“I didn’t know you had a criminal mind, Dad.”
John didn’t say anything. He just looked tired and stressed. “I saw Merry on the internet today. Something about her having lunch with this famous rap star. He’s not one of your clients, is he?”
“He doesn’t need me.” Merry didn’t need him, either.
“Good,” John said. “Merry needs a nice young man.”
Jake could hear the sarcasm is his father’s voice. “I agree with you.”
“Right. I’ll believe that when the moon turns to green cheese.”
“Aren’t you worried she’s trying to revive her career and leave you stuck with her project half-done?”
“You really like her, don’t you? I like her, too, and I know she isn’t going to leave me in a lurch.” He gave Jake a shrewd, almost calculating look.
“You’ve always been a good judge of character, but this time I think you missed the mark.” Jake tried not to squirm under his father’s scrutiny.
“Nope, but I think you have.”
After his father left, Jake found himself too restless to sit. He walked out into the mild morning air. The smell of smoke and burned timber was so thick he coughed. The park looked sad, with smoke stains clinging to the buildings and ash whirling in the breeze. With the fire completely out, he could breathe a sigh of relief, but the cleanup was going to be a twenty-four hour job.
He didn’t hear Merry approach until she spoke. “With a lot of soap and water and a bit of pain, it will all look as good as new.”
Jake turned to find her standing just behind him. “You’re here.”
“I’m here.”
“I saw photos of you and Daryl on the internet this morning.”
“We had a nice lunch.” She rubbed at a sooty spot. “I really have to apologize for getting our signals crossed.”
Jake didn’t think they’d got their signals crossed. “Were the hamburgers as good as you remembered?”
She smiled slightly. “Better.”
“And are you planning a career move?”
“And leave your dad? No.” She gazed up at him, and something on her face made him want to kiss her. He wanted to do something that would make her forget Daryl Wicks. But then again, how did he compete with a megamillionaire who composed songs for the entertainment elite and whose fans could fill an entire stadium?
An emotion crossed her face, then was gone. Was that a bit of guilt? He looked more closely, but her face had turned bland. Nothing there, but still he felt a tiny glimmer of hope.
“I need to get my crew working and find my paintbrush,” Merry said. “We have a lot of work to do. We’ll talk later. ’Bye.” She walked away, her hips swaying in time with her ponytail.
Jake’s phone vibrated. Kessler Corporation. He closed his eyes. He didn’t want to field another call about the fire. He answered it anyway.
“Alicia Mortensen,” Jake said. “How are you?”
“I’m fine. I’m calling about the fire. Has your father changed his mind about selling?”
“No.”
“My office put a lot of time and effort into our proposal. We’ve decided to give you another chance to accept it. This would get you out from under the burden of rebuilding. Let’s face it. It’s so run-down that nothing you’re going to do will ever make it profitable again.”
And this is your selling point, Jake thought. No one wants to be told their dream was so stale it was not revivable. “You’re the last person on earth we would sell to after this conversation.”
“Excuse me?”
“Rule number one of sales. Never make the seller feel like an idiot.”
“Is there a rule number two?”
“Yeah, refer back to rule number one. Have a nice day, Miss Mortensen.”
“You’re going to regret this.”
“I’m already sorry I talked to you in the first place.” Jake disconnected and shoved his phone back into his pocket. Alicia Mortensen, Harry Constantine and the others who were swirling around his father to take advantage of his misfortune were all vultures. This was not unexpected, and he wouldn’t be surprised if he had a few more offers for the property. Especially if they thought his father would just dump and run instead of dealing with the disaster.
He regretted ever trying to talk his dad into selling. He was glad he and his dad were okay. Something in his life had to be good, since he figured he’d lost Merry. Nothing he said was going to repair their relationship, as slight as it was. She didn’t want anything to do with him.
* * *
Putting Noelle’s shop back in order was easy enough. Connor had shown up to help her, and had just left to take the T-shirt stock back to its store, where the owner was waiting.
Noelle placed the pieces back on the displays while Merry unwrapped them and handed them to her.
“You seem a little tense today. How can you be tense after that exquisite lunch you had yesterday with Daryl, voted one of the sexiest men alive?”
“Maybe it’s just me, but you seem to have a bit of a tone there.” Her sister sounded accusatory. Merry felt guilty enough without her sister adding to it.
“Who, me? I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about.” Noelle set a glass grizzly bear on a shelf and then moved it back and forth until she was satisfied with the position.
“Jake came right out and told me he had a crush on Chloe. In fact, the first time we met he called me Chloe.”
“One of those, huh?” Noelle said with a shrug.
“He’s a grown man who works with celebrities all the time. Don’t you think he’d be over his fantasy crush?” Merry’s anger returned. She wanted to smash something.
“Chloe was smart, she was easy to be with and she wasn’t judgmental. You were the real star of that show, not Maddie. Every week, you saved Maddie’s bacon and she got the guy while you stood back and let her. You were all the things a girlfriend, or a mom, is supposed to be, and you were as cute as a button. I understand why he’s crushing on Chloe. You are Chloe. That character was never a stretch for you.”
“Chloe was boring. Are you saying I’m boring?”
“Chloe was never boring. She was sweet, loyal, smart and she always had the right answer. If I’d been a guy, I might have had a crush on her, too.”
“Sometime I wish I’d gotten the angry, bitter, jealous sister instead of you.”
Noelle laughed. “Maybe I am and I’m just acting like I’m not.”
“You’re too understanding.” Merry handed her sister another bear.
“It’s a gift.” Noelle placed the bear on another shelf and stood back to admire her display. She’d tossed little plastic snowflakes on the shelves and hung silver tinsel around the room. Lights had been twisted around the counter and doors. The store had a festive feel.
Outside, the sound of water rushing from a hose drew her to a window. Cleanup had started in earnest. Two maintenance men washed the walls of each store while a third scrubbed the concrete walkways. Hammering from the area around the roller coaster told her demolition had begun. She’d done a tour of her Christmas displays and only two had been scorched, though a third by the roller coaster had been completely lost. She wasn’t going to worry about it.
“What was your intention with Daryl? Make Jake jealous?”
“No. I felt stupid because he wanted to sleep with Chloe, not me.” Jake came around a corner and Merry watched him disappear down a path toward the carousel. The carousel had escaped damage, though it was covered in soot.
“He wasn’t sleeping with Chloe. He knew who he was sleeping with.” Noelle put an arm around Merry and hugged her. “I think you wanted a reason not to see him, not to continue with this affair, not to fall in love.”
“Too late,” Merry said sadly. “That’s why I ran. I don’t want to fall in love.”
Noelle stepped back, surprise on her face. “That’s a big reveal.”
“Are you teasing me?”
“I’m not teasing
you. Maybe a little.” Noelle gave Merry another hug. “What’s wrong with falling in love?”
“’Cause my life is not in order.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m not where I want to be.”
“Where do you want to be?”
“I’m rootless. I guess I just thought I’d be further along in my career.”
“You’re only twenty-nine years old.” Noelle gave Merry a little shake. “Lighten up. You’re doing fine. My career is the one falling apart right now. The economy really ate into my business. I create art with glass. Who wants to buy artistic glass when they’re worried about paying the mortgage? If business doesn’t pick up for me soon, I’m going to have to move back in with Mom and Dad, and I definitely don’t want to do that.”
“You can move in with me. I have an empty bedroom. In fact, I have two,” Merry said. “I didn’t know business was bad. You just went to San Francisco to talk to a buyer.”
“He’s not buying. And moving in with my sister is just as bad as moving back to our parents’ house.”
“Not when your sister is this hip, cool chick, who isn’t going to judge you or give you a curfew.” Merry forgot Jake at her sister’s revelation. How could Noelle not have told her? Merry told her everything.
“You’re not going to distract me from talking about your life.”
“Darn,” Merry said with a small chuckle. “I gave it a try.”
Noelle went back to placing her glass pieces on the shelves. “That’s why I love you, big sis.”
“The invitation is open, should you ever need to move. Now that we have your store in order, I have stuff to do.”
Noelle jumped in front of the door. “No. No. No. If you love Jake, then go for it. He knows exactly who you are. Stop running away from him.” She stepped aside.
Merry gave her sister a kiss on the cheek and left.
A man walked toward her, and for a moment she thought it was Jake.
“Mr. Chapman,” she said in surprise.
Bernard Chapman was a short, round man in his early sixties with black hair going gray at the temples, which gave him a distinguished look.
“Merry, I was looking for you.”
“Why?” she asked curiously.
“I took a long walk around this park and I’m pretty impressed with what you’ve accomplished.”
For a run-down park, she thought. “Thank you, Mr. Chapman.”
She showed him around while she assessed the damage from the fire.
“Very nice, Merry. Would you consider coming back to work for me, directing the set-design department?”
“At the park?”
“No, the studio.”
She wanted to be unpleasant and ask if Lisa wasn’t working out, but she didn’t. Instead she smiled pleasantly even though her heart pounded. She had worked so hard for him and now he was offering her her dream, but she wasn’t quite sure if that was what she wanted now. She had so many other opportunities. “I’d have to think about that, Mr. Chapman.”
He smiled at her. “Please do.”
“Will you give me until after Christmas?”
He thought for a second and then nodded. “Your new position would be with a substantial pay raise.”
“I still need to think about it,” Merry replied. She gazed around the park, aware of how much it, Jake and his father had come to mean to her.
“I’ll be waiting.” He held out his hand and she shook it. He walked away, still looking around.
She watched as he got into his Mercedes and drove away. Only then did she turn back to continue looking over the park.
Considering how close the fire had come, damage was minimal, though the smell of smoke was going to take time to dissipate. She found herself heading toward the carousel. She stopped behind a palm tree and watched Jake as he checked the carousel for damage. He carefully ran his hands over each horse, and Merry remembered how his hands had felt on her. He’d been so gentle, so sweet. Had she misread him?
“I need to apologize,” Merry said as she stepped up to the carousel.
Jake paused. He loved the carousel, and she remembered their ride on it and how the music had sounded. She stepped up onto the platform. The horses were gritty with dust and smoke, but seemed undamaged.
“For what? You have nothing to apologize for. Maybe for ditching me for Daryl, but nothing else.”
“That was not my best strategy.” She still felt guilty using Daryl the way she had. But at least he’d learned they would never be a couple and Daryl had gone off on his happy way, already planning his next conquest.
“I agree. It wasn’t,” Jake said. “How about we talk over dinner tonight? My treat. The steak house at the Mission Inn?”
She found herself smiling. “Dinner it is.” She walked away humming.
* * *
The steak house at the Mission Inn was elegant and comfortable. Jake drove, promising her he would take her back to the park to retrieve her car after their meal.
Merry twirled the stem of her wineglass while watching Jake. He looked completely at ease as he perused the menu. She would have preferred Andy’s Crab Shack in Venice Beach, but that was a tough enough drive on a weekend. On a Monday it would be horrible.
“Are we going to make the opening?” he asked, after the waiter had taken their order.
“Everything will be fine.” Merry buttered bread and took a bite. She almost closed her eyes in ecstasy. This was bread to die for. “The soot is coming off and only two displays need painting. I have volunteers coming out of the woodwork. Even your friend Bonnie showed up today to help clean. There are a lot of people in the community who love your father, and they want the park to reopen on time. You father gave me permission to give away free opening-day tickets. I think we’re going to have a packed house.” She smiled.
“I talked to The Brothers J today. They’ve agreed to play for free if we’ll share the merchandise receipts. They’ve agreed to ninety percent of the net.”
“Good. I designed a special T-shirt for them to commemorate the opening and their first appearance together in ten years.” Just talking about opening day made her excited. The fire had been a setback, but the damage was fixable.
“They’ll be excited about that.”
“I took a photograph of them and combined it with Benny the Bear in Photoshop. We’ll have hats, mugs and other merchandise to go along with it.” She thought the graphic had turned out pretty well. John had loved it.
“I’m sure we’ll sell a ton,” Jake replied.
“Are you excited?”
He studied her for a second. “I didn’t think I would be, but yeah, I am. My dad has worked really hard on this and maybe he is doing the right thing after all.”
“And you’re not worried about me stealing his money anymore?”
“You’re going to get a lot of job offers from this. You’ll be able to write your own ticket. What are you planning to do?”
She didn’t tell him about Mr. Chapman’s offer. She didn’t want to share it until she’d figured out what her reply would be.
“Honestly, I have no idea.” She’d talked to John earlier about cutting back on her time at the park, and he’d agreed she should explore other opportunities. Now that the designs were all set up, she wouldn’t have to be at the park every day. She could work from home and accept some freelance jobs. She could afford to pick and choose what she wanted to do.
“I talked with your father today about my future. But I want you to know the park will always be my first priority.” She’d come to love the park and John. And...Jake. Not seeing him every day and having to account for every penny would make her days less fun, but she’d survive. “Doing set design for music videos is quick, easy work that pretty much pays a crapload of money.” The extra money would afford her some luxuries she didn’t allow herself now.
Their dinner came and the conversation drifted off. Merry realized she was quite comfortable with Jake and relaxed
even more knowing she didn’t have to fill the time with conversation.
After their meal, Jake drove her back to get her car. The parking lot was empty except for her car. The night air was crisp and cool. A full moon hung heavy in the dark sky. Though the smell of smoke continued to linger, it was a lot less offensive than it had been earlier.
Jake opened her door and stepped out. He took her hand and said, “Come on.”
“What?” she asked breathlessly.
He unlocked the gate in the chain-link fence and pulled her inside. He led her down the path toward the carousel.
“Stand here.” He jumped on the bed of the carousel and walked through.
Merry waited, entranced. Like Jake, she loved the carousel and was happy it had escaped any damage. A second later, the carousel lit up. Someone had wrapped the horses, poles and benches in Christmas lights.
Merry clapped her hands. “It’s beautiful.”
“Come on,” Jake called.
She jumped onto the carousel and in a second it started moving. The lights began to blink as the horses moved up and down on their poles. Christmas music blasted out.
Jake jumped on the carousel and came to stand next to her. “What do you think?”
What girl wouldn’t get swept up in the romance of this? Especially with this man. “ I love it.”
“Trial run,” he said.
He put an arm around Merry and pulled her close. She snuggled against him. He was warm and his breath fanned her cheek. She closed her eyes. He kissed her. His lips were soft against hers.
The magic of Christmas washed over her. Santa Claus had a large list to fill for her.
She slid her arms around his neck and let the kiss go on and on. The memory of their one night together made her body tingle and grow hot. The feel of his body against hers sent her into a passion so hot, she didn’t think she’d ever feel normal again.
His kiss became more ardent, his lips covering hers, his body pressed tightly against her. Merry slid back against a bench while relaxing in his embrace. This was exactly where she wanted to be. He bent his head, his lips brushing her forehead, down the side of her face to her cheek and then to her mouth again. The lights, the music, the magic made her legs rubber, and she slid down to sit on the bench. Jake followed her down, one hand brushing her neck, the other tangled in her hair.
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