Chapter 2
Of course the next day I was back at it. I’d left behind my slumbering family, literally tiptoed through my eight nieces and nephews sleeping in the living room. Really, I just wanted to avoid another run in with Aspyn. I’d make it up to the littles later today—if not today, for sure before the big day.
By noon I’d delivered more food than I’d ever thought possible. So many people didn’t want to go through the mundane task of grocery shopping. Which was good for me and my tips. I picked up my next small delivery, confused. A dozen roses from the local grocery store? That was different. And easy. My sore arms and aching back thanked my next client. But when I realized I was driving up a familiar slope, my heart thundered in my chest.
I knew this road.
I knew this driveway.
I was delivering flowers to Cole Jackson.
Oh god.
My mind raced as my car crawled up his driveway. Did he order them for someone? Or did someone order them for him? And why the grocery store? He or whoever ordered them could afford to call an actual florist.
This whole thing was so weird.
Please, baby Jesus, keep me from making a fool of myself in front of this gorgeous man today. Please? I wasn’t asking for much. I didn’t need him to instantly fall in love with me. All I wanted was to not faceplant—or worse—in front of him.
Again.
The front door opened before I’d even shifted into park.
And there he was. Grammy winner, chart topping, voice of an angel, Cole Jackson all gorgeous and grinning.
No biggie.
I unbuckled my seatbelt with a groan. I could do this. Just act normal.
And try not to land on your face.
Grabbing the flowers, I opened my door
I could do this. Easy. This time the driveway was shoveled, but ice was a tricky bitch. I slowly toed each step to make sure I wouldn’t slip. No big deal. Totally normal and not embarrassing at all.
“What’s with the walk?” Cole shouted from the front porch.
I laughed. So much for normal. “I’m trying not to fall on my ass!”
“Oh shit. Is it icy? None of the other drivers had a problem.” Cole Jackson took a step toward me, but I’d already reached the bottom of the stairs.
“I got it.” Then what he said sank in. “Other drivers? Have you had a lot of deliveries today?”
He ducked his head, and I could’ve sworn he mumbled “so much for being suave” under his breath.
When I reached him, I cocked my head. “I just have to take a picture of these at your door, and then I’ll get out of your hair.”
He didn’t move. He just stared at me with that slight smile on his face like I was funny.
Okay.
I stepped around him, set the flowers down at the door, took a quick picture, then grabbed them, and held the roses out to Cole Jackson.
Who didn’t take them. He tilted his head and sent me a look I could’ve sworn was simmering with sexual heat. But I was probably projecting.
“Should I leave the flowers at the door then?” I asked with a confused frown. What the hell was going on?
“They’re not for me.” He rocked back on his boot heels and held onto his jeans back pockets.
“I, uh, I’m confused. This was the delivery address I was given.” Did I drive to the wrong house? I pulled out my phone to double check. No wonder he was giving me weird looks. Probably thought I was some deranged stalker.
“Because they’re for you.”
All the blood left my head, and I slowly pulled my gaze away from my phone to look at the gorgeous man in front of me.
Did he seriously just say that?
He lifted a hand and rubbed the back of his neck. “I remember having more game than this. Uh, I guess you can say I’m out of practice.”
I just stared at him.
“Shit, this is creepy, right? I thought it was cute. I didn’t know your name or even how to contact you aside from your delivery job, so I’ve been ordering flowers from the grocery store all morning, hoping you’d show up to deliver them.”
My gaze slid from his to the closed front door of his chalet. Seriously?
He cleared his throat and shifted his weight. “What flowers are your favorite by the way? Because you can have your choice. I have everything from daisies to roses to a poinsettia. There are some wild flower bouquets and stuff I can’t even name.”
“I…” My brain wouldn’t work. All I could think was that Cole Jackson bought me flowers.
Me!
How was this happening?
Then my phone pinged with another delivery order, bringing me back to reality. Because I was a delivery girl, failed marketing associate, unemployed loser, and he was Cole Jackson —gorgeous, successful, famous.
I shook my head. “I have to go. I have another job. This was…yeah. Weird, to be honest.” I laughed incredulously, certain I was going to wake up any minute. “Um, thanks, I guess? Enjoy your holiday.”
I turned to leave.
“Wait! You’re not even going to tell me your name?”
I jogged down the steps then turned to face him, still clutching the flowers. “It’s December. December James.”
“Seriously? I mean, that’s a great name. I’m Cole.”
I nodded in acknowledgement. “My mom loves this time of year. I have three sisters—Aspyn, Belle, and Chrissy. Not Isabelle but Belle as in Christmas bells. And Chrissy got her name because my dad finally put his foot down and wouldn’t let Mom name my sister Christmas. Chrissy was the compromise.”
“Wow, that’s dedication to a theme.”
“You have no idea. Well, I’ll see ya.” I gave him an awkward wave and turned to go again.
“Wait, seriously? You’re leaving?” He jogged down the steps and stood in front of me. “Can I get your number at least? Or should I keep ordering stuff from the grocery store so I can see you?”
I blinked at him.
“Shit. That sounded crazy. I’m totally sane. I’m not a stalker, I swear. I just, I like you, and I thought we had chemistry.” He tilted his head and gave me this look that made my knees weak. “Am I wrong?”
I ducked my head for a second then shook it without saying anything. I couldn’t. The power of his smolder was too much.
“I thought about you for a long time after you left yesterday. I enjoyed our banter and loved the way you rolled with the punches. You were authentic as fuck, and that’s not something I see—ever, really. I just…” He trailed off and scrubbed a hand through his hair. “I sound insane.”
“You don’t.” I reached a hand out and patted his arm. Then realized I was touching him and jerked my hand back. “I…appreciate it. Really.”
“Then what is it? Do you have a boyfriend?”
I snorted. “No.”
“Really? What’s wrong with you then?”
“Oh my god.” I laughed incredulously. “Did you seriously just ask that?”
“What?” His dimpled smile did a serious number on my pulse. “If someone hasn’t snapped you up by now, it stands to reason there has to be something wrong with you.”
I shook my head. “I could say the same about you. You are single, right? You’re not some sleazeball asking me out because I’m conveniently here while your girlfriend is spending the holidays with her family, are you?”
I tried to remember if I’d read anything about him or his legion of girlfriends lately.
“Nah. I’m kinda addicted to work—don’t really have time. That’s why I’m out here. I unplugged from the job, sent my parents on a month-long cruise, and I came to the cabin to get some quality me time. Relax and…wow, I sound like a total douche.”
I smiled. “Nah,” I repeated. “I think you sound sweet. It’s nice of you to send your parents on a trip. I wish I could do the same. Mostly because I’m currently living with them, and they’re driving me crazy, but also because I love them to death, and they deserve the best.”
“I’ve got parents like that too. They’re great.”
“So it’s just you and them? No siblings? No Caleb or Chase or whatever weird naming theme your parents have?”
He laughed. “I have a brother, Garrett, but he’s serving in the military overseas right now.”
“Oh.” I had no idea. Not that I could say as much because that would be weird. “So no naming theme then.”
Cole grinned. “Just a good old fashioned British name theme. Nothing as wacky as yours.”
I grinned back at him.
He tilted his head. “So can I get your number?”
It felt like an out-of-body experience as I numbly recited my phone number to him, and he keyed it into his phone. He typed a little bit more, and then my phone vibrated in my hands.
Unknown number : This is Flower Crazy Cole. Would you come over for dinner tonight? Say 7?
I looked back up and found him smiling winningly at me with that dimple flashing. He raised his eyebrows.
“I, uh, yeah. I mean, yes. Dinner sounds nice.”
“It’s a date.”
A minute later, I drove away with my mind whirling. I have a date with Cole Jackson.
Me .
How was this real life?
Then I remembered my mental promise to the littles. I’d have to make up yesterday’s tardiness to them later. Way later. Because no way was I turning this—tonight—down.
I have a date with Cole Jackson!
* * *
As I got ready in my bedroom that evening, I couldn’t decide what to wear. My entire wardrobe was either too casual or too business-y. I hadn’t been on a date in a while. And this didn’t feel like a normal date. I mean, it was Cole Jackson.
I wanted to impress him, but my wardrobe was seriously lacking. And I couldn’t ask my sisters if I could borrow something. No way was I telling them about this. They’d either not believe me or find some way to kill my joy—especially Aspyn. I don’t know what it was, but since I’d come home with my tail between my legs, she’d had a serious problem with my every move.
Screw it.
He’d seen me doing snow angels in his driveway with cherry tomatoes smeared all over me. I was just going to be me. Switching out my sweaty hoodie and leggings for a super soft baseball style long-sleeved shirt and my favorite pair of ripped jeans. I grabbed my slouchy cowboy boots and tiptoed down the hall to the mudroom.
I should’ve known it was too easy.
“Going somewhere?” Aspyn drawled behind me.
I froze with my shoulders hunched, my boots dangling from my hand like a cartoon robber. Mentally groaning, I turned around and faced my sister. “Clearly.” I gestured with my boots. “I’m going out.”
“Really? Tonight of all nights?” She propped her fist on her hip and gave me the disappointed mama glare that I’d seen her use on her three kids many times before.
But I wasn’t her child. “Why not tonight? I was here for the family kickoff dinner last night. I am allowed to have a life.”
“This is exactly the reason you haven’t found a job yet. You have zero follow through. You expect everyone else to pick up the pieces you keep dropping. I’m not surprised they let you go out of everyone at that company.”
Tears welled in my eyes as I looked back at my sister who was all but rabid as she spelled out all my failings. “Are you serious? Because I’m not staying for day two of mom’s crazy Christmas, I’m suddenly a disappointment to everyone?”
“Oh it’s not sudden. We’ve all known for a while.”
I staggered back like she’d slapped me. Because that was what it felt like.
“Aspyn!” Dad thundered as he stomped toward us from the kitchen. “Apologize to your sister. Now .”
My sister crossed her arms over her chest with a bullish expression. “I’m not sorry for saying what we all think—what we’ve all said to each other about her before. It’s true and you all know it.”
I looked past Dad where Belle, Chrissy, and their husbands hovered in the kitchen entryway. They all wore apologetic expressions. Like what Aspyn said was true.
Like they agreed with her.
“Right. Thanks.” I huffed a disbelieving laugh. “Nice to know I’m a continual disappointment. Don’t worry. You won’t have to be disappointed with me tonight since I won’t be here. I’m going out. Don’t wait up. I wouldn’t want you all to be disappointed with me again.”
“December!” Dad shouted at my back.
But I’d quickly pulled on my boots, grabbed my coat and purse, and was through the door before he could stop me.
I was so out of there.