Caroling in the Snow: A New Hope Sweet Christmas Romance - Book 2

by Lacy Andersen

  Leaning his hand on the car, he smiled at her. What a charmed life she’d led. He wished for a moment that he could trade places with her. To live one moment without the pain and scars of his past and the fear that came with the future.

  “I don’t really do Christmas, either,” he said matter-of-factly. “It’s all a big scam to me. A way to get people to waste their money.”

  He could tell he’d hit a nerve by the way she brushed invisible dirt off the front of her coat and huffed. Despite the annoyance he’d felt only minutes ago, he couldn’t help but admire the curve of her lips when she was angry. Never had he met someone who could be so attractive and furious at the same time.

  “My parents split when I was young,” he added, although he wasn’t really sure why he was telling her. He never told people that. “My step-dad treats my mom like dirt. Not exactly Romeo and Juliet. There was never any romance in my life.”

  She opened and shut her mouth, as if she couldn’t find the words to say, and her eyes filled with sympathy. For a moment, he was afraid she was going to relieve him of his part. Take back her offer. He wasn’t exactly the best candidate for a love story. Instead, she sighed and touched him on the arm.

  “I’m sorry, I had no idea.”

  “It’s in the past.”

  “Still, I shouldn’t assume everyone’s had a childhood like mine.” She gazed up at the sky. Stars had begun to reveal themselves in the inky blackness. “I guess this just means we’ve got more work to do. Goodnight, Jordan.”

  He watched her walk toward her car. It was no wonder she could boss around an entire room and snap at everyone. She’d led the perfect life. Her daddy probably bought her whatever she wanted and her mother probably adored her. He didn’t know what that was like.

  He wanted to hate her for it, but all he could do was sigh and press his back against the cold metal of his Pontiac, closing his eyes to the dark memories threatening to overcome him.

  Chapter Six

  The next afternoon found the three women of the New Hope Foundation gathered around Gemma’s desk at the end of a staff meeting. They’d just finalized their Christmas calendar of events and somehow their conversation had drifted onto a certain gentleman in the other room. Gemma got up from her desk, wrapped her scarf around her neck and gave Chloe a disapproving glare. “He’s perfect, you know.”

  Chloe nodded her head and stretched her arms high above her. It’d been a grueling day of work, staring at charts and graphs until her eyes went blurry. Five minutes until five o’clock and she couldn’t wait to get a little fresh air. “I know. He’s just about the perfect Joseph for my play. You should’ve heard him sing last night.”

  Laurie exchanged glances with Gemma. They laughed and looked out the door, making sure Jordan couldn’t overhear them.

  “She means he’s perfect for you,” Laurie said with an eager smile. Chloe grimaced and opened her mouth to argue, but she held up her finger. “Come on, not only is he a particularly beautiful specimen of the male variety, but he’s sweet and charming…”

  “And doesn’t take your crap,” Gemma interrupted.

  They both grinned at her as she struggled to find the words to argue. Sure, he seemed to be able to roll with the punches she threw. That was hard to find in a guy. And she wasn’t going to deny he had a perfectly angled face and chiseled arms. But the boy had been here for three days and never even hinted at being interested in her. And that was fine with her. She had more important things to worry about.

  “I’m getting out of here before you get any ideas,” she announced, snatching her coat off the rack. “Take your silly little thoughts somewhere else.”

  Sometimes she swore her friends acted more like middle schoolers than women in their late twenties. She could hear them giggle and cackle as she left Gemma’s office and strolled over to Jordan’s desk. He was hunched over a file, his white shirt rolled up to his elbows, revealing lovely forearms.

  It’d been a struggle sitting across from him all day, listening to him hum and sigh to himself, wishing she could straighten his collar that he’d flipped under sometime around lunch. But that would’ve been intimate and unprofessional. And totally leading down a road she didn’t know if she wanted to travel. Instead, she’d finally escaped to Gemma’s office to clear her head.

  Last night’s rehearsal had been nothing but a disaster. The dialogue was stale and forced. Children running everywhere. Her piano player couldn’t hit the right notes. Ashley Lynn showing her pinched face at the end. The only bright spot in the whole night had been Jordan and Amanda’s song. Jordan’s voice sounded soulful and rich, like he’d lived a hundred years instead of thirty. She could melt into that voice.

  His acting, on the other hand, left a lot to be desired. Stiff and unnatural, he smiled during the wrong parts and grimaced during others. Amanda had given him plenty of cues, helped him along with the actions, but he’d been about as romantic as a Raggedy Ann doll propped up on stage. She had some work cut out for her, that was sure.

  “Come on, you.” Chloe stopped beside his chair and poked him in the shoulder. Her eyes darted to his muscular arms and then back to his face. “We’ve got homework to do.”

  He turned to her and groaned. “Homework? I thought I was done with that after I graduated school.”

  “Not yet. I’m going to teach you some romance, boy.”

  His dark eyes grew wide and his eyebrows shot up into his forehead. She laughed at his slightly scared expression, which seemed to ease his nerves. He broke into a grin. “Romance?”

  “Yeah, but don’t worry,” she winked at him, “I’ll pay.”

  Twenty minutes later, they were standing outside of a large brownstone house with a wide porch and iron wrought railings on either side. Christmas lights lined the angles of the home, alighting the house in splashes of green, red, and white. A jolly old-fashioned Santa Claus in his sled stood on the front yard with two reindeer on the helm. Chloe marched past the front door and led him around to the back.

  “My parents live upstairs,” she offered. “When my sister got engaged this summer, I moved into the basement apartment. Until I get my grad school loans paid off, I’m just another millennial living at home.”

  He nodded and studied the home, his eyes trailing up to the immaculate yard covered in a thin blanket of pristine snow. “This is fancy.”

  She shrugged. “We moved here when I was in middle school. I guess I’m used to it now.”

  They descended a handful of stairs to a set of french doors with the curtains drawn tight. Chloe unlocked them and let Jordan head in. Flipping on the lights, she sighed at the sight of her tiny place. It was only a single bedroom apartment with a half bath and a small kitchen and living room, but it was all hers. She’d brightened the place up with sunflower yellow pillow throws and turquoise dining sets on the tiny round kitchen table. A family picture, featuring her parents and her older sister, Brianna, hung above a fake fireplace mantel.

  “This is it,” she said with a happy sigh, throwing herself on the gray microfiber couch. “My castle. Have a seat.”

  He sat tentatively on the opposite side of the couch, shedding his coat and gloves. She could tell he was wary of tonight’s project, as if she was going to attack him at any minute. Taking his coat and her own, she hung them up in her supremely organized little coat closet and grabbed a giant black binder.

  “We’re going to start with Pretty Woman.” She dropped the open binder into his lap and pointed to the DVD. “Then, we’ll move onto Casa Blanca, Pride & Prejudice, and possibly The Notebook.”

  He stared up at her, confusion clouding his eyes. “This is my homework?”

  “Yes!” She sat next to him on the couch, their thighs touching. “We’re going to study the romantic parts. You might not believe in romance, but you’ve got to pretend. By watching these, you’ll get a good idea of what to do.”

  His gaze trailed down to their touching legs. Chloe blushed and pulled away, putting just en
ough room between them so they weren’t touching.

  “This is just for the play,” she said, more for herself than for him. “I know where all the best parts are, so I can fast forward through them and explain what makes them romantic.” She gulped as he smiled at her, his lips curving into a grin that made his eyes shine with amusement.

  “You’re going to be my teacher?”

  She shifted in her seat. “Why not?”

  His gaze ran down her face and landed on her mouth. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

  Suddenly feeling warm, she jumped off the couch and shed her sweater before running to the fridge to grab them drinks. She could feel his amused gaze following her every move, but she refused to look at him. This was just business. A teaching opportunity. Despite the fact that she found him insanely attractive, nothing was going on. She could have a good looking man over to her apartment and behave. Couldn’t she?

  Finally, she shoved a cold glass of water in his hands and took the DVDs. “Let’s get started.” Popping Pretty Woman into the player, she backed up until she could lean against the couch and hug her legs into her chest. “This is one of my favorites.”

  She took him through all of the best parts of the movies. Richard Gere climbing the fire escape with flowers. Rick Blaine saying goodbye to Ilsa as she escaped from the Germans. And Mr. Darcy in nearly every scene. By the time they got to the epic kissing in the rain scene from Noah and Ally’s story, she’d curled up on the coach next to him and dozed off. It was already past midnight, but Jordan didn’t wake her. He’d been caught between watching the movie and watching over Chloe, his attention jumping back and forth, a warm smile lighting up his face every time he saw her sweetly sleeping.

  The ending credits rolled for The Notebook and Chloe woke with a start. Looking around, confused and disoriented, she was alarmed to see she’d started using his shoulder as a pillow. Pulling back, she apologized rapidly and tried to blink away the sleep from her eyes.

  “Well, I think I’m plenty educated now,” Jordan said with a laugh. He watched her squirm in embarrassment. “That’s more romance than I needed in my life.”

  “I’m sorry.” She grabbed the remote and turned off the TV. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep. It’s so late.”

  He smiled at her and something in his eyes told her he didn’t really care about the late hour. “Is this what your life is? All romance and happy endings?”

  “Sort of.” She shrugged. “My parents were high school sweethearts. They’ve been together for over thirty years. Still as in love as the day they met.”

  She’d been envious of their relationship since she could first begin to appreciate it. Her parents just seemed to fit together, like they were meant to be. None of her friends’ parents still kissed every morning at breakfast. Her father would flip the heart-shaped pancakes and her mother would pour him a cup of coffee in his favorite mug. She loved it when they held hands, strolling down the street like two teenagers on a date. Others might find it embarrassing, but she’d always appreciated the depths of her parents’ love.

  “You’re lucky then,” Jordan replied. He’d grown serious, his eyes surrounded by tired wrinkles.

  She placed a hand on his knee, suddenly feeling bad for bragging about her perfect life. He obviously hadn’t grown up the same way. “Your parents divorced?”

  “Yeah.” He gave a bitter laugh and stared down at the couch cushion. “When I was only three. My step-dad, James, came into the picture not long after. He started beating up on my mom when he moved in.”

  Chloe felt her jaw drop. “He was abusive?”

  “Still is.” Jordan swept his gaze up to meet her’s. “She’s still with him. I went to live with my dad when I was sixteen. Made her choose; him or me. You can guess who she chose.”

  As much as Chloe liked to pretend she was a brick wall and that nothing could move her, she couldn’t help but tear up at the look on Jordan’s face. Inside the man sitting in front of her was still a young boy, waiting for his mother to choose him first. She wanted to pull him into a hug and tell him it wasn’t his fault, but she settling for grabbing his hand and squeezing it.

  “I’m sorry.” She stroked her thumb along the smooth backside of his hand, her flesh on fire where it made contact with his. “That’s not fair.”

  “Life’s not fair.” He watched her thumb move in circles on his hand, his expression stormy. “I’m glad you had a different experience. I can feel the happiness here, in this house. It’s like a warm light that fills the room. You deserve that, Chloe.”

  She could feel herself melting again, just like when she’d heard him sing. It was no wonder the boy didn’t like romance or anything to do with Christmas. He’d been abandoned by the woman who should’ve loved him better than anyone. Holidays didn’t mean a thing without those people around you, celebrating the start of a brand new year.

  He leaned in, just then, closing the distance between them. With his gaze planted firmly on her mouth, he reached out with his free hand and placed it on her cheek. She swallowed hard, afraid to move and ruin the moment. His lips were so close to hers.

  She would kiss him if he leaned in just a bit further. It hadn’t taken her long to decide. Jordan was not only incredibly smart and drop dead gorgeous, but he had a soul about him that moved her. He’d taken what life had thrown at him and turned it into good. She’d never met a man like him.

  “Chloe…I…” His lips barely parted as he spoke. “I need to…”

  “Yes?” Her gaze left his mouth and trailed up to his deep brown eyes. He was staring at her with an intensity that made her skin light on fire.

  It was at that moment that Jordan’s cell phone began to ring, an annoying buzz that sucked the romance out of the air. He cursed under his breath and went to reach for it, bending over the device in the glow of the TV. Instantly, she mourned the loss of his hand on her face.

  “My boss,” he explained, holding it up briefly for her to see. “She calls at any time of the night. So annoying.”

  She smiled nervously and nodded, watching him answer it and walk to the other side of her apartment to talk. They’d very nearly kissed! Breath caught in her lungs as her heart palpitated and shot adrenaline into her veins. That had been a close one. Too close. Who knows what could’ve happened if that cell phone hadn’t rang at that exact moment? Maybe they’d been saved by the bell.

  Or, had they? She wasn’t so sure. Her head was telling her it was stupid to get involved with a man scheduled to leave her life in a few measly weeks. That it would only end in heartbreak and disappointment. A relationship fated to go nowhere.

  Her heart was telling her a different story.

  Chapter Seven

  New Hope certainly wasn’t what he expected. He never thought he’d like this little town and its vintage charm. He never imagined he’d be playing a part in a Christmas musical. And most of all, he hadn’t expected to almost kiss the girl who’d forced him into it.

  He couldn’t help it. She’d looked so beautiful asleep on that couch, her favorite movies flickering on the screen. He’d opened up to her unlike he’d ever done before, talking about his family and the abuse he’d witnessed. And when she’d given him that sultry look with her sleepy brown eyes, he had to lean in. If his boss hadn’t called at that exact moment, he would’ve done it. Instead, he left for home that night wondering what if.

  Several days had passed since that night and the tension was becoming nearly unbearable for Jordan. Every time their eyes made contact in the office, a spark would light in his chest. A brush of their hands, a knowing smile, that was all it took to rev him up. They’d been taking their lunches together, rehearsing his lines and sitting with their knees bumping under the table. He was sure she liked him - hoping it wasn’t just his ego telling him so.

  She was a beautiful and smart woman. She could have anyone. And for some reason, she seemed to like him.

  He’d just taken the third call from his boss that Monday m
orning at work when a woman came walking in through the foundation doors and caught his attention. She could’ve passed for Chloe’s twin. Dark almond eyes and a set of full red lips, framed by long sleek hair that fell to her shoulder blades. She was carrying a tray full of coffee from the nearby bistro and set them on Laurie’s desk.

  “Monday Blues survival kit has arrived,” she announced, holding a cup in the air.

  The women pounced on the provisions like a pack of hungry lionesses, snatching up their drinks and gathering around Laurie’s desk. One cup remained in its white sleeve and the woman plucked it from the carrier and motioned at him to come get it.

  “I had to meet the mysterious lead of Chloe’s play,” she cooed, eyeing him up and down. “My sister doesn’t like to spill the details. I can see now why you guys spend so much time rehearsing together.”

  The women laughed while Chloe elbowed her sister hard in the ribs. Jordan grinned. She’d been telling her family about him. That could only be a good sign.

  “I’m Brianna.” She held out a hand with long pink manicured nails. “Chloe’s older, and much wiser, sister.”

  Chloe rolled her eyes at Gemma and Laurie. “She wishes.”

  He shook her hand and released it with a smile. “Jordan Davis. Nice to meet you.”

  “Oooh, manners and everything? Momma’s going to like him.” She gave her sister an evil grin. “She’s demanding you invite him to family supper on Friday.”

  “Wait, what?” Chloe’s mouth fell open in despair and she began to argue with her sister. It made Jordan laugh to see her act so uncomfortable, far from the cool and collected Chloe he’d come to know. “He’s going to feel so awkward,” Chloe was saying. “I don’t want to put him through that.”

  “Aaron’s going to be there,” Brianna replied with a careless flip of her hair. “He won’t be alone. Besides, you know once Momma makes up her mind, you’re not going to change it. Right, girls?”

  Laurie nodded vigorously. “Yeah, I’d never cross your Mom.”