Chapter 5
I’d switched the seats.
I didn’t care that it made me feel like I was in middle school trying to sit next to the cute baseball boy or that I had probably messed up Tabby or Ember’s hard work.
I wasn’t sure who had created the seating chart or what their thoughts behind it had been, but originally, they’d placed me next to Lola.
And while I loved Lola, she wasn’t who had been distracting me all evening despite the fact I hardly knew him.
Mark. Tabitha’s boss and principal had been watching me throughout the night. I’d felt his gaze like a tender touch. One I wanted to actually feel. Revel in.
So, I had snuck outside under the pretense of making sure the rolls were outside and switched the colorful cardstock leaf with Austin from the brewery’s name on it with my own, putting me next to Mark.
I glanced around, and my eyes locked with Ember’s.
I could tell by her little grin that she knew exactly what I had done.
I looked away so the guilt I kind of felt wouldn’t be so damn obvious only to look right into his beautiful dark eyes. There was something about his gaze that made me weak in the knees.
“Here,” he said, pulling out my chair for me. I blinked.
“What are you…” My voice drifted to nothing before I looked towards where Ember had been. Her eyes widened, and a smile grew on her pretty, almost princess-like face.
Mine simply heated up, and I could only imagine what embarrassing shade of red I was.
Mark waited for me to sit, and when I did and glanced up at him, there was something in his eyes, an emotion I wasn’t sure I wanted to name.
It made my throat tighten as I looked out at the table while he pushed my seat closer to edge.
So easily. Like I didn’t weigh what I did.
Before I could overthink, he was seated next to me.
His thick thigh brushed against mine, and I had never been happier about wearing a skirt in my life.
He turned his attention fully to me, bumping his knee against mine again. I shyly glanced up at him. Sitting next to one another this close and now with better lighting than we’d had when we first showed up, he seemed even more handsome.
“Hey,” he said with a wink, his brown eyes kind and warm. Inviting.
“Hi.” I blinked up at him, shocked at how easy it was to be next to him. How his nearness, his heat didn’t bother me in the least.
“How’s your night been so far?” Genuine interest laced his voice.
“I should be asking you that.” I laughed softly, changing the focus towards him. “You’re our guest. First-timer.” First-timer? God, I was terrible at flirting.
Why couldn’t I have thought ahead of things to talk about? Especially after switching the name tags on the seats! I should have locked myself in the bathroom and looked up videos on how to flirt on TikTok?
“It’s been a lot of fun. Lots of food.” He towards the table that could have easily collapsed under the weight it held. Then the warmth of his hand moved and covered mine, and my breath hitched. “And even better company,” he complimented.
He was flirting! Right? That was flirting? I wasn’t sure. I was hardly ever on the receiving end of it.
“It’s usually always great company,” I said and winced, hoping he didn’t take offense. “But I think you’re right. This year, it’s better.”
“You sound a little surprised by that,” he noted, leaning in a little closer. His scent enveloped me, and I wanted to moan. Or sit right on his lap and bury my face in the spot where his neck and shoulder met and take a good ole whiff.
“Abby?”
“What?” I blinked, trying to get myself under control. Stop thinking about sniffing him! I chastised myself.
“You sound surprised about the good company,” he repeated. I chewed on the inside of my cheek.
“Maybe.” I shrugged, feeling guilty about how much I had bitched about having extra people at our get-together.
I forced myself to look around. There was nothing but smiling faces. Everyone talking and laughing, obviously enjoying themselves. The more the merrier. Maybe they’d been right about that?
“But in a good way,” I added, shyly looking back at him.
“What do you do?” I blinked.
“Do?” I repeated like an idiot.
“For work.”
“Oh.” I opened and shut my mouth.
He was a principal, in charge of a whole bunch of people.
He’d have been one for a while if he had done it in a whole other state. He was a professional who had gone to college. For all I knew, he probably had his masters, maybe a doctorate.
And me? Jesus, why did I suddenly feel like I fell short? This was when whatever attraction had lured him to talk to me would shatter. Oh well… it was nice while it lasted.
“I’m an event coordinator at the ski resort,” I shared, my tone tight.
“By the lake?” he asked, loosening something inside of me.
“Yeah.” I nodded.
“That’s cool.” He smiled easily, like he wasn’t disappointed. I tilted my head.
“Yeah? You think so?” I asked, slightly suspicious.
“I mean, do you like what you do?” Those beautiful brown eyes never wavered from mine for even a second.
“I love it,” I responded honestly. His gaze softened, almost like he was relieved, glad even, that I enjoyed what I did.
“That’s all that matters. Finding something you’re passionate about.” He winked. “Tell me about event coordinating.”
“Oh…” No one had ever really asked me about my job. Not even the girls. “I do all sorts of things,” I said, trying not to bore him.
“Weddings?” he guessed.
“Of course!” I smiled, and his hand tightened over mine. “Especially now under the new ownership and after the renovations they did. But it’s not just weddings, which I do love planning, but I do corporate events, big and small—“
“Like what?” he asked, genuinely interested.
“From meetings to team bonding retreats and everything in between.”
“Wow, that can’t be easy.” He almost seemed… impressed. By me!
“It’s not horrible. We also host parties like birthdays, graduations, baby showers.”
“Sounds like a lot of organizing.”
“I love that, too.” I laughed.
“You do?” I nodded all too happily. Somehow, I was suddenly a lot more relaxed.
“You should see my pantry,” I admitted. “Everything is labeled and has a place. I think if I lived in a more metropolitan area, I would have totally started a home organizational business.”
“What is that?” he asked as we both seemingly gravitated closer to one another.
“Oh, where I would go in and organize a home. Like the closest, pantries, garage, etcetera. Get it all cleaned up and tidy so you can manage it easier.”
“Shit.” He grinned. “I think I might need you in my life.” My heart lurched with hope and excitement even though I knew he meant more about what I liked to do over me as a woman.
“Yeah? Are you more on the messy side, Principal Cosecha?” I asked, my tone slightly flirty. An image of just how messy he could get with me popped in my head, and I had to press my thighs tighter together for relief.
“I will admit, at work, my desk? Spotless. At home?” He winced in a self-deprecating way. “Not so much.” I laughed. His hand touched mine under the table, and my eyes drifted down to it. His dark-tanned skin looked so good against my own.
“How about you? Do you like what you do?” I asked, not pulling my hand away like I should have.
“I love it. I mean… I won’t lie; it can be a lot of headaches, but I enjoy it.”
“Do you miss your old school?”
“Yes and no.” His eyes searched mine. “I’m actually starting to like Moonlit Pines a lot more than I thought I would.
” His deep tone made me want to lean closer, but if I did, I’d literally be sitting on his lap.
His thick thumb started to stroke the top of my hand.
“It’s starting to feel a lot like home.”
Like home. That’s exactly what it felt like to be around him.
“Well—“ Words lodged in my throat. God, I wanted to ask if he felt this gravitational pull, too, or if it was just my own delusions. I opened my mouth, but someone clinked their glass, and just like that, the little bubble we’d been in despite being surrounded by people popped.
“Okay, everyone!” Tabitha called out. I straightened, turning my attention to my friend as she stood. But Mark never let my hand go. He didn’t even try to loosen his grip so I could slide out of it.
Nope.
That thumb kept stroking the top of my fingers in the most calming yet seducing way imaginable.
“Every year has its shares of highs and lows,” she started, earning her some soft chuckles and head nods.
“But no matter what, I think we always have something to appreciate. And since it’s Friendsgiving, I was hoping that before we dig in, maybe we could go around the table and say what we are thankful for this year? ”
Everyone nodded, and my friend’s eyes sparkled with joy.
“Sweet. I will go first.” She cleared her throat, and I felt like I was about to hold my breath. I knew Tab.
Tab was sweet and shy and easily emotional.
Seeing her standing in front of everyone, about to speak about something personal, made me so damn proud of her. This was not something she would have ever done even a month earlier. Love had changed her, it seemed. And for the better.
“I am thankful for a lot this year. My girls, as most of you know, have been the only family I have had, well… for more than a couple of years.” She blinked away tears.
Damn it if I did, too. “I love you three,” she rasped as her eyes bounced from Ember to Rosie then to me.
“I hope you know that no matter what happens in life, that never changes. Ever.” My own eyes stung.
“I’m also grateful for having everyone here with us tonight to celebrate Thanksgiving.
As I look at the people surrounding the table tonight, my cup feels like it’s overflowing with blessings and gratitude.
But I think I am most thankful for the opportunity to take chances and doing just that.
” Her brown eyes drifted towards Brew, who sat next to her and looked at her with nothing but adoration in his eyes.
“If I hadn’t, our paths wouldn’t have crossed. I know we’ve been together less than a month, but I can tell you without a doubt that I can’t imagine my life without you. I love you, Brew.”
I had to look away because Brewster stood and wrapped my friend up in his arms before kissing her. Something that made us all clap and catcall. Once the table had settled down, Brew went next.
Then, one by one, everyone at the table did, until it was suddenly Mark’s turn. He stood, his hand left mine for the first time, and he cleared his throat.
“I’m thankful for the invite tonight and meeting new people.
I am a lot more grateful for having somehow landed in Moonlit Pines than I could have ever thought.
” His attention dropped down to me and solely me.
“I’m grateful”—his voice dropped to a raspier tone—“for my new home.” His new home.
I wasn’t sure what I said when I stood up.
His new home. His words played on repeat as I sat down. Had he meant me? Why did it feel like he meant me? Why did I feel the same way?
Dishes of food were passed around, and when they reached Mark, he didn’t serve himself first. He simply looked at me, silently asking if I wanted mashed potatoes.
Like we’d done this hundreds of times before.
The familiarity and pull I felt couldn’t be one-sided; it was too strong for that.
When I nodded, he scooped some onto my plate before serving himself some.
He did that over and over, with every dish that came his way. Even passing my plate towards Brew first for turkey and ham. I felt Rosie’s gaze from across the table, but I ignored her eyes because I didn’t have any answers to whatever questions she might have.
Once our plates were full, we all dug in.
I wasn’t sure how, but even with everything running through my head about the man next to me, I ate.
I savored and enjoyed all the different sides along with the juicy turkey Brew had made and the sweet ham Rosie had brought.
Weirdly enough, every morsel tasted better than anything I had ever eaten in my life.
“Damn, these are good,” he groaned. The sound shot through me, and when I looked at what he was enjoying, I smiled.
“I made those,” I shared. The look he gave me sent hot shivers up and down my body.
“Best mac and cheese I’ve ever had, babe.” Babe. He’d called me babe. Was that flirting? Mark’s eyes never wavered from mine. “Could eat this for the rest of my life.”
There was a promise in his tone I wanted him to follow through on.
And soon!