Page 25 of Her Mountain Christmas
“Oh. Well. If that’s the case, I guess there’s nothing to be done.”
He shrugs out of his jacket. “We can get you a new one.” He says it like it’s no big deal, but to me, it is. My chest feels tight, and I say what’s been on my mind.
“You know, if I’m going to stay here, I should look for a job.”
Jack’s eyebrows shoot up as he toes off his boots and then heads for the kitchen. God, I love watching him move. He’s the sexiest man I’ve ever seen in my entire life.
“If that’s what you want, sure. But you don’t have to work if you don’t want to. I’m happy to take care of you, sweetheart.”
Something inside me goes all hot and melty at his words, and I grin at him, probably looking like the lovestruck puppy that I am. “That’s sweet, but I need something to do with my time.”
He nods. “Then I’ll make sure to introduce you to everyone in town today.”
“In town?”
“Now that the snow’s cleared, the Christmas market is back up and running. I thought we could go check it out, let you get a taste of Honey Ridge beyond dark, snowy roads and the four walls of my house.”
My grin widens. “I’d really like that.”
After a quick breakfast, we head into town. It’s a short drive, but I enjoy the snow-covered scenery as “A Holly Jolly Christmas” plays through the truck’s speakers. The second we turn onto the main strip, my breath catches.
Honey Ridge looks like a Christmas postcard.
Wreaths hang from every lamppost, their pine boughs dusted with fresh snow. Twinkle lights crisscross overhead, casting golden glows on the cobblestone sidewalks. Storefronts are decked in garlands and red bows. At the far end of the street, the Christmas market sprawls out—rows of red-and-white striped tents with dozens and dozens of people milling about, chatting and laughing.
Jack parks the truck, and when he opens my door, his hand finds the small of my back like it’s the most natural thing in the world. The touch sends a happy little thrill through me.
“I guess this is kinda like our first date,” I say, smiling up at him, and he pulls me a little closer.
“I guess so. First of many, sweetheart.”
We haven’t even made it two steps before someone calls out.
“Chief Carter! Glad to see you made it through the storm! It was a bad one, eh?”
Jack tips his chin in a nod, his grip on me tightening just a fraction. “Morning, Tom. This is my girlfriend, Ella.”
The older man’s eyes crinkle as he smiles at me. “Well, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes? Welcome to Honey Ridge, Miss Ella.”
My cheeks warm. “Thank you.”
We don’t get far before it happens again.
“Jack! Thought that was you.” A woman with a clipboard waves, her gaze flicking to me. “And you’ve got company, I see.”
Jack doesn’t hesitate. “Ella, this is Lydia. She runs the bakery. Lydia, this is my girlfriend, Ella.”
Girlfriend. The word sends a thrill through me, even as Linda’s smile falters for half a second before she recovers.
“Lovely to meet you, Ella.”
“You too,” I say, my breath puffing white in the cold.
We make it another few feet before three young boys come running up to us to say hi to Chief Jack and give him high fives. Jack reaches into his coat pocket and pulls out some stickers designed to look like Honey Ridge FD badges, the boys grinning as he hands them out. They run off as fast as they arrived.
I glance up at him. “You’re popular.”
One corner of his mouth lifts. “Small town. Everyone knows everyone.”
