Page 88 of Under the Mistletoe

My heart races. “Oh, okay…”

“Why don’t you stay here? I won't be long, and I can come back to get you in a few hours. Let you have time with your aunt and uncle. I mean, I would rather you home, but you're safe here. Security and media are everywhere.”

“Are you sure?” I don’t want him to feel uncomfortable. I know he’s doing this for me.

“Just don’t leave the shop.”

“It’s like thirty-five outside. I can practically see my own breath in smoke. I won’t be going anywhere.” He smiles, obviously happy with that answer.

“I won’t be long.” He leans in to kiss me, then stands, walking out to see my uncle, and I watch them have a short conversation before shaking hands and he walks out of the shop, Gordon quickly getting him in the car.

It’s only been an hour, but it feels like it’s gotten darker and cooler. Winter Solstice is almost here, and so the little daylight we’ve had today makes it look almost too gray for anyone to be out and about.

It feels good to lift and pack some boxes. As I pack the last one, I stand and stretch my back, seeing the media pack across the street still, yet the rest of the street is eerily empty.

But I’m not worried. Donovan said he had security around; I just assume they must be at the end of the block or something.

The bell over the door jingles, and a few men walk in, trying to look inconspicuous yet looking right at me.

“Can I help you?” Uncle Bobby is straight onto them, so I turn back to my boxes to pack up my mess.

“Hey, Jay Jay.”

I almost jump out of my skin as I turn quickly, Jimmy standing there.

“Jimmy,” I breathe out, and my hand rests on my thumping heart. “I didn’t see you come in.”

“Sorry. I shouldn’t have startled you. How have you been?” I take a few more deep breaths to calm myself.

“Oh, fine. Just busy, you know how it is.”

“You weren’t in last week. Been away?”

I start grabbing the empty boxes around me, and Jimmy helps. My eyes flick to Uncle Bob, waiting for him to kick Jimmy out, as per usual, but he’s still busy with the two men who came in.

“Jay Jay? You alright?” I blink a few times, my eyes settling back on Jimmy.

“Yeah. Sorry, Jimmy. Just a few things on my mind.”

“Yeah. I can imagine that’s the case. When your boyfriend is a big shot CEO.” His tone is jokingly calm.

“Donovan does attract a crowd,” I say simply.

“You could’ve just told me you had a boyfriend. Here I am, asking you for lunch dates… you must have thought I was so pathetic…”

I immediately shake my head. “Oh no. Jimmy, it wasn’t like that.”

Uncle Bob raises his voice, and Jimmy and I both look at the counter. One of the guys has a camera, so clearly the media have walked right in here.

“Oh no.”

“Should I step in?” Jimmy offers, just as Aunt Vivian comes out front, my aunt and uncle now on guard.

“Go out the back, honey. We’ll take care of this,” Aunt Vivian tells me, and Jimmy walks with me out to the kitchen as the voices out front continue to rise.

“This is cool. I’ve never been out back here before,” Jimmy says, looking around.

“It’s a good spot for lunch,” I comment mindlessly as my hands shake with the raised voices coming from the shop. The media are intrusive, but I’m grateful that’s all they are.