“Classy,” Ava said, chuckling. “I wouldn’t think this was good mooning weather though.”
“Eh, he’s from the north pole. This must feel like summer to him.”
They rounded another bend, with even more lights and decorations in front of them, and Hunter stopped at another vendor that sold cocoa. He bought a large cocoa for her and a soda for himself.”
“Thanks,” Ava said, sipping the sweet, creamy cocoa because it was so hot.
“You’re welcome. Now admit it, you’re having fun.”
She shrugged but smiled up at him. “It’s not too bad.”
“What does it take to impress you woman?”
Ava glanced up the path and saw a large nativity scene off in its own dimly lit corner of the field. “That,” she said, walking toward it.
A four-foot chain link fence stood around the display to keep people from messing with it, so Ava folded her arms on the rail and took in every detail of the nativity. To her surprise, Hunter came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin on top of her head. It seemed so perfect and right that she allowed the moment to be what it was.
They didn’t speak, just stood for a moment, taking in the figures surrounding the baby Jesus. Ava felt a swelling, peaceful feeling in her chest. “Did you see my mom’s nativity set?”
“The one in the living room? Yeah, it’s a beautiful one.”
“Well, she used to let me rearrange the pieces when I was little. Then I accidentally dropped one of the wise men and broke his hand off. I felt so bad, I cried.”
“Was your mom mad?”
“She was sad, but she picked it up and said it was okay because we’re all broken and that’s why Jesus came. Then she glued his hand back on and placed him closest to the baby Jesus. From then on, whenever I saw that wise man with the glued-on hand, I remembered the true meaning of Christmas.”
Hunter squeezed her tighter for a moment. “And now I will too. Thanks.”
Feeling a little awkward at the flood of emotions, Ava turned and said. “Let’s go find a tree.”
Hunter nodded and took her hand. The tree lot was not much further. They walked through an arched gateway into a well-lit section with tons of trees. Some were on stands in the center, but most of them were leaning against the fence in groups with their branches tied up.
Ava walked through, scanning the selection with a critical eye. Unfortunately, the trees had obviously been picked through and the best ones bought already. Still, there were some nice, short balsams that looked like they would be full and well-proportioned. She bent forward and sniffed the needles, and the distinct evergreen scent flooded her senses.
“Hey Ava, I found your tree.” Ava turned and found Hunter standing in front of a towering spruce. It had to be eight or nine feet tall since it rose way over his head.
“That thing wouldn’t fit in my living room.”
“Sure it would. I could trim some off the trunk.”
“It has to be seven feet in diameter. No way. I want one of these.” She pointed at the four-foot trees in front of her.
A look of disappointment came over him, but he only gave one more lingering look of love at the spruce tree before wandering over to her. “Which one do you want?”
Ava took a few minutes to select a good tree, and Hunter hefted it over his shoulder and carried it while she stopped to pay for it. “I was going to get it,” he protested.
“Either I get it or it stays here.”
“Someday I’m going to win an argument with you.”
“I doubt it,” she said, grinning at him.
After they paid and walked a few feet away toward the gate with a trellis arching overhead, she paused to put her gloves back on, and Hunter said, “Don’t freak out, but you’re standing under some mistletoe.”
“What?” She looked up and sure enough, a tiny sprig of mistletoe with little white berries and a red bow was right over her head, tied to the trellis.
She jumped away, but Hunter was already lowering the tree against the fence. She took one look at the determination on his face and said, “Okay, I am, but we’re in public.”
“I bet a lot of people have kissed under this same mistletoe. This is happening.”
“Wait.”
Hunter stopped and tilted his head, waiting patiently for her to continue. She looked around, trying to determine if they had an audience.
“Come on,” he said. “Let’s show people what a good kiss looks like.”
She couldn’t help laughing as he leaned closer. “You’re so full of yourself.”
“No. I’m full of us. Of you and me together.”
He didn’t say another word, just grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her back until she was directly under the mistletoe. His hands were gentle. It was the look in his eyes that pulled her in. They stood, centered under the mistletoe, while Hunter watched her. He was looking for a sign, she knew, so she closed her eyes and raised up on her tiptoes.
His lips brushed hers, soft and warm. Tingles ran down her spine at the contrast to the cold, crisp air. The scent of fresh cut wood and evergreens surrounded her, but it was his scent that made her lean closer—the clean cotton of his flannel shirt and the warm, masculine scent that was all him.
“Someday came sooner than I hoped,” he murmured, pulling back just a fraction.
“What?” she asked. Her brain was too foggy for obscure comments.
“I said I’d win an argument with you someday.”
Then he angled his face and claimed her lips again, this time in a deeper, more demanding kiss. She responded by linking her hands behind his head, and his arms tightened around her.
“I guess you took my advice,” a male voice said nearby.
Ava pulled back and turned to see the family they’d talked to earlier. What was his advice? Oh yeah, that Hunter should enjoy her while he could. The man had meant before they had kids, but it totally applied to the present and the short time they had together.
Hunter chuckled. “Take advantage of the mistletoe yourself. We’ll get out of your way.”
Ava realized they were totally blocking the way into the tree lot and stepped out of the way. She was grateful to get a moment to regain her equilibrium.
The dad grabbed the mom and kissed her, but the baby, caught between them, complained with a loud wail. Then he fist-bumped with Hunter as they passed by. Men were so weird.
Hunter lifted the tree onto his shoulder again. “What do you say we get this back to your house and see what it looks like? You have a tree stand, right?”
Ava stopped and put her hand over her mouth. “Oh man. How did I forget that?”
“You were too busy plotting how to get me under the mistletoe. You know you were.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You know what I mean. Your innocent little pause right under it.”
Ava’s mouth fell open. “I didn’t do that on purpose. I had no idea it was there.”
“Sure you didn’t. Don’t worry—your little act of play-hard-to-get was almost convincing.”
“I oughta bash you over the head with that Christmas tree. You are the most abominable, arrogant, infuriating man I’ve ever known.”
Hunter grinned and turned in the direction of the parking lot. Apparently, they’d made a circle all the way back. “You seemed to like what I had to offer back there. Now be a sweetheart and get the truck warming up for me while I get this stowed away.”
He tossed the keys at her and winked. She grabbed for them, fumbling as they slipped through her fingers, but finally caught them. Deciding he needed to cool down, rather than warm up, she climbed in and put the key in the ignition. When she turned it, the truck’s powerful engine rumbled to life.
She watched in the rear-view mirror while Hunter put the tree in the back. The car in front of them had already left, so as soon as Hunter closed the tailgate, Ava put the car in drive and drove off. There was a shout of surprise behi
nd her, and she giggled when she saw Hunter’s shocked expression in the mirror as she drove toward the exit.
Chapter Fifteen
Hunter gaped after his truck, the taillights blinding him until it got further away. What the heck?
He ran after her feeling like a fool. Not only because people were watching, but because he hadn’t realized he’d made her that mad. Sure, he was pushing her buttons, but she was too cute when she was irritated at him.
When Ava got to the exit, the truck came to a stop as traffic passed, so he ran even faster, hoping to get to her before she pulled out. But when he got to the truck, he was surprised to see Ava calmly sitting on the other end of the bench seat, smiling at him.
He raised an eyebrow and got in. Breathing heavily, he fastened his seatbelt and put the truck in drive. “That wasn’t very nice.”
Ava gasped and broke out laughing. Every time she paused to catch her breath and wipe her eyes, she’d look at him and start all over again. Eventually, she managed to say, “You should have seen your face. Oh my gosh, it was the funniest thing I’ve ever seen.”
“So I gathered.”
“Did you think I was going to leave you there?”
“After the first shocked few seconds and you kept going, yeah, I did.”
“Well, next time I kiss you, don’t be such a brat about it.”
“There’s going to be a next time, huh?”
He was pretty sure she blushed, but she turned her head away before he could be sure. “Maybe, if you don’t annoy me too much.”
He chuckled. “That about ruins my chances right there, doesn’t it? Well, what should we do now? Get the tree stand?”
“Yeah. And some real food. Sorry, I can’t survive on popcorn alone.”
“Okay. Where to?”
“Do you like Pad Thai?”
Hunter looked across at her and grinned. “The spicier the better.”
Ava gave him directions, and soon they pulled up in front of a tiny little building with a green metal roof that stuck out from the side of the building at least fifteen feet.
“It used to be a drive-in burger place,” Ava said. “It might not look like much, but this place is incredible.”
“Do I look like a restaurant snob to you?” Hunter chuckled.
But as they sat in a cozy booth eating their noodles, he couldn’t believe how good it was. Not just okay. He’d had amazing Pad Thai in his life, and this ranked up at the top.
“You like it, huh?” Ava asked.
He looked up and found her watching him. “Yeah. And if you can’t finish yours, I’d be happy to help you out.”
“Even though I only got the one flame version?”
“I’m not picky,” He assured her before taking another bite.
“How can you eat something so spicy?”
He shrugged. “It’s like a flavor and a rush all at the same time.”
Ava raised her eyebrows and stirred her noodles with her chopsticks. “How’s your brother’s job search going?”
“Not well, I’m afraid. I mean, he took a job at the call center, but he hates it and it only pays a third of what he made before with some commission and bonuses, so he’s still looking.”
“Do you think he’d mind if I made some inquiries on his behalf?”
Hunter felt his chest warm at her gentle question. She looked down at her plate as if she was unsure of his reaction. He reached across the table and nudged her chin up with his finger until she met his eyes. “I’m sure he’d be really appreciative. Did you have something in mind?”
“Kind of. The committee for the ball are all business leaders in town. I thought I might put out some feelers and see if it led to anything. Can you tell me what Josh does?”
Hunter shook his head. “No. It’s all way over my head. I work with power tools, not computers. But maybe you could come over and talk to him a little bit. Molly wants you to come over for a movie night sometime anyway.”
“She does, huh?”
“Yeah. I’ve been meaning to ask you.”
“I’d love to.”
It would be so awesome if Ava was able to help Josh out. Besides buying a few groceries, he hadn’t been able to do much for his brother. But the thought also saddened him. Once Josh had a job, Hunter was going to have to make some decisions about his future. And he’d have to make them quick. He couldn’t exactly sleep on his brother’s couch after Christmas was over.
“You seem far away all of a sudden,” Ava said.
“I was just thinking, but a person can do too much of that.”
She smiled. “As you often remind me”
The waitress brought their check then and offered to get them a to-go cup for their sodas. Ava declined, but Hunter took her up on it and pulled his wallet out of his pocket. As he pulled out some cash, he realized Ava was pulling out her own wallet.
“Let me get it, please. I’d like to.”
She paused, then smiled and put her wallet back in her purse. “You don’t have to. I mean, we didn’t really say this was a date.”
“I want to.”
“Okay then.”
Even though she gave in, he felt that she had put up walls again. He looked at her, holding her gaze for several seconds. How could he help her relax? “It’s just dinner. No big deal.”
Ava nodded but then stood abruptly. “I’m going to find the ladies room before we leave.”
While she was gone, Hunter paid and stood waiting for her near the door, sipping on his soda. When she came back, he stepped over to hold the door open for her.
“Have a good evening,” the lady at the register said. “Come back again.”
Hunter nodded and slipped outside behind Ava, but clenched his teeth as he walked over to open her car door. He had no idea if they would ever be back, and it bothered him. How much time did he have left with her?
By the time they got back to Ava’s house with the tree stand, it was almost ten-o-clock. Hunter helped her set it up and fill the reservoir with water.
“You’re good to have around sometimes, you know?”
He turned and saw that she was watching him carefully as he made sure the tree was straight.
Her eyes seemed to sweep over him, making his pulses race. “I’m not just good for putting up Christmas trees, you know.”
“Oh really? What else are you good at?”
He stepped closer and put his arms around her. “You should know by now that I’m really good at…” He bent closer and her eyes widened. “Putting lights on.”
Her eyebrows rose as she chuckled. “Don’t you think it’s a little late at night to do that?”
“No. Definitely not.” Hunter paused as his unruly mind went straight to places it shouldn’t be, to what it would be like to pull her onto his lap and explore all their messy feelings for each other. But he was all too aware that he needed to step carefully.
“We’d better get this tree decorated,” he said. “What have you got?”
Ava went out to her garage and found a tub full of lights and her favorite ornaments. Most of them were from her childhood, but many were ornaments that she’d found while shopping for clients through the year.
Hunter helped her decorate the tree, which didn’t take long because it was smaller than most trees she worked on. But she felt connected to this one, like flecks of her past sparkled on each ornament.
“I like it,” Hunter said. “You should do this for a living.”
Ava laughed and elbowed him lightly in the stomach. “Just when I was starting to think you hadn’t been annoying and deserved a kiss.”
“If you wait for that to happen, you might never kiss me again, and that would be a tragedy.”
“Would it?” she asked turning toward him and laying her hands on his chest.
His pulse quickened at her subtle invitation. “Definitely.” Bending down, he kissed her for the second time that night. But this time, alone in the low light of a single lamp, it felt dangerous. Her
sweet lips beneath his sent a rush through him and he caught his breath at the sensation. Angling his head, he slipped his hand behind her neck and kissed her deeper. To his surprise, she met his passion head-on, gripping his shoulders as if he might stop. There wasn’t a chance of that happening.
But then she gasped and pulled away. Disappointment swept through him, but the surging of his pulse told him it was for the best. He’d never gotten so carried away in a kiss before, but Ava was clearly having a different response than he was.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, gently folding his hands around her arms.
“You made me forget.”
“Forget what?”
“That you’re leaving—that we aren’t doing this. Remember? We said we weren’t going to get serious. That felt serious.”
He could sense her rising panic. “Okay, shhh.” He pulled her into his arms and ran his hand down her back. After a moment, some of the tension eased out of her, and he said. “What do you want me to do, Ava? I wish I had an easy solution for this, but I don’t. I know we might end up getting hurt, but I’m willing to take the chance. Are you?”
Ava closed her eyes and took a slow breath. “I don’t know. I think I need some space to get my head screwed on straight.”
“Okay,” he said softly, even though it felt like the bottom had dropped out of his world. Would her need for space turn into not wanting him at all?
But what if she wanted more from him. Was he ready for that? For what it would mean to love her?
“I understand. Maybe I need to figure a few things out too. I’ll text you, okay?”
She nodded but didn’t say anything. How quickly the evening had gone from soaring heights to hitting the rocks. The fall had been a rough one.
Hunter clenched his jaw and forced himself to say the last words he wanted to say just then. “Good night.” He opened the front door and stepped out into the cold night air.
Chapter Sixteen
Ava woke up to the sound of her phone telling her she had a text message. Groaning, she grabbed it off her side table. It took several seconds before her blurry eyes could read it. It was from Hunter.
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