Page 18 of Never Sleigh Never

But what would I say? That last night I was the one tangled up in Cara’s sheets, memorizing every curve of her body? That I’ve fallen for her faster than a tree toppling in the forest?

I snort, shaking my head. As if it matters. Cara might have slept with me, but I’m not the kind of guy she ends up with. I’m all flannel shirts and callused hands. The guy outside is the type she belongs with, polished, put-together, probably knows the difference between white and red wine other than the color.

“Morning, boss,” Brad calls out from the back, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I grunt in response, still fixated on the window.

Brad’s footsteps pause behind me. “Everything okay?”

I force myself to turn away from the blinds.

“Fine,” I mutter, grabbing a clipboard. “Let’s get started on inventory.”

But as we’re counting boxes of nails, the slamming of a car door catches my attention. I drop the clipboard without a word and dart to the window. My heart leaps into my throat as Cara steps out of her car, her short blonde hair whipping in the wind.

Before I can think twice, I’m heading for the door.

“Be right back,” I call to Brad over my shoulder.

I skirt the row of traffic barriers some guys from the Magnolia Point Streets Department dropped off for the festival just this morning and make a concerted effort not to sprint across the streets if I’m rounding third for home plate. Christmas music drifts from the speakers outside the bakery three shops down,the cheerful notes at odds with the tension radiating from Cara and her ex.

I slow my pace as I get closer, catching snippets of their conversation before either of them notices my arrival.

“I’m sorry, Cara,” the jerk says, his voice smooth as butter. “I made a mistake. We were good together.”

Cara’s laugh is short and sharp. “Good together? I fell on my ass, hurt my wrist and then you dumped me in a first-aid tent in front of a bunch of EMTs, Wayne. It’s over.”

Is that what happened?Fury rips through me at the way this asshole treated Cara, and a flicker of hope ignites in my chest at her response, but his next words douse the optimism like a bucket of ice water.

“Come on. You can’t tell me you’ve moved on already,” he scoffs. “Especially not with that flannel-wearing handyman.”

“Thomas isn’t just a handyman,” she spits back at him. “He’s a business owner and—”

“That picture in the paper sure made it seem like you two were cozy, but we both know he’s not what you need.”

Picture? What picture?

Cara’s voice rises, sharp as a tack. “It’s none of your business if I’ve moved on or not, but thanks to you, I’ve sworn off men for the holidays.”

I freeze mid-step, feeling as if a rug has been pulled out from under me.Sworn off men?Sure didn’t seem that way last night. The words echo in my head as I turn on my heel, ready to retreat to the safety of my store, but Cara’s gasp stops me in my tracks.

“Thomas!”

I look back to see both Cara and her ex staring at me. Cara’s cheeks are flushed, her eyes wide. “I… I didn’t mean…”

The bastard next to her has the nerve to scoff when he realizes who I am. “This is him?” he says, his voice incredulous. “You’ve got to be kidding.”

I’d love nothing more than to wipe that smirk off his face with my fist but hold up my hands instead and force a smile, even as my heart shatters like a fragile glass ornament.

“It’s fine,” I say to Cara, my voice gruff. “I get it. Last night was just…a rebound. Just…blowing off some steam.”

The hurt that flashes across Cara’s face is like a knife to my gut. Her emerald eyes, usually sparkling with enthusiasm, cloud over with a mix of confusion and anguish. Her lips part, as if she’s about to speak, but no words come out. Instead, she swallows hard, her throat bobbing with the effort.

For a moment, she looks so wounded it takes every ounce of willpower I have not to reach out and pull her into my arms, to take back the words that have clearly stung after last night. But I don’t. Because it’s better this way. Better to cut things off now before I fall any deeper in love with the woman staring at me who will never feel the same way.

“Thomas, wait,” Cara starts, but I’m already backing away.

“I’ll see you later,” I say, trying to keep my tone neutral. “To…touch base on the festival.”

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