Page 112 of Christmas in Chestnut Ridge
“Really? I don’t think you did. I mean, you know I’m just a city girl in town for a visit. Nothing special.”
He cocked his head. Where the hell had that come from?
“Look—”
“No, you look. I might have overreacted. I don’t know, but I really enjoyed spending time with you and maybe it was just Christmas magic, but I thought we had something special going. At least I was sincerely enjoying myself, not feeling obligated. You know, I can take care of myself. I don’t need a pity date. You’re off the hook. No harm. No foul.”
“Wait. Whoa.” He lifted his hand in the air. “Stop. That’s out of context.”
“I was at your house, trying to apologize for overreacting and to give you a Christmas present. I had no idea—” She turned and started up the stairs to the front door, then turned again and shoved the packages into his arms.
“Hang on. First of all, that was not the whole conversation! That was you making the noise on my front porch earlier, wasn’t it?”
“Doesn’t matter. I heard what I heard.”
“Let me explain. You’re upset. It didn’t mean what you think.”
“It really caught me off guard, because you seem…”
“Seem what?”
“Genuine. A nice guy. Fun. Not a jerk.”
“I’m not. Ask anyone in this town. And I can promise you this. Natalie and I might not be related, and we may not have known each other that long, but she was married to my best friend and I would never do anything to upset her. Trust me, upsetting you would upset her. And Orene. And a bunch of other people who have taken a liking to you besides me.”
She looked at him. “Well, we wouldn’t want you to ruin your reputation.”
“It’s not about me.”
“Isn’t it?”
“I screwed up, but I didn’t mean to. It does matter. I like you. A lot.” He closed his eyes, wishing the pain would subside so he could think clearly. “I know I’m putting my life on the line to save others. I’m trained to deal with the heat, the smoke, and the flames, but there’s always the risk of something going wrong.”
“I know, but I was worried. No. Really, it’s more than that. I don’t know if I could worry like that every time you went on a call.”
“It’s a big ask. I know it is. And I could’ve communicated better.”
“When you left, you said to stay. That you’d be back.” She shrugged. “I believed you.”
“You can believe what I say.” He contemplated. “You’re right. I should have called at the first opportunity.” He shook his head. “It’s been a while since I had someone else to consider. I’m sorry I worried you. In my mind, you’d worry less if you didn’t know I was on the way to the hospital, but I see your point. Please don’t be upset, and I know what you overheard, but that was in the middle of a discussion. A flippant, guarded remark, becauseI don’t want my job to scare you off. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me, and if you’d come in, you’d have heard me say that.”
“Thank you,” she said quietly.
He stepped closer. “Were you really that worried?”
She nodded. “I couldn’t help it. I know it’s your job, and I’m fully aware I don’t have any right to feel that way.” Shrugging. “It’s just… how… I felt kind of lost, and I didn’t like it.”
“It’s not easy being with someone in this profession. It’s a lot to ask. It’s not just me looking out for myself. I’m looking out for a huge team of people risking their lives to help others. A whole town. But I sure do like spending time with you, and I am so sorry I made you worried or mad or sad or whatever it was. I’m flattered that you cared that much to worry.”
“I sure didn’t mean to.” Her lips pulled into a straight line. “I tried not to.”
“I think we’ve got something here.”
“I don’t know. I mean, what you said about me leaving is fair. My life is in Richmond.”
“It’s worth at least giving a try. I mean, if you dance as good as your mom I’d like to take you out for a spin. And I still haven’t seen Virginia Beach. I think I might like the feeling of sand between my toes.”
“And I wouldn’t mind learning more about the mountains. It’s been so enlightening, but Tucker, Christmas is historically bad for me. My mom was diagnosed at Christmas, my marriage fell apart at Christmas, now this.”
