“Oh,” she said, sitting down on th closest chair. “I still have quite a bit of work to finish before I leave.”
“We’re aware of that. Let’s plan on meeting on Tuesday the 26th in the morning. What do you say?”
“I’ll be there,” she replied.
Mr. Wynthrop wished her Merry Christmas and Luciana returned the greeting, then walked back to the back of the house.
She took the same chair. “That was Mr. Wynthrop, the museum director. They decided to close earlier and I don’t have to go back in until Tuesday,” she told Paola and Nonna.
“You stay here with us,” Nonna said. She tugged at the yarn in a basket by the side of the sofa.
Paola leaned forward in her chair. “Yes, stay with us. You were already coming tomorrow for Christmas Eve.”
“I was planning on bringing an overnight bag.” She only had her phone with her.
“If the weather lets up, Jack can give you a ride to the inn. If not, we’ll lend you what you need,” Paola said. She excused herself and returned to the café.
Nonna continued knitting and Luciana remained silent for a moment, considering the situation. She’d been counting on working today and tomorrow morning and worried about the unfinished project. Hopefully she’d be able to catch up when the museum reopened after Christmas.
In the meantime, she needed something to do while she stayed at the DiLorenzos, especially her personal knitting projects and the stash of yarn she’d bought at The Knotty Knitters.
Until Jack returned, she could get started on planning and sketching the extra projects.
* * *
Jack entered the house and found Mom, Nonna, and Luciana in the living room. Nonna was knitting and Mom had old photo albums on the coffee table as she showed family photos to Luciana.
“You’re here,” he said to Luciana. “Hi.”
She smiled back and blushed lightly.
“Luciana came for lunch, but then the museum closed and we invited her to stay,” Mom said.
He reined in his grin, cutting it back into a small smile. Looking too happy about it would be rude. “That makes sense.”
“I don’t have to go back to work until Tuesday morning,” Luciana said.
He shouldn’t be so happy about it, but he was. She’d be here for two extra days.
“Any chance you could give me a ride to the inn?” Luciana asked.
His shoulders slumped. “So you’re not staying?”
“I am. I just need to pack a few things.”
He nodded. “Of course.” He glanced at the wall clock. “Let’s go now before the weather gets worse.”
After borrowing Mom’s coat and boots, Luciana climbed into the truck with his help and he left slowly. In fair weather, the drive wouldn’t take more than five minutes, but today he had to be careful and patient.
“Thanks for the ride,” Luciana said. “I’m sorry you had to come back out.”
“You’re welcome. Don’t worry about it,” he replied. “It’ll give me a chance to check on Mrs. Wells and see if she needs anything.
Mrs. Wells employed a snow removal service to clear the driveways and the inn’s small parking lot, but he’s feel better to see how she was doing.
Jack dropped off Luciana in the back and was pleased to see the paths and driveways had been cleared earlier. Of course, with the snow still falling, there would be more to do in the morning.
He entered the kitchen and found Mrs. Wells there, stirring a big pot of hot chocolate.
“How are you Mrs. Wells?” Jack stood by the door, letting the snow melt off his boots onto to the rug. “Do you have everything you need to ride the storm?”
She looked at him, still holding on to the pot and wooden spoon. “Thanks for asking, Jack. Will you be making fresh bread in the morning?”
“I will. How much do you need?”
“It’s just me and a couple that decided to leave after Christmas. Maybe two loaves?”
“Any croissants or pastries?” he asked.
“Whatever you can spare will be fine. Luciana said she’s spending Christmas with your family,” she added, with a small smile.
“Yes, my mother and grandmother invited her.” Why did the kitchen feel so hot?
“I’m sure you let Luciana feel welcome too,” Mrs. Wells said.
Jack shifted his weight. “Of course.” Where was Luciana?
Just then she entered the kitchen pulling a carry-on bag. “There. It only took me five minutes. Thanks for waiting.”
That was all? It sure felt much longer.
Luciana kissed Mrs. Wells cheek. “I left a little something under the tree for you. Merry Christmas.”
Mrs. Wells pulled Luciana into a quick hug. “You’re too kind, dear. Have a wonderful time.”
Why did Mrs. Wells look at him when she said that?
When they arrived back at the house, Luciana took her small suitcase to the guest bedroom and Jack went to his to take a shower.
Once again, Luciana filled his thoughts. They hadn’t talked much on the drive to the inn and back, but it hadn’t been exactly the right moment for it.
How did she feel to be here a day earlier? It would be easier to find opportunities to spend more time together. He’d just have to foster these moments before his sisters and their families arrived. There would be no privacy after.
When he returned downstairs, Mom was on the phone with one of his sisters and Nonna had gone to her bedroom for her afternoon nap. He placed the covered plate Mom had left for him in the microwave then walked to the living room, where Luciana sat by the fireplace with the phone in her hand and a small frown between her eyebrows.
He sat on the chair across from her. “Everything okay?”
“I’m just checking the extended forecast.” She looked up from the screen to him, some hesitancy in her expression. “Your grandma invited me to stay when the museum closed earlier. Is that okay with you?”
“Absolutely.” His heart leaped in his chest, and Jack stepped to the other side, trying to put some distance between him and Luciana. “We’ll be glad to have you here. You were already coming fro Christmas Even.”
“That’s what your mom said.” She bit her bottom lip. “I just—just wanted to make sure my being here won’t make things awkward between us.”
The microwave beeped and Jack walked to the kitchen. “Of course not,” he said over his shoulder.
Did she think he didn’t want her to stay because of the kiss? They hadn’t talked about it, but it was obviously on her mind, just as it was on his. It had been in the back of his mind all night and all day.
Luciana put the phone in her pocket and followed him, waiting until he got his plate out. Jack uncovered it and took a fork from the utensils drawer. “Did you eat yet?”
She nodded. “Your mom fed me when I got here.”
Jack pulled out a chair at the table for Luciana, then took a seat across from her. “It’s only awkward if we make it so,” he said, then took a bite. “I’m glad Nonna invited you.” He hoped to put Luciana at ease, because he really was glad she was there.
Her expression relaxed, her cheeks a little more pink than usual. “I’m glad too.”
This was new for them, and they both knew it. Jack hadn’t been planning on meeting a woman who caught his interest in this manner, and Luciana had come on a business trip. Whatever this wonderful thing was between them, he wanted more of it and he was ready to see where it went.
Luciana propped her chin on her hand. “Your mom mentioned you were delivering bread this morning?”
“I baked some extra bread to hand out to whomever needs it, especially if they’re older friends and neighbors who live alone. We just make sure they’re set up to ride the storm, have enough food and water and heating.” He shrugged between bites. “Since I have a plow attachment for the truck and snowblower, cleaning the driveways and sidewalks doesn’t take too long.” He didn’t want to make a big deal out of it.
; She nodded. “Your mother explained about the snow freezing.”
“It won’t be as easy after it stops snowing, that’s for sure.”
“That’s good of you to take time to help those people.” Her tone was warm, almost with a hint of admiration.
Jack rushed to change the subject. “Did you call your family?”
“I talked to my mom and she was worried about me, but I told her I met an awesome family who took me in.” Her lips quirked in a smile.
He rinsed his plate and placed it in the dishwasher. “The qualities of this family might be slightly exaggerated,” he said, unable to keep from teasing. “You can tell your mom we’ll keep you any time, not just at Christmas.” He meant it, wishing she could stay longer, wishing they could have more time beyond the holidays to get to know each other.
Luciana’s expression softened and she looked at him as if she were trying to figure him out. “Can I ask you a question?” she asked.
“Anything you want,” he replied. Jack didn’t want to hold back from Luciana. Her limited time in Hudson Springs didn’t leave any room for the usual dating games, like the ones Madison had pulled him into. That should have been a red flag back then, but his distraction with her had left him blind to the warning signs.
He wouldn’t do the same mistake with Luciana.
“Do you still have feelings for your ex-fiancée?” she asked.
Jack stilled, surprised by Luciana’s directness, then took a step closer. “Do you think I would have kissed you like I did yesterday if I still felt anything for her?”
Luciana held his gaze.
They stood close enough that he could see the color variations in her brown eyes. They weren’t solid brown, like he’d previously thought. A lighter ring surrounded the pupil before diffusing into the perfect chocolate hue.
“I don’t go about kissing men like that either,” she replied in a soft tone. Her cheeks colored briefly.
“Good.” He took her hand and rubbed the inner spot of her wrist.
Luciana held her breath.
“Now we understand each other.” His tone matched hers, almost as if they shared secrets no one else knew.
At the sound of Mom descending the staircase, Jack squeezed Luciana’s fingers and put some distance between them.
“Jack, I just talked to your sisters,” Mom said on her way to the kitchen. “Let’s plan the menus.”
“I’ll be right there,” he replied more loudly.
Luciana leaned back against the kitchen counter, watching him.
He took two steps then turned back until he stood in front of her like before. “Can we talk more later?”
Luciana swallowed, then nodded slowly. An energy pulsed between them and when her eyes dipped to his mouth, Jack barely held back from taking her in his arms and kissing her again.
Hours later, after dinner was done and the clean dishes put away, Jack brewed a pot of tea, then sat in the living room by the glow of the fire, the Christmas tree providing the only light. Mom and Nonna had gone to bed, and he waited for Luciana. They hadn’t had a private moment since earlier, and he took the few minutes to put his thoughts in order.
When Luciana arrived, she sat at the other end of the sofa instead of taking one of the chairs. She wore flannel pajama bottoms and a knit cardigan over a T-shirt. Woolen socks on her feet, most likely handknit, and no slippers. She tucked her legs to the side and her pant leg rode up, allowing Jack a glimpse of a bit of lace on the cuff of the sock.
He rose and retrieved the tea from the kitchen, handing one of the mugs to Luciana.
“It’s a calming blend of herbal tea with a drop of honey,” he said. “I find it relaxes me after a harried day.”
“Tea?”
Maybe he’d presumed too much. “I’m sorry. I should have asked you if you like herbal tea.”
“I love herbal tea,” she said, taking a sip. She closed her eyes and savored for a moment. “I think I recognize the flavor.”
“It’s chamomile and lemon balm. In Italy, it’s called melissa.”
“They call it the same in Spain and we have that herb in Portugal as well. It grows everywhere and it’s a popular natural remedy for all sorts of malaise.” She sipped again. “I’ll have to try it with chamomile. This is very good. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Are Portuguese people tea drinkers then?”
“We sure are,” she replied with a smile. “I’ll have you know that King Charles II of England married the Portuguese Catarina de Bragança and she turned tea drinking into a fashionable beverage for the British.” She quirked an eyebrow and stretched her pinkie, an amused smile on her lips.
“I did not know that. Actually, I must confess I didn’t know much about Portugal, other than the general location.” He’d been researching the country a bit more since meeting her.
She put her mug down on the coffee table. “We Portuguese are very proud of our national heritage and influence in the world, so you’ll probably learn a few more useless facts before I leave,” she said in a light tone.
Was it selfish of him to hope she could stay a few more days? “I have another confession,” he said, turning to her.
“What’s that?” Luciana lowered her voice.
“I’m glad you’re staying with us for a few extra days.”
If the storm kept up, maybe she’d stay even longer.
Chapter Eleven
Saturday, December 23rd
“You’re not the only one. I’m glad too,” Luciana admitted.
As inconvenient as the snow was, she hoped the weather wouldn’t set her work back too much. With Catarina and Afonso’s wedding on January 1st, Luciana had wanted more free time, and didn’t have a new project starting until the middle of the month. But she did want to be back in time for the wedding. Hopefully, she could get both of her wishes.
In the end, would extra time make a difference between her and Jack? Was it possible to get to know someone in a couple of weeks? Jacinta and Knox had proved the theory well, but they were the exception, not the rule. More than anything, she wanted to believe her stay at the DiLorenzos had a purpose, one that made her heart speed up with anticipation.
Jack smiled at her reply and reached to give her hand a squeeze. He released it too quickly, and she missed the warmth of his skin against hers.
Luciana shifted in her corner of the sofa and sat cross legged, facing him more fully. Outside, it snowed on, but in here, the coziness had her wishing they had all night to stay like this, talking and enjoying each other’s company. Maybe even kissing again.
Jack sat closer. For a flash, his expression filled with weariness, but he quickly dispelled it.
Was it crazy she wanted to touch him and comfort him? It felt right. Her heart jumped eagerly and she willed it to calm down. Jack would think her crazy for sure, if she threw herself in his arms. How could her heart want one thing while her mind told her something different?
“I want to tell you about what happened between Madison and me. She grew up here in town,” he started. “She was three years younger than me, so I didn’t notice her much when we were in high school. I came back after Dad passed away, and not much later she returned to help her mom through cancer treatments. We started talking, first at the café when she came in for bread and pastries, and pretty soon, we were meeting almost every day. Dating came after.”
That wasn’t so different from how he and Luciana had met, was it? Only Luciana was a stranger, a foreigner. There was nothing in common between them.
He paused and Luciana waited until he was ready to resume.
“During a particular bad period in her illness, her mother hinted at how she would like to see Madison married, in case something happened, and two weeks later I proposed.” Jack scrubbed his face. “Madison’s mom had a miraculous recovery and when Madison received a job offer in Los Angeles a few months later, she took it. She broke up with me before leaving. On Christmas day.”
Luciana leaned f
orward. “Wait. She broke up with you on Christmas day?”
Jack nodded slowly. “She had a flight early the next morning and thought it best to leave everything taken care of, in her own words.”
“How awful of her,” she replied. She couldn’t think of anything else to say that wouldn’t sound mean toward Madison. At one point in Jack’s life, this woman had meant something to him and Luciana didn’t want to add to his pain with her opinion, especially when she didn’t have the right to judge the situation.
“The timing wasn’t the greatest, but she knew I wouldn’t leave Mom and Nonna, and I wouldn’t ask her to stay. I haven’t dated since then, and I haven’t missed it.” He sat closer and took her hand. “Until now.”
The small hairs at the nape of her neck rose at once and her pulse sped up. Once again, the feeling of rightness warmed her as a wave radiated from her chest to other parts of her. Almost as if her body wanted her to ingrain the feelings into her heart.
Was this a simple physical attraction or was there more to it? And how could she know for sure?
Luciana leaned closer again, reducing the distance between them and making it easier to hold hands. “Thank you for telling me,” she said.
He was going to kiss her. The intention was there in his eyes, the way they flicked to her face and lips. Her skin prickled and her cheeks heated. When his mouth touched hers, sweetly and softly, she closed her eyes and her whole body relaxed, focused on the single act and nothing more.
After a moment, Jack straightened.
“Would you like to help me cook tomorrow?” he asked, standing from the sofa.
That was it? If it weren’t for the easy expression on his face, Luciana would have believed she’d imagined the closeness and the kiss, light as it had been. She wanted more, deeper, stronger, and felt strangely cheated.
His question effectively cooled her down, raising a wall. He must have seen the disappointment in her eyes, the surprise in her expression.
“Luciana, if I keep sitting with you on that couch, I’ll kiss you senseless all night.” He held her hand.
A slow smile formed on her lips. “Well, since you put it that way.” It wouldn’t be fair to be disappointed, not with such clear words from him. Maybe she wouldn’t have minded the kissing-all-night part, as long as they could keep it to kissing and nothing more.
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