“In the mood for a slice?” Chloe asked them. Their favorite restaurant, Mario’s Pizza, was just down the block. “I’m craving some melted cheese.”
“Lead the way,” Laurie said, linking her arms with both of them.
They hurried through the crowd and passed in front of Mario’s giant window. For as busy as the park was at this time of night, Mario’s was almost empty. One person sat at a small table in the middle of the restaurant, helping himself to a slice. Gemma’s heart jumped as she caught a glimpse of Lance all by himself. Her friends spotted him a second later and they burst out with delighted laughter.
“You have to ask him to join us,” Chloe demanded. Her bright purple lips pouted at Gemma. “He’s all alone.”
“He probably wants to be left alone.” Gemma pushed them both playfully. “I don’t want to break his concentration.”
“Too late,” Laurie replied. She was looking through the window and waving. “He’s already spotted you. You can’t chicken out now.”
Sure enough, Lance was staring at them from his table, his half-eaten slice of pizza hanging from his hand. Gemma gave him a little wave, kicking herself for letting her friends bully her into going out tonight. But then again, if she hadn’t, she wouldn’t have run into Lance looking all pathetic at a table for one. It certainly wouldn’t hurt to invite him to join them. She could display a little small town hospitality.
Before she could lose her nerve, she marched into the restaurant and straight up to his table. By now, he’d abandoned the pizza and was busy brushing crumbs from his lap. Other than the pink t-shirt for the dog shelter, it was the first time she’d seen him in street clothes. He wore a gray t-shirt under a fitted black leather jacket and blue jeans. She imagined the whole outfit probably cost more than a month’s rent for her apartment. Still, she couldn’t deny that he looked good in leather.
“Want to join us?” She cut straight to the chase. No need for small talk. “We’re walking through the festival of lights. It’ll be really fun.”
Okay, maybe calling it really fun was overselling, but she wasn’t making any guarantees. She slipped into the empty chair across from him and helped herself to a slice of his pizza.
Lance gulped down the bite he’d been working on and cleared his throat. He seemed to be caught off guard by her sudden appearance. His gaze kept bouncing between her fancy hairdo, her shiny sweater, and her red painted lips. She smiled at his shyness, amused to find he wasn’t always so overconfident.
“Sure,” he finally choked out. “I guess that would be okay.”
“Great.” She finished the slice and waved to Chloe and Laurie. They’d already bought their slices from the counter and were ready to get back on the street. “Let’s go.”
Chloe and Laurie led the way while Gemma and Lance trailed awkwardly behind them. The inky black darkness of the night sky combined with the twinkling lights of the city park made for a romantic setting. Couples were strolling everywhere around them, their hands linked, enjoying the park. Gemma stole a quick glance at Lance to find him watching her. She blushed and then turned back to the sidewalk, her heart racing for some odd reason.
“So, what do you think of New Hope?” she asked, desperate to fill the silence. With a wave of her arm, she looked back at him. “Is it as bad as you once thought it was?”
He considered for a moment, his brow furrowed in thought. “It’s definitely not the black hole I expected it to be,” he confessed. “I mean, it doesn’t have as much stuff to do as in the cities, but then again, maybe that’s a good thing. Less things to get me in trouble.”
Gemma laughed, pleased he didn’t hate it anymore. “Yes, I’m aware of your reputation. The naughty nephew. Word gets around.”
He winced and rubbed his gloves together. “Is that really what you thought of me when I got here?”
“No.” She paused beneath a snow sculpture of an angel that had been lit up with canned lights. “I thought you were rude, egotistical, and spoiled. Naughty didn’t even cross my mind.” She winked at him, eliciting a smile that warmed her from the top of her head to her toes snug in her boots.
They walked along a little longer in silence. Chloe and Laurie had managed to lose them, leaving them to wonder the trail alone. They crossed over an old wooden bridge that ran over a small frozen creek. This part of the park was a lot less busy. The light displays were less crowded, but still beautiful.
“Can I ask what you think of me now?” Lance asked suddenly, his voice cracking. He ducked his head in embarrassment. “That is, if your opinion has changed at all.”
Gemma paused. She’d been turning that same question over and over inside her brain for the past week. He certainly wasn’t what she’d expected. She’d never gone from hating someone to liking them in such a short span of time. It confused her, as did the soft way he looked at her as he waited for her answer.
“I think you’re a good guy,” she finally managed to say. “I think you’re extremely intelligent and driven. I think it’s inspiring how determined you are to prove to your uncle you can do this job. And I think the love and respect you still have for your father is amazing. It reminds me of the relationship I have with my mother.”
Lance’s face went blank. He stared at her with unseeing eyes, eventually turning away to go view a team of reindeer figurines. Gemma’s stomach turned to ice. Maybe she’d said too much, been too forward.
Scott had told her more than a handful of times that guys didn’t like girls who seemed desperate. Maybe she’d sounded desperate, complimenting him like that. She wished she could take it all back, but words weren’t like the spool of ribbon she kept in her craft box at home. You couldn’t wind them back up, no matter how much you wanted to.
“Are you okay?” She went to his side, ready to do damage control. “Did I say too much?”
His face was pale in the white lights of the reindeer display. He frowned at her out of the corner of his eye and shoved his hands in his pockets. “I’m fine, really.”
She placed a hand on his elbow, her lips twisting into a wry smile.
“No, really, I’m fine,” he insisted. “You’re too nice. I don’t deserve all those things you said about me. I was a tool when I came marching in here last week, I’ll admit it. You all had a perfectly good reason to hate me. I didn’t make the best impression.”
She snorted. It was probably the worst impression she’d ever seen. But it made her glad that he wasn’t freaking out about her answer to his question. Her gut had begun to untwist as the anxiety left her body.
“You asked back there if I liked New Hope,” Lance said, turning to face her. His blue eyes sparkled against the slight flush of his exposed skin. “But I didn’t fully answer your question. New Hope isn’t bad at all. It can’t be bad, not as long as you’re in it.”
She found herself shivering, even though nearly every part of her was covered by warm clothing. What exactly did he mean by that?
“I don’t think you need to ask what I think about you now,” he continued, stepping closer until there was barely an inch between them. “But just in case you still want to know…”
He leaned in toward her and placed a gloved hand on her cheek. Her breath caught in her lungs as he gazed into her face, his eyes exploring her every inch.
“I think you’re the most beautiful, hard-working woman I’ve ever met,” he whispered. “You’re unbelievably frustrating and stubborn and lovely. I admire your friendship with the other women in your office and the way you speak of your mother. But most of all, I like the way you have of twisting me into knots and making me lose my concentration. You’re impossible to work around, by the way. Just the worst.”
Gemma grinned, a red hot flutter blossoming deep in her gut that chased away the shivers. Lance shifted his hand to the back of her neck and leaned in closer. Their lips met in a warm embrace, intensifying the need Gemma felt building within the both of them. They pressed their bodies together and became entwined in a mess o
f roaming hands and scarves and jackets. They didn’t even notice the snowflakes that had begun to fall around them, quickly blanketing the city in a layer of fresh white snow.
Chapter Nine
Lance stretched his arms high above his head and leaned over to peer out the office door for the hundredth time that morning. A stupid grin had been plastered to his face since that kiss last night and all he wanted to do was see her face again. It’d been an amazing kiss, something he’d only heard about in movies. The kind that replayed in his dreams, over and over, until he couldn’t sleep anymore, for wanting to find her and repeat the scene.
He’d never believed in meant-to-be or soul mates before, but he was warming up to the idea. For some mysterious reason, his uncle had decided this was the task for him. And at the same time, she was here in this minuscule excuse for a town, just getting out of a relationship. Their timing was perfect. She was perfect. Everything from her kiss to the way she hummed Christmas tunes as she worked. He liked it all.
His thoughts of Gemma were interrupted by the buzzing of his cell phone. One glance at the glass screen made him cringe. Uncle Matthias was calling. If there was one way to put a damper on last night’s events, it was a conversation with his uncle. Still, he couldn’t ignore it.
“Hello uncle.” He held the phone tight in his hand. “Good morning.”
“I just finished reviewing the financial statements you sent to me last night,” his uncle began. “I’m seeing a lot of funds dispersed to operations that aren’t even trying to become self-sustaining. That town has become too dependent on Barkley & Barkley funds. It’s a leaky drain pipe that needs to be sealed off. I’m pulling the plug.”
Lance sprang to his feet. “But wait, didn’t you read my report on the Children’s Home and the animal shelter?”
“I did.” His uncle’s voice rumbled through the speaker. “Seem like noble causes to me, but not huge results considering how much money we’ve dropped into them.”
“But you didn’t see the kids,” he argued. “Those kids need this home. It’s the only place left for many of them. They’ll have nowhere else to go.”
There was a torturous moment of silence on the phone and for a moment Lance thought maybe the call had dropped. But his uncle cleared his throat and coughed.
“I’m not some cold-hearted tycoon sitting in his plush office and laughing at the world’s misery’s,” he said in a low growl. “I feel sorry for those kids. But the truth of the matter is that they’re wards of the state and the state is responsible for them. The past five years have been difficult on the ad sales industry. We’re cutting costs across the board to deal with this terrible economy. And to put it frankly, this foundation has to end.”
Lance scrambled to come up with a solution in his head, some way the foundation could stay alive. “I’ll give up my expensive apartment. I’ll spend less on clients. I’ll even take the bus to work. Would that help?”
Uncle Matthias’ booming laughter echoed through the phone. “Boy, those are a drop in the bucket.”
“We can’t close them down.” Lance could feel his self-control slipping away. He thought of Gemma and Chloe and Laurie and how devastated they’d be without the foundation. He thought of Ricardo without his dogs and little Brandon without a home. The thought made a rage flair up inside him that leaked out into his voice. “You can’t do this. It’s not right.”
“I can and I will.” A similar rage had appeared in Uncle Matthias’ voice. “And I will remind you again of your promise to your father that you’d become a man and take over his partnership someday. Dealing with disappointment is a part of the process. If you can’t handle it, then you’re not a man. And if you’re not a man, you’re not ready to work in this company. Don’t make me regret sending you there.”
Lance sunk into his chair. The weight of his promise to his father weighed heavily on his shoulders. If closing the foundation meant he finally got to make his father proud, he’d do it. But he knew what that meant. Gemma would never forgive him. He’d lose her.
“The community Christmas party is tonight,” he muttered into the phone. “It’s the last big event the foundation puts on every year. I’ll break the news as soon as it’s over.”
“You’d better, my boy.” Uncle Matthias cleared his throat. “Make it a clean break. They’ll survive without us. And then get back to the office so we can start talking about your future.”
Lance hung up and slammed his fist on his desk. There was no way around it. He’d have to end the foundation tonight.
“Are you okay?” Gemma walked into the office, unwrapping a scarf from her lovely neck. He stared at her as she gracefully deposited her purse and coat and leaned on his desk with one hip. “I thought I heard a noise.”
“It’s nothing.” He looked up at her face, the same yearning that had plagued him all night flaring up big time. In about twelve hours, that face wouldn’t hold so much fondness for him. He tried to soak in the sweet curve of her smile as much as he could now, before that smile was gone.
She looked around the office. “Where’s Frankie?”
“He had to run back to the cities,” he answered, really not interested in discussing his assistant. “Something at the office just couldn’t wait. You’ve got me all to yourself.”
“Good.” Her hand slipped across the surface of the desk to rest on his. He grabbed it and pulled her closer to him. “That’s what I was hoping for.”
“I’ve been thinking about you all night.” He placed his hand on her cheek, relishing the soft skin under his own.
“Me, too.” Her eyelids fluttered as he placed a light kiss on her jawline.
“I don’t suppose we have time for a replay?”
She leaned back to get a look out the door. “All’s clear. I’m guessing we have about ten point three seconds before they show up.”
“I’ll take it.” He pulled her in closer and their lips met.
The same explosive feeling he’d had last night came to life deep inside his gut. He lost himself in it, pulling her onto his lap and allowing his hands to roam her back and sink into her hair. She smelled so good, like cinnamon sticks and cider. The small quick breaths she took as she returned his kisses made him want her even more. Ten seconds and more passed by as they lost themselves to each other.
“Um…Ahem? Don’t we have rules about this in the employee handbook?”
Lance and Gemma tore themselves apart to see Chloe standing in the doorway. She was grinning from ear to ear, her braids piled high on top of her head and Santa earrings swaying on each ear. Laurie came up behind her, a shy smile lighting up her face as well.
“I’m not sure,” Gemma said with an evil smile. “But I do remember something in there about me firing your butt if you interrupted again.”
Chloe held up her hands in surrender and slowly backed out the door. Gemma looked at Lance and burst out laughing, her cheeks bright red from either the kiss or the embarrassment of being caught.
“Be my date for the party tonight,” Lance said, bringing her fingers up to his mouth so he could kiss them one by one. “Let me take you. It’ll be our first date.”
What Gemma didn’t know was that it would be their only date. But he couldn’t think about that. All he wanted was one perfect day with her. One day he could treasure when he was back in Minneapolis, alone and devastated.
“Of course.” She kissed him lightly on the lips. “I’d love to. It’s going to be a New Hope Christmas Party to remember, that’s for sure.”
He had no doubt that she’d remember it forever, but not for the same reasons.
Chapter Ten
The community center looked ready to host a ball by the time the foundation members and their volunteers were nearing the end of the day. Glittering snowflakes hung from every inch of the rafters. Small round tables draped with linen tablecloths and chic glass sculptures dotted the room. They’d prepared a dance floor and an area for the band to set up. A bar with a few dozen bo
ttles of various amber shaded liquors stood on the opposite side. In all, it was a particularly beautiful setup that the girls were proud to say they’d designed.
They were placing the finishing touches on some rope light over the entryway when Gemma’s mom, Katherine, showed up. She greeted each girl with a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek. Gemma was happy to feel the strength returning to her mother’s arms with every squeeze.
The only sign left of the cancer treatment was the short pixie hair style her mother sported. As long as Gemma could remember, her mother had always had hair down to the middle of her back. Long, beautiful, blonde hair that she learned to braid on as a child. The chemo had taken that from her, depositing her locks like feathers on her pillow each morning.
“You did a wonderful job!” Katherine exclaimed as she took in the scenery. “Absolutely stunning. It doesn’t even look like the same place.”
“Isn’t it?” Gemma hugged her mom and paused to take it all in herself. “We really outdid ourselves this year.”
“It’s going to be the best community party ever,” Katherine said with a curt nod. “This year feels different.”
Chloe and Laurie laughed, despite Gemma’s dirty look.
“It sure is, Ms. Rink,” Chloe said with a grin.
Katherine knitted her brow in confusion. “Am I missing something? What are you three girls up to now?”
“Nothing,” Gemma said too quickly. She sent another glare at her friends. “Absolutely nothing.”
They might have been her friends, but she could make their lives very miserable. No coffee runs. No holiday music in the office. And worst of all - no Christmas gifts.
“Gemma’s got a date to the party,” Laurie burst out. She shrugged at Gemma’s disapproval. “What? She’s going to find out eventually.”
Mistletoe in the Snow: A New Hope Sweet Christmas Romance - Book 1 Page 5