Mrs. Merrick escorted them to the car. After giving Emma’s mother a hug, she cornered Emma. “Maybe the day after the wedding you can come back and talk to me about that job opening we have. Our office manager is leaving in a few weeks. Her husband was transferred to San Jose, of all places.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Merrick. Karen,” Emma amended when the other woman wagged a finger at her. “But I’m not moving back to Mistletoe.”
“Why? We miss you. And you love it here.”
She did. Which was why she’d never truly been content elsewhere, continually changing jobs, apartments and towns. Nothing compared. Only she couldn’t come home.
Forget being the talk of the town. Nick was right; that would die down eventually—as long as they didn’t keep kissing each other in public. But the truth was, Emma refused to stand by and watch him date other women, knowing her heart still belonged to him.
Nick was searching for a wife and ready to settle down. The kisses they shared, while wonderful for her, had meant nothing to him and happened only because he’d been goaded into it. His lackluster reaction testified to that.
“I do appreciate the offer,” she said before climbing in behind the steering wheel.
“I’m not giving up on you,” Mrs. Merrick said, then waved goodbye.
Emma pulled out of the farm store parking lot, more determined than before to fall out of love with Nick. In order to accomplish that, she’d have to continue searching for a place that felt as much like Mistletoe as possible.
Slipping her left hand in her coat pocket, she fingered the charm. Her imagination must be really running wild, for she swore it gave off a warm, tingling sensation.
* * *
“WHAT ABOUT THIS?” Emma stood back, affording her mother a better view of the card table.
Scrunching her mouth in concentration, her mother walked over slowly. “Good, I think. But we need something to spruce it up a bit.”
They were debating on where in the large dining room to put the table, which would hold the wedding cake. Emma’s mother liked the wall with the scenic oil painting. Emma liked the wall with the picture window. They were compromising on left of the door. That way, the line of guests waiting for a piece of cake could wrap around the room.
“I agree,” Emma said. One white linen cloth didn’t quite hide the card table’s worn condition and wobbly legs. “Got any ideas?”
“What about...” Emma’s mother sorted through the boxes of accessories and decorations she’d brought with them and came up with a red silk table runner trimmed in gold. “This?” She draped the runner over the tablecloth.
“Better.” Emma studied their combined efforts. “But it’s still missing that right touch of pizzazz.”
“We could wrap these strands of gold garland down the table legs.”
“Too Christmassy.”
Emma’s mother laughed. “Well, Christmas is the theme of my wedding.”
Since breakfast six hours earlier, they’d been readying the Yule Tide Ranch house for the reception. Over two hundred guests were expected. Having a sit-down dinner was impossible. Instead Emma’s mother and Leonard had opted for a buffet of pulled chicken and beef, homemade rolls and an assortment of sides. Nothing resembling a traditional Christmas dinner. Emma’s mother didn’t want to interfere with anyone’s menu for the next day.
Together, she and Emma tested the garland idea by wrapping a glittering strand down one table leg. Emma and her mother concurred that it didn’t look half-bad, so they tackled the remaining three legs.
“You two have been busy!” Leonard’s booming voice hailed them from the doorway.
Emma’s mother instantly brightened. “What do you think?”
“It’s great.” He went over and gave her an affectionate hug while flashing Emma a smile.
She knew her mother’s secret worry. She didn’t want this wedding to resemble either her or Leonard’s first ones in any way whatsoever. That was one of the reasons they’d picked Christmas Eve for the ceremony and the ranch house for the reception.
“How’s the family room coming along?” her mother asked.
“Nick and Toby will be here any minute. Two pairs of strong arms, as promised.”
Emma silently cursed her sudden intake of breath. If simply hearing Nick’s name caused her to react, what would seeing him do? She hoped her mother and Leonard had eyes only for each other and didn’t notice Emma chewing her lower lip as she rubbed her hands along the legs of her jeans.
“Have the guys finished moving all the cattle to the home pastures?” her mother asked.
“All but a few strays. Nick swears they’ll have those rounded up by tomorrow morning.”
“I feel bad, taking them away from their work just to set up folding tables and chairs.”
“Nick insists,” Leonard assured her. “And if he didn’t, I would.”
The two of them continued, jumping from one topic to the next. Last-minute changes with the caterer. Their recent consultation with the photographer. Music selections for the keyboardist and singer they’d hired. Emma busied herself by going through the boxes of decorations, on the lookout for any sudden inspiration. It didn’t keep her mind off Nick as she’d hoped.
Her phone rang, interrupting her while also giving her a good excuse to leave her mother and Leonard alone.
“I’ll take this in the other room.” Grabbing her phone off the dining table, she hurried out. The number on the display was familiar, but she couldn’t immediately place it. “Hello?”
“Hi,” a pleasant female voice responded. “I’m calling for Emma Sturlacky.”
“Speaking.” Emma switched the phone to her other ear.
“Oh, good. This is Amanda Miller with Enterprise Investments.”
The company Emma had interviewed with last week for an administrative assistant position. When she hadn’t heard, she’d assumed they weren’t interested in her.
Failing to pay attention to where she was going, she nearly collided with the broad expanse of Nick’s chest before pulling herself up short. “Oops!”
“Excuse me?” the woman on the line said.
Emma’s glance rose to meet Nick’s. An amused twinkle shone in his dark eyes. A sensuous thrill wound through her. Really? Now?
“I’m sorry,” she said to the caller. Darting away from Nick, she took refuge on the other side of the family room. “That’s what I get for walking and talking at the same time.”
“Did I catch you at a bad time?”
“Not at all.”
“Well, the reason for my call is we’d like to bring you in for a second interview. Are you still available?”
“Great!” Emma found herself responding positively despite the fact that she’d left the initial interview unsure if the job was a good fit for her. “And yes, I’m still available.”
“I know it’s short notice, but can you come in tomorrow?”
“I’m sorry, I’m out of town for the holidays and my mother’s wedding. I’ll be back on Saturday. Is Monday too late?”
“No problem. It’s always difficult to schedule interviews around the holidays. Monday’s fine. Shall we say one o’clock?”
Emma felt Nick’s stare from across the room. He and Toby were carrying in the rental tables and chairs from the garage where the Elks Club members had stored them. “One o’clock is perfect,” she said.
“Plan for at least two hours. We’d like you to shadow one of the other assistants for a little while after the interview.”
That sounded promising. Emma must have made a better impression on them than she’d originally thought.
“Thank you so much, Amanda. I’m looking forward to the interview.”
After a few more pleasantries, they disconnected. Emma remained rooted in place,
staring at the phone in her hand as if it would provide the answer to her lack of enthusiasm. The job opportunity was a good one, especially considering her less-than-desirable track record of job-hopping.
“Have an interview?” Nick appeared in her line of vision.
She quickly pocketed her phone and pasted a smile on her face. “Yes. On Monday.”
“Congratulations. Where is it this time? Austin, or are you moving out of Texas?”
His tone rankled her. Mostly because seconds earlier she’d been chastising herself for almost the same thing. “Austin. Not that it’s any of your business.”
She instantly regretted her churlishness. What was she, six?
No, but she understood enough about herself to realize she was letting Nick get to her. Then again, he always could, and not just by annoying her. He could also make her melt on the spot or laugh till she thought her sides might split.
Noticing where Toby was placing the folding chairs he’d carried in, she left Nick and hurried over. “Not there. Mom wants the chairs in small groupings, facing each other.” She demonstrated with her hands.
“Yes, ma’am.” The young man promptly did as she instructed.
“Thank you.”
He reminded her a little of Nick when he was that age, all arms and legs and lanky awkwardness. The only quality missing was the endearing charm Nick possessed, then and now. Except these days, he mostly kept that charm behind a shield.
She stared at his back as he went out the door, presumably to the garage for more chairs. Had she hurt him that badly when she’d left that he’d felt the need to close off the most appealing part of his personality?
Apparently so. Where she was concerned, at least. According to Gladys, not so much with the other ladies in town.
CHAPTER FIVE
NICK GROUND HIS teeth together before opening the front door of Saving Grace Community Church. He didn’t immediately enter. He couldn’t. The memories were like a ten-foot wall blocking him.
Four different churches in Mistletoe, and his boss had to choose this one. The same church where Nick and Emma had planned to marry. He hadn’t been within a hundred yards of the place since then. The last time, he’d chased after Emma as she was sprinting across the parking lot, the voluminous folds of her dress clutched in her hands.
He’d caught up with her at the end of the lot. She was furious at him and refused to listen, her pain-ravaged features delivering the ultimatum: he’d betrayed her, and she would never forgive him.
Candy had gathered Emma up after that and taken her home. Other than from a distance, Nick hadn’t seen her again until four days ago in the town square. The emotions he’d struggled to keep buried for six years surged to the surface, stronger than ever.
Shit. He was in trouble. And getting through this evening was only the half of it.
Tonight, tomorrow and the next day, he told himself. Then it was over. Emma would leave Mistletoe soon after the wedding, and Nick could resume his life. His shallow, empty, lonely life.
He strode into the church atrium and headed toward the sanctuary where the rehearsal would take place. Emma had already arrived, and he spotted her immediately, drawn to her like a magnet with an irresistible pull.
She waited near the altar with her mother, Cole, Leonard, Carl and Gladys. The minister and a woman Nick recognized as the church secretary were also with them. Leonard’s oldest daughter, Megan, ran herd on her two rambunctious children, who weren’t taking their flower girl and ring bearer duties seriously. Another woman sat at the piano leafing through sheet music.
No organ? Okay, one tiny difference from Nick and Emma’s wedding. That didn’t make any of this easier on him. With each step he took down the aisle, the invisible weight in his chest grew heavier.
“Oh, good,” Reverend Sands announced upon spotting Nick. “We’re all here now.”
Naturally, everyone turned to look at him. Did they see the sweat lining his forehead? He resisted wiping it away with the back of his hand.
“Hi,” he muttered. “Am I late?”
“Not at all.”
The reverend was being kind. Nick had kept everyone waiting a good seven minutes—exactly how long he’d sat outside in his truck, gathering his courage.
Leonard gently reminded them of the time. “We have dinner reservations for six-thirty.”
“Let’s get started, shall we?” Reverend Sands and the secretary began instructing people on where to stand and at what point in the music they were to commence their walk down the aisle.
Thankfully, Nick didn’t have to escort Emma to the altar. He couldn’t handle that. Watching her with Carl was hard enough.
She might be taking that new job in Austin. Not returning to Mistletoe. He should be glad. Relieved. The sparks were still there. Two scorching kisses had proved that. But the fact was, they wouldn’t, couldn’t get back together. He didn’t trust her not to bail at the first sign of trouble. No way could he put himself through another heartache.
“Nick,” Gladys hissed. “That’s our cue.”
“Yeah, sorry.” Offering her his arm, he started forward.
“Not so fast. We aren’t in a race with Emma and Carl.”
“Okay. Got it.”
He’d been through this before. In a manner of speaking. During that rehearsal, he’d stood at the altar, right where Leonard was now, and watched his groomsmen and Emma’s bridesmaids make this same age-old promenade.
Was she also remembering? Hard to tell. She still waited at the back of the church. Just as Nick took his place at Leonard’s left, Emma emerged on Carl’s arm, her glance riveted on the altar as if she were using it to guide her. When her mother and Cole appeared and the music swelled, all eyes were on them.
Suddenly, Emma looked at Nick, and he knew for certain she was remembering. Misery shone in her eyes, and the weight inside Nick’s chest grew heavier.
He made it through the rest of the rehearsal. How, he wasn’t sure. Carl and Cole left for the restaurant, dispatched by Leonard to alert the staff that they were on their way. Gladys helped Megan with her offspring. Holly hadn’t attended the rehearsal, but she and several close family friends were meeting them at the restaurant.
“Nick,” Leonard called. “Reverend Sands asked to confer with me and Candy for a few minutes. Can you keep Emma company till we’re done?”
“Sure.” Why had Nick agreed? Emma was perfectly capable of waiting by herself.
Unless... Could Leonard be playing matchmaker and setting them up? No, he knew better. His boss had tried that on him once before. Last year, with Holly. She’d been thrilled. Nick, less so. Oh, Holly was fun to be with when her nose wasn’t out of joint. But his feelings for her went only as far as friendship. Leonard had taken the eventual breakup harder than Holly.
Nick located Emma in the atrium. She was arranging the guest book, complete with white-feathered pen, on a small lectern by the door to the sanctuary.
“You doing okay?” Stupid question. He regretted it the instant the words were out of his mouth.
“Just getting a jump on tomorrow.”
At the sight of her, his heart lurched. Her mascara had run, leaving dark smudges beneath her eyes.
“Are you crying?”
“Not at all.”
“I wouldn’t blame you,” he said. “It was kind of rough in there. For me, too.”
“We don’t need to talk about this.” Her glance darted to the east door. The same door an eight-months-pregnant Laurel Linkletter had waltzed though an hour before Nick and Emma were to exchange vows.
“I didn’t remember her name.”
“What?” Emma blinked in confusion. “Whose name?”
“Laurel’s. She had to tell me who she was. I didn’t even recognize her.”
Emma frowned. “That doesn’t say much about you. Sleep with someone and then forget she ever existed.”
“It says a lot. Once I met you, every other woman faded into the background.”
Tears filled her eyes. “There’s no point in rehashing the past.”
“I think there is.”
“Nick—”
“Neither of us has moved on. You go from job to job, town to town. I...”
“Go from conquest to conquest? Gladys was quite informative about your dating history. Mistletoe’s most eligible bachelor.”
“Okay. I’ve dated more than my share of women in the past couple of years. But none for long, none of them seriously.”
“Am I supposed to think that’s because you’re still hung up on me?”
“Just saying, some closure might help both of us. And that would require we talk about what happened.”
“You lied to me.”
“I failed to mention a weekend hookup.”
“Why? I would have understood.”
“Like you said before, it didn’t make me look good. And at the time, I was trying my hardest to impress you.”
“She remembered your name. She came in here hollering it at the top of her lungs.”
Nick grimaced at the recollection. “It wasn’t as if I abandoned her. She kicked me to the curb the morning after our weekend together without so much as a ‘nice knowing you.’ No one could have been more surprised than me when she showed up that day.”
“Oh, trust me, I was pretty surprised.”
“You blew the whole thing out of proportion.”
She gaped at him. “A pregnant woman crashes my wedding, and you think I blew things out of proportion?”
“Fine. I was a jerk. Guilty as charged. I had a meaningless fling and failed to mention it. But you deserted me. Without even giving me a chance to explain or apologize. If we’re going to make comparisons, I think you committed the bigger mistake.”
Emma drew herself up. “She claimed you were the baby’s father.”
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