Page 45 of A Taste of Christmas Magic

“Oh, Rustin.” Chloe looked up at him, that strong, masculine jaw, the hollowed cheeks crowned by bones that should be in Hollywood but thankfully were in Belmont with her. “That’s the sweetest, most heart-rending, most romantic feeling ever. I want to make you happy. I want to be home for you. I want you to feel like you can relax and rest with me.”

She threw herself in his arms, and he caught her just like in the movies. She tangled her hands in his hair and kissed him. The only thing that would make the moment more perfect would be if the first few snowflakes fell, but the sky, though portentously pregnant with clouds, clung greedily to all moisture.

Chloe sighed into the kiss and nipped his bottom lip.

“Very public, Chloe. We need to keep it G-rated,” he said and gently put her down, kissing the top of her head. “You are a teacher, and I am a business owner and don’t want to play into the bad-boy image everyone still has of me.”

“It’s very sexy,” she said, running her hand along his leather motorcycle jacket. “Total fantasy. The all-black, the boots, the jacket, the tats, the longish hair. Bad-boy vibe, and you know everyone is secretly longing for you.”

“I’m only interested in if you are longing for me.”

“Nothing secret about that,” Chloe admitted. “I was a sure thing since we were kids. I stalked you.”

“That’s right,” he said, and she reached up to touch his lips when she saw one of his rare smiles. “You’re a dangerous woman, but as much as I’d like to be alone with you, I do want to get some gifts for my crew before the stalls close. Up for helping me play Santa?”

“Definitely,” she said.

Always.

Chapter Eleven

Chloe arrived atJessica’s house on Cramer Mountain ten minutes early loaded with three bulging shopping totes of supplies. Sarah and Meghan were already there, wine open. They were quiet when she arrived, and Chloe had the uncomfortable, but not unusual feeling that they’d been talking about her.

“Who are you and what have you done with Chloe?” Jessica asked, looking at the totes.

“So funny,” Chloe said breathlessly as she began unloading the ingredients for the cookies and decorations, the holiday-themed plates, colored cellophane and ribbon and gift tags, the red wine Rustin had recommended for making the mulled wine, along with the spices and the ingredients that Jessica had texted her periodically throughout the afternoon.

“So, what’s up? Is this an intervention?”

“Paranoid much?” Meghan asked, her voice light, but her cheeks flushed pink, and she didn’t meet her gaze.

“No,” Sarah said firmly. Her voice calm and her gaze steady. She was the oldest and naturally the leader and smoothed things over. “We’re just…” Sarah looked at Jessica. “Worried.”

Chloe felt her good mood evaporate. “Why? Everything’s going great. The Movable Feast worked out. The Madrigal Dinner earned more money than ever. My contract to teach choir at the college was renewed for next semester. I’m happy.”

“That’s great,” Sarah said.

“Are we going to bake cookies or not?” Chloe finished unloading the supplies, slapping them down harder on the counter than she should.

“Yes of course.” Sarah looked at Jessica and then flowed to her feet.

“No, we’re not going to bake cookies.” Jessica stood up jerkily and crossed her arms. Chloe felt flanked. “Not yet. We’re going to discuss the book and Rustin.”

“Jess, let it go.” Meghan stood next to Chloe. “It’s just an old recipe book. Nothing weird about it. Chloe says she’s happy. Let her be happy.”

“We have to protect her,” Jessica insisted. “The book actually has ‘love spells’ in the title. And Chloe cooked something from it and Rustin ate it.”

“That’s the way recipes usually work,” Chloe said. “Seriously, Jessie, you’re overreacting.”

“Maybe,” Jessica said. “But you’re our little sister, and we are not going to throw you to the wolves and Rustin Wildish is a wolf.”

“He’s a talented chef and a new business owner like you want…” Chloe broke off at the aghast look in Jessica’s green eyes.

“Huh?” Meghan looked between them.

“Nothing. Let’s keep the focus,” Jessica snapped. “You didn’t see the way she was gazing at him like he was the sun and the moon.”

“So what?” Chloe breathed, feeling betrayed. “I can be happy. I can be in love.”

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