Chapter 3
3
JAMES
I ’m guessing it will be pretty quiet tonight at Jim’s Pizza, one of the few restaurants in Old Hemlock Valley. With Christmas just a week away, many people are away visiting family. Still, just to be sure I stop by and make a reservation with Bianca, letting it slip that this is a special night.
By the time I tap lightly on the door of the Austins’ house, I’m actually kind of…not nervous, exactly. Excited. For the potential of a real date. A real relationship. But before I start writing our life story, I should probably see if Holly is even vaguely on the same page. Or in the same section of the library.
She opens the door, and I step back, clutching my heart dramatically. Damn .
Her luscious subtle curves are wrapped in a form-fitting navy dress, over thick, practical winter tights. She’s added a cheery red silk scarf, and a smudge of navy eyeshadow that makes her hazel eyes pop. Her hair is done up in another casual twist, but now a few spiral tendrils fall to frame her glowing face.
She’s breathtaking. More importantly, her dressing up tells me that she’s eager for this to be a real date. I’m extremely glad that I wore a nice charcoal button-down shirt, with black dress pants.
She laughs at my theatrics, grabbing her coat and following me to the truck. This time I’m abundantly clear that helping her up into the truck is an excuse to touch her everywhere I can – politely, of course. Her soft giggle is doing things to me that I’ve never felt before.
It’s a short drive into town. Just before we turn onto Lizbeth Street, I coast to a stop in front of the Benjamin house.
“Oh my goodness…” Holly breathes, staring at the wall of golden glittering lights. There are a few small Christmas trees in front with a bit of red, and the large one next to their front door is red, green, and gold.
“It gets bigger every year. Someday it’s going to rival Holly Valley’s Walk of Lights.”
Holly turns with an adorable smile. “The Walk of Lights is a festival to go through with friends and take photos. I think this is more like a hidden neighborhood gem.”
Reaching out, I take her hand. “Maybe…something to experience with just one person?”
Her lashes flutter slightly as she nods shyly. “Yeah. I guess that’s what I mean.”
When we arrive at Jim’s, she looks around the restaurant with a wide smile. It’s a lovely little pizza joint, with a giant side patio that has become the summer social hangout spot. Indoors is more of a traditional Italian restaurant vibe. “Cozy,” she murmurs, heading for a table by the window next to the only other couple here.
Grabbing her elbow, I guide her the other way, toward the back corner booth. It’s the only table with candles and flowers.
Her head whips toward me. “What’s all this?”
Taking her arm, I pull out her chair, help her into her seat, and flick her napkin into her lap with a flourish. “A fancy dinner that’s not really a fancy dinner?”
My heart swells every time she laughs. Not swelling. More like…twinkling. Flashing. Man, I’ve been looking at too many Christmas lights this week.
We order two different kinds of pasta so that we can share, plus a pizza slice to split as an appetizer. “They have cheesy breadsticks with marinara sauce, but why not just call it what it is and have pizza?” I chuckle.
“Good call.”
Just like on the drive, our conversation flows easily. Holly shares more about her candle-making, and how she loves doing craft fairs – not just for the money, she explains, but to see the other vendors’ creative expression too.
I tell her a bit more about the town, how it’s pretty self-sufficient, since there are so many mountain men around these parts.
“I could see that,” Holly nods. “The do-it-yourself types.”
“Exactly. Even disputes are usually dealt with without any outside help.”
“Do you even have a police station?” she asks. “Or a jail?”
I finish my exquisite bite of three-cheese lasagna before answering. “I have an office, and there is…duhn duhn duhnnnn… the closet .”
Her graceful eyebrow raises a mile high. “The what?”
“City Hall is a beautiful old building, which they made extra big so it would never have to be replaced. Since I’m the only police officer, I have a small office for paperwork, and to serve as a homebase during the day. If anyone gets super ornery, or I have to hold them for a while, I throw them in something we call the closet. It’s a reinforced room with a bench and a sturdy lock. Nobody’s in there for more than a day.”
“Plus, locking naughty people in the closet just sounds…” She giggles sweetly.
“Right?” We both laugh as Bianca swings by with dessert menus before drifting away again.
Holly leans forward. “Hey, do you happen to know if they’re hiring here?”
“Doubt it. They just hired a new person a few months ago. You need a job?”
“Yeah. Even just part time.” Her fingers twist the napkin in her lap. “I need to pay for food and get some savings together so I can figure out what I’m doing next.”
I only need to think for three or four seconds. “Those cookies you made were amazing. Do you think you could work at a bakery?”
“Oh, yes. I’ve worked at two of them.”
“One sec.” Pulling out my phone, I send a quick text.
Holly looks at me contritely. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt our dinner with my problems.”
“Not at all. I just happened to be at City Hall when – oh, hey, can I have your phone?” I enter the Town Hall red phone in her contacts. “That’s our emergency line. Whoever happens to be in the lobby will know the fastest way to contact me, the volunteer fire department, whichever of the tow truck guys is on duty, or the town medic, assuming he’s around.”
She stares. “Small towns are really different, aren’t they?”
I chuckle. “They really are. People help each other all the time and know everyone’s business. That’s how I knew that Bethany went into labor three and a half weeks early, which means The Bakery on Main is going to be short-staffed for the holidays.”
My phone beeps, and I grin. “There you go. You start tomorrow at six am.”
Her mouth falls open as her eyes grow wide. “Are you kidding? They don’t even know me.”
“No, but they know me. I mean, your first few days will probably be a trial. But Lizzie and Gabe are nice people who need a hand. If you do a good job, they’ll keep you. Plus, Bethany will be on mat leave for a while. They’ll need you for a few months if it works out.” I shift toward her on the bench of the round booth, nodding to where I’ve taken her hand under the table. “Is this…okay?”
Her chin tips up, eyes glowing, and I see…something. I don’t know how much I can read into one glance, but it suddenly hits me that I don’t think this beautiful girl has ever had someone really take care of her before.
Every protective urge I’ve ever had kicks into high gear. I want to care for Holly. Want to hold her in my arms and shelter her from every storm. Warm her in the night, comfort her in the day?—
Come on, James . Less bizarre poetry, more kissing her already.
Just as we lean closer together, Bianca materializes to clear our plates. “Did we decide on dessert?”
Holly grins. “I’ll leave that to the expert.”
I mean, yes. The desserts here are incredible. But all I can think about is the taste of Holly’s lips, and that I’m literally counting the seconds until I can kiss her without making a scene.
Because I know as soon as I take hold of this incredible woman, a scene is going to be made.