Page 20 of Soldier’s Christmas Crush (Trinity Falls: Home for Christmas #4)

WILLOW

W illow sat at a table in Mal’s bakery. Tiny Christmas lights and holly lined the walls, and the whole place smelled like a heavenly combination of gingerbread and freshly baked sourdough.

Mal had invited a few friends to the bakery after closing time to join her for free treats and the filling of the Christmas baskets that people in town had ordered as gifts to be dropped off on porches or taken to parties.

The atmosphere was so cozy and the company so much fun that Willow was actually finding it possible to stop thinking about Jensen Webb and just enjoy herself, at least for a little while.

She had done the right thing last night, telling him that they couldn’t keep seeing each other. Both of them cared too much about Ransom to risk their fresh chance to bring him back into their lives.

But that didn’t mean the sacrifice didn’t hurt .

It would have been so nice to let him kiss me just one time…

“How’s your buddy, Valerie?” Mal asked their friend in a teasing tone as she placed a packet of foil-wrapped, egg nog brownies into a basket and passed it down to Ana, who added a mini-pecan pie.

“Which buddy?” Valerie shot back, cool as ice.

“You see?” Mal said, turning to Ana in mock exasperation. “She’s impossible.”

Ana laughed gently and handed the basket to Valerie.

Valerie added a mason jar of gourmet hot chocolate powder with a gingham-wrapped lid, and handed the basket down to Willow.

“Who’s your buddy, Valerie?” Willow asked lightly as she placed a candy cane in the basket and tied a satin ribbon to the handle.

“It’s—” Mal began.

“I don’t have a buddy,” Valerie cut in. “I fly solo. Always have, always will.”

“For now,” Ana whispered.

“ Et tu , Ana?” Valerie asked. But she was smiling fondly. Ana was as sweet as the treats in the baskets, and they all adored her.

Mariah’s “All I Want for Christmas” came on the radio, and Willow smiled and nodded along.

“Who wants another gingerbread tea?” Mal asked, hopping up. “I’ve also got lemon pound cake and imperfect pecan sandies up for grabs.”

“How many courses of dessert can we eat?” Valerie teased .

“I’m willing to find out,” Willow put in. “Yes, please, to all of it. I need a sugar rush.”

“I’ll help you,” Valerie told Mal, hopping up to join her back in the kitchen, and leaving Ana and Willow alone at the table.

“Are you okay?” Ana asked gently.

Willow bit her lip and thought about how to answer that.

“It’s Jensen,” she admitted after a moment.

“What happened?” Ana asked.

“It’s a long story,” Willow told her. “But it’s just not going to work between us. There’s too much on the line.”

“Okay…” Ana said.

“What?” Willow asked.

“You just got home,” Ana said lightly. “There’s no need to rush into anything.”

“That’s true,” Willow said, though she was pretty sure nothing was going to change.

“You’ve come so far,” Ana said. “Why not relax and see where the road takes you?”

“What are you two so serious about?” Valerie asked, as she walked back in, carrying a tray of treats, followed by Mal, who had a teapot and mugs on a tray.

Ana glanced at Willow, as if asking permission to share.

“Jensen,” Willow said quietly.

“Something happened with Jensen?” Mal asked, setting down the teapot on the table and fixing Willow with a curious gaze.

“I… went on a date with him,” Willow said. “At least it was supposed to be a date, but I changed my mind. ”

“Why would you change your mind?” Valerie asked, frowning. “The man was practically designed for you.”

“What does that mean?” Mal asked, looking a little horrified.

“He’s tall, dark, and handsome,” Valerie said. “He’s got that super-deep, intimidating manly voice, but he’s a sweet guy. And he was already built-in-best-friends with your brother.”

Somehow, Valerie listed off all those qualities in such a brisk and businesslike manner that Willow didn’t feel a bit jealous when she hit on some of the exact things she liked best about Jensen herself.

“Is that right?” Ana asked.

“She got most of it, yes,” Willow chuckled, impressed.

“So what’s the problem?” Valerie asked, pouring herself a steaming cup of tea. “You like him, he likes you.”

“It’s Ransom,” Willow said. “He didn’t want me joining the Army. He was pretty mad at me when I decided to go. And he was furious with Jensen.”

“Why?” Valerie asked.

“Because Jensen talked to me about it seriously when I asked him,” Willow said. “Instead of dismissing the idea out of hand like my brother did.”

“Why did he dismiss it?” Mal asked.

“I’m his baby sister,” Willow said, sighing.

“He’s always been protective of me, especially since we grew up without a dad around.

I guess he was afraid I’d get sent somewhere dangerous and get hurt, and that would be his fault somehow.

Anyway, things between us are thawing now that I’m home, which makes me happy.

And Jensen deserves that same chance to get his best friend back. ”

“I think your brother should go jump in the lake,” Valerie said decisively. “He needs to accept who you are and what you want from your life. He’s got more to lose than you do, anyway—he’s the one who’s going to be missing out on free babysitting from you.”

Mal let out a giggle and then put her hand over her mouth.

“So you think I should just choose a guy over my own brother?” Willow asked.

“No, definitely not,” Valerie said dismissively. “Jensen should jump in the lake too.”

“Why?” Mal asked, looking astonished.

“He needs to stand up and fight for what he wants,” Valerie said. “Good men don’t sneak around with women they respect. And as long as he just sits there and lets you run away using Ransom as your excuse, he’s not worthy of you.”

The truth of that frank statement hit Willow like a sledgehammer in the chest.

That can’t be right, can it? Jensen Webb is a good man.

But as she gazed around the table, it seemed like the others were in agreement. Even sweet Ana nodded with a sad look in her eyes.

He’s always been a wonderful person, Willow thought to herself. I must bring out the worst in him.