the decorations used.

  Ginger bounced the eraser top of her pencil against her notepad. “One prize, a really good one, and the judging should come from the community. Something they can be part of, like maybe anonymous online voting on the chamber website.”

  Brady narrowed his eyes. “We’ve already paid for our statewide advertising. That could be the grand prize. A year’s worth of advertising across the state, as long as the Maple Springs Chamber of Commerce is somehow listed, too.”

  Ginger’s mouth watered. She could barely afford to advertise, and then only with a few local print runs. Statewide exposure was definitely a grand prize. At least, it was for her. It might make a difference in her online sales, maybe even her summertime foot traffic.

  “I like it!” Ginger finally said.

  Brady clapped his hands together once. “Then let’s get moving.”

  The sound startled the treasurer, who’d nodded off during the meeting.

  “I’ll let the bureau of tourism know our plans and invite them for the big reveal. Just maybe, with some hype, they’ll send someone up here. If we can show Maple Springs as a place for lovers on Valentine’s Day, we might have a shot at making the state campaign.” Brady stood, looking thoughtful. “Yes, yes, that’s our theme—Maple Springs Is for Lovers. Ginger, get the word out. Sandy, draft a newsletter today and email it. Let’s get this done now!”

  Ginger held up her hand. “Whoa, Brady. When will we announce the winner and how?”

  He was pacing the floor of the small boardroom, clearly excited. “Maple Springs is the place for lovers. Let’s prove that on Valentine’s Day. We need something to draw couples downtown other than restaurant specials. But what?”

  “Something romantic,” Sandy said.

  “I’m stumped.” Ginger wasn’t one for romantic daydreams. Men on white horses didn’t exist in her world.

  Brady laughed. “I rely on you ladies for that insight.”

  “My brother has one of those fancy horse-drawn carriages. Maybe we can hire him for the weekend.” The treasurer yawned.

  Brady grinned. “Perfect. Let’s make it so.”

  Ginger shared a look with Sandy. This might actually work.

  The area restaurants usually ran Valentine’s Day specials, but they could ramp it up this year. And if the town’s merchants cleared away their old Christmas greenery in exchange for hearts and cherubs, downtown would look fresh and pretty. With a town made over in time for Valentine’s Day, they might even lure skiers away from the hills and into the shops. She’d have to find a Valentine’s Day tea blend sure to spark romance.

  Thoughts of Captain Zach and the way he’d held her tight this morning sent a shiver through her. Surely Zach’s shop would open soon. Even so, Ginger needed to convince him along with the other merchants to decorate their storefronts in time for Valentine’s Day with the theme that Maple Springs Is for Lovers.

  She was used to cajoling store owners to buy into chamber-sponsored programs. But Zach Zelinsky was a much harder nut to crack. And grumpy, besides. If nothing else, her childhood had taught her to steer clear of men like him.

  She’d have a greater chance of winning the grand prize if his window was decorated like hers. Both had to be good. And that meant they’d have to work together.

  Her belly flipped. Anticipating that conversation wasn’t pleasant. She might get a fight or all-out agreement, and she didn’t know which one scared her more.

  Chapter Two

  Ginger entered her store through the back. Flicking on the lights, she heard muffled voices and froze, listening. The sound came from next door. She strode into her shop and peered through the sliding glass door that separated their respective spaces. Opened boxes were strewn everywhere and Bubble Wrap and packing peanuts puddled on the newly refinished wide-plank floor.

  Curious for a peek at the kind of work an ex-army captain might make, Ginger couldn’t stand it. Flicking the lock on her side, she tried the slider and it gave way to her touch. He hadn’t locked his side. Her heels clicked on the wood floor as she entered, announcing her presence.

  And Zach appeared from around a corner. “Oh, it’s you.”

  Could he sound less enthused?

  “It’s me.” She grinned at him. “The door was open and I, um, really wanted to see your work.”

  He cocked one eyebrow.

  And Ginger felt her cheeks burn. Didn’t he believe her? She wasn’t being nosy without reason. She heard the sound of machine tinkering and looked beyond him. “Oh, but you have people. I’ll just head back the way I came.”

  Zach waved them off. “Inspectors. I can show you around.”

  Ginger stepped forward and hit a piece of Bubble Wrap, causing a loud snap and pop.

  Zach ducked. His gaze homed in sharp and deadly while his whole body tensed. He coiled like a spring ready for action. But this wasn’t combat, nor was he under fire.

  “Sorry.” Ginger tried to shake off her unease, but his reaction proved his training must be hard to forget.

  Maybe he carried things, dangerous things, deep inside still. She’d seen the documentaries on TV. Captain Zach was a civilian now, yet the sound of popping Bubble Wrap had gotten to him. Was that normal? Was he?

  He called to the two inspectors who’d stepped out to see about the noise, as well. “Just Bubble Wrap.” Then Zach gave her his hand. “Come on, there are obstacles through here.”

  Okay, maybe she made too much of his reaction. She slipped her hand into his. His skin felt cold, clammy even, before heat radiated between them. It wasn’t comforting. Not by a mile. It was all she could do to keep holding on. And holding on was a must because wide steps in the slim wool skirt she wore over black tights and heels was impossible.

  He steered her around the cardboard land mines, but she still stumbled against the edge of a box. His grip tightened and he growled, “Careful.”

  Ginger’s pulse sped and she pulled her hand away. Maybe if he hadn’t dragged her like some caveman. She straightened and breathed deep. “I’ll walk slower.”

  “Hmmph.”

  Seriously? She lifted her chin and glared right into his eyes. Big mistake. Captain Zach’s eyes were blue. Really, really blue and mesmerizing. And he hadn’t shaved, making him look even more rugged.

  And powerful.

  Ginger shivered. She needed to focus on the reasons why she didn’t want to find him attractive. She forced a smile. But once she looked around, she forgot eve
rything else. “Wow, you’ve really made a lot of changes.”

  The corner of his mouth lifted, and then he was all business. “This is where it happens, or will once I’m given the A-OK.”

  The changes to Sally’s shop had been huge. Walls had been taken out and the glassblowing studio part took up most of the space, leaving only a small area for retail displays. A wrought iron safety fence separated the two.

  Her heart pinched. No more Sally, the elderly woman who’d taken Ginger under her wing. And no potter’s wheel in the corner by the back window. She was used to seeing Sally there, her hands covered with clay. In its place was a big steel table, a heavy workbench with rails and some freaky-looking tools and hot ovens. This place now looked like something out of an old horror movie.

  “Scary.” She meant it.

  Zach chuckled. “Hence the partition to keep my customers from wandering too close to the hot work.”

  “Why more than one furnace?”

  Zach pointed. “The large one is the tank furnace where the molten glass is kept. Next, the smaller round one is the glory hole. That’s used to reheat pieces I’m working on to keep the glass malleable. And then that over there is called an annealing oven. I’ll use that once a piece is finished, to slowly cool it down to prevent shattering. That’s the plan, anyway. And that’s Sally’s kiln. I’m not sure yet how I’ll use it.”

  Apparently to get Captain Zach talking, all she needed to do was ask about his craft. “Have you unpacked any of your work?”

  “Not yet.”

  Ginger glanced toward the men who must have interrupted him while he’d been opening boxes. “What about a name for your store?”

  “ZZ Glassworks.”

  “Good ring to it.” Ginger nodded. “Do you have a sign?”

  He shrugged. “I might etch it on the window or door.”

  Ginger scanned the empty window that was exactly like hers and shook her head. “It’ll get lost in your display.”

  “My display?”

  “Your artwork. An outside sign would be better and easier to spot from the street. You’ll want your window stocked with product to lure customers inside.”