Holiday Reunion (Hollyberry Harbor #1)

Chapter 15

FIFTEEN

This wasn’t happening. Sarah had to be dreaming. That was the only explanation for what was going on in this very moment. This was what happened when someone was sleep-deprived which Sarah most definitely was.

She glanced down at the papers in her hands, unsure of what to do next. James stood in front of her, offering her the gift of a lifetime and with no strings attached. It couldn’t be real.

Her legs went weak and she shuffled back a step, catching herself on a nearby light post before she really made a fool of herself.

James surged forward, but he didn’t hold onto her—a fact that she was grateful for because if he had, she wouldn’t have been able to keep a level head.

Sarah lifted the papers, but the words blurred and swirled into one another after she read the title of the proposal.

Lake Harbor Christmas Village

James was turning the avenue into a full-time Christmas village. She couldn’t believe her eyes. In fact, they swam with emotion so much that tears spilled out over the edges of her eyes and tumbled down her cheeks.

“This isn’t real, is it? You’re joking. It’s one big practical joke.” Her voice broke as she turned her focus to James. “You’re trying to get back at me for what I did, right?”

He actually looked hurt by her accusation. The pain in his expression was enough to cause the tightness in her chest to worsen. “This isn’t a joke, Sarah. I would never do something like that to you.” This time he did reach out, the back of his knuckles tracing along the edge of her jaw. “Can’t you see I love you?”

Her breath hitched in her throat and she turned away. Moments before he’d arrived, she’d been terrified over what she was about to do. In her purse she had a ticket to Portland. She’d intended on tracking him down and telling him exactly how she felt. The terror had come from the fact he’d not answered a single one of her phone calls over the last two days.

Sarah swallowed hard, her eyes fluttering open. “Why didn’t you answer your phone?”

His frown deepened. “You tried calling me?”

She nodded. “I thought you were avoiding me.”

In that moment, James pulled her into a hug so tight, he crushed her body against his own. “I misplaced my personal phone. I’ve been using my company phone until my replacement comes.” He pulled back, his eyes searching hers. “You’ve been trying to call me.” This time it wasn’t a question.

She let out a sound combining her sob with her laugh of relief. “I hated how things ended between us. I needed you to know that I…” Her face flushed hot enough it could have melted all the snow in a mile radius. “I was wrong for the way I treated you. I should’ve never let my emotions get the better of me.” She pulled back far enough to lift up the now wrinkled proposal. “This idea? This Christmas village sounds like a dream. I can’t believe you came up with it.”

He chuckled. “I’m going to choose not to take offense at that.”

Her confusion was quickly replaced by chagrin. “I mean, of course you’re capable?—”

James laughed this time, his fingers caressing her face. “Truth be told, I didn’t come up with it on my own. I had a lot of help.”

“You did?”

He nodded. “You’re what I like to call a muse.”

She bit back a smile. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Oh, I’m dead serious. Your passion for this place and for this holiday together were the catalyst for my vision. I couldn’t have done it without the success of the festival. You have to know that.”

Sarah stared at the papers in her hand once more. “There’s so much about these ideas that have my head spinning. This is an amazing plan. I can’t think of anything that would be more perfect for Lake Harbor Avenue.” She shuffled through the papers until she came to one that listed her bakery. “Except one thing.”

He peered over the edge of the paper with a frown. “I said you have free rein. You don’t have to worry about my company breathing down your neck. You’ll have complete oversight. There isn’t anything you need to worry about?—”

Sarah placed a finger to his lips and smiled. “You were right.”

“About what,” he murmured through his muffled lips.

“About the café. You were completely right. In this list, there are no coffee shops. The closest one would be out of the village and even if you’re not charging an admission, people aren’t going to be thrilled about having to leave to get the coffee or hot chocolate. And they definitely will expect some kind of warm beverage in a place called Lake Harbor Christmas Village.”

“We can hire a coffee cart. It could travel up and down the street.”

Sarah shook her head. “No. The bakery should be a café. I love baking the kinds of pastries that would be sold right along-side the drinks. It’s not much trouble to offer those beverages. I’m sure I can learn a thing or two about being a barista.” She tilted her head, her smile growing. “You have such a good eye for business. I should’ve accepted that sooner.”

James slipped his arms around her waist, pulling her close once again. “Yeah?” Inch by inch, his mouth dipped closer to hers. “Tell me more.”

She laughed and pressed her fingers against his chest. “I don’t want you to get conceited. It’s already twice the size it should be.”

He chuckled. “I don’t think it’s possible for me to get a big head around you. Out of everyone I’ve ever met, you’re one I can count on to tell me what you really feel. It’s what made me fall in love with you.” His eyes traced over her face, making her feel more vulnerable than she thought possible. James’s low, husky voice was the only thing keeping her from pushing him away and escaping back into her bakery. “Does this mean you might consider taking me back?”

“Taking you back?” she scoffed. “Do you honestly think I could consider taking you back after you did something like this?”

He frowned, uncertainty in his gaze. “But I thought?—”

“Because there is no way I can say no to such a proposal.” She tugged at his satchel and shoved the papers inside. Then she framed his face with her hands. “No one has ever shown me such love like you have. No one has once offered me a more perfect gift. Pushing you away has been the single biggest mistake of my life. I was blinded by so much I couldn’t allow myself to see what I really had. I’m so sorry, James. You deserved?—”

This time he placed a finger to her lips. “Shh. No apologies. No dwelling on what happened. Promise me right here, right now one thing.”

“Anything,” she murmured. “Everything.”

A smile tugged at his lips. “Do you have any idea how much I love you?”

“I might have an idea,” she whispered, inching closer. The heat from his body mingled with hers. “But maybe you should show me.”

He let out another low, rumbling chuckle. Goosebumps rose on her arms and she shivered. Before she knew what he was planning, his mouth captured hers. The warmth turned into a searing heat that made her forget the subzero temperatures surrounding them. Sparks exploded behind her closed eyes, matching the explosions taking place where her heart used to be. She felt lightheaded and that was okay.

Sarah wrapped her arms around the back of his neck, the world and all of its problems forgotten. It wasn’t until she felt something cold prickle at her cheeks, that she forced herself to pull back from the kiss that could have knocked her off her feet if she weren’t clinging to James like life itself depended on it.

She blinked as she peered upward at the grey sky. White flakes danced around them, swirling with the slight breeze. A laugh bubbled up from her chest as she brought her gaze back to James. “I love you,” she whispered.

“I love you more.”