Chapter Five – Doreen #2
The door swung open, and a wave of warmth, light, and delicious aromas enveloped Doreen. She caught the scent of roasting herbs and something sweet—cinnamon perhaps—as Sorcha appeared, her face lighting up at the sight of them.
“You made it!” Sorcha exclaimed, immediately pulling Doreen into a tight hug that smelled of vanilla and home cooking.
Doreen hugged her back, reminding herself this was why she was here. To see her best friend and celebrate her newfound happiness. “Thanks for having us all on such short notice.”
Behind Sorcha, a tall man with kind eyes—Christopher, she presumed—kneeled to help Jake with his snow-crusted boots.
“Let me help you with those, buddy,” he said, his deep voice gentle as Jake balanced precariously on one foot.
Bash seized the opportunity to nose past everyone, trotting into the cabin like he owned the place, his tail wagging enthusiastically as he investigated his new surroundings with the leash trailing behind him.
As Doreen disentangled herself from Sorcha’s embrace, movement from the kitchen doorway caught her eye. James stepped into view, and the sight of him knocked the air from her lungs.
Gone was the uniform, replaced by well-worn jeans and a dark blue sweater that made his eyes look like twilight. His hair was slightly damp, as if he’d recently showered, and he moved with an easy grace that seemed at odds with his tall frame.
Their eyes met across the room, and something electric passed between them. His gaze widened slightly, then traveled slowly down to her burgundy sweater before returning to her face. The warmth in his expression made her heart skip erratically in her chest.
Doreen’s fingers tightened unconsciously on Sorcha’s arm.
She drew a quick breath that caught audibly in her throat, heat rushing to her cheeks that had nothing to do with the crackling fireplace.
Without thinking, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, suddenly hyperaware of every molecule of air between them.
“Hi,” she managed, the single syllable embarrassingly breathy.
“Hi,” James replied, his voice a low rumble that seemed to vibrate through her bones.
“Doreen, this is Christopher,” Sorcha said, either oblivious to or tactfully ignoring the charged moment. “And you already know our local deputy.”
Christopher stood, offering Doreen a warm handshake. “It’s great to finally meet you. Sorcha talks about you constantly.”
“All good things, I hope,” Doreen said, grateful for the momentary distraction.
“The best,” Christopher assured her with a smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes.
The cabin was everything a mountain retreat should be—pine walls gleaming in the firelight, comfortable mismatched furniture arranged around a stone hearth, and windows framing the darkening forest outside.
Handmade quilts, which she presumed were Sorcha’s touch, draped over the backs of chairs, and the soft light from several lamps created pools of golden warmth throughout the space, which was tastefully decorated for the festive season.
“Let me take your coat,” James offered, suddenly beside her.
His proximity sent another jolt through her system. As she slipped out of her coat, his fingers brushed against her shoulder, and she felt the touch like a spark against her skin.
“Thank you,” she murmured, acutely conscious of how the burgundy sweater hugged her curves.
“Can I get you something to drink?” Christopher asked, moving toward a small sideboard in the corner. “We’ve got wine, beer, or hot cider.”
“The cider sounds perfect,” Doreen said, watching as Jake immediately launched into a conversation with James.
Sorcha touched Doreen’s elbow. “Come help me finish up in the kitchen?”
Doreen followed Sorcha through the doorway, stealing a glance back at James, who was now crouched beside Jake, listening intently to the boy’s excited chatter.
“So,” Sorcha said, handing Doreen a stack of plates. “That sweater looks nice on you.”
Doreen took the plates, trying to appear casual. “It’s just something I threw on.”
“Mmm-hmm,” Sorcha hummed skeptically, as she went to the stove and stirred something that smelled divine. “And I suppose you ‘just happened’ to wear the color that brings out your eyes and makes your skin glow.”
“Is it that obvious?” Doreen whispered, glancing toward the doorway where she could see James helping Christopher pour drinks.
Sorcha nodded toward James. “Only to someone who knows you as well as I do. And maybe to someone who can’t take his eyes off you.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Doreen protested, but she couldn’t quite hide the small smile that tugged at her lips.
“I’m just saying,” Sorcha continued, ladling sauce into a gravy boat, “there’s a spark between you two.”
The words hit a tender place inside her, one she’d kept locked tight. A spark. She could pretend she didn’t feel it…but pretending wouldn’t stop the way her pulse leaped every time her eyes sought James’s across the room.
“I don’t know.” Doreen shook her head and focused on laying out the plates on the well-worn wooden table.
“No?” Sorcha arched an eyebrow at Doreen.
“You’re incorrigible.” Doreen shook her head as she quelled the flicker of longing that rose unbidden.
“I want you to be as happy as I am,” Sorcha said.
“I’m not sure that is possible.” Doreen collected the silverware and placed it beside the plates.
“We’ll see,” Sorcha replied. “Now, let’s get dinner dished up. I am starving.”
Together, they carried the food to the table, golden roast chicken, herb-roasted potatoes, fresh bread, and a colorful winter salad. It was a real feast, and her mouth watered as she inhaled the wonderful mix of aromas.
“Here’s your drink,” Christopher said, handing her a glass of hot cider. “Sorry it took so long, I got sidetracked by Jake and Bash.”
“It happens,” Doreen said as she accepted the glass.
“Aunt D,” Jake said as he came into the kitchen. “James said there’s a winter festival next weekend that has a dog show. Do you think that if Bash and I train hard enough, we could enter? I know it means us staying longer in Bear Creek, but could we…please!”
“Oh…” Doreen opened her mouth to explain that they weren’t staying that long. That she had a schedule to stick to, work commitments, and then there was Jake. Was this the right thing for him, although by the look on his face, it was!
But the words wouldn’t come. Instead, she found herself saying, “Maybe we could.”
The moment the words left her mouth, her heart gave a single, startled kick—part fear, part exhilaration. It felt like stepping off a cliff and discovering, for one impossible second, that maybe she wasn’t going to fall. That maybe she was learning to fly once more.
“To dog shows…” Christopher said and raised his glass in a small toast. “And to new friends and old…and holiday magic.”
As they clinked glasses, Doreen caught James watching her with such intensity it made her heart race. She took a sip of cider to hide her reaction, the spiced warmth sliding down her throat and spreading through her chest.
What had she done?