Page 20 of Meet Me on Christmas Eve

“And it’s Black Friday. We’re really busy.”

“I know, but maybe—”

He narrowed his eyes. “Mariana has come, so I should drop everything, right?”

My anger was rising, but I tried to keep a lid on it. “What are you talking about? I—”

“I have a job to do. I can’t talk to you now.” He gave me a dark look before resuming the candle stocking.

My heart racing, I thought about leaving. Stomping away, or maybe leaving with my nose in the air. But did I do that?

Nope.

“You … youass!” At this, his hand froze, and his head turned toward me. I kept going, unfazed. “I didn’t mean we had to talkright now.Just, whenever. I didn’t know how else to contact you, but to find you here. Which hasn’t exactly been easy on the worst shopping day of the year.” I paused for a moment to catch my breath, which was coming fast. “I don’t know what your problem is with me. I’m not the one who—” A shadow crossed over his face.

“Ugh, never mind. I get it, you’re working, and we can’t talk. I will keep this short and sweet. Stay out of my business, Terry. Including my business with Jane. I don’t know what you said to her, but you have messed up something really important to me, and now you need to fix it. Please, don’t be an asshole.”

His eyes were slightly wider than usual, and then they swept past me. I realized then that our surroundings seemed quieter.

Oh no. No, no, no.

I turned my head, with more reluctance than I’d ever felt with anything.

I knew what I’d see.

Yep, a rapt crowd had formed around us.

They’d heard every word.

I closed my eyes in mortification. “I—I’m sorry for the disturbance, everyone. Please … Happy Thanksgiving.” I looked briefly back at Terry and then at the crowd, including another employee who’d walked over. “I’ll be on my way out now.”

Before I could escape though, Terry stood up quickly, leaned close, and whispered, “I’m on lunch break in 10 minutes. Wait outside.”

I looked up into his dark eyes. He looked … not insincere. I nodded briefly and then darted out of the store. This time, my path was quick, as the crowd parted for me.

I stood as close to the building as I could, trying to avoid being snowed on, but the wind was foiling my attempt. Of course, I hadn’t worn a hat today, so my hair was a drenched, tangled mess. I tried not to think of how horrible it looked; I never let anyone see me without my carefully straightened hair. But I’m sure my appearance wasn’t nearly as destroyed as my dignity. I tried not to think about how many people had heard me inside, how much they had heard. Maybe no one recognized me, but … what if they did.

I shook my head, shivering. No, it seemed unlikely. My world at the resort didn’t often mix with the world of the townsfolk.

But it would in the future. I couldn’t be this careless again.

Through eyelids blanketed by snowflakes—my sunglasses abandoned—I stared out at the white landscape around me. Despite the weather, people were everywhere, as expected. And why wouldn’t they be? This was one of the snowiest parts of the country. It was basically in our blood.

As my brain started to relax even as my body shook, I suddenly felt a pressure at my side.

“Walk with me,” he simply said.

I looked up and to the left, but he was already moving. I scrambled to catch up, almost losing my footing on some slippery snow.

“Careful, princess,” he warned. “I’m headed to lunch, just over there.”

“Oh, I’m not hungry. I just—”

He chuckled. “Well, good, because I wasn’t inviting you to lunch. I’m just offering you a minute to talk while I walk over there. So talk.”

I bristled at his sharp tone.

“I was hoping, uh … I mean, I wanted—”

---