Page 3 of Christmas Wedding
“I was just in New York this past summer with my niece.” Lorna tried to relax, but she wanted to get home and put her feet up. That bath and book she was hoping for earlier were feeling like just a dream now.
“Really? Did you like my city?” he asked. Lorna pulled two glasses down and poured them each a glass of water. Joe seemed like he wanted to talk. He was nice, and if she was honest, he was easy on the eyes. If she was going to give up a relaxing evening at home, then spending time with Joe didn’t seem like such a hardship.
“I did like New York, although I don’t think that I could get used to the hustle and bustle. My niece was saying goodbye to a family member and doing some business. We weren’t there long.” Lorna sipped her water and noticed that Joe seemed a little nervous.
“I don’t miss the busy New York lifestyle if I’m being honest. I was born in Queens, and I miss my family, but they are all gone or moved. Both of my brothers have passed, and I don’t have anyone left waiting for me in New York anymore.” Joe shrugged.
“What do you do, you know, as a career?” Lorna asked. She knew that she was prying again, but she couldn’t seem to help herself.
“Ah, you know, a little of this and a little of that. I got into some trouble as a kid trying to keep up with my two older brothers. Anyway, I never got into the whole school and college thing, so I became a mechanic. I dabbled in a bunch of other areas when things got tough, but my job at the body shop usually covered most of the bills.” Joe sipped his water. “So, is it just you, or do you have a husband and kids waiting for you at homethat I’m keeping you from?” Lorna barked out a laugh, causing poor Joe to jump.
“Sorry,” she said, putting her hand on his arm. “No, I don’t have a husband and kids at home or anywhere for that matter.” Lorna removed her hand, not wanting to seem too familiar. “I raised my niece after her parents died,” she said. “This is actually her shop, I just run it for her now that she’s married.” Joe nodded, looking around the ice-cream shop.
“Well, it’s a really nice place you have. Although I will never understand the appeal of ice cream in the winter. In my town, places like this close down for the winter months,” Joe said. Lorna smiled. Most out-of-towners felt the same way about ice cream in the winter. Maybe it was just a Colorado thing, people loving ice cream all year long.
“You aren’t the only out-of-towner who’s said that. I guess we are a special breed out here. We like ice cream whether it’s hot or snowing. My sister loved it so much that she opened up this place. It was hers and my brother-in-law’s before they died.” Lorna shivered again. She was starting to think that Joe might be onto something with wanting a cup of hot coffee, even if it would keep her up half the night. Thinking about Sawyer usually did that to her anyway.
“I know this is going to sound crazy, Joe, but would you like to grab a cup of coffee with me?” Lorna saw the way he hesitated as any rational person would. For all he knew, she could be a serial killer.
“Isn’t everything in town closed for the evening?” Joe looked confused. “Where would we go?”
“I live just next door, and I promise I’m not a serial killer.” Lorna held up her right hand as if swearing an oath.
Joe laughed, “Well, okay. I would love a cup of coffee with the prettiest girl in town.” Joe stood and waited for Lorna to gather her things from behind the counter.
“I hardly think that you are qualified to make that call, Joe. Didn’t you just say you’re new to town?” Joe looked a little flustered until he saw the small smile on Lorna’s face. Realizing that she was joking, he seemed to relax a little.
“Well, I can’t imagine anyone else even holding a candle to you, Lorna.” Joe helped her on with her coat and waited for her to shut off the lights and lock the door.
“My, you are a sweet talker, Joe from New York. My house is that little pink one next door,” she said, pointing to the house she and Sawyer shared.
“Shall we?” Joe asked, holding out his arm as if they were going to a formal dance, and Lorna couldn’t help her giggle as she looped hers through his and led the way to her house. She’d have coffee with Joe and then maybe she could squeeze in a hot bath before bed. She thought her night was looking up until they made their way into the kitchen and came face to face with Sawyer.Shit!She didn’t think about him being home from work this early. He was usually at the station until well past midnight, but he chose tonight, of all nights, to come home early. Just her luck!
Sawyer had a shit day at work. The colder temperatures seemed to turn people a little crazy. Instead of staying in and keeping warm, the usually quiet, calm people of Harvest Ridge went a little wild. He put out four bonfires and broke up three domestic disputes. All he wanted to do was go home, find Lorna, and tell her how stupid he was. He spent the better part of two months ignoring her, and he was completely miserable. In his mind, it was a great plan. He was going to give her the cold shoulder and pretend that he didn’t want her.Play hard to get. Lorna didn’t mind the silent treatment, even seeming to move right on with her life. He was pulling out a pan of lasagna that he had made, knowing that it was one of her favorite meals, when he heard her come through their front door. The problem was that Lorna brought home some guy with her, and it was everything he could do not to punch the asshole in the face and drag Lorna off to his bed. Lorna froze when she saw him standing in the kitchen, putting the hot pan on the table that he had set for a cozy dinner for two. And the guy she brought home ran right into the back of her. Sawyer would have laughed if he weren’t so pissed about the whole scene.
“What’s all this?” Lorna nodded to the table, looking back up at Sawyer.
“It’s dinner. I thought I would do something nice for you, and we could talk. I think the real question here is who the fuck is he?” Sawyer nodded to the guy plastered up against Lorna’s back.
“Sawyer, this is Joe. He came into the shop at closing time and wanted a cup of coffee.” Sawyer nodded, trying to follow along.
“So, you brought him home for a cup of coffee? You don’t even know him.” Sawyer accused. He could see Lorna’s defenses go up as she took off her coat. Joe was helpful and tossed it on the back of their sofa with his, making himself right at home.
“We know each other, Sawyer. I told you, he came into the shop and we started talking, and well, here we are.” Lorna walked into the kitchen, and Sawyer caught a whiff of her strawberry shampoo that drove him crazy as she passed by him. He needed to keep his temper in check and get rid of fucking Joe.
“Just have a seat in the family room, Joe, and I’ll bring our coffee in there,” Lorna said. Sawyer tossed the oven mitts back on the counter and turned off the oven. If Lorna wanted to entertain a stranger, she could do it without an audience.
“Sawyer, you are welcome to join us if you would like.” Lorna looked at the table full of food as if waiting for a dinner invitation.
“Gee, thanks, Lorna. You bring some strange guy, from God knows where, into our house, and I’m supposed to sit and have coffee with him? For all you know, he could be an ax murderer. Did you think about that before inviting him in?” Lorna’s smirk just about sent him over the edge. He wasn’t quite sure what was so amusing about the way this whole evening was going, but he wanted to be let in on the joke.
“He’s from New York, Sawyer. He seems harmless enough. I was more worried that he would think that I’m a serial killer, so I haven’t given much thought to him being an ax murderer.” Lorna put the coffee cups on a wooden tray that she kept on the kitchen table. She grabbed the pot of coffee and found her way into the family room, where Joe was sitting in Sawyer’s favorite chair.Son of a bitch! Sawyer sat directly across from Joe and started asking questions before Lorna could even hand him his coffee.
“So, what brings you out here, Joe?” Sawyer was trying for casual, but this guy made him restless. Something wasn’t right about a guy rolling into town on his own and ending up at a strange woman’s house. Was he expecting Lorna to be alone? Did Sawyer being there ruin his plans? Joe’s smile didn’t quite reach his eyes, and it seemed a little too forced.
“I’m just passing through. I decided to see the country, and this little town just felt like a good place to stop and look around.” Joe took the coffee mug from Lorna and shook his head when she offered him cream or sugar.
“So, this is just a trip for pleasure, and you just happened to land in our little town.” Sawyer felt Lorna’s eyes on him, and he could feel her anger. She was just going to have to get used to the fact that he was going to look out for her, whether she likedit or not. Protecting Piper meant that he protected her family. This guy blows in from New York and shows up at Piper’s ice-cream shop—Sawyer wasn’t buying it. Joe’s arrival seemed too much like a bad coincidence. A few nosy reporters were circling town after they got wind of Piper’s inheritance. Joe could easily be masquerading as just a normal guy passing through town, but Sawyer thought that his story just wasn’t adding up. If he were snooping around to get the scoop on Piper, Sawyer would send the guy packing. He wouldn’t lie—sending Joe on his way would give him great satisfaction. The way Joe was looking at Lorna made him want to throw the guy through the front door.
