Page 20 of A Taste of Christmas Magic

He was whole.

It had taken nearly thirteen years, but he was free of Jessica’s pull. She was finally in the past where she belonged.

“You tricked me,” he said to Miss Millie, with no bitterness. Her manipulating and challenging him was hardly unexpected.

“She always had a crush on you.” Miss Millie added a splash of bourbon to her tea and raised her eyebrows, shaking the bottle at him.

And just that easily, Jessica roared back into his mind.

“She was ashamed to be seen with me.” The comment tore out of his throat though he returned to Belmont determined to ignore the past. The future held promise and challenge enough. He didn’t need to duel with ghosts.

“A putty knife couldn’t have scraped Chloe off her hero worship and crush.” Miss Millie sipped her tea, smiling fondly.

Rustin bit back a curse at his careless mistake. What would Miss Millie have done if she’d known how much he’d adored and worshipped Jessica?

Likely she’d have poisoned me and buried me on Cramer Mountain.

“You were a hero with your Byron looks, languid Edward Cullen sullen grace, and the rapper de jour’s spitting fury. You captured my sweet Chloe’s imagination. You were as much a changeling in your family as she was in mine. Renegades and outcasts.”

Rustin kept his mouth shut. He knew when he stepped in a hole he needed to stop digging.

But Millie wielded silence like a scalpel. And they had too much history for him not to get cut.

“She was a kid,” he said, “your granddaughter.”

Not that that had stopped his dogged pursuit and wild love of Jessica.

“Chloe was an unexpected and very welcome gift.” Miss Millie sipped her spiked tea, staring him down. “She’s always had an unbridled imagination, wide-open heart, and an old soul. She’ll need help with the Movable Feast.”

“She has three sisters…cousins…whatever. They can help. They’re all glued at the hip. Can’t believe they aren’t here bossing Clo Beau around.”

“This is important to Chloe.”

“It’s your party,” he parried. “Now that you’re forcing me to participate during the holiday season, I’m going to be too busy to help.”

“We’ll see.” Miss Millie had a smile he recognized. Over the years he’d seen the recipient of that smile get twisted up, shot down, or socially cut. “It’s not total magnanimity on your part. My Chloe will be a great help to you.”

He was about to correct her on that—no way was he babysitting—when the topic of conversation, followed by Jessica, nearly tumbled into the room.

“Rustin, you certainly know how to whip up the drama,” Chloe said, her eyes sparkling and her wide mouth stretched in that telltale grin of hers.

“Nothing new there,” Jessica accused. Her green eyes were beautiful and hot with temper. He saw a pulse flutter in her neck. “What game are you playing?”

“Jessica! What’s wrong with you?” Chloe practically flew before Jessica like a small crow, flapping as Jessica stalked toward him.

“How did you trick Grandma Millie out of her diner?” Jessica glared at him, pushing around Chloe. “You think my daddy will stand for you stealing from an old lady?”

“Jessica!” Chloe gasped.

“Old lady?” Miss Millie rose from her seat.

“Jessica, are you possessed? Rustin would never trick anyone.”

“Ha.”

“Grandma Millie’s too smart for that,” Chloe said staunchly.

“I’m the only clear-eyed one here. You’ve both lost your minds. I know what Rustin Wildish is.” Her exquisite face was pale but for twin slashes of color. Her breath came quickly, but it was Chloe who held his attention.

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