Getting In the Spirit: a Sapphire Falls novella (10 page)

“So where do we start?” she asked.

“Sugar.”

She looked around. Her gaze landed on four canisters of varying height next to the fridge and she pulled the one labeled
sugar
from the group. “Now what?”

He laughed. “I guess we’ll need that. But I meant sugar cookies. That’s what traditional Christmas cookies are right? The ones that are in different shapes and frosted?”

She frowned. “Yes, I think so. What else do we need for those then? Flour, I’m guessing.” She pulled that canister forward as well.

She was guessing? Uh, huh. She was cute. “Probably.”

She gave him a funny look. “Butter? Eggs?”

“Sounds good.”

She started to reach for the handle on the fridge but then dropped her hand and turned to face him. “What about paprika?”

He nodded. He knew nothing. “Sure.”

She put her hands on her hips. “Paprika? Really? I may not know anything about baking, but I do know you’re messing with me now.”

He straightened away from the counter. “You know nothing about baking? What do you mean?”

Her eyes widened. “I mean, I don’t bake.”

“You don’t? But you’re Christmas cookie crazy?”

“Yes, I am. And the bakery down the block from my building makes amazing ones.”

He frowned and stepped closer. “The bakery on the highway?”

“No, it’s on a hundred-and-fifty-seventh.”

He stared at her. Sapphire Falls did
not
have 157 streets, that much he did know. “What are you talking about? I figured all the Sapphire Falls girls baked.”

She laughed. “They probably do.”

“So
you
bake.”

She shook her head. “Knowing Sapphire Falls girls does not automatically mean I know how to bake.”

“I’m so confused.”

“Me too. I thought
you
baked.”

“Why would you think that?”

“I don’t know.” She shook her head. “I guess because you were all into the idea, and since
I
don’t bake, I figured…” She trailed off and took a deep breath. “So the guys in Sapphire Falls don’t learn to bake from their moms and grandmas?”

“I have no idea.” He felt like he was missing something here.

“How do you have no idea?”

“I…” He took a deep breath and worked on refocusing. “What are we talking about?”

“That neither of us bakes.”

“And that we assume most people in Sapphire Falls are comfortable in the kitchen.”

She smiled at that. “Perhaps a stereotype.”

“A stereotype from people who are…” And it dawned on him. “From two people who are not from Sapphire Falls.”

She raised her eyebrows. “You’re not from here?”

“No. You?”

“No.”

“But you got elected mayor anyway.”

She laughed. “Mayor? Of Sapphire Falls? Don’t be ridiculous. This is the first time I’ve even stepped foot in this town.”

Levi straightened, surprise zapping through him. “What?”

“And shouldn’t you know who the mayor is?” Then she shook her head. “No, wait, you said you’re not from here either.”

“I’m not. My brother is.”

“Who’s your brother?”

“Joe.”

Her eyes were completely round now. “Joe? Phoebe’s Joe? Joe Spencer?”

“Yes.” He was confused and exasperated. “I’m Levi Spencer. Who are
you
?”

“Kate Leggot. I’m a friend of Phoebe’s. We met last year in DC.”

“DC?” Levi repeated. “You’re from Washington DC?” She was a city girl? Levi ran a hand over his face.

“I’m from San Francisco. I travel to DC for work a lot.”

He groaned and put his other hand up to his face. She was a
city
girl. One that traveled for work. She was not a small-town girl who rarely ventured outside of her little town oasis. She was not a small-town girl who loved the simple things in life. She didn’t even know how to bake.

“Dammit.”

“Hey, I can hear you,” she said crossly.

He dropped his hands and looked at her. This was the woman who had enchanted him from minute one. This was the woman who had made him think crazy things about home and hearth and family. Within an
hour
of meeting her.

And her name was Kate.

And she was from San Francisco.

“You do look like Joe now that I know you’re his brother.”

In all fairness, she looked as stunned by the revelation about their identities. “Who were you supposed to meet?”

“Tucker Bennett. He’s from here. A local farmer. Dark hair, blue eyes. You?”

“Hailey Conner. Also from here. Mayor. Beautiful blonde in a red dress.”

“Wow.”

He studied her face. She was so beautiful. She was a city girl, presumably visiting for Christmas. She didn’t know how to make cookies and her family typically spent the holidays in Hawaii rather than in this quaint little town that he already felt getting under his skin. She wasn’t a sweet, homegrown girl who could make him change his ways and save his soul. But he still wanted her with an intensity that completely shook him.

It was just like him to get into some crazy situation—accidentally, of course—that was completely opposite of what he knew he needed. It was just like him to find all of his good intentions tested and to find his willpower crumbling within the first hour. It was just like him to look at a woman, know that she was going to be trouble and decide that consequences only mattered if you were out of money and charm. And he had yet to run out of either.

But he still backed away, shaking his head. “You know what? This is obviously a big mix up. We can straighten it all out tomorrow. I’m supposed to take Hailey to the formal and you’re supposed to go with Tucker. We’ll go talk to them in the morning and apologize for the mistake.”

Yes, that was the right thing to do. Hailey and Tucker might be upset, but they could smooth things over. One thing Levi was really good at was smoothing things over after screwing up. Practice made perfect after all.

Ha,
he thought.
Christmas ghosts thought they had me, but I’m still good.

The concussion had to be helping him here too, because this was completely out of character.

She nodded. “Yeah, okay. Maybe that’s a good idea. How will we find them?”

He laughed. “I’m guessing the first person we stop on the street will know them both and exactly where to find them.”

She smiled at that. “You’re probably right.”

“So we’ll…”
God, she’s beautiful.
“We’ll do that then,” he finished lamely.

She nodded. “Okay.”

She shoved the canisters of sugar and flour back into place on the counter and started for the door. He followed.

They crossed to the staircase and each had a foot on the bottom step before they realized—

“You’re staying in the guest room?” she asked.

“Uh. Yeah. I mean, I thought so.”

“Phoebe and Joe must not have known the other invited someone to stay.”

“I guess.”

Well, this was awkward. Or awesome.

Levi swallowed hard and gripped the hand railing. No, dammit. This was not an excuse to take her on that fancy quilt. He could easily walk upstairs, get his stuff and come back down to sleep on the couch. Alone.

A whiff of vanilla hit him and he almost groaned out loud.

Okay, not
easily
.

Still, he could pass this test. He
needed
to pass this test. The universe was putting temptation and justifications and a
brain injury
in his path to see what he was made of. He had to be made of more than expensive liquor, risqué behavior and regrets.

“I’ll get my stuff and crash on the couch.”

She opened her mouth to reply and Levi’s hand squeezed the banister. If she
asked
him into her bed, there was no hope for him to resist.

“Thanks,” she said softly.

They climbed the stairs without speaking and headed for the guest room. When Levi stepped through the doorway behind her, he looked around. “How did I miss your stuff already in here?”

She crossed to the dresser and pulled a drawer open. “I don’t know. My stuff is right here.”

He ignored the fact that the drawer she’d opened was full of a variety of soft colors, silk and lace. Or tried to. He cleared his throat and thought about the fact that she’d unpacked. “You put your stuff in drawers when you travel?”

She pushed the drawer shut and crossed her arms over her stomach. “It helps keep the wrinkles out and makes me feel more settled.”

He nodded and grabbed the bag he’d tossed onto the bed, stuffed the two shirts and a sock that were spilling out back into it and headed for the door. The sooner he was a floor away from her the better.

Maybe.

He was to the top of the stairs when she said, “Hey, Levi?”

He turned. “Yeah?”

“Tonight was…really nice.”

It had been.

He could pull off nice. Good to know.

“Yes, it was.”

“So…I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He gave her a nod. “You will.”

He turned and continued down stairs before he could grab her and kiss her and toss all his good soul-saving intentions out into the snow.

He would see her tomorrow. And then she would see Tucker Bennett.

That made his newly revived heart hurt.

And he thought maybe he remembered why he’d stopped using it.

Kate was awake at six a.m. and lying awake in bed debating the wisdom of going downstairs. Ever.

Tuck—no,
Levi
—was down there. The man that she’d made a total ass of herself over the night before. She hadn’t even known his real name but she’d been entertaining fantasies about how the next few days would go. And they hadn’t been limited to candy canes and sex by Christmas tree light. They’d included sleigh rides and cuddling by the fire and exchanging special gifts that represented something about their time together and even staying in touch after the week was over.

She was kicking herself. The fact that this Christmas disappointment hurt even more than the past three was her own damned fault. She’d built this thing up to being something so big, so wonderful, so
perfect
that it had been doomed to fail.

Finally, the need for the bathroom and coffee urged her out of bed.

She tiptoed to the bathroom with her clothes and toiletries clutched against her chest. She showered and blow dried her hair and by the time she was dressed and on the steps, she’d decided that she was going to treat Levi exactly the way she would have if she’d known he was Joe’s brother last night. She’d be polite, friendly—they had Phoebe and Joe in common after all—and they would then go to town and find Tucker. And Hailey. Just as he’d suggested.

The fact that she hated Hailey Conner and had never even met the woman didn’t mean anything.

She managed to get past the couch where Levi was still asleep without stopping.

The inching she’d done through the living room still technically counted as moving.

But she was only human. He was on his back, shirtless, wearing only black silk boxers. How could the guy be warm enough? It was chillier down here than it had been upstairs, but he still had only a light fleece blanket twisted around his legs. Most of his muscular right thigh showed as did both of his big feet. His upper half was completely bare, the contours of the muscles of his chest, abs and shoulders made her eyes widen. Seriously? She’d had no idea what had been hiding under his winter coat. His dark hair was mussed and dark stubble shadowed his jaw.

He didn’t even snore.

Damn.

She kept her eyes off of his boxers—pretty much—and she ignored all of the memories from his truck the night before.

Except when she looked at his hand and noted how long and thick his fingers were.

She flushed and hurried the rest of the way to the kitchen.

Caffeine.

That fixed a host of problems.

Thankfully, Phoebe and Joe had a coffee pot and plenty of grounds.

She was almost through her second cup when she heard the knock at the front door.

Someone was at the door? Huh?

She started for the living room but heard the door open before she hit the carpet. Levi had the door open and was smiling at whoever was on the other side.

“Hi, I’m Adrianne. You must be Levi.”

“Hey, Adrianne. You got it.”

It was a woman. And Levi was still only wearing black silk boxers.

A shot of something that could have been jealousy—if she cared that he was mostly naked in front of another woman, which she did
not
—went through her. It was probably concern. He was mostly naked and it was cold outside.

“I brought these over for you. Welcome to Sapphire Falls.”