He pushed off, closing the distance between them, pocketing his hands when he realized they were shaking.
“Reese . . .”
She turned those dreamy eyes on him, and for a moment his world stopped. His breath seized in his lungs. Even her frozen exhale seemed to hang in the air between them.
Say it, Parker. Tell her that she’s captured you, heart and soul. That you love every little thing about her. That you can’t bear to face another day without her knowing.
He opened his mouth to deliver the words that had been three years in coming.
Thwack.
A body barreled into Reese. Griffen reached out but she was gone, swept up in a tangle of arms and legs. They fought for balance, spinning and chopping at the air.
Finally they came to a standstill, facing one another. And that’s when Griffen got a look at the man who’d nearly swept Reese off her feet—in more ways than one.
Sawyer Smitten. Griffen recognized him the same time Reese did. He watched her lips part, her eyes widen.
“Sawyer.” His name left her lips on a sigh.
“Reese. Good heavens, I’m so sorry. I’m a klutz on these things.” He’d picked up a southern accent somewhere. Probably all those country songs he crooned.
Reese gave a high-pitched laugh—her nervous laugh. She and Sawyer still gripped each other’s forearms, and Griffen wanted to tear them apart, but he couldn’t seem to move.
“I hadn’t heard you were back.”
Was he imagining the breathiness in her voice?
“Just arrived today. I’m on break until we kick off the tour here in Smitten.” He managed to pull his eyes from Reese and scan the square. “Can’t believe what y’all have done with the town. Heard it was your idea, your planning.”
Reese did her nervous laugh again and shrugged. “No, no. Everyone worked together.”
“Some of the men gave you a hard time, I hear,” Sawyer said, a flirtatious twinkle in his eyes.
“Not so much anymore. They’re coming around.”
Did they not realize they were practically folded into each other’s arms? He wondered if Reese liked the changes in Sawyer. The neat sideburns, the shadow of a goatee. Some women went for that country singer look, he supposed.
Sawyer finally noticed him. His eyes widened in recognition. “Griffen Parker.” He extended his hand, which at least meant letting loose of Reese.
“Didn’t recognize you without your cowboy hat. Good to see you, Sawyer.” Griffen shook his hand. “Congratulations on your career successes—and your upcoming nuptials.” In case either of them needed the reminder.
“Thanks. Yeah, a lot going on these days. So you’re back in Smitten for a while?”
Griffen stood close to Reese in case she swooned. “For as long as I’m needed.” He telegraphed a message with his eyes, but Sawyer was already back to Reese.
“You’re opening that sporting goods store you always dreamed of.”
“An outfitters shop.”
He nodded. “Well. Good for you.”
“I bought the old Palmer building. You’ll have to swing by and see it when it’s finished. It’s going to be great.”
My best buddy Griffen is renovating it, Griffen added to himself. You know, the one who didn’t leave me for fame and fortune.
“I’ll do that.” Sawyer caught her hand. “It was good seeing you again. We’ll have to catch up sometime.”
“I’d like that.”
“Well, listen, I’ll let you two get back to it. I think I can make it back to my boots without fracturing my skull.”
Nervous laugh. “See you around, Sawyer.”
He could hardly wait.
“Bye now.”
Griffen watched Smitten’s claim to fame scuttle over the ice, watched Reese watching him go, and wondered if the woman he loved wasn’t still in love with a man who now belonged to someone else.
CHAPTER FIVE
It’s too cold for this,” Natalie said, her feet pounding the river walk pavement behind Reese.
“Four months ago you were complaining it was too hot,” Reese called, her fogged breath dropping over her shoulder like a cape.
“Well, we were running up a mountain,” Natalie said between breaths. “And it’s Christmas Eve—shouldn’t we get holidays off?”
“Christmas Eve morning. It’s not a holiday until tonight.”
“Speaking of Christmas,” Shelby said. “I can’t wait till you girls see Penelope’s Christmas outfit.”
“Why am I suddenly picturing her in red velvet and a white beard?” Reese asked.
Shelby laughed. “No, no. More like a red boa and white tulle.”
Julia shook her head. “You have no shame.”
“She made it in September,” Natalie said. “Slow down, woman—it’s too hard to talk while we’re running.”
Shelby had fallen in step beside her, and Natalie stage-whispered to her, “How can a woman with such short legs move so fast?”
“I heard that.” Reese traded a smile with Natalie.
Reese slowed her pace and they jogged in silence for a few minutes, none of them fully awake yet. Shelby seemed different these days. Not just in love—she was at peace. Reese thought about all her friend had been through with the teenage pregnancy and her fateful decision. She was so glad Shelby had shared her burden with them. She could only respect a woman who pushed past a painful mistake and let God do a new work.
A sluggish fog hung over the river, mingling with flurries that fell from a gray abyss. Snow nested on the evergreen branches lining the river walk, and in the distance Sugarcreek Mountain rose majestically into the clouds. She’d have to take her new skis up there soon. There was a fluffy layer of snow just waiting for her on Switchback Pass. If she could only find the time.
“So what time are we meeting?” Julia asked. They were exchanging gifts at Natalie’s shop later.
“Three?” Natalie suggested.
“Can’t,” Reese said. “I have to put in a full day.”
“I have a couple clients this afternoon too.” Julia pocketed her gloves.
They agreed on five, which would give the other girls time to spend the rest of Christmas Eve with their men and families.
After a while they slowed to a walk. Natalie and Shelby caught up, and the four spanned the deserted path. The rhythmic pounding of their sneakers and their huffs of air broke the otherwise silent morning.
“I heard Sawyer was back in town,” Julia said as they cooled down.
“He came into the coffee shop last night.”
Reese could feel her friends’ eyes on her. “I already know. We ran into each other Saturday night at the ice rink. Literally.”
“Are you okay?” Shelby asked.
Reese knew she wasn’t referring to the collision. It was the first time she’d seen Sawyer since they’d broken their engagement, having deftly avoided him when he’d passed through town in the spring.
She shrugged. “It was awkward, but we got through it. Griffen was there too, which only made it more awkward.”
“Do you think you’re over him?” Natalie asked.
Julia’s dimple appeared with an ornery smile. “Sawyer or Griffen?”
Reese shot her a look, then addressed Natalie. “Oh yeah. That boat has sailed.” She’d known she was over Sawyer, but seeing him had confirmed it. “Griffen, though—that’s another story.”
“What’d you get him for Christmas?” Shelby asked.
Reese had thought long and hard about that one. In the past they’d exchanged trinkets. While he was away it had dwindled down to Christmas cards.
“A Catamount sweatshirt.”
“What’s that?” Shelby asked.
“The University of Vermont mascot,” Natalie said.
“Griffen played on their hockey team.”
Shelby nodded. “That’s a safe gift.”
“Personal, but not too personal,” Julia said.
“Good, that’
s what I was going for.”
“You should’ve gotten him a photo frame,” Natalie said. “And put a picture of you two in it with a note that says”—she swiped her hand across the sky—“Friends make the best lovers.”
Shelby and Julia laughed.
Reese felt a flush climbing her neck. “That’s real subtle.”
They paused for Natalie to tie her shoe, then picked up the pace again.
“You should know,” Reese said, “that I’ll be going to the New Year’s Eve bash with Joshua Campbell. And we’ll probably be going out a lot in the near future.”
“Joshua Campbell . . . ?” Natalie said.
“Did I miss something?” Julia asked.
Reese waved off their curiosity. “Nothing like that. It’s all part of my plan to help Griffen see me as more than his little buddy.”
“Yeah, now he’ll see you as Josh’s girlfriend,” Julia said.
“I had to do something. Besides, Josh knows the score.
He’s just helping me out.”
“I think you should tell Griffen the truth, Reese,” Natalie said. “Why play games when you can just be honest?”
“Because honesty could cause an irreparable fracture in a very important relationship.”
“Well, your plan might not work, and then you’ll be back to square one.”
“Even so, at least our friendship will be intact.”
Natalie shook her head. “It’s like those walls you busted down. You were afraid what you’d find behind them, but you found just what you’d hoped for.”
“This isn’t a wall, it’s a relationship.”
“But sometimes you have to take a chance.”
Reese knew she was wasting her breath. If something like this had happened to Natalie, her friend would bust right through the wall. But Reese wasn’t Natalie, and she had to do things her own way. Better safe than sorry.
CHAPTER SIX
Reese picked up the store’s sign, Griffen’s Christmas gift to her, and moved it out of harm’s way. She didn’t know when he’d found the time to make it, but it was gorgeous. “Outdoor Adventures” it read in yellow-trimmed burgundy letters. The multilayered wooden shingle, a mix of natural wood and hunter green paint, would look great hanging under the green canopy she was adding over the entryway.
He’d seemed pleased with his Catamount sweatshirt, but if Reese had hoped for some kind of moment during the gift exchange, those hopes had been dashed. He’d given her a quick hug, then tousled her hair for good measure.
Across the store, he was now prying the last of the drywall from the studs. The shop was a disaster, even though she’d been cleaning up behind him. The mess was driving her crazy.
She had to admit, the newly exposed brick walls looked great, or would once they sucked the dust away. The brick added the old-timey look she’d been hoping for. That, combined with the thick wooden trusses exposed on the second floor, made for a nice rustic look. The lofted second floor was open now and well supported with a beam.
He set down the pry bar and pulled off his gloves and filter mask. The air was thick with drywall dust that clogged Reese’s throat even through her mask.
“That’s the last of it,” Griffen said, retrieving a bottle of water from the cooler behind the old counter. He handed her one.
“Thank goodness.” There wasn’t a clean surface in the room. Reese pulled off her mask and took a long drink.
“We’ll need to roll up the plastic carefully. The Shop-Vac will handle the rest, but there’s no sense doing that until the dust settles. At least the messy part is over.” He cocked a grin at her. “It’s driving you nuts, isn’t it?”
She thought of denying it, but why bother? He knew her too well. “A bit.”
“A bit.” He chuckled, then tugged her ponytail, releasing a cloud of dust. “Am I making a big old mess for Little Reese Cup?” he said, baby talking.
She gave him a shove that was only half playful. “What else is new?”
He sank down on the dirty floor behind the counter, finished his water in one long drink, then pulled out his cell phone.
“Good grief, what happened in here?” Joshua Campbell entered the shop with a blast of cold air. He shut the door behind him and waved his hand in front of his face.
“Drywall dust,” she said.
What was he doing here? Maybe he’d come to get an early start on their Griffen plan. She peeked over the counter where Griffen was texting from his spot on the floor and scowled. Good luck with that.
She cleared the dust from her throat and beamed at Josh. “I’ve got my outfit all picked out for New Year’s on the Square. I bought a new hat just for—” She stopped as Josh’s face fell. “What?”
“Listen, Reese, about that . . .”
He was canceling, she just knew it. Like she wanted Griffen to hear another man dumping her. Sure, that would make him interested.
“Let’s go outside and get some fresh air,” she said.
“Stop!” Josh stepped back, colliding with the door. “I have mono. I just left the doctor’s office. That’s what I came to tell you.”
Reese saw her plan going up in smoke, watched the mental fire burning and all hope drifting skyward in a great black cloud.
Then she looked at Josh and realized that the poor man faced at least several weeks of illness. “I’m sorry. That’s a bummer.”
Still, she had to get him out of there. He hadn’t noticed Griffen tucked away behind the counter, and what if he said something stupid? “Okay, we’ll talk about this later. You go home and rest up, and don’t worry about New Year’s.”
“You know it’s not just New Year’s, right? I’m afraid—”
Reese shook her head frantically.
“—Operation Jealousy will have to be put on hold indefinitely.”
Josh had never been good with subtleties. Reese winced. Still, at least he hadn’t said Griffen’s name. And he was busy texting, right? He probably hadn’t heard.
She shook her head at Josh again, made a throat-cutting motion.
But Josh was looking out the plate-glass window now at the flecks of snow drifting to the ground. “The doctor said I was contagious, and honestly, I feel like crap, so—”
“Of course you do. You go on home. Don’t give it another thought.” She was about to push him out the door, germs be darned.
“We’ll pick it up when I’m over this if you can’t find someone else to help. I know how you feel about—”
Reese hacked loudly. A prolonged choking kind of hack, accompanied by eyes wide enough to alert the most clueless of people.
Josh jumped, then frowned at her.
“Drywall dust.” She added one more hack for good measure.
Josh’s eyes left hers, moved just to her right, then widened. “Oh . . . Hi, Griffen.” Josh felt for the door handle. “Uh, well, I really have to go. And rest. At home. Catch you later, Reese. You too, Griffen.”
He moved incredibly fast for a guy with mono. The door thwacked shut behind him. He ducked against the cold, crossing in front of the plate-glass window.
Thanks a lot, pal.
Reese’s stomach had fallen somewhere between her knees and ankles. She heard Griffen moving behind the counter, heard the crunch of drywall pieces under his work boots.
“What was that about?”
She turned, ready with a fake smile, then remembered her mask and snapped it over her mouth instead. “What?”
Two creases etched the space between Griffen’s brows. He gestured toward the door. “That.”
“He has mono.”
“I gathered that.”
“We were going to spend New Year’s Eve together.”
“I’m not deaf, Reese. Operation Jealousy?”
Oh, you heard that?
Think, Reese. Fast. Something. Anything. Her brain readily dumped all logical thought. Griffen was looking through her with those blue lasers of his, and she couldn’t string together two coherent thoughts.<
br />
Something flickered in the pool of blue just before his eyes narrowed. “You are still in love with him.”
“What? Who?”
He reached over the counter and pulled her mask, letting it dangle from the elastic string. “Sawyer.”
She shook her head. “No.”
“Don’t deny it. I was there last Saturday, remember? What, you’ve come up with some cockamamie plot to make him jealous? To make him see what he’s missing before it’s too late?”
“Uh . . .” It was the best she could do. Her mind spun with options. Let Griffen believe it, tell him the truth, or tell him it wasn’t Sawyer but someone else. Then he’d want to know who. It all led back to him, and she couldn’t go there. Not yet.
“He’s engaged, Reese.”
“I know that.”
Griffen propped his hands on his hips, looked away. A shadow flickered on his jaw over a streak of white dust.
She had to do something. She couldn’t let him think she still loved Sawyer. But she couldn’t let him know how she felt about him either. It would ruin everything. No more casual games of B-ball, no more friendly chats, no more easy laughter and banter. All of that would be gone . . . and they’d still be stuck working together all day, every day.
He looked at her again, and she swore he could see right to the core. She tried for an innocent expression but feared she wasn’t fooling anyone.
“You and your plans. Have you considered the repercussions?”
“Repercussions?”
“What if you succeed? What if you break up Sawyer and his fiancée—what then?”
“What do you mean?”
“The wedding, Reese. The whole town is counting on it. What’ll become of Smitten—of your store—if there’s no wedding?”
“Hmm. That’s something to consider.”
“You think?” He ran his hand through his hair. Dust showered his shoulders. Griffen paced to the brick wall, kicking a chunk of drywall out of his way. He returned, stopping in front of her. “I can’t believe you’re doing this.”
She couldn’t either. She thought of what Natalie had said. That she should just tell him the truth. That she had feelings that went way beyond the friendship they’d always shared. That right now she wanted to run her fingers through his hair, melt into his arms, taste of his lips.
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