Page 6 of Promise Yule Be Mine (Christmas Falls: Season 2)

6

NOVA

“ S o…what’s the plan for today, Future Mrs. Campbell?” I injected as much enthusiasm into my question—and my attitude—as possible for fear of letting my true colors show. Colors being a code for obsession and true being code for “your fiancé.”

It was unbelievable so much time had passed since I’d met Kody for the first and only time and my fascination with him and his life persisted like a horrible itch. Or a dreamy fantasy as Rhett liked to put it, which didn’t help my case.

The one and only silver lining was that I was here for work and work alone. I was here to do what I did best and that should keep me busy enough to stop me dwelling on my unnecessary and unhealthy fixation.

“I want to show you more of Christmas Falls, so we’re going to the Arts and Crafts Fair so you can get immersed in the holiday magic.”

I turned to my driver, friend, and client, and narrowed my eyes.

“Shouldn’t we catch up on the wedding stuff? It’s in less than a month.”

“Oh. Yes,” she said with a roll of her eyes and after a little lip-biting she added. “Well, we’ll kill two birds with one stone. That’s where the wedding is taking place.”

“Ah, okay then. That sounds great.”

That was a strange interaction, unlike any I’d had so close to someone’s wedding. But Jenna was also a friend. An old one, but a friend nonetheless, so maybe she was just being more of a friend than a demanding bride and that was A-OK with me.

Our first stop was the bed and breakfast I’d be staying at for a few days, Gingerbread Cottage, which I found out was aptly named since it looked like a real-life gingerbread house that was too cute to be real, but not only was it real, it was warm and cozy as can be.

The host, Arlo, was a sweet guy who welcomed me into my room and gave me his number for anything I needed, and once I left my luggage we were back on the road, this time to more familiar territory.

The White Elephant remained unchanged since the last time I’d been there, and since the last time I’d looked at the photos of the place online. In fact, apart from a few touch-ups and some knick-knacks, it hadn’t changed at all for the last ten or so years, which was as far back as I could go on my investigative/obsessive research.

Jenna opened the front door for me and I bit my lip, looking away, hoping to postpone seeing the man of my dreams a little longer when I caught sight of the bakery sign and a whiff of gingerbread cookies. My stomach grumbled, demanding to be filled with a ton of them, but I wasn’t here for pleasure.

Isn’t that the understatement of the century?

Of course, the very next thing I saw was the hunk of a man who had been haunting me for forty-five days, five hours and some minutes.

“Nova! You made it. So good to see you.”

My hand was wrapped by both of his immediately, giving me whiplash with the contact and the gentle strength, but my mouth went dry, which meant I just croaked a “you too” and nodded like a buffoon.

“Did you have a good Thanksgiving? Thank you for flying out in the middle of the holidays.”

This was so strange. Last time we’d met he had been quiet as anything and now, all of a sudden, he was chatty Cathy. It was as if we’d swapped roles.

Jenna led us to a booth and we all sat down. I didn’t know if it was the smell of the oak, the cushion beneath my ass or just plain common sense finding me again, but I managed to get my thoughts in order.

“It was great, thank you. And no problem at all. I love my job so it’s not a chore.”

Both Jenna and Kody stared at me for a moment before I realized it had been several minutes since he asked me the question.

If I could mentally slap myself, I would have. But I didn’t think I could do it without actually planting one for real.

“So, how are we feeling?” I changed the subject. “Ready for the big day? Any issues I should be aware of?”

I turned to Jenna and unearthed my iPad and Pencil so I could go through my list.

Jenna pursed her lips from side to side and looked at the tablet rather than me.

“Jen—” I started when Kody leaned forward, taking Jenna’s hand.

“Everything is okay on our front. We’re ready and excited as ever. Right, Jen?”

Jenna barely nodded.

“So, I spoke with the baker you recommended in Springfield. She’s extremely busy over the next few weeks but managed to fit you guys in next week for a tasting. She just needs to know about allergies, which I don’t believe you have, but wanted to make sure, and of course preferences.”

“Oh. Oh.” Jenna jolted in her seat. “If she’s busy is she sure she can make the cake? We shouldn’t have left it so last minute.” She put her head in her hands and let out an exasperated sigh.

“Oh yes. She’ll be more than done with the festive season by that time so it won’t be a problem. She did say she wanted to know if she could assemble the cake the day before so she could make it back in time for her Christmas dinner and I told her that would be okay. Right?”

“Of course,” Kody said when Jenna didn’t answer.

“Great. I touched base with the florist and he sent me some photos of sample arrangements that match what your vision was so he’s all good to go and the DJ is all set, he just asked me to remind you to fill in his questionnaire so he can prepare your dream playlist.”

“We’ll get right on that. Sorry, Nova,” Kody said and smiled.

His smile was as gorgeous as I remembered it. As gorgeous as in his pictures online, and yet seeing it live was so much more vibrant and heartwarming than any camera or memory could capture.

“What?” he asked and I shook my head, realizing I’d been staring.

Shoot.

What a way to embarrass myself.

But even though I’d been a creep swooning over him, he just deepened his smile and looked into my eyes as if I were his world.

Or my imagination was very vivid. And drunk. In any case, I needed to get my shit together and stop acting like a fool.

“Sorry. Nothing. I…erm…I was going to say, should we visit the venue?”

“Sure,” Kody said. “It’s right across the street.”

I chuckled and shot up before either of them could and marched right for the door as if putting distance between him and I would give me back my brain.

True to his word, and small town magic, the venue was literally across the street.

The Christmas Falls Festival Museum.

I couldn’t believe that was a thing, and yet, it most certainly was, as my research into the place had shown me.

It was a large, magnificent space with a number of rooms. Photographs and artifacts from past decades on display along with plaques and larger posters told of the town’s history and its holiday traditions.

“It’s amazing how much history a place can hold from such a short time span,” I said when we’d gone through most of the rooms, briefly but no less respectfully.

“Yeah. I kinda wish I could see into the future, how much more there will be in here to display in a hundred years or so.” Kody smiled and brushed his hair back but it fell into his face again as if to spite him, but he looked cute, so it was hardly a crime.

“And to see if even a little part of you has left its mark in history?” I added and Kody beamed.

“I don’t care to leave a mark necessarily. People who wanted to do that often left quite a terrible stain in history, but…it’d be nice to know something I did made someone’s life a little better.”

My lungs filled with air and my heart pumped faster because how could they not? Wasn’t that sweetest statement ever?

Why Kody? Why do you have to do this to me? Why do you have to be such a perfect man and make it so much harder to hate you, or at the very least, dislike you?

“What kind of difference would you like to make?” I asked, not even trying to hide the fact that his face, his eyes, were far more interesting than anything the museum had to show me.

He put his hands together and rubbed them slowly. “I…I’m still trying to figure that part out.”

“Keep me posted. I might want to copy your paper.”

Kody pursed his lips into what could only be described as a cheeky smile, his mustache tipping to one side as if it had a life of its own.

“You got it.”

I took a couple more steps and stopped on my tracks, my breath catching at the sight of a large horrifying Santa sitting in a lonely corner, and I clutched my chest.

“Are you okay?” Kody asked as Jenna touched my shoulder.

“That is the stuff of nightmares.” I pointed to the thing.

“Don’t let Nikita hear you say that. It’s what made him go into robotics,” Kody said.

“Who’s Nikita, and what is that?”

“A mechanical Santa from one of the floats in the 90s,” Jenna said.

“That is not a Santa. That is a clown dressed as Freddy Kruger.”

Kody grimaced, barely concealing his laugh. “Yeah, it didn’t do a great job standing the test of time.”

“You can say that again. I don’t think I’ll ever sleep again.”

Jenna rubbed my back affectionately and slapped Kody’s arm for laughing. I would too, if he wasn’t absolutely adorable when he laughed.

“What do you say we wrap up this tour and visit the fair?” Kody suggested.

“Let’s.” I spun around instantly and marched right out of the room so I could put that monstrosity where it belonged. Behind me.

The fair proved to be far less traumatic. In fact, it was downright sweet and once I had some cookies in my belly, I’d already forgotten what would surely haunt my nightmares for a long time. Almost forgotten.

Everywhere we walked we found a business with a pun, holiday-themed products, sellers dressed for the season and scents. All. The. Christmas. Scents. Whether they came from baked goods, candles, or perfumes, it was impossible not to get drunk on cinnamon and ginger.

“I know Christmas in New York is a whirlwind but I haven’t felt the magic of the season since I was a kid. I have to say, I’m definitely feeling it now.”

“I’m glad,” Jenna smiled. “Christmas Falls is truly a magical place.”

“We can definitely agree on that,” Kody added.

He stopped in front of a stall called Bailey’s Dog Treats and greeted the guy there.

“You’ve got a dog?” I asked as he perused the flavors and quality of the food.

“Two, actually. Cookie and Milk,” he answered and I stared at him trying to determine if he was pulling my leg or not. “You don’t believe me?”

“You’re being serious?” He nodded. “That’s adorable. What made you name them that?”

“Because Pumpkin and Latte was taken by my cats.”

Gosh. As if I needed any more excuses to like this guy. He was an animal guy.

“Okay, that I have to see,” I told him.

“You like animals?”

“Like them? I love them. A Hundred and One Dalmatians is like my dream situation,” I said.

“No way. I used to love that movie when I was a kid.”

“‘Used to’? You mean you don’t anymore? Because that’s grounds for termination of our contract.”

He laughed. “No. No. I still do. But I haven’t seen it in ages. Please don’t fire me.”

I pouted and studied his face. As if I needed to study it more. I’d practically memorized the damn thing.

“Fine. But you have to watch it tonight or I’m dropping you tomorrow.”

“Promise!” He put his hand to his heart and the other one in the air.

“Don’t think I won’t test you.”

“Test away.”

I raised an eyebrow and stared at him for far too long when I noticed Jenna watching me.

“You okay?” I asked her, acting as if I wasn’t being completely inappropriate.

“Yeah,” she said and a smile crept up on her face. “I think I am.”

I had no idea what that meant but I didn’t have time to linger on that as Kody turned around with a bag full of treats and smiled.

“We should head back so we can get ready for the Parade of Lights.”

“Of course he’ll join us. What else would he possibly do?” Jenna smiled and put her arm around mine.

This was such an odd feeling. Being sandwiched between my best friend and the man I was obsessed with, neither of whom could know what was going through my head.

“Parade of what?” I asked.