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

Chapter 23

twenty-three

NORAH

As I flip the sign to closed, Sawyer waves from his pickup. I hold the door open for him as he approaches. The sun is setting, so he’s cast in shadows.

“Hey, Sawyer, what’s up?” His feet crunch on the fresh snow. We didn’t get a lot down in the valley, but they received nearly a foot up at the lodge.

“I got held up at work today and couldn’t get away.” He trudges inside and stomps his feet, leaving chunks of snow on the rug.

“Busy day?” I flip the lock closed and pull out a chair. When Gabriel gets back, he’ll be surprised. It was nearly 40 degrees in Kansas City today. Stop thinking about him.

“You have no idea.” He groans as he removes his coat, hooks it on the chair back, and sits across from me. “There’s under 10k people between here and the surrounding towns, but half of them need a new vehicle.”

I chuckle and lean back into the wooden chair slates. His flare for exaggeration is one of the things I enjoy about him.

“How’re things here and at the lodge?”

“Surprisingly busy.” Sometimes, the weather cuts down on the foot traffic, but everyone is gearing up for Christmas, so I’ve not seen a downturn yet.

“That’s good.” He rests his hands on the table as nervous energy seeps out of him. I bite my bottom lip. His gaze darts to mine and then settles on the counter of baked goods behind me.

“Is everything okay?”

“No….” He swallows and finally meets my gaze. “You know how our mothers have been pushing a relationship for some time now.”

“Yes?” My voice is laden with tension as unease settles around me. I don’t want Sawyer to have developed feelings for me. That’s the last thing I want or need.

I’ve always enjoyed our friendship but adding that layer would make things awkward. We’ve always laughed at the absurdity of their desire.

“Hear me out for a second.” He clears his throat as his cheeks pinken, lays his hands on the table, and I drop mine into my lap. There’s no way I want to accidentally allow our hands to brush.

My stomach churns with anticipation. I wish it was the good kind, but it’s not. When I’m around Sawyer, I feel none of the desire and longing that I’ve experienced since the second I met Gabriel.

“Over Thanksgiving, my mom was harping on endlessly about getting married and starting a family.”

“Okay….” I’m going to be sick.

“And I know we don’t have those types of feelings for each other, but I see the appeal of getting married and having kids.” He chuckles. “For one thing, my parents would shut up about it.” The humor drops from his face. “And for another, my dad says he won’t give me the dealership if I’m not married and producing grandchildren.”

“That’s archaic.” I cross my arms over my chest. “And blackmail.”

“And my dad isn’t old-fashioned and high-handed?” He raises his hands in question as he asks the question.

“No, you’re right.” I rolled my eyes. “He is. But putting that stipulation on you is ridiculous.”

“I know,” he sighs and sags into the chair. “But I don’t know what else to do.”

I lift my hand and cover his. “You tell him to get over himself and that you’ll get married when the time is right.” I study him as he nods and presses his lips together.

“Thank you.” He squeezes my hand and stands. “I needed to hear that.” As he rakes his hand through his hair, he smiles. “Thank you for letting me down gently.”

I laugh as I join him and shove the chair under the table. “You’re my friend, and I’ll always be here to talk sense into you. You don’t want to marry me. You want to marry someone who makes you light up inside. Someone who turns your world upside down. And….” I wrinkle my nose. “And someone who’s in love with you.”

“You’re right.” He tilts his head sideways. “I had to ask so I can tell my dad that you turned me down.

“No problem. That’s what friends are for.”

“So, are you seeing Marco’s brother? I heard the two of you were together up at the lodge the other night. After he nearly bit my head off and sent me on my way for talking to you.” There isn’t an ounce of jealousy on his face. Just curiosity.

“No….” A ball of sadness swells in my throat. “We want different things, so it would never work.”

“I see.” He frowns and pats my shoulder. “I’m sorry to hear that.” One corner of his mouth arches upward. “For two reasons. It would completely end my father’s harassment if you were married to someone else, but in a non-selfish way, I’d love to see you happy.”

“Thanks.”

I wander toward the door, following behind him. I’d love to see me happy as well. But why does the only possibility of that happiness have to live 1,600 miles away? Long-distance relationships never last, right? Well, saying never is a little extreme. I’m sure a few long-distance relationships last. But even if he retires in three years, that doesn’t mean he’ll come here.

Sawyer twists the lock and gives me a wry smile. “We make a pair, don’t we?”

“Yeah.”

He opens the door as Marco lifts his hand to knock. My stomach clenches at the similarities between the brothers. Blue eyes and black hair. Same cheekbones. Similar builds. The lump in my throat grows larger. I’m fucked. Even when he’s gone, I’ll have a permanent reminder.

That’s when Gino steps around him. “Norah!” His eyes light up as he runs to me and throws his arms around my legs. Fuck me. This sucks.

“Hey, Buddy.” I raise him off his feet and give him a hug. His soft body sags into mine as he clings to me.

“I better. I miss you.”

I inhale the scent of his shampoo while blinking back a tear. “I missed you, too.”

“Sawyer.” Marco eyes him up and down while waiting for him to leave. The tension that eased a few moments ago returns.

“Norah, later.” Sawyer brushes past me, leaving the three of us alone.

“Are you seeing that guy?” Marco’s face is tight as the words come out clipped. “He’s not right for you.”

“Really?” I raise an eyebrow.

“Really. You wouldn’t be happy with that guy. My brother, on the other hand–”

“Is moving back to Kansas City.” I spin on my heel and drop Gino down to his feet. “I left a box of crayons and some coloring pages at the front table.” I pause for dramatic effect. “And some cookies.”

“Yes!” He pumps his little arm into the air, and my heart cracks. It’s not just Gabriel that’s pulling at my heartstrings. It’s also Gino. I want the entire package. The hairs on my arms stand as my breath catches in my lungs.

As much as I fought against it, it was fruitless. I want what I can’t have–Gabriel and a happily ever after. But I can’t have what I want. He promised me a vacation fling. A no-strings-attached vacation fling with an expiration date.

I shove my hands into my pockets. Would I leave here if he asked? Gino shoves a reindeer cookie into his mouth and fists a blue crayon. I spin away from him and steel myself against Marco’s similar appearance. He’s not going to ask you to move in with him. “Let’s talk business.”

“You’re right.” Marco’s face is flush. “I shouldn’t have said anything. We Italian guys are passionate and overbearing. It’s both charming and annoying.”

I laugh and turn to the front, where I set up paperwork for us to go over. But I don’t disagree with him. Part of Gabriel’s charm is his passion and his overbearing attitude. The way he burst in here and got rid of Sawyer, whisking me off to an intimate dinner for two.

It was possessive and romantic. And I loved it.

For over two hours, we discuss business plans, locations, supply and demand, expenses, staffing patterns, and everything else restaurant-related we could think of. He asks questions and I deluge him with answers until we’re both yawning. Marco might not have a business degree, but he is street smart and has clearly researched the ins and outs of operating a business.

“So….” He leans back into the chair. “What do you think?”

Gino has long given up on coloring and flies around our table, asking for his car tank to be filled before zipping off and dodging the other tables while lapping imaginary cars on a racetrack.

“I think it’s a solid idea, and we could use a high-end restaurant.”

“And the land beside you is unoccupied.” His eyes twinkle with excitement.

“Yes. Yes, it is.”

“I’m going to move forward. Tomorrow, I’m talking to the bank.” He jumps out of the chair, and I can’t help but feel excited for him.

“I can’t wait to tell Eden.”

“Are you going to mention it to Gabriel again?”

“No.” his back stiffens. “I’ll do it on my own. It’s a small restaurant. I don’t need his backing with my own money. I would’ve enjoyed doing it together. But….” He shrugs.

I get it. He’s on his way out of town. Maybe the doctor cleared him today. He might pack up and go as soon as he returns.