Page 25 of We Wish You a Happily Ever After

Not that he was complaining. Not even a little.

Next to him, Natalie gave him a sidelong glance. “Stay up a little too late, did you, Jer?”

“Something like that.” He covered his grin with his coffee cup.

“Right.” Natalie laughed, the sound filling the cab of the truck. “Your late night wouldn’t have anything to do with a certain dark-haired singer who’s new to town, would it?”

He didn’t bother to deny it.

Jeremy wouldn’t trade all the sleep in the world for the night he’d shared with Bella. It had been beyond even his hottest fantasies, and he’d definitely had his share of them. Everything about being with her just…fit. Never before had he felt the way he’d felt with Bella.

Not. Even. Close.

The last thing he’d wanted to do was drop her off at her grandfather’s house so he could go to work. But there wasn’t much help for it. It’s not as if he could call in sick—as much as he wanted to. Christmas Eve was less than twenty-four hours away, which meant there was way too much to do to prepare for Glacier Falls’ annual dinner. It had been a tradition started by Ed Walker when he’d first taken over the job as fire chief many years ago. Now, he was getting set to retire, but still the tradition carried on. And as far as Jeremy was concerned, he’d do his best to make sure it did. Even if he didn’t get the chief job, which was his ultimate goal.

“We have work to do.” Jeremy changed the subject. “We have to pick up the plates and cutlery from the hardware store. They’re donating all of it, plus the napkins and some tablecloths. Then we’ll get back to the hall and start setting up tables. Last year, there were about eighty for dinner, so we should be prepared for at least a hundred.”

“A hundred?”

Jeremy shrugged. “It’s not like we’re going to turn anyone away and for some reason, it just gets busier and busier.”

It was true. What had started out as an event to feed the lonely, disadvantaged, or just those who didn’t want to be by themselves for the holidays had bloomed into a potluck of townspeople who simply wanted to share the seasonal spirit with one another. It hadn’t been too much of a problem as everyone always brought more than their share of food, and with the local ranchers and farmers donating turkeys and roasts, it didn’t cost the department anything except manpower to set it all up. A job Jeremy was happy to take on.

Especially this year. Spending time with Bella had been beyond anything he could have expected. But spending Christmas with her…serving turkey to his friends and neighbors…watching her grandfather play Santa for the children…cuddling up in front of the tree…having his Christmas wish come true…he couldn’t think of a better way to spend the next few days.

“There it is again.” Natalie interrupted his daydream.

“What?”

“That smile.” Natalie shook her head with a laugh. “She’s really got you in a twist, doesn’t she?”

He didn’t bother to deny it. “As long as Bella Burton is the one doing the twisting, I’m completely at her mercy.”

Natalie groaned. “You’re ridiculous. Just don’t let her twist too much, if you know what I mean?”

He didn’t.

“Don’t get screwed over, Jer,” Natalie explained further. “Women like that…well…”

Jeremy bristled and sat up straight behind the steering wheel. “Women like what exactly?”

“Calm down.” She shook her head. “All I was going to say is that women like her, who have a career and a life somewhere else, aren’t necessarily the best choice to uproot their whole world and move to the middle of the mountains. That’s all I was going to say. And weren’t you the one telling me that she has a blooming career in music?”

He nodded as what his partner said started to sink in.

“Exactly.” Natalie crossed her arms and nodded, her point made. “Glacier Falls isn’t really known for its bustling musical scene, is it?” Her lips pressed into a thin line and she shook her head before looking at Jeremy again. She must have seen something in his face, because her approach changed instantly. “I’m not saying that’s the case or anything, Jer. It’s just I don’t want to see you get hurt. You obviously really—”

“It’s fine.” He held up a hand to stop her. Jeremy didn’t know much about Natalie’s life before she came to Glacier Falls, but it had been clear early on that she didn’t think very highly of relationships or, oddly enough, other women. “I appreciate your concern, but it’s not like that. Don’t worry.”

She gave him a strange look, but thankfully didn’t press him further. A fact he was especially appreciative of because he had no idea what he’d even meant by what he said. It wasn’t like what?

That he was falling for Bella a little more every day?

That he couldn’t stop thinking about her? And despite the fact that they hardly even knew each other after ten years, he was very quickly having trouble imagining a life without her in it and that scared the hell out of him?

That as excited as he’d been for her when she’d told him the news about Starshine Records and the gig that was going to make them, he was nervous as hell about what that would mean to them, and Natalie’s comments had hit a little too close to home?

Because maybe he could lie to Natalie about it, but Jeremy was fairly certain he wasn’t going to be able to lie to himself for too much longer.

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