Chapter Twenty-Two
Caleb watched from the street as Emma and Sebastian wrapped up their meeting.
He’d awkwardly puttered around the office, half-heartedly working on notes for his meeting with his dad.
He felt as if he was chasing ideas around his brain—his thoughts more on what Emma and Sebastian were talking about next door.
It hadn’t felt appropriate for him to sit in on that meeting. Especially after that awkward but much-needed conversation they’d had going down the mountain.
He’d half hoped a sinkhole would’ve appeared under the van during the drive. He’d meant to show his support for her decision. The word salad that had come out was more of a panic-stricken rant.
Why couldn’t he be normal? Why did the words always find a way to get mixed up on the journey from his brain to his mouth?
They’d left on a good note, or so he’d hoped. As Emma looked up and caught him creeping under the streetlight, he wasn’t so sure.
Her expression was clouded over. Perhaps the meeting hadn’t gone well. Sebastian walked over to the door and unlocked it.
“Are you going to stand there like a stalker, or do you want to come in?”
He frowned. “I didn’t want to interrupt.”
“You’re not. We’re about done. Come in.”
He followed his brother inside. Emma gathered her belongings, her expression still grim.
“You okay, Em?”
She looked up. “I have a lot to think about. I’m okay, though.”
“Oh, before I forget, I do have the key to the space if you want another look before you head back. Caleb, you’ve never been inside, have you?”
“Um, once, when it was still the running store. I was more concerned with the shoes than eyeing up the space.”
Sebastian produced the key. Emma stared at it. “How did you get it?”
He shrugged. “Mom may have forgotten to give it back to Mayor Ford the other day. I figured I’d hang onto it in case I saw him or you. Here. Take it. You should let Caleb see it.”
Caleb reached for her coat on one of the hooks hanging by the front door. He inhaled that wonderful scent of her again as she pulled it on.
He kept his hands on her shoulders as she buttoned up her coat. Gretchen appeared from the kitchen and snuck a kiss from Sebastian.
“It looks like there’s a wicked storm coming in,” she said. “It should clear by morning. You two should stay in town tonight. I’ll send you home with some food.”
Caleb started to argue. In the afternoon, he had to help with the last-minute letters-to-Santa program for the kids.
“It’ll be clear by the morning. Sabrina and Brandon are up on the mountain. I already spoke to them.”
Gretchen was the quiet sort, but he knew when not to argue with her. “Okay, fine. If Emma’s okay with it.”
She turned the key over in her hand. “I’m more than okay with it. Let’s go, Caleb.”
It was only about a block and a half walk from Loaved Up to the space. Even he had to admit the town looked magical in the snow. Skaters twirled around the rink, lit up by Christmas lights of every color. Snowflakes danced in front of streetlights.
“You know, maybe this isn’t such a bad place for a do-over. I came here for mine because I didn’t have a choice. It’s where I’m from. But I can see the charm on nights like this.”
“It’s like something out of a dream I didn’t know I had until two weeks ago. Maybe that’s why it still feels like lunacy that I’m considering taking this step. Especially after my discussion with Sebastian.”
“Was it so bad? I’m assuming it’s not impossible, if he gave you the key to the space.”
“I’d need investment to get started. My finances aren’t enough on their own. Especially since I don’t exactly have a source of income right now.”
He placed a hand on the small of her back as they crossed the street. “And Sebastian was open to the idea of investment?”
“It was his idea. I just feel… I don’t know. Like it seems so presumptuous of me to ask this of him. Things never come this easily to me. I keep waiting for the catch.”
A gust of wind blew down the street as they crossed.
“It’s not a gift. It’s business. And trust me, I know my brother.
If he thought your business idea wasn’t solid, he wouldn’t have even offered.
He’d have looked over your proposal, given you a few tokens of his finance-bro wisdom, and sent you on your way. ”
They stopped in front of the space. Emma produced the key and held it in her gloved hand. It slipped out of her hand and rattled to the ground.
Cursing, she dropped to her knees to hunt for it. Caleb found it first, their gloved hands meeting.
She let out a laugh. “This is starting to get ridiculous, you know.”
He handed the key over to her. “What do you mean?”
They both rose to their feet. Emma placed her hands on his forearms to steady herself.
Caleb didn’t have a chance to worry over her words—her answer came in the form of a kiss.
What had gotten into her? Kissing this man under the flickering lightbulb in front of what could be the home of her future business.
It was time for both of them to stop overthinking. She broke away from his kiss. “Can we look at the space tomorrow? It’s too dark to get a good look now, anyhow.”
Confusion crossed Caleb’s face. “What do you mean? I thought that’s why—”
She cut him off with another kiss. This time, the confusion quickly faded. His arms came around her waist, cradling her close.
He broke the kiss. “Oh. I’m following you now.”
Her breath spiraled in front of her as she laughed. “Took you long enough. Can we go to yours?”
The snow started to fall harder as they hurried the short distance to his apartment. Curious glances were cast their way by onlookers. She didn’t care. Let them stare.
Maybe she was getting used to small-town life after all.
They stumbled up the stairs and into his apartment. He left the big light off, flicking on a lamp as they stepped inside. Paired with the flickering Christmas tree lights, the space had a cozy vibe.
They stamped the snow off their boots, unwound their scarves from around their necks, and unbuttoned their coats.
“I’m sorry, I can be a little dense sometimes.” Caleb hung his coat on a hook next to where she stood.
She looked at him, his hair standing up on end. “I find it endearing in situations such as this.”
He took her coat and hung it up. Their boots were toed off then she followed him down the hall to his bedroom.
She fell a step behind as they passed his daughters’ room. Decorated for Christmas. An odd, worrying knot of anxiety appeared in her stomach. With all these decisions coming so quickly, she had to wonder, was she okay being with a man who had children?
This was just one more change she would have to adapt to if she wanted to move to Falling Leaves permanently.
Caleb flicked on the bedside lamp in his bedroom. It was then he noticed she’d fallen behind.
“Are you okay?”
She shook off her nerves. “Sorry. Sometimes I forget you have kids. It took me a moment.”
He leaned in the doorway. “I know we’ve touched on it, but are you against me having kids? Because if you are, then this thing between us won’t go further than this.”
“I just don’t want yours to hate me.”
He chuckled at that. “If you’re worried about a stepmother dearest situation, they’re a little young for that. But we can take things slow, Emma. Olivia and I have already discussed that you’d meet them when we’re all ready.”
She worried her left hand over her right. “You’ve told her about me?”
He smiled. “She’s still one of my best friends. But it’s all platonic and co-parenting now. You don’t have to worry about that. She’s madly in love with Ashley. You’ll probably be when you meet her, too. Everyone loves her.”
She exhaled. “It’s all so civilized. I guess for someone like me, who never really had stability in my life as a kid…it’s equally refreshing and confusing.”
“I think that’s a great way to describe my family.” He peeled away from the doorway. “Now, we can talk things out if you want. Or…?”
For the second time tonight, she cut him off with a kiss. “I’ll take that second option, Mr. Ellis.”
He drew her close. “Mr. Ellis is my dad. Or my uncle. Okay, this is getting weird. Enough talking about my family, please.”
She wrapped her arms around his shoulders. He caught her around the waist, lifting her off her feet.
“Deal.”
She kicked the door closed behind them. They fell back into bed, laughing.