Page 19 of A Second Chance Christmas Kiss

“Look, my grandmother thought you sold the store after your mother passed away. She said she didn’t realize you were back. What are you doing in Jewel Cove?”

I wanted to rip into him and tell him to go away, but I kept walking. “I’m running the store.”

“That’s all?” he asked, keeping up with me. “How are your husband and son?”

I crossed the street and dashed toward the alley that led to the back of my store, where I typed in the code. I wanted Charles to go away.

“Are you working today? I didn’t think you guys ever had the store open on Sundays.”

It was funny that he remembered that. Then again, why wouldn’t he? We had been inseparable growing up in the summers.

“Uh … I have some inventory to do.” I tried to open the door, but for some reason, the code wasn’t working. The key lock started blinking, signaling that I needed to wait one minute before trying again.

“I can help you with inventory. I used to when we were kids, remember?”

I turned to face him and accidentally breathed in his scent. Sandal wood, leather, fresh soap. No, I didn’t want to smell him.

“Melody, I really wouldn’t mind helping you.”

Frustrated, I snapped, “Charles, I’m divorced. It was finalized seven months ago.”

Maybe now he would stay away. I didn’t want to deal with him for however long he was home, although I knew it wouldn’t be that long. It had never been long, even all those years ago.

He pulled back a little and nodded. “Okay.”

“Obviously, you noticed I didn’t have a ring on the other day.” It had to be the reason he was trying to track me down.

“I did. I’m divorced as well. It’s been five years.”

For some stupid reason, I wanted to calculate how long he’d been married, because his wedding had been a long time after … everything. “Okay.” I didn’t know what else to say.

He glanced up at the building’s second floor. “Are you living here? In the apartment upstairs?”

It did sort of embarrass me, but I didn’t know why it should. When I’d known him all those years ago, I’d lived up here. “I am. For now. Mom has a house a couple streets over, but it just doesn’t feel right to be there.” I was annoyed that I was telling him so much. “I need to fix some things up.”

He frowned and then said, “Why don’t you come to dinner at Grandmother’s tonight? I know she would love to see you, and we can catch up.”

“No. I … No. I cannot. This …” I searched his face, and I could tell he was going to keep pushing this. “Charles, you’re only here for a short stay.”

He gripped the doorframe. “What has that got to do with anything?”

“It always had everything to do with everything.”

“What?”

“Nothing.”

He touched my forearm. “Hey, we’ve always been friends. We established that.”

“I don’t even know you anymore.”

“Right. That’s why you should come for dinner, so we can get reacquainted.”

I shook my head. This was ridiculous, especially since I could feel this … chemistry between Charles and me. I pulled away from him. “No.”

“Why?”

Flabbergasted, I threw my hand into the air. “I go to Gretchen and Kent’s house every Sunday.”

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