Chapter 6
Chapter Six
“How was your evening?” Marissa called out as Jackson walked into Sleighed that afternoon.
“Good,” he said. “You?”
“That’s all I get? Good?” Marissa asked as she hurried over to him, giving him a knowing look. “You spent all night with Felicity, In a snowstorm, and all you’ve got is ‘good.’ You have to give me more than that.”
He shook his head at his boss, who also happened to be one of Felicity’s best friends. “What kind of gentleman would I be if I said more?”
The fiery redhead let out a small gasp as she bounced on the balls of her feet. “Are you saying you don’t kiss and tell?”
“I didn’t say anything about kissing,” he said.
“Ugh! You’re the worst. You’re not giving me anything at all.” She threw her hands up in exasperation. “Everyone knows you two are meant for each other. Just put me out of my misery already. Did you get together or not?”
“We did not get together,” he said, slightly frustrated that he couldn’t give her a different answer.
“Oh. Well, that’s disappointing,” she said as she leaned against the bar. “I was hoping that she’d finally let her guard down.”
She had, but Jackson wasn’t going to give Marissa those details. If Felicity wanted her to know, she could tell her later. “I’m going to get to work.”
“Yeah, okay. But I still want all the details later,” she called as he slipped into the kitchen.
“Never gonna happen!” he called back.
Marissa let out a fake cry of frustration and then cackled.
Jackson shook his head and got busy prepping for dinner.
By the time nine o’clock rolled around, Jackson’s back was aching and he was starving.
It had been fairly busy. Apparently being snowed in for one night in Christmas Grove had been too much for the locals.
They’d all come out to blow off some steam while they indulged in wings and gourmet burgers.
After fixing both him and Marissa plates of food, he shut down the kitchen and then walked out into the bar.
“Guacamole burger or black and blue burger?” Jackson asked her, holding both plates.
“Black and blue,” she said, taking the blue cheese burger from him. “I’ve been craving this all week.”
“I know,” he said as he winked and then took a seat at the bar next to Danny, her husband. There was already a glass of his favorite beer waiting for him.
“She’s been talking about that burger for over a week,” Danny said. “Ever since the last time you offered them but then sold out and she didn’t get one.”
“Yeah, she mentioned that once or twice,” Jackson said with a chuckle. It had been more like every day for a week, but who was counting.
Marissa took a huge bite of her burger, closed her eyes, and moaned her satisfaction. Once she swallowed, she gave Jackson two thumbs-up and then put the plate under the counter as she went to serve drinks to more of her patrons.
Jackson had just taken a bite of his burger when Danny said, “I heard you spent the night with Felicity.”
He sucked in a breath, got a piece of burger caught in this throat, and then started choking.
“Oh, dammit! Sorry.” Danny started pounding on his back.
Jackson’s eyes started to water, and just when he was certain he was going to die by burger, Danny wrapped his arms around him from behind and did a poor version of the Heimlich maneuver. The chunk of burger flew across the bar, and Jackson sucked in a breath of air. “Thank you,” he wheezed.
“Marissa never would have forgiven me if I just sat here and watched her favorite chef choke to death.” The words were teasing, but Danny’s expression was full of concern. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Fine now.” He picked up the beer and took a few gulps, grateful for the cold beverage.
“Remind me to never ask about Felicity when you’re eating,” Danny said.
“It’s fine. I just sucked in too much air while I was chewing.
” He drank some more of his beer and then said, “Felicity and I were snowed in at her cabin last night. Nothing happened, so there’s nothing to report, though I did help her plow her road this morning and remove a tree that was blocking the bridge. ”
Danny studied him for a moment and then nodded. “That sounds about right.”
“What’s that mean?” Jackson asked with a laugh.
“Just that you care about her and that scares her.”
Jackson knew he was right, but chose to remain silent. He picked up his burger and took another bite. This time he managed to get it down without incident. When he was done with his dinner, he turned to Danny. “How’s the pottery business?”
“Great. Busy for the Christmas season,” his friend said. “After the New Year, Marissa and I are going to take a little getaway for our honeymoon.”
They’d gotten remarried a few weeks ago at their new farmhouse after reconnecting during the previous Christmas season. But neither had wanted to take time off to travel after the ceremony since the holidays were when they were both busiest.
“Marissa wants somewhere warm with a swim up bar.” He chuckled. “Gotta say I’m looking forward to whatever bikini she plans to wear. I love snow and Christmas, but I won’t say no to a little bit of sunbathing in January.”
“It does sound good,” Jackson agreed, though he’d personally rather spend time on a ski slope than in a pool. Maybe he’d change his mind if Felicity wanted to vacation with him in the tropics.
The bells over the door chimed, and in walked none other than Felicity herself. She yanked off a knitted cap and stalked over to the bar. As she took a seat right in front of Marissa, she said, “You are not going to believe the day I had.”
“Uh-oh. That doesn’t sound good. Did the Christmas lights go out again?” Marissa asked.
“Oh,” Felicity huffed out. “If only.”
Marissa nodded at the taps. “Want one?”
“Yes. And keep them coming.” She pulled off her gloves and made a pile of her outerwear on the stool next to her. “You are never going to believe this.”
Jackson couldn’t help but lean in to listen. He hated that her day had gone downhill after he’d left that morning. The time they’d spent together had felt nothing short of magical to him and had sustained him for the rest of the day. That clearly hadn’t been the case for her.
“Okay, don’t keep me in suspense,” Marissa said. “Who do we need to hex?”
“Some old bastard who’s trying to steal the orchard.” Felicity scowled. “Yesterday afternoon I was served with some paperwork.”
“Served? Like a lawsuit?” Marissa asked as she placed a Christmas Ale in front of her friend.
“Foreclosure paperwork.” She picked up the beer and took a long swig. “There’s been a lien placed on the orchard, and if I don’t pay the loan plus interest, they’re going to foreclose in the new year.”
“What loan?” Marissa asked.
“You mean that wasn’t a scam?” Jackson asked.
Felicity turned to him. All of her anger seemed to vanish, and her eyes turned haunted as she said, “My lawyer says it’s legit. He says the lien was placed on the deed the week after that paperwork was signed… Decades ago.”
Jackson wanted to pull her into his arms, comfort her, but when anger came flooding back into her expression as she straightened her shoulders, he knew that was the last thing she needed.
“What are you going to do?” Marissa asked. “Is there any way to come up with the money to pay off the loan?”
“The loan? Yes. The interest? No. I just don’t understand it.
My grandmother would have never left an outstanding debt like that,” Felicity said, shaking her head with frustration.
“She was so proud that she owned that land. The way she talked about it being her legacy for the Hill family, I just don’t understand how there could be an outstanding loan.
It makes no sense. Marilyn said she didn’t know anything about it either. ”
“What can we do, honey?” Marissa asked, her tone full of compassion.
“Nothing. I don’t know.” She let out a sigh.
“The lawyer is trying to track down the person who holds the lien. Maybe we can get answers then.” Felicity tightened her grip on her beer and then downed the rest of it.
“Okay. Enough of that. There’s nothing I can do tonight, so who’s drinking with me? ”
“I am,” Jackson said and moved to sit next to her.
She gave him a dazzling smile. “How did I know I could count on you?”
The memory of the woodland fairy he’d met on her property flashed in his mind.
What was it she’d said? In order to be sure that this land remains safe, you’re going to need to help her find her Christmas spirit.
He wasn’t sure that drinking her worries away was the best way to start that mission, but it was what he had to work with.
“Here you go,” Marissa said with a soft chuckle as she placed two new beers in front of them. “What about you, Danny? Are you going to join them?”
Her husband shook his head. “Not tonight. I have a pottery class to teach tomorrow at the gallery.”
“Way to be the adult in the room,” Felicity said to him with a teasing tone. “I hope Marilyn can take care of the store by herself tomorrow. ‘Cause I plan to be sleeping off a hangover.” She lifted her glass and held it up for Jackson. “To blowing off steam.”
He repeated her toast, clinked his glass to hers, and then took a sip.
She did the same and then looked at Jackson. “I assume since you’re out here drinking that the kitchen is closed?”
“It is,” he said. “But I can grab you a sandwich and some potato salad if you want.”
“You, Jackson Bell, are once again my hero. If you feed me, I’m going to be your devoted servant forever.”
“Servant isn’t exactly the role I was hoping for,” he said. “But if you’ll indulge me, I’d love to get you on one of those horseless carriage rides.”
“The one that takes everyone around to see the magical Christmas decorations?” she scoffed, looking slightly horrified.
“That’s the one. How about a deal? I’ll make you dinner and be your drinking buddy if you promise to let me take you around town in a carriage.” He raised an eyebrow in challenge. “What do you say? Are you game?”
She looked around at the sparsely populated bar and said, “Looks like my options are limited, so I’m all yours.”
If only, he thought ruefully. He raised his beer again. “Okay. Let the drinking commence.”
Felicity grinned at him. “Now we’re talking.”