Page 30 of A Cozy Kind of Christmas
A loop of happy memories played in her mind—driving with the windows down in his old truck, blasting tunes, late-night pizza and beers at her place, cuddling up watching sci-fi flicks, tender embraces, passionate kisses.
A sudden warmth spread from her scalp to her fingertips. “Thanks, you look good, too.” She managed to gulp. She couldn’t breathe. Could everyone hear the blood rushing to her head or the way her heart was assaulting her rib cage, trying to break free?
Stop staring.
But he was even more handsome than she remembered. He had grown into himself since she’d seen him last. His shaggy blond hair was slightly longer, just enough to cover his left eye.
Have his eyes always been that blue?
They reminded her of Gam’s sapphire crystals—crisp, soul-stirring, and impossibly deep.
He chuckled effortlessly, wrapping his arm around Jill. “Hey, lady, it’s been way too long. Great to see you.”
Has he always been that muscular?
She didn’t remember his chest looking quite that firm or his shoulders being as broad.
God, stop it.
Her mouth felt dry. She tried to force the ever-growing hard lump in her throat down but couldn’t tear her eyes away from him.
He seemed equally entranced as he studied her face and grinned, making his eyes sparkle even more. “Megs, I can’t believe it’s been so long and that you actually came. Jill and I had a bet that you wouldn’t show.”
“Hey, a pact is a pact. You’re an old man now,” she teased. “I had to be here to lord that over you for a while. And technically speaking, I’m here on assignment. My editor should be here shortly.” She tapped her wrist like she was keeping time.
He started to say something, but the drop-dead-gorgeous redhead came up next to him, bumping him playfully on the hip. “Mattie, who’s this?”
Mattie?
No, come on.
Not Mattie—anything but Mattie.
“Oh, hey, Lucinda.” Matt froze like a deer in headlights for a minute but then composed himself, waving his hand from one woman to the other. “Lucinda Hinton, this is Meg Reed.”
“Of course, Meg, or do you prefer Margaret?” Lucinda spoke animatedly with her hands. “I read yourNYTpiece. Damn, sister. That should have come with a content warning. I wasn’t prepared to bawl my flipping eyes out and ruin my mascara when Matt shoved his laptop in my face. He said you wrote a piece for theNYTbut failed to mention that the story would pack such an emotional punch.” Lucinda placed her hand over her heart in a show of affection. She looked sincere, but Meg had already made up her mind not to like Lucinda. And calling Matt “Mattie” was a serious strike against her. “You know, we have a lot in common. We’ll have to find time to chat and get to know each other properly.”
Yeah, right.
What could they possibly have in common? Lucinda was an heiress to one of the biggest fortunes in the entire state. Meg was still living paycheck to paycheck and struggling to pay rent. The only thing they had in common was Matt—and he was Lucinda’s now.
Meg hoped her face wasn’t betraying her. “It’s so nice to meet you,” she finally said, forcing a smile. “Thanks for hosting us and doing all this…” She motioned to the lodge.
“Oh, it’s nothing—a corporate thing.” Lucinda waved her off. “I mean, anything for this guy, of course,” she cooed, fluttering her eyes at Matt.
Okay, fine, maybe technically, it wasn’t a coo, but it was close.
“I’ve heard so much about you. Your adventures sound epic. Mattie talks about you and Jill all the time. I feel like I practically know you both.” Lucinda reached for a handful of nuts, popping them in her mouth and plopping into one of the oversized chairs. “What is everyone drinking?” She gestured to a waiter who happened to be passing by. “I’ll take my usual, and can we get a round for my friends.”
Jill caught Meg’s eye and mouthed, “You good?”
Meg nodded.
She wasn’t.
Her jaw ached from clenching her teeth in a tight smile. Tiny beads of sweat dripped down her neck and formed over her upper lip. She just had to hold it together for a while longer, then she could go scream into her pillow and fall apart.
Owen passed around menus. “The beer list was too long, you all decide. It was too much pressure, and Jill will tell you if they have Guinness on the menu, then it has to be Guinness. It’s like an Irish law.”
