Chapter Seven
RACHEL
“ T his is not what I was expecting when you said it was a ‘hoedown.’”
My eyes dart around the room, taking in the surprisingly tastefully decorated barn. The lights are dimmed, and strings of twinkling lights are draped in a crisscrossed fashion from the ceiling. Round high-top tables are scattered throughout the area, with long, draping white tablecloths and centerpieces of red and pink flowers with flickering candles. Bales of hay line the far wall on either side of a large stage where a live band plays a cover of ‘Spin You Around’ by Morgan Wallen.
And to think, I was going to wear jeans and a plaid shirt I’d found on sale in town earlier today until Cassie swung by the Inn and ordered me to change.
Not asked. Not told. Ordered .
She eventually apologized, saying that she’d been flustered from having to leave the cafe all day to, and I quote, ‘chase around a mystery man she didn’t ask for and miss out on my opportunity to hit Cupid with a bat and tell him how I really feel about love.’
After getting her a decaf coffee and some non-heart-shaped cookies, she calmed enough to explain that even though it was called a ‘hoedown,’ it was more like a fancy dance and that I would feel better wearing a dress.
So, here I am at my very first hoedown, wearing a form-fitting red dress. My hair let out of the two low twintails and now curled around my shoulders.
I’ve never felt so out of place, but yet comfortable in my life.
“I never said it was cheesy hoedown,” Cassie snickers beside me. “We talk a big game about going over the top with everything, but we still like to be as dressy as possible. Well, most of the time. There’s always a time and place for cheese.”
“Cheese? Where?” Jacob asks as he comes up behind us.
Cassie rolls her eyes. “It’s always about food with you, isn’t it?”
“Look, you can’t blame me. Margorie is in charge of the food for this, and she always does an amazing job. I heard her say something about a shark cutie board.”
“A shark…what?” I ask, laughing, as I turn to him.
“A shark cutie board. I don’t know why it’s called that, but you know where they have the meat, cheese, and olives?”
Cassie lets out a frustrated breath. “It’s a charcuterie , Jacob. Charcuterie . You run an Inn that offers food; you should know that.”
“I do high tea, Cassie. I don’t know the names for fancy boards.”
Cassie rolls her eyes. “I’m going to go find Holly. I hope my match tonight knows the difference between a charcuterie board and a ‘shark cutie board.’” With a final glare at Jacob, she storms off, quickly lost in the crowd.
“You can’t possibly think that’s what that was called,” I say.
Jacob lets out a laugh that nearly drowns out the band. “Of course not. I just like messing with her.”
“You two,” I utter with a smile .
They may not see it yet, but they are perfect for each other. Or, they would be if they could learn to be around each other without driving themselves crazy.
“You’re one to talk,” he says back.
“What do you mean?”
He gives me an unimpressed face as he tilts his head and crosses his arms over his chest. “You know what I mean.”
With his arms crossed the way they are, I notice the pocket square poking out of the top of his suit jacket pocket, and how it matches the soft pink of Cassie’s dress. I don’t know if he planned that or not, or how he would have, with how she doesn’t seem to want to be anywhere near him, let alone matching outfits, but he does.
“I just came to town to write a story on all the events you guys have going on. That’s it.”
“And the Search?” he adds with a smile.
“Added adventure for my readers. They’ve really enjoyed the live posting today as I’ve collected my clues around town.”
“And it has nothing to do with who you’ve been running into along the way, right?” His smile grows.
“This town and their gossip.” I shake my head.
“You love it,” he chuckles. “Speaking of…I’ll, uh, leave you alone. I guess I’d better go apologize to Cassie, or she’ll give me the cold shoulder until Easter.”
He rushes off, leaving me confused.
What is it with the men of this town leaving me at dances?
“Fancy seeing you here.”
That voice.
I whip around to see Levi smiling down at me.
An unwelcome mix of emotions rushes over me as I see him standing in front of me in a suit, twinkling lights sparkling overhead. I feel flustered because of how handsome he looks all cleaned up and dressed in a suit, but then the hurt from that night also comes back. Even though we’ve talked it out, and I do believe now it was an honest mistake, there’s still a bit of pain that goes with it. Pain from the embarrassment of being so wrapped up in my head that I didn’t see what was going on clearly. Pain for what might have been if I had just waited or gone to find him.
That doesn’t stop my heart from fluttering at the sight of him.
“See, I told you you were following me.”
“You caught me. It’s the only logical explanation why I’d find you in the one place the whole town is also congregated at.”
“I highly doubt it’s the whole town.”
“You underestimate Candy Cane Creek,” she says, taking a small step toward me.
“You mean Candy Heart Creek,” I joke, taking a small step toward her.
“You’ve got me there.” He looks into my eyes and takes a small breath as if he wants to say something, but nothing escapes his lips.
I wish I knew what was going on in his head. His eyes show a range of emotions that I can’t put my finger on. As we stand under the twinkling lights, he's warring with something; I just don’t know what it is.
He opens his hand to me and asks, “Do you want to dance?” he finally asks, seeming to have reached a conclusion about whatever he was battling.
“I’d love to,” I say, placing my palm in his.
I let him lead me to the dance floor and pull me close, letting our joined hands rest on his chest. This is reminiscent of the night we met, which doesn’t help with the weight growing in my chest. It’s an uneasy feeling like we’ve been here before, but this time, it’s different. I can’t place my finger on it, but it is.
“Are you okay? You look distracted,” he asks as we begin to sway .
The band starts singing ‘Amazed’ by Lonestar, and I can’t help but give him a small smile.
“I love this song.” I’m avoiding his question because I don’t know how to answer it. How do I explain that our moment is stirring up the feelings I had for him over a year ago? Or that the reality is that I’m leaving tomorrow and don’t know when I’m coming back to Candy Cane Creek.
Or are we both here to meet our matches in The True Love Search and they will likely be other people.
He raises an eyebrow at my redirection but seems to let it slide.
“Typical song for a Valentine’s dance if you ask me,” he says, letting it slide. “Very predictable and unoriginal.”
“Alright then, what would you pick instead? What’s your ultimate love song?”
“I can’t say I have one,” Levi says, looking over my shoulder. He holds my hand a little tighter as it rests on his chest, his other hand at my waist, pulling me close.
All we need is the mistletoe above us, and it’s exactly like the night we met. Only this time, I trust him not to leave me stranded. Not intentionally, anyway.
“There has to be something. Judging by the way you showed up everywhere I was today, maybe it should be ‘Every Breath You Take.’”
“Ha. Ha,” he says unenthusiastically. “It’s not my fault that our clues led us to the same places.”
“And we ended up there at the same time? You’re mighty suspicious there, Levi Harrison. Being in the same place is one thing, but at the exact same time is a whole other ball game.”
“I could say the same for you, Rachel Bennett. Maybe you’re the stalker here and not me.”
And there it is, that full smile of his that makes me forget that I’m supposed to be acting like he’s not charming. Or that I don’t have feelings for him .
I’m failing. Horribly.
“Hmm, fine. How about ‘Don’t Want to Miss a Thing?’”
“Aerosmith? Bold choice,” I muse.
“You don’t agree?”
“Not for me, personally. It reminds me of the Armageddon movie, and that just makes me sad.”
“Sad? Why? That was such a great movie.”
“Oh, come on. The ending? Really?”
“Fine, I’ll give you that one,” he says reluctantly. “How about ‘My Heart Will Go On?’”
“ Titanic ,” I laugh.
He rolls his eyes. “Alright then…how about…’I Will Always Love You?’”
“ Bodyguard, ” I laugh, shaking my head.
“What? It was a love story.”
“Not a happy one,” I laugh. “And it’s a break-up song.”
“What? No! It’s like one of the most famous love songs.”
“No,” I laugh. “It’s most definitely a break-up song.”
“Alright then, smartypants. What’s your favourite love song?”
I close my eyes and smile. “‘Open Arms’ by Journey.”
“Doesn’t that one also talk about a break-up?” he asks, amused.
Opening my eyes, I look into his emerald ones, realizing how symbolic my favourite song might just be.
“Yes, but it also talks about realizing how much that person means to them while the other is gone, and just how grateful they are to have them back.”
The way he’s looking at me nearly takes my breath away.
“What?” he asks, his smile growing wider. “Why are you looking at me like that? Do I have icing on my face?” He takes his hand off my waist to wipe at his cheek. “I stopped off at the bakery before coming here, and Lacey had me try a new cupcake recipe.”
“No,” I laugh. “You're icing free. But now I’m a little upset you didn’t bring me a cupcake to try. Just so you know, I’d be happy to taste-test anything.”
“Good to know.” He lowers his hand, revealing a smirk, before placing it back on my waist. “So, are you going to tell me then? Why you were looking at me like that?”
“I don’t know. I guess just being here with you, the same place as the wedding…”
“Dancing under the twinkling lights…” he adds.
“It’s just very…”
“Familiar.” He gives me that smile again, and I remember just how easy everything was with him the night of the wedding. Talking with him was easy. The joking banter. Dancing. Everything was just…easy. I’ve never experienced anything like that with someone before.
“It might not be the exact same,” he continues. “But there’s something else just like that night, too.”
I follow his gaze up to the rafters. There’s a ball of greenery, but instead of little white berries, there are pink hearts amongst the leaves.
“Is that…?” My eyes dart to his.
“Valentine’s Mistletoe? Yes, I believe it is.” Ever so slowly, he begins to lower his face to mine.
“How very fitting with the town.” I tilt my face toward his.
“It is, isn’t it?” He lowers a bit more until he’s only a breath away.
“And also reminiscent of the night we met.”
“There’s one thing I’d like to change, though.”
I watch as his lips hover over mine. He stills for a moment, as if waiting for permission to go any further. I begin to close the distance between us when a dog barks loudly just seconds before we are ripped from each other.
I nearly topple over, only saved by the man behind me who caught me last second as I was thrown into him.
Levi is not so lucky .
He’s laid out on the floor with a German Shepherd on his chest, sniffing at his coat pocket.
I tilt my head as I look at the dog. He’s wearing a headband with hearts on springs, similar to what Curt was wearing earlier.
This dog never fails to surprise me with his love of holidays.
“Tag! Stop!” Holly’s husband, Rex, pushes through the crowd with her close behind.
“Oh, Tag,” Holly says as she stops in front of Levi, who is currently having his face licked by the overly excited dog.
Levi bats at the springing hearts that repeatedly hit him in the forehead each time the dog gives him another lick.
“He headed straight for you. What do you have in your pocket, man?” Jacob asks, wiping tears from his eyes from laughing.
Rex pulls Tag off Levi and helps him up.
“Are you okay?” I ask, rushing to his side and brushing paw prints off the front of his jacket.
“Yeah, fine,” he huffs, brushing himself off. Reaching into his coat pocket, me makes a face as he grabs onto something and pulls out a cookie. “What…?”
A burst of laughter comes from a group next to us, and I see Lacey with a look of horror on her face.
“Levi, I’m so sorry…” she begins, stepping forward.
“Lacey, what did you do?” Levi asks, his body stiffening under my hand on his chest.
“Do you, uh, remember when I asked you if we could start making dog treats? You know, to offer to the customers that bring dogs with them?”
“I do.”
“Well, I was playing around with a recipe last night and wanted to show you what I came up with.”
“And you decided to put it in my suit pocket?”
I can tell he’s reeling in his anger by his short, quick breaths and how rigid his body is. I don’t know his relationship with his sister all that well, other than he’s a few years older than her, and she works for him in the bakery, but right now, I can tell he’s trying to keep himself as composed as he can.
“Not on purpose, no. See, you had your coat draped over the chair in the kitchen, and I put the cookies on the table next to it.”
“And?” Levi asks.
His eyes are narrowed on his sister, but I take in the growing crowd around us. Rex now has Tag on a leash. Tag is panting heavily with his eyes targeted on the peanut cookie in Levi’s hand. Cassie is now standing next to Jacob, elbowing him in his ribs as he tries–and fails–to stifle a laugh. I also recognized the mayor and his wife as people begin to gather around us.
“And I may have accidentally knocked the tray over while putting them away. One of the cookies must have fallen in.”
“ May have?” His hands tighten into fists at his sides.
“I’m sorry, Levi. I just wanted to show you that it would be a good addition to the menu. Or even just have them as little treats in a jar on the counter for people to take.” Tears start to fill Lacey’s eyes as her friends put their hands on her shoulders.
“Levi, why don’t we get some of that Candy Hearts Punch Cassie told me about?” I ask, putting my hand on his until he unclenches and laces his fingers with mine.
“Yeah, that’s a good idea,” he says, letting me lead him away.
“Levi?” I say, halting both of our steps.
“Yeah?” he sighs.
“Tag would love you forever if you threw that treat his way.”
Levi drops his shoulders and chuckles as he turns back toward the crowd. With a flick of his wrist, the treat goes flying, causing the dog to jump up, the springs on his headband making the hearts dance in all directions as he snaps the treat into his mouth.
“See, best friends,” I say with a smile.
I’m rewarded with a smile from Levi as he shakes his head and leads us over to the refreshment table.