Page 150 of The Blessings of Christmas
Alex was reaching for his mother, and Malcolm shifted the baby into Emily's arms. “I’d be happy to spend some time there,” he said. “I don't think I'm on the library schedule for Saturday.” Here he looked over to Josie for agreement.
You could be working on our website. Or do you intend to spend all your time on the phone with Darcy?Josie was glad that her lips were pressed firmly together. Somehow she cranked them into a smile. “Nope. Nope, you're free.”
“Really, Malcolm? That would be wonderful.” Victoria's expression was that of a woman who thought Malcolm Sutter had hung the moon. Josie knew that feeling.
“I have some free time that day too.” The words were out before Josie could think. How pathetic. Was she going to just follow Malcolm around town? The idea was strangely appealing. After all, she’d spent at least thirty minutes on her makeup that morning. And Malcolm hadn't even seemed to notice. Emily threw her an impish smile.
“That would be great, Josie.” Malcolm’s eyes had lit up, and she basked in their warmth. “We could head over there after we take a morning run.”
“Sure. Right.” She knew that Emily and Bryn were both grinning. “We’re taking a run on S-Saturday. You know, just j-jogging.” Face burning, she ended up stuttering. Great.
Emily regarded her with a pleased smile. “Just like you used to do, right?”
“Best way to start the day,” Malcolm said with satisfaction, totally unaware of what was going on around him. Josie wondered if that was how he started his days when he was in New York? Did he run through the streets with Darcy? Manhattan Darcy?
“The clinic is over in Amblebury,” Victoria told him, pushing her chair back and snagging her empty coffee mug. “About a twenty-minute ride. Not too bad. Guess I should be heading over there now.”
“I should get into work too.” Malcolm sprang up as if he hadn’t been awake since six o'clock, wondering about his makeup. No doubt he slept soundly. Josie remembered when her nights had been like that. But that was before Malcolm Sutter had come back to town. Now Josie had to fit in trips to Coralee’s or search the Internet for makeup tips. The more she learned, the more she understood how far behind she was. Andwhy was she doing this? Emily's encouragement stayed with her.
Her one little chocolate cookie was rumbling around in her empty stomach. It was lonely. The darn thing was crying out for more. More cookies, more chocolate. More of something.
Wow. Time to get to work and she quickly said goodbye, leaving all the Christmas calories behind.
That day at the library she worked with Malcolm to bring him up to speed. But she quickly realized that being alone with him in his office probably wasn't the best idea. Granted, he didn't smell of those heavy, supposedly seductive men's colognes. In fact, the only scent she was picking up on was Irish Spring. Taking a deep breath made her dizzy. Josie was looking over his shoulder at the one of the monitors when her head began to spin. She was afraid she was going to do a face plant on his desk and quickly grabbed an edge of the desk.
Malcolm gave her a quick side glance. “Everything okay?”
“Perfect. I mean, fine.” She kept gripping the desk. They moved on.
But his smiling eyes when he cracked the occasional joke? The way his well manicured hands danced over the keyboard. She liked everything about him and maybe she should have had Eileen do this update. Luckily, the session didn't last long. There hadn’t been that many changes over the last couple of years. Malcom had some great ideas for the website and was very current on social media. Josie was relieved to have him take over the library’s IT responsibilities.
When she couldn't stand it one more minute, she began backing toward the door. “Think I'll go have some lunch.”
“Want me to come with you?” He shot up, all six foot two of Manly Malcolm, who could cuddle babies. She still couldn't get over that. “I could go for a tuna sandwich or something.”
Not going to happen. She pointed toward the door. “I think I might eat at my desk today. Lots of work to do.”
Malcolm actually looked a little disappointed. “Oh, okay. Well guess I'll get some exercise and take off for the square. Maybe pick up a sandwich at Victoria’s Pantry.”
“That sounds… good.”Wonderful. Great. So jealous.
At the door he turned. “Hey, we’re still going to run on Saturday morning, right?”
The breath whooshed out of her. “Right.”
What did she have to wear? She might have to make a quick stop at Coralee’s.
As she sat at her desk alone ten minutes later, Josie’s mind wandered back to Darcy, Malcolm's fiancé. Would she be coming to Sweetwater Creek over the holidays to check it out? She couldn't stand the thought. While Malcolm was on his way to the square, she hit the break room vending machine and loaded up on potato chips and cheese curls. That would just have to do.
On the way home that night, she circled back to Victoria's Pantry. Thank goodness there were still two chocolate croissants left on the tray. She bought them both.
CHAPTER 5
Standing in the window of his apartment that evening, Malcolm studied the square below. He loved its cozy, small town feel. The town hall stood at one end, large and imposing. Trails converged in the center, offering comfortable benches. The old-fashioned fountain would be a big hit in the Amazon. Off to one side stood the gazebo, another historical point. Bands played at the gazebo in the summer and he hoped that they would have a sing-along on Christmas Eve again. During the Christmas season the nativity scene would be set up close by. Personal. Everything in Sweetwater Creek seemed personal.
The gazebo was a gathering place. A place where you stood a good chance of knowing most of the people. He liked that. Some of Josie's friends had gotten married there. He remembered Emily’s wedding especially, with white chairs arranged around it and a bunch of pretty flowers.
Bryn had gotten married while he was gone. She was so sweet with her baby boy and he looked forward to meeting her husband. From what Josie had told him, Bryn’s husband was some kind of scientist. That made sense. Malcolm and Brynhadn't made sense and he was glad that they’d both realized that. He liked the fact that he could still be Bryn’s friend.
