Among the group was Hank, his daughter, Addie, and Sage. Piper plucked Addie from Hank’s arms and pressed a kiss on the toddler’s cheek. She stayed in Piper’s arms for a few minutes until she reached out for Sage. It made Piper happy to see her niece bonding so well with her sister-in-law. In marrying Hank, Sage had given Addie a new mother. Her own mother had died in a car accident when she was a few months old. Watching their loving family caused a feeling of envy to rise up inside her. It must be nice, she thought, to have a soft place to fall when the world crashed in around you.
In many ways Braden served that role in her life. It was the reason she was so upset about not having him around in the future. She’d gotten so accustomed to having him back in her life that it was near impossible to imagine her world without him in it. Even when things were tense between them or when they were angry at one another, their connection still persisted. Bent but not broken.
The carolers sang a medley of Christmas songs, their voices blended together in perfect harmony. At the end of the performance, all of the customers in the diner stood up and cheered. It had added a special dose of holiday cheer to the evening. It was moments like this one that made the season so uplifting and enjoyable. Singing was a gift, and tonight it had been shared with so many residents of Owl Creek. Despite all the ups and downs of the past weeks and months, Piper felt inspired.
“Thank you so much for thinking of us. Hot cocoa coming up for everyone!” Piper called out. “And we have fresh cider doughnuts on the counter for everyone to enjoy.”
All of the carolers cheered and made their way over to the counter where Braden and some other staff members were ladling hot chocolate into foam cups. Piper walked over and hugged her mother tightly. “Mama! Thank you for bringing the carolers right to my doorstep. What a wonderful gift.”
“I can’t take the credit. It was Braden’s idea,” Trudy said. “He thought you could use a big dose of holiday cheer.” Trudy grinned. “He’s going to make some woman a fine husband one day.”
“He sure will,” Piper murmured, trying to ignore the little ache that particular knowledge caused her. It was hard to even envision Braden settling down with his other half and raising a house full of children. As a kid, he had always said he never wanted to get married, but Piper had always pictured him with a family.
She wasn’t sure if she was imagining the pointed look her mother gave her. Perhaps she was just being paranoid after the tender kiss they’d shared. More than anyone, her mother knew she and Braden were simply friends.
A quick gaze around the room showed Braden talking to his grandparents who were also part of the caroling group. His head was thrown back in merriment, showcasing his congenial personality and good looks. She couldn’t even tell herself it wouldn’t hurt when Braden fell in love and paired off with someone. It would no doubt signal a vast change in their friendship. Perhaps this whole time she’d been resisting the inevitable adjustments that came with adulthood. Maybe the tension between them was nothing more than growing pains. It didn’t make it hurt any less.
“Thanks for the hot cocoa,” Hank said as he came up beside her and lifted his cup in the air. “It’s perfect after being outside in the cold.” He shivered, drawing laughter from Piper.
“Sure thing,” she said. “It’s the least I could do after the wonderful performance we were treated to. You guys are terrific. I hated to miss it, so this was really special.”
“I think so too,” Sage said, walking up and joining them. She looped her arm through Hank’s as she juggled Addie on her hip. “There’s nothing quite like an Owl Creek Christmas.”
“A bit different from Florida, huh?” Piper asked. Up until this past year, Sage had been a Floridian, so acclimating to the Alaskan way of life had been a bit daunting at first. Now, it seemed as if she had always been a member of their community.
“You have no idea,” Sage said, garnering laughter from the group.
Suddenly, Beulah strode over with Jennings at her side. “We should get back out there, carolers. It’s getting late,” she said in a raised voice. “And the temperature will be dipping to uncomfortable levels in an hour or so.”
Everyone in town knew Beulah as being a no-nonsense and direct person. She said things very decisively and left no room for argument. She’d led the carolers for as long as Piper could remember. Once Beulah made her announcement, all of the singers immediately began to head toward the door, calling out holiday wishes and blessings as they left. Piper and Braden trailed after them, waving and thanking the group for stopping by. They were standing so close in the doorway that their arms were touching. Piper resisted the impulse to loop her arm through his as she might have done before things had gotten strained between them. The lines between them were becoming blurred, and it was both surprising and terrifying. She didn’t want to do a single thing to add to the strange tension pulsing between them. Touching Braden felt a little bit off-limits.
It frustrated her to have to second-guess every move and gesture. Best friends shouldn’t have to worry about things like this. She wished she could be transported back in time to the days when everything between them had been effortless.
As they turned to head into the diner, Piper stumbled on the top step. Braden reached out to save her from falling and quickly pulled her against his chest. Instinctively, Piper raised both of her hands against his body in order to catch herself. Braden’s chest was like a sheet of iron, with an abundance of muscles. She looked up at him, sucking in a deep, steadying breath at the sudden physical contact between them. Her hands seemed clumsy.
“Are you all right?” he asked, worry imprinted on his face.
Piper nodded. Her throat felt thick and heavy. She didn’t trust herself to speak at the moment. Although she’d tried to dismiss it before, once again something electric was humming and pulsing in the air around them.
Braden was looking down at her with surprise radiating from his eyes. She took a step backward, wanting to distance herself from this unsettling reality. She couldn’t pretend anymore that things hadn’t shifted between her and Braden. Surely he must be aware of it too even though he’d brushed it off after the tender kiss they’d shared. Perhaps it had been his way of coping with something neither one of them seemed ready to face head-on.
“I—I better get back to the kitchen and check in with Clara,” she said in a low voice, interrupting the silence.
She practically scampered inside, desperate to get back to running the diner rather than experiencing uncomfortable moments with a person who’d always felt like family. Piper didn’t bother to turn around to see if Braden had come back inside. She didn’t trust herself to even look at him. It felt risky. For so long now she’d been telling herself to focus on saving the diner. But lately, her attention had been diverted by all her issues with Braden. She’d tossed and turned a few nights just thinking about the distance between them. And now she found herself worrying about the moments where it seemed as if an attraction was brewing between them.
He was important to her—in some ways now more than ever. Braden had stepped in to help her rescue her family’s business from financial ruin when she had no one else to rely on. He was the closest thing to a hero she’d ever known. She cared about him more than almost anyone else in her life, except for Mama and Hank.
She couldn’t help but worry that she was going to lose her best friend, and there was nothing she could do to stop it from happening.
* * *
“Let me stay and help you lock up,” Braden offered as the last customers straggled out and Clara and the wait staff bid them good-night.
“Honestly, I’m so tired I can’t even pretend not to need the help. I may need to get a better pair of shoes,” Piper said, her shoulders slumping. “I’d love a cup of coffee, but I’m afraid it would keep me up all night.”
“You need to go home and get a good night’s rest. Maybe
soak your feet in a footbath. You’ve really been pushing yourself to the point of exhaustion. You need to take a day off to rejuvenate.”
Piper raised a hand to her mouth in mock surprise. “A day off? What’s that?” she cracked. “I can’t remember the last time I took off work.”
“I’m glad you’re training Jorge to have more responsibilities, because you need someone who can serve as a backup. What happens if you’re sick or want to go on vacation?”
Piper let out a brittle sounding laugh. “Vacation? The last one I had was a day trip to Homer. Hank subbed for me that day if I remember correctly. He grew up in the diner so he knows it inside and out. I trust him completely.”
“I’m happy he could be there for you, but Hank is town sheriff. He has his own full-time job, as does your mother. You need someone on staff who can lighten the load off your shoulders.”
She let out a ragged sigh. “I know. There’s got to be a better way. And once I get over this hurdle, I’m going to fix those staffing holes, starting with promoting Jorge.”
“It’ll make your life easier,” Braden said. He reached out and ran his finger across her forehead. “I don’t like these little worry lines here. I’d rather see laugh lines on your face.”
Braden’s cell phone began to buzz insistently. He looked down at the screen. He’d been waiting for this call all evening. Now that he’d decided to stay in Owl Creek he was going to move forward with rebuilding his life here. “I need to answer this,” he told Piper before moving a few feet away. “Hey there, Maya. I can meet you outside the diner in a few minutes. Just locking up the place now. Okay. See you in a few.”
Seconds later he hung up and pulled his coat on, eager to meet Maya. Piper already had her coat, hat and boots on, clearly ready to call it a night. He walked out with Piper, pausing as she locked the door and placed the Closed sign on it. Light snow was beginning to fall from the sky, although it didn’t appear to be sticking on the ground. Braden stopped at the bottom of the stairs as he spotted Maya walking toward them with Rudy by her side.
“Here’s your very special delivery,” Maya said as she reached them, handing over the leash to Braden.
He grinned at the sight of the Siberian husky. He bent over and slapped at his knees, beckoning Rudy to his side. In response, the puppy began to wag his tail and lick Braden’s hands.
“What’s going on?” Piper asked. She was looking at him suspiciously.
“I figured since Rudy needs a good home and I love dogs more than I do people, I would be a great candidate for adopting him since you can’t.”
Piper’s mouth hung open. “You’re adopting Rudy?”
“He is.” Maya confirmed with a grin. “I have a bag of treats and dog food you can pick up tomorrow.” She handed him a small bag. “This is enough until the morning. You can swing by the practice at your leisure to get the rest of his stuff.”
“Thanks for everything,” Braden said, leaning in to give Maya a hug. “I promise I’ll do right by him.”
“I have no doubts about that, Braden. Merry Christmas,” she said before walking back toward the vet clinic.
“Happy holidays!” Braden called out in unison with Piper, who couldn’t seem to take her eyes off the Siberian husky. She was kneeling down beside him, talking to Rudy in a sweet tone. Her love for dogs was as great as his own. Her expression was one of pure wonder.
She looked up at him. “I can’t believe you’re taking Rudy home with you.”
Braden shoved his hands in his pockets. “Well, he really needed a home and since you couldn’t take him, I decided it should be me. Rudy and I were buddies from the moment we met. As a result, he’s the newest member of the North family.”
“Who’s going to take care of him during the day?” Piper asked, wrinkling her nose as the dog licked her face. She let out a little squeal of delight.
“My grandfather has already agreed to do it. And Rudy’s housebroken so it shouldn’t be a hardship.”
“So, does this mean you’re sticking around Owl Creek?” she asked, a hopeful expression etched on her face.
Braden paused a moment before answering. He’d faced the fact that running wasn’t the answer. He had already done it once, and it hadn’t helped him or anyone else. If he truly wanted to move forward, he needed to stick around town and face the music.
He felt a smile tugging at his lips. “Yes, I’m staying. I came to the conclusion that I need to be here in Owl Creek,” he admitted. “Traveling all over the world is overrated, plus I think my remaining in town would be the best Christmas present for my family. It’s been a long time since we’ve all been together like this.”
“It will be a great present for me, as well,” Piper told him. Braden wasn’t prepared for Piper to wrap him in a hug and press her head against his chest. It was wonderful to have her in his arms, especially when half the time they seemed to be at odds. Holding her made him feel as if he could protect her from anything in the world that might cause her pain, even the secret he was keeping.
“Look! Northern lights!” Braden called out as the sky exploded in a stunning, shimmery display of beauty. It was such a spectacular sight one never got tired of. A burst of brilliant colors lit up the night sky. Reds. Greens. Vibrant purples and blues. He heard Piper’s sharp exclamation of surprise. Her face was upturned, and for the life of him he couldn’t figure out whether to look at her or the northern lights. If he had to choose, he’d pick Piper each and every time.
“What a magnificent surprise.” Piper’s eyes were wide with wonder. For a moment he was reminded of the little girl she’d once been. Piper had always been full of enthusiasm and a positive outlook. He felt thankful that her spirit of optimism hadn’t been stamped out by the death of her father and her ongoing troubles with the diner. She’d walked a tough road over the past few years, and she still continued to shine. She didn’t hesitate to embrace joy.
“One of Alaska’s many marvels,” Braden said. “Of all the places I’ve been, nothing compares to the last frontier. Nowhere even comes close.” He’d traveled the world, and his heart still belonged to Alaska. Nothing could compare to the harsh, rugged land of his birth and Alaskan way of life. It served as a huge incentive to stay put.
“This has been a spectacular night. Between the carolers and the northern lights, I feel so incredibly blessed.”
“I always have fun when I’m with you, Piper. We could be washing dishes in the kitchen or skipping stones across the lake for all I care. It’s being with you that makes it special. I want you to know that.”
“Thank you for saying so. I’ve missed us. You have no idea how many nights I laid awake wondering where you were in the world and what you were up to. I imagined you were doing incredible things and that you’d forgotten all about Owl Creek.”
“I could never forget this town or you. Not a day went by when I didn’t think about what I’d left behind. Some days I was so homesick I wanted to come right back.”
“Then why didn’t you? There was a tremendous void in Owl Creek when you left.” Hurt radiated from her eyes. He hated being the one who’d made her feel this way.
Maybe he could tell her the truth right here and now. Perhaps then she would understand why he’d stayed away from Alaska for such a long time. Maybe she wouldn’t hate him as he’d always feared. Was it possible she might show him a measure of compassion?
“Because I had some growing to do,” he answered. “And I couldn’t do it here. Sometimes you have to leave a place to become the person you want to be.”
“And did you?” she asked pointedly.
He shook his head. “Not even close,” he admitted. It was hard to become a better man when he was keeping secrets and living in fear of being found out. But he couldn’t explain any of that to Piper, even though he really wanted to.
“You’re being hard on yourself, Braden. I think yo
u’re a pretty amazing human being.” She was gazing up at him, and for the first time in a long time, the expression emanating from her eyes was one of absolute confidence in him. He wasn’t sure he deserved it, but it made him feel good knowing she still believed in him. Especially when most days he had a hard time having faith in himself.
Being here with Piper with snow falling all around them and his gorgeous new dog lying at his feet made Braden feel as if all was right in his world. Just for a little bit he could pretend he wasn’t standing on a crumbling foundation. He wanted to relish this moment because he knew it was temporary.
Braden knew it wasn’t smart to consider kissing Piper again, but he was tired of being ruled by his head instead of his heart. Sometimes a person just had to step out on a limb of faith and act without overthinking it. Moments like this didn’t come around very often. He pulled Piper close, then leaned down and pressed his lips against hers in a tender, romantic kiss that was just as spectacular as the first one. Piper’s scent filled his nostrils—a light, floral aroma. Her lips tasted like hot cocoa and cinnamon.
When the kiss ended, neither one said a word. They both seemed to be enjoying the quiet that enveloped them. Their relationship had always been full of companionable silences where neither one felt the need to fill it up with mindless chatter. His fingers trailed through her curls as they settled into the silence. It had been a fantastic kiss, Braden realized. One for the record books, if he was being honest. Tender and full of emotion. It had been the furthest thing from run-of-the-mill. That knowledge hit him in the face like a sledgehammer.
“You kissed me. Again,” she said, raising her hand to touch her lips.
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