Page 38 of Maybe This Christmas
“Are you sure you want to skip skating?”Caleb gestured to where a smattering of folks lined up.
“That’s because it’s colder than frozen moose shit out here,” Emma said.
Caleb snorted.“That’s an expression I can’t say I’ve heard before.”
“I got it from Pa Henderson.Besides, this isn’t the only time I have to see the town, right?”
Caleb cut a glance at Emma.He’d had a fabulous day with her, and the thought of having another made him feel a little giddy.Funny how he’d gone without that kind of feeling so long, he’d almost forgotten how it’d felt.
“You’re right.Better to get back to the lodge before dark, anyhow.”He placed a hand on her back, leading her toward Loaved Up.
“We should make it back in time for dinner,” Emma said.“Do you have any activities you have to run tonight, or do you think we could…?”
He met her gaze.“We can have dinner.There’s only bingo tonight, and Babs and Inez run that.Although they’re hustlers, I wouldn’t be surprised if they found a way to cheat at bingo.”
She smiled and turned away from him.“How would they do that?Rig the balls so they come out in a certain order?”
“I’m kind of glad they’re content with running Falling Leaves and haven’t turned their attention to the international crime syndicate.”
Emma laughed.“Well, I’m glad you’re free.Let me pull up the menu for tonight before we lose cell coverage.”
Between his mother, Sabrina and Brandon, the lodge seemed to run just fine on its own.No wonder the last person who had this job brought her boyfriend up to the mountain to pass the time.
He knew better than to ask Sabrina about it.He loved his family, but they weren’t above lying for the greater good, as they called it.Besides, he’d probably get tricked into admitting that Sabrina had been right about luring him out of his apartment.He wasn’t quite ready to face her gloating just yet.
Because she would—he wouldn’t have met Emma had he stayed up in his apartment for the remainder of December.He couldn’t deny that there was something spectacular about the woman walking beside him.He just wished he could let go and allow himself to enjoy living in the moment.Why did he have to be a monogamous weirdo?Why did every relationship have the end goal of commitment?
They rounded the corner to the parking lot behind Loaved Up.Emma held up her phone.
“The chicken pot pie sounds good.Have you had it?”
“Nearly everything at the lodge is amazing.Brandon poached the chef from a fancy hotel in DC, where he used to work.”
“Oh yeah?Which one?”
“Hotel Blaque,” Caleb said.
She laughed.“I’ve been to that restaurant before!I used to live not too far from there.Small world, huh?”
He grinned.“I guess it is.”
The car ride passed in what felt like moments.Rather than risking a non-stop loop ofDominick the Donkey,they chatted companionably about nothing in particular.When he pulled the van into the circular drive in front of the lodge, he turned off the engine.
“How about if we reconvene at seven-thirty?I need to check in a few places before dinner.”
Emma nodded.“Of course.You’re still on the clock.”She reached for the door handle.
He wanted to be a gentleman, so he quickly bolted out of the van and ran around to her side.
When the door opened, Emma was laughing.“You ran around the front of the van like your ass was on fire.”
He leaned in the doorframe.“Can’t have a lady getting out of the van on her own.What kind of man would I be?”
He extended his gloved hand.She held onto it for a moment.“I had a really great day today, Caleb.I want to go back to Falling Leaves again soon.”
He grinned.“I can make that happen.Any day but tomorrow, as that’s the sledding competition.”
She laughed.“Fair enough.That sounds like too good of a spectacle to miss, anyhow.”
