Second Chances with St. Nick

4. Shots and Shivers

4

SHOTS AND SHIVERS

I pushed open the door of The Timberline, Pine Springs’ liveliest watering hole. A wall of warmth hit my cheeks, and the clamor of chatter and laughter washed over me. I ran my eyes over the dark interior with its pine paneling, the array of drink bottles stacked over the bar and the glow of pea-lights that reflected off the glass. I smiled. Some things in town never changed.

I hadn’t been here in years. Dad used to bring us to eat and watch sports with him. But the smell of the old place was the same—beer, fries and wood.

I shrugged out of my thick jacket and pulled off my pink beret. Mom said its angora was too “California” for Pine Springs. But I spent my afternoon down in the next town, Pine Pass, trying on my bridesmaid’s dress. I didn’t want the ladies at the dressmakers to think I didn’t know my satin from my silk. My denim from my damask. I needn’t have worried. Cissy had picked out the most beautiful forest green dress for me. With my long red curls, I looked like a woodland goddess.

I ran my eyes over the wall of flannel-clad backs at the bar. I heard Cissy and her friends before I saw them. They huddled together, giggling over something in my cousin’s hands. A piece of bright wrapping paper flew into the air, followed by a squeal of delight. The bachelorette celebrations had kicked off, then.

I stepped forward and tapped my cousin on the shoulder. She spun around, coming to a stop in front of me. She wielded a sparkly pink vibrator in her hand.

“Abbie!” she shrieked, her eyes bright and alive. “You came!”

I ran my eyes over her “weaponry.” “Looks like you might do the same later.”

Her eyes widened before she dissolved into giggles, launching at me with her arms outstretched. I was pleased to see her too, but it wasn’t every day a tipsy woman bearing a magic wand manhandled me.

When she let go, I nodded toward her gift. “Maybe you should put that down. You’ll be a married woman in a couple of days. You don’t want folks to question Harry’s skills, do you? Small towns love to gossip.”

With another tinkling laugh, she handed her wand to a woman wearing a sparkly tiara. Cissy weaved an arm around my shoulders, her eyes bright and alive. “You look a little flushed, but I love that blue on you. You look like a sapphire on legs.”

“Is that a good thing?” I asked. I’d picked out a high-neck blue dress with a cinched waist that skirted my thighs.

She winked at me. “I’d say so. My rules say your first drink has to be the same color as your outfit.”

I curled a brow. “Blue?”

“Sure, hang on.” Cissy threw me a thumbs up and disappeared back into the throng at the bar.

I folded my jacket over my arm and moved to hang it up on the pegs at the side of the room. As I did, the crowd’s noise lulled momentarily, and the sound of a strumming guitar reached my ears. A guitar, and something else. Something high and haunting. A prickle ran over my shoulders, and I peeked around the corner.

There on the stage stood Nick, violin tucked under his chin.

His eyes were closed as he played along with the guitarist. He swayed a little as his notes soared and his face was a picture of pure concentration and intensity. He looked lost in the music.

His flannel shirt pulled open slightly at the top where he’d undone a few buttons. A light smattering of sandy hair peeped from beneath the fabric, and my breath faltered at the sight of him. His ponytail was untethered, and his hair brushed over his face as he moved to the music.

Nick’s fingers danced over the strings like raindrops skipping on a windowsill. I pulled in a shallow breath. Did I imagine those same fingers gliding and dancing anywhere else? You bet I did. I was only human after all, and Nick was a thousand things I’d never imagined.

I bit my bottom lip as I watched, half hoping, half dreading that he’d see me. But as the song ended, I didn’t have to wait long to find out.

At the end of his last note, Nick opened his eyes, finding me with laser precision. Like he’d known I’d be standing there. Something flashed within their hazel depths, and he pulled his violin from his shoulder, holding it against his chest.

With a shaky exhale, my gaze dropped to the instrument. A small yellow dot sat pressed on the wood. Butterflies stirred in my belly. It was the smiley face sticker I gave him when he passed his grade five exam. I stuck it on as we sat in his bedroom one afternoon, shoveling popcorn and listening to the radio.

I looked at Nick’s face and pulled the corners of my lips into a little smile. A sudden warmth filled his eyes. Just enough to take my breath away and give me courage. With my heart hammering out a military march, I stepped down onto the dance floor and walked toward the stage.

I got to within an arm-span before he turned away and put his violin in its case on the side. The bulk of his shoulder met me like a solid wall, but I’d come this far. There was no way I’d turn back now.

“When did you get so good?” I asked, my voice high and quiet. “You have talented fingers.”

Nick swung his head in my direction. One glorious, thick eyebrow lifted to the rafters. My cheeks heated. That sounded bad, right? “I mean, you’ve got skills.”

His eyebrow didn’t fall. Oh crap, did that sound even worse? I raked my eyes over his face. Even through his beard, I swear the corners of his lips trembled.

Nick huffed a breath and shrugged his glorious shoulders. “I had a lot of time to practice, Abbie.”

His words burned into my chest. The pithy remark could have dissuaded me, but I wasn't about to give up. What I’d seen of him on our deck, here on the stage, and that look of heat he’d given me only a few seconds ago, had me wanting a whole lot more of him. I’d settle for small talk, if that’s all he’d give me.

I cleared my throat and rolled one of my long curls through my fingers. “So, I wanted to apologize earlier. For my mom.”

Nick turned to me and pushed out a throaty laugh. “She hasn’t changed.”

I shook my head. “Nope. She still thinks unsolicited advice is a love language.”

Nick grinned—actually grinned—and the corners of his eyes crinkled. I fought the urge to run my fingers over the skin at his temple. I’d forgotten the power of his smile. With the scent of cinnamon and pine wrapping around me, I reached out and touched his arm through his flannel. The second I did, his eyes snapped down to my fingers and his shoulders lifted.

“And I know she can be nosey as all hell, but…”

That second, Cissy arrived with a tray of colorful drinks and a huge smile. “Two blue for you, and... oh! Nick!” She looked at the closed violin case on the side table. “That was you playing? Holy crap, you’re good.”

“Nick’s had a lot of time to practice,” I said, my voice far harsher than I expected. His eyes darted to mine, and a light shut off somewhere behind them. My belly thrummed and perspiration sprung to my top lip. Did he think I was laughing at him?

With an almost imperceptible growl, he turned away and picked up his case.

“Are you leaving?” Cissy asked. “The karaoke’s about to start. You two could sing a duet. For old time’s sake.”

Nick came around to face us. “Karaoke isn’t my style.”

Unperturbed, Cissy pressed her tray toward him. “Then at least help us out with these silly drinks. I’ve already had too many, and I don’t want to be drunk and in charge of my older and far hotter cousin.”

A muscle ticked in Nick’s jaw as he ran his gaze over the tray of drinks, then over at me. With the tiniest shake of his head, he picked up a shot glass filled with green liquid and slammed it down in one. After putting it back on the tray, he dragged the back of his hand over his lips, just like he’d done with the hot chocolate. Finally, he turned to face me. “Goodbye, Abbie.”

With wide eyes, both Cissy and I watched him walk away. Her brows knitted together, pupils darting from side to side, mirroring the twisting of my gut.

“Man, he’s changed,” Cissy murmured. “I don’t ever remember him being that grumpy.”

I didn’t either. And it hurt like hell. But I had a feeling the Nick I used to know was in there somewhere. I just hoped I got the chance to find him before I left town.