Page 9 of Christmas Kisses

Pulling out her phone, she flicked her finger across the screen a couple times then held it up for me to see. She had it open to her iTunes and the album with the score from the movie. “I’ve been listening to it on repeat for over a month. It’s haunting. I think it would make my life to actually see you playFixing Broken Promises.”

“I will. Anytime you want.”

“Tomorrow?”

“It’s a date.”

Five

Jessica

Dinner with Micha had been eye opening, to say the least. Finding out my mother had basically disowned Grandma Doris because of Maple was disconcerting but not exactly shocking. I loved my mom, but she’d had worldviews that were completely opposite of my own.

Personally, I was glad two people, who had probably lived much of their lives as shadows of who they really were, had finally found real love with each other. I honestly found it romantic.

And then there was Micha. If I let myself, I could fall for him. But I couldn’t. In less than a month, I’d head back to Colorado and he’d…be writing beautiful music for me to get addicted to while I remembered my time in Majestic Falls.

Last night, after dinner, Micha had driven me back to the store to pick up my car, and we’d sat in his truck, just talking and laughing. While I couldn’t let my heart get involved, I could see us becoming friends. I’d lain in bed afterward, staring at the ceiling and thinking about how cold and lonely Colorado could be. I’d even entertained the stray thought that Micha and I might be able to be more than friends. I’d pushed away that idea almost as fast as it had come, though.

It didn’t stay away.

Micha was special. I could feel it, even if I couldn’t exactly put my finger on what it was about him that made him consume my thoughts.

Which was a problem and confusing.

This time in Majestic Falls wastemporary!I had a ton to do to make my trip a success before I headed back out west. I couldn’t afford to fall for the nicest guy in town.

When my alarm rang at five a.m., I’d barely gotten any sleep. I was too nervous about the store opening. I was also concerned with how much I already liked this town and the people in it. Mostly, I was shaken by how much fun I’d had with Micha—and how much more fun we could have, given the chance.

This was all too much. I’d agreed to run the store through Christmas. I couldn’t consider staying. I had a life back home. A business. I wasn’t the sort of person to just pick up and move to a remote town to run a candy store full time.

I climbed out of bed, got ready and headed out, actually a little eager to get to work. When I arrived, the lights were blazing inHard Candy Kisses, and multiple people moved around inside.

“Jessica, honey, what are you doing here already?” Maple asked when I walked into the shop. She bustled over and gave me a big hug, which I returned enthusiastically, absorbing her grandmotherly warmth. The sort I’d been denied for most of my life.

“I couldn’t sleep,” I admitted. “I want to help.”

Maple beamed at me, cupping my cheeks in her weathered palms, before pulling me over to meet the women who were hard at work in the kitchen.

“Jenny, Moriah, this is Jessica. Jessica, these are the girls.”

We exchanged waves and hellos.The girlswere up to their elbows in chocolate and flour, so hand shaking was out of the question at the moment.

“Isaac will be here around nine to set up the tills,” Maple explained as she led me into the back room. “We’ll open at ten, and I imagine there will be a line around the corner.”

“Really?” I raised my eyebrows in surprise. “For candy?”

“Well, no. It’ll actually be to get a look at you.” Maple grinned at me. “But they’ll buy candy while they’re here.”

Great. Just what I wanted, to feel like a fish in a bowl. I sighed then grabbed a red-and-white apron and pulled it over my neck before I went to the sink and scrubbed my hands.

“Well, put me to work,” I insisted.

“Excuse me?”

“I want to help,” I said with a shrug. “There must be something I can do.”

“Of course.” Maple smiled sweetly and led me to a stainless steel table covered with fruits and what looked like two massive crock pots.