Page 2 of Christmas Kisses (Majestic Falls: Christmas Spice #2)

Micha Parsons

Doris’ granddaughter surprised me. I’d only known Doris as an older woman, but I had to imagine, Jessica was what my neighbor had looked like when she was younger.

Silky dark brown hair tumbled over her shoulders in a riot of curls while her eyes reminded me of the milk chocolates that had been sold here for years. She was delicious, and…

Stick to business.

I couldn’t afford to fall for her. She hadn’t said so, but I got the distinct feeling she was here for the holiday then she’d race back to Colorado faster than I could say flambe .

“This is, um, was Doris’ office.” I led Jessica to a door on the side of the kitchen. “She kept her inventory sheets in here. And employee information.”

“Employee information?” Jessica gasped. “You mean like people who might know how to make this incredible candy I keep hearing about?”

“Especially one people . My Grandma Maple, actually. She was more than a worker. She was Doris’ best friend.

I know she’ll be thrilled to help you. We’ll both help you.

” I couldn’t help offering the last part but didn’t know why.

I had about a million other things waiting for me, but as soon as I’d stepped foot through the shop’s back door and laid eyes on Jessica, everything else had faded away. She needed me, so I’d be here.

I wanted to get to know her.

And that made no damn sense. I’d just met the dark-haired beauty. I knew she was from Colorado, but for some reason, she didn’t fill my vision of a ski-lodge slope bunny.

“You’re kidding me,” she exclaimed, dragging me from my thoughts. Had I said that out loud?

“About…what?”

“Your grandma’s name is Maple?” She laughed, and my ire raised on my gran’s behalf.

“Yeah? And?” I asked, my tone just shy of hostile.

“The lawyer told me maple would help. I thought he meant some kind of candy flavoring. Not a person named Maple. I should have known…” She whispered the last, shaking her head.

Oh… Okay, well, that was okay. My anger receded, and my mind returned to whether or not a fling with Jessica would be a bad idea.

Which was weird for me. I couldn’t recall a time when I’d felt so instantly attracted to a woman.

This was like what had happened to my best friend, Caleb, last Christmas.

He claimed it was a family thing, but I thought maybe it was a Majestic Falls thing.

“She’ll definitely want to help. She…loved your grandma.”

Jessica walked into the office and peered around. “So, I don’t really need to find employee information? You already have it.”

“I have my gran’s info, yes. But I don’t have Jenny, Moriah or Isaac’s. They help run the counter and make a lot of the candy. They’ll be glad you’re here and opening the store, so they can get back to work. Isaac will get the online store up again, too.”

“What? Wait! No, I’m just here to run the store—the brick-and-mortar portion—through Christmas. I didn’t know there was… staff .”

I raised my brow. “You didn’t think your grandma made all the candy, ran the counter for the town and all the tourists who come through, and filled thousands of web orders? All by herself? Did you?”

She shrugged a slim shoulder, looking sad. “I… I didn’t know anything about her, actually. She and my mom…didn’t get along. They didn’t speak. By extension, well, I didn’t know my grandma. Or anything about her business. Honestly, I didn’t even know she had a business or where she lived.”

“She was a great lady.”

“Seems like it.”

Jessica’s face held a world of sadness and regret.

And an iron determination to hold herself together.

She picked up the single, framed photo on Doris’ desk.

It was of the store’s entire crew and me, from last Christmas Eve, just after closing.

I’d been roped into running the counter that night, and we’d all been exhausted by the time my grandma had locked the doors.

I pointed to the book in the center of the desk. “This ledger has the current inventory. Your grandma always kept records by hand, if you want to look them over.”

Jessica’s long, graceful fingers ran over the cover then she looked away.

I’d never seen someone look so sad…and alone.

Forlorn and lost. I wondered if she had anyone.

Did she have any family, good friends or even a boyfriend or husband to give her support?

For some reason, I hated the last options.

I didn’t want any men in her life that way.

Which was ridiculous. She’d just said she wasn’t staying.

And I just met her!

I stared at the tiled floor, trying to will away my illogical thoughts.

“I wouldn’t even know what inventory there should be,” she admitted.

“What do you do in Colorado?”

“I don’t make candy,” she scoffed. “I’m passable in the kitchen.

I can kinda sorta bake or put together a meal—if I have to.

And honestly, I’m best if it’s mostly premade or from a box.

But for work…I’m a productivity and life coach.

I help people live their best lives and all that.

I do videos and create planners and systems to help clients reach their full potential.

I also run courses and personally coach individuals on the path to reaching their dreams.”

She looked far too young to be guiding people that way.

“That’s impressive,” I said, my words genuine.

“It’s what I’m good at.”

The comment seemed so off-hand and nonchalant.

“Do you enjoy it?” I asked.

“Yeah. Sure.” Again, the words sounded dispassionate, and she fiddled with the edge of the ledger, avoiding my gaze.

Somehow, I didn’t believe she did like her job, but who was I to judge?

I was biased. I wanted her to jump in and love Hard Candy Kisses .

The place was a legend, beloved by everyone in Majestic Falls.

That was my wish, but maybe, Jessica had the best life a person could ever live, and she was just overwhelmed right now.

“Tell you what,” I offered. “Why don’t I give Grandma Maple a call and see if she can meet you here in the morning? Beyond keeping things shiny, I won’t be much help getting things running again.”

Relief filled her eyes when she looked back at me.

“Yes. Thank you,” she breathed.

“And will you let me take you to dinner tonight and welcome you to town?”

Her lips curled into a half-smile, and she eyed me speculatively. “That’s very selfless and Welcome-Wagon of you.”

I laughed, loving the sparkle that had emerged in her eyes for the first time since I’d met her. I wanted to keep it there and see more of it. Much more. “I’m a saint. Ask anyone.”

“Uh-huh.”

“So…dinner?” I prodded. I needed her to agree.

“Well…I wouldn’t want to mess with your bid for sainthood. Heaven forbid, the town’s hospitality committee find out you shirked your duties. I don’t want to be party to that.”

She smiled wide, and my world lit up. I couldn’t help but smile back, even while I wondered what the hell was happening to me.

Forget Hard Candy Kisses. How would I make it through Christmas without discovering the taste of Jessica’s kisses?

It was my new goal, and as a life coach, she was exactly the one to help me reach it.