by Cindi Madsen
Emmett glanced at her, eyebrows all scrunched up. “Peter Whibley? I assure you he didn’t decorate this, and how do you know him?”
“No. Peeta.” Since no lightbulb went off, she added, “From The Hunger Games?” She swiped a hand through the air. “Never mind. This house gets my vote.”
“Mark the sheet, dear,” Fern said, a little extra threat in the dear. Yeesh. Funny how the people in the town were the least judgmental she’d ever met, except when it came to Christmas contests.
A few minutes later, her favorite house was declared the winner, and to her surprise, it belonged to a thirteen-year-old girl. She collected her impressive cash prize, and the town of Friendship called it a night.
And even though Regina was far from ready to part ways with the sexy sheriff, she knew that another night like this and her plan to go slow and proceed with caution would be forgotten. Then she’d end up hurt all over again. So she asked Fern for a ride back to the Cozy Cottage, and along the way, decided that she was going to have to put some distance between herself and Emmett Haywood.
Chapter Eight
Over the next week, every time Emmett saw Regina, it was always too brief, and she was always surrounded by people or in a big hurry. She didn’t call him, and although he hadn’t given her his number, she could’ve called the sheriff’s office easily enough. He wanted to call her several times, but she’d pulled away a couple of times now, and he was trying to do the right mix of taking advantage of what limited time they had and not scaring her off.
Still, earlier today he’d dialed her room at the Cozy Cottage. She hadn’t answered.
The phone on his desk rang, and his pulse jumped, hoping to hear a certain voice on the other end, regardless of how unlikely. Undoubtedly, it was a resident wanting him to go tell someone else how they should/shouldn’t do something they were doing, about to do, or considering doing.
“We’re home!” Mom’s singsong voice carried over the line. “Dinner at our place tonight, no excuses. Callie’s on board, and while I was in the diner, I ran into that pretty woman who’s visiting for the holidays and convinced her to come too.”
Emmett sat forward in his chair, the legs hitting the floor with a thunk. “Do you mean Regina?” Not like there was another woman in town who was visiting for the holidays, but he craved confirmation.
“Everyone’s said such nice things about her, and I heard all about how her wedding went kaput, poor thing. I also heard that you two have been cozying up, so I figured I better get to know her.”
Emmett scrubbed a hand over his face. “Mom, I’m not sure that’s a good idea.” Not only would it possibly tiptoe into scaring-Regina-off territory, but Mom fell for people in two seconds flat. She’d also been trying to marry him off forever. Callie too.
“You want me to call and uninvite her? That would be rude, Emmett.”
“I’m sure she only accepted because she felt obligated.”
“I’ll have you know we had a lovely conversation. I offered up all sorts of facts about you—don’t worry, I made you sound good, which isn’t hard …”
This just kept getting worse and worse. Mom continued prattling on about Florida and dinner, and Emmett regretted not taking the opportunity to take Regina out at least once more before his parents arrived back in town.
There’d be no peace after this.
In fact, he predicted that come tomorrow morning, Regina would be fleeing back the way she came, never to return again.
Regina’s nerves did jumping jacks in her gut as she approached the front door of the Haywoods’. She’d tried politely saying no to dinner, but Emmett’s mom wasn’t deterred, and when pushed, she couldn’t come up with a fast enough excuse.
After all, rehashing the weird voice mail message left by your ex-fiancé wasn’t exactly a normal way to spend a night, and more than that, it wasn’t how she wanted to spend one of the few precious nights she had left in town.
Emmett was either busy or giving her space. Or taking space? She wasn’t sure, but she’d wanted to call a dozen times. Wanted to forget about complications and do what he’d said—focus on the now.
Although meeting his parents …? Oh, jeez.
The noise of an engine caught her attention, and Emmett’s truck pulled up to the curb. He climbed out and she watched, mesmerized by the way his long legs ate up the space between them.
“Your mom invited me,” Regina said, juggling the bottle of wine she’d brought to her other hand.
“She told me. If you want to run, here’s your chance. I’ll even cover you.”
“Do you want me to go?” she asked, insecurity rising.
He stepped closer and cupped her cheek. “No. I’m glad to see you. Is it weird that it seems like it’s been forever?”
“I’m experiencing the same feeling, so maybe, but at least I’m not alone.”
“I think I’d better get your number before you meet my parents. That way, I’ll have it even if they scare you off.”
“Not exactly helping the nerves here,” she said with a laugh, but when he gestured for her phone, she handed it over.
He sent a text to himself. “Now you have my number, and you should definitely use it.”
She opened her mouth, hoping something clever would come out despite the way her brain went blank in his presence. Luckily—or unluckily?—the door swung open.
“What are you two doing out here in the cold?” Mrs. Haywood ushered them inside. “Come on in. Dinner’s almost ready.”
Over the next few minutes, Regina received a tour and a glass of wine. Then she crowded around the computer with everyone else to watch a slideshow of pictures from Florida. She also received a couple of smiles from Emmett—still closed-lip, but the impact sent her emotions reeling all the same.
“Now where are you from again?” Mrs. Haywood asked as they settled around the dining table.
“Cambridge, Maryland. It’s definitely warmer than here, with a lot less snow, but luckily the people in Friendship have supplied me with a coat, gloves, and a scarf.”
“Oh, you got a Marge scarf?” Mr. Haywood asked, and Regina nodded—Marge had told her it was no longer a borrowed accessory but a gift, and wouldn’t hear of Regina paying for it either. “I think everyone in town has one. We all claim we don’t wear them much because we don’t want to ruin them, but really it’s because we need to see and walk. Not sure why she only makes them ten feet long.”
Regina laughed. “Well, during the tree lighting ceremony, I decided being warm was better than either of those things.”
Emmett’s chair was next to hers, his steady presence at her side an indulgence she’d missed. Conversation moved to Callie, and she caught them up on her life. “That’s pretty much it, until Emmett brought home a woman in a bridal gown.”
Heat climbed up Regina’s neck and settled into her cheeks. Callie was clearly teasing her, but she was afraid the Haywoods would get the wrong impression of her.
Underneath the table, Emmett’s hand found hers, and Regina squeezed, silently warning him that she might not let go for the rest of the night.
Emmett stepped onto the back patio with Regina, who’d slipped outside to answer a call. She hadn’t immediately fled after dinner, which he took as a good sign. But there was a tenseness in her posture that hadn’t been there before.
“Everything all right?”
Her breath came out in a white puff. “Yeah.”
He crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes.
“Don’t give me the interrogator bad-cop glare.”
“Hard not to when I know that something’s up.”
“Not in the now, which is what I’m going to focus on. Right now.” She smiled and tilted her head toward the trampoline. “I haven’t been on one in years. I used to be really good at them.”
“Let me guess. You had goals and a plan.”
“I did. Achieved them too.” She started across the lawn. “Come on. Let’s see if I’ve still got it.”
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“I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” he said.
She lifted her chin, a haughty expression on her face. “I’m not sure doubting my skills is a good idea.”
They reached the edge of the trampoline. “Fine, but if you get hurt …”
She boosted herself onto the padded edge. “You’ll leave me to bleed out?”
“Graphic, but no.”
“You’ll arrest me for trespassing?”
“Most likely not, but that’s because my mom would have to agree to press charges, and she already likes you too much.”
Sadness edged her smile. “I like her too.” Then she arched an eyebrow. “So glad to know you have my back.”
He stepped closer so that her knees were against his stomach, and placed his hand on her thigh, dragging his thumb over the top of the snowflake leggings she had on underneath a “Live, Love, Ride” snowmobile sweater. “You know I do.”
Her lips parted, and he wanted to close the distance and taste them. But he forced himself to remain in place.
She cleared her throat and pushed to her feet. “So …” She bounced lightly, as if testing the elasticity and recoil of the trampoline. “What’ll you do if I fall during my big stunt?”
“Probably just say ‘I told you so.’”
She bounced higher. “How about we make a wager …?”
“Now gambling is something I’ll arrest you for.”
Her laugh split the chilly air and left a white puff around her head like a halo. “How about, if I do a flip, you owe me a dance at the party this weekend? And if I don’t, I owe you one.”
He grinned, and she clapped her hands together.
“I got a full smile with teeth! I rule!” She bounced up again and again. Then she flipped. The landing was wobbly, but her excitement over it was solid.
“Okay, I can’t just let you show me up. Watch out.” He climbed on and then realized this was a bad idea. For as much as she claimed she wasn’t fun, every minute he spent with her proved otherwise.
He bounced like he used to when he was a kid—he hadn’t been on one of these things in forever. After taking a moment to recalibrate based on his extra height, he flipped, and Regina cheered. As he slowed his bounces, his weight made her slide toward him, until they were standing together in the middle of the trampoline.
He placed his hands on her hips, and desire flooded his system. More than anything, he wanted to kiss her. He dipped his head, and her fingers wrapped around his biceps as she tipped onto her toes.
Her lips were a mere breath away.
The back door slid open. “Time for dessert!” his mom called, and it broke the spell. Regina dropped her arms and scrambled off the edge of the trampoline.
“I have to go,” she said.
“Regina.” He wanted to ask what happened to living in the now, but by the time he made it in the house, his whole family was staring at him, Regina nowhere in sight.
“What happened?” Callie asked, and all he could do was shrug.
“No idea.” But he suspected the phone call she’d gotten earlier was partially to blame, and he intended to find out who or what was interfering before they even had a chance to try.
Chapter Nine
“You can’t just run away, Regina,” Steve said, and Regina dropped her fork, causing it to clatter against her plate. Over-the-phone discussions weren’t working so well, so he’d insisted they meet.
She’d told him, “Fine. Come to Friendship, Massachusetts, and we’ll talk.”
Honestly, she didn’t think he’d come. She didn’t want him in her room, so they were meeting for breakfast in the living room of the Cozy Cottage, and they undoubtedly had an audience. After what he’d just said, she no longer cared about keeping it quiet. “Since you did the equivalent of running from me in front of all our family and friends on our wedding day, you don’t get to scold me for my reaction.”
“As I said over the phone, I’m sorry for that. We have a lot of stuff to deal with though, and I can’t do it by myself.”
“Probably because while you were busy being the fun one, I had to be the serious one who took care of everything.”
Steve sighed. “What are we going to do about the house? I can’t afford to live there myself.”
“And neither can I,” she said. He was the one who’d wanted the bigger house in the nicer neighborhood. It fit with her ideal image of the perfect family, so she’d gone with it. Now, the thought of that giant, empty house … She didn’t want to go back, not to there, and not to the condo where she’d lived before—although she’d sold that, so it wasn’t an actual option.
Steve ran a hand through his hair. “This isn’t you. Small town, not taking care of your responsibilities …” He gave her false-advertising “I can bait my own hook!” shirt a disdainful once-over. “Whatever you’re wearing. I still don’t understand how you ended up here.”
“I don’t understand how that’s relevant to our conversation.”
Steve sighed again. It was quickly becoming his signature move. “Look, I should’ve told you when I started having doubts. I thought it was just cold feet. And my family adores you …”
A sharp twinge lanced her chest. She’d adored his parents too. They were kind and more down to earth than her parents. Funny enough, Steve would’ve fit in better with hers.
A memory from two nights ago drifted up, of sitting around the table with Emmett’s family, talking and laughing. Despite her best attempt to stop it, she was getting too close. In the end, she’d only have more people to miss.
“Will you at least figure out what to do about the house? Oh, and take care of shutting off the utilities, water, and everything else. We also need to return gifts, you know.”
Well, it was inevitable. A week and a half of relaxation and fun was a good run. Sooner or later, reality had to come creeping back in. “My guess is we’re going to have to list it, unless we want to rent it out, and I’m not doing everything on my own. You don’t get to back out and leave me with all the responsibilities.”
He threw up his hands. “Fine.” They finished their breakfast in tense silence, and then he pushed away from the table. “When are you coming back?”
“Not sure, but I’ll give you a call.”
Big surprise, another sigh. “Guess I’ll try to make the best of the trip and buy some presents. Any recommendations?”
“There’s a gift shop on Main. They have these amazing sculptures your mom would love. And the candy shop next door has those specialty chocolates your dad loves.”
“Come with me? Show me around and help me pick the right things?”
Once again, he wanted her to do everything for him. Maybe she wasn’t the most fun, but he was an overgrown baby, and in this moment, she was glad he’d backed out. She could’ve spent the rest of her life overcompensating, and she wanted someone who’d be on her team. Someone who liked who she was, yet also made her better and happier. Someone like Emmett, her brain provided before she could stifle it.
“I already have plans,” she said. Steve didn’t need to know they involved another novel and the cushy bed in her room. If she had to return to the real world sooner than expected, she should enjoy one last day of fun.
While she immediately thought of Emmett yet again—if there was anyone who could make doing nothing fun, it was him—and she wanted him to be part of her last day. But that would make a clean break that much harder.
And the thought of saying good-bye was already enough to cause a hollow sensation she feared might never fully go away.
People accused Emmett of being overly suspicious, but he liked to think of it as more cautious and good at his job. Whenever a stranger arrived in town, he wanted to know who they were and why they were there. Which is why he stepped into the path of the dark-haired guy in a polo.
“Mornin’.”
The out-of-towner vacantly nodded and looked for a way around Emmett, but this reconnaissance mission wasn’t over yet.
The guy glanced at Emmett’s extended hand and hesitantly took it, giving it a weak shake. “Steve Mills. I just got into town this morning, but I’m not planning on staying long. I needed to talk to my fianc—my … Regina.”
Every muscle in Emmett’s body tensed. This was the ex? And why did he almost call Regina his fiancé? Not that calling her his was much better.
Because she’s mine.
Emmett instinctively knew Steve was responsible for why she’d been upset the other night. Why was he here, and was he trying to win her back, and was she considering it? The caveman in him said he could totally take Steve. As if that’d impress Regina.
“… told me to visit the gift shop. So, if you’ll excuse me, I have some presents to buy.”
Emmett let him pass. His gaze drifted toward the Cozy Cottage. He couldn’t see the building, but the urge to check on Regina crept over him. It’d hurt if she’d decided to work things out with Steve, but if she needed a shoulder to cry on, Emmett would happily provide one.
Only the radio on his shoulder buzzed. “Boss, we got a situation.”
“Can it wait? I’m in the middle of something.” About to be anyway.
“Corbin wrecked his motorcycle. The ambulance is on the way, but—”
“I’ll be right there,” Emmett said as he spun on his heel and rushed to the cruiser.
It’d been a long day. Corbin broke his femur and had to be taken to the hospital in Somerhaven. The town pulled together to care for his kids so his wife could stay with him, and if things went well, Corbin should be back home in time for Christmas, although he’d be on crutches for a while.
It was all Emmett could do to shower and get to the Christmas party on time. As soon as he arrived, he searched for Regina’s dark hair in the crowd.
“Did you hear?” Fern asked, lips pursed.
“Don’t worry. Corbin’s gonna be fine.”
“Oh yes, I was sorry to hear about his accident, but that’s not the news I meant.” Fern wrung her hands together. “Regina’s leaving early—as in tonight after the party. I wasn’t sure if you’d talked to her yet.”