Page 8 of Promise Yule Be Mine (Christmas Falls: Season 2)

8

NOVA

I needed to stop doing this. To stop forgetting myself around him. I didn't know why it kept happening. Why the world seemed to melt away and all I could see was him, even in Nikita’s presence, who was obviously enamored with me.

I should have liked the young man. I mean, I did. He was cute. And available, and yet I couldn't look away from his older brother. His engaged brother. The guy engaged to my best friend.

I was such a creep and I didn't want to be.

What was so damn special about Kody Campbell?

By the time I woke up the next morning, after an evening that had been all sorts of magical, some of them for the wrong reasons, Jenna was already gone. It put a pickle in our plans for the next few days but it wasn't a complete disaster. I was a pro, after all. I didn't need help to do my job, except it left me with Kody. And that was the last thing I needed. Any alone time with him.

Which was exactly the reason why I had to be ruthless, to plan my days here down to the T, to make sure I only spoke to him when necessary and preferably over the phone.

Not because I was afraid of jumping the guy like a creep. If anything, that was the last thing he needed to worry about from me. But sex wasn't the thing on my mind when I was with him. Cuddles by the fireplace, kisses in the snow, and movie nights over popcorn were. But none of those were innocent or friendly. Not even movie nights over popcorn.

Breakfast at the Cottage was a little busier than I would have liked, so I decided to give Arlo, the owner, some relief and ventured into the world of Christmas Falls instead in pursuit of the most important meal of the day. Coffee.

I walked around the block, where I found a book store, Season's Readings. The outside was dressed in garlands, the windows tinted with spray-on snow but still giving me a peek inside and all the people engaged in slow dances in front of book shelves, trying to find their next read.

As I passed the front door I spotted a poster on the wall.

E.S. Maxwell Signing: Join us next week to get your signed copies by our local cozy mystery author and get a live reading of his new book.

E.S. Maxwell lived here? In Christmas Falls? What the hell? How did I not know that? And he was giving everyone a preview of his next book?

Damn it. Now I wished I was staying longer so I could attend. Maybe after coffee I could stop by to ask if he was around. Surely an author in a small town would stop by their local book store often, right?

I was about to continue my walk up the street when I spotted a sign that promised me gold. Jolly Java. It was right next to Season's Readings and the aroma of fresh ground coffee hit me before I even reached the place.

I took a deep breath, opened the door and let the warm embrace of the café lure me in.

"Hello there, welcome to Jolly Java. What's your poison?" asked a tan white man with dark hair and an infectious smile.

What the hell? Were cute, infectious smiles the town's signature?

"Do you have any holiday specials?" I asked because when in Rome…

"Sure do," he answered and listed all the specials until I got the one I craved the most—a gingerbread latte with extra caramel and cream.

Despite how busy the place was, there were a lot of empty tables, which suited me just fine as I took a seat and turned on my laptop so I could get to work.

"Can I get you anything to eat?" The same man stopped by my table as he collected empties.

"Oh, I'm okay. That's more than enough for me in the morning." I lifted my cup and smiled. "But I might get something later. Everything smells great."

"Aw thanks, man. That's so nice to hear considering…"

I grimaced. "‘Considering’?"

He shrugged. "It's nothing. I just bought the place and the locals aren't too happy with my changes but it's good to know I've not gone completely off the rails."

"I'm sorry to hear that. I hope you manage to win them over. I'm sure they'll come around. I mean, who can hate this coffee?"

"Thanks, man. That means a lot." He flashed me his pearly whites again and left me to my own devices.

The rest of the day went swimmingly. I managed to catch up on all my emails and with everything on my to-do list for Jenna and Kody without getting distracted by floating mustaches or light parades or fantasies of kissing under the mistletoe.

It was as if I were back in New York and my fever dreams were just that. Fever dreams that needn't be entertained.

Sunday went somewhat similarly, although I did leave my meeting with Kody for last. I couldn't allow myself to be distracted and I knew that was exactly what would happen if I met up with him early.

I still had to brace myself before I walked into The White Elephant.

"Oh hey!" he exclaimed upon seeing me, and whatever resolve I'd managed to gather went out of the window.

Why did he have to be so handsome? Why did he have to have the most beautiful smile I'd ever seen despite having a 'stache that would be the envy of any 80s porn star? And why did his eyes have to look at me as if they could see all the way into my soul?

It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair that I only ever felt like that for the first time with him and there was nothing I could do about it.

"Hey, hi!" I said.

"How was your day yesterday? I'm so sorry I couldn't meet up with you. It's been super busy here so we needed all hands on deck."

"Don't worry about it. I'm fine. I don't need babysitting." I chuckled. "I did manage to get some more things checked off the list."

He wiped his hands on a tea towel and came to stand in front of me on the other side of the bar.

"Oh yeah. Like what?" he asked. "Would you like a drink by the way?"

"Oh, uhm…" I shouldn't. Who knew what kind of bullshit I'd say if there was any trace of alcohol in me. "What do you recommend?"

Screw it. It wasn't like I was a child. I could restrain myself. I wasn't a complete fool.

"Well, I've got a great selection of craft beers but we also have some holiday specials. Would you like a flight of some of the best?"

"Sure."

He got to work preparing my flight of tasters and soon returned with them and a little notecard for each beer.

One of them was called Fistmas. I didn't know if the person who named it had thought that through.

"So, I spoke with the caterer and I managed to convince them to add a fish and a vegan option."

"Oh that's great. I don't know why they were being so difficult about it."

I rolled my eyes. “Some caterers are like that. They're trying to make service as easy as possible, which is why their first sample menu had cold appetizers and desserts."

He nodded. "I know. Don't get me wrong, I know why they do it, but they were so insistent it wasn't possible when clearly we both know it is. Even my chef rolled his eyes when I told him."

I chuckled. "Yeah. I think profit is another reason, which is annoying because suppliers already overcharge for weddings. The least they can do is be agreeable."

"Right?"

I brought my hand down to pick up one of the glasses. At the same time, Kody put his down on the same glass. Our fingers touched for a split second. An electrifying second. It sent shivers down my spine and made my breath hitch. But then I came to my senses and pulled back, apologizing.

"Sorry," he said. "You…you should try this one. It's my favorite."

He picked up the glass and offered me a dark red beer that smelled fruity. I took it, extra careful not to touch him again and completely fry my brain, and took a sip.

It was sweet, fruity and sharp—a perfect blend of cherries and honey. It made me giggle for some reason. I didn't know why. I hadn't giggled since I was a child, and even then, it was reserved for some pretty rough tickle fights. Not that there was anything wrong with giggling. But it wasn't a natural reaction to drinking a beer.

"That's delicious," I said and looked at Kody, an expectant smile on his face as he awaited my verdict.

"That's Mad Elf. It's a fan favorite." He flicked a card between his fingers and I picked up the taste note for the beer.

"Belgian. Figures. Those people know their beer," I said.

"And we have monks to thank for their craft," he said.

I cocked my head. "Monks?"

"Yeah. The monks of Chimay brewed their first beer for commercial use and they changed the game."

I pursed my lips and nodded. "That, I did not know."

"Well, now you do." He also pursed his lips into a smile and my guts took a tumble as if freefalling from a skyscraper.

Fuck my life.

"Cool. Thanks," I said. "I…erm…I also emailed the florist with your choice of centerpieces and venue decor. Did you manage to get a playlist together for the DJ? Also, do you think you can send me your RSVPs so we can start figuring out a table plan and getting dietary requirements together?"

"Ah." Kody hissed. "That."

"Problem?" I grimaced.

Before he could answer, his phone went off and he turned to answer it.

I watched him for a moment, trying to figure out what I'd said wrong, but then he caught me staring and I turned away, trying to act normal. I did the best thing I could and tried the other beers he'd offered me. The Twelve Dogs of Christmas was like Christmas cake in liquid form. Sweet, spiced and everything nice. Fistmas, on the other hand was gross. Definitely not for me. In all senses of the word.

"Yeah, that one is a bit rough. I really don't like it," he said, eyeing my glass.

"They could have gone back to the drawing board with this one. Even the name is…well, weird."

Kody laughed and took the glass away.

"Let's take this abomination away from you." He poured the beer into the sink.

"So…" he started when he approached me again. "We have a bit of a problem."

I cocked my head and stared at him. "What kind of problem?"

"Jenna. She…uhm…she's stuck abroad. Her airline is having issues with the weather and overbookings or something, I'm not sure I understood, but she doesn't know when she'll be back."

"Oh. But she'll be back in time for the wedding, right?"

"Yes. Definitely! It's just…we were supposed to send out the invites this weekend."

I almost choked.

"Your invites? You haven't sent out invites yet?"

He shook his head slowly, guiltily.

"Please tell me you've sent save-the-dates."

He shook his head again.

"Oh. We've got a problem."

"I know. We were supposed to do it but something always came up and we kept putting it off."

Who forgot to send out invites to their wedding? A wedding that was happening in under a month?

"Not to worry. I'll help."

Kody shook his head. "Oh no, please. I couldn't. You're flying back tomorrow."

I sighed. "Not anymore. I'll rebook my flight and we'll sit down tomorrow and get them done. Only…”

“Only what?” he asked.

“I’m supposed to check out of the Cottage tomorrow. I wonder if I can extend my stay.”

Kody pursed his lips from side to side.

“I doubt it. They get pretty busy this time of year. All the hotels do. But it’s not a problem. You can stay at Jenna’s.”

I shook my head. “I couldn’t.”

“You can and you will. It’s all empty and lonely anyway. I’m sure Jenna won’t mind. Especially since you’re saving our butts this week.”

I sighed.

There really was no other option and I had to stay and do my job, but the last thing I needed was to be around Kody twenty-four seven, temptation in close quarters.

Although he did say…

“Did you say Jenna’s? You guys don’t live together?”

He grimaced. “Not yet. We’re thinking after the wedding we’ll sort something out.”

I nodded but I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of relationship these two had. They weren’t very organized. What kind of couple in this day and age doesn’t cohabitate first before tying the knot?

I mean, I knew Aunty Maria was religious, but Jenna had never cared about those kinds of rules, unless something had changed in the decade and a half since I’d last seen her.

“Okay. I’ll stay at Jenna’s. But you need to do me a favor."

Kody bit his lip and nodded. "Anything."

The way he said it would ring in my head for the rest of the evening, all the way into the night.

What I wouldn't give to hear him say that to me and only me. That he'd do anything for me, with me.

"You need to compile a list of all the people you want to invite."

"You got it," he said and winked at me.

Huh. I wish. I may have had this wedding under control but my feelings? Those were an entirely different story.