Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Caroline
I almost feel guilty for staring at his butt and then startling him until he rudely yelled at me.
He is a jerk, the finest jerk in the world.
Taller than any man should be allowed to be when I’m only five-four, and too damn built.
He had on a puffy sports coat, and I could still make out his broad, muscular physique underneath.
The man has to be at least six four. A whole giant foot taller than me.
What the heck was he worried about falling for?
The snow was nearly up to his thigh. He would have had a safe landing, or at least I tell myself that after being so careless.
I’ve never felt so guilty and angry at the same time.
As soon as he saw me, his tone changed. I know guys like that.
They see a cute chick, and they change their tune, but I’m not playing that game.
Besides, I have no idea who he is. This is only the second time I’ve seen him since I moved in.
He could be a family member or her husband.
I’m always working, so it’s not like I keep an eye on people’s schedules.
I hope for her sake he isn’t her man because he was clearly trying to flirt with me, and that is so repulsive.
I rush off and go to the grocery store. When I return, the handsome guy is gone. I send up a silent prayer because that means I won’t have to see him again for at least a couple of weeks.
When I return home with the missing ingredients, I set them on the counter in my kitchen and get to work, baking my holiday cookies.
I started the project before I saw the hostile yet gorgeous man on the ladder, but then I ran out of butter and brown sugar, so I had to make a trip to the store.
It’s my only day off for a few days. Plus, I actually have a date tonight, something I absolutely never do, and I’m almost positive I’m going to regret it.
An hour and a half later, my cookies are baked, racked, and cooled, so I decide to take a small batch over to my neighbor across the street to apologize for startling her boyfriend or whatever he is.
He hasn’t returned, so I rapidly knock on the door, hoping to do a quick apology and hand off.
“Oh, hello. Come on in,” she says as she opens the door, wiping her hands on a kitchen towel.
Shit, I don’t remember her name. “Carrie, isn’t it?” she says as she continues to stroll into her kitchen. Her house mirrors mine in layout, and the décor is similar except she has green and white with hints of gold. Everything feels woodsy and whimsical here.
“Carrie is a nickname. My name is Caroline,” I answer as I trail after her, waving my tin of cookies.
“Sorry. It’s Chloe, by the way.” She turns around, stopping so quickly that I nearly slam into her.
“I don’t mind being called Carrie at all.” I straighten myself and set the tin on the counter. “So, I don’t know what happened outside earlier, but I just want to apologize for my brother.”
My head tilts slightly as I try to process the words. “Your brother?”
“Yes, that big old beastly man. He’s a little grumpy since he ripped his jacket on the ladder.”
“Oh, no. That’s totally my fault. I’m so sorry. I just thought he was having a problem up there. I was about to call for help, and I accidentally startled him.”
She covers her mouth to stop herself from giggling. “I shouldn’t laugh. That wouldn’t be nice if my brother fell, but startling him is extremely hard to do.”
“No, it wouldn’t be nice if he fell, but he was so upset with me.”
She waves my concern off. “Oh, he’s fine. My brother just does not like the holidays. He particularly hates Christmas.”
“He does?”
“Totally, like the worst holiday ever to him. He’s got the idea that people give gifts to people they don’t care about just to make themselves look good.”
“Oh, wow.” My mouth falls open and closed in slow motion.
“I personally love the holiday; it brings great memories.”
“Me too; I find it comforting. Well, I brought you some cookies that I thought you could enjoy as a peace offering, and I just wanted to apologize again.”
“Thank you. He’s supposed to come back later, so maybe I’ll save him some.” She giggles. “Or not.” We both laugh.
“Honestly, I thought he was your boyfriend.” I bite my lip, waiting to see what she says, and her face instantly contorts into a grin before she flips into hysterics.
“Oh my goodness.” She gasps as she tries to catch her breath. “That’s hysterical. I’m totally telling him you thought that. He’s going to be grossed out.”
I don’t think it’s that funny, but then again, if I was in her shoes, I would crack up too.
“My brother would say the same thing if people thought that too.” Immediately I think about my brother, and I’m sad because I miss him.
My brother is in the military, so I don’t see him that often.
He’s definitely not around for the holidays this year, which is so depressing.
He hasn’t even seen my new house that I bought with my first grown-up money.
I check my smart watch, and it’s past time for me to jump in the shower. “Actually, I have a date, so I need to go get ready.”
“Oh, where are you going, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“Not at all. It’s that taco place, Julio’s, on Ridge.”
“I love that spot.”
“Me too; that’s why I picked it because at least if the date sucks, the food will be good.”
“Oh, so this is like not like a boyfriend date?”
“Nope some blind date, actually,” I cringe.
“That’s interesting. I tried that one time, and it didn’t go so well.”
“Do they really ever, though?” I ask, even though this was my second attempt at one. No one I’ve ever met has had a good one.
“I have no idea. You know, you should stop by more.”
“I’d like that. By the way—I love your decorations. I thought I loved Christmas, but you could give me a run for my money.”
“I’ll have to check out yours.”
“You should. I have to go,” I say, feeling much better about having stared at her brother like a crazy person.
I return to my house and prepare for my date with Tom.
All I know is he works at one of the pet stores as the manager and is in college.
We’re both twenty-three. As I do my hair and makeup, I’m not looking forward to this date.
My mind is on the grumpy man who hates Christmas.
I peer around my bathroom, which even has pink and white holiday towels, and I know that he and I wouldn’t mix.
Finishing my prep, I’m just about to head out to the restaurant when I get a text from Tom, telling me he’s going to be running late. He needs another hour, if that’s okay with me. It’s only six, so it’s not too bad.
I reply.
Me: That’s cool.
Tom: Thanks. Can’t wait to meet you. I don’t respond because I can’t actually say I am excited for this date.
I set my phone down, and my stomach rumbles.
Damn it, I really want some tacos, and now I have to wait.
With my calorie budget tight, I skipped lunch and that was a big no-no because now I’m ravenous.
The smell of my calorie-laden cookies wafts through the air, tempting me, but I snatch only one.
I made them to share at work and enjoy over the holiday weeks.
I lean against the dining room table and admire my décor.
My entire home is normally white and navy blue with gray wood floors, but now that it’s Christmas time, I have it decked out in pink and white colors.
I think of the little fairies and snow. There are also shades of silver and gold, but it’s perfectly blended with everything.
It’s getting later, and I finally decide to leave. I’ll probably arrive a few minutes late, but that’s okay.
When I get there, it’s not busy and I see a tall, slender man in a puffy vest like it’s not winter outside. “Hey, you’re Carrie, right?”
“Yes,” I answer. “Tom?”
“Yes, it’s great to meet you.” We shake hands, and then a woman approaches with menus.
“Welcome. Will you be dining in, or to go?”
“Dining in. Can we get a booth for two, please?” I ask.
“Of course, please follow me.” Tom waves his hand to let me go first. Our booth is near the window and near the pickup counter. We take off our coats and sit down. “Can I start you off with something to drink?”
“Water for now, but I’ll have a Coke Zero with my dinner.”
“A water, please.”
She nods and leaves the menus. “So, have you been here before?” I ask him.
“No, it’s new to me. You?” he asks, looking at the menu and not at me. I wonder if he’s just nervous or maybe he doesn’t normally make eye contact.
“Yes, it’s my favorite place.”
He lowers his menu and gives me a curious look. “You often bring dates here?”
I’m interested in defending myself, but he doesn’t know me any more than I know him. “I don’t date. This was Anne’s idea.”
“Yes, she’s really nice,” he says with an emotional gleam in his eyes. Then why doesn’t he date her?
“So what do you like to eat?”
“I prefer Italian food, but I suppose Mexican food will do.”
“I meant from here,” I bite out each word.
“Oh, sorry. It’s been a long day.”
“You were at work?”
“I thought the shirt was a dead giveaway.” Rude much? “I didn’t have time to change. Someone called off and I had to go in.”
“That’s terrible.”
“It really is. I need to find a better job.”
“Here are your drinks. Are you ready to order?” I look at him, and then he says, “Yes. I’ll have a steak fajita dinner.”
“I’ll have a chicken taco with everything.”
“Wonderful.” She takes our menus and then leaves us. What I don’t miss is the way his eyes linger on the server’s backside. I close my eyes and internally remind myself, I’m only here for dinner and I’m paying for my food, anyway.
“Anne says you’re in college. What are you studying?”
“A little bit of everything. I still haven’t figured things out.”
“Anything in the veterinary sciences?” I question. Maybe that’s why Anne thought we would be a good fit.
“God, no. I hate animals.”
“But you work at a pet store.” My voice jumps an octave at the absurdity.
“Chill. It’s just a job that I’m good at, and it pays the bills.”
“I suppose we all do jobs that aren’t our careers.”
A moment later they bring us our food, and it smells so good.
“Thank you so much.” I dig in because I’m so starving.
The food is delicious and gives us both a chance not to speak to each other.
I’m loving it because he’s definitely not my type.
Not that I have a type, but a man who doesn’t like animals and is rude is a double red flag.
My mind goes to the other rude man who isn’t a good match for me, and yet I want to see him again.
“How is your food?”
“It’s okay,” he grunts while stuffing his face.
I take a drink of my pop, and then I feel a shift in the air around us as a shadow appears over us. Looking up, I see Mr. Grumpy Christmas staring at me.