Chapter 23
CHAPTER 23
D ecember 19 th
Amazing how the goal of saving the bookstore helps me not focus on Max. No, really. It’s not like the dreaded words, “we need to talk” don’t make it nearly impossible to focus on anything except guessing what he wants to talk about. I know the truth though. Those words are never good. I just hope I can keep Max as a friend. I love him enough to have him in my life any way I can.
I tried to call him this morning, but it went to voicemail. So now I’m off to sell my baked goods and try to save the bookstore while pretending I’m not thinking constantly about this upcoming talk.
Paige sold out by noon. People had swarmed her stand. While she sold her bakery items, Nick made the rounds on Main Street, talking to the business owners. She’d just taken a table at the diner when Nick joined her.
“How did the bake sale go?” Nick asked.
“I made two thousand dollars. And I checked the Christmas Ball RSVPs. We made another five thousand there. How about you?”
“Ten thousand dollars from the local businesses and the Kringle family is donating use of the mansion so we don’t have to pay for it,” Nick said proudly.
“It’s a good start, but we really need hundreds of thousands of dollars, not seventeen. I can ask my boss if our charity would be willing to make a grant.”
“A grant for what?”
Paige’s heart stopped in her chest. She looked up from the notes on her phone, past Nick, and up to where Max was standing. “Max! What are you doing in Kringle Falls?”
“It’s where you are.” Max turned to Nick and held out his hand. “Max Caldwell.”
Nick reached out and shook Max’s hand. “Mayor Nick North. How do you know our Paige?”
“I arrested her,” Max said, winking at Paige. “She’s my jailbird.”
Nick looked horrified as Paige laughed. Nick saw them laughing and assumed it was a joke and relaxed a little. It was as if no one had ever committed a crime in Kringle Falls before.
“Where are you staying, Max? I hope you made a reservation,” Nick told him very insincerely.
Max frowned at that. “Yeah, I realize the town’s festival is a big deal. There’s not a room to be had. I might have to drive to the next town over.”
“Don’t be silly,” Paige told him. “You can stay with me.”
“Paige, your parents’ inn is full,” Nick whispered.
“We will figure something out,” Paige said. “Why don’t you join us? We’re just about to finish our meeting.”
“Meeting? Is the mayor writing a romance book?” Max asked, sliding into the booth next to Paige. His leg brushed hers and her entire body heated. There was magic between them, plain and simple.
“No,” Nick snorted as if the idea was too silly to even comprehend. “If I write a book, it’ll be a real book.”
Max cocked his head as he snagged a french fry from Paige’s plate. “Real men aren’t afraid of romance books, Nick. After all, I wouldn’t have met Paige if it weren’t for romance books. One very particular book, and there’s nothing more real than books that bring people together.” Max winked at her and she blushed as she remembered trying to sell him her virginity and the subsequent arrest.
“We’re trying to save the bookstore,” Paige cut in, determined to redirect the conversation. She appreciated what Max was saying, but she really didn’t want to go into her arrest. “Developers bought the building but will sell it for five hundred thousand dollars,” Paige told him.
“Of course, you’re trying to save a bookstore,” Max said with a grin as his hand reached up and gave her ponytail a little tug. Holy bookworm, that was sexy. That had to mean he wanted to talk to her about good things, right?
Max placed his lunch order and listened as Paige and Nick went back to discussing their fundraising efforts. Paige hurried the meeting, but Nick didn’t seem to want to leave. Finally, Max tossed some cash on the table and stood up. “Paige, will you show me around? I’d love to see this bookstore that made you the bookworm you are today.”
Max was forcing Nick to stand since they were going to leave. “Nice meeting you, Nick. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you around.”
“Until you go back to the city,” Nick said with a smirk. “Did Paige tell you we’ve asked her to stay and run the bookstore?”
“She’d do an amazing job with that if it’s what she wanted. Did you know she just launched Lenora Hamilton’s book, signed a movie deal for Mimi Golden’s book, and has forty-one new authors, some of whom are the biggest names in romance, signed to her department at Griffin Publishing? Just goes to show you that Paige can do anything she wants—from running a bookstore to running an entire publishing division. See you around.”
Max reached down and took Paige’s hand in his and walked out of the diner. “Which way to the bookstore?”
“Left,” Paige answered. “Max, thanks for what you said.”
“It was the truth,” Max looked down at her and smiled. “You’re a force of nature, jailbird. You can do anything you desire.”
Holy page turner, supportive men were sexy as hell. She’d do him right now if they weren’t walking down Main Street. “This town is really nice,” Max said, looking around. “Does everyone know you?” he asked as people waved at her.
“For the most part. There are a lot of tourists, but those of us who are residents know each other.” Paige turned and looked up at Max. “Max, what did you need to talk to me about?”
“Is this the bookstore?” Max asked instead as they approached Holly’s.
“Yes. Holly goes into the elementary school every morning and reads to the students. A child gets a free book on their birthday if they come into her store. Then at Christmas, she wraps up over a hundred books and gives them to the kids who are most in need that holiday season. Sometimes it’s financial need and this might be their only gift. Sometimes it’s emotional—they lost a family member or were bullied in school and they need an escape that only books can give,” Paige told him.
“And they’re forcing her out?” Max asked, looking up at the building. “It’s a great old building.”
“Exactly. Developers have been buying up buildings as they can and pushing the local businesses out. They’re trying to make this a resort town,” Paige explained as Holly caught their eye through the window and waved. “Come meet Holly. You’ll love her.”
Paige spent the rest of the afternoon showing Max around town. They spent time walking around the chalets at the holiday market, drank hot chocolate, and talked about anything except whatever this dreaded we must talk was about.
“Tonight is the Christmas play in the square. Mom and I usually help set up the chairs,” Paige told him.
“Did my little jailbird perform in the play?” Max asked with a grin.
A memory of stage fright hit Paige like an icy hand. “Oh hell no. I would have broken out in hives. I helped with the set. Then, when I got older, I moved to helping the parents set up the chairs and stuff. Max, please, we need to have that talk.”
Max nodded. “I know. Is there someplace private we can go?”
“Yeah, but it means having to meet my parents.”
Max smiled as if he’d won something. “I can’t wait to meet them. Did you drive to town or do you need a lift?”
“I drove. I’m the red truck.”
“Great. I’ll follow.”
Max leaned down and kissed the top of her head before striding off as if he didn’t have a care in the world. Men! You can’t drop the we need to talk bomb and then act as if it’s no big deal.
But that was exactly what Max was doing as he followed her home, parked next to her dad’s truck, and got out of his car carrying a large round cookie tin. Paige’s father was the first to get to them as he joined them from the Christmas tree lot. Her mother was close behind, wiping her hands on her apron as she stepped from the house.
“Mom, Dad, this is Max Caldwell. My—” Paige had no idea what Max was. Friend, yes? More, she hoped so.
“It’s so nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Turner,” Max told them, cutting Paige off so she didn’t have to explain who he was. “I know I’m no baker like Paige and you are, but I thought I would give my favorite childhood cookie recipe a try. It’s like a mix of sugar cookies and shortbread cookies with an added hint of cinnamon.”
“These are beautiful. Thank you, Max. Please, call me Lily. And this is my husband, Adair.” Paige’s mom shot her questioning look when Max shook hands with her father.
Her mother looked down at her watch. “Oh, Adair, we have to get going to the play.” Her mother looked up at her and then to Max. “Your father donated some set pieces we have to set up. Will you be there to help with chairs?”
“Yes,” Paige told them. “I’m going to get Max settled then I’ll be there.”
“Settled?” her father asked, looking to the main house. “I’m sorry, we don’t have any rooms.”
“I know,” Paige answered. She was twenty-six. This shouldn’t be so hard or embarrassing. “I told Max he could stay with me.”
Her mother’s eyebrows shot up and her father cleared his throat. “Okay, um, let’s go, Lily.”
“Why are your parents glancing back at us like that?” Max asked.
“Because my cottage only has one room and one bed.”