Chapter 5
Clara
I was still shocked that my one-night stand was sitting at my family's dinner table. Other than a brief introduction, he hadn't tried to engage with me. I wasn't sure whether to be happy about that or slighted.
It was better that we pretend we'd never met before. But I hoped he'd take me aside and assure me that he hadn't known who I was last night.
I couldn't imagine a friend of Malcolm's would knowingly sleep with his younger sister. Despite the fact that he'd taken care of me physically last night, I didn't know him. Not really.
That was evidenced by the fact that he was in the basement talking business with my brothers.
I wasn't sure whether I should stick around and see if he wanted to talk or if I should leave early to avoid him. Going home would be the safer choice.
I put the last of the leftovers in the fridge.
"Oh, can you pack up a container for Malcolm's friend?" Mom asked. "I bet he's staying in a rental and doesn't have any food or even a kitchen."
I could attest to the fact that he had a kitchen. Although I hadn't seen much of it last night. I was intimately familiar with his bed. But I didn't think my mother would appreciate me telling her that.
"Clara? Did you hear me?"
"Yes," I said as I pulled the container of leftovers out of the fridge.
She handed me a plastic to-go container. "Put it in this. That way, he doesn't need to worry about washing it and returning it to me."
I grabbed a serving spoon and moved a portion of the chicken and pasta into the container.
"I think it's great that Malcolm invited his friend. It sounds like he's knowledgeable about business and could help us."
I shrugged. "We don't really know him though."
Mom scoffed. "Malcolm knows him."
"So we're just supposed to assume he's a good guy?" I rolled my eyes because I didn't know anything about Beck, and I wasn't about to make assumptions. Or at least not anymore. Last night was a one-off, and I didn't intend to repeat the same mistake again. Fool me once and all that.
Mom frowned. "If you have reservations, you should talk to Malcolm. But they've been friends since college, and he wouldn't have invited him here if he didn't trust him."
I sighed.
"I hoped you'd take him around town, show him what makes this part of Colorado so special. Beck is important to Malcolm, and I want him to feel welcome."
"I'm tired. I didn't get a lot of sleep last night." I was supposed to be pretending I didn't know Beck. I wasn't supposed to be having any sort of feelings about him.
"Why don't you go home and get to bed early then? I'm sure the boys will be here late talking business. You know how much Malcolm loves talking about it, profit margins and marketing plans. As long as I don't have to listen to it, I'm happy."
Mom was ecstatic that the boys had taken over the business so Mom and Dad could retire. She had no interest in the finer details, but she understood why it was so important to Malcolm.
I kissed her cheek. "I'm going to head home then."
"Get some rest. I'll give Beck the leftovers."
"I'm sure he'll appreciate it." I wasn't sure how I felt about me being in his bed one night and my mother's leftovers in his fridge the next.
Mom waved her hand. "Get out of here."
I said goodbye to Dad, who was the only one in the living room. Laughter came from the basement.
"You getting out of here?" Dad asked.
"I'm tired, and the boys are talking shop."
He patted my cheek. "I'll tell them that you left."
"Thanks, Dad." I hesitated, noting that he was watching a football game.
"I think this expansion will be good for them. They've been talking about it forever."
"I hope so." I didn't really care much about the business. Mainly because I wasn't included in the conversation. I was supposed to focus on grandma's shop and stay out of the bigger decisions. No one asked what I thought about the expansion.
"I remember when I was that young and ambitious. I wanted to make the inn profitable. I never thought we'd have a restaurant or that we'd be hosting weddings."
I touched his shoulder. "You've built something amazing."
He covered my hand with his. "I know you haven't always been as involved in the family business—"
I moved to sit on the edge of the couch, still intending to leave but not sure where he was going with this conversation. "What are you talking about? I used to clean rooms and wash linens and towels when I was a teenager."
He chuckled. "I meant in the business decisions."
I let out a breath. I wasn't going to say it was okay because it wasn't.
He kept his attention on the TV. "I didn't think you cared much about the inn."
"I enjoyed being involved, taking calls, and helping with the guests." At one point, I thought I would work there after college, but I realized there wasn't room for a sixth Hart.
"You were always closer to your grandmother."
"We were close."
"I guess I thought that's what you wanted."
I smiled, but it felt brittle. "Someone had to continue our family's legacy."
He glanced over at me. "Are you happy?"
I let out a breath. "I will be."
I heard the heavy thump of boots coming up the stairs, and I quickly stood. "Enjoy the rest of your night."
I slipped out the door as my brothers piled into the living room, talking about some game. It was loud, and I was easily able to duck out.
When we were growing up, Dad was preoccupied with the business, and then he had five sons who were all, to some degree, out of control. He always said I was the one he didn't have to worry about. I had a good head on my shoulders.
I just wasn't so sure he was right about that. I wasn't happy running the Christmas Shop, and I wasn't sure what would change that for me.
I was almost to my SUV when the front door opened. I didn't bother to look to see who it was. I hoped they'd let me go without making a fuss. I was over socializing for the night.
"Clara." Beck's tone was sharp.
I turned to face him, irritated that I hadn't made a clean break.
"I wanted to talk to you."
I tipped my head to the side and hissed, "We're not supposed to know each other, remember?"
He wasn't holding the leftover container, so Mom was going to run out after him at any second.
"You have to go back inside."
He pulled out his phone. "How are you going to show me around town if you don't have my number?"
I recited my number to him and waited impatiently while he inputted it and texted me.
When he was done, I asked, "You think this is a good idea?"
He smiled. "I wouldn't want to disappoint your mother. She just fed me dinner."
I rolled my eyes. "We have an open-door policy. Any of our friends are welcome at any time."
"You're saying that I'm not special?" he asked softly, and I had a feeling that question held a lot of meaning for him.
I nodded. "I wouldn't want you to get a big head."
He chuckled. "We didn't do much talking last night, did we?"
"We went for a ride." Both figuratively and literally.
He raised a brow. "We didn't catch each other's names."
"That was an oversight." A costly one.
"I'm sorry. I had no idea—"
I got into my vehicle, determined to get out of there. I didn't need to hear his excuses, all the reasons why last night was a mistake. "Don't worry. I won't tell Malcolm."
His forehead wrinkled. "I wasn't worried about that."
The front door opened again, and Mom called out, "Beck. You forgot your leftovers."
"I'll be right there. I was just grabbing Clara's number so she can show me around town."
"Don't be out here too long. It's freezing." Her voice drifted as she went back inside, and we didn't speak again until the door slammed.
"I'd better get inside."
"We don't have to do this, you know. I can tell Mom that we did it, even though we don't."
He chuckled. "That's not how I operate. I'm a man of my word."
"We don't know each other at all," I murmured.
He stuffed his hands in his pockets. "I want to say that I should have done something different last night but—"
I turned on the engine. "Call me if you want me to take you on a tour. I'm in town most days."
He stepped back. "I'm holding you to that."
I let out a breath and waited for him to close my door.
He waited in the driveway as I backed out. He didn't raise his hand to wave. He just stood there looking good, and warmth spread through my chest. It felt like a protective gesture.
I was with my ex for so long; we'd gotten used to each other. He didn't worry if I came home late, and I never called to ask where he was. I never worried that he'd cheat on me. I didn't worry about much of anything. By the end, the relationship was easy, but it was also boring.
Nothing about last night was boring. But was that because it was a one-night stand? Maybe if we dated, we'd grow bored of each other after a few dates. We'd determine that we had nothing in common.
He'd be gone soon enough, and my life would get back to normal. That wasn't a comforting thought. He'd given me one night that was different from the usual. It had been exciting.
But seeing him in my family's dining room was too much. I wasn't prepared for that kind of drama in my life. I'd show him around town, and then I'd stay away from him. He'd be gone soon enough.
He didn't strike me as a small-town kind of guy. He was too smooth for that.
I pulled up to my garage and turned off the engine.
I couldn't park inside because it was full of the things she'd collected to sell at yard sales, old toys and soda signs.
She always said she could get a good price for them, but she never tried to sell anything.
Now I was stuck with it, and for some reason, Mom thought everything inside the house held sentimental value.
I needed to reconcile the man I'd met last night with the guy who was also Malcolm's friend and new business associate. It would have been nice if I could have done something impulsive and not have it blow back in my face. But that wasn't how my life worked apparently.
I needed to show him around town without giving into the chemistry that was still coursing between us. Nothing could happen now that I knew who he was. My brothers would not be okay with what happened.
I unlocked the door and pushed it open. I went to my bedroom and got dressed for bed. When I'd brushed my teeth and washed my face, I finally got into bed and pulled out my phone.
Beck: I'm still the man you met last night.
Clara: That's debatable.
Everything had changed. He wasn't a mystery anymore, an indulgent evening I could recall and relive forever. Instead, I had to forget what happened if I wanted to see him in the future. He'd be hanging around my family.
Beck: I'm looking forward to your tour.
I groaned, not wanting anything to do with this ridiculous tour Mom suggested for us. Why couldn't Malcolm take him around town? Just because I owned a store in town didn't mean I was the sole expert on all things Christmas Town.
I was already regretting my decision to get involved with him. If I could rewind time, I would wave him off and go home. I wouldn't get on his motorcycle or tour the mountain with him. I certainly wouldn't go in his cabin and climb into his bed. And there was zero chance I'd ride his dick again.
But when I pushed my brothers out of my head, the memory from last night was a good one. I had a nice time with him, even if I didn't know much about him or even his name. You couldn't fake chemistry like that. The problem was, what did you do about it when he was friends with your brother?
Clara: I was hoping you'd forget about that.
Beck: Not a chance in hell.
What did that mean? Was he going to pursue me despite my brothers? What were his intentions? There was no chance of me asking him. That was too direct, and I wasn't sure I wanted to hear his answer.
I'd give him a boring tour, and he'd realize how blah the town was and decide there were better business opportunities elsewhere. He'd get to know me better and realize how bland I was.
I snuggled under my covers. I'd bore him to death. It was a good plan.