Page 18 of Wintertime Love (Holiday 2)

“Sharon and Danny made up,” Ben tells me and I grin.

“No kidding?” I ask. “So why do you look disappointed?”

He sighs, in that weary exaggerated way only kids can sigh. “She’ll steal Danny away from you, Clara.”

I roll my eyes. “You do know that Sharon is a better baker than me?”

“Nobody’s better than you, Clara.” He motions with his hand and I lean closer. “If Danny wont marry you, I will, okay? Once I’m grown up and I get a job, I’ll marry you.”

I give him a serious look. “Have you been talking to my aunts?”

He blinks at his. “Why?”

My lips twitch. “Never mind.”

Danny is busy texting his new girlfriend. He’s developed a thing for Sharon over this past month and I wonder how serious it is. Danny isn’t one to take relationships so seriously. With me, he had been, but aside from me, I’ve never seen him invest so much in a woman. But Sharon keeps him on his toes and maybe that’s what he needs.

I have a feeling Sharon really might steal him away, permanently.

Although I’m happy for him, I can’t help feeling a little lonely. I glance around the diner. Maybe Aunt Helen is right. Maybe I’ve been running from love for so long that I’ve begun to treat it as something meant to be avoided. Perhaps the only reason I was so susceptible to Finn’s advances is because I’m lonely.

I am in my mid-twenties. And it’s not like I don’t get asked out.

“Something bothering you there, Clara?” a familiar voice asks as Nick, the town’s handyman takes a seat at the counter.

Nick with his laughing blue eyes and matted sandy hair that keeps sticking up to his constant consternation, has always been a cheerful person and a sort of friend. Unlike Danny and me, he wasn’t born here. He moved here as a teenager with his mother. I’ve always gotten along with him. He’s a likeable person and more importantly, he often flirts with me.

I’ve never really paid attention to him in that way, always brushing off his attempts, never taking them seriously, but now I take a good hard look at him and realize that he is a very attractive man.

“What?” he asks me, uneasily. “Quit staring at me like that. You’re freaking me out.”

I snort. “Sorry. Here, have a cupcake. On the house.” I take out one of the cupcakes from the display case and hand it to him.

He studies the dessert. “How come I get a free cupcake?”

I lean on the counter, casually. “Because you’re cute. That gets you a free cupcake.”

He winks at me, cheekily. “I’m freaking adorable. Shouldn’t that get me two cupcakes?”

I narrow my eyes at him. “Want me to take away the first one?”

He snatches it out of my reach, grinning broadly. “No ma’am.”

As he settles down and looks over the menu, I ask. “So, what have you been up to?”

“Did a few repairs at your Aunts’ place a while ago. Heard you got yourself a new beau. What’s going on? I’ll get the cheese burger with fries.”

I send his order into the kitchen and reply, “Nothing is going on there. You heard wrong. I’m as single as one gets.”

He waggles his brows, cheekily. “Want to give me a shot?”

I study him for a heartbeat, seriously considering his offer, before I laugh lightly. “Not today. Ask me again, when I’m in a better mood.”

“Tomorrow then?” He smiles at me.

Yeah, I know it would be easy with him. Going on a few dates, falling into bed with him, falling in love with him. Will you have that same chemistry with him, though? Will you look at him and see someone else? Jesus. It was just one kiss. Get over it! “Maybe not tomorrow,” I finally reply.

He leans forward, grinning. “Day after tomorrow then?”

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