A Very Terry Christmas: A Snow Globe Christmas Book 1

by Jacki James

  We parted ways with a kiss, and everything just felt normal. I wasn’t sure what to make of it, but I was determined not to overthink it. I always over thought things, especially relationships. Not that this was a relationship, I mean I hoped it would be, but one night of fantastic sex did not a relationship make. The morning flew buy. It was good that I came in since I had more orders than I expected. Last year, when Mrs. Potter still owned the shop, we didn’t get busy until the week before Christmas, so I wasn’t really expecting this much business. I was able to get almost all of the arrangements that had been ordered made and ready to go so. I had a high school kid named Wally who came by and did most of the deliveries after he got out of school, and it looked like he’d be plenty busy today.

  Jerri came in right around lunch. “Hey, Terry, how goes the house decorating?” she asked as she put on her Precious Petals apron.

  “Great. I can’t wait for everyone to see it. It’s going to be beautiful. The house is amazing, even undecorated. They did a great job with the remodel. I really appreciate you filling in so I have time to do this.”

  “I’m not complaining, extra money around the holidays is always helpful. Plus, it’s great to see you smile. I haven’t seen you this happy in a long time, if ever.”

  “He’s a real nice guy, Jerri. I wasn’t sure at first, but the more time I’ve spent with him, the more I realize that I like him. But you saying you’d work the whole day tomorrow will really help. I think we’ll have the house finished up by the end of the day, and Jeremy is coming to do the front yard, so it should work out. Then he’ll be all set for the parade this weekend. Then the house tour is the next Thursday, so the timing should be perfect.”

  The front door opened, and Jerri called out, “Welcome to Precious Petals,” like she always did. Our work table was near the back and that made it hard for people to see us. She insisted that made people feel welcome, and kept people from sticking things in their pockets because they thought they were alone. She wasn’t wrong.

  Nico stuck his head around the card rack that stood at the end of the aisle. “Oh hey, there you are.”

  “You’re early,” I said, coming around the table where I was working on the last order. I never knew what was appropriate when it came to PDA. I was a naturally affectionate guy, but I knew that not everyone was. However, Nico didn’t hesitate, he stepped right over to me and gave me a quick kiss hello.

  “I thought I would come a little early and see if you wanted me to pick up some lunch. I figured if I did it now, it would be ready as you're leaving.”

  “That would be great,” I said.

  “Okay, I’ll come back by in a few.”

  “Oh my gracious!” Jerri exclaimed. “No wonder you’ve been smiling so much. He’s a hottie.”

  “He is, isn’t he?” I laughed. “Now I just need to get this last order done so I’ll be ready to go when he gets back.”

  Nico followed me to my house so we could eat lunch and make Christmas cookies. “Your house is really cute,” he said after I showed him around.

  “It was my grandmother’s. I need to redo the whole house, but I can’t quite convince myself to make the changes. This was my happy place when I was small.”

  “I think that’s sweet,” he said. “We all need a place that is full of good memories.”

  “It is, but it’s also confining. It really isn’t my style at all, but I feel like it’s disrespectful to change anything. I don’t know. Walker keeps telling me that with time I’ll feel more comfortable changing things. He lost his parents our first year of college, and he had a rough time for a while. His big sister lives in their parents’ house, and when she first started making changes, it was hard for all of them, so he knows what he’s talking about.”

  He reached for me and I moved into his arms. There was nothing suggestive in the hug at all, it was pure comfort and I hadn’t realized how badly I needed that until he wrapped his arms around me. “I think your grandmother would love that you consider her house your happy place, and I bet when you’re ready to make changes that she’d support that, as well,” he said softly.

  “Thank you.” I pulled back and smiled at him. “Okay, enough of that. Let’s go make cookies.”

  “I can’t believe you’ve never decorated Christmas cookies.”

  “I probably shouldn’t say never. I may have when I was really little, but I don’t remember it.”

  “But you do like cookies, right?”

  “Of course, I like cookies. I said I didn’t decorate them, not that I was a heathen.”

  “Thank goodness, I was worried for a minute there,” I said, laughing. “As soon as they cool, we can start decorating them and you won’t be able to say that anymore.” We both grabbed our cups of coffee and wandered out onto the back porch to wait.

  “We probably won’t get many more days to sit out here. They’re saying we should have a cold front come in next week.”

  “Will stores and things close down if the weather takes a turn?” he asked.

  “Some will, but most won’t as long as we have power. Pretty much everyone can walk to work. Wilson’s Feed and Seed will be closed because they live on a farm a few miles outside of town. But other than that, most will be open.”

  “Did you ever think about leaving Avana Springs?”

  “No, I mean I went off for college, and that was enough for me. I know it’s hard for people to understand, but this is home. It’s close enough for a day trip into the city, but small enough that I know most of the people who come into the shop, and I can’t go to the grocery store without running into people I know. I love that.”

  “So your just a small-town guy, huh?”

  “Always have been. Let me show you something. Wait here and I’ll get it.” I left him on the porch and went into the living room and took the snow globe off the mantel. I wound it up as I carried it out where we’d been sitting and gave it a little shake before I set it on the wicker table.

  “Wow, that is really pretty,” he said, leaning over to get a look. “There’s a whole village in there.”

  “There is. I always loved the little people on the sidewalk. My grandfather gave this to my grandmother. He died before I was born, so I never met him, but when I was little, I loved this snow globe.”

  “I can see why, look at the little train. I just realized it goes through the mountain. It’s almost mesmerizing.”

  “I always thought so. I loved this little town. I used to pretend it was real and make up stories about the people and the stores. I’m sure that sounds silly.”

  “Not at all. I’m glad you still have it.”

  “Every year, when Christmas was over, I would ask my grandmother to leave it out, and she would say, Terry if I left it out all year it wouldn’t be as special.”

  “Sounds like a wise woman.”

  “She was,” I said, my voice thick with emotion. I sat for a second watching the snow fall on the tiny little village. I missed her so much. “Well,” I said, hoping to lighten the mood. “I think it’s time to decorate those cookies.”

  We spent the next hour mixing icings and decorating our cookies. Nico was either right and he had never done it before, or he was just really bad at it, but it had been a lot of fun. I’d put on some Christmas music and Nico groaned at first, but I swear a couple times I caught him singing along. The afternoon had been all laughs and little touches and quick sweet kisses, it was the best time I’d ever had decorating cookies.

  “I don’t think we have to worry about anyone mixing our cookies up,” Nico said, laughing. Our cookies were both sitting together on the wax paper, but it was easy to tell who made which ones. Mine all had straight lines and pretty decorations. I’d always enjoyed decorating cakes and cookies and had even helped at the bakery a few times when Marco was in a pinch. Nico’s had icing spread on them and that was about it, but at least the Christmas trees were green and the snowmen were white. It got a little dicier when it came to the boots. He’d
used the icing I had for piping lines and made them solid black.

  “They’ll all taste the same, regardless,” I said with a shrug.

  “I think we better test that theory.” He picked up one of his and one of mine, taking a bite out of each cookie. “Nope, yours for sure taste better.”

  “You are ridiculous.”

  “Okay, so I guess both are delicious. It’s because of your icing. It has just the right amount of sweet. I bet it could make anything taste good.”

  “You think so?” I asked, taking in a deep breath as he stepped close enough to touch me. I swear the affect this man had on me should be illegal. All he had to do was get close to me and I was already hard. We were making Christmas cookies for heaven’s sake, nothing sexy.”

  “I do, let me test the theory. You have a little right there.” He gently touched my cheek. I reached up to wipe it off, but he caught my wrist in his hand before I could get it. “Let me.” He leaned over and licked the side of my face. A shiver coursed through my body as he slowly pulled back. “Mm, delicious, of course that might not have been the best test since we’ve already established the fact that I love the way your skin tastes.”

  “Nico,” I breathed out.

  “I know, let’s get this mess cleaned up, and then we can go back to my house.”

  “Why your house?”

  “Because the only thing I could think about the whole time we decorated cookies was you in my big shower, where I can take my time and make sure every single bit of the icing is washed off your beautiful body.”

  Shit. He had a great two-person shower in his master. There were two shower heads and the walls were a pretty stone tile that I bet would be cool to the touch. I could picture him wet, drops of water running down his back as he held me against the wall, licking me everywhere. The temperature difference between the hot water and the cool tile would heighten the experience. Oh yeah, that sounded perfect. “How fast do you think we can get this cleaned up?”

  “I’d say pretty damn quick.”

  Chapter 11

  Nicolas

  “I can’t believe how fast this all came together,” I said, handing Terry a cup of coffee.

  “We still have the great room to do and it’ll take a few hours, but yeah, it did come together pretty quickly. Especially considering how easily you distract me,” he said with a wink.

  “I distract you? Oh, honey, that works both ways.”

  “Good.”

  “You really think we can get the great room done in a few hours?” I asked.

  “I do, and Jeremy will be over to do outside this morning, so you should be all set.”

  “I need to go shopping for Christmas gifts for my family. I’d planned to order them online, but after talking to Walker, I thought maybe I would try the shops on artist’s row, but I need to do it soon or I won’t have time to order whatever I don’t find here. Think we have time to do that after we finish up the decorating?”

  “We should. I need to pick up a couple things to send to my parents in Florida, anyway.”

  We started work on decorating the great room, and I was amazed at how he managed to pull all the things I’d bought together to somehow look homey but still home tour worthy. I was also amazed how fun he made it. We listened to music and teased and flirted as we decorated. I’d always said decorating for Christmas was so much work for such a short time, but doing it this way, with him, it didn’t seem so much like work as a great way to spend the morning. By the time we finished, Jeremy was well underway out front and the inside of the house was done. “Thank you so much, Terry. I hate to even think about how this would look if you hadn’t agreed to help.”

  “You would’ve done fine without me, but lucky for you, you didn’t have to. Now let’s go shopping.”

  We started on artist’s row. Terry said there were a bunch of cute little shops on Main Street like his, of course, and his friend Neal’s bookstore, but that we should save those for last because you could always get someone a book if you didn’t find anything else. I couldn’t argue with that logic, so artist’s shops it was. I’m not sure what I expected, but it wasn’t what we found. I knew Avana Springs started as an artist colony, but I guess I was under the impression it had moved away from that over time. I guess it had to a degree, but based on the quality and variety of the work we saw, it hadn’t moved too far from its roots.

  The row, as the locals called it, was only about four blocks long, but spanned both sides of the street. It featured just about every kind of art and craft you could imagine. There was a candle shop with handmade candles of every color, scent, and shape imaginable. A couple of jewelry shops, each with their own style of jewelry. The second shop had a necklace that was perfect for my sister. She’d always been a bit of a rebel and nonconformist which was part of what made her marriage to William so much fun. He was all military and by the book. There was a wood worker’s shop that had some of the most beautiful pieces I’d ever seen. I bought a small bowl in there for me simply because of the way if felt. And Terry teased me unmercifully about shopping for myself instead of my family.

  We made our way down the street to Walker’s shop. Terry had told me how talented he was, and he wasn’t just saying that because they were friends. His work was amazing. He had one piece that was so perfect for my kitchen I had to have it. He was helping another customer, so we kept looking around.

  “I love these,” Terry said, lightly touching a beautiful glass ball. “He explained how he made them to me one day, but they still amaze me.”

  “You should really come take my class, Terry,” Walker said, coming over to us.

  “You have classes?” I asked.

  “I do, I have a classroom in the back. I mostly teach stained glass and mosaics, but I do occasionally teach a hot glass class.”

  “Well, I need to make a couple of purchases. This’ll be perfect in my kitchen.”

  “It will. I thought that when I was over there. It was almost like I made it just for that space.”

  “It really looks like you did. I also need one of those stunning vases you have over there. The deep purple one will be perfect for my mother.”

  “Well, thank goodness, you’re buying something for someone besides yourself,” Terry teased.

  I laughed and kissed his cheek. “You don’t worry about me. I may have to order things for the kids, because toys. But other than that, I think I’ve done pretty good.”

  “There’s a toy shop down the block. Don’t be thinking I forgot the kids,” Terry said. “They have some handmade wooden toys, but they also carry a bunch of cool regular toys, as well.”

  “This is like the easiest Christmas shopping I’ve ever done.”

  “Told you,” Walker said. “Have you taken him down to Naturals, yet?”

  “Not yet, we came down the other side. But we’ll make our way down there. I want to take him to Jessop’s shop, as well.”

  “Hey, isn’t he the potter?” I asked.

  “He is, do you know him?”

  “When my ex and I came to Avana Springs to visit he got these mugs that were made with slots in the side to warm your hands. He took them with him when he left, and I really miss those.”

  “He always has those on hand. They’re one of his biggest sellers, so I bet we can replace your mug,” Terry said.

  “Between there and Naturals, I bet you’ll get most all of your list finished. How about if you finish your shopping while I wrap this up for you, then you can pull your car up and we can put this straight in the car.”

  We agreed and continued down the sidewalk. “What’s this?” I asked when we came to a doorway with no sign.

  “This is one of the coolest places on the row. It’s called The Colony after the original people who started the town. It’s more art than gifts, but they have some interesting stuff. Come on, come see.”

  The room we first walked into was huge. There was a glass door hanging from the ceiling from all four corners like a swin
ging table. The door was covered in little pins and buttons with silly sayings and pictures. The walls were covered in all different types of art, ranging from sculptures to paintings to screen printing. There was an entire section that was decorative wall art made from vintage watch faces.

  “There are two studios downstairs right through there, and four upstairs. The artist all come in and work on their stuff, and each take one day a week to run the store and they’re closed on Sundays,” Terry explained.

  “That’s actually quite brilliant, isn’t it?” I said, looking around. “So, everything here is made by one of the artists who have a studio in here?”

  “Yes, it is,” a tall willowy guy said walking over to us. “Hello, Terry.” There was something in his tone I didn’t much care for. Like those two simple words were meant to express the fact that he knew Terry very well.

  “Porter,” Terry said, but he took a step toward me. I hadn’t seen him look uncomfortable since I’d known him, and I didn’t much care for it. I stepped a little closer even and reached for his hand. He immediately twined his fingers with mine and squeezed. “This is Nicolas. Nicolas, this is Porter.”

  I watched as he glanced down at our hands and back up. “So, Porter, are you one of the artists with a studio here?” I asked.

  “I am. The watercolors up front are mine.”

  “Ah,” I said in a noncommittal tone. “Well, Porter, it was nice to meet you.” I turned to Terry, effectively dismissing Porter. “We better get going if we’re going to have time to finish decorating.”

  “Especially if we’re going to take time for the toy store. I could spend hours in there.” We walked out, but I didn’t let go of his hand.