by Karen Booth
“I miss your eyes. They’re amazing.” I’d look at them forever if they didn’t make me feel so exposed.
“Okay. I like it. Go on.”
She giggled, smiled, and rolled onto her side. “I miss your laugh. I miss the way that it’s easy to be around you. I don’t feel like I have to try very hard. It’s nice.”
“I don’t want you to try at all. I want you to be you, having fun, cooking up a storm. I don’t think you realize how cool it is to see.”
Goose bumps crept over her skin. “I think eating is a lot more fun than you realized.”
“True. That would be the one downside of being around someone who is a genius in the kitchen. But seriously, it’s fun to be around someone who genuinely loves what they do. And you create things. You make people happy. You made me happy and I don’t think I realized how unhappy I was until I met you.”
“The night you nearly killed me with your car?”
He laughed heartily. “I’m never going to live that one down, am I?”
“Probably not. Sorry.” In her fantasy world, the one where she lived in Hawaii with Alex, the surf shop owner, she and Alex would tell their kids that story. They would giggle and think it was so crazy, that Mommy and Daddy must be making it up. And they’d tell them again that it was true.
“But seriously, I was so focused on work that I didn’t stop to appreciate much of anything.”
“But you’re good at what you do, and you care about it. I don’t think your father’s attitude would bother you if you didn’t care so much. You’ve obviously been super successful, and that doesn’t happen by accident. Maybe you just needed a break.”
“A fresh perspective. You gave me that.”
He was acting as though she’d given him so much, but the truth was that he’d done the same. Possibly more. “You’re sweet, but you know, you did the same thing for me. We had fun together. Do you have any idea how long it’s been since I’ve had fun, aside from at work? It’s been eons.”
“Then let’s go have more fun. The tree lighting ceremony is going on down in town on Saturday. We can do some shopping and I’ll take you to the Four Seasons. They have the most incredible hot chocolate. Even I’ve been known to indulge in it.”
“Decadent hot chocolate? But isn’t that full of sugar and cream?”
“Precisely why it made me think of you.”
It sounded so wonderful, but she needed to work at the bakery that day. “What time would we go? I should be at the bakery until three. I might be able to skip out early.”
“I could pick you up straight from there. I could even drop you off in the morning if I come over tomorrow night. But I don’t want to invite myself or assume.”
“Assume what? That I’ll go to bed with you?”
“You are really good at asking the hard questions.”
She laughed under her breath. She got that from her dad. He was as hard-nosed as anyone she knew. “Well, was I wrong?”
“No. You were not wrong. I just want you to know that all that stuff about being a gentleman wasn’t a line. I’m serious about it. A gentleman does not assume.”
She more than adored this aspect of his personality, she needed it. She needed to be asked, she needed to feel appreciated and valued. She hadn’t had that from any man she’d dated. Her ex had made her so unsure of herself that she usually didn’t last more than a few dates with a guy. The minute he started to assume that he could have her anytime, the instant he showed a blip of possessiveness, she went running. Alex was giving her the space she so desperately needed, and he likely had no idea what a gift it was. It was just Alex being Alex. Who knew she’d ever feel grateful that a man had nearly run into her with his car?
“Alex, I would love to go to the tree lighting. I’d love to have you stay over tomorrow night. I’ll cook for you and everything.”
“That sounds amazing. I’m really looking forward to it. Can I pick you up at the bakery tomorrow afternoon?”
“You can just wait for me where you dropped me off today.” She didn’t want to put him off, not when he was being so romantic, but she still had to keep her secrets safe. “We can shop for dinner then. You’ll have to tell me what you like.”
“You already know what I like. I like you.”
Eight
The bakery was adorable. With a high-pitched roof lined with Christmas lights and inside a row of bright red bistro tables and chairs along the front window, it was welcoming and cheery. No wonder Joy liked coming here so much. Alex wasn’t sure how he’d missed it the dozens of times he’d walked through quaint Vail Village, but perhaps it was that he’d been too busy trudging through life to notice. Better late than never.
He pulled the door open and nearly ran right into Joy.
“Oh. Hi.” She seemed flustered, hitching her bag over her shoulder and nearly pushing him back out onto the sidewalk. She had to have had a long day.
“We have to stop running into each other like this.” His joke didn’t seem to make much of an impression—Joy nearly bugged her eyes at him.
“Ready? Let’s go.”
Alex was looking past her. A young woman was busy behind the counter. The bakery case looked nearly depleted. “Busy scone day?”
She nodded. “Yes. And I need some fresh air.”
“Okay. Sure.” He took her hand and they stepped outside, where there were hundreds of people milling along the wide cobblestone pedestrian shopping area. The sun was just starting to set, and although the air was cool and crisp, it was pleasant. “Beautiful night.”
“It is. Sorry if I seemed out of sorts back there. I just wasn’t expecting you. I thought you were going to pick me up where you dropped me off.”
“That made sense yesterday, but seeing as we’re going to the tree lighting, I thought I should just park and find you.” Funny how he and Joy had already adopted the sort of routines couples fall into. He’d picked her up after work yesterday and they’d gone shopping for dinner, then back to her place for an unbelievable meal and an even more out-of-this-world evening in bed. He’d dropped her off this morning, but that hadn’t seemed right for tonight. “Plus, this is our first real date. I wasn’t going to hang out by the curb in my car. A gentleman comes to the door.”
“Or the bakery, as the case may be.”
“Precisely.”
“Well, thank you. I appreciate that.” She stopped and kissed him. “I’m sorry if I’m a little tense. This is really nice.”
He smiled. It was really nice. Christmas was looking up. Or at least the Christmas season. Alex could feel it in his bones.
“I promise that hot chocolate is the cure for all that ails you.” Their first stop was the Four Seasons, where Alex had reserved a small table in the corner of the bar. It was warm and cozy inside, just as elegant as Alex remembered. He wanted Joy to have every fine thing she was accustomed to.
“This place is gorgeous,” she said, just as the waiter brought their order. It arrived in clear glass mugs. “Is that a chocolate orb in there?”
“It is, ma’am,” the waiter answered. “I pour the hot chocolate over the top and give it a gentle stir. It’s quite sublime.”
The look on Joy’s face when she took a sip was priceless. She held her fingers to her lips; her eyes were like platters. “That is crazy good.”
Alex took his own sip, which he did enjoy, although it was far richer and sweeter than anything he would normally drink. This was all about Joy. Watching her sit back in her chair, her day melting away, he knew he’d done his job and he was nothing but happy for it.
“So, I was thinking,” she said, licking her spoon and making him wish they were going home soon. “You aren’t leaving until the day after Christmas, right? And we’ve been spending so much time together. It just seems like we should spend Chr
istmas Eve together. You can stay over and we’ll make dinner. I’ll even make breakfast the next morning. It’ll be a nice way to say goodbye.”
Goodbye. That was a word Alex was coming to hate, although he wasn’t sure what to do about it. He did need to be back in Chicago for an important meeting on December 27. Circumstances were standing in their way. Plus, his time with Joy wasn’t supposed to last long. It was supposed to be a way for him to test the waters. Nothing else. “That sounds really great. I would love that.”
“I have a dress I think you might like, if you want to dress up.”
“You want me to wear a dress?”
She laughed and swatted his arm. “No, silly. I’ll wear the dress. You wear a suit.”
“And how long do I have to wear it?”
“Not too long. I won’t torture you.” She licked her lower lip, which was like completing a circuit in Alex’s body. Everything was bright and alive. “No presents, though. That’s my only condition.”
“What? I’m not going to spend Christmas morning with you and not buy you a gift.” An idea sprang to life...maybe there was a way to extend his time with Joy at least a little bit.
“Nothing big, then. Promise?”
“Nothing too big.” Alex consulted his watch. “We’d better hurry down to the tree lighting or we won’t be able to see anything.”
“We’ll be fine. That tree is really, really tall.”
Out they went, tracking back past the bakery and on to the square where the tree stood. The crowd was easily in the thousands, but the space was open enough that people weren’t too horribly crammed together. Alex found them a semiquiet spot off to the side. All around them was the steady hum of people talking while holiday music played in the background. Alex stood behind Joy and wrapped his arms around her. He breathed in her hair. He kissed the top of her head.
Joy gasped and pointed skyward. “It’s starting to snow.”
Alex looked up. “It is. It’s so pretty.”
It’s so perfect.
It was so perfect he’d better not get used to it. Just then, the music ended and an emcee stepped up on a small platform. She welcomed everyone and began the countdown. The entire crowd joined in, kids and parents, couples, and groups of friends, just like it was New Year’s Eve. Five...four...three...two...one.
The lights came on in a flash and the crowd cheered. The music started up again.
“Hey. They’re playing my song.”
Alex laughed. “‘Joy to the World.’”
She turned in his arms, looking up at him. Her cheeks were bright pink from the cold, her eyes happy. “It’s not really my song. I just made that up.”
“You know what? As far as I’m concerned, I think we tell everyone it is your song. Nobody can possibly prove us wrong.”
“I like it when you’re goofy.”
Alex had been called many things in life, but never that. Being with her was like seeing a side of himself he’d never even known was there. “Good. Now let’s get out of here.”
Alex and Joy strolled back to his car, hand in hand. He couldn’t ignore the way it felt as though his feet were hardly touching the ground as they walked. Joy was amazing. Spending time with her was so enjoyable, it made everything bad seem as though it didn’t matter. Sure, he’d told himself he would never fall in love again, or at least not as hard as he had in the past, but he already knew he was too far gone.
He’d never expected he would feel this way again. In fact, he’d done everything he could to prevent this from happening, but then he hit a patch of ice on a snowy road, a beautiful woman ended up in a snowbank, and the rest, as they say, was history.
They approached the parking garage valet stand and Alex handed over his claim check.
“I’ll have your car for you in a just a few moments, Mr. Townsend.”
Alex’s arm was already wrapped around Joy’s waist. He pulled her closer when the valet ran off to get the car. “Is it too much if I ask to stay over again tonight?” He kissed her cheek, then trailed his lips to her jaw. Her sweet smell and soft skin were enough to drive him crazy, but the way she bowed into him when they were close was enough to send him rocketing off into space.
“Or maybe we could go to your place? I haven’t seen it yet.”
As head over heels as he was, there was still this voice in the back of his head that was reluctant to truly let someone in. The last time Alex had let his heart lead the way, rather than his brain, he’d nearly ruined his entire life. But he had to get past that.
Soon.
“Tell you what? Maybe we’ll spend Christmas night at my house. Is that okay? It’s a longer drive to my place and your things are all at your house.” All a long string of excuses. He knew that.
“Okay. Sure.” Joy gave him a reassuring smile, but he could tell she wasn’t entirely happy about the answer.
Just then, Alex’s phone rang. The caller ID said it was his father, a call he didn’t want to take, but Alex had been putting him off all day and the man was persistent. He’d just keep calling. “I’m so sorry. I should really take this. The valet will be back in a second.” Alex plugged his finger into his ear and stepped away. “Dad. Hi. What’s up?”
“Alex, I’m not happy.”
Surprise. Surprise. Thank you for ruining my evening with the world’s worst timing.
“Okay. Why don’t you tell me what’s going on?”
His dad launched into a diatribe about one of the Townsend mutual funds, which was currently underperforming. Alex listened but didn’t say a thing. His dad always had to just get it out. Then they could really talk. Alex turned to see a man enter the parking garage. He stumbled up to the valet stand, listing to the side, unable to walk in a straight line. He was nicely dressed, in a wool coat and nice shoes, but Alex knew from experience that a good wardrobe did not make a good guy, and he was standing entirely too close to Joy now.
“Dad. I know we need to talk about this, but I’m in the middle of something important. Can I call you later? Or can we just talk about it on the 27th? It’s not that far away.”
“Absolutely not. You’re trying to shut me out of our business, Alexander, our family business, and I won’t stand for it.”
Alex couldn’t take his eyes off the scene unfolding at the valet stand. Where was the damn attendant? The man’s lips were moving. He was looking at Joy, his eyes half-open. He said something to her. She turned away from him, then took several side steps, deliberately distancing herself. Whatever he’d said was not good. Alex’s breaths became heavy. He wasn’t even listening to his dad anymore. The man turned back in Alex’s direction for an instant, then returned his sights to Joy, advancing on her. The hair on the back of Alex’s neck stood up. Oh, no. Whatever came next, it was not going to happen on his watch. “Dad. I have to go.”
He hung up just in time to see the man grab Joy’s shoulder. Alex did the only thing he could. He sprang into action.
* * *
One minute, Joy had been having a Christmas dream date, and now this—a drunk making a pass. He’d even swiped at her shoulder. Her mind shifted into defense mode. Her body responded. She jerked away. “Don’t touch me. Get your hands off me.”
“Stop being such a bitch,” the man slurred. “I was just trying to...”
The next thing Joy knew, Alex had the guy in a headlock.
“Alex! Don’t!” Joy jumped back.
The man struggled, but he was no match for Alex. Joy’s hand clamped over her mouth, not knowing what to do. It was all happening so fast.
“Let me go!” the man shouted.
Alex must’ve had some sort of martial arts training, because he seamlessly released his hold and grabbed the man’s upper arms. He walked him backward to the cinderblock wall of the parking garage. “You got a problem I need to kno
w about?” Alex’s voice was a growl. He’d come a little unhinged. Alex pinned the man against the wall by his shoulders, which only made Joy’s stomach sink.
“Get your hands off me. I was just trying to talk to her.”
Joy’s pulse raced, her chest heaved. Alex had saved her. That was what good guys did. But she also knew that good guys could turn to bad guys. Like her ex. “Alex, it’s okay. I’m fine. He didn’t hurt me.” She stepped closer.
The valet brought the car around. She heard the car door open.
“It’s not okay, Joy,” Alex replied, not taking his eyes off the man. “He grabbed you. I saw it with my own two eyes.”
The man’s head was bobbing. He’d obviously had too much to drink.
“Yeah, and he’s so drunk I could probably knock him over by myself. I’m fine. Just let him go.”
Alex tightened his grip on the man, his knuckles bulging. “Don’t go around grabbing women. Ever, okay? I don’t care how drunk you are. There’s no excuse. You’re lucky I didn’t take you out.” He finally let go, but not without an unsubtle shove.
The valet attendant approached. “Sir, is there a problem?”
“This guy has had way too much to drink. Don’t give him his car. You’re going to need to call him a cab.” Alex pulled a bill from his wallet and handed it to the valet.
“Yes, sir. I’ll take care of it.” The attendant took the money, seeming confused, and opened the passenger-side door for Joy.
Joy couldn’t handle any more of this scene. She was too rattled. She climbed into the car and put on her seat belt, trying to ignore the memories that kept creeping into her head. Ben had done this sort of thing many times. All another guy had to do was look at her the wrong way and Ben was in his face. If there was alcohol involved, it was always worse. At first, Joy had thought it was just protectiveness, but after a while, it became possessiveness, and if Joy wanted anything these days, it was her freedom and independence.