Page 51 of Stella's Christmas Rescue
I race between the crowd of sardines, squeeze among them, and try not to drown. There’s a weight on my chest and my head spins. But then I see a series of crimson curls two aisles over, and race there. “Stella!”
She turns around and smiles. My heart can start again. “There you are.”
“Same to you. You okay?”
She nods. “Just shopping. Areyouokay?”
“Yeah. I’m fine. Now.”
“You seem upset.”
I shake my head. “Totally fine. Found the canned pumpkin. Last one.”
“Thanks, hon.” She leans up and kisses me. “Well done. I’ll cross it off the list.” She uses her finger to draw a line through it on her phone, then pockets it.
I’m shocked, and I glance around the grocery store. “You’re okay with doing that?”
“Crossing off something from the list?”
“Kissing. In public.”
She laughs. “What, you’re not a public display of affection guy?”
“No, not that. I mean, in case of Riker’s guys. Seems like a good way to be distracted, you know?”
“Oh,” she blinks and sort of laughs to herself. “Honestly, I hadn’t even thought of it. I guess we should be more careful.” She leans close to me and says, “I always feel so safe with you. I guess I wasn’t thinking about it.” She kisses me again, then whispers, “Which is the first time in three years when I was in public and I wasn’t thinking about everything. Thank you, Jordan.”
“Happy to help.” I’m left with a smile on my face.
Until I hear, “Jordan Waters, you naughty boy!”
I turn around. Ugh. “Katie Briar, what a pleasant surprise.” Oh damn.
She hugs me, but her eyes stay on Stella. When the hug is over, she declares, “You must be Stella Collins. I’m Katie Briar, I work at the diner.”
They shake hands and I tell my girlfriend, “Katie is the reason the corned beef hash is so good.”
“Well, then,” Stella smiles sweetly at her, “I am forever in your debt.”
Katie chuckles, but I know her real laugh and that ain’t it. “I’m sure I’ll figure out a way for you to pay me back. So, you two spending the holiday together?”
I nod. “That’s the plan.”
She eyes our cart, then asks, “Just one cart for the two of you?” Her tone reeks of judgement.
I firmly tell her, “Yes, Katie.”
“Hmm,” she huffs. Then she changes gears, “Did you hear about Mrs. Carmelo?”
Stella asks, “The woman who answers the phone at the sheriff’s office?”
“That’s the one. She’s,” Katie leans close to us and tries to whisper, but it’s too loud inside Bailey’s for whispering, “three months pregnant.”
Stella frowns, “Why is that controversial?”
“Because her husband has been stationed in Iraq forfivemonths.”
“Oh!” Stella gasps.
