Sweet Montana Christmas
Page 15
“I thought so,” her mother said. “You’re going to have to tell him how you feel, and if he’s determined to move out of Missoula, and you’re determined to stay, well...” Her mother patted her hand. “You need to decide how hurt you want to be when he leaves.”
Chapter 15
Sue Anne looked up from her QuickBooks file as Julie stepped into the tiny closet she had converted into her office.
“Zach’s out front. Again.” Julie said.
“So? Handle him.” When she’d returned from Chicago, she’d texted Zach that the store had become extremely busy and she didn’t have time to see him. A cowardly way to deal with her own conflicting emotions, but she wasn’t sure she had the strength to break up with him if she was face to face with the man.
“He wants you.”
“Tell him I’m busy.”
“When are you going to give the guy a break?” Julie put her fists on her hips. “It’s been a month since you got back from Chicago. Don’t you think you’ve ignored him enough?”
“It’s the new me. I’m done putting up with men who have their own agenda for my life.”
“Honey, everyone’s got an agenda. Even you.”
“Yep. And my agenda right now is to get chocolates in every city in this state.”
Julie sighed and walked out of the office.
Sue Anne ignored the ache in her chest. Her mother had urged her to face the truth. Well, she had. She wanted more than Zach was offering. She wanted a chance at a relationship that could grow into something permanent.
Why couldn’t it have been Zach?
So like her. She always wanted something she couldn’t have.
Like all the items on her Christmas list.
She stared at the report in front of her. There was enough to cover Julie’s salary and a small amount for her, but it was going to be tough if she couldn’t land more outside sales. The little shop was an important anchor, but it wouldn’t be able to carry the whole freight of what she had in mind: stores in cities in Montana, product for sale in the major grocery stores in the Northwest, and a thriving online business. She’d had the basic structure in mind from the beginning, but the convention, and ironically, talks with her mother, had solidified her ideas.
Someone cleared his throat outside her door.
She spun around and leapt from the chair, sending it backward with a thunk into the desk.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.” Zach leaned against the door, his broad shoulders and trim waist immediately awakening the desire she’d been trying to suppress.
“Didn’t Julie have what you wanted?” She stiffened her shoulders as she said it, trying to maintain the illusion he was simply another customer.
“Oh, no. Julie doesn’t have what I want. Not in a heartbeat.”
The flirty tone in his voice aroused her even more. The office was too small a space. There wasn’t enough air to breathe.
“Then I guess we can’t help you.”
He took a step into the room—the tiny room that was getting more cramped by the minute.
“Oh, I think you can,” he said.
Only a hand’s width lay between them.
“I want to kiss you,” he said. “Any objection?”
“Yes.”
He nodded slowly. “I thought there might be.” He gave her a little more space. “Look, I know I’ve behaved badly. Twice. But I want a chance to try to make it up to you.”
“No.”
“I wasn’t fair to you. If my mother ever knew how I’d treated you—”
“—she’d have to kill you.”
“Or at least give me a really good lecture. I’d have to clean out cat litter for a month.”
Her lips twitched a little. It was difficult to stay mad at the man.
“I wanted to let you know the door isn’t shut quite as tightly on Missoula as it once was.”
“But you’re still considering leaving.”
“Honestly? Yes.” He leaned in again. “Some of it depends on us. Do we have anything here? I’d like the chance to find out.”
Her breath squeezed in her chest. What if they went out and then he disappeared again, like he had before? What if he made her fall in love with him and then decided Montana wasn’t for him after all?
“What makes you think we have anything worth exploring?”
“This.” He leaned in once again, hesitating a second as if asking permission.
She shouldn’t give in. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out, so she shut it and waited.
The pressure of his lips was gentle but compelling. He knew how to finesse a kiss, taking, waiting for her to yield, then asking for a little more. Kissing him was like savoring a VSOP cognac infused cream wrapped in 80 percent dark Belgian chocolate.
His aftershave tickled her nose with its outdoor scent, coalescing the man who was her friend with someone who could be her lover.
She wanted him, but a thousand questions hammered at her brain, demanding answers. Was the possibility of his stay in Missoula real? Or was he leading her on to get what he wanted?
She knew the answer to that one. Zach had always been honest. To a fault.
Her heart wanted to burst with its frenzied beating.
She parted her lips and prayed she wasn’t making a huge mistake.
He deepened the kiss, exploring her mouth, showing more passion than he had before, as if he’d let go of any reservations he had.
In kind, she slipped her tongue in his mouth to taste him, let him know he wasn’t alone. His afternoon beard stubble scratched against her cheek, but it didn’t matter. She heated up, juices rushed to the juncture between her legs, and her nipples hardened. Some part of her tried to remind her where they were, but her desire silenced that voice, too.
She wanted to pull him back to her apartment. They were so close.
He was hard against her.
Crap. She needed him. All her resolutions left, like the last of the snow on Lolo Peak melting away.
He released her mouth, and she moaned.
“God, I’ve missed you,” he said, his breath hitching his words. “I’m sorry I was so stupid.” He stepped back and held her shoulders, his arms straight. “I’d like to take you out. None of this ‘friends’ nonsense. Are you free Saturday night?”
“Yes.” Her pulse quickened.
“Good. I’m thinking dinner at the Red Bird and a walk along the river. It’s summer solstice.”
“Sounds good.”
“I’ll pick you up at six-thirty.”
She nodded, afraid her voice would squeak if she said anything; her heart was racing so quickly.
He left her standing there after one more quick kiss.
Vaguely, she heard the front doorbell ring, but she hadn’t moved by the time Julie came into the room.
“So what did our man in uniform want?” Julie asked.
“Me,” Sue Anne replied. “I think he wanted me.”
• • •
The Saturday morning sun warmed her arms as Sue Anne sat on the back porch, drinking her coffee at seven. She felt lazy. The bright yellow orb had already been doing its job for several hours before she’d risen. Sugar was sniffing through the yard, as if she’d never been there before.
What would tonight’s date be like now that they’d put aside the “friends” pretense? Would they lose some of the ease they’d enjoyed up until now because there was a possibility of something more? Or would it become easier still?
All this thinking was making her head hurt.
“C’mon, Sugar. Time to get ready for work. It’s just me today.”
As the day wore on, Sue Anne’s anticipation for the evening rose. What should she wear? A lot of walking meant low heels or flats. Something cute and summery would work with those. Her red sleeveless dress with the flared skirt and the bolero-style white jacket? Classy without being overdressed and not too sexy.
But it wasn’t like she never wanted to have sex again
either. Going to bed with Zach Crippin was definitely on her maybe list. Her mother would be pleased. Not about the sex. Her mother avoided any discussion of the birds and the bees like the plague. But she’d be pleased Sue Anne was going out on a date.
Within a half hour of closing the store, she was ready to go and pacing the floor, Sugar right at her heels.
Zach knocked promptly at six-thirty. Dressed in a pale green shirt that accented his eyes, he wore khaki slacks and comfortable looking shoes. He looked her up and down and whistled. “You look hot.”
“Too much?”
“Oh, no. Perfect.” He grinned. “You up for walking to the restaurant? The weather is incredible, and every beautiful day in Missoula should be enjoyed outdoors.”
“Yes.”
They strolled down Third Street, basking in the warmth of a sun still high in the sky. The maple trees held the bright green leaves of spring. In another month, the sheen would dull. Summer was short. Zach was right. Every beautiful day should be treasured.
She felt a touch on her hand and looked over at him.
He held out his hand.
She took it.
“It’s a beautiful evening,” she said, a sense of contentment relaxing her shoulders. “Looks like they have something doing at Caras Park.” She gestured at the tented space on the north bank of the river.
“Solstice,” Zach said. “With a college, I bet there are enough people around here that practice some form of Wicca. It’s a big time of celebration for them.”
“This looks like it’s going to be a little more formal than that.” She pointed at the amp set up and vendor trucks. “Band, maybe.”
“By the time we’re done with dinner, they should be ready to roll,” he said and gave her hand a squeeze. “Perfect timing.”
“I love Missoula,” she said. “It’s so many places wrapped into one. Nature, the university, and enough diversity to keep it all interesting.”
He laughed. “I like your thinking.”
“More reason for you to stay,” she said, and immediately regretted it. He’d have to make up his mind on his own. Pressuring him might change his mind but for all the wrong reasons.
“Um ... let’s talk about that some other time. Tonight, let’s enjoy our meal and each other. It’s our first official date, after all.” He lightly kissed her lips. “I could get used to that.”
She stayed in step with him to the restaurant, but reminded herself to guard her heart until he made his decision.
• • •
Zach held the door open for Sue Anne, and they entered the art deco world of the Red Bird. He only knew it was art deco because one of the girls who worked at the airport coffee shop had mentioned it one day. Otherwise, he was as clueless about architecture as he was about fine art.
“Ever been here before?” Even as he asked it, he knew it was a dumb question. Sue Anne had gone to the university. She’d probably been everywhere in town.
“Julie and I come here a few times a month for a glass of wine. And I had dinner here a few times while I was in college. The food is good.”
“This is my first time.” God, what a lame conversationalist he was turning out to be. When they were just friends, topics came easily. But now, everything had shifted. She was no longer a friend. She was a girl.
A woman.
“Got any plans for the summer?”
It wasn’t getting any easier.
“I’m starting a business.” She smiled at him, warmth filling her eyes, as if she recognized his struggle. “New business owners don’t get summer vacations. In fact, I’ll be lucky to get a few days off around Christmas.”
“Right. Your favorite holiday.”
“Yes!” Her smile broadened even more. “It’s really wonderful to be here where there are real seasons. Every year, my dad and I would watch White Christmas. A Christmas without snow is so-o-o depressing. Red and green don’t look right.”
“Not a big fan of lights on palm trees?” he asked.
“They’re fine for some people, but it doesn’t work for me.” She cocked her head. “It probably doesn’t work well for you, either, since you’re from Iowa. But if you got a job in one of those big California airports, you’d be stuck with it.”
“Maybe it’ll be Orlando. Mickey and I could become best buds.” Was she angling for a discussion about his future again? Maybe a conversation about Disney would divert her.
“Orlando is fun for a visit, but permanently?” She wrinkled her nose. “Not for me. Nope. Ever since I came to Montana to look at colleges, I’ve felt like I’ve come home. I don’t know what it is, but it feels like my roots were established here before I was born. It’s weird.”
“I can’t say I know what you mean.” A place had never grabbed hold of him, not in the way she was describing. He’d thought Denver would grow on him over time; he preferred the stark Rockies to the rolling hills of his home state. How would he feel about someplace like LA?
It didn’t matter. A job was a job.
He really wanted to get off this topic of conversation. Maybe he could distract her with something...
“How’s that Christmas list coming? I mean, if I’m going to find all the items, I’ll need some time.”
“I won’t make it too hard,” she said with a smile that slid into his psyche.
The waitress placed their plates on the table, fish for Sue Anne, steak for him.
“Bon appétit!” she said before moving on to another customer.
They were quiet for the few moments it took to dig into their food.
“So you’re a big fan of Mickey?” she asked.
“Actually, I had a crush on Sleeping Beauty when I was a kid.”
She laughed.
“Seriously. I wanted to be the prince. Imagine, bringing a woman to life with a kiss.”
“Is that why you do what you do?”
“Kiss people? I don’t make a habit of going around kissing strange women.”
“Just in my case.” Sue Anne’s eyes were sparkling.
“That was the one exception. I wonder if it was as powerful as Sleeping Beauty’s prince.”
“Hmm.”
Something in her expression caught his attention.
“What are you thinking?” he asked.
“About the power of kisses.”
There it was, that little tension that started his blood pulsing a little faster.
“What about them?”
“Well, some people’s kisses do bring a woman to life ... in all kinds of ways.”
He swallowed hard. What did he say next that wouldn’t be too outrageous?
“I mean,” she continued, looking at him with a definite twinkle in her eyes. “I imagine an expert kisser like you could awaken a woman from a coma.”
“I’ve never brought anyone back to life—at least not with a kiss.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“Quite.”
They were quiet as they ate. He searched for a more neutral topic. There were still things to know about her.
“Do you like sports? Have you been to an Osprey game?” He hadn’t been to see one of the minor league baseball teams either, but baseball had been in his blood growing up. Everyone had been on a team when he was a kid.
“No. I don’t think I’ve ever been to a live baseball game. It’s boring enough on television.”
“That’s un-American! You’re missing something great. I’ve got to take you. You’ll love it! I’ll make sure of it.” Even if he had to kiss her every inning.
“I’ll give it a try, but then you have to try one of my movies.”
He supposed it was only fair.
“Deal.” He put out his hand, and she shook it. They laughed.
Sue Anne was fun. She could build a business, but she could also relax, something he needed in his life, as the intensity of his job could get to him. He told her about the latest incident at the airport, a guy who wanted to take a hunting knife on the plan
e and couldn’t be persuaded to leave it behind.
“What happened?” she asked before taking another forkful of food.
“He missed his flight. His wife had to come to get the knife so he could get on the next plane.”
“Didn’t he need it wherever he was going?”
“Probably not a lot of legitimate use for it in Seattle.”
The conversation for the rest of the meal was pleasant as they discovered more interests they had in common and made plans to hike up the Bass Creek Trail in a few weeks. When dinner was over, he paid for the meal.
“Wait a minute,” she said. “I thought it was my turn to buy.”
“This is an official date. I treat.”
“Awfully old-fashioned of you.”
“That’s me. An old-fashioned guy.”
“Ready for our walk?”
She nodded, and they strolled toward Caras Park. The space was alive with music, dancers, and artists. Big signs announced the Summer Solstice Festival.
“Favorite color?” he asked.
“Blue. You?”
“Uh. Not sure.”
“Favorite food.”
“Steak.” Easy.
“A man’s man.” She smiled. “When I’m not gorging on chocolate, I like Asian fusion—like Mustard Seed.”
“Girly.”
“Good.”
The teasing banter continued as they walked around the displays, admiring the artists as they worked to capture the scene and the setting sun. Some provided a recognizable picture, some were a mystery.
After they’d made the circuit, they headed back across the river. Once again, he took her hand, rubbing her smooth skin with his thumb, contentment infusing his spirit.
Was it wrong to feel this good when his future was still hazy in the mist?
Chapter 16
“I had a good time,” Zach said when they reached her door. Like Sue Anne, he’d been silent on the walk back, apparently enjoying the sounds of the summer night surrounding them—kids out later on a Saturday night, the quiet talk of neighbors, and the whir of bicycle tires on the pavement.
Should she invite him in for a beer or something? She’d laid in some supplies earlier just in case. Or was that too premature? It was only a first date—sorta. She took the plunge.