Page 67 of Christmas in Paradise

Hope shakes her head but keeps her back turned. “I’m the one to blame. I should have been more careful with them.”

“How about we blame Uncle Rad?”

That gets a laugh from Hope, and she faces me.

“I really am sorry.” I let out my breath and take a tentative step closer. “I swear she’s getting better, and I’m trying to be consistent with her, but she is still a puppy. I should have known better than to leave her with someone else.” Words rush out, but none of them sound right.

Hope offers me a sympathetic smile. “It’s really okay, Seb. I’m not mad at you, and I don’t blame you.”

“Really? Then maybe we could pick up where we left off.” I reach for her hand, but she tucks both behind her back and leans into the counter.

I let my arm fall back to my side and take a step back.

“Seb, I have to stay focused,” she says sternly before lowering her hand. “This job is so important; I can’t mess it up.” A sad smile crosses her face. “And you are too much of a distraction.”

I shift my weight from one foot to the other, considering what she’s said. “Why does that sound good and bad at the same time?”

Her smile loses some of its sadness, and my chest loosens. “Because it is. Because I’m as mixed up as the signals I’m sending you. Because it means I like you, but I don’t have time to like you right now.”

I nod, thinking.

Not right nowisn’t the same as never.

“Are you saying you’ll have time to be distracted after Yulefest and the wedding?” I ask, carefully.

“Seb, I don’t even know if I’ll be here then.” Her answer is sharp with frustration. “I don’t know if I’ll still have a job once these events are over. Carson has to have enough work to hire me full time, but he also has to have the confidence I can do this job.”

“Hope, he knows you can do this job. We all do.” I instinctively move closer but stop myself when she stiffens. Minutes ago, I had her in my arms. Now I feel her slipping away again.

“If Carson does hire you—and I don’t doubt that will happen—will you stay here?” I force the question out, even though the thought of her leaving Paradise crushes me.

“I don’t know,” she tips her head to the side, and her blonde waves spill over her shoulder. “I like it here. But itmustwork for Charly too. She has to be able to get the therapy she needs.” Her eyes dart to the floor then back to me. “Would you want me to stay?”

ThatI don’t have to think about, even if what that means scares me. “More than anything.”

It takes every ounce of willpower not to show her just how much I want her to stay in Paradise. I squeeze my hand into a tight fist to keep from touching her.

“That’s what’s so hard, Seb. You’re one of the reasons I want to stay, but I don’t know if I’m in a position to be in a relationship. Charly and I are a two-for-one deal; you know this. But are you okay with it?” Her forehead wrinkles with worry, and I wish I could answer that question with certainty.

Instead, I answer it honestly. “I’m still scared, but you told me not to give up, so I’m not giving up.”

She raises her eyes to mine, chewing on her bottom lip. “I’m scared too.”

Now I do move closer. If she’s feeling what I’m feeling, we both need a hug, so I pull her into one.

“Tell me what you want to do, Hope, and I’ll do it.” That’s the surest answer I can give her.

She rests her forehead against my chest before pulling back to meet my eyes. “We know we have the electricity, Seb. Now we’ve got to take the time to build something to contain it. Live wires are dangerous, right?”

I laugh, loosening my hold on her, but keeping my hands at her waist. “If you don’t know how to handle them, yeah.”

“I don’t, Seb. And I’ve got Charly to think about.” Her eyes grow dark and serious.

“I respect that.” I nod with my whole body.

We’ve been here before, but it feels like a turning point. Instead of warning me away, Hope is inviting me to help find a solution. We know we want to be together, but that doesn’t mean we should. The potential for heartbreak goes beyond the two of us.

“We could work on being friends. All three of us: you, me, and Charly,” I say. “Build on that?”

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