by Annie Rains
Her cell phone rang beside her, and she jerked upright. She placed it to her ear. “Hello?”
“Well, what do you think? Can Sweetwater Springs and your little B and B live up to the promise?” Josie asked.
“Oh, definitely. The town was never a concern. And Mitch and I have already fixed a mile-long list of things here at the inn. Actually, he fixed most of them and I’ve done all the decorating.” There were only a few little tweaks left to make and the place would be perfect.
Kaitlyn dragged her gaze back to the article. “The only thing I’m missing is the Christmas tree.”
“No tree? The perfect holiday getaway demands a tree, Kaye,” Josie said. “And not one of those artificial ones.”
“Of course it does. I’m sure there’s a farm or something around here.” But how would she get it back to the B&B in her small car?
Mitch straightened from behind the fridge. “Merry Mountain Farms sells the best trees,” he said. “Sorry. Couldn’t help overhearing you.”
“It’s okay. I’m talking to the friend who wrote the article,” she told him.
“Oh, he sounds sexy,” Josie purred into the receiver. “No wonder you have such a crush on him.”
For a moment, heat crawled through Kaitlyn’s skin. Until she remembered that Mitch could only hear her half of the conversation and not Josie’s. Thank goodness. “Merry Mountain Farms. Good to know. I’ll try to check it out later this week.”
Josie cleared her throat. “Okay. I just wanted an update. The tension between you two can be felt all the way in New York. So please don’t let me interrupt you jumping his bones.”
Kaitlyn choked. “That’s not…I’m not.”
“Just keep me updated. I’m expecting a windfall for the B and B.”
“I hope so. You can come visit it for yourself anytime, you know.”
“Tempting,” Josie said. “Maybe I will if I can ever get out from under these deadlines.”
After a minute more, they said their goodbyes and disconnected.
Mitch stood and stared at her. Josie was right. The sexual tension could be sliced with a nail file.
“I, uh, need to take off early this afternoon. I’m taking my mom to an appointment in town.”
“Oh.” Kaitlyn nodded, surprised at the disappointment settling over her. She’d gotten used to having him around all day, and now during the nighttime too. She liked having him here.
“Will you be back tonight?” she asked, trying to keep the hope out of her voice. She grabbed her cup of cider and took a sip.
He nodded. “Yeah. I’ll take you to get that Christmas tree if you want.”
“Really?”
“Sure. I’m afraid if I don’t, I’ll find you out in the woods with an axe.”
She placed her hands on her hips and feigned insult. “I’m perfectly capable of using one, you know.”
“Of course you are. But humor me and let me take you to get a tree anyway.”
Kaitlyn had to admit spending time with Mitch was even more exciting than picking out a real live tree. All she’d ever had were the small artificial kind that sat in a corner of her room.
“Who will watch the inn though? I can’t just leave this place. We have a guest now.”
“My mom used to come by for Mable and Henry all the time,” Mitch told her. “She won’t mind at all.”
Kaitlyn blinked, unable to think of any excuse to say no. Not that she wanted to refuse the invitation. “Wow. Problem solved. I’d love to go tree hunting with you, then.”
“Good. It’ll be fun.” He turned back to the refrigerator and began shimmying it back into its place against the wall.
It wasn’t a date, she told herself as she watched, ignoring the flurry of anticipation falling over her like the first winter snow. Definitely not.
* * *
Mitch was glad he’d told his mom he was taking her to her doctor appointment this afternoon. Because the more time he spent with Kaitlyn, the harder it was to keep his hands to himself. And now he’d promised to take her Christmas tree hunting tonight. It was like he lost his mind whenever she was around.
He pulled into his mom’s driveway and honked the horn. Her appointment was at 3:30 p.m., and there was no time to meander. She better not have changed her mind, he thought. He’d go inside and carry her to the appointment kicking and screaming like a toddler if he had to.
He relaxed when he saw her open the front door and head out, dressed in a heavy coat and pale-blue knit hat.
“You didn’t have to do this, you know?” was the first thing she said upon opening the passenger side door of his truck.
“I know that’s what you think but you’re wrong. I’m your son, and I do have to do this.” He watched her buckle herself in and then reversed back onto the street. “Especially since you’re not taking care of yourself.” The night she’d passed out on the bed hadn’t been a fluke. He’d witnessed her dizzy spells several times since then. There were other symptoms too. She was pale and had a few bruises.
“Who are you to talk? What about that time you sprained your ankle a couple years back and wouldn’t go have it checked out?”
“It was a sprain, Mom. I know how to treat a sprain. And a sprain is no big deal.” He glanced over and pinned her with a stare. He hoped to God his mom’s condition wasn’t a big deal either, he thought as he returned his attention to the road.
“So, how’s the B and B coming along?” his mother asked, changing the subject.
Mitch blew out a breath. “Good. Kaitlyn got her food-handling license, and the inn passed inspection last week. It already has its first guest too. Speaking of which, I have a favor to ask you.” He saw his mom perk up in the seat beside him. She lived to help others.
“Oh?”
“I need to take Kaitlyn to get a tree tonight. Do you think you could watch the inn?” Mitch doubted any medicine the doctor offered today would be as good for her as this request.
“Well, of course I can. I’ve always loved working at the B and B—you know that.” His mom’s tone of voice was suddenly upbeat and cheerful.
“Not work,” he clarified. “Watch. Feet up. TV on.”
His mom didn’t argue but she didn’t agree either. “Your dad used to take me to get our Christmas trees. Do you like Mable’s granddaughter? Is she pretty?”
Mitch groaned as he pulled into the physician’s parking lot and cut the engine. “Don’t make me regret asking you.”
She turned in her seat and pointed a finger at him. “Only if you promise not to try to go in the examining room with me. I’m a grown woman, Mitch, and there are some things a mother doesn’t want her son hearing about her body.”
He frowned. “How am I supposed to know what’s going on with you if I’m stuck in the waiting room?”
She shrugged. “I guess you’ll just have to trust that I’ll tell you.”
A growl emitted from deep in his throat. He trusted his mom but he didn’t put it past her to keep things from him. Judging from the stubborn lift of her chin, he could see he wasn’t winning this argument though. “Fine.”
He opened his door and got out, meeting her around the back of the truck and walking toward the small doctor’s office, which was in a string of other businesses. “But you’ll tell me everything.” He wasn’t asking.
His stern tone of voice and demeanor seemed to be lost on his mother as he held the office door open for her and she walked in ahead of him. “Of course, dear.”
* * *
Later that afternoon, Kaitlyn set out a dish of sugar cookies and accommodations for hot tea in the dining room.
“Did you get a lot of work done?” she asked Paris, as he walked in the room to peruse the selection.
“Mostly. Dawanda kept interrupting though.”
Kaitlyn giggled to herself. “She didn’t serve you a cup of cappuccino, did she?”
“She did. Apparently, my fortune couldn’t be read. She said it was the first time that ever happene
d.”
“That’s strange.”
He shrugged. “I’m not sure I buy into cappuccino readings anyway.”
Kaitlyn was surprised that part of her did believe. There was something about how seriously Dawanda took the reading that chased away Kaitlyn’s doubts. “Well, I can promise a distraction-free evening for your work if that’s what you want.”
“Thanks. Mind if I take a couple of cookies up to my room?”
“Of course.” She turned as the phone rang on the wall. “Excuse me.” The landline phone was the one that guests would use to make reservations. She crossed her fingers at her side in hopes that it was a potential customer and not a telemarketer as she went to answer. “Hello. Sweetwater Bed and Breakfast. How can I assist you?”
“Yes. Hi there. I’m Marvin Krespo,” a man’s voice drawled. “I was hoping to make a reservation for me and my wife. You got any rooms open?” he asked.
“Yes, of course. When will you be coming?”
“Tomorrow if you have vacancies. My wife doesn’t think I’m romantic anymore. She said I need to step up my game or else.”
Kaitlyn’s mouth fell open. “Um, well.”
“I doubt that means she’ll leave me, but she likes to withhold my favorite foods and sex when she’s in a tiff.”
“I see.” Kaitlyn cleared her throat. “Well, tomorrow will be fine. We’ll have a room prepared for you.”
“Great, darling. See you soon.”
Kaitlyn hung up and went to retrieve her appointment book nearby. She scribbled in Mr. and Mrs. Krespo’s names.
“Will you be needing anything else tonight? Dinner?” Kaitlyn asked as Paris headed toward the stairs with a handful of cookies. She wasn’t planning on cooking full meals every night for her guests but since there was just one, she didn’t mind.
“No. I thought I’d head out later and explore more of the area.”
“Okay. Well, I’m actually heading out myself. Mitch and I are going to pick out a Christmas tree for the inn. His mom will be watching over the place if you need anything.”
“I should be fine. Don’t worry about me. Enjoy your date,” he called before disappearing up the stairs and into his room. Before she had the opportunity to correct him. Getting a tree together was simply part of her arrangement with Mitch. The inn needed one, and she couldn’t do this on her own.
Even if it wasn’t a romantic arrangement, she still needed to look nice before heading over to Merry Mountain Farms, she decided. She checked her watch. Mitch would be coming back soon. Her heart did a little dance. Stealing a cookie from the tray, she hurried to her room to change.
An hour later, Mitch walked into the inn. Beside him was a slender woman with long, gray hair and a huge smile.
“You must be Kaitlyn Russo. I’d recognize you even if Mitch hadn’t told me you’d taken this place over.” Mitch’s mom wrapped Kaitlyn in a warm hug. “Mable was always showing off the pictures your parents sent her way.” The woman pulled away and looked at Kaitlyn. “My, you’ve grown into such a beautiful young woman.”
“Thank you. It’s nice to meet you, Ms. Hargrove,” Kaitlyn said, almost at a loss for words at the heartfelt greeting. “And thank you so much for agreeing to watch the inn tonight.”
“Please, call me Gina. And I’m happy that you gave me something to do.”
“As if you sit around twiddling your thumbs all day,” Mitch said sarcastically behind her.
Gina rolled her eyes. “If you listen to him, I work myself nearly into a grave.” Her smile fell. “Oh, I’m sorry. That’s so insensitive of me, considering your grandmother just died.”
Kaitlyn shook her head. “It’s fine. Please make yourself at home. We won’t be gone long.”
“And no cleaning,” Mitch bellowed as he ushered Kaitlyn out the front door and into the driveway where his truck was still running. He opened the passenger side door for her and then reappeared in the driver’s seat.
“Your mom seems really nice.”
He nodded. “Oh, she is. Nice and stubborn, if you ask me.”
“Did everything check out at her appointment earlier?” Kaitlyn asked, even more concerned now that she’d met Gina.
Mitch cranked the engine. “Dr. Jacobs ran some labs. We should get results sometime next week. Until then, Dr. Jacobs said for her to rest and take a good multivitamin.”
“That’s always good advice,” Kaitlyn said.
“Assuming Mom actually listens to it.” He glanced across the seat as he came to the stop sign at the end of Mistletoe Lane. “Now, what do you say we go pick out a Christmas tree?”
Kaitlyn grinned. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you sound a little excited yourself.”
“What can I say? I’m a man. We like to hunt and gather.”
Something about that made Kaitlyn’s blood heat. He was a man, for sure. Big and strong, doing exactly what he was made to do. And she absolutely was not going to kiss him again tonight. Their kiss at Silver Lake had been a mistake. One that shouldn’t happen again.
CHAPTER NINE
I’ve never been to a Christmas tree farm before,” Kaitlyn said, glancing across the seat at Mitch.
He kept his eyes on the road, following the curves and bends precisely. “I used to go with your grandfather to pick one out,” he told her. “Henry always liked to get the biggest one on the lot.”
Kaitlyn laughed beside him. The sound was completely angelic. “I regret that I didn’t get to spend a lot of time with them but I do remember Grandpa Henry having a fancy for doing things large.”
Mitch nodded. “The larger the better. Your grandfather was a very good man.”
They talked a little more about Mable and Henry, the inn, and Kaitlyn’s continuing plans for improvement as they drove to Merry Mountain Farms on the edge of town. Mitch hadn’t been here in years. Not since before his senior year of high school.
He pulled into the lot, which was already crowded and buzzing with couples and families in search of their own perfect tree this holiday. Christmas music jingled in the air along with the laughter of children as he stepped out. Although it was frigid outside, Mitch’s chest grew warm. Once upon a time, he’d loved Christmas more than anything.
“Do you think your truck will hold the biggest Christmas tree in this lot?” Kaitlyn turned to look at him as he walked around the truck to meet her. “Because that’s the one I plan to get.”
“No Charlie Brown tree?” he asked.
She shook her head. “If that’s all I were planning to get, I wouldn’t need you, would I?”
He walked beside her up the dirt path that led to the expanse of fir trees ahead. Kaitlyn walked down every path, inspecting each tree. Then, true to her word, she did pick out just about the biggest of the bunch forty-five minutes later.
“That one!” She rubbed her gloved hands together and beamed at him, her soft brown hair flowing underneath her bright-green knit hat.
“You sure?” he asked.
“One hundred percent. That’s the one.”
Her enthusiasm was contagious. “Okay.”
“Last-Ditch Mitch!” He heard a familiar voice call from a few feet away.
Mitch spun to see Tuck and his sister, Halona, with her son, Theo. It seemed Mitch couldn’t really go anywhere without running into people in this town. “Hey, looks like you guys had the same idea,” Mitch said, inspecting the tree they were carrying. “Did you pick that one out?” he asked Theo, who merely stared at him.
“He’s not much of a talker these days,” Halona said, a hint of worry wrinkling her brow. “Good to see you, Mitch.”
“You too. This is Kaitlyn Russo,” he said, introducing Kaitlyn.
“Russo? You’re Mable and Henry’s granddaughter,” Halona said. “They were wonderful people. I’m so sorry about Mable’s passing.”
“Thank you. How do you know Mitch?” Kaitlyn asked.
“We all went to school together,” Tuck informed her.
“And why
do you call him Last-Ditch Mitch?”
Mitch cupped a hand to the back of his neck and answered Kaitlyn’s question himself. “Because if all else failed, I was always the sucker to call in high school. For a ride or homework. I even got asked to help someone break up with his girlfriend once. I said no to that request.”
“Mitch is steadfast and responsible,” Tuck explained. “You can ask him for anything, and he’d do it.”
“Within reason,” Mitch said.
“Well, it was nice to meet you, Kaitlyn,” Tuck said. “I’m afraid this tree is heavy, and Theo over here has a bedtime soon.” He tipped his head at Mitch. “We still need to get together, buddy.”
“Yeah.” Mitch shoved his hands in the pockets of his leather jacket. “Sounds good.”
Tuck grinned. “See you later, guys! Have fun on your date.”
“It’s not a date,” Mitch corrected, perhaps a tad too surly.
Tuck looked between him and Kaitlyn and then to his nephew, who was still watching them. “Theo, give Mr. Mitch a piece of what’s in your pocket to help him out.”
The mischievous sparkle in Tuck’s eyes made Mitch wonder if he should hold out his hand for what the boy was now offering up. Halona’s son was so cute though, that Mitch dutifully opened his palm. Then he blinked at the sprig of mistletoe the child had dispensed.
“Good night, you two!” Tuck called as he and Halona continued forward with their tree and little Theo chased behind them.
Kaitlyn’s cheeks were red when he looked up at her. “Mistletoe,” she said.
“It grows rampant around these parts this time of year.”
She nodded, and he suspected they were both thinking about that kiss at Silver Lake. The kiss that had been way out of line.
He shoved the sprig in his coat pocket and set about cutting down the perfect tree for the inn. It was time to be on their merry way before they ran into someone else. Or before he decided to pull out that mistletoe and make good use of it.
* * *
The doorbell rang at two p.m. the next afternoon. Kaitlyn used her hands to iron out the wrinkles in her shirt and locked her stray hair behind her ears. With a smile, she pulled open the door, expecting to meet the Krespos, who had reservations for today.