Page 16 of Promise Yule Be Mine
“Ah, okay then. That sounds great.”
That was a strange interaction, unlike any I’d had so close to someone’s wedding. But Jenna was also a friend. An old one, but a friend nonetheless, so maybe she was just being more of a friend than a demanding bride and that was A-OK with me.
Our first stop was the bed and breakfast I’d be staying at for a few days, Gingerbread Cottage, which I found out was aptly named since it looked like a real-life gingerbread house that was too cute to be real, but not only was it real, it was warm and cozy as can be.
The host, Arlo, was a sweet guy who welcomed me into my room and gave me his number for anything I needed, and once I left my luggage we were back on the road, this time to more familiar territory.
The White Elephant remained unchanged since the last time I’d been there, and since the last time I’d looked at the photos of the place online. In fact, apart from a few touch-ups and some knick-knacks, it hadn’t changed at all for the last ten or so years, which was as far back as I could go on my investigative/obsessive research.
Jenna opened the front door for me and I bit my lip, looking away, hoping to postpone seeing the man of my dreams a little longer when I caught sight of the bakery sign and a whiff ofgingerbread cookies. My stomach grumbled, demanding to be filled with a ton of them, but I wasn’t here for pleasure.
Isn’t that the understatement of the century?
Of course, the very next thing I saw was the hunk of a man who had been haunting me for forty-five days, five hours and some minutes.
“Nova! You made it. So good to see you.”
My hand was wrapped by both of his immediately, giving me whiplash with the contact and the gentle strength, but my mouth went dry, which meant I just croaked a “you too” and nodded like a buffoon.
“Did you have a good Thanksgiving? Thank you for flying out in the middle of the holidays.”
This was so strange. Last time we’d met he had been quiet as anything and now, all of a sudden, he was chatty Cathy. It was as if we’d swapped roles.
Jenna led us to a booth and we all sat down. I didn’t know if it was the smell of the oak, the cushion beneath my ass or just plain common sense finding me again, but I managed to get my thoughts in order.
“It was great, thank you. And no problem at all. I love my job so it’s not a chore.”
Both Jenna and Kody stared at me for a moment before I realized it had been several minutes since he asked me the question.
If I could mentally slap myself, I would have. But I didn’t think I could do it without actually planting one for real.
“So, how are we feeling?” I changed the subject. “Ready for the big day? Any issues I should be aware of?”
I turned to Jenna and unearthed my iPad and Pencil so I could go through my list.
Jenna pursed her lips from side to side and looked at the tablet rather than me.
“Jen—” I started when Kody leaned forward, taking Jenna’s hand.
“Everything is okay on our front. We’re ready and excited as ever. Right, Jen?”
Jenna barely nodded.
“So, I spoke with the baker you recommended in Springfield. She’s extremely busy over the next few weeks but managed to fit you guys in next week for a tasting. She just needs to know about allergies, which I don’t believe you have, but wanted to make sure, and of course preferences.”
“Oh. Oh.” Jenna jolted in her seat. “If she’s busy is she sure she can make the cake? We shouldn’t have left it so last minute.” She put her head in her hands and let out an exasperated sigh.
“Oh yes. She’ll be more than done with the festive season by that time so it won’t be a problem. She did say she wanted to know if she could assemble the cake the day before so she could make it back in time for her Christmas dinner and I told her that would be okay. Right?”
“Of course,” Kody said when Jenna didn’t answer.
“Great. I touched base with the florist and he sent me some photos of sample arrangements that match what your vision wasso he’s all good to go and the DJ is all set, he just asked me to remind you to fill in his questionnaire so he can prepare your dream playlist.”
“We’ll get right on that. Sorry, Nova,” Kody said and smiled.
His smile was as gorgeous as I remembered it. As gorgeous as in his pictures online, and yet seeing it live was so much more vibrant and heartwarming than any camera or memory could capture.
“What?” he asked and I shook my head, realizing I’d been staring.
