Marry? Was she insane?
Maybe she was. Maybe he was, too, because if she asked him right now, he’d probably say yes. Staring into those green-blue, or blue-green eyes, looking at that unbelievable smile, there wouldn’t be any other possible answer.
Marianne laughed. “Real life isn’t a movie. I’m not going to propose to you tonight.” She got up, walked over to him. “Tonight, I’m just going to do this,” she said, and then she threw her arms around his neck, and she kissed him, kissed him like he’d never been kissed before. And he knew that he didn’t need to answer her in words; all he had to do was kiss her back.
So he did.
They sat there, in Jack’s crummy little furnished rental apartment, for several hours. All they did was talk, about everything, and nothing, and all the things in between.
Well, there was some kissing involved. And a little dancing, when Jack asked about her outfit. Not that either of them was a good dancer, as it turned out, but since it ended with them in each other’s arms, that was perfectly all right.
It was eleven o’clock when she finally left, and when she did, it was with a promise to get together tomorrow to see White Christmas, so he could see what her outfit was really supposed to look like, on the big screen, and worn by someone who actually could dance.
“It’s going to be a letdown,” Jack said. “After seeing you wearing it, how could anybody else compare?”
She kissed him again, and then she left, before she forgot herself and really did what she’d threatened to do earlier tonight – propose to him, as crazy as it sounded.
But there’d be time enough for that later. If she wasn’t already certain of that, Asta’s reaction when she walked out the door – straining at the end of his leash to get back inside Jack’s apartment, barking madly – was all the proof she needed.
Jack got the email from his boss Saturday morning, and rather than read it right away, he packed up his laptop and went to Marianne’s house. She deserved to see it the same time he did.
“Are you sure you’re ready? This could be the big decision,” he told her.
“Let’s see it,” she said.
Jack,
Nothing is official yet. You know the process – the Governor has to sign off on everything.
That said, you should know that your report made a huge impression, not only on me, but on the full Historical Preservation Committee. They voted yesterday to approve the Esmerelda Theater as a historical landmark, and to expedite the usual process so it can go in front of the governor in January.
You should be proud of the work you did, and if you are still on speaking terms with Marianne Carter, you have my blessing to share this news – and my praise – with her.
Speaking of that, she called me a week ago, and she told me a crazy story, and demanded that I tell her where to find you. She’s a persistent young woman, and after hearing her story, I gave in and told her.
I hope that she found you, and I hope that she forgave you. If you’ll forgive a little personal advice from your supervisor, you’ve been single too long, and this woman seems to be a perfect match for you, and reading between the lines of the note you sent me along with your report, you’ve already figured that out for yourself.
Anyway, that’s all I have to say. That, and good luck.
Amanda
Jack reread the email three times, and he couldn’t think of anything suitable to say. Marianne filled the silence for him. “What did you say to her in that note she’s talking about?” He still didn’t say anything; he just went into the Sent Mail folder and pulled up the note in question. Marianne read it, then turned to him. “You want to move here? To Romance? For me?”
Amanda had been right. It wasn’t difficult to read between the lines, was it? “You wanted to propose to me last week. I think that makes us even, doesn’t it?”
She tried to come up with a response, then shook her head and kissed him. After a few minutes, she let him up for air, and he could tell she was still trying to think of an answer. To save her the trouble, he kissed her back. It was all the answer either of them needed.
It was the third encore, and everyone in the audience at the Esmerelda was on their feet, clapping madly. A Christmas Carol had been a smashing success, in more ways than one. The play itself had been wonderful, but it looked like two of the cast members – Andy McKay, grandson of the director, who’d played Young Scrooge, and Cassie Winston, who’d played Belle, were holding hands up there on the stage, and staring into each other’s eyes rather than out at the audience like all their castmates. It was no surprise, after the way he’d kissed her during the play when all Young Scrooge was supposed to do was ask her to dance.
“Good for them,” Marianne said. “Looks like we weren’t the only ones to find love this Christmas.” She replayed her words – had she just said “love?”
Jack had heard her, but he didn’t react to that particular word. Which meant – what?
It was obvious what it meant. He already knew she loved him. Hadn’t she joked about proposing, except it wasn’t all that much of a joke?
“It’s not just them, either,” he said. “Look at that couple, down there on the left.” He was pointing down to the orchestra seats at Brent and Nicole Todd. His arm was around her, and she was leaning into him as though they were the only two people in the world. “They’re the ones who run the animal shelter, right?”
“Yes, they are. Looks like they’re still in their honeymoon phase.” They’d been married back in the spring, so they were still technically newlyweds. “Good for them.”
Jack put an arm around her, pulled her close. “Good for us,” he said. “This has been one heck of a holiday. I just don’t know how you’re going to top all of this next year.”
Marianne didn’t know, either. “I’ll figure it out. I mean, we will, right?”
She didn’t wait for him to answer; she just kissed him, right there in the middle of the balcony, in the midst of the crowd, for both Scrooges, Young and Old, and the Cratchits, and all the backstage crew, and pretty much everyone in the whole town to see.
She wouldn’t have had it any other way.
That’s a wrap – The End!
If you enjoyed A Reel Christmas in Romance, please take a moment to leave a review on Amazon, or anywhere else you review books! And if you really enjoyed it, you can listen to the story on Audible, narrated by the amazing Cait Frizzell!
Welcome to Romance — an Oregon town where love lingers around every corner and residents pull out all the stops for Christmas in Romance.
Between odd animals, lost loves, second chances, hidden identities, a secret Santa, and bickering senior citizens, it might just take a miracle to bring everyone a happily-ever-after for the holidays.
Settle in a chair by the fire, sip a cup of hot cocoa, and immerse yourself in the friendly town of Romance with this series of six sweet Christmas novellas from bestselling and award-winning authors.
Sleigh Bells Ring in Romance by Shanna Hatfield - A determined widow and a persistent rancher need a nudge toward love.
A Merry Miracle in Romance by Melanie D. Snitker - It’ll take a Christmas miracle to turn a grudging friendship into true love.
Holding Onto Love in Romance by Liwen Y. Ho - A small town inn owner and a big time pop star need a reason to keep holding onto love.
A Reel Christmas in Romance by J. J. DiBenedetto - Unwittingly engaged in the plot of a classic Hollywood romance, can two email pen-pals find their way to a happy ending?
A Christmas Carol in Romance by Franky A. Brown - A bitter-on-love radio DJ and his girlfriend of romance past need a second chance.
Santa’s Visit in Romance by Jessica L. Elliott - Santa’s got his work cut out for him to help a reluctant couple find love during the holidays.
Find out more about Romance, Oregon on Facebook:
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https://www.facebook.com/welcometoromance/
Read on for an excerpt from book five of Christmas in Romance, A Christmas Carol in Romance by Franky A. Brown…
By
Franky A. Brown
The producer waited until the sign above the door signaled A.J. was off the air, then opened the door and walked in. Cassie tried to hide behind the large man, but he stepped to the side, held out a chair for her, and gestured for her to sit. “Andy, this is your guest, author C.W. Loveless.”
Andy’s eyes bugged out when he saw her. He pulled off his headphones, leaving his dark hair rustled. “Cassie? What are you doing here?”
Cassie rubbed the back of her neck and pulled the book toward her chest. She could only imagine what Andy had been saying about her since she’d left.
“She’s your guest this morning. Remember the book I gave you?” The producer slapped Andy on the shoulder. “Come on, man. Get with it this morning.” Then the producer hurried out of the room.
They sat in silence for several seconds, neither one making a sound, both staring at the switchboard in front of them.
“Congratulations on getting the morning show,” Cassie squeaked out, keeping her eyes forward.
Andy turned to her and stared until she peered at him from the corner of her eyes. “You’re the author of that book? Jack has been raving about it. He’s actually planning a trip to Europe now. Seriously, Cassie? What are you doing here?”
Cassie turned in her chair and faced him. “I’m sorry, Andy. I did want to talk to you, but not like this. I thought Mindy would be interviewing me this morning. I had no idea.”
“How could you know? You’ve been gone a while.”
Cassie met his eyes, the smooth caramel ones that stole her heart. “I’ll go if you want me to, Andy.”
“You said you came here wanting to talk to me? Is it about whatever is in this letter?” Andy shoved an envelope across the table at her and she took it.
“You didn’t read it?”
“What can you possibly have to say to me, Cassie?”
“I apologized for leaving and explained why.”
“You told me why to my face, remember? I need space. Does that sound familiar?” Andy turned to look at his computer screen, then watched the numbers counting down on a digital sign. “We can’t talk about this now, we’re on in five seconds.”
He placed a microphone in front of her and hit a few buttons on the switch board in front of them.
“We’re back with our guest this morning, local author, C.W. Loveless. Her book is…” He reached for a copy of her book on the other side of his computer. “My Heart’s Journey: Travels through Europe and Asia.”
Andy pressed his lips together tightly in a pained expression. He laid the book down in front of him, then looked at her, making her heart tremble. “Tell us about it, Miss…Loveless.”
“It’s about my adventures abroad. I traveled all over Europe and Asia writing for Travel There Magazine. The book is a compilation of everything I learned.”
Andy’s jaw was tight, and Cassie’s stomach twisted in a knot. This was a mistake. Talking about her travels without him would only pour salt in the wound.
“It’s filled with travel tips, hotel and restaurant recommendations…” Yet she wondered if she could use this for something good. Could she appeal to him this way?
“I made a lot of mistakes in my life. This journey gave me time for plenty of introspection.”
Andy raised his eyebrows at her, but she pressed on. “It was incredible, all the places I went, people I met. I journaled the entire time and a lot of that went into this book. I did spend time reflecting on my life…and my regrets.”
Andy tilted his head and watched her closely. “What regrets?”
“I was pretty stupid. It was a job opportunity of a lifetime, but in taking it, I didn’t think there was room for anything else in my life.” Cassie stared at him, heart beating painfully. “It was a mistake to believe that.”
“We’ll be right back, folks.” Andy flipped a switch and the ‘On the Air’ sign on the side wall switched off.
“Cassie, this isn’t a good idea.”
“What isn’t a good idea?”
“You being here, trying to make up with me on the radio.”
“I wanted to apologize. Especially since you didn’t even read my letter. I’ve missed you, Andy.”
“Thank you for this, but we can’t happen again, Cassie. It’s too much. How do you expect a man to recover and trust you again after three refused proposals?”
“Three?”
“Yes, three.”
“It was two, Andy. Once at high school graduation and once on the radio before I left. How was I supposed to take a publicity stunt like that seriously?”
“It wasn’t a publicity stunt. I was never more serious about anything in my life. Then I played “Endless Love”.
Cassie groaned. “It was in the middle of the segment on Christmas proposals. You’re telling me you didn’t do that to spike the ratings?”
“I did not. And I was crushed when you said no.”
Guilt washed through her. He could have chosen a better time and place to propose, but if he really had been serious…she’d absolutely soundly rejected him and told him she was leaving for Europe. “What was the alleged third time?”
“It was the first time. We were sixteen, I think. I proposed to you the night we went to go see that chick flick you were so excited out. What was the name of that?” Andy shook his head. “Doesn’t matter. We were driving home and started talking. I proposed…then realized you were asleep.”
Cassie glared at him. “You proposed while I was asleep? How does that count?”
“It takes a man a great deal of thought and anxiety to work up to a proposal. You were awake when I began expressing how I felt about you. Falling asleep in the middle of that was rather offensive.”
Cassie was in shock Andy was sharing so much. He proposed while driving? Cassie felt her blood warming in her veins. She remembered one night they’d gone to a late movie to get out of the house away from her parents loud arguing. “I don’t recall you saying anything about marriage.”
“I was telling you my feelings. Something you were relentless in complaining that I never did.”
“Well, I’m sorry if I was tired and you proposed while I was asleep in the car. At midnight. If I didn’t hear a proposal, it doesn’t count.”
“It was a mistake.” Andy shook his head and massaged his temples.
“You think? We were sixteen.”
“While you have a valid point, the fact is, you were conscious for two proposals, and that is still too many to rebound from.”
“You’re right, Andy. I screwed up and I’m sorry I came here. I’ll go.”
“What about the interview?”
“Just plug my website. It’s on the inside flap.” She stood and clung to the back of her chair. “I won’t bother you again.”
She turned to leave, feeling the crushing force of a waterfall of emotions falling on her.
Her eyes began to water. She hurried to her car in the parking lot and hopped in. The air was frigid and she turned on the heat quickly so it could start to warm up.
What was she doing here? She must have lost her mind somewhere along the way when she was traveling all over the world.
J.J. (James) DiBenedetto is a marketing professional by day and novelist by night. He lives in lovely Arlington, Virginia with his beautiful wife and a very demanding cat who runs the house. He’s the author of the Dream Doctor Mysteries, the Jane Barnaby Adventures and other works.
About the Cover
The cover was designed by Shanna Hatfield, who’s also an amazing author, and the mastermind behind the fictional town of Romance, Oregon. You can follow her at her webs
ite:
www.shannahatfield.com
About the Designer
Colleen is a book interior designer and typesetter out to quell the terrified mental anguish of readers forced to read their favorite books with awkward and distracting pagination. She lives in a strange world where porcelain animal heads adorn the walls of an office that doubles as a private dreaming forest.
Consider visiting her website.
www.ampersandbookinteriors.com
A Reel Christmas In Romance (Christmas In Romance Book 4) Page 8