Tangled with the Tight End (Evergreen Lake: Under the Mistletoe)

Chapter 3

three

NORAH

The Next Day

The chimes above the bistro door sound, alerting me to a new customer. I glance up from the computer and wave at Sawyer. For a previous glue eater, he’s not a bad-looking guy. He’s almost 6’ tall with brown hair and green eyes. “Hey, Sawyer, how’s work?”

“You know….” He shrugs and unzips the top of his jacket. We’ve been friends for years, despite the glue episode. “Same as usual, which is why I’m here for a pick-me-up.”

“I’ve got just the thing for you.” I slip on a pair of plastic gloves, open the back of the display case, and snatch out a frosted cookie decorated with a lake and a dock.

“Perfect.” He grins. “Now I can spend today wishing I was fishing while stuffing my face with the best cookie in town–”

“Best in town?” I arch an eyebrow while adding the cookie and two others into a small box.

“Best in the state.” He leans his hip against the counter.

“I’ll settle for that, but I’d prefer the best cookie this side of the Mississippi.”

“You know everything you cook is the best.” He snatches up the box as some regulars step into the bistro and grab two chairs at a table near the door. Men like to pretend they aren’t gossiping. That’s the farthest thing from the truth. These two will sit by the window and talk about everyone who walks by for the next hour.

“Usual?” I step over to the industrial-sized espresso machine. Sawyer works for his father at his car dealership. We’re a small town but the three closest towns come to Evergreen Lake to get their vehicles–unless they want to drive to the city.

“Yes, please. If I must work through another vehicle loan without caffeine I’m going to go face-first into a pile of paperwork.”

After I grab Sawyer’s drink, a vanilla latte, and snap on the to-go lid, I study him as I tug off the gloves and toss them into the trash. The short beard he’s grown over the last few months is attractive. And he has a decent sense of humor. But there are no sparks. Even when our hands touch while passing his purchases or accepting his money. Nothing happens.

He reaches for the cup, which I expertly hand to him, but at the last second, I lightly brush one of his fingers. Nope. Nothing. Nothing at all.

“Guess what.”

“What?” I cross my arms over my chest as the holiday music plays in the background. Thanksgiving isn’t until this weekend, but we’re big on the Christmas holiday season here in Evergreen Lake, so most of us have already broken out the decorations or started playing the cheerful tunes.

“My mom–”

My phone rings before he can get the rest of what he’s going to say out. “Hold that thought.” I snatch the white corded phone off the wall and press the receiver to my ear. “Lips & Hips, this is Norah speaking.”

“Hey girl, I’m sorry to call you at work,” Eden says in a rushed voice as she speeds on without taking a breath, “But I only have a second between classes. I forgot to tell you that Marco’s brother was coming to town for Thanksgiving. He’s made it, and we want to introduce the two of you.”

“Of course. When?” I shut the door to the glass case.

Sawyer sits at one of the circular tables and scoots the black chair forward while chatting on his cell phone. Few of the tables and chairs in the café match. I enjoy the eclectic vibe of mismatched furniture, which gives it a quaint and homey feel.

“Is tonight at 7 o’clock too soon?”

“Tonight?’ I click on the mouse to save the program I was on before Sawyer came in and shut down the screen. I’m nearly done with my supply order, and I don’t want to lose my progress.

“I’m sorry I didn’t call last night but things were crazy at home. Angelo was fussing all night, and when he crashed, so did I. I think he was exhausted and fighting sleep. He was fine this morning.” Their son is a doll but when he’s tired or teething, he’s cranky with a capital C. He took after his mom in that, she’s a bear to wake up in the mornings.

“No, that’s fine. I understand. I can be there at 7 o’clock.” Eden’s brother-in-law plays football, which I had a vague understanding about until Eden met Marco. Her husband played the sport until a couple of years ago when he retired.

Now, I have more than a passing knowledge of the game, but I’ve never met his brother. Eden and Marco wed in a small private ceremony at the lodge, but he was out of the country, and he was at a game when Angelo was born. They’ve gone to see him, but he’s never made it out here.

“Thank you so much. I appreciate you dropping everything for me.”

“It’s fine. Remember, my offer is still open. If you and Marco need a break, I’ll gladly take the cutie off your hands for the night.”

“You’re on. We’ll plan it sometime.”

Before I can hang up the phone, the doorbell jingles again. I frown when I don’t see anyone. Then, I look down. The little boy from yesterday.

“Maddie?” I call toward the kitchen. “Can you watch the counter for a few minutes?”

“Sure.” Maddie breezes into the room with a tray of freshly cooked treats: blueberry, lemon strawberry, and raspberry and white chocolate scones. The adorable blonde with a bubbly personality graduated this past year and is taking online college classes. “These just came out a few minutes ago.”

“Thank you.” The lunch crowd is not as bustling as the breakfast rush when I do the most business, but the older ladies enjoy tea and scones each afternoon, especially the G-team–Bernice, Mildred, and Sheila.

“Hey, Gino.” I rush around the counter’s edge while scanning the front window for his parents. Father. “What’re you out doing today?”

“Seeing.” His wide eyes dart from one counter to another as he takes in everything from the cookies to the dipped fruits. My shop at the lodge is small compared to the main operation.

“Sightseeing?”

“Yep.” His chubby cheeks bulge as he grins. “Seeing.”

I grasp his hand. “Where’s your mommy?”

“She left.” Okay. That explains some things. If…he means what he’s saying. That’s always a crapshoot with a toddler. But it would explain why the man is so testy.

“Where’s your daddy?”

“He’s outside.”

“Let’s see if we can find him.” I grab his hand in mine and shove the door open.

When we step out on the sidewalk, the man rushes up to us, snatches Gino off the sidewalk, and shudders while holding him close to his body. “You scared me to death.”

Interesting. He does have a heart.

“I sorry. I saw cookies.” The little boy wraps himself around his father.

“Don’t take off on me again.” His eyes are stern but remain swirling with torment. “Do you understand?”

“Yes, Sir.”

The man stiffens but doesn’t say anything.

“This is a safe town. My shop and all the others are safe havens.” I point to the sign in the window.

“That’s a piece of paper. It means nothing,” he snaps, and I envision squeezing his head until it pops.

“You’re the one that lost your son. You should spend a little more time keeping an eye on him and a little less time snapping on the person who found him and came looking for you.” I spin on my heel and stomp into the bistro. Asshole.

“Are you okay?” Sawyer asks as he stands and walks toward me.

“Yeah, I’m fine. I met this jerk yesterday at the lodge, and that was his kid. This is the second time he’s gotten onto me when he should’ve been focused on his child.” My face heats as anger percolates inside me.

Damn it. There’s no need to resort to his level. I slowly exhale while counting to five. I did nothing wrong. He’s the one at fault.

“What a jerk.” He takes a sip of his coffee. “Tourists.”

“Exactly. Now that our distractions are gone, tell me about your mom.”

One corner of his mouth arches upward. “She was pushing for us to date again.”

The door swings open, and the man and his son come inside. “Listen….” The man’s face is flush as he stiffly stands inside the building while Gino runs from one counter to another. “Don’t touch.”

Gino runs between the coffee drinkers and an empty table. “Yes, Sir.” He puts his arms behind his back as the man’s jaw flexes.

“I apologize for snapping at you a minute ago. That was uncalled for.”

“Yes, it was.” I cross my arms over my chest and tap the toe of my shoe on the floor. “And?”

“And, what?” He stares in confusion.

“Yesterday?” I unfold my arms and wave my right hand in front of him as an invitation to continue with his apology.

“Yesterday, nothing. You weren’t watching where you were going and ran into me, hitting my bad knee.”

Okay. Fine. He has a point. I wasn’t looking, and he did appear to be in pain. “Is everything okay? You didn’t injure it more, did you?”

Now I feel like an ass. I didn’t even ask if he was hurt, just kept yelling at him about how he was acting toward his kid. Which wasn’t a big deal. He was correcting his child, which is completely understandable and appropriate. I cringe as I replay our first encounter. Then, the second.

“It’s fine. Thank you.” He frowns. “Well, as fine as it can be…” Something dark passes through his eyes as he trails off.

“I apologize for not watching where I was going and running into you.” I drop my arms to my sides.

“I’ve got to go.” Sawyer rushes to the door. “Call me later so we can dish about this dating thing.” His eyes dance with laughter as he disappears out the door. This is probably the 10 th time one of our parents has brought it up, but neither of us is interested.

The man straightens his back while keeping an eye on Gino. “Is he allowed to have anything?” I ask, pointing to his son.

“Lake cookie!”

“Sure.” He marches to the counter and stops in mid-step, spinning around to face me. “You don’t work at the lodge, do you?”

“No. I own the shop there, and this is my café.”

“It’s nice.” His face is tight as if it’s hard for him to compliment me. Not that I care if he respects me or not. I’m not interested in guys who aren’t emotionally available.

Tourists are also out. I learned that the hard way last summer when I dated a guy who was here for a month. I don’t know what I hoped for. A rebound? Him to stay? Whatever it was, it should’ve been nothing. He was good-looking but completely unavailable. I did all the pursuing until I felt sick over my weakness and broke it off.

That leaves me the bistro spinster at 24 years old.

“Thank you.” I dismiss him to help his son and ring up their order. “That’ll be $4.50.”

He reaches his arm over the counter and hands me his card. When our fingers brush, the hairs on my arms stand, and I lock my knees to keep from dropping to the floor. What in the fuck? I force back a shudder and shove the card through the reader. My face heats but I refuse to indicate that I felt anything.

I feel him everywhere. The scent of his cologne mixes with vanilla and bacon, and my head spins. What’s happening? This is not happening. The receipt spits out, and I meet his gaze. His eyelids are hooded, shielding me from what he’s feeling, but the color creeping up his neck tells me he’s not unaffected.

A tourist. You know better.

“Here you go.” I straighten my back, slap on a fake smile, and keep my fingers back so we don’t touch again.

“Thanks.” His eyelids droop lower, but if I’m not mistaken, his eyes watch everything as I nervously bite my bottom lip.

“Daddy, let’s go.” Gino grabs his hand and tugs.

The man’s entire demeanor changes as he accepts Gino’s hand and turns on his heel, listening to what his son wants to do next.

Father and son walking together. Smiling at each other. The man’s shoulders are more relaxed than when he came in. They laugh at something, and the man pulls him to his side and ruffles his hair.

With the next step, the man’s hips shift as he walks, and my gut twists. Holy fuck. The man has swagger for days. He was just hiding it because of the corncob stuck up his ass.

Forget about him. I grab the next customer’s order. The door jingles again as the man reopens the door. His face is relaxed, making his face appear fuller. “By the way, your cookies are delicious. Gino shared his melted snowman cookie, and it was the best cookie I’ve ever eaten.”

I sink against the cabinet as he disappears. Fuck me. The man who walked out the door was larger than life and handsome as sin. And I don’t even know his name. Girl, you don’t need to know his name. If you did, he’d be your next mistake, and you aren’t making any more mistakes.