Page 10 of Mishaps and Mistletoe

“I just thought you could use it. I always carry one because I’m a sweater—which I’m sure you wanted to know. But you caught me at the beginning of my run.”

“Yeah—uh, sure.” He wiped his hands with the small towel, his thoughts bouncing around more than the ball Linus tossed in the air to himself as he played.

“Are you okay?” She placed her warm hand on his. The chill he’d felt while playing fetch with Linus melted on contact.

“Am I okay?”Uh, I think I met you before, which is crazy because I've lived here like a minute. Does that sound okay?But he simply responded with, “Of course. I’m fine.” He ran his clean hand through his hair. “I should ask you that question.”

“No harm, no foul. These things just kind of happen around me.Uh-ohis my middle name.” She pushed a couple wisps of her auburn hair out of her face as she looked away, the mood clearly taking a major shift.

“Still. I feel bad. How about a hot chocolate?” He tilted his head to the vendor set up in a small truck at the near end of the parking lot.

“Only if you let me pay. I owe you a beverage after I crashed into you at Mountain Brew.”

“You don't own me anything. Besides, this isn't for pleasure—it's for survival. I'm freezing.” How she was standing there in a short-sleeved top without shivering, he’d never know.

“A puffy vest, a thick flannel shirt—are you feverish?”

He barked out a laugh. “I'm Floridian.”

“Ah. That explains all this,” she said, moving her hand up and down in front of him, calling attention to his many layers. “And I guess it explains this too.” A smile split her face, and she looked down at Linus. “Did he go shopping with you?”

The dog sat up and puffed his chest, clearly was proud of his sweater. “He may have.” The warmth of Josie’s smile smacked him right in the heart. Those twenty bucks he’d spent on Linus’s threads were the best money he’d ever spent.

They carried their hot chocolate—and one pup cup—to a nearby bench. When Kevin noticed how gingerly Josie sat down, he grimaced. “I'm so sorry. I really can't say that enough.”

“No, no. You nailed me on the side. My desk chair at work collapsed today. That's what hurts the most. My butt’s just having a bad day.”

“I'm sorry I made it worse.”

Josie peeked up at him through a curtain of lashes. “Who said you did?”

He took a quick sip of his hot chocolate to replenish some of the moisture in his mouth, burning his tongue in the process. “The bruise on your backside would probably say so.”

“Eh, took my mind off of things for a bit.” She shrugged but changed topics before he could ask what was wrong. Not that it was his business. Except, why did he want it to be his business? “So, new in town, huh?”

He took another pull of the warm beverage. “Yep. Still trying to find my footing here, make some friends—though, I doubt beaning them with rubber balls is a great way to do that.”

“Worked on me.” She laughed and tapped her paper cup to his. “But if you're looking to meet some people, a bunch of my friends and I are volunteering at the toy drive at the Wellness Center this Saturday. We do it in memory of my sister, and we’re always looking for a few extra hands.”

“Oh, I'm sorry about your sister.”

She closed her eyes briefly. “Thanks. Courtney was—uh… she was killed by a drunk driver several years ago.” As she toyed with the bracelet on her wrist, she stared aimlessly into the open field. “She loved Christmas. So much. That's why we all get together to help with the toy drive she volunteered with.”

Physical displays of affection weren't something he’d been shown as a child—and why he second-guessed showing them as an adult. So why did he have the sudden urge to hug Josie?

But he couldn't. Wouldn't. He'd already physically assaulted her, this virtual stranger, with a dog toy. Touching her without permission was out of the question. So he did the only other thing he could think of to bring her comfort.

“I'd love to come to the toy drive.”

ChapterFour

Christmas tunes and children squealing replaced the usual humming machines and clanging weights at the Wellness Center. The day of the annual toy drive was the one day each year there was more joy in the building than sweat.

“Josie! So glad you could make it.” Max’s girlfriend, Hannah, greeted with a smile and a hug—all before Josie took off her coat or noticed any of the decorations that surrounded them. Not that she was into holiday decor these days. But perhaps being here, surrounded by holiday merriment, would give her some much-needed inspiration for work.

“The place looks amazing. Did you do all this?”

Hannah shook her head. “Not on my own. I had a lot of help.”

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