Page 21 of The Clause in Christmas
Cassie lightly touched the couple, appearing lost in her thoughts.
Something in her wistful expression tugged at Luke’s heartstrings. And, feeling restless, he reached for a cookie, even though the furthest thing from his mind was food.
“Edith got that ornament for their first anniversary,” Eliza explained, her voice filled with warmth. “She must have told me the story a thousand times. It started a tradition where each year she’d collect another ornament that represented something important. Either a milestone from that year or some new hobby or interest. She said each Christmas, unwrapping the ornaments was like unpacking a time capsule.”
“That’s sweet,” Cassie murmured, looping the gold string around a sturdy branch. Turning to Eliza, she bit her bottom lip, as if debating her next words. “Ben referred to Edith as his grandma… There’s no relation, is there?”
Eliza smiled from her perch on the arm of the couch. “No, that’s just something Ben does. If he feels like someone is family, then they are.”
“So, when he calls Luke ‘Uncle Luke’ that doesn’t mean you and Luke’s brother…”
“Me andColt?” Eliza sputtered, nearly toppling off the couch.
“I’m sorry!” Cassie flushed with embarrassment. “I didn’t mean to offend you.”
Luke doubled over in laughter at the look of dismay on Eliza’s face. Then, noticing Cassie’s discomfort, he softened. “Don’t worry, Cassie. Eliza is only rattled because she had an unrequited crush on my little brother for most of her childhood.”
“I did not!” Eliza crossed her arms in protest.
“Sure,” Luke drawled, rolling his eyes playfully. “It was only the most obvious crush I’ve ever seen.”
Eliza stalked over and snatched the half-eaten cookie from his hand.
“Hey!” Luke cried, swiping for it unsuccessfully.
Glaring, Eliza waved the confection in his face. “Fibbers don’t get cookies.”
Luke shrugged, still grinning. “Luckily I know where to find the main supply.” He strode into the kitchen, chuckling under his breath.
As Luke selected a new cookie from the dozen or so cooling on the rack, he wondered if he’d get a moment alone with Cassie. He’d been mulling over Jack’s words all day, growing more certain he wanted to see if their friendship could become something more. Swallowing his nerves with a bite of the sugary treat, he made a pact with himself that he’d try to steal a moment before the night ended.
Heading back into the living room, Luke overheard Eliza ask Cassie to check on the batch of cookies in the oven. Something in Eliza’s tone sounded odd. There was an eager, almost mischievous lilt to it.
The precise moment Luke crossed the threshold of the kitchen, Cassie collided with him in the doorway. Instinctively, he placed his hands around her waist to steady her, the same time her palms met his chest.
“Sorry!” she gasped, then froze. Her eyes widened, darting skyward.
That’s when Luke saw it.
The mistletoe hanging directly above their heads.
Chapter 8
Cassie burrowed beneath the thick layer of quilts, unwilling to face the reality of a new day. Her cheeks still stung from the embarrassment of colliding with Luke under that exasperating sprig of mistletoe. Fortunately, they were interrupted by a glass ornament shattering across the parquet floor.
As Cassie recalled the moment, a twinge of disappointment lurked behind her relief. But she forced the thought aside. She had no business wondering what Luke’s lips would feel like gently pressed against her own. Especially since she’d sworn off dating. Not that her subconscious cared about her ban on romance, filling her dreams with all kinds of outlandish scenarios. Who kissed in the back of a sleigh? She didn’t even think they existed anymore.
Before her brain could come up with something even more outlandish—like making the sleigh airborne—Derek texted again, waking her in the middle of the night, prompting Cassie to shut off her phone. He’d even resorted to following up his “I miss you” message with a string of sad-face emojis. As if an emoticon could make her forget last Christmas. As ifanythingcould make her forget.
In desperate need of a distraction, Cassie threw back the covers, prepared to undertake whatever task the Christmas Calendar allocated for the day. Impersonating one of Santa’s jolly helpers would be preferable to agonizing over an almost-kiss. Especially since every fiber of her being insisted a kiss with Luke Davis would be earth-shattering.
Cassie sat up in bed, disoriented by the bright light filtering through the gossamer curtains. Now that she wasn’t buried beneath several quilts, the air felt noticeably colder. Squinting as her eyes adjusted to the brilliant glow, she wrapped a blanket around her shoulders and padded to the window. Thick flurries of snow danced across the frosted glass, shrouding the sky for as far as she could see.
Cassie’s heart fluttered in her chest. Her very first snowstorm!
Clothed in soft, gray long johns, Cassie pulled knee-high socks over her bare feet and skipped down the staircase as eager as a child on Christmas morning.
The glittering Christmas tree greeted her as she leaped over the last step and sailed into the living room, sliding across the polished floor in her stockinged feet. The night before, she’d been so mesmerized by the tree’s beauty, she hadn’t been able to unplug it before going to bed. Now, as it sparkled in the bright, ethereal glow of the snowstorm, Cassie found herself even more entranced. Who knew something as simple as a topiary draped in lights and colorful baubles could evoke such an emotional response?
