I sigh and happen to glance up just in time to spot Nathan peering through the storefront window. He’s a good man, and what I wish for Ingrid is that he sees her. He’ll certainly have his eyes opened at Emelia’s opening night if I have anything to do with it.
I grab a cloth and wipe my hands as I make my way toward the front door. I quickly open it, and Nathan steps inside, bringing the cold air into the store with him. “It’s icy cold out there,” I say as I shut and lock the door behind him. “Coffee or hot chocolate?” I ask, leading him behind the counter.
“I’ll make the coffee, you look busy.”
“I’m working on the robins for the opening of Emelia’s. Figured I’d get a start while the pastries bake.” I watch Nathan as he moves around my kitchen and admire his fluid movements. He’s young. Early twenties. Short blond hair. He looks slightly older with the stubble on his face, but he’s too clean-cut to have the maturity about him that his boss has. Or even Levi. That man spends too many hours in my head and I’m not sure what to do about it.
“You’re going with your sister, right?” Nathan asks, reminding me I’m not alone right now. So, no woolgathering about Levi and our date tonight. No, not a date. He said dinner—no mention of a date.
“Sorry,” I start. “I’m distracted with work.” I blow out a breath of air. “And our parents are being very insistent on Ingrid being home for Christmas.”
“What?” Nathan snaps and looks bashful. “Sorry.” He winces, and I hide the delight I feel at his reaction. “Isn’t she over twenty-one? She has a job she loves here with you.”
“She’s twenty, and she does love this job. I love having her work with me. Our parents have always believed that we should live how they want us to. They interfere more in Ingrid’s life than mine now. However, I’m going to have to get involved so they don’t guilt Ingrid into heading back to them. She’s old enough to make her own decisions, and she wants to stay here.”
“They can’t force her to give up her home and job here.” Nathan stares into his cup of coffee.
“She needs a date for Emelia’s opening. I don’t suppose you know anyone who would like to ask her?”
Nathan blushes to the tips of his ears and gives a nervous laugh. “Maybe,” he mutters.
“Oh, Nathan! You do like my sister?”
His eyes flash to me and he looks puzzled. “Why would you think otherwise? I’m an idiot around her.”
“She is under the impression it’s me you like,” I admit and grin. “I know you like me, but not in the same way you like my sister.” I chuckle. “Nathan, please ask her out and put you both out of misery.”
He ignores me for a few minutes and then quietly says, “I’ve been trying to build myself up into asking her out. She’s stunning and can have anyone. I’m not sure she’d want me.”
“Nathan,” I gasp and move closer, placing a hand on his arm. “I don’t know why you lack so much confidence in yourself, but I can tell you now that you are the first man I’ve seen my sister interested in. Even at school she wasn’t all that bothered about boys. Don’t blow this, okay? My sister likes you.”
He inhales deeply and grins. “I’m going to ask Ingrid out. Like as soon as she arrives at work.” He frowns. “She is coming in today, right?”
“She’s due anytime.”
“She’s here,” Ingrid says softly, her eyes on Nathan. “You really like me?”
Rolling my eyes at the two of them, I point to the back room. “Go and talk in there so you don’t have me as a witness, although I’m not opposed to listening.”
Ingrid moves forward and kisses my cheek. “Thanks, sis.”
With a slight hesitation, Ingrid takes hold of Nathan’s hand and leads him into the storage room.
That’s a relief.
I’m glad it turned out he had a thing for my sister and not me. I should have guessed he was using me as an excuse to visit with Ingrid. Well, now that they’re sorted, I need to sort myself out. And I’ll start with unlocking the door and putting the Temptations sign outside.
This is my favorite time of year, all the colored lights decorating Main Street and the storefronts. This year with Ingrid’s help, we strung up gingerbread and candy cane lights. They look so pretty. My window is decorated with a large chocolate Santa and a train slowly chugging around him. The snowy scene with the low Christmas carols in the background makes me happy. It makes my customers happy too—the kids like staring through the window and watching the goings-on. I even have a nutcracker playing the drum.
“You’re going to freeze to death, Vivien,” Blu, from the flower shop next door, says, interrupting my thoughts.
“Daydreaming.” I grin. “How are you getting on with all your orders?”
“A few extra hours in the evening is getting through them.” Blu shrugs. “It’s crazier than ever this year.”
“Ingrid will still help if you need her to.”
“She has other things to do.”
“My sister wouldn’t have offered if she hadn’t meant it. Trust me on that.” I smile, rubbing my arms. “Okay, I’m freezing now.”
I laugh with Blu as we rush into our stores.
The smell from the warm apple cider that my sister has brought out catches my nose and I sigh in delight. “That smell will never get old.”
“I know.” Ingrid grins. “So…”
Laughing, I hug her. “Tell me.”
“He asked me to be his date for Emelia’s opening night.” Ingrid chews on her bottom lip. “I overheard you two talking. Hearing what I did gave me the confidence to be honest with him. I don’t think he sees himself the same way everyone else does.”
“There’s a story there, but I think you need to tread carefully. Maybe his trust has been broken in the past.” I squeeze her and nearly jump out of my skin when Levi barges into the store.
“Are you okay?” I look him over and realize he’s fine when I catch the smirk on his lips. “Of course, you are,” I add.
“Didn’t mean to crash into your store like that.” He laughs. “Saw my sister getting out of Jared’s truck. They looked all cozy. Didn’t want her to know I’d seen her.” He grins. “I’ll tease her later.” Wincing, he shudders. “Then again, maybe I’ll let it go. Not sure I want her to explain what happened between them to have him dropping her off this morning.”
“Yeah. I’m sure you have a pretty good idea.” I smirk, and after checking Ingrid has disappeared, I tease. “Maybe that will be us tomorrow morning.”
Levi’s eyes widen and panic crosses his features seconds before he fusses with the door handle. “I have something I need to do.” With those words, he disappears.
“That went well,” Ingrid comments.
To my surprise, tears form in my eyes and slide down my face as I turn toward my sister. “I was teasing him.”
“I know.” She pulls me into her arms. “Better to know now than later, right?”
“He told me I was different. I should have known then that it was a lie.” I’m too embarrassed to admit to Ingrid that he put his mouth on my body. That he convinced me with his words and touch that he wanted me…then he ran scared when I’d hinted we’d be spending the night together.
One thing is for sure, I’ll be dealing with Levi’s partner from now on.
Nine
Emma De La Fuente
“Mom and Dad will be here soon,” I inform Levi, who has done nothing but order everyone around for the past week.
“Okay.”
“Ugh! Seriously, Levi? What is going on with you? One minute you’re happy and now you’re not.” I narrow my eyes. “I’d say you’re about as miserable as Vivien is.”
His head snaps up. “Leave it alone.”
“What did you do?”
“Emma, I’m happy you are happy with Jared, okay? Please leave me alone with this.”
Taking the box out of his hands, I place it on the bar. “You really liked Vivien. Please tell me what happened. You didn’t
even go on your date.” I wrap my arms around his waist and rest my head on his chest.
“You’re playing dirty, sis.” He wraps his arms around my shoulders and kisses the top of my head. “She said something, and I freaked out. I wish I could take it back. It’s done.”
“Since when do you give up on a chick?” Ryan McKenzie, my brother's business partner in this restaurant and our cousin, asks. Well, more like second cousin or something. “And who is this chick?”
“The chick is not a chick! She’s a woman I screwed up with.” Levi looks over Ryan’s head and asks, “Where’s Gretchen?”
Ryan winks. “She needed more sleep.”
“I’m not listening.” I plug my ears with my fingers and sing, “Lalala… Lalala…”
Levi sticks his tongue out at me and laughs. “You’ve been shacked up with the sheriff all week.” He points out and I feel my cheeks blush. “And I’m fairly sure you’ve done a lot more than talk.”
“I’m going to meet Mom and Dad,” I say, making a quick escape through the restaurant. The sound of Levi and Ryan’s laughter follows me out.
I’ll get my brother back for embarrassing me like that. I sail through the new Emelia’s. I haven’t told my brother because he has a big enough head as it is, but I’m so proud of him for creating his version of our family restaurant here in Blossom Creek. Both he and Ryan work well together, and to hear them talking, I think if this works out as they hope, then they’ll be opening another. So proud. Maybe I will tell him. I know it would mean a lot to me to hear my brother tell me the same.
Approaching the front entrance, I find I’m blinking away tears. They are sudden and swift and surprise me. My feet come to a stop and I stand just inside the doorway feeling overwhelmed and upset.
What’s going on with me? Why now?
“Emma?”
My eyes slowly drift toward the sound of the worried voice, and Jared frowns.
He takes one good look at me and then he has an arm around me as he guides me into the cloakroom. “What’s wrong, honey?”
His body is warm as I settle into his hold and slow my tears. “I’m not sure,” I whisper in reply. “One minute I was fine and the next, I’m in tears.” I shake my head as I lift my face to his. “My brother has his place and I’m happy for him.”
“But?” He brushes tears from my eyes as they start flowing again.
“I’m not sure I want to go home, because if I do, I won’t have you. How can I be so attached to you after a week together? But I am, and you’ll just have to deal with it.” I end stubbornly. “I shouldn’t have admitted all that, but I think I needed to get it off my chest.” I huff out a breath, and say in a more serious tone, “You’re more important to me than my job. Feeling this way makes me sick to my stomach because I run the family restaurant in Essex.”
When I’ve gotten everything out, I sniffle into a tissue he’s handed me and smile at him. He has a bemused look on his face. His hands cup my cheeks and then he’s pressing the softest of kisses to my lips.
“In case you are wondering, I’m kind of attached to you too.” He grins. “Why do you think I want you with me when I’m not working? Why do you think I search you out during the day? Because I can’t go long without being close to you.” He presses a lingering kiss to my waiting lips and moves up to kiss along my cheekbone. “I want you to enjoy what you’ve helped your brother and cousin accomplish here, so don’t think about me not being with you. I’ve no plans on saying goodbye to you, Emma De La Fuente.” He presses a hot kiss to my mouth, winks, and says, “Work’s calling.” Hesitating at the doorway, he asks, “Are you okay now?”
“God, yes. I think I just needed you.”
Jared smirks and blows me a kiss before he heads out.
With a deep inhale and a slower exhale, I feel ready to face anything, which turns out to be just as well because when I step into the entrance, my mom and dad are walking through the front door.
Mom spots me first and her smile slips when she takes a closer look at me. I ignore her questioning gaze and grin. “Mom.” I wrap my arms around her and enjoy the feel of home as she hugs me tight. “I’m fine,” I whisper.
“My turn,” Dad says, tugging me into him, and I fall into his embrace. My dad also feels of home as well as safety. He’s a strong man and I’ve never doubted his love for Mom, nor his love for Levi and me. “How’s my girl?”
“I’m good, Dad.”
He moves me away from him and searches my face, raising a brow when he does.
“Okay, I had a little meltdown a few moments ago, but Jared found me and now I’m fine.”
“Jared?” my parents say in unison.
“He’s the sheriff, and you’ll meet him later.”
“Sheriff?” Dad tilts his head but turns his attention to Mom when she starts trying to get out of the millions of layers she’s wearing. “Don’t think I’ve forgotten that you have a man in your life,” Dad mutters, not paying me any attention, or so I thought.
“Dante, honey, behave yourself.”
“I always do.” Dad chuckles. “Unless I’m with you.”
“Ew! You do remember I’m standing right here?”
Mom laughs. “Don’t be silly, Emma. How on earth do you think you got here?”
“Mom! I don’t think about it.” Clearing my throat, I change the subject. “Levi and Ryan are in the kitchen. This place is fabulous. I can’t wait for you to see it.”
“We’re excited as well. The photographs we’ve seen don’t do it justice.” Dad glances at Mom briefly and then gives me his attention. “Are you sure you’re okay with Levi opening this place with Ryan as his partner? Your mom and I worry about you.”
“What?” Surprised, I quickly glance at them both. “You know Levi talked it over with me first. Long before he did with you both. I honestly don’t want the hassle of it all. It was me who suggested he ask Ryan. Out of all the McKenzies, Levi has always been closest to Ryan, so I didn’t think of anyone else. I don’t think Levi did either.”
“As long as you’re sure,” Mom says, watching me closely.
I laugh. “Seriously! I couldn’t be happier for Levi and Ryan with this place.” Wanting to get them to stop worrying and off my back about Jared, I say, “You might want to ask Levi about the owner of Temptations.” I grin.
“Do I want to know what kind of business Temptations is?” Dad raises a brow.
“Dad,” I groan. “It’s a chocolate store. Vivien also sells pastries, coffee, hot chocolate, and hot apple cider. You’ll love her store. Levi loves it more than me, of course.”
“Oh, honey, are you irritating your brother?”
“Mom, you know how Levi can be. However, I think he’s done something to mess it up with Vivien. They should have had a date, which didn’t happen. Think she has scared the carefree bachelor off.” I shrug. “He likes her, and this feels different for him.”
Dad grins. “He’s finally met his match, huh?”
“Maybe.”
“How your lives have changed in the short time you’ve been here.” Mom sighs.
Dad intertwines his fingers with Mom’s and kisses her cheek. “You always worry they won’t find happiness. It sounds like they have. Although, I think Levi is going to have to work harder to gain his.”
Mom grins and gives Dad a soft kiss on the lips.
Levi and I have grown up with our parents being affectionate toward each other, and it’s the reason why I haven’t dated much. I wanted someone who had me on their mind a lot, just like I wanted to have the man on my mind, like Jared. I shouldn’t be surprised that I’d spoken my mind to him, but I am. After a week, I told him indirectly that I wanted to stay here with him. I think I’m losing my mind.
Dad coughs, snapping my gaze to his amused one. I roll my eyes. “I’m thinking.”
“We can see that, honey.” Mom squeezes my hand. “Lead the way.”
I open the door that leads into the dining area, and Mom gasps behind me. I
know why too. The first thing you see is a portrait of Mom and Dad, taken at the opening of the first Emelia’s many years before. It’s always been my favorite photograph of them because the love they have for each other leaps off the picture. It makes my heart pound every time I look at it. Until I arrived here in Blossom Creek, I had no idea that Levi felt the same toward the photograph. It makes me happy.
Turning my attention to my parents, I notice tears on Mom’s face. “Mom?”
She shakes her head. “I’m fine. Overwhelmed.”
Swallowing hard, I turn and search out my brother. He needs to be here to show Mom and Dad the restaurant, and there he is, coming toward us with a massive smile on his face. He wraps Mom up in his arms, lifting her off her feet. Dad joins them, and I quickly have my wits about me and capture the moment with my phone.
“Do you like the surprise?” Levi asks.
Mom nods and Dad grins. “You know we do, son. We’re so proud of you.” Dad pats him on the back and turns to me and tugs me into his arms. “Just as proud of you too, princess.” Dad kisses me on the top of my head. “So, Emma was telling us you’re in love.”
“What?” Levi glares in my direction.
“Hey!” I hold my hands up and laugh. “I never mentioned the word love.”
Levi sighs, and admits, “Yeah, well, I fucked it up before it could get started.”
Feeling bad that I mentioned anything to Mom and Dad, I move to my brother and wrap my arms around his waist. It takes him a moment but then I feel his arms around my shoulders.
“I know you, and I know you didn’t mean to have a freak out in front of her. It’ll work out, Levi.”
Christmas at Emelia's: Blossom Creek Novella Page 5