Page 8 of Once Upon a Thanksgiving
As I shuffle into the kitchen, Connor is heating leftover pie for breakfast, while Mia is already on the phone, narrating every detail of our madness to her audience.
“See that glow?” Mia says, swiveling her phone camera toward me. “That’s what we call a Jack Wilson Effect. One dose and you’ll be blushing until Christmas.”
“Don’t you have something better to do than bother me?” I grumble, reaching for coffee.
Connor snorts. “Leave her alone, Autumn. She’s just trying to get the truth out. Speaking of which, I heard you were in the barn in the middle of the night, and you weren’t alone.”
I nearly choke on my coffee, heat flooding my cheeks. “Connor!”
Mom breezes in, apron already covered in cocoa powder, eyes twinkling. “Kids, enough. Autumn, can you get the cocoa ready? And Mia, please stop putting us on the internet before I’ve fixed my hair!”
The doorbell rings. Even from the kitchen, I know who it is. I smooth my hair, try to wipe the stupid smile off my face, and open the door to find Jack, cheeks pink from the cold, hair sticking up in a way that’s somehow both hot and endearing. He’s carrying donuts and two enormous travel mugs of coffee.
“I come bearing gifts,” he says, holding up the donuts like a trophy.
I try for cool, but my smile betrays me. “You’re brave, or insane, to come here willingly.”
He leans in, voice low. “I figured if I fed the locals, I might survive.”
“You keep this up, and you’ll get invited for Christmas, too,” I tease, taking a mug.
Jack grins. “Is that a promise? Because I make a mean eggnog.”
Mia pokes her head around the corner, phone still up. “Jack, you look cold. Want to help Autumn with the cocoa station? I’m sure she can keep you warm.”
I glare, but Jack winks at me as we head out to the lot.
The farm looks like a scene from a holiday movie. Cars crowd the drive, people bundled in puffy coats spill out, kids dart between trees, laughter rings out over the thrum of the baler. Dad is already helping customers, and the cocoa stand has a line.
Jack falls in beside me, picking up a box of ornaments. “So what’s my job, boss?”
“Think you can handle candy canes and a crowd of caffeine-deprived parents?” I challenge, hip-bumping him as we walk.
“I survived law school,” he says, “and, so far, your mom. I’m ready.”
We spend the next hour working side by side, passing cocoa, untangling garland, and dodging small children and even smaller dogs. Every time Jack leans close to hand me something, I feel his breath on my neck. Every time our fingers brush, I swear the world slows down. It’s ridiculous how much I want him.
I try to carry a wreath that’s nearly twice my size, almost toppling over. He grabs my hips to steady me, and he shoots me a look. “See? You need me. Pure muscle.”
“Oh yeah?” I laugh. “I saw you struggle with that Douglas fir. Not sure you’re up to Murphy Pines standards yet.”
He fakes a wounded expression. “Now you’re just hurting my feelings.”
We’re still teasing when Mom reappears with a tray of cookies. She raises her eyebrows at the way Jack’s arm is casually draped over my shoulder.
“Everything going alright out here?” she asks, all innocence.
“Just trying to keep your daughter out of trouble,” Jack says smoothly, winking at her. “She’s a handful.”
“She always was,” Mom agrees, handing him a cookie. “But she’s worth it.”
I feel my cheeks go hot. Jack grins, dropping a kiss to my temple. My heart stutters.
We get pulled apart by work, he helps Dad wrangle a massive tree into a tiny car, and I run to restock ornaments. Every so often, I catch him watching me from across the lot, eyes hungry,like he’s undressing me with a single look. It makes me fumble more than once, drop a box, and laugh too loudly.
Lunch is a blur of sandwiches and teasing. Connor slides in next to me, voice low. “Want to give you a heads up. Mia’s doing some videos about you and Jack. She has her followers voting on whether you’ll end up together or not.”
Mia pops up, not missing a beat. “Oh, please. I’m just doing my civic duty, making sure Autumn doesn’t leave Jack out in the cold. You two are disgustingly cute.”
