by Danni Roan
“I’ll take a set of forty of these,” the woman waved at the display of glasses making Ryan’s eyes go wide. “As for the young woman hating you, she does not. She’s just trying to convince herself that you are someone you aren’t.”
“Did she tell you this?” Ryan asked, squinting at her as he pulled up his inventory on the glasses. Her order would clean him out.
“I’m not sure she’s come to accept it herself yet,” the older woman brushed a lock of white hair behind an ear exposing candy cane earrings. “You have a good heart and a keen mind,” the woman said, walking to the counter and pulling out her credit card. “Be steadfast, and your dreams will come true.”
Ryan took the credit card, wondering if the woman had all her marbles, but the credit card was processed without a glitch, and he simply accepted her words without comment.
“I’ll get these boxed up for you,” he offered as he handed her the receipt.
“Take your time,” she smiled. “I’ll send Chris or one of our employees around to get them later today.” Her brown eyes met his, and Ryan felt a shiver race down his spine. The woman looked at him the way Kooter might look at a mouse. As if she could see exactly what came next in his life. “Oh, and it was very nice of you to give Miss Evergreen that little pink tree ornament. It looks lovely on that frilly tree.”
Ryan opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out, and the woman was gone before he recovered from his shock. No one knew he had given the ridiculous ornament to Carol. He hadn’t even told his family.
Kooter pounced onto the counter, bumping his head against Ryan’s arm and pulling his attention back to the real world.
“That was an extraordinary woman,” he said, scratching behind the cat’s ears. “I think she met my daily sales goals in one purchase, though.”
“Cack-cack,” Kooter replied as Ryan pulled out tissue paper and began preparing the order, thoughts of Carol Evergreen bouncing in his head like dancers in the Nutcracker ballet.
Chapter 8
Carol was run off her feet over the next few days. Her mother stopped by to bring more cookies and cocoa or help with purchases, but overall, Carol was pleased with her grand opening.
She had been surprised to see so many of the men and women come into her shop carrying Triple T bags, but it made sense that they would be preparing for another if they were preparing for one Holiday. Not to mention that Thanksgiving had a way of being mashed into the Festive season anyway.
Carol pressed down on that jitter of guilt that kept cropping up when she thought of Thanksgiving or Ryan Troutman. She hadn’t seen or spoken to the man since the night he had helped her decorate cookies for her grand opening.
The little bell she had hung on her door jingled, and Carol looked up from her paperwork with a smile.
“Ryan was right,” a middle-aged woman said to her friend as they walked inside. “I’ll be able to get all of my Christmas items here.”
Carol felt as if she had been doused with ice water as she held the smile. Turkey boy had been sending his customers to her. Did he really think she couldn’t manage on her own? Heat rose in her cheeks, and she determined to give the man a piece of her mind. She had studied long and hard to get where she was. She did not need a man helping her build her business.
Lifting her chin, she stepped out onto the floor, offering assistance to the shoppers.
“Oh, don’t worry about us, dear,” one woman smiled. “I’m sure we’ll find everything we need. Young Ryan said you had a wonderful display, and he was right.”
Carol tamped down on her temper as she returned to her till waiting until the women were done with their shopping. As darkness began to fall, she rang up their purchases, closed out her drawer, and prepared to shut down for the night.
Week one had been a success, now if she could just find the right twist to keep sales high. Ideas for the big Black Friday specials had been zipping through her head every day, and she knew that soon she would pin down precisely what gimmick would draw in more customers from near and far.
Slipping into her dark green coat and pulling a red cap over her head, Carol stepped outside, locking the door behind her. A bright moon splashed its light over the sidewalk, and a brisk breeze scattered fallen leaves around her feet.
The weather was turning cold, and she knew that they would have snow this year. A white Christmas would be the icing on the cake for her favorite time of year.
Sliding her hands into her pockets, Carol turned slowly, taking in the glow of the moon and the quiet of a town that was finishing business for the night.
***
Ryan turned the key in the lock and sighed. It had been a busy day and had taken all of his faculties to keep reminding people to check out the Christmas store next door.
He knew that Miss Evergreen’s opinion of him was never going to change, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t be the bigger person and send people her way. The business had been profitable and orders for turkeys had skyrocketed over the past few days.
Kooter brushed against his legs as he turned the key, and Ryan smiled, thinking about the strange woman who had seemed to know his cat.
Turning to face the parking lot, a ray of moonlight spilling over him, Ryan caught a glimpse of Carol turning slowly as she breathed in the night. She was a beautiful woman, and her forest green coat and bright red hat only added to her appeal.
“Can I walk you to your car?” he asked, making her jump.
Carol turned facing the man who had been nothing but an irritant to her since she moved in.
“No, I’m capable of getting to my car on my own,” her words were sharp as she pointed to the battered sedan sitting under a street lamp. “I’m also capable of bringing in customers on my own,” she added, walking toward him, her boot heels tapping out a cadence on the concrete walkway.
“Excuse me?”
“I know you’ve been telling all of your customers to stop by my shop,” Carol stopped wagging a finger in his face. “I have marketing training, you know, I don’t need you telling people to shop with me.”
“I just thought,” Ryan began but stopped grasping Carol as she stumbled into him. His hands grasped her elbows, pulling her to his chest to steady them both. “Are you alright?” his words were a breathy whisper as their eyes collided.
Carol looked up into Ryan’s eyes, shimmering behind his glasses. She was mere inches from his face, and her breath seemed to catch in her throat. She could smell his aftershave, warm and spicy, and his hands were sending little charges of electricity up her arms.
“I,” she opened her mouth to speak, but before her mind could focus, his lips fell on hers in a burst of color and light that outshone the moon.
Carol’s arms wrapped around Ryan’s neck, feeling the tickle of his sandy hair on her bare hands as she fell into the kiss.
Ryan’s mind went numb, his lips pressed, warm and soft to Carol’s, and he breathed her in, all cinnamon and spice and everything nice seemed to wash over him as the seconds ticked by. He didn’t know how it happened, but for that minute, the world seemed to spin into place, and everything aligned in perfect harmony. Like the seasons marching into each other, a connection bloomed, sweeping away his heart.
Carol broke the kiss, her head spinning as the world snapped into focus once more. Something had pushed her into Ryan’s arms, and he had caught her. The kiss, her cheeks flamed as she pushed away gently, balancing on her booted feet.
“I,” she glanced up, meeting his eyes alight with desire. “I,” she wheeled, hurrying to her car and a getaway as fast as the old thing could manage.
Ryan stood on the sidewalk, leaves swirling around his feet, and watched until the taillights had disappeared out of sight. His mind finally starting to focus again. He turned his head to see Kooter stretching on the sidewalk, a steady purr emanating from his chest.
The moment clicked into place, and Ryan realized that somehow the cat had pushed Carol into his arms. He felt his hear
t skip a beat as he realized that it was all him that had done the kissing, though. Perhaps there was more to his feelings for Miss Evergreen than he had realized. The question was, what did he do about it?
“You are a terror,” Ryan said as the cat leapt onto his shoulder, staggering him. “One of these days, you’re going to cause trouble that can’t be fixed.”
“Cack-cack,” the cat seemed to agree, making Ryan shake his head as he hurried to the warmth of his car.
***
Carol drove home in a blur, not even recognizing her route until she pulled into the driveway and put the car in park. Hands still on the steering wheel, she lowered her head onto the cold rim and groaned.
What had come over her? She had kissed Ryan Troutman right there on the sidewalk outside his shop. One minute she had been walking toward him, ready to give him a good tongue lashing. She groaned again, wishing she hadn’t thought that. She had been all ready to tell him off, and then something had shoved her right into his arms.
Shaking her head in chagrin, Carol jumped when she inadvertently bumped the horn. Leaning back against the headrest of her car seat, she closed her eyes only to be overwhelmed with the rich warmth of the remembered kiss.
As kisses went, it was ranked up there in the top ten of a lifetime, but the partner was all wrong. Turkey boy was a Christmas Hater, the exact opposite of everything she loved.
A soft knock on her window had her jumping again, but she turned to see her father standing by her door. He was wrapped in his old flannel robe and worn-out slippers, but he peered at her with concern.
“You okay, Pumpkin?” he asked as she rolled down the window a crack.
“I’m fine, Dad.” She offered him a smile that didn’t convince him a whit and pulled on the door handle.
“Come inside where it’s warm,” Bill said. “Your mother has food on the table.”
“Thanks,” Carol climbed out of the car, grabbing her purse as she slid out and took her father’s arm. “It’s been a long day.”
“Looks like it,” Bill teased. “You’re all flushed like the heater was too high in your car.”
Carol felt her face heat again. This was not something she wanted to discuss with her father.
“Anything interesting happen today?” he asked as he ushered her inside to the warm, rich aroma of the house.
“No!” Carol snapped her voice high. “No, nothing special,” she lied, clearing her throat.
“It’s about time you got home,” Judy said. “We were starting to worry.”
“I’m fine, Mom.” Carol walked to the stove and peered in at her favorite meal of spaghetti and meatballs. “You know I’ll have later nights than this as we get closer to Christmas.”
“Well, we’ll help out.” Judy grinned. “Now come sit down and eat while you tell us about your day.”
Chapter 9
Carol tossed and turned all night. Each time she drifted off to sleep, she dreamed of that kiss. She could feel the cold air around her, smell the spice of Ryan’s cologne, and taste the sweet warmth of his lips.
Rising the next morning with her alarm, Carol showered and climbed into her clothes in preparation for the new day.
An hour later, she rolled up to the store looking toward the Triple T shop and breathing a sigh of relief when she noticed the lights were not yet on.
Gathering her things, Carol darted to her shop and opened the door, escaping into the cinnamon-spiced air and hiding away from any chance of seeing her handsome neighbor and his pesky cat.
Business seemed to move slower as the day dragged on, and Carol found herself trying to keep busy as customers came and went. The little bell on her door tinkled, and Carol looked up, smiling as her very first customer walked through the door again. Today the woman wore a green dress with white trim, and a warm white wrap covered her shoulders.
“Oh, no!” Carol gasped as Kooter slipped in through the open door behind the woman. “He can’t be in here.” She climbed off her stool and headed around the counter to head off the cat, but the woman waved her hand.
“Don’t worry, dear, Kooter won’t do any harm. He’s a benevolent creature.”
“But,” Carol stopped staring at the woman. How did she even know the feline fiend?
“Yes, I know he may have been rather naughty earlier, but trust me, he’s a very deliberate animal and won’t damage anything in your shop.”
Carol wanted to protest, but she also knew it was bad business to argue with a customer. “I hope you’re right.”
The big cat wound around the woman’s shiny black boots and purred so loud it overshadowed the tasteful Christmas music playing overhead.
“Christmas is magical,” the woman smiled, walking along and touching items as she went. “I just wish people would recognize the gifts they are offered instead of stubbornly resisting.”
Carol scowled. She didn’t know many people who wouldn’t be happy to receive a gift. Presents always made people smile, didn’t they?
“Are you looking for anything in particular?” Carol asked.
“I wanted to look at the ornaments again. These are very special.” She brushed a hand along the pink needles of the silly tree.
“They are beautiful,” Carol blushed slightly, thinking of the price she had placed on each ornament suspended from that tree. They glimmered softly as if lit by an inner light, and she knew that several people had purchased them as gifts to special friends.
Kooter walked over to Carol, placing his front paws on her leg and bumping her with his head. She reached down, scratching the cat’s ears absently and wondering at his very different behavior to the last time he was in the shop.
“He likes you,” the woman said. “You’re very fortunate. A cat like that doesn’t take to just anyone. Just look at that handsome man he took in,” she grinned. “He must have a good heart for Kooter to love him so.”
Carol blushed but didn’t say anything as her mind whirled. Ryan Troutman! What was she supposed to do about the man?
The older woman stayed a bit longer, picking out a few items and purchasing them before leaving. “Good things don’t always come to those who wait,” the woman said as she finished her purchase. “Don’t let something good slip away because of stubborn pride.”
Carol stood speechless in her shop as the woman walked out the door, Kooter on her heels. As the door began to swing shut, the cat turned, giving Carol a hard glare, then slipped, wraith-like out into the night.
Twenty minutes later, Carol was locking up shop and heading for the front door. Not wanting to see Ryan, she hurried to her car and started the engine only to have a terrible grinding noise echo from under the hood.
For the second time in two nights, Carol dropped her head to the steering wheel, exhaustion making her want to give up.
A knock on the window had her turning her head and groaning as Ryan Troutman peered inside.
“Car trouble?” he shouted through the glass.
Carol looked up at him, cringing as his crazy cat raced up his back, bending him toward her as the beast settled on his back.
Ryan leaned closer to the window, Kooter weighing him down as he balanced on his back. “I’ll give you a ride,” he offered.
Carol pulled the key from her car and opened the door while Ryan wrestled his cat onto his shoulder.
“I don’t know how you tote that monster around,” she said, trying not to think about the kiss from the night before.
Ryan tried to shrug, but it didn’t work. “I took him in when he was tiny, and he was always climbing up onto my shoulder. I think it’s too late to break him of it now.”
Carol found herself smiling through her weariness.
“How did you get him?” she finally asked.
“It was the day I rented the shop,” Ryan grinned. “A truly miserable day. It was raining buckets, and the streets were so wet they were running. I was supposed to meet the realtor here and got to the place early.”
Ryan walked Caro
l to his Jeep and opened the door for her, closing it then hurrying around to the other side where that cat in question leapt into the back.
“So you got here first,” Carol prompted.
“Yeah, I walked up to the store to look in the window while I waited, and there was this sodden wet lump of fur sitting next to the wall. He was shivering and looked up at me, blinking big green eyes. It was kind of pitiful.”
Carol twisted, looking at the cat standing on the back seat, his front paws resting on the front console. “Him?” she shot a thumb in Kooter’s direction.
