by Julia Imari
Snowbound Kisses
A Novella
JULIA IMARI
PaulJulia Press
First Edition: December 2017
Snowbound Kisses
At the end of the concert tour, Maxwell Matthiews stays behind to nurse his sprained ankle while his bandmates fly to the Caribbean for the holidays. To make matters worse, his flight is cancelled due to a blizzard. Stranded, he yearns for a warm and homey place to recuperate. When a sexy waitress offers him a place to stay, he eagerly accepts—until he learns the house's owner has mistaken him for the prospective husband of her granddaughter. Instead of revealing the truth, Max plays along. But his well-intended plan falls apart when love gets in the way. And submitting has never been so tempting….
Thea Blake has a soft spot for stray dogs and cats. Now her collection has expanded to include a crabby and forlorn musician who's stuck in her city of Boston. As a heartthrob, he's down-to-earth and charming. But it’s his friendliness and need for a helpful friend that wins her over. Her grandma will love him. What an ideal way to solve her problem. All she wants this holiday season is for her grandmother to be happy. It seems like an ideal arrangement—until she falls in love.
For my readers. Thank you!
Chapter One
MAXWELL MATTHIEWS SHIFTED in his seat. Through the café’s large window, snow came pelting like wisps of cotton candy. Light and fluffy. The latest news on his phone screen confirmed his hunch. All flights to Los Angeles had been cancelled due to the full fury of the blizzard that would hit New England that evening. He lifted his head toward his personal assistant. “Looks like I’m stuck in Boston for several days.”
Jensen nodded. “Well, the blizzard's a blessing in disguise, actually.”
Max ran his fingers through his stiff hair. “What do you mean? I don’t want to be holed up in a hotel for a week!”
“Then come with me. We can stay with my cousin at his apartment in Back Bay.” Jensen looked at him. “This is my last invitation, Max. No more offer after this.”
Max shook his head. “The last person I want to be stuck with right now is you, Jensen. So, the answer is no. I want to be alone for a while. The concert drained me.”
“You need to rest your sprained ankle. Recuperate. Stay away from the limelight for a week. A blizzard would help you do that.”
“What do you mean 'stay away'? The hotels are jammed with fans and snowbound tourists right now, and I don’t know where to go. I wish someone would hide me somewhere. I wish I’d left yesterday with the band members to the Caribbean. Now it looks like I won't be able to join them this holiday season. Damn this sprained ankle.”
“I could hide you,” a woman's voice interrupted, “if that's what you want.”
Max and Jensen whipped their heads around to see the owner of the voice. A slim woman in a white shirt, black pants and an apron stood at the side of their booth. She poured more hot coffee into each of their mugs. Her wheat-colored hair was tied in a severe ponytail, held in place by a simple black elastic band. With just gloss on those full and kissable lips, her face was otherwise clean of any makeup. Her vanilla scent crowded his personal space and made him aware of her presence.
Max leaned back. “For a waitress, you've used all your senses well,” he said, sighing.
Jensen coughed, obviously tried to hide his smirk. “My boss hasn't slept for three days. That’s why he’s so crabby. Sorry.”
She shrugged a shoulder. “I’m trying to help solve his problem. And that wig he’s wearing?” She fought back a grin. “His moustache on one side is coming undone.” She walked away to wait on the next table.
Max stared at the woman’s back before he turned to Jensen. “Is she serious?” He sat straight and pressed the end of the moustache to his upper lip. The wig and moustache were Jensen’s idea. The itchy sensation in his scalp was unbearable, but so far, the disguise did stop people from staring before their eyes widened as an indication of recognition.
They had skulked away from the hotel, early in the morning and managed to slip inside a café, located behind a back alley off Mass Avenue. That was before the news of the blizzard had been confirmed by the meteorologists.
“I don’t think so. She’s annoyed because we’ve been sitting here for hours without ordering anything else.”
“She's been listening to our whole conversation, then,” Max said.
“There are only a handful of patrons here. And she’s been walking around to take care of everyone. Of course she heard everything.”
“I noticed her and another waitress, looking at us since we arrived. They were whispering and giggling.”
Jensen laughed. “Oh, they're attracted to your costume, of course.”
Max grunted as he repositioned his suddenly long hair. “Right. She mocked me. I sense she's made a bet with her friend. Let her win the bet. I’m going to say yes to her solution.”
“Are you insane?” Jensen asked. “You’ve had enough trouble getting rid of Christina. And now you’re thinking of this?”
“Why not?” He smiled. “I’m bored. I don’t know what to do with my time here. Maybe she could plot something to kill my boredom.”
“Like what? Lure you to agree with her only to have her cut you into pieces like Ted Bundy?”
“Well, if that’s what it takes….”
“Matthiews, listen to me. Come with me to Back Bay.”
“No, Jensen. If I had to see your face for just another hour, I’d poke my eyes out. Go away. Leave me alone.”
His assistant sighed and rose. “All right. I’ll call her over.”
***
THEA BLAKE SLID the coffeepot on the side counter when Sienna called her name in a loud whisper. She turned, and her coworker and friend's pursed lips pointed at someone behind her back. “Ahem,” she said, jutting her chin forward.
Thea looked over her shoulder and a man stood in front of the cash register. The same man who had sat in front of that weirdo guy with a wig and a sagging moustache. “Do you need more coffee?” she asked.
“My boss wants to talk to you. His name is Max. Max Matthiews. So, if you have time.”
She untied the white apron covering her clothing. “I don’t have time. Sorry.” The weather was getting worse by the minute, and she had to return to her grandma’s house as soon as possible. Before the full force of the blizzard arrived.
Sienna came forward. “Oh, she’s done with her shift. She definitely has time. Right, Thea?”
She bit her lower lip to signal her friend to stop daring her. They’d had enough fun this shift to make up for the slow day. She and Sienna had been giggling for hours over their made-up stories about everything, including the guy with the wig and fake moustache. She wondered what he looked like without all the fake fur. His eyes were hazel and looked bored, as if he had lost the zest for living. Maybe all he needed was rest. Just like she’d overheard his friend or assistant saying.
But his wig and moustache were the center of her and Sienna's attention. His costume was too late for Halloween, as fright night was over nearly two months ago. And the next big holidays were only a week away.
“Great. Max would be delighted. Take my number just in case.” He placed his card on the counter and pushed it over to her.
Thea stared at the card and then the man. “Wait!” She leaned forward. “He can’t be serious.” She took his card to find his name. “Jensen.”
“He is. And he’s waiting. What’s your name?” Jensen asked.
I’d pay the price for making fun of the wig guy. Hesitation crept into her mind. “Thea Blake.”
“Nice meeting you, Ms. Blake.” He extended his hand and Thea shook his soft palm. “Call me if you need anything. I’m Max’s personal ass
istant.”
After the introduction, Jensen returned to his seat. She watched him talk to the wig man. Jensen got up, zipped up his coat and walked out the door, leaving the wig guy alone.
Thea turned to her friend. “This is all your fault, Sienna. You dared me to interfere with their conversation. Now what am I supposed to do?”
“Now, go get him, Thea. Your grandma will be pleased. She’s so worried you’ll spend the rest of your life as a spinster. She'll finally see you with a man and be relieved.”
“I’m not that desperate,” Thea said. Sienna’s suggestion was outrageous.
“Go talk to him and see what exactly his problem is.” Sienna pushed her away from the counter.
Pocketing the card inside her black pants, Thea inhaled deeply and walked to the booth where the wig man was waiting. She had been collecting a lot of stray animals during her teen years. Feral cats and dogs, fallen baby birds, you name it. And she had just adopted a stray orange and-black-striped cat she’d named Tommy a couple of weeks ago. And now her collection would include a human being. If the wig guy was serious in wanting her to hide him, she could be in big trouble.
I just hope he’s kidding.
Standing in front of him, she asked, “Are you a serial killer?”
He pushed his phone to the edge of the table as he lifted his head. His eyes danced with a smile. Bursting into robust laughter, he said, “Well, wouldn’t you want to know? Please take a seat.”
Sitting in front of this man made her conscious of her appearance. Their eyes were level and she saw his face up close for the first time. His thick, but well-defined brows wiggled like caterpillars. His gaze filled with laughter. And she couldn’t help but smile at the absurdity of it all. She could feel his need for a friend, or maybe it was the holiday mood in the air. She extended her hand. “Thea Blake.”
His large hand swallowed her small palm. “Max Matthiews. Nice to meet you, Thea.” His fingers held hers a moment longer than expected before she pulled her hand away, but not before his warmth transferred into her veins.
Her face flushed.
She tucked stray hairs behind her ear to mask her feeling. “So, what are you doing in Boston?”
He pushed his wig up his head as if it was a hat. The chestnut-colored hair underneath showed. His real hair. “My band just completed a series of concerts at the TD Garden. I'm supposed to be leaving for LA today, but all flights are cancelled—thanks to the blizzard.”
“So you’re a musician?” she asked.
He nodded. “And the lead singer. Vital Dancer band.”
Oh, she’d never heard of the band before. Nodding, she zeroed in on the moustache. “Well, that explains everything.”
He laughed again. “So, do you still have any doubts … because I’m damn serious about wanting to get away from where I'm supposed to be staying tonight.”
Wow. He is serious. “I live in Summerfield with my grandma. If you don’t mind being pampered with food and bombarded with questions at the same time, then yeah, I can bring you to her place and let you stay there until the blizzard’s clear.”
“So, the offer is serious?” He looked at her with an intense gaze. “I just hope I didn’t intrude on your plans this week.”
Sienna watched them from the counter with a curious stare. “My grandma will love to have you as a guest in her house.”
“Thank you. I’m sick and tired of living in hotels. I need a real home to stay in until the weather returns to normal.”
“Well, there are plenty of places like that around here.” She gave him a chance to cancel his plan. “Because my grandma’s house is an old farmhouse. Nothing fancy.”
“There is no place like home. I’d like to rent a room from your grandma for a couple of days. Or until the airport reopens and the sky is clear to fly.”
“Okay. But I’m warning you: my grandma is super nosey. So, be prepared.”
His crooked smile was sexy and captivating. She had to look away before he noticed her gawk. But he grinned and shrugged. “You’ll bail me out if I can’t answer her questioning though. Right?”
She opened her mouth to answer no, but his assistant returned with a duffel bag in hand. “Here’s your stuff, Max. The car's in the front of the café. You guys better hurry.”
They stood, and he stepped aside to allow her to follow his assistant. When she reached the door, she turned her head to search for Sienna. She waved at her when their gazes met. Sienna waved back and made a sign with her thumb and pinky near the ear. She would call her when they arrived at Grandma's house.
Chapter Two
MAX HAD NO doubt of his personal assistant’s loyalty. He drove him and Thea to a small town called Summerfield in the outskirts of the city as the snow came pelting down. Now that Max saw the house where he would be spending time for several days, or until the snowstorm tapered down, he felt safe to be left alone. Finally. He was relieved to be away from the hotel. The itchy wig and moustache were gone, and he felt like himself again.
Thea unlocked the door. “Please, come in,” she said, opening the door wide enough for him to enter. The wind carried a flurry of snow inside before she closed the door with a thud. “Grandma! I’m home!”
He unzipped his parka while scanning the old farmhouse. The room was cozy and homey. Just the way he liked it. “Let me hang your coat.” Thea took the large coat from him and hung it in the closet near the entrance door.
A woman in what appeared to be her late seventies walked into the living room. She smiled at him as if his arrival was expected. “Hello there!” she said, widening her arms to embrace him. He wrapped his arm around her bony shoulder.
Thea introduced them right away. “Gram, this is Max. Max, this is my Grandma Staci.”
“Nice meeting you, Grandma,” he said, smiling. When it came to meeting new people, he didn’t have any problems. In fact, he loved to be around people he didn't know. That was the reason he enjoyed being with the majority of his fans. But sometimes it was overwhelming. And he needed time to stay sane and grounded. The yearlong concerts had worn his soul out, not to mention the touring took a toll on his body and mind. I guess Jensen’s right. The snowstorm is a blessing in disguise.
“Well, Dorothea, you promised to bring him to see me,” Grandma said, beaming. “I’m so happy to see you, Max. Please take a seat.” She motioned toward the sofa. “I’ll be back in a minute.” Grandma stepped toward the kitchen.
Dorothea. He fought from grinning. Hmm… He sat, and a long-furred cat jumped down to the floor and hissed at him.
“That’s Tommy,” Thea said. The cat turned his head at him with a disdainful look. “I’m going to prepare your bedroom upstairs.”
“Thanks, Dorothea.” He grinned. “Is that your real name? Why did she say it like she was waiting for me?”
“If you must know, Grandma named me after the character in The Wizard of Oz. It's the best name in the world. Secondly, she’s senile. So you'll just have to put up with her.”
He chuckled. “Well, Dorothea, I like your name.” He liked this girl. “As for your claim about her being senile … I don’t know. I need to find that out myself.”
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Now alone in the living room, Max closed his eyes, emptying his mind from all the stress he had endured during the tour. He’d thought he could relax after the last concert, but he couldn’t. The ex-girlfriend who’d stopped calling him after their breakup had suddenly reappeared in his hotel room and his days became hell. And when his flight was cancelled, he ran out of options until Thea came up with a solution. He was grateful she turned out to be a nice woman and her grandmother equally as friendly.
“I made hot coffee and cookies,” Grandma said, lowering the tray on the coffee table. “You look like you haven't slept for months. Is being an actor really that hard?” She handed him a mug of hot brew.
Grandma's question sounded strange. Did Thea plan all this? “Grandma, what did Thea said
about my job?” he asked, sipping his coffee.
“Oh, she said you’re busy for months filming. Being a screenplay writer herself, Dorothea has dabbled in acting, too. But her strength is in writing.”
Although surprised by the info about Thea, he nodded as he took another sip. “Oh I know. That’s why I was surprised when she told me she waited tables in Boston.”
Grandma blew her hot drink. “She didn’t tell you? After she graduated this summer with a masters in filmmaking, she was thinking of going to New York City or LA. But she stayed here because she wants to take care of me. So I told her to get married—otherwise, she'll need to go to LA or the Big Apple to pursue her career. And leave me alone. That girl! She drives me crazy.”
He gulped the hot beverage accidentally. The liquid burned his tongue. “Drives you crazy—how?”
“She nags at me when I shovel the snow in the driveway. She thinks I’m too frail to do the job. She's one bossy granddaughter. But she's all I have, so I’ve no choice but to follow her advice. Now that she brought you to see me, I’m so happy she finally found her man. I was worried about her. She’s too independent for my liking.” Grandma smiled. “I guess, since I raised her, my personality rubbed off on her.”
Grandma thinks I’m Thea’s boyfriend and future husband. But, he didn’t want to spoil Grandma’s excitement. And he knew she wasn’t senile.
“I’m so proud of her,” Grandma said. “She's a nice kid.”
He nodded. “Thea’s an amazing woman,” he agreed, and that was the truth. So far. “Where did the name Dorothea come from?”
Grandma laughed. “I think the name suited her very well. It’s from The Wizard of Oz.”
Okay. So, Thea did tell him the truth. “Yeah, the name is perfect for her.”
Grandma studied him with a smile in her kind eyes. “So, how long will you stay? I hope you’ll spend Christmas with us.”
He wasn’t good at concealing a lie. “Well, I hope so. It’s so peaceful here when you're away from the noisy city. I plan to spend my break time with you and Thea.”