Page 25 of Meeting Mr. Christmas
“Then for Emma, who works in the library? I saw the two of you talking when I returned my books last week. Very cozy, the pair of you looked, if you don’t mind me saying. But she really needs to do something with her hair, don’t you think? All those dark roots on show, it’s not very feminine. And nor is that tattoo. Why would anybody want Xena, the Warrior Princess, all over their arm? I loved that show so much, still catch re-runs on cable. Young Emma must be a super fan, I guess. I mean, it’s the only explanation, isn’t it?”
“They’re not for Emma either.”
“No? Whoever she is, she’s a very lucky lady. Such an extravagant bouquet. Can I assume there will be a forthcoming announcement of an engagement in The Chronicle?”
Barbie-Anne smiled up at Dean, almost quivering for news.
Jesus, did the woman live under a stone? The best unkept secret in town: Dean Hobart, the Mayor’s gay brother. The old biddy would be waiting a long, long time for an announcementof an engagement to a lazy eyed woman, or one in dire need of a trip to the hair salon and a passion for Xena.
“Barbie-Anne. What an absolute delight, as ever, to see you. How may I be of assistance today?” Lucian’s clear, clipped, aristocratic English voice cut through the silence.
Barbie-Anne glowed and preened as she switched the bright light of her attention to Lucian and waddled over to him. “I love your accent…”
“I’m sorry about that,” Jed murmured as he attached a bow to the bouquet. “Small towns and their never ending thirst for gossip.”
Dean shrugged. “It’s the way it is. One comes to a… certain accommodation, let’s say.” A smile lifted Dean’s lips, sharper than before. “I’ve made her day, I guess, and no doubt she’ll be mentally pairing me off with every available woman aged between twenty-one and ninety in the Creek.”
“And now you’re going to make somebody else’s day,” Jed nodded to the bouquet as Dean tapped his card against the reader. “I hope your friend likes the flowers.”
“Oh, he’ll love them,” Dean said quietly, throwing Jed a quick wink as he turned and left the store.
The day got busier, giving Jed and Lucian’s feet no time to touch the ground. But, at least it stopped him brooding about Noel, and the kiss, and kissing Noel, and wanting to kiss Noel a whole lot more. It stopped him thinking about all of that, stopped his skin from tingling, stopped the butterflies flapping their wings deep in his stomach, stopped it all until Lucian turned the sign on the door to closed.
“My goodness. I hadn’t noticed the snow coming down so hard, we were that busy. Why don’t you go? I can clear up here and when Arlo arrives, I’ll press gang him into helping before he takes me to dinner.”
“Thanks, Lucian.” Home, for a shower and a change of clothes, before he called Noel, although he didn’t have a clue what he was going to say to him. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” He’d barely got his hand to the door before Lucian called out.
“Jed? I hope you get it sorted. Whatever it is between you and Noel, I mean. He’s one of the good guys, and believe me there are too few of them around. When you find one, you have to make sure you hold on tight.”
The heat in Jed’s cheeks would have been enough to light up the whole of the store if his scarf hadn’t been covering him from his neck to his nose.
“What I said earlier, I think I was probably just overthinking things.” The words twisted in Jed’s stomach as his hand twisted the latch. Lucian pinned him with an unreadable gaze before his face broke out into a bright smile.
“Overthinking. It really is a curse, isn’t it? I’m forever doing it. But I’m sure you’re right, it’s all just… overthinking. Anyway, have a good evening, and say hi to Noel for me.”
Head down, shoulders hunched, hands rammed into pockets, Jed strode home. Overthinking. Maybe that’s what he’d been doing? Overthinking a kiss that had been nothing more than a party game. Deep in his pockets, his gloved hands formed tight fists.
Arriving home, Jed felt for his keys. Not in his jeans, not in the inside or outer pockets of his coat. He groaned. Fuck, he hadn’t picked them up as he’d fled the house and hurried for work. Again. He raised his hand to the heavy knocker, but he let his hand drop to his side before he even reached it. There was no point in hammering on the door, not when his mom and dad had left that morning, bundling Gomer into the car along with far too much luggage and a pile of gifts, to head off for a couple of days to visit with cousins on their ranch.
He stared up at the house as snow settled on his head and shoulders.
Fuck.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“Okay, okay,” Noel muttered, ripping off his headphones, as whoever was outside was keeping their finger glued to the bell. Peeking out of the window, he looked down at the street. His stomach rocketed into his chest before crashing to the floor.
Jed. Whom he’d chased out of his thoughts over the last couple of days by submerging himself in work. Or tried to. Jed, who was standing outside, hunched against the weather, snow making a peak on his hat, bringing all those thoughts crashing back in. Taking a deep breath, then slowly exhaling, he pressed the button to unlock the door to let him into the building. Moments later, Jed was hovering on the threshold to Noel’s apartment.
“I—is it okay if I come in?” he said, pulling his scarf from his face and offering an uncertain smile.
When was Jed uncertain about anything?After you kissed him and he damn well kissed you back…“Erm, sure. Of course it’s okay. Get inside, you’re letting all the heat out.”
“I tried to call you, but I wasn’t getting a signal. I guess because of the weather.” In the small hallway, Jed shifted from foot to foot, his hands thrust into his coat pockets.
“Oh, okay. Why—” Noel’s words were abruptly interrupted by a small caramel brown bullet that shot into the hall, wagging its tail, bouncing its backside from side to side, and yapping in excitement.
“Hey, Peter. It’s good to see you, too.” Jed swooped the excited little dog up into his arms, laughing as Peter tried to cover his face in hot, pink tongued kisses.
