Celebrate in Good Hope (Good Hope #22)

Chapter 6

CHAPTER SIX

Roe cast a sideways look at Boone as he pulled into a lot several blocks from the business district. After his hesitation over accepting her invitation to the party, when he’d asked if she wanted to go with him to the First Friday celebration tonight, she’d hesitated.

Why should she go with him tonight when he hadn’t shown any interest in attending the party with her tomorrow? Then she realized how ridiculous that was.

She was as free to turn down his offer this evening as he was to turn down hers.

The fact was, she wanted to see for herself what a First Friday celebration was all about.

That was why she was here. Why Boone wanted to attend remained a mystery. “Why did you want to come to this thing?”

As soon as he shut off the engine and hopped out, Roe pushed open the truck door, not giving him a chance to round the front and open her door. Which she knew he’d have done, given the chance. The guy had manners.

The thing was, she couldn’t sit in the cab of the truck one second longer. Inhaling the intoxicating scent of his citrusy cologne had her insides quivering.

The enticing aroma might be subtle, but it was no less potent.

Once outside, Roe inhaled the fresh air laced with a hint of pine and felt herself steady.

Then Boone was at her side, and her calm shattered. She couldn’t believe a man could look so, well, so appealing in jeans and flannel.

“When Krew offered me the cabin, he mentioned no place does Christmas up quite like Good Hope. You were right when you said Coach wouldn’t want me sitting around the cabin brooding. He told me to take advantage of all the town has to offer.” Boone’s eyes took on a faraway look. “Christmas used to be my favorite holiday.”

“Used to be?” Roe immediately picked up on the past tense. “What changed?”

“Life. Sports.” He shrugged as he walked beside her, close but not touching. “My parents divorced when I was in high school. My sister went with my mom. I stayed with Dad. He wasn’t big on celebrations. We usually went to the gym on Thanksgiving and Christmas. In college and then when I got drafted by the Grizzlies, it seemed we were always gearing up for post-season play during the holidays.”

Boone abruptly stopped talking, as if realizing he’d been rambling. “What about you?”

“My parents went all out for Christmas no matter where we were stationed. When I went to college, if I didn’t go home for Christmas, I celebrated with any friends who were around.”

“What about after college?”

“That was hit-or-miss.” Roe heaved a heavy sigh. “If I could swing it, I’d go home, but once my parents moved to Germany, going home to see them became almost impossible. I tried to tell myself Christmas was more for kids anyway, but I don’t think I fully convinced myself. ”

“Now, here we are.”

For the first time, Roe paid more attention to her surroundings rather than the man at her side.

“How did I not notice this loveliness today?” Flags with Christmas sayings hung from lampposts and fluttered in the breeze as snow lightly fell.

From where Roe stood, she could see that brightly colored lights were everywhere. They encircled the front windows of businesses and lit up the evergreens. The gazebo in the town square had gone white-light crazy, along with an abundance of greenery and red ribbons.

The enticing aroma of roasted chestnuts and fresh gingerbread filled the air, providing the perfect accompaniment to the laughter and conversation floating on the evening breeze.

Santa sat on a thronelike chair on the steps of the courthouse, listening intently to the boy on his knee while other children danced from one foot to the other, waiting for their chance to tell him their Christmas wishes.

A teenage girl dressed as an elf, wearing striped leggings, a green tunic trimmed in white fur and a tall pointy hat, handed out large candy canes as she escorted the children from Santa’s lap.

Roe shifted her attention back to Boone. “What exactly is the First Friday Christmas Stroll about?”

“You’re asking me?”

“You’re the one who mentioned coming to this,” she reminded him.

“All I know is people stroll the streets, eating and meeting up with friends.”

“You and I don’t have any friends here.”

He laughed and surprised her by slinging an arm around her shoulders. “You’re hilarious.”

Roe liked the closeness a little too much. She stepped forward, slipping out from under his arm on the pretext of checking out the pastries in the window of Blooms Bake Shop.

“See something you like?”

Turning to answer, Roe found him right there—so close that she gazed directly into his rich brown eyes.

Heart hammering, she murmured, “The candy-striped one.”

His lips lifted in a slow smile. “Which one?”

She cleared her throat. “One?”

Breaking the connection, he shifted toward the window and pointed, forcing Roe to refocus on the window.

Immediately, she saw what he was referring to. In addition to pretty cupcakes, there were cake pops, pinwheel peppermint cookies and striped macaroons.

She sighed. “They all look delicious.”

“Agree.” Pulling open the door, Boone stepped back and waited for her to enter the bakery.

The warmth and the smells spilling onto the sidewalk drew her inside. Even though she told herself she should probably resist temptation, her feet had different ideas, propelling her into the line at the counter with Boone beside her.

Perhaps if the line had been moving slowly, she would have stepped away. Or if the two women wearing shirts proclaiming “Baking Up Some Love” weren’t as efficient, she might have suggested to Boone they come back later.

But she’d barely had time to glance around the shop when she and Boone reached the front of the line. She smiled at the teenage girl with blond hair standing beside a woman who had to be her mother. It was easy to see how the girl would look in twenty years.

“I’ll have one of those candy-striped cake pops—” Roe began.

“Make that two.” Boone pulled out his wallet.

“You got it.” The girl shifted her gaze from Boone back to Roe. “Anything to drink?”

“I’d like a hot cocoa.” Roe glanced at Boone .

“Make that?—”

“Two.” The girl flashed a smile at Boone. “Coming right up.”

The mother turned to her daughter. “Once you fill their order and ring them up, you can go.”

A slight nod and a bright spark in the girl’s eyes were her only response before she bent over the pastry case.

“Brynn,” a male voice called from behind Roe. “Are you coming or not?”

“I am. Give me two minutes.”

Looking over her shoulder, Roe saw the three boys from the café, along with two girls—one blond, the other with dark hair.

When Roe swiveled back, the cake pops sat on napkins, and candy-cane stir sticks rose from the hot cocoa’s whipped cream topping. Boone handed the girl a twenty and told her to keep the change.

Briefly, ever so briefly, Roe considered protesting that she could pay for her own, but she recognized that would likely only delay the girl’s departure.

“Would you like lids?” Brynn asked, her gaze shifting to her friends before returning to Roe and Boone.

Not wanting to disturb the candy canes, Roe shook her head. “I’m fine.”

Boone smiled at the girl. “I’m good.”

With Boone at her side, Roe headed for the exit, realizing that tonight wouldn’t be nearly as much fun without a friend to share it with.

Not that Boone was exactly a friend—she really didn’t know him well enough to confer that designation on him—but he was a pleasant companion.

She liked that he didn’t appear to fill every second with conversation. Or that, while Boone was obviously confident in his own skin, he didn’t go out of his way to draw attention to himself.

His rugged good looks did that all on their own .

Though not as big and bulky as a tackle, he obviously had muscles under that winter gear. His easy, confident stride would have drawn the eye even without his handsome face.

Roe smiled and thanked an older man with silver-rimmed glasses for holding the door open for them as they left the shop. Once on the sidewalk, Roe couldn’t wait a second longer to take a bite of her cake pop. The red velvet interior didn’t disappoint.

Roe had a college friend who insisted she didn’t like red velvet cake because she didn’t like chocolate cake. Roe had never understood that. Sure, there was cocoa powder in the red velvet mix, but in her mind, it was the combination of buttermilk and vinegar that gave the cake a tart edge and pulled it out of the chocolate cake category.

Her loss, Roe thought, taking another bite and then washing it down with a sip of cocoa. “I still haven’t figured out exactly how this stroll works.”

Boone’s gaze lingered on the couples and families sauntering down the brightly decorated streets, and then he shrugged.

Roe pointed to the town square. “Let’s check out the gazebo.”

During the brief time that she and Boone had been in Blooms Bake Shop, a group of singers dressed in vintage garb had arrived and were now entertaining the crowd with popular Christmas carols.

Boone’s hand rested lightly on the back of her coat as she stepped closer.

There was something incredibly moving about hearing songs she had loved since childhood being sung in perfect harmony in crisp December air.

“Roe.”

She turned to see Beck standing beside a pretty woman holding a toddler in her arms while a school-aged boy with his father’s dark hair and eyes fidgeted at her side.

“Beck. It’s good to see you.” Roe offered the man a warm smile, then gestured to Boone. “Have you met Jason Boone? ”

Beck’s smile disappeared. Worry clouded his brown eyes. “How are you feeling? The pot pie?—”

“No worries.” Boone waved a dismissive hand, but curiosity filled his dark eyes. “How’d you hear about that?”

“Beck owns Muddy Boots,” Roe answered before Beck could. “He’s my boss.”

“Look,” Boone spoke quickly, “the incident wasn’t Roe’s fault. This guy got up right in front of her. He’s the one to blame.”

Beck shot Roe a reassuring smile. “She’s not in any trouble.”

“Good,” Boone exclaimed. “That’s good.”

The tight set to Beck’s shoulders eased. It was as if he was suddenly seeing the man at Roe’s side as Jason Boone the man, not Jason Boone the pot-pie victim.

“I enjoy watching you play.” As if eager to change the subject from the incident at Muddy Boots, Beck shifted focus. “You’ve had an impressive career. That was a bad hit you took in that game against the Ravens.”

“Put me in the hospital for three days.”

“I hope you’re feeling better.”

“I’m definitely on the mend.”

Roe wasn’t surprised Boone didn’t speak of his frustration. She’d already discovered he wasn’t the kind to whine.

“Glad to hear it.” Beck smiled at the woman at his side. “This is my wife, Ami, and our two boys, JT and Anthony. Our oldest, Sarah Rose, is out strolling with friends.”

“Nice to meet you, Jason.” Ami turned her attention to Roe. “I’m Ami Cross.”

“I’m sorry, Ami.” Beck gave his wife an apologetic smile. “I thought you’d already met Roe.”

“Now we have.” Roe smiled. “My given name is Rosalie, but please, call me Roe. It’s a pleasure to meet the woman who owns that amazing bakery.”

“Hearing that makes me happy.” Ami’s gaze dropped to the cup in Roe’s hand. “I hope you’re enjoying the hot cocoa. ”

“I certainly did.” Boone drained the last of his and tossed the cup into a nearby trash can. “Excellent.”

“I hear you both are staying at Krew’s cabin.”

Though spoken as a statement, Roe heard the underlying question. She chuckled. “You heard about that mix-up, did you?”

“Cade told us. He’s married to my sister Marigold.”

“I thought someone mentioned you and the sheriff were related.” Roe pulled her brows together and tried to recall who had told her that. It had to be Helen. “I have a quick question for you—actually two.”

When she noticed JT pull on his mother’s hand, a silent signal for let’s go , Roe knew she best make this quick.

Beck’s hand on the boy’s shoulder and a quiet word whispered in his son’s ear stopped the tugging.

“What would you like to know?” Ami asked, appearing in no rush.

“Gladys—you know her, right?”

A fond look filled Ami’s eyes. “Everyone in Good Hope knows Gladys.”

“She and her friend Ruby invited me—us—to a party tomorrow night at your…” Roe hesitated, hoping she got this connection correct. “At your sister’s house. Ruby said it was okay, but I?—”

“You have to come.” Ami didn’t even wait for Roe to finish. “It’s always fun, and everyone will be eager to meet both of you.”

“I don’t want to crash—” Roe protested.

“You won’t be crashing,” Ami assured her. “Ruby invited you. Rakes Farm is as much hers as it is Fin and Jeremy’s. Plus, I know my sister would love to meet both of you.”

Ami shifted her gaze to Boone, who’d remained silent. “Will you come?”

“I hadn’t thought much about it,” Boone admitted.

“It’s a good group of people, and there’ll be amazing food and drinks.” Beck’s soft Southern drawl had the encouragement sliding down easier.

“I’ll think about it,” Boone promised.

“We promised Marigold that we’d meet her and the kids in front of the General Store at seven,” Beck reminded his wife.

“You’re right. We need to go.” Ami surprised Roe with a hug, though she stopped short of giving one to Boone. “It was wonderful meeting you both. I hope to see you tomorrow night.”

They’d taken only a few steps when Ami whirled back and fixed her green eyes on Roe. “You said you had two questions. What was the second?”

“It’s not important.” Roe waved an airy hand. “You’re in a hurry.”

Ami planted her feet. “I’m not going anywhere until you ask me.”

“I was just wondering the purpose of the stroll?” Roe chuckled. “Told you it wasn’t important.”

“It’s a valid question.” Ami gestured to the groups of people standing and talking, to the couples with arms intertwined swaying to the Christmas music, to the vendors dispensing chestnuts and candied nuts. “This is what the stroll is about.”

Roe must have still appeared confused, because Ami continued. “It’s about enjoying the decorations, supporting the local businesses, meeting up with friends and family. For high school kids, it’s all about seeing and being seen. The stroll is a fun way to kick off the holiday season.”

“Ami.” Beck spoke his wife’s name in a low tone. “It’s seven. I can text Marigold and tell her?—”

“You’re right. We need to go.” Ami wiggled her fingers, and the Cross family strode off.

Roe glanced at Boone. “Now we know.”

“Now that we know how this all works…” Boone glanced around. “We need to decide where to stroll from here.”