Season of Joy

by Annie Rains

  Joy giggled softly. “Not just that. She says you work too hard to care for your family, and you need more fun in your life.” A strand of her dark hair blew in the wind and clung to her cheek.

  Granger’s hand ached to reach up and swipe it away. To feel her skin against his again. Instead he shook his head. “I’ve told Mom to stop with that. With the holidays upon us, it’s just not a good time for that kind of stuff right now.” He said it casually but he also meant it for Joy. Just so there was no mistaking where he stood. The kiss they’d shared was in the past and wouldn’t be happening again. Even if that’s all he could think about doing in this moment.

  “Well, a lot of women in town will be disappointed to hear that.”

  “And what about you? Your singleness has got to be breaking the hearts of men all over town.”

  “Better I break theirs than they break mine.”

  She said a lot in that statement. And he suddenly understood her a little better. He didn’t have to worry about her pursuing a romance with him. And that relieved him as much as it disappointed him. Which made no good sense at all.

  “I wanted to take the girls on the first lighted hayride tonight but the timing seemed off. Abby is upset, and Willow is on a sugar high.”

  Joy grinned. “Sorry, not sorry about that last one.”

  Granger swallowed. They’d drawn the line in the sand and didn’t have any reason to be worried about spending time alone together. “What do you say?”

  Her brow dipped. “About what?”

  “Want to be my first customer? The lights I’ve set up give those stars overhead a run for their money.” And so did her eyes.

  She smiled softly as her hair lifted in the slight breeze. “Well, that sounds like an offer I can’t refuse. I would love a ride.”

  “Great. Come on.” He hopped down and offered Joy his hand. There was that touch he’d been longing for. It was over as quickly as it’d started, and he wished he could continue holding her hand in his as they walked to the tractor. Joy started to climb on the trailer that was attached for pulling customers. “There’s a seat up front beside me.” Granger climbed back on the tractor and gestured to the open spot next to him.

  “Okay.” She headed toward the front. “Are you going to let me drive?” A wide grin spread across her face. “You said you trust me, right?” She was teasing him, and he knew it.

  He gestured at the driver’s seat. “Yeah, I do. I trust you a thousand percent.”

  Joy’s teasing grin fell away. “Oh, no…I wasn’t, um…I was just joking.”

  “Climb up. I’ll teach you.” Granger was teasing her right back now. “You trust me, right?”

  Chapter Eleven

  This is kind of fun,” Joy said, white-knuckling the steering wheel. “It’s going a lot faster than I would have expected.”

  Granger chuckled beside her. It was nice to hear him relaxed and having fun. The Granger she’d known so far was always working and worrying about his family. He deserved to let go and let someone else take the figurative wheel.

  “So this is what I’ll be doing all season. Easy job, huh?” he asked.

  Joy looked over.

  “Eyes on the road, miss,” he teased.

  She whipped her face forward. “Right. Sorry.”

  “Okay, turn here.” He pointed. “This is Peppermint Path.”

  She turned the tractor and was met with a long path of giant peppermint sticks that towered at least six feet tall, lit up and shining bright. “It’s so beautiful. Granger, this is amazing.” She glanced over. “Sorry. Eyes ahead. And honestly, I can’t take my eyes off this. It’s a piece of art, Granger.”

  “I told you I’m not artsy.”

  “Well, you just proved that wrong.” Joy steered the tractor down the lighted path, coming up on a scene of a snowman and snowwoman. And a snowbaby. There were lighted snow people throwing snowballs. And magical scenes of Santa and his elves. They rode for at least another ten minutes until they came to a clearing.

  “We’ll stop the hayride here and let the kids get off to talk to Santa.”

  “And who is your Santa?” Joy asked, pressing the brakes and bringing the tractor to a stop.

  “Anyone but me. I’m just the driver,” he said.

  Joy clucked her tongue before her mouth spread into a wide grin. “Well, I can drive now. You can feel free to put on the red suit.” She turned to look at him.

  “No, you’ll be teaching the Christmas tree workshop.”

  “Now that I have come to a complete stop, I can safely look at you,” she said on a laugh. “And assure you that this is amazing. It’s even better than I remember it. The people of Sweetwater Springs will love this.”

  “You really think so?” Granger asked.

  The lights from the path reflected in his eyes, and staring into them was just as magical as staring at what he’d created on this path.

  * * *

  Granger leaned in closer to Joy. “So you think people will pay to come here?”

  “Mm-hmm. Whatever you’re charging, this ride is worth every penny.”

  “Except you didn’t pay,” Granger said, unable to take his eyes off her.

  She giggled softly. Her laughter was the sexiest thing he’d ever heard. She was the sexiest thing he’d ever seen. She was vibrant and full of life.

  “Well, you didn’t pay to make the first tree sculpture the other night either,” she countered.

  He leaned some more. “I guess we can call it even, then.”

  “Seems we’re always doing that.”

  This was one of those moments where the next right thing to do was to try to kiss the girl. There was eye contact, laughing, smiling. There was an undeniable sexual chemistry between them, even though he was doing his best to deny it. There was also a bone-deep desire to feel her mouth against his again. To hold her.

  “So if I were playing Santa this year,” he said, “what would you ask for?”

  Joy’s eyes turned dreamy. “That’s easy. I’d ask for my dream store for my gallery.” She sighed and looked away, breaking the moment if he wanted to kiss her. He wasn’t going to anyway. At least that’s the story he was telling himself. “But I don’t need Santa for that. I’m going to make it happen all on my own. If no one else beats me to the punch.”

  “There are other stores,” Granger said.

  “Not like this one. The location is good. It’s just small enough for myself and my art. I can’t have a store that’s too big. And I’d rather not get a place too far from downtown. I need to pull in the people strolling down the sidewalk. I want to get those impulse buyers.”

  Granger reached for her hand. Joy glanced down at his hand resting over hers. The gesture was one of support but now the tension was back, coiling and tightening between them. “I think your art is good enough that people would travel anywhere you opened your gallery to get it.”

  Joy’s eyes grew glassy. He’d hit a nerve but he wasn’t sure which one.

  “Did I say something?” he asked.

  “No…I mean, yes, but it’s not bad. My parents wouldn’t travel anywhere to look at it. They’re too busy, and they don’t seem as proud of me as even you. They’re medical people, and the idea of their daughter wasting her life on art is just a thorn in their side. I am the opposite of a success to them. I’m a disgrace.”

  Granger’s fingers wrapped around hers, squeezing tightly. “I doubt that. Speaking as a parent, you’re always proud of your kids no matter how big or small their accomplishments.”

  Joy shook her head, finding that statement amusing, apparently. “I’m not being overly dramatic. My mom actually told me I was a disgrace when I dropped out of a nursing program.”

  “You’re a nursing dropout?” he asked, pulling back just a touch to get a better look at her.

  “And proud of it, thank you very much.”

  Something told him that wasn’t true though. Not 100 percent. Her view of herself was clouded by what her paren
ts thought. “I’m pretty impressed by you, if that counts for anything.”

  She raised a brow. “One minute you think I’m irresponsible and untrustworthy,” Joy said quietly, “and now you’re pretty impressed by me. Make up your mind.”

  Granger drew in a breath. “I think it’s more that I don’t trust myself. What if I hire the wrong person? What if I get it wrong?”

  “Why do you question yourself so much?”

  Granger took another breath. And another. He’d briefly gone to therapy after Erin left but had stopped after a few sessions. There was no time for counseling when he had two little girls to raise on his own. This felt good though—to share the heavy burden of his thoughts and fears.

  “My ex had postpartum depression after Willow was born. I tried to help her but I was also working really hard. I had another mouth to feed, and I guess I thought she’d just get over it. She was seeing a counselor and her doctor, and I thought that was good enough. Everyone told me that mothers experience this after birth all the time.”

  Granger looked up at the stars now. “But maybe I failed her. Maybe it’s my fault that she left and the girls don’t have their mother. Should I have been there for Erin more? Or gone to one of those appointments with her? I guess I just don’t trust myself to know what’s best anymore.”

  Now Joy squeezed his hand. “That’s a lot of burden for one person to carry.”

  He looked at her again.

  “And from where I’m sitting, you’ve done a great job picking up the pieces. I’m pretty impressed with you as well.”

  He found it hard to breathe for a moment. Yeah, his mom told him all the time that he was doing a good job but it didn’t carry as much weight coming from her. But from an outsider looking in, from Joy, it meant a lot.

  “Every choice isn’t going to make or break your family. In fact, I think you’ve proven that you guys are pretty solid. If you can get through what you already have, you can handle anything that comes your way.”

  “Thank you,” he said. “I needed that.”

  “I’m not sure who helped who,” Joy added. “I guess, once again, we’ll call it even.”

  Granger’s mouth was suddenly dry, and his heartbeat threatened to bowl him over. He wanted to kiss her again. Every choice wasn’t a make-or-break, life-or-death move. One kiss wasn’t going to bring his world down in pieces around him.

  “Are you about to kiss me?” Joy asked.

  “I’m thinking about it.”

  “That’s one of your problems, Granger Fields. You think too much.” Then Joy leaned in and pressed her lips to his, and suddenly he wasn’t thinking at all.

  * * *

  Joy never wanted this kiss to end. Her body felt like a glass of bubbly champagne. Every nerve ending was sparkling, creating a satisfying buzz that ran from her lips to her toes. Granger’s mouth was warm over hers, a welcome contrast to the biting cold around them.

  His hand wrapped around her back while she reached one of her hands to explore his chest. It was firm beneath her touch. She’d noticed how broad and muscled it was but now she was free to touch him.

  They both pulled back at the same time, coming up for air.

  “Don’t tell me that was a mistake this time,” she said softly. “We both wanted that kiss.”

  “It wasn’t a mistake.” Granger looked at her. The brown of his eyes seemed darker suddenly. He was looking at her differently too. That had started before the kiss though, as the tension between them had started to mount.

  “So what do we do now?” Because she wanted to keep kissing him. She didn’t want to keep caging up this desire. But she didn’t want to mess up the arrangement they had going either.

  “I have no idea.” He reached out and touched her arm. At least he wasn’t pulling away this time. But maybe she should be. “We can’t bring the girls into…whatever this is. I don’t want them getting confused or getting their hopes up about us.”

  Joy swallowed. She didn’t need to get her hopes up either. Just like their business arrangement, anything romantic between them would be temporary. A few kisses here and there. But why resist it? It felt good, and she needed to feel good right now. “While we’re making this arrangement, let’s make another promise.”

  Granger narrowed his eyes. “Okay?”

  “When our chemistry fizzles out, we’ll still be friends. No dramatics. I don’t want things to be awkward between us, and I definitely don’t want you to stop bringing the girls around if things get messy. I was theirs before I was yours.”

  “Mine,” Granger repeated.

  Joy cocked her head, her hair brushing against her cheek. “Figure of speech.”

  He nodded. “And I totally agree. Anything between us shouldn’t affect Abby or Willow.”

  “Not that we’re dating,” Joy pointed out. “We just kissed. Two times.” She looked at him, feeling hot and bothered and completely out of sorts.

  “Let’s make that three,” Granger said, leaning in.

  Yep, the desire was out of its cage now, and from this point on, it was going to be hard to keep their hands off each other.

  * * *

  The next morning, Joy awoke with a dreamy sigh. It was officially the weekend, which always brought a deeper level of relaxation. But this morning felt extra good because she’d made out with Granger for at least an hour under the stars last night.

  That was real, right? Not a dream?

  She slid her arm down by her side and pinched herself just to make sure. “Ouch,” she said before breaking into a yawn. Then Chelsea leaped onto the bed and launched herself on Joy’s midsection.

  Meow!

  Chelsea pawed her cheek gently. Joy smiled even wider. She’d forgotten how great the morning after a great kissing session was.

  Chelsea walked up Joy’s chest and looked her in the eye, purring loudly. Her body sounded like a small motor.

  “If I were a cat, I’d be purring louder right now,” Joy said, scooting Chelsea off her chest and sitting up. Even though it was the weekend, she still had work to do. Thanksgiving was this coming Thursday and the Christmas tree workshop got started the next day.

  Joy had invited the Ladies’ Day Out group to be her first customers, and most of them had seemed genuinely excited. If they enjoyed themselves, then they’d make sure that everyone in town followed suit between now and Christmas.

  Joy scooted down the hall toward the coffee machine. There was a bounce in her step, and Granger had put it there. She was tempted to feel bad about their make-out session, but why? He was single, and so was she. They were both mature adults—mature, lonely adults who had needs. If it didn’t get in the way of his family or their little working arrangement, what was the harm?

  She watched the dark coffee pour into her cup. The potential harm lay with her heart. Just like Erin had done a number on Granger, Joy’s ex had done a number on her too. There were still invisible scars on her heart from where he’d torn it to pieces last Christmas.

  She just wouldn’t let her emotions get involved this time. Kissing was just kissing, and she wouldn’t let it go beyond that, she promised herself as she picked up her cup and brought it to the table.

  After leisurely drinking her coffee, she dressed and got into her car. First stop was Sugar Pines Community Center. Joy’s mind kept returning to Granger like a pesky moth to a flame as she made the short drive. Then she got out and headed inside.

  Donovan met her at the door of the community center. “Good morning, Joy.”

  “Good morning to you. How are things over here?”

  “Couldn’t be better. We’re having the monthly senior citizen breakfast this morning. Wanna join us?”

  Joy mocked insult. “I still get carded when I go to the Tipsy Tavern, I’ll have you know.”

  He chuckled. “Not saying you look a day past your twenties. Just willing to make an exception for you because we like having you here.”

  “Aw,” Joy said. “Thank you.”

&nbs
p; “Will you be back for another art class soon?” Donovan asked.

  Joy checked her mental calendar. “Well, this week is Thanksgiving. I’ll be here to help with the lunch on Thursday as usual. And then Friday I’m starting a new venture just for the holidays.” She quickly told him about the Christmas tree workshop.

  “That sounds amazing. Maybe I can gather up a group from here to go on a field trip one Saturday or Sunday afternoon.” He shrugged. “Or in the middle of the week if you’re offering them then. What do you think?”

  Joy hadn’t even considered that. “Wow. That would be awesome. If you came in the afternoon, we’d finish up by dark, and everyone could go on a hayride through Granger’s lighted path. Peppermint Path is very impressive.” Last night with Granger was once again front and center. Peppermint Path was also romantic in her view, and it stirred up all the butterflies in her stomach.

  “Being out after dark gets a little riskier for our senior citizen folks. There’s a higher risk of falling for those who don’t see well.”

  Joy nodded. “Right. Well, I’ll talk to Granger. The ride won’t be as beautiful in the daytime but I still think everyone would enjoy it.”

  “Just tell me when we can come, and I’ll make the arrangements,” Donovan said.

  Joy grinned as she headed toward the large community room. Her mind exploded with ideas for a Christmas tree workshop for the people here. Perhaps wire cages weren’t the best medium because of arthritic hands and decreased strength and coordination. They could do foam cones and spray paint them green. Or even red. Or papier-mâché trees. Then the folks could make little ornaments and attach them.

  Aunt Darby looked up from her meal as Joy stepped into the room. “Joy! I didn’t know you were coming today.”

  Joy slid into a bench in front of her. “I was just passing through and thought I’d come say hello.”

  “You’ve been so busy lately.”

  “Well, you’ve been busy yourself with a certain older gentleman.” Joy watched her aunt’s expression. “You really like him, huh?”

  Darby blushed against her wrinkled skin. “I have a secret for you.” She leaned in over her tray.