Mistletoe and Magic (5 page)

He gave her a twisted smile. “If you’ll have coffee with me, we can call it even.”

“That’s not fair. The tree cost a lot more than a cup of coffee.”

“No amount of money could ever compare to the joy I’ll get from having you sit across from me.”

“Ooh.” Her eyes squinted. “You’re good. I’ll give you that.”

“Yeah? You think so?”

She nodded. “Okay, let me see if my sister will mind watching the girls. They didn’t have school today so I’m putting them to work.”

“That’s a good way to teach them some responsibility. Tell ‘em will bring back hot chocolate.”

She held up her finger. “Good thought. I’ll be right back.”

~~~

AJ’s pulse raced as she walked away. Finally. She was going to have coffee with him.
Slow down, cowboy
, he told himself.
Push too hard and you’ll push her right back into abstinence
. Nope, he was going to play it smart this time. He was surprised it had taken him this long. He was certain his friends would never believe he wasn’t able to convince a woman to have coffee with him on the first try. Now that he knew the circumstances of her life, his plan would need to be a little different, but that didn’t mean he liked it. He’d always claimed “slow and easy” was for men who lacked confidence. But now that he was maturing, as his aunt would say, that philosophy didn’t necessarily fit the mold or the circumstances.

He watched Mallory walk out from the back room, a brown-striped scarf wrapped around her neck, her tan down jacket open. Seeing her walk toward him gave him an overwhelming feeling in his chest. She was definitely the one and there was no way he was ever moving away from Chester. How did he know? He just did. Attraction was always exciting, but this was by far the most awesome thing he’d ever experienced. It was as if he’d just learned he held the winning lottery ticket. And he didn’t need the lottery. He needed her.

“Are you ready?” she asked.

“I’ve been ready for a long time,” he said with a wink. And then he took her hand and looped it through his arm as they exited the shop. “Hang on tight. It might be slippery out here.” He said a silent prayer, thanking Mother Nature for sending them snow. Having Mallory this close confirmed everything he’d been feeling.

As they walked past the other shops, one of the storeowners was throwing salt on the sidewalk in the front of his store. “Glad to see you made it to the shop, Mallory,” he said. They stopped walking. The owner nodded toward the parking lot. “This snowfall did us no favors so close to Christmas.”

“I think we’ll be all right, Jack,” she said. “The sun is out and the snow seems to be melting rather quickly. I suspect we’ll have a good Christmas after all.” They began to walk away.

“Can I count on your prediction?” he asked.

“Count on it.” She waved with her free hand as they continued. “His name is Jack Sprat.” She held up her hand when he frowned ambiguously. “I swear.”

“You mean, his parents named him after a cartoon character?”

She giggled. “Jack Sprat is a nursery rhyme, silly.”

He shrugged. “See, now I didn’t know that. I’m at a disadvantage here because I don’t have any kids. I do have a ton of nieces and nephews though, but….” He stopped short. “That’s a story for another day.”

“All right. I won’t pry.” He squeezed her hand. “Here’s how the rhyme goes….”

“Okay, I do remember it.” He patted her hand as they approached the entrance to the coffee shop.

The minute they walked inside, they were both inhaling the rich aroma of coffee beans. “I love coffee,” she said. “A morning without coffee is like a day without sunshine.”

“You sound like a commercial,” he said as they got in line behind other customers.

“And I think they should hire me, don’t you?”

“Absolutely. Want me to tell them behind the counter?”

She gave him a gentle punch. “No. Let’s keep this between us.”

“All right. It’ll be our secret. But you do know if we don’t say anything, they won’t know that you’re the perfect person for the job.”

“Uh, I already have two jobs. I don’t need another.”

“Okay, so what’s your pleasure?” he said pointing to the overhead sign.

“I’d just like a cup of black coffee. I’m a no-frills kinda gal.”

“Oh, no. Say it isn’t so,” he teased.

“Why? You like high-maintenance?”

“Ooooh, no, no, no. Not a chance. Been there, done that, and I ain’t ever going back.” They moved up a position in line. “I’m actually delighted to hear that you’re not. I mean, I sensed that you weren’t, but hey, you just never know.”

“I’m usually pretty laid-back.” She laughed and stuck her fingers out in quotes, “i.e., before I had daughters.” She shook her head. “Some days I feel as though I’m losing my mind…and other times, I couldn’t be happier.”

He didn’t want to talk about his nieces or how bad his sisters were growing up, but if things worked out the way he’d planned, he would some day. He did offer some solace. “This is a familiar story. I have lots of friends who have children and they say the same thing as you.”

He placed the order with the clerk and they sat down at a small table to wait for his name to be called. “I’m really pleased you changed your mind about having coffee with me, Mallory.”

“Thank you, AJ! I’m pleased to be here too. But I still want to pay you for the tree.”

He waved her suggestion off. “Do you make house calls?”

“Do I make house calls?” she asked. “I must be missing something because I don’t get what you’re asking me.”

“I know. I was trying to be funny.” He smacked his lips together. “You still don’t get my humor. Hmm, I guess I’d better work harder at it.”

“I get your humor. I’m just trying to give you a hard time.”

“Oh really? I hadn’t noticed.” He chuckled. “Okay, back to the topic at hand. My aunt hasn’t celebrated Christmas in a few years, so I also bought a tree over at the orchard and wanted to surprise her by decorating it. I don’t know the first thing about decorating a tree and wanted to hire you if you do such things.”

“We do. My sister is very good at decorating trees.”

“I don’t want your sister, or anyone else who works for you to decorate the tree. I want you.”

“But I don’t have the touch that she has.”

“I don’t want it to have that hotel, professionally decorated look. I want your touch.” He stared at her expectantly. “So will you take the job?”

“Okay, sure. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“I think you might be selling yourself short. Your store is beautifully decorated and although some parts of it look like a professional had a hand in doing it, the parts that have that homey feel is what draws people to you.” He stopped talking when his name was called. “Hold that thought.” He walked back with a tray and placed it on the table. Mallory pulled both their cups from the holder and passed his to him.

Removing the lid, she inhaled the aroma and then took a sip of coffee. “Thank you for saying you liked the homey touch. That’s very nice to hear,” she said shyly.

“You’re so unassuming—nothing pretentious about you. That’s so admirable.”

“Stop. You’re giving me a big head.”

“Have you ever thought of getting married again?”

“How do you know I’m not married?”

“Well, you don’t wear a ring for one thing. And my aunt knows who you are.”

“Who’s your aunt?”

“Rebecca Williams.”

“Aha, the municipal clerk of Stars Hollow.”

“Stars Hollow?”

“I guess you’ve never watched the Gilmore Girls series on television.”

“No, can’t say that I have, but I still don’t get the reference.”

“Our municipal park reminds me of the setting for the show, so I refer to our little town as Stars Hollow.” He stared blankly. “It’s one of those ‘you’d have to see it’ to know what I’m talking about.”

“Gotcha. So you do know her?” he asked.

“Of course. I just didn’t know she had such a handsome nephew.”

His heart skipped a beat. She was actually warming up to him. God, she was so beautiful. He just wanted to take her in his arms and show her what it felt like to be loved again. He was half listening while he daydreamed about having her in his life.

Mallory stopped talking and stared at him. “Are you okay?” she asked.

“Yes, why do you ask?”

“You seem to be a million miles away.”

“I’m sorry. I was actually thinking about what a beautiful woman you are.”

“Wow,” she said, her face flushing

He enjoyed seeing her expression brighten. She seemed happier than he’d seen her since they’d met. He inhaled a deep breath and expelled it through his nose, feeling a swell of confidence knowing she was beginning to trust him.

“Becky’s a wonderful woman,” she said. “She was very kind to me when Mitch died. But I guess you know all about that or you wouldn’t be flirting with me.”

“I guess I am a bit of a flirt. But I don’t flirt just for the sport of it. I’m genuinely interested in getting to know you better. I’ve even decided to make Chester my home. I told you the first day we met that I felt a strong connection with you and it keeps getting stronger each time we’re together. Leaving this small town is out of the question. I’m convinced we were meant to be together.” Noticing her expression, he stopped talking. “I’m sorry, Mallory. I didn’t mean to be so blunt, but I just wanted you to know what’s in my heart.” He watched as Mallory reached for the lid for her coffee and sealed it over top. “I only asked you to coffee so we could discuss me hiring you to decorate the tree.”

“Yeah, but you could have done that at the shop or over the phone. You didn’t need to buy me coffee to convince me.” She stood and slipped her arms into her jacket. “I really need to get back to the shop.”

“Okay. So when will you decorate the tree?”

“Hmm, if the weather is better tomorrow, I could come then if that works for you.”

“Sure.”

“How about ornaments? Do you know where she keeps them in the house?”

“She probably has them in the attic, but rather than look for them…especially since it may stir up some unpleasant memories, I’d like to buy all new ornaments so she can start over again.”

Mallory zipped her jacket. Pulling out her gloves, she slipped her hands inside. “You know you’re looking at a few hundred dollars?”

He slid out of his seat and stood next to her. “That’s okay. Just pick out the ornaments and tell me how much I owe you.”

“You mean, you don’t want to pick them out yourself?”

“I trust you.”

“But it’ll make it more special if she knows you picked them out.”

“Okay, but only if you’ll help me.”

She nodded. “It’ll be fun. How tall is the tree?” she asked.

“Twelve feet.”

“Then she must live in an old colonial in town.”

“She does. She’s right on West Main Street, across from Taylor’s Ice Cream Parlor.”

“Oh, I know those homes. Heck, she can walk to work then.”

“She could, but she’d rather drive. She even drove this morning, despite my insistence she not.”

They walked back outside. “Have you been looking for an apartment and a job?” she asked.

“That would be a no. I thought I’d wait until after the holidays. Maybe you’ll hire me.”

“If I don’t get back to the shop, I may need a job myself,” she teased.

CHAPTER EIGHT

“Mom,” Jenny said, rushing toward her when she entered the shop. She gave AJ a side glower then glanced back to her mother. “You were gone a long time.”

“Was it a long time?” Mallory handed her the carrier containing the hot chocolate for the three of them.

“Thank you,” Jenny said, and then gave a side-glance toward AJ again. “Who’s this man?”

“Jenny, where are your manners?” Mallory mouthed an apology to him. “This is Mr. Miller.”

“AJ is fine,” he said.

“This is my bratty daughter, Jenny.” She gave her daughter a dirty look. “Let me have your jacket, AJ, and we can start to pick out the ornaments.” She draped his jacket over Jenny’s arm. “Take this in the back with you,” she said firmly.

It wasn’t long after, Lacey came bouncing out of the back room. “Hi Mom.” She nodded to AJ. “This is my youngest daughter, Lacey.” She gave a slight wave and helped her mother remove her jacket. “We finished the train set up,” she said excitedly. “Come look at it.”

“I will in just a few minutes. Mr. Miller and I are picking out some ornaments for his aunt’s tree.”

“Ooh, can I help?”

Mallory was about to tell her it wasn’t a good idea, but AJ cut in. “I’d love to have your help, Lacey.”

“You don’t need to do that,” Mallory said with an appreciative smile.

“Sure I do,” he responded. “But first, I’d love to see where you set up that train.”

Lacey’s face lit up, and she latched onto AJ’s arm and pulled him toward the display. Mallory was taken back by her daughter’s friendliness toward him but didn’t want to draw attention to her growing desire toward him. She did notice that AJ seemed pleased Lacey wanted him to see her handiwork too. Dina, who was peeking out from the back, gave her sister a thumbs up. Mallory shook her head and walked toward the display that was now tooting its train whistle.

A few more customers entered the store and Dina came to the front to help them. “Go,” she said, all smiles, “I’ll help these people.”

“You and your sister did a good job,” AJ touted to Lacey. “Tell me about this tunnel here,” he said as he pointed. Mallory stepped back and watched Lacey talk to him. She was bursting at the seams with excitement, and AJ kept telling her what a great job she and her sister had done. Allowing them to continue the conversation, she walked to the front of the store and grabbed three hand-held shopping baskets and put them on the floor by the ornaments. Despite the snow, customers kept entering the store and asking about a snow sale.

~~~

AJ watched Mallory make her way around the showroom, stopping to help each customer by showing them different ornaments and pitching the accessories for a winter wonderland. He loved the ease with which she worked the room, greeting each customer as though nothing was more important than to see them happy. His eyes grew bright as he studied her with intensity and imagined what it would be like to wake up next to her. He envisioned her long toffee-colored hair fanned out across the pillow. He could just picture it glistening in the glow of candlelight. Her eyes, a mass of hazel that resembled a tiger’s eye gemstone sparkled every time she smiled.