by Codi Gary
“He sounds like a great guy. I’m sorry I never got to know him.”
She laughed. “He actually knew quite a bit about you. Almost every story I ever told him about Snowy Springs included you. He asked me once why we never talked anymore, but I didn’t have a good answer for him.”
“If our roles were reversed, I would have kicked his ass.”
Anna Beth shook her head with a smile. “He wasn’t like that. He loved to goof around, but could flip a switch and be logical and level-headed in two seconds flat. He didn’t hold grudges.”
“If it hurts to talk about him, we don’t have to.”
“It does hurt, but it’s good to talk about him. It’s been a year, and he wasn’t himself for months before that…”
She trailed off and Rip, as though sensing her sadness, whimpered and rubbed his cheek against her leg. Anna Beth scratched behind his ear and he moaned.
“Are you going to tell me about the reverse bucket list Ian left you?” Jared asked.
“It’s really just things he wanted me to accomplish in his memory Everything you want your loved ones to do after you die.”
“Sounds interesting.” Jared picked up his coffee and took a drink. “Well, I offered to help. Take advantage of me.”
The turn of phrase startled her, especially the images that came along with it. Taking advantage of Jared had been in the forefront of her mind since he held her and she didn’t want to think about it. It was a bad idea all around, and she’d hoped this crazy attraction to him would go away. After all, he’d said himself he wasn’t looking for anything more than friendship.
Suddenly, Jared laughed. “What’s that blush about?”
“Nothing.”
“You sure? A blush like that makes me mighty curious what has you frazzled.”
Anna Beth wracked her brain for an appropriate answer and blurted, “The list. One of the things he wants me to do is dress up like The Grinch and deliver Christmas presents to the children’s hospital. I’m just embarrassed about it.”
“Really? Didn’t you ever tell Ian how you nervous puked your way through the Christmas choir concert your sophomore year.”
“I did, but he enjoyed pushing me out of my comfort zone.”
“Gotcha. Well, something tells me we need to build up to that one. What else do you have?”
Anna Beth pulled the journal from her laptop bag.
“Cut down my own Christmas tree. Make an ornament. Dance like no one is watching. Kiss…” Anna Beth hesitated. Would Jared get the wrong impression and think she was hinting?
“Kiss?”
She cleared her throat and forced herself to finish. “Kiss someone under the mistletoe.”
“There’s no shortage of mistletoe or available men, so that one’s easy. Does your aunt have a tree yet?”
“No,” Anna Beth answered tersely. Kissing someone else would not be easy for her, even if she was surrounded by thousands of men. She knew he probably skipped over that one for her sake, but sweeping it under the rug like that bugged her.
Did you really think he would offer himself up as tribute? Come on. He is trying to respect boundaries. Don’t hold being a good guy against him.
“How about I grab you after work,” Jared said, pulling her from her thoughts.
“What?”
“You need to cut down your own tree, right? Tomorrow morning, we’ll head out to Stubb’s Christmas Tree Farm. I can teach you how to use a saw and we can grab lunch on the way back.”
Anna Beth gave him an evil grin. “You’re a brave man for encouraging me to swing a sharp object around.”
“Nah, no swinging involved. Just a chainsaw, like Leather Face. If you accidentally maim me, I’ll get some time off work during the holidays. Win-win.”
“I guess. Maybe I’ll grab an old burlap sack and make a mask. Scare the locals.”
“Or we could not give the good people of Stubbs coronaries.” Jared rapped a knuckle on the table. “We should probably let you get some work done. Come on, Rip.”
Rip grunted and nuzzled closer to Anna Beth.
Anna Beth giggled when Jared scowled and ducked his head under the table. “Hey, I bought you a pup cup. Don’t you tell me, ‘no.’”
“Actually, I bought him the pup cup,” Anna Beth teased.
Rip made a rumbling whine, backing her up.
Jared sat up straight with a grin. “I guess he told me.”
“Sounds like it. If you have some errands to run, I’m happy to keep him with me. I won’t run off with him, I swear.”
Jared ran a hand through his hair. “I guess I could go to the store and grab a few groceries. Are you sure?”
“Oh, yeah. He’s not a bother at all.”
Jared picked up his knit cap and gloves from the table top and stood. “Be a good boy for Anna Beth and, when I come back, no lip from you.”
Rip dropped onto his belly with a huff.
“Am I crazy for thinking he understands me?” Jared asked.
“Not at all. I don’t think we give animals enough credit.”
“Alright, I’ll be right back. Thanks, A.B.”
“You’re welcome.”
Jared headed for the door. Her gaze involuntarily drifted to where his jeans hugged his rear end.
When he turned back to wave, her face caught fire. Had he noticed where she’d been looking? Anna Beth waved awkwardly and when he was safely out the door, she quickly focused at her laptop screen. She needed to concentrate on getting words down instead of how good Jared’s butt looked.
She opened her document and read through the last page she wrote, but for some reason, the family drama wasn’t calling to her. Anna Beth stared at the screenplay she’d been working on for months but after ten minutes of typing and erasing the same few sentences, she opened a new file.
Anna Beth closed her eyes, her mind wandering. She prayed to the muses, for some sign of inspiration.
Rip nudged her hand and when she didn’t immediately pet him, he flopped onto the ground with a grunt.
She grinned as she peeked under the table at him. “Are you pouting?”
The dog turned his head, his teeth flashing in a smile.
Anna Beth sat back up, chuckling. Animals really were funny creatures and seemed to be the best part of any good movie.
Her eyes closed once more and the first scene popped into her head like a tiny projector display. Concentrating, she opened her eyes and typed. Words flew onto the computer screen with ease, something she hadn’t experienced with her family drama screenplay, even from the beginning.
The screenplay opened with a woman back in her hometown, suddenly knocked over by a large chocolate lab. She lands on her back in the snow and the cold, white stuff slips into every crevice. She’s ready to give the owner a piece of her mind, but when she looks up, she’s faced with a very hot guy. Someone she used to know.
Before she knew it, Anna Beth hit return on page five and didn’t even look up when Jared dropped into the chair beside her.
“Wow, you’re in the zone, huh?”
Anna Beth finished typing the last sentence in the scene and met his gaze with a grin. “Actually, yeah. I have to admit, my writing has been a little slow lately, but today, I feel inspired.”
“It’s the magic of Snowy Springs, I’m telling you. It’s amazing what this place can do for your soul.”
“Is that why you never left?” she asked.
“That, and my family is here. We might not be bonded by blood, but Karen and Mike mean a lot to me. Besides, I get enough alone time at my place. I live off the beaten path and I enjoy the quiet.”
Anna Beth pushed her laptop aside and leaned on the table, lost in her train of thought. “Being around your family makes me miss my parents. Although things with Sarah are better than they were, I still remember how exciting it was, waking up on Christmas morning and finding Mom and Dad on the couch. The fire would be roaring and so many presents under the tree. Mom wrapped them al
l in different paper, too. She always had the biggest smile when I opened that one gift from Santa. And, after dinner, Dad would bite the leg off a gingerbread man and chase me with it, just to make Mom laugh. I found that happiness again with Ian, but now…”
Jared reached across the table and squeezed her hand. “You’ve lost so much, A.B., but I know you’ll find that kind of happiness again. You deserve it.”
The intensity in Jared’s eyes set her skin tingling where their hands met. “I hope so.”
“I know so. Now, I am going to take my obnoxiously needy dog and get out of your hair. Tomorrow at ten?”
“I can’t wait,” she said, meaning it.
“Alright.” He leaned over and picked up Rip’s leash. “Come on, you’ll see her tomorrow.”
Rip kept looking back at her with dark, soulful eyes and she laughed. As she watched Jared load Rip into the truck, she kept smiling. No matter how confusing her feelings for Jared were, being around him was good for her writing.
Or, maybe he’s just good for you?
When she turned back to her screenplay, Anna Beth realized that could be true.
Thirteen
Jared pulled up in front of Sarah’s house on Monday morning with two coffees from Foam Capped Java in his cup holder and Rip in the back seat of his truck. Rip eyed the brown bag next to Jared, licking his lips. Jared moved the bag away from his dog and scowled.
“These sandwiches are for humans, not dogs.”
Rip let out a series of high-pitched barks and bit the back of the seat.
“Hey! Knock that off and stop arguing. Lately, your attitude sucks. If you were human, I’d call you Casey.”
Rip cocked his head with a whine.
“Fine, you’re not that bad, but I’m taking these with me in case you get any ideas.” Jared picked the bag back up and climbed out. He headed up the walkway, nearly slipping in the fresh layer of powder on the cement. Luckily, they’d only gotten another few inches last night and not the five inches the weather app predicted.
Jared stood on the porch, taking deep, calming breaths. As much as he wanted to play it cool, he’d spent all night at work thinking about today. He knew it was just one old friend helping out another, but catching up with Anna Beth proved to be an addicting pastime for him.
He knocked on the front door with three sharp raps. It opened slowly, revealing Sarah in a lavender dress, looking ready to head out.
“Good morning, Jared.”
“Hi, Sarah. Is Anna Beth ready?”
“She’s just getting her boots on, but there’s a complication.”
“Why is that?”
“Come in and see for yourself.”
Jared stepped inside and into the living room. Anna Beth sat on the couch tying her boots as a rambunctious gray tabby attacked the laces. When Anna Beth finally managed to get them secured, the kitten went after her dangling ponytail.
“Dang it, Mitts! You’re being a pain.” Anna Beth straightened and picked the kitten up in her hands, holding her in front of her face. “Don’t I play with you enough?” She kissed the top of the creature’s head and cuddled her close. “You’re too cute to be mad at.”
“Let me be the judge of that,” he said.
Anna Beth looked up as he crossed the room, a broad smile on her face. “Look at you right on time.”
“I would have been here sooner, but I needed to stop for nourishment.” He held out the paper bag to her. “I’ll trade you two breakfast sandwiches for one spunky kitten.”
“I’m not sure how she is around men,” Anna Beth warned.
“She’s fine,” Sarah said.
Anna Beth shot her aunt a puzzled glance.
“How do you know?”
Sarh’s face flamed. “Look at her. She isn’t shying away from him, is she?”
“No, she is not.” He took the kitten from her with one hand while she cradled the bag. The tiny tabby sniffed the front of his shirt and stiffened. She leaned away from him, hissing at his shirt as though it would come alive at any moment.
“Oh, you smell Rip. Not a fan of dogs, huh?” Jared held her against his chest and rubbed her ears and chin until she purred for him. “There, see? I’m not so bad, even if I am a dog person.”
“You’re just the kind of man it takes a few minutes to warm up to,” Sarah said from the doorway. “Or years, in some cases.”
Anna Beth laughed.
Jared grinned at Anna Beth’s aunt. “I’m offended, Sarah. Are you saying you weren’t my number one fan from our first meeting?”
“I think you know the answer to that.”
Sarah’s tone was teasing, but Jared knew Sarah hadn’t liked or understood his friendship with Anna Beth when they were younger. After years of working together at the police station, his relationship with Sarah grew friendlier.
Mittens rubbed her face against his chin and then climbed up onto his shoulder. She sat with her butt next to his cheek and her tail curled over his upper lip.
Anna Beth bent over laughing until Sarah came around to see what was so funny. She covered her mouth and coughed.
“I mustache you a question,” Jared said. “Does this cat make me look dashing?”
Sarah closed the distance with her hands out. “Oh my goodness, give me the kitten. You two, get going. I’ll pull the ornaments down from the attic while you’re gone.”
“Do you know, are my parent’s ornaments up there?”
“I think so. I’ll get those too.”
“I can help when we get back.”
“No, it’s fine. I have a friend coming over and he can get them for me.”
Anna Beth placed one hand on her hip, her tone teasing. “When am I going to meet this mysterious friend?”
“When I’m ready. Now, scoot.”
Anna Beth kissed Mittens on the head again as she passed and then her aunt on the cheek. Jared caught Sarah’s surprised expression as Anna Beth headed out the door. Jared squeezed Sarah’s shoulder.
“I’ll bring her back in one piece.”
“Of course, you will. If I had any doubts, she wouldn’t be leaving with you.”
“Fair enough. Have a good day, Sarah.”
Jared closed the door behind him and caught up to her, reaching for the door handle to open it for her.
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I know. Do you mind?”
“Not at all.”
She climbed up inside and greeted Rip when he closed her door. As he passed the front of the truck, he saw Rip lean over the seat and lick her cheek. Jared grinned when she laughed. Rip taking to Anna Beth as though she’d always been a part of their lives only reinforced Jared’s notion that Anna Beth was special.
Jared climbed into the truck and gave Rip a stern look. “Don’t be fooled by him. He’s buttering you up so he can steal our sandwiches.”
“Awww, I’m not stingy. I’ll share with him.”
“No way. He had breakfast and people food makes him gassy.”
Anna Beth sent Rip a sympathetic glance. “Sorry, Rip. Daddy’s being mean.”
Jared shook his head as he turned the ignition. “I’m not mean. I just don’t want to be stuck in a car with his noxious ass.”
Anna Beth bent over in her seat, laughing heartily, nearly hitting her head on the dash. Jared smiled as he pulled out of the driveway and onto the road. He’d always loved making Anna Beth happy, no matter how silly it made him look. He’d never been an extrovert, but with Anna Beth, he’d enjoyed breaking from his comfort zone because he trusted her not to make fun of him.
It was easy to slip back into the comfort they'd had as kids, even with everything that had happened.
“The coffee closest to you is yours.”
“Oh, good. I didn’t have a chance to grab a cup before you picked me up.”
“Overslept?” Jared noticed Anna Beth hadn’t put on makeup and although he thought she looked beautiful, he noticed dark circles under her eyes.
&nb
sp; “A little. I was up late, working.”
“That’s a good thing, right? Got a groove going?”
“Yes, except I started something completely different yesterday and I haven’t been able to stop.”
“What is it?”
“A romantic comedy. It’s pretty fun, actually, and so easy. I have to admit, I’ve been struggling with my original screenplay, but this...well, it doesn’t feel like work.”
“I think it’s great you can do what you love and still make money at it.”
“Don't you love being a police officer?”
“Yes, and no. I want to help people. Keep them safe. But a lot of the job is enforcing the law, which doesn’t necessarily endear you to your community. It’s never fun to see a cop.”
“If they didn’t break the law, then they wouldn’t get the cops called or pulled over.”
Jared chuckled. “You would think people would understand that, but that’s not the way it works.”
“That blows. I’m sorry.”
“Not your fault. I chose this career, and it’s what I want to be doing.”
“It must be hard having people rip on you for something they did.” Anna handed him his sandwich, which he ate one-handed. He saw Anna Beth slipping a small sliver of bacon back to Rip, but he didn’t bust her.
“It’s not easy, but luckily, Snowy Springs isn’t a high crime area. The most I get are the cranky motorists.”
Anna Beth took a sip of her coffee before confessing, “To be honest, if you pulled me over, I’d be cranky.”
“I appreciate the warning.”
Jared glanced over at Anna Beth in the passenger seat, staring out the window as the trees past. He almost asked what struck her so quiet, but he didn’t want to be too nosy. He’s already pried information about Ian’s list out of her.
“So, Stubbs Farm, huh?” she said, finally turning his way. “It’s been a while since I’ve been there.”
“And still haven’t made it down Stubb’s Sledding Hill.”
Anna Beth had just taken a bite of her sandwich and coughed. When she finally stopped, she asked, “Are you crazy? If you couldn’t get me on Slaughter Hill at fifteen, you’re not dragging me up that mountain at twenty-six.”