The Christmas Sneak: Hope’s Turn Holidays

by Marie Harte

  “I like this place.” Jess grinned. “I’ve actually been in before, but it’s been a while since I’ve had time to swing by. Great to meet you guys. And Deacon...” She punched him in the arm. “Behave. If I don’t get my cookies, I’m not going to be pleasant to be around.”

  Deacon winced, especially when his buddy called out, “Be nice, idiot.”

  “I like your friends.” Nora waited while Jenna fetched their drinks.

  “You would,” he said, still studying her. “You look good.”

  “Yes, I do.”

  He paused, as if not sure how to respond. “So, ah, how have you been?”

  “Alive and breathing. You?”

  He shrugged. “Busy. We’ve been getting a ton of customers since we did some new advertising, and we’re starting to get really busy at night now. Roy brought in some great bands.” He watched her. “You should swing by some night. I’ll even give you a beer on the house.”

  “For my date too?” She had no idea why she threw that out there, but seeing him stiffen made her feel better.

  “Date?”

  “Yes, date—a four letter word for a romantic partner.”

  Jenna returned with his cocoas on a tray. “Or a fruit.”

  Nora turned to her. “A date isn’t a fruit. Is it?”

  Jenna nodded. “It’s the fruit of a date palm tree. I just did a report on it in biology.”

  Deacon took the drinks and delivered them to his friends before returning. “Jenna, go away.”

  She left with a salute.

  Nora made a mental note to have a stern talking-to with the teen for obeying the enemy. “Your cookies are coming right up.” She darted into the back and returned with a tray of just-out-of-the-oven cookies she slid into the glass case. After retrieving his on a plate, she warmed up a glass of milk and set it all on a tray. “They smell terrific.”

  He just looked at her. “You know what? I’m good with that.”

  “Huh?”

  “Bring your date if you want. The more the merrier.”

  She frowned, feeling as if he’d called her bluff, though she hadn’t expressly said she’d be bringing anyone. “I didn’t say I had a date. It was a hypothetical question. Oh, sorry. That’s a big word for you.” She heard Jenna laugh behind her. “A what-if kind of question.”

  He smirked, which increased her irritation. “Look, we’re always happy to have more customers at the pub. You could bring a date, a friend, or family.” He paused. “Or come by yourself. I’m sure I can keep you company.”

  She frowned. “Are you coming on to me?”

  He laughed. “Don’t hold back, Nora.”

  He frustrated the crap out of her by saying nothing more, just watching her. And his handsome factor kept doubling. He wore arrogance like some men wore designer clothes. It made him look both fascinatingly attractive and untouchable. A bad boy now holding a tray of cookies and warm milk.

  She cleared her throat. “That’ll be fifteen bucks, buddy.”

  “You’re so pretty, Nora.”

  She blushed. “Pretty annoyed with your attitude.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I’d better get a big tip.”

  He paid, giving her an extra three dollars for doing no more than fetching his order. “Oh, and that’s for Jenna. For you I leave my smile.” He showed a lot of pearly whites.

  “I’ll tell you where you can put that smile,” she muttered.

  “Deacon, come on. Roy is getting crabby,” Jess announced.

  “I thought Chris was the baby,” Nora said.

  “He is.” Deacon sighed. “But Roy’s a huge pain when his blood sugar gets low.”

  “Oh, so it that your excuse too?”

  “You always have a snappy comeback. It’s one of the things I like best about you.”

  He left on that note, and she stared after him, confused, in lust, and feeling as if up had become down. Which maddened her to no end, because she thought she’d convinced herself to be done mooning over the man.

  Instead, she watched him chat up his best friend, his best friend’s wife, and fawn over the cutest little boy.

  Nope. She definitely needed to get her head on straight. And maybe figure out where her boring life was leading her. Like maybe somewhere far away from this town and the handsome idiots in it.

  Chapter 7

  “What the heck did you say to piss her off?” Roy sipped from his mug of cocoa. “Oh man, this is good.”

  Jess nodded. “They make the best hot chocolate.”

  “You should try their sticky buns.” Deacon moaned. “So good. Too bad Becca is out with the baby or you’d be eating a few right now.”

  Roy looked past him to the counter, where Nora chatted up the next customer. “She looks so much happier talking to that woman than she did talking to you.”

  Jess grinned behind her mug.

  “I see that.” Deacon frowned. “I don’t know. I can’t seem to say anything right around Nora. I called her pretty. She said she was pretty annoyed with my attitude.”

  Jess flat out laughed. Roy smirked.

  “Oh, shut up you two.”

  “For once, you’re not the one being pursued. Is that why you like her so much?” Jess asked.

  He shushed her, conscious of teenage Jenna hanging close by their table, eavesdropping and making no attempt to hide it. He shot an accusing stare Roy’s way. He’d confided to Roy his weird feelings for Nora, that maybe he liked her because she didn’t seem to like him back.

  “Sorry, man.” Roy shrugged. “I have to tell Jess everything. If I don’t, she somehow knows. Then I’m sleeping on the couch.”

  “You got that right.” Jess clicked her mug against Roy’s. “Deacon, she seems to like you. I can tell. Even if she did seem a little irritated.”

  He glared at Roy. “See if I tell you anything ever again.”

  Roy at least had the sense to look shamefaced. “I can’t help it. I’m weak. I admit it.”

  “Yes, I own him, body and soul.” Jess looked wicked as she eyeballed her husband. “And you, dear, are getting so lucky later tonight.”

  “Jess, the children!” Deacon put his hands over Chris’s ears, causing Chris to belly-laugh. He tickled the boy, so in love with yet another tiny person. His godson. Man, since when was he so into babies? He shot a subtle glance Nora’s way, pleased to see her watching him.

  When she saw him looking back, she frowned.

  He smiled and waved.

  Her expression grew darker.

  Why that made him happy, he had no idea. “I don’t know how to get her to talk to me.”

  “She was just talking to you, man.”

  Jess and Deacon shared a look, and Jess explained to her clueless husband, “Remember when we first started dating? And I didn’t want to give you the time of day?”

  “Yeah, you were so into me but trying to hide it. Girls are weird.”

  “Hey, genius, you were dating two girls at the same time.”

  “They knew about each other. I’m no—” he glanced at his son and nodded to Deacon, who covered Chris’s ears again “—man whore.”

  “Please.” Jess snorted, and Roy laughed at her. “You totally were. The best looking guy in high school who got any girl he wanted.”

  “Is that why you played hard to get?”

  “I had to wait until your ego popped and you fell back to earth. You’re lucky I agreed to go out with you.”

  “I know.”

  Deacon loved watching his friends play-argue. He could feel the love between them, and it was real. “Yeah, Roy, we all know. You won the lottery with this one. Of course, that was after she and I dated first.”

  Roy stopped chewing and gaped at them. “What?”

  “Don’t choke.” Deacon smirked. “I’m kidding. We were friends. She was tutoring me in chemistry, and I threw you a bone, talking you up, telling her how you’d matured since high school. You’re welcome.”

  “Oh please. I was the one doing t
he hunting.” Jess looked smug. “The truth is, I snared you, Roy Thompson. Like a helpless rabbit.”

  “You do look a little wolf-like,” Roy noted, now smiling.

  Chris started fretting, so Deacon lifted him into his arms without being asked. He’d been helping and dealing with the kid ever since Roy and Jess had come back from Houston with their son. He felt like a super uncle, dealing with a teenage Simon, a toddler, and now Baby Ava.

  “My point, Deacon,” Jess said, “is that you’re just like Roy. A man-you-know-what.” She held her arms out for Chris, and Deacon handed off the boy. “But unfortunately, you have no one backing you up. Mitch is useless. He’s your brother.”

  “He is useless,” Deacon agreed.

  “I just mean he’s your brother, so he’s obviously biased. If he tells Nora how great you are, she won’t believe him.”

  “I’m trying to do this on my own.” He glared at the happy couple. “I told Roy about my problems—in confidence—and after running to you and blabbing, you now apparently think you can help me out with the ladies. I mean, it’s me. Deacon Flashman. Do you think I need help?”

  The teenage eavesdropper passed by and said, “Yes, you need as much help as you can get.”

  Roy toasted her before turning back to Deacon. “Your lady is not giving you loving looks. In fact, if looks could kill…”

  Deacon sighed. “I’m really into mean-Nora. She’s so hot.”

  “Ew. Is this going to be a guy sex talk or something?” Jess cringed.

  “I’ve been having such realistic dreams, lately,” Deacon said just to tease Jess. “You know the kind I’m talking about, Roy.”

  “Oh, man.”

  “Please, no more.” Jess stood with Chris. “I’m taking my innocent baby to the restroom.”

  Deacon nodded. “Good, because he stinks.”

  Roy laughed at his wife’s huff. “He does, babe. Sorry. But it’s your turn.”

  “Men.” Jess left to change the boy.

  Roy turned to Deacon. “You want my advice? Wear your girl down.” He nodded to Nora at the counter with new customers. “It worked with Jess. Despite all that nonsense you spouted about me being a good guy, I had a plan that nabbed me the girl.”

  “Huh. Not the way Jess tells it.”

  “She has no idea about my finer skills with subtlety.”

  “Apparently, I don’t either,” Deacon said wryly.

  “Funny. Look, man, this will work. With Jess, I was just always there. I think she went out with me to get me to go away.” He grinned, and Deacon chuckled. “I’m serious. Try that with Nora. You said she’s everything you think you want in a woman, right? You already know she’s no Rhonda.”

  Deacon hated that he inwardly cringed at his ex’s name. “I wish I didn’t still think of Rhonda. It’s like she’s a poison slowly working her way out of my system. I mean, it’s been three years already.”

  Roy grimaced. “Yeah, but she was larger than life and nasty. You’re good now.”

  Deacon held up his mug. “Thanks to you.”

  Roy brightened. “Yeah, I healed you. Hell, I saved you. You have to name your first kid Roy.”

  Deacon chuckled, and his gaze automatically sought Nora. “How about I slip Roy in as a middle name?”

  When Roy didn’t respond, Deacon glanced back to see his friend staring at him. “What?”

  “You’re thinking about having kids?” Roy looked from Deacon to Nora and back again, shocked.

  Deacon flushed. “Not yet. I mean, I need the right woman first. It’s just with all the babies around, it’s impossible not to think about them.”

  “Sure. Right.” Roy looked back at Nora. “Just remember what I said. The whole wear ‘em down strategy is gold. And it’s not stalking if you just happen to be shopping or walking around near them. Don’t engage. Just be there. Let her see you without talking to her. Or looking at her.”

  “Um, is this advice a lawyer once gave you?”

  “Maybe.” At the look Deacon shot him, Roy rolled his eyes. “No, Gigantor. I’m kidding. I’d say be yourself, but that doesn’t seem to be working. Try it my way.” His gaze went to Jess and Chris, emerging from the hallway. “It worked for me.”

  “Yeah, you lucky bastard. It did.”

  “And the middle name sticks. Girl or boy. Swear it.”

  Deacon gave him a swear all right. But what Roy had said stuck. He’d give it a go and see…

  Nora glared at the large shadow she seemed to have acquired.

  Ever since seeing Deacon in the tea shop five days ago, she seemed to be running into him all over town. As her week had progressed, work and shopping bogged her down. She spent all her time either between the tea shop and home, writing, or out getting gifts. She’d grown tired.

  The Christmas season didn’t have the same appeal it had had last year. Or the year before that. Heck, for the last few years she’d been less than festive.

  It felt as if each passing year, in which Nora remained stagnant and alone, grew harder to bear.

  Seeing Becca’s happiness only made it worse. Becca not only worked at her dream job, she had a dream of a family. Nora’s envy was like a spike deep inside, causing emotional pain. And that bitterness grew. She knew it was unhealthy but couldn’t help her feelings, because Nora was no closer to finding a man or getting her dream job going—writing that book she’d been working on for years.

  Recently, she’d started looking at housing prices in Salem, Portland, and even Seattle. Perhaps moving away from the past would help her start a fresh future and kick her into doing something with her life?

  She didn’t know, but something had to give, and soon. Nora felt as if on an emotional roller coaster, happy one day, crabby or sad the next. And she knew it had nothing to do with that time of the month and everything to do with a certain unavailable someone she kept running into at the oddest times.

  As she walked around Hope’s Pond downtown, trying to enjoy the snow frosted trees and holiday lights in the snowy evening, she passed couples and families, not helping her mood any.

  Then to see the man partly responsible for her relationship quandary suddenly in front of her… She’d seen him often over the past few days. Always close by but not close enough to confront. She’d waved once, and he’d seemed startled to see her, so she’d felt like an idiot.

  Or did he somehow think she was following him? How embarrassing. She felt her cheeks heat and ducked, hoping he’d keep looking at the pond and the starry sky and ignore her passing by.

  “Nora?”

  Shoot. She glanced up and pretended a look of surprise. “Oh, ah, hi, Deacon. What are you doing out here?”

  He glanced around and gave satisfied groan that had her body taking notice. “Just appreciating the season. I don’t get out as much as I should. Roy told me to stop being a bitch and take the night off, so I did.”

  She grinned. “I liked Roy and his family. What a cute kid.”

  Deacon smiled, the dimple in his cheek her undoing. She quickly looked at the sparkling ice of the pond, reflecting the moon and stars overhead.

  “I like to tell Roy his son takes after me. Nurture over nature, right?” He turned and fell into step beside her. “You mind if I walk with you?”

  “Um, sure. Fine.”

  “I met Roy and Jess in college,” he said as they followed the trail around the pond. “Roy and I played college ball together. He could have gone pro, but he wanted Jess and a family instead. Took them a while, but now my little man, Chris, is their whole world.”

  “You and Roy have been friends for a long time then.”

  “Yep. He was there through a lot of my problems. A real great guy.”

  She wanted badly to ask but didn’t feel it her place, so she kept her questions about his hard times and his failed marriage to herself.

  “So, ah, are you dating anyone?” Deacon asked, out of the blue. “I mean, if you were, you might want to come by the pub this weekend. We have an inc
redible band playing Saturday night.”

  “Oh, thanks.” She kicked the snow as they walked, feeling both unsettled yet protected by his large presence. He kept close to her when others passed, making them go around instead of bumping into her. Many smiled or nodded to him, and she realized what a popular man Deacon must be. “You seem to know a lot of people.”

  He sighed. “I try to keep a low profile. But everyone knows Mitch, and they know I’m his brother.”

  “Isn’t that the other way around? They knew you before Mitch.”

  “Maybe at first, but he’s done a lot to help this town since moving in. And marrying Becca, who also seems to know everyone, has only made him more popular.”

  Nora couldn’t be sure, but she thought she detected an odd tone to his words. “Does that bother you?” she blurted before she could rethink her curiosity.

  He blinked down at her. “Ah, well, a little.” He shoved his hands in his jacket pockets and glanced away from her. “It’s not easy being the big brother who failed. Compared to Mitch, I’m a two-time loser.”

  “What?” She stopped him in his tracks. “You’re kidding right?”

  He flushed. “I’m kidding.”

  She gaped. “Oh my God. You really feel that way.”

  He tried to walk away. “Forget I said anything. I’m tired. It’s been a long day.”

  “No, wait.” She tugged him to a stop again. “I get you. Really.”

  He looked down at her, his eyes dark, searching.

  “I sometimes feel that way about Becca.”

  “What?”

  Nora nodded, not sure why so much honesty seemed to be pouring out of her. “It’s tough. We grew up like sisters, close, but even closer once she met and married Neal. She had a wonderful husband and an awesome son. Then Neal died, and the guys lined up for her. I mean, she’s beautiful and sweet, and she had this cloud of sorrow around her.”

  Deacon nodded.

  “I felt so bad for her. Then I felt jealous, because she had a perfect love and this perfect, tragic backstory.” She blushed. “I sound horrible.’

  “You do.” He nodded. “I feel the same way.”

  “Horrified?”

  “Yep, because I used to wish I was as successful as my little brother. It’s hell on a guy’s ego.”