Christmas With You

by Heidi McLaughlin

  “Probably just say ‘I told you so.’”

  She bounced higher. “How about we make a wager …?”

  “Now gambling is something I’ll arrest you for.”

  Her laugh split the chilly air and left a white puff around her head like a halo. “How about, if I do a flip, you owe me a dance at the party this weekend? And if I don’t, I owe you one.”

  He grinned, and she clapped her hands together.

  “I got a full smile with teeth! I rule!” She bounced up again and again. Then she flipped. The landing was wobbly, but her excitement over it was solid.

  “Okay, I can’t just let you show me up. Watch out.” He climbed on and then realized this was a bad idea. For as much as she claimed she wasn’t fun, every minute he spent with her proved otherwise.

  He bounced like he used to when he was a kid—he hadn’t been on one of these things in forever. After taking a moment to recalibrate based on his extra height, he flipped, and Regina cheered. As he slowed his bounces, his weight made her slide toward him, until they were standing together in the middle of the trampoline.

  He placed his hands on her hips, and desire flooded his system. More than anything, he wanted to kiss her. He dipped his head, and her fingers wrapped around his biceps as she tipped onto her toes.

  Her lips were a mere breath away.

  The back door slid open. “Time for dessert!” his mom called, and it broke the spell. Regina dropped her arms and scrambled off the edge of the trampoline.

  “I have to go,” she said.

  “Regina.” He wanted to ask what happened to living in the now, but by the time he made it in the house, his whole family was staring at him, Regina nowhere in sight.

  “What happened?” Callie asked, and all he could do was shrug.

  “No idea.” But he suspected the phone call she’d gotten earlier was partially to blame, and he intended to find out who or what was interfering before they even had a chance to try.

  Chapter Nine

  “You can’t just run away, Regina,” Steve said, and Regina dropped her fork, causing it to clatter against her plate. Over-the-phone discussions weren’t working so well, so he’d insisted they meet.

  She’d told him, “Fine. Come to Friendship, Massachusetts, and we’ll talk.”

  Honestly, she didn’t think he’d come. She didn’t want him in her room, so they were meeting for breakfast in the living room of the Cozy Cottage, and they undoubtedly had an audience. After what he’d just said, she no longer cared about keeping it quiet. “Since you did the equivalent of running from me in front of all our family and friends on our wedding day, you don’t get to scold me for my reaction.”

  “As I said over the phone, I’m sorry for that. We have a lot of stuff to deal with though, and I can’t do it by myself.”

  “Probably because while you were busy being the fun one, I had to be the serious one who took care of everything.”

  Steve sighed. “What are we going to do about the house? I can’t afford to live there myself.”

  “And neither can I,” she said. He was the one who’d wanted the bigger house in the nicer neighborhood. It fit with her ideal image of the perfect family, so she’d gone with it. Now, the thought of that giant, empty house … She didn’t want to go back, not to there, and not to the condo where she’d lived before—although she’d sold that, so it wasn’t an actual option.

  Steve ran a hand through his hair. “This isn’t you. Small town, not taking care of your responsibilities …” He gave her false-advertising “I can bait my own hook!” shirt a disdainful once-over. “Whatever you’re wearing. I still don’t understand how you ended up here.”

  “I don’t understand how that’s relevant to our conversation.”

  Steve sighed again. It was quickly becoming his signature move. “Look, I should’ve told you when I started having doubts. I thought it was just cold feet. And my family adores you …”

  A sharp twinge lanced her chest. She’d adored his parents too. They were kind and more down to earth than her parents. Funny enough, Steve would’ve fit in better with hers.

  A memory from two nights ago drifted up, of sitting around the table with Emmett’s family, talking and laughing. Despite her best attempt to stop it, she was getting too close. In the end, she’d only have more people to miss.

  “Will you at least figure out what to do about the house? Oh, and take care of shutting off the utilities, water, and everything else. We also need to return gifts, you know.”

  Well, it was inevitable. A week and a half of relaxation and fun was a good run. Sooner or later, reality had to come creeping back in. “My guess is we’re going to have to list it, unless we want to rent it out, and I’m not doing everything on my own. You don’t get to back out and leave me with all the responsibilities.”

  He threw up his hands. “Fine.” They finished their breakfast in tense silence, and then he pushed away from the table. “When are you coming back?”

  “Not sure, but I’ll give you a call.”

  Big surprise, another sigh. “Guess I’ll try to make the best of the trip and buy some presents. Any recommendations?”

  “There’s a gift shop on Main. They have these amazing sculptures your mom would love. And the candy shop next door has those specialty chocolates your dad loves.”

  “Come with me? Show me around and help me pick the right things?”

  Once again, he wanted her to do everything for him. Maybe she wasn’t the most fun, but he was an overgrown baby, and in this moment, she was glad he’d backed out. She could’ve spent the rest of her life overcompensating, and she wanted someone who’d be on her team. Someone who liked who she was, yet also made her better and happier. Someone like Emmett, her brain provided before she could stifle it.

  “I already have plans,” she said. Steve didn’t need to know they involved another novel and the cushy bed in her room. If she had to return to the real world sooner than expected, she should enjoy one last day of fun.

  While she immediately thought of Emmett yet again—if there was anyone who could make doing nothing fun, it was him—and she wanted him to be part of her last day. But that would make a clean break that much harder.

  And the thought of saying good-bye was already enough to cause a hollow sensation she feared might never fully go away.

  People accused Emmett of being overly suspicious, but he liked to think of it as more cautious and good at his job. Whenever a stranger arrived in town, he wanted to know who they were and why they were there. Which is why he stepped into the path of the dark-haired guy in a polo.

  “Mornin’.”

  The out-of-towner vacantly nodded and looked for a way around Emmett, but this reconnaissance mission wasn’t over yet.

  “I’m Sheriff Haywood. I don’t believe we’ve met.”

  The guy glanced at Emmett’s extended hand and hesitantly took it, giving it a weak shake. “Steve Mills. I just got into town this morning, but I’m not planning on staying long. I needed to talk to my fianc—my … Regina.”

  Every muscle in Emmett’s body tensed. This was the ex? And why did he almost call Regina his fiancé? Not that calling her his was much better.

  Because she’s mine.

  Emmett instinctively knew Steve was responsible for why she’d been upset the other night. Why was he here, and was he trying to win her back, and was she considering it? The caveman in him said he could totally take Steve. As if that’d impress Regina.

  “… told me to visit the gift shop. So, if you’ll excuse me, I have some presents to buy.”

  Emmett let him pass. His gaze drifted toward the Cozy Cottage. He couldn’t see the building, but the urge to check on Regina crept over him. It’d hurt if she’d decided to work things out with Steve, but if she needed a shoulder to cry on, Emmett would happily provide one.

  Only the radio on his shoulder buzzed. “Boss, we got a situation.”

  “Can it wait? I’m in the middle of something.
” About to be anyway.

  “Corbin wrecked his motorcycle. The ambulance is on the way, but—”

  “I’ll be right there,” Emmett said as he spun on his heel and rushed to the cruiser.

  It’d been a long day. Corbin broke his femur and had to be taken to the hospital in Somerhaven. The town pulled together to care for his kids so his wife could stay with him, and if things went well, Corbin should be back home in time for Christmas, although he’d be on crutches for a while.

  It was all Emmett could do to shower and get to the Christmas party on time. As soon as he arrived, he searched for Regina’s dark hair in the crowd.

  “Did you hear?” Fern asked, lips pursed.

  “Don’t worry. Corbin’s gonna be fine.”

  “Oh yes, I was sorry to hear about his accident, but that’s not the news I meant.” Fern wrung her hands together. “Regina’s leaving early—as in tonight after the party. I wasn’t sure if you’d talked to her yet.”

  His heart sank. She’d decided to go back with that prick? Steve Mills wouldn’t appreciate her the way she deserved. Of course she’s leaving. You always knew she wouldn’t stay.

  Hope had crept in though, and he’d let it. For all his talk about not letting the season get to him, it’d added to it. The idea of having someone to celebrate with, and he wanted that someone to be Regina.

  “Excuse me,” he said, his voice tight, and Fern didn’t bother stopping him or arguing, so he could only imagine that he looked as stormy as he felt.

  He circulated. Tried the punch. Watched the door.

  An eternity later, Regina finally arrived. She exchanged smiles and greetings with the people near the entrance. One of the women took her coat, and Emmett’s lungs forgot how to take in oxygen. She had on a strappy floral dress with a flowy skirt.

  Her gaze met his across the room, and everything inside of him reached for her. Shut it down. She’s leaving.

  He arranged his features in a careful mask as she approached.

  “Do I look silly?” She smoothed her hands down her skirt. “It was the only dress I had, and obviously I packed it for the Caribbean.”

  “You don’t look silly.” He didn’t trust himself to say any more. “So, I hear you’re leaving.”

  She sucked in a deep breath. “I have to go take care of things back home.”

  “Have to?”

  “I should.” Her brow crinkled for a second before smoothing. “I mean, yes. I have to.”

  “Would one of those things be your ex? I ran into him earlier today.”

  “It’s …”

  “Let me guess. Complicated.” He crossed his arms. “Don’t worry. I pegged you as a complicated woman the moment we met.”

  Hurt flickered across her face. He didn’t want to hurt her, but everything inside of him ached, and he was doing a bad job of keeping the lid on his emotions.

  “It’s not about him,” she said. “We’ve intertwined our lives to the point that I have to go untangle everything so we can both move on.”

  But she’d be moving on somewhere else, eventually with someone else, and that left a bitter taste in his mouth. He knew it wasn’t realistic for her to leave behind her job and her life and stay, but he wanted her to anyway. Stupid hope. Stupid me.

  Fern stepped up to them and nudged them toward the floor. “Get out there. Everyone’s standing around, and I need a couple to start dancing.”

  Emmett opened his mouth to say that they weren’t a couple, but then Regina placed her hands on his shoulders, and he wanted to hold her one last time.

  They moved to the center of the floor and swayed to the music. He soaked in her perfume, the tickle of her hair against his chin, and how she felt in his arms. Then she dropped her head on his chest, and he was sure she could hear his heart thundering away against her ear, saying all the things he wanted to but couldn’t.

  At the end of the song, Regina reluctantly pulled away, and Emmett dropped his hands. He looked so big and tall and handsome, and a tight band formed around her chest. How had he come to mean so much to her at such a messy time in her life? And after such a short period too?

  Somehow, he had. But things would only get messier the longer she stayed, and she had to return home and be the boring, uptight woman who got things done. And if she didn’t go now, she wasn’t sure she’d summon enough strength again, not if she spent Christmas here in this place she’d grown to love.

  A giant lump formed in her throat, and she had to force her words past it. “Living in the moment was fun, but I can’t stay in the now. I worry about the future. It’s my nature, and while it bit me in the butt a couple of weeks ago, it’s served me well in a lot of areas.”

  Emmett nodded. “Okay.”

  “I better go tell everyone good-bye.”

  He nodded again.

  She wanted to say good-bye, but the real problem was that she didn’t want to. She simply needed to.

  Since she was a wimp, she decided to save her good-bye to Emmett for last. She circled the room, thanking everyone for taking her in and trying to return items of winter wear they refused to take back.

  Tears clogged her throat as she hugged one person after another.

  She hugged Fern extra tightly. “I hope I’m not leaving you in the lurch. I’ll pay for an extra night or two if you need me to.”

  “You hush,” she said in a stern yet soothing way. Instead of releasing her, Fern leaned back to look her in the eye. “You’re welcome here anytime. The sheriff’s not the best at expressing his feelings, but he’s sad to see you go.”

  He’d seemed … distant. Even with her head on his chest, he was far away. He hadn’t said much, just nodded, and she started wondering if she cared more about him than he did about her, and wasn’t that just her luck? Maybe she was cursed.

  She should probably wish on a Christmas-tree star. Or an angel since it topped the tree in the community center.

  Through the open doorway, she spotted Gabe, the man who’d—in a roundabout way—led her here. She turned to gather some Christmas goodies to take to him, but then she spotted Emmett, already approaching him with a plate. He gestured toward the building, inviting him inside, but Gabe shook his head. But his “thank you for this”, was loud enough to hear.

  He glanced over at her, and she gave a little wave. Cold air nipped at her skin, yet she remained in place, watching as Emmett walked back toward her. He hesitated in the doorway next to her.

  “Kiss, kiss!” came from the crowd, and Regina glanced at them, thinking they were being far too bold, even if they were shouting the overpowering thought that was already on her mind. But then several fingers pointed at a sprig of mistletoe hung in the doorway that she swore wasn’t there a moment ago.

  Emmett peered up at it as well, but his posture, as well as his face, remained closed off, making it impossible to read him.

  Regina worried kissing him would make the longing wrapping itself around her heart worse.

  But didn’t they deserve a kiss good-bye?

  More people joined the “kiss, kiss,” chant.

  “You don’t have to kiss me,” she whispered. “I don’t want you to kiss me because you feel obligated.”

  His eyebrows arched, emotion finally bleeding through, passion and affection and a hint of surprise. “I’ve wanted to kiss you since you asked if I was going to arrest you, so it’d hardly be an obligation.”

  The ground whooshed out from under her feet as he slipped his hand behind her neck. He drew her to him as his mouth crashed down on hers, and the combination of soft lips and scruff sent a shock wave through her body. She moved her lips against his, wrapping her arms around his waist so she wouldn’t melt right onto the floor.

  Happiness like she’d never felt before washed over her, leaving her breathless and dizzy. And did she mention the happiness?

  Then he slowly pulled back, his brown eyes boring into hers. “Good-bye, Regina,” he said, and reality came screeching back to her. It’d been an am
azing kiss, but it was edged in finality.

  She glanced toward the onlookers, croaked out a good-bye, and rushed out of the building. She just needed to make it inside her car before she burst into tears.

  As she drove past the now familiar shops on Main Street, the scenery blurred, and she had to blink to clear her vision.

  She’d left home crying, and now she was crying on her way back.

  There was something tragically poetic about it all, but she was too busy feeling sad to sort it out now.

  Chapter Ten

  Emmett stood numbly in the doorway as Regina’s car drove away, her taillights two flashes of red in the dark. Most everyone else in town was here at the dance.

  Staring at him.

  “Show’s over,” he barked, wanting everyone to stop looking at him with a mixture of frustration and pity.

  Callie stepped forward, and he focused on her, needing a friendly face right now. “You’re just going to let her go?” she asked, which wasn’t the comforting he’d expected, or wanted.

  “She made up her mind.”

  “But you didn’t fight for her. You’re as bad as her groom!” Fern voiced it, but there was a lot of nodding in agreement.

  Below the belt, but Emmett had thought the guy was a fool to let her go.

  Mom stepped forward—he hadn’t even realized she and Dad were here. “Well, don’t just stand there. Hurry up and go get her!”

  Regina had only been on the highway for a handful of minutes when she caught sight of red and blue lights in her rear-view mirror.

  Emmett was at the dance, so it was probably a deputy—or worse, state police—and she’d probably been speeding in an attempt to outrace the heartbreak before it hit.

  As she maneuvered onto the side of the road, the ache that’d overtaken her chest deepened. It felt like she’d left her heart in Friendship with a certain sheriff.

  Here she was, getting in trouble with another cop, in another inappropriate dress. At least this one was slightly less mortifying than her bridal gown.