I Really Can’t Stay (A.R.’s Holiday Standalones #1)

Chapter 10

Chapter Ten

T here’s a strange sensation in my stomach whirling around as I walk away from the woman who just managed to topple over almost an entire line of Christmas trees.

Interestingly enough, I secured the extension cord with a rubber mat, specifically so no one would trip over it, but she somehow found a small part of it that wasn’t covered.

Bad luck? Or is this typical for the woman with a letter for a name?

Christmas Eve is arguably the slowest day of the season, so having her wander in, especially on such a snowy evening, is bewildering. I’d be lying if I said she didn’t capture my attention from the moment I saw her, though.

First of all, she’s stunning.

Second of all—what an entrance.

I want to know more about her , but I shrug the thought away as quickly as it came.

Going behind the snack bar, I turn to Reed, the high school kid I hired for seasonal work. “Hey, could you make me a hot chocolate real quick, please?”

Heading over to the ice chest, I dig in the cold to see if I can find a random ice pack. Coming up short, I end up grabbing a plastic bag and shovel a handful of cubes into it instead—it’ll have to suffice.

Waiting a couple of minutes for Reed to finish making the hot chocolate, I watch as he combines the chocolate mix with the milk he just steamed, stirring the steaming beverage together. When he’s finished, he puts the lid on and hands it to me with a curt nod.

“Thanks. Why don’t you go ahead and get out of here? There’s only one family left, anyway, and then I’m closing up.”

“Are you sure, boss?” he asks hesitantly, glancing at his watch to confirm the time.

“Absolutely, kid. Have a good holiday. And get home safe.”

“Will do! Have a good Christmas.”

We both walk out of the snack bar area at the same time, heading in opposite directions. Coming around a row of Christmas trees, the strange sensation in my stomach flutters around again the second Zee is back in view.

Damn butterflies.

I’ve never had an immediate reaction to a woman before and it’s slightly unnerving. But if I could have drawn a picture of my ideal lady, I never would have imagined she’d come to life and be sitting at my picnic table right this minute.

The closer I get, the more nervous I become.

Wanting to make a good impression, I hurry over to her, holding the ice in the air as I do. “Couldn’t find an ice pack, but this is practically the same.”

She smiles, and it radiates through my entire body.

What the hell is going on?

“Thank you.” Her voice is soft and feminine, and her eyes light up as she watches me press the ice to her sock, not wanting to put it directly on her skin.

Our gaze meets, and it feels like time stands still as I get lost in her eyes.

From my peripheral, I see someone shift, and remember that we’re not alone. Looking over at Tamar, I nod toward the exit. “We’re all good here if you want to go home, Tamar. I’ll close up in a few minutes. Already sent Reed home.”

“I don’t mind waiting so you don’t close alone,” she says, and while I appreciate the gesture, I’m hoping to have the opportunity to get to know Elizabeth during whatever time we have together, without an audience.

“It’s all good. Really. Get home safe and have a good holiday.” I grin at her, then look down at Zee’s ankle, shifting the ice.

With no room to argue further, Tamar stands and comes over to give me a hug before she heads out. “Merry Christmas.”

After I return the sentiment, she turns to leave.

“Girlfriend?” the cute blonde next to me whispers, her eyes shimmering with mischief as we watch Tamar exit the tent.

“Nah, just an old friend.”

“You sure about that?” She laughs. “Because friends don’t glare at random women in pain, being helped by a stranger, unless they have some sort of attachment to said stranger.”

“What did she do?”

“Nothing,” she shrugs, “she just glared at me while I sat here. I tried to engage in some small talk, but she didn’t seem interested, and I know when to take a hint. She doesn’t seem like the type of woman you want to piss off.”

“Ha! Been there.”

“What’d you do?”

“At the risk of sounding like a sleazeball, we were involved at one point, but she broke it off when she realized I wasn’t interested in a relationship.”

“A woman who stands by what she wants. I like it.” She sounds like she’s proud of Tamar.

“Well, if it makes you feel better, she tossed me out on my ass and in only my boxers, too.”

Elizabeth roars a laugh, tossing her head back as though she can envision just that. “Damn, you must’ve pissed her off.”

“Yeah, I learned real quick not to mess with her, and definitely not tell her I didn’t want anything serious while still in her bed.”

“Ah, what valuable lessons to learn. You shouldn’t do that to any woman. Good for her!”

“Yeah, not so good for me, though.”

“But it serves you right,” she muses.

“Mmm hmm.” I feign a stern look. “What are you doing out this far in the mountains on Christmas Eve, anyway?”

“How do you know I don’t live here?” she counters.

“Trust me, I’d know it if you did.”

Our eyes meet again, and it practically takes my breath away.

Why does she have to be so gorgeous?

Especially since she doesn’t live here.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asks quietly.

“Like what?” I grumble, averting my gaze. Focusing on her ankle, I shift the ice.

But she doesn’t press further. Instead, she changes the subject. “So what’s the verdict? You think I can walk on the sucker?”

“More than likely. It doesn’t seem to be broken, obviously, and honestly, it doesn’t seem to be sprained either. You probably just landed on it wrong and twisted it a little. Do you want to try standing?”

“Sure.” She accepts my hand and I help lift her to her feet.

“How does it feel?”

“Not great, but not terrible, either. I should be fine. Thank you so much for your help. I’m so sorry I knocked over the trees. Can I help you put them back upright?”

I shrug. “I’m not gonna deal with it until after the holiday. We’re not open tomorrow, so it doesn’t need to look pretty.”

“What do you do with all the trees that aren’t sold?” She lifts her foot into the air so she can gently move it around, testing how it feels.

“Take them back home and chop them up. Prep them for firewood. Donate them, if anyone wants a tree after Christmas. That kind of thing.”

“That’s cool.” She pushes her hands in her pockets, looking down, as though she isn’t sure what to do next.

Part of me wants to invite her to stay, but the other part knows that it’s probably not worth the trouble.

“Oh, here.” I reach for the hot cocoa I sat on the table. “This is for you. Hopefully you like hot chocolate–it'll warm you up a bit.”

When she takes it, her fingers brush against mine, and the moment our skin touches, our gazes lock. I probably imagine it, but it feels like a current of electricity rushes between us.

Looking down, her cheeks flame, turning a brilliant shade of pink.

“Thank you so much,” Elizabeth breathes, still averting her eyes. “I should get going.”

Clearing my throat, I nod. There’s a part of me that’s disappointed that she doesn’t seem to want to stay. There’s an even bigger part of me that wants to ask her to.

“All right then,” I say instead, swallowing down the desperate plea that wants to come out instead. I barely recognize myself right now. “Well, it was nice to meet you, letter for a name.”

Look at me. Please, look at me.

For a moment I wonder if I said the words aloud, because she does, and we share a smile. Hesitantly, she starts to back away.

“It was nice to meet you too, last name for a first name.”

Watching her go, I let my eyes rove over her body, and quickly realize she’s about to trip again.

“Elizabeth! Careful!” I hiss, startling her into looking down where my gaze is cast. Her eyes widen as she realizes her mistake.

“Oh, my gosh.” She slaps her forehead. “Thank you. It was nice to meet you!” she says in one breath, then turns around, giving me her back.

I watch her go, shouting out to her in my mind to turn back around, to look at me one last time, to come back and hang out with me on this cold December night.

Desperate fool, she doesn’t even know you. You don’t even know her.

But I want to. So badly, every bone in my body aches to be near her and I have no goddamn clue why.

My heart stutters when she glances back for a split second before she walks out of the tent and back into the snowfall.

Sitting on top of the picnic table, I stare out into the dark, long past when she’s out of sight. What are the odds that the one woman I’ve found myself attracted to in months happens to be passing through like a ship in the night?

She’ll haunt my dreams until she’s nothing more than a distant memory. A Christmas wish that didn’t come true.

And a woman like that, I doubt I’ll ever forget.