The tightness in Anna’s chest eased away, and she smoothed the blanket on their lap. “She dumped you by text? That’s cold.”
“Really cold,” Matthew agreed. “Besides, I signed an editing contract with your friend Scott. Between that and Dylan helping me fix my website, my freelance gig is starting to roll.” He paused. “Thank you for referring me to him and your other friends. Without your help—”
She shook her head. “It’s nothing. I’m so glad he reached out. I hope my romance author friend, Sarah, does too. Really, I wouldn’t have recommended you if I didn’t think you were great. Your notes on my mountain story—”
“About that. And Dana.”
Anna let out a groan, then waved him off. “I overreacted, and I’m sorry. I reread my email, and it did seem like I told you to send it.” She thought of Christine’s words at the book shop—if he’s willing to share your work with an agent he respects, he must be confident in it. She bit the side of her cheek. “I should have known you wouldn’t send my chapters to anybody if you didn’t think they were ready. I don’t know what I was thinking, getting angry like that.”
The carriage bounced over a rock, and Matthew shifted and tucked the blanket tighter around them. “You’d just had your book contract cancelled. By me. I get it—I wasn’t the first person you would trust with your work. Next time, I’ll make sure we’re on the same page before I send your writing off to somebody else.”
“Next time?”
“I mean, if you want to work with me again.”
“Of course I do.” She tucked her arm through his and leaned against him. The woodsy scent of his aftershave wafted over her, and she resisted the urge to snuggle in closer. “I don’t want to get my hopes up, but I might not need your help for a while. Dana asked for my synopsis. I sent it to her last night and should hear from her again next week.”
“Anna, that’s amazing! I knew she’d love that scene on the steep ridge.”
This is all going too well. How do I deserve this? After I avoided him all week! Her heart wrenched at the thought of how she’d treated him. His lips curved with a smile, and she remembered the soft taste of them that night beneath the street lamp.
“Matthew, I’m so sorry I ignored you. I was embarrassed, but that’s no excuse. I should have talked to you right away.”
“Well,” he said slowly. “You could make it up to me with another date.”
“A date? That’s it? I was thinking of suggesting your editing skills to some more of my writing friends—”
“I wouldn’t say no to that!”
Anna pulled her purse onto her lap and opened it. “I almost forgot. I brought a peace offering for you—”
Matthew cocked his head. “You didn’t need to do that.”
She pulled out the purple romance book with Celia Saint James scrawled across the cover and handed it to him. “I doubt it’s the same one you read as a teen. She has dozens of books! But, it’s purple. And she’s the correct author, right?”
Matthew brows rose nearly to his hairline. He turned the book over with an amused look on his face. “This is awesome. I can’t believe of all the things I told you, this is what you remembered.” He barked a laugh. “A true book nerd. I can’t wait to read it. Thank you.”
“Maybe we can suggest it for the next Page Tuners read.”
“That sounds like a great idea,” he replied. “Do you mind keeping it in your purse for now? It won’t fit in my jacket pocket, and if Marshal were to find it—”
“Of course.” She giggled, then took the book from him and tucked it back in her purse. Right after she closed the zipper, a tiny pinprick of cold landed on the tip of her nose and she gasped. “Was that just—”
“Snow.” Matthew pulled his arm from hers and wrapped it around her shoulder, sending a warm tingle through her body. The carriage creaked over the ground, and the air grew colder.
Anna looked up at him, her pulse thrumming inside her, and he pulled her closer. A snowflake landed on his cheek, and she sighed dreamily and snuggled in to his side, feeling like the heroine in one of her stories. “Do you think we should try it again?”
Matthew bent his head toward her, searching her face for consent. “Try what again?”
“This.” She tilted her chin, and his lips met hers, causing all the pain and anxiety of the last week to melt away.
Chapter Twenty
“He organized a carriage ride for you?” Kelsey’s voice was high in Anna’s ear. “Like, as in a real horse? And a carriage? With wheels?”
Anna giggled and checked over her shoulder to make sure nobody was listening. With her free hand, she tucked her gloves in the pocket of her jacket, which now hung before her in the coat room of the barn. She and Matthew had just returned to the dance when Kelsey had called, the ringer barely audible above the noise of the music.
“Yes, a real horse.” Anna switched her phone to her other ear. “And last I checked, all carriages had wheels.”
“That’s amazing. Truly, Anna. What a gesture!”
“You sound like you’re swooning more than I am.” Anna’s stomach was still jittery, thinking of the delicate snow and their kiss beneath the moonlight. Yes, I am definitely a romance heroine tonight. “Anyways, why did you call? It’s Saturday night, I thought you’d be out on the town.”
“I’m not feeling well. Besides, I have zero prospects for a date. I have to live vicariously through you.”
“Well, that’s disappointing. No good men left in Calgary?”
“Not a one,” Kelsey replied. “But I called for a reason. Are you still coming home for Christmas?”
“I was planning on it. Mom’s pushing for me to move home earlier though.” Anna’s neck stiffened at the thought. No, there’s no way I’m taking that job or leaving Cedar Lake. Not any time soon. She would find another part-time job. Even if it meant serving coffee, she was willing to do it in order to stay.
“I had an idea—”
Anna’s phone vibrated in her hand. She pulled it away from her ear and frowned at the screen. The word Mom blinked at her in flashing letters, the lines of the M reminding Anna of furrowed brows. “Oh, Kels. I’m sorry. I better take this. It’s Mom.”
“Have you told her you aren’t taking the interview?”
“Yes. But I have a feeling I’m going to have to again.”
“Good luck. I’m sending you all my moral support.”
“Thank you. Talk to you later.” Anna switched the phone to her mother’s call. “Hi, Mom. I’m kind of busy right now.”
“Is that music I hear?” Vanessa sounded surprised. “Are you out at a club?”
“No, I’m at the barn dance.” Anna stepped aside as a woman in a knee-length red dress entered the room to gather her coat.
“The barn dance?”
The woman glanced at Anna, and Anna lowered her voice. “You know, Mom. I told you I was helping the inn get this barn ready for a community dance.”
“Oh, that’s right. Well, that sounds cute.”
“It is,” Anna replied. “So, if I could call you tomorrow—”
“One thing, first. I promise it’s quick,” Vanessa said. “I emailed you an interview package. It has sample questions for what they might ask on Wednesday, and I thought tomorrow I could help you go through it. We could practice, ease your nerves.”
Anna bit back a groan. She’s not going to let this go, is she? “Mom. Please listen to me.”
“Anna—”
“I appreciate all the help you’ve given me. I truly do.” She took a deep breath. “But I’m staying in Cedar Lake. At least for now. I can focus on my writing here. Even it means being broke for a bit. I can get by.” She paused, hoping her next words would sound firm. “I’m not going to interview for that job with King Construction.”
The phone went silent, and Anna’s stomach clenched. “Mom?”
“I heard you.”
Was that a quiver in her voice?
“Okay.” A
nna softened her tone. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, Mom. But this is what’s best for me. For now, anyways.”
“You’re not disappointing me, dear,” Vanessa replied with a sigh. “Of course, I would love to have you home. But you’ve always been dedicated to your writing. And for that, I admire you.”
“You do?”
“Your sister told me how hard you’ve been working on your book. I’m proud of you.” Vanessa’s voice grew firmer. “But if you’re dead set on staying in that little town, then at least let me help you come up with a plan to make it work.”
“Sure,” Anna replied. “Thank you, Mom.”
Matthew stepped into the room. He gave her a wave, then tucked his hands into the pockets of his dark-wash jeans and waited by the door.
“Mom, I gotta go. I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?”
“Alright. Enjoy your barn dance.”
“I will. Bye.” She hung up the call, put her phone on Do Not Disturb, and shoved it in her purse. No more distractions.
“Sorry if I interrupted,” Matthew said. He gestured toward the dance floor. “They’re about to play the last dance. And I know dancing might not be your thing—I mean, it’s not mine either—but it could be fun. With you.”
Anna grabbed his hand and tugged him from the room. “You know, I’ve never even been to a barn dance before. I guess I shouldn’t leave without actually dancing.”
“And I’m the lucky guy who gets to escort you?”
“Of course,” she said with a grin. “Unless you’d rather I ask Rodger or Tad. Maybe Ethan?”
“No, I’m good. More than happy to be of service.”
Matthew guided her through the tables and onto the wooden dance floor. She turned to face him and put her hands on his broad shoulders as the slow dance floated over the room. She sighed happily, spotting Madison and Dylan in a warm embrace on the other side of the room. Tad and Ethan stood together with Tad’s parents, laughing at some joke Tad probably made. And Marshal and Sophie, snuggled together at their table with her head on his shoulder.
Anna’s heart settled, the calm of the room and the song washing over her. The feel of Matthew’s arms around her waist. This is what’s really important. Not deadlines. Not tearing my brain apart trying to rewrite a novel to somebody else’s standards. Not money or ex-girlfriend drama or arguing with Mom.
Matthew gazed down at her. “You look happy. What are you thinking about?”
Anna let out a contented sigh. “That everything’s going to be okay, here in Cedar Lake.”
“More than okay,” Matthew agreed. “I have a feeling that after today, it’s going to be a whole new chapter.”
“I like that,” Anna replied. “The first chapter in the story of us.”
Epilogue
Anna folded the burgundy napkin in her hands and placed it inside the box on the table before her. It was the morning after the Starlight Dance, and she’d come in to help clean up the barn. Tad stood next to her, watching the flurry of activity around them as he untangled a string of lights to wrap up properly.
Matthew stood on a ladder near the barn’s entrance, taking down some of the white drapes from the rafters. Anna gazed at him longingly and picked up another napkin. By the time she’d arrived about an hour ago, he’d already been hard at work so she hadn’t had a chance to say hi to him yet. As soon as she’d walked through the door, Katie had handed her the box and asked her to clear the tables.
But she yearned to talk to him, and the sooner the better. After reading the email she’d found in her inbox that morning, she could barely contain her excitement.
“Anna,” Tad’s voice grabbed her attention, “you know those are going to be washed, right? There’s no need to fold them. Just toss all the table linens in the box, and I’ll run them up to the inn later to throw in the wash.”
Should I tell Tad about the email? The desire to share her news bubbled inside her, but she couldn’t bear the thought of telling anybody other than Matthew first. No, she’d wait.
“Right. Of course these are heading for the wash.” Her face warmed, and she shook out the napkin and tossed it inside the box. “Sorry.”
“It’s fine.” Tad tilted his head toward Matthew, who lowered the corner of a drape from above his head. “You’re all googly-eyed over Mr. Pompous Editor this morning.” He gave her a smug grin. “Not that I blame you. Setting up that carriage ride—a real Fitzwilliam Darcy move.”
Anna let out a happy sigh and rested her hands on the edge of the box. “Jane Austen would be impressed.” She turned her gaze to Tad. “How did you know about it, anyways?”
“Ethan told me.” Tad began to wrap the light string in a tidy bundle, a goofy smile on his face. “There’s no way he could keep something that big a secret. Besides, I saw Matthew talking to Dane and was curious so I prodded it out of him.”
Anna raised a brow. “Yes, you two seem to be doing well. I saw you both chatting with your parents last night, like an official couple.”
Tad gave her an amused look, then placed the lights in the box at his feet and picked up another string from the table. “Mom said she figured something was going on between us all along, but she didn’t want to say anything until I was ready.”
“Aww.” Anna reached over and squeezed his arm. “Of course she knew. She’s your mother.” She paused. “I suppose this means more hockey games are in your future?”
Tad rolled his eyes. “I guess so. The things I’ll put up with for a cute guy . . .”
Anna giggled and went to pick up another napkin, but her phone vibrated in her pocket. She pulled it out instead. “It’s Kelsey. I should take this.”
Tad gave her nod, and she stepped aside to the quiet back corner of the barn to take the call. “Hey, Kelsey. What’s up?”
Her sister’s cheery tone met her ear. “Get your jingle bells ready, because I’m coming for Christmas!”
“My what? Jingle bells?” Anna cocked her head. “Wait—you’re coming out here? For Christmas?”
“Uh huh,” Kelsey replied. “Mom talked to your boss at the inn and booked us a cabin!” The glee in her voice was palpable. “We’ll be there from the fifteenth to the twenty-ninth. Two whole weeks of warm BC weather!”
Anna chuckled. “Well, I wouldn’t call it warm exactly—”
“It’s a lot warmer than Calgary’s minus twenty, and I assume there’s no waist-deep snow drifts.”
“True,” Anna replied, her mind reeling. Her mom and sister, here in Cedar Lake. A Simone Christmas in a cozy cabin at the inn! She let out a little squeal. “Kelsey! I can’t believe you talked Mom into this. I can’t wait to show you both around Cedar Lake! And the inn. And the book store. You’ll get to meet Katie and Christine . . .”
“And Matthew?” Kelsey asked with a teasing tone.
Anna stomach quivered. “Yes, and Matthew. Oh my goodness, Kels. This is going to be amazing!”
“I know. I’ve already started packing,” Kelsey replied. “But anyways, I’ll call you again later with more details. I have to run to meet Mom at the mall for Christmas shopping. She said she’d make sure to join us tomorrow for our virtual dinner so we can start planning.”
“Sounds good. Looking forward to it.”
They said goodbye, and Anna pocketed her phone. She went to return to the table to finish clearing it, but Matthew was walking in her direction and gave her a wave.
Yes! Now I can tell him my news! She met him near the DJ stand that stood in disarray, partially packed in boxes. “Matthew! I have something to tell you—”
He held out his hand to her, then nodded his head toward the back door of the barn. “Want to take a little break outside to tell me?” His eyes brightened. “It’s snowing again.”
Anna took his hand. “Like really snowing? Or just a flurry like last night?”
“Really snowing,” he replied. “For Cedar Lake, anyways.”
“Let’s go!” She followed him out the back entrance and into the hors
e pasture where he’d first asked her on a real date. Big fluffy snowflakes drifted down the sky and landed softly around them, and her breath caught. Two horses stood grazing nearby, a light dusting of snow on their winter coats. “It is snowing. For real.”
Matthew nodded and slipped his arm around her waist. “It is. It won’t stick around long, but it’s pretty while it lasts.” He paused, looking down at her. “Now, what do you have to tell me?”
Anna tore her gaze from the snow falling gently onto the horses’ backs, then twisted to face him. “Dana emailed me again already. Apparently, she works weekends.”
Matthew lifted a brow, grinning. “Only when she’s excited about something . . .”
A spark of joy lit inside her, and she placed a trembling hand on his chest. “Matthew, she loved my synopsis for the mountain story and wants to sign with me. She thinks she’s even found a publisher who would be interested. We’re going to start working on a pitch this week!”
“Ha!” Matthew let out a hearty laugh, then put both arms around her and hugged her tight. “I knew she’d love it! Anna, that’s such great news. Your whole future—it’s going to change.”
“I know.” Happy tears brimmed Anna’s eyes, and she hugged him back. The warmth from his body melted into her. “Everything’s right again. No, it’s even better than before. My writing, my career,” she glanced up at him, “you . . .”
Matthew gazed down at her, then pushed the hair from her forehead, much like he did that night on the street outside her door. “It looks like this chapter is shaping up to be pretty good.”
“The best one yet.” Her heart warmed, and the snowfall picked up around them.
He bent his head toward her, but before their lips could meet, raucous barking filled the pasture. Anna peered around Matthew’s shoulder. Mack bounded toward them with Monty shuffling behind him, their tongues hanging out with the thrill of their freedom.
Matthew let out a groan. “They’re out again? I thought Dane and Madison fixed the gate.”
Anna started laughing as the dogs reached them, bounding and shaking their soaking wet coats. “Oh, Monty. How are we going to contain you?” She looked at Matthew, who chuckled as Mack bumped into him. “Are you sure you want to stick around and put up with this chaos?”
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