Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
By the time Jackson got everything cleaned up and restocked for the following day, he was more than ready for a beer or two.
After washing up and changing into a clean long-sleeved T-shirt, he emerged from the kitchen and scanned the bar until his gaze landed on the gorgeous blonde he’d been anxious to see ever since she’d agreed to a drink with him after work.
Jackson walked up behind Felicity, who was sitting with Clara, and said, “Hey, gorgeous.”
She turned and gave him a tired smile. “Hey, you. Busy night.”
He took the empty stool and gave Marissa a grateful nod when she placed a beer in front of him.
As he took a sip, he glanced around and held back a grimace when he spotted his mother Eva sitting with Larry the director.
There were also a few tables filled with beautiful people and a few more with what looked to be the production crew for Larry’s movie.
They were all wearing jeans and sweatshirts without an ounce of glam.
Meanwhile, the beautiful people were wearing designer duds and were made up to the nines.
“Definitely busy. Looks like the movie people found Sleighed,” he said.
“And thank the goddess for that,” Marissa said as she leaned on the bar. “This is the busiest Monday since I don’t even know when. If that Larry guy keeps ordering top shelf drinks, we’re going to make our monthly quota in one night.”
“Sounds like a merry Christmas indeed,” Felicity said.
“Is this seat taken?” a man with perfectly white teeth and wearing a button-down shirt with a sweater vest asked Clara.
She glanced up at him, her face flushing with pleasure as she said, “It is now.”
The man gave her a half smile and sat, turning to face her. “Which brilliant casting director tapped you for this movie?”
“Me?” Clara clamped a hand over her chest and laughed. “I’m not an actress.”
“You’re not?” He shifted his gaze over her appreciatively. “How did that happen? You have a face that was just born to be on the big screen.”
“Goddess above,” Felicity whispered to Jackson. “Can this dude lay it on any thicker?”
Jackson supposed he could, and likely would, if he thought he had a chance of taking Clara home that night. The guy was in full-court-press mode.
“Stop,” Clara said, grinning at him. “I’m a glass artist. I assume you’re an actor?”
“Glass artist?” The man’s demeanor changed from flirty douche to one of pure interest. “Seriously? You blow glass for a living?”
“I do.” She held out her hand. “I’m Clara Bowen, and I own Holidaze Glassworks.”
“Hudson Snow. Actor.” He took her hand in his and then held it for a moment longer than necessary as he added, “It’s nice to meet you, Clara Bowen. I’d love to see your work sometime.”
“Same,” Clara said, clearly getting lost in the man’s dark eyes.
Felicity turned to Jackson and gave him a knowing smile. “Looks like Clara’s gonna be busy for the rest of the night.”
“Good thing I’m here then,” he said, giving her a wink.
She laughed and then leaned into him, closing her eyes. “It’s been one heck of a day.”
“You can say that again,” he agreed as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, enjoying her warmth. If he had his way, he’d finish his beer and then immediately take her back to the cabin he was renting. This time he wouldn’t be as chivalrous as he’d been the night they’d been snowed in.
This time he’d show her what they were both missing by keeping their distance.
“Eva! Larry!” a slick man wearing all black called out as he walked in the pub. He made a beeline for Jackson’s mother and the producer and clasped Larry on the back before grabbing a chair, turning it around, and straddling it as he sat.
“Ugh,” Felicity said. “That guy again.”
“You know him?” Jackson asked, giving her his full attention.
“Yes,” she said. “Well, no, not exactly. He came by the store right before I closed. He purchased a few things, asked a couple of questions, and then later, I found him wandering around the property.”
Jackson’s senses were on high alert. “What kind of questions?”
“He just asked if we managed to turn a profit. I didn’t answer. It’s none of his business.”
“Of course it isn’t.” Jackson turned to eye the stranger and did his best to keep his expression neutral.
There was only one reason in his mind that someone would be asking about profits and checking out the property.
This man was scoping out the business opportunities of Apples and Spice and Everything Nice.
Was he the one behind the lien? Or was he a prospective buyer who was poised to take over the property once it was foreclosed?
“Anyway, the woodland fairies didn’t like him either,” Felicity said with a soft laugh.
“They don’t? How do you know?” he asked.
“They scared him by making a tree fall. It barely missed his car. Now he’s all butt hurt about it, but there was no damage, so there’s nothing he can do about it.”
Jackson stared at her open-mouthed. “Do they do that kind of thing often?”
“No, not at all,” she said, shaking her head. “It’s very unusual, but considering their reaction, I’m going to say that they don’t want him to come back… ever.”
“Do they visit often?” he asked, wondering if his visit in the woods with the Christmas fairy was a regular thing.
“The fairies? Oh no. Only when they think they need to protect the property… or the family, I suppose. I’ve never even seen them, only heard and felt them.
But my grandmother used to see them in the early days, right after they started the orchard.
The fairies loved my grandparents. Said they approved of them being guardians of the land. ”
A swell of pride filled Jackson’s chest. The fact that the Christmas fairy had come to him to ask him for help made him feel a weight of responsibility that he wouldn’t take lightly.
What was it she’d said? That he needed to help Felicity find her Christmas spirit.
He thought he’d done a fairly good job of that the night they’d taken the sleigh ride, but he wouldn’t stop there.
He’d do everything in his power to make sure that Felicity had the best Christmas season ever.
“Felicity Hill,” a man said from behind them.
Jackson turned and spotted the man who’d been skulking around her property. His fists flexed, and he had an urge to grab the man by his silk shirt, haul him outside, and demand to know who sent him.
Felicity looked up at him. “It puts me at a disadvantage that you know my name, but I don’t know yours.”
“No? I thought I already introduced myself,” he said with a slight air of superiority, and Jackson knew the man was messing with her, trying to get and keep the upper hand. But for what? Just to put her off guard?
Jackson had no use for the man, but he couldn’t just ignore him. Not if he had something to do with the lien.
“Trace Rhodes,” the man said. Then he turned to look at Larry and Eva. “Hey, Larry. Come over here. There’s someone I want you to meet.”
Larry rose with Eva hot on his heels. She looked like a puppy following her owner around, and it made Jackson’s stomach turn. He hated the way his mother was fawning all over Larry. It made him wonder what else she’d done to get her part besides offer up his house as a filming location.
“Hey, buddy,” Trace said to Larry. “I want you to meet Felicity Hill. She’s the owner of Apples and Spice and Everything Nice, the place I was telling you about.”
Jackson tensed.
Felicity raised her eyebrows and looked back and forth between the two men. “Oh yeah? And what exactly did you say about my orchard, Trace Rhodes?”
“He said it’s the perfect place for filming,” Larry said. “Trace is the production manager on the film we’re making. It sounds like he found the cabin and magical forest we’re looking for.”
“You want to film at the cabin?” Jackson blurted. “The one I’m staying at after I’ve been run out of my house?”
Larry blinked at Jackson and then let out a loud laugh. “That’s quite the coincidence, isn’t it? But don’t worry, Jackson. We don’t need to film inside. Just outside.” He turned to Felicity. “If the property is as good as Trace says, I’d love to do business with you.”
Felicity glanced at Jackson, and he could almost read her thoughts. If the money was good enough to displace Jackson for a few weeks, it was likely worth her while to hear them out. “Fine. Come by tomorrow and we’ll talk.”
“Excellent,” Larry said, lighting up like a Christmas tree. “I’ll be there first thing.” He squeezed her arm and then wrapped an arm around Trace’s shoulders as the two walked out.
Eva hesitated, placing her hand on Jackson’s shoulder. “Thank you, Jackson.”
He just nodded, not knowing what else to say to her. She’d gotten what she wanted. What more could she want from him?
His mother looked like she wanted to say something else, but instead, she clamped her mouth shut, lowered her head, and then walked out of the pub.
“Is she all right?” Felicity asked him.
He shrugged. “I assume so.”
“The director is using her,” Felicity said.
He met her gaze. “I’m pretty sure they’re using each other.”
She frowned. “That’s… sad.”
He nodded his agreement.
“Come on.” Felicity stood. “Let’s go.”
He stared up into her pretty face. “Where?”
“Home.” She slipped her hand into his and tugged.
Jackson let her tug him out of the pub and didn’t question her when she led him to her Jeep.