The Christmas Cookie Wars

Chapter Fifteen

Fifteen

“All I want for Christmas is yoooouuu…” Melody quickly looked around to make sure the boys hadn’t heard her singing along—with feeling. Phew. Nope. They must still be in the break room with their heads bent over their very detailed plans for the Great Cookie Race.

Even if they had heard, they might not think much of it. She’d been singing ever since her very own fairy-tale romance in the Enchanted Forest. While she made dinner, while she showered, while she got ready in the mornings. And while she restocked the green off-the-shoulder sweaters, apparently.

“Make my wish come true. Baby, all I want for Christmas is—”

The bells above the door jingled. Oh good. A customer. She set the sweaters on a shelf. The store had been quiet ever since she’d picked up the boys after checking on all of the Cookie Daze decorations and equipment they’d stored in the locked shed at the park. She didn’t want another surprise like the one they’d gotten at the cookie swap. All the supplies had appeared to be in good working order but she planned to check again tonight. Nothing could go wrong with the biggest event of the season.

In the meantime, she’d worked on restocking shelves, singing to herself, letting her thoughts drift to a certain principal.

Jonathan’s daughter crept past the checkout counter.

“Ainsley!” She hurried to meet her, heart soaring as she searched for Jonathan behind her. But he wasn’t there. “This is a pleasant surprise.”

“I hope you’re not too busy,” the girl said somewhat nervously. “I was running some errands downtown and thought I’d stop by.”

“I’m glad you did.” She ushered her to the coat rack and gestured for her to hang hers up. “The store is pretty quiet today. Can I get you some tea or hot chocolate or anything?”

“That sounds great, actually.” She seemed to relax. “I’d love some hot chocolate.”

“We keep a ton of snacks and stuff in the break room too, if you’re hungry.” Melody walked her through the door. There were the boys, sitting quietly at the table, focused on their iPads. “These are my two sons, Finn and Tate.” She pointed them out respectively. “Boys, this is Ainsley. Mr. Braxton’s daughter.” She almost slipped and called him Jonathan but caught herself just in time.

“Nice to meet you, Finn and Tate.” Ainsley wandered to the table. “My dad has told me a lot about you.”

“Probably because we get into trouble sometimes,” Finn mumbled.

Melody cringed a little. He was normally a lot friendlier, but occasionally he still seemed to be a little bitter about the whole Cookie Contest debacle.

Ainsley laughed. “Not at all. He told me about the Cookie Contest and how you two should’ve beat him.”

“We totally should’ve!” Tate agreed, finally looking up from the drawing he was working on.

“We would’ve won fair and square if it hadn’t been for that mistake he made,” Finn added.

“That’s exactly what he said.” Ainsley leaned over the table and looked at Finn’s iPad. “What’re you working on?”

“We’re gonna run a great cookie obstacle race at Cookie Daze.” Her son proudly held up the screen.

“It’s gonna be the awesomest event there,” Tate insisted.

“It sure is.” With how hard they’d been working on plans for the last several days, Melody had no doubt the new race would be a big hit.

“Sounds like fun.” Ainsley pulled out the chair and sat between the boys, just like that. Jonathan’s daughter clearly had a way with younger kids. Melody wouldn’t be surprised if she babysat.

“See?” Finn traced the lines of the drawing with the stylus. “The race’ll start at the top of the hill. Teams’ll race down on sleds picking up as many cookies as they can on the way and then they’ll crawl through this tunnel.” He paused as though wanting to make sure she was following. “One person has to pull the other person on the sled the whole time. That makes it a lot harder.”

“We’re gonna make the tunnel with pool noodles.” Tate slid his iPad to Ainsley. “This is the diagram for how we’re going to build it.”

Ainsley studied the drawing, and Melody had to hand it to the girl. She seemed very interested. “Wow. That’s pretty cool.”

Finn tugged on her arm to get her attention back on him. “Then, after the tunnel, they’ll have to pull the sled around these candy canes.”

“They’ll be set up like the slalom course in the Olympics,” Tate said helpfully.

“Amazing.”

“They’re still going to be picking up as many cookies as they can the whole time.” Melody wished she could capture Finn’s serious expression in a picture. He was very concerned about all the details.

“The cookies will be in baggies so they don’t get wet in the snow,” Tate explained.

“That’s really good thinking,” Ainsley said sincerely.

“So far, that’s all we have.” Tate frowned. “We’re trying to think of a really cool way to end the race, but we haven’t come up with anything good enough yet.”

“Hmmm.” The girl’s eyes lit up. “I know! What if you had the teams build a snowman to finish the race?”

“Yes!” Finn started to draw again. “That’s brilliant.”

“Perfect,” Tate agreed. “It’d be one more hard obstacle, and then the team that gets their snowman done the fastest would win.”

“Or we could do points.” Finn tapped the stylus against his chin exactly the way his father would’ve. “They could get points for how many cookies they collect and then points for finishing the snowman first.”

Melody wished she could start filming right now. She loved it when the boys tackled a project like this together—using their creativity to bring an idea to life. It was so much better than playing a video game.

“I love the points idea,” Ainsley told the boys. “You should totally make sure everyone has to do a three-part snowman. Lower, middle, and upper so it’s more of a challenge.”

“Good idea.” Tate scrawled some notes on the screen.

“Do you wanna help us be in charge of the race?” Finn asked slowly, like he was in awe of this teen girl who’d just walked into their lives.

Quite honestly, Melody was a little bit in awe herself. She hadn’t anticipated that Ainsley would be so good with the boys.

“I’d love to!” Jonathan’s daughter looked truly delighted. “Thanks for including me.”

Tate had on his thinking frown. “I guess one of us can be at the beginning and one can be at the bottom of the sledding hill and one can be at the end. Then we can keep a good eye on things to make sure no one is cheating.”

“Great plan.” Ainsley stood back up and pushed in her chair. “Let me know if you need help making the tunnel or the candy canes.”

Based on her younger twin’s gaping mouth, it looked like Ainsley had just replaced Ms. Sanderson as the coolest chick in Finn’s book. “Really? You’d help us make stuff?”

“Sure.” She peered at the screen again. “I love craft projects.”

While Ainsley and the boys discussed ideas, Melody made her a mug of hot chocolate from the instant brew coffee machine. By the time she handed the girl her mug, plans were flowing.

“Maybe you and my dad would want to compete in the race as a team,” Ainsley suggested a little too innocently. Jonathan had made it clear that his daughter knew the boys weren’t aware of their budding relationship, so she wasn’t too worried about her saying something Finn and Tate might pick up on.

“Maybe.” Though they probably shouldn’t be seen together in public in Cookeville. As much as she enjoyed his company, it was nice to get to know each other without all the drama. “But clearly you didn’t only come here to help the boys with the Great Cookie Race. Is there something else I can do for you, my dear?”

“I’m hoping you can help me pick out some new clothes for my dad.”

“Oh.” Melody waved her out of the break room. “I don’t want to force him to change anything.” Truthfully, the sweater vests were kind of growing on her. They were so Jonathan…

“He wants some new clothes. Trust me.” Ainsley dabbed at a smudge of whipped cream on her upper lip with the napkin. “He seems to care a lot more about how he’s dressed lately.”

“He does?” What a relief to know she wasn’t the only one who rechecked her appearance before going to pick up or drop off the boys at school.

“Trust me.” Ainsley glanced around surreptitiously. “I thought he was going to have a meltdown when he was getting ready for your date the other night. He couldn’t find anything he wanted to wear in his closet. He kept talking about how he really needs to get new clothes.”

“Then I’m happy to help.” She’d be willing to bet she could guess his size. She’d spent plenty of time studying the man. “If this is really what he wants.”

“It’s what we all want.” Ainsley wandered into the men’s section, her gaze perusing the racks. “Honestly, after the divorce I think he stopped caring what he wore or how he looked. It was really hard for him.”

“I’m sure it was.” In the midst of her own loss, her appearance couldn’t have mattered to her less. Their histories weren’t exactly the same, but she’d seen Jonathan with Ainsley enough to understand how much he enjoyed being a dad. When he’d gotten divorced he hadn’t only lost his wife, he’d lost the chance to be with his child all the time too.

“It’s really good to see him care again,” Ainsley murmured. She hesitated. “I mean I know you’ve only been on one date, but I love seeing him smile again.”

“I’m smiling too,” Melody admitted.

“I left him a note and asked him to meet me here when he got home from his meeting.” Ainsley set her hot chocolate on the table displaying the folded sweaters. “But I thought we could start to put some outfits together, me and you. Suggestions for him to try on when he gets here.”

“Sure.” Ideas were already spinning and gathering. It had been a while since she’d gotten to play fairy godmother.

“My dad doesn’t like shopping much,” she warned. “So I’m afraid he’ll have a pretty short attention span.”

“I know some people like that.” Namely her two children. She always had to offer a reward in order to motivate Finn and Tate to try on clothes.

Maybe she could offer Jonathan a reward too…

Thoughts like that would only get her into trouble right now. Seeing as how the boys were mere steps away, she would have to keep her distance. Unfortunately. “Let’s take a look over here, shall we?” She guided Ainsley to the career section.

“Oh, what about this?” His daughter held up a gray alpaca blend polo sweater. “This would be perfect for him to wear to work.”

And it would look mighty sexy stretched over his broad shoulders and chest. Melody didn’t offer that opinion. “Yes, I think that would look really good on him. Maybe with these?” She held up slim cotton blend pants that could be dressed up or down, depending on the situation.

“For sure.” Ainsley held up the sweater to the pants. “And then we can add that blazer right there if he wants to dress it up even more.” She snatched the navy sport coat off the rack and put all three articles of clothing together. “This is so much fun! I love being a personal shopper.”

“I have to agree.” That was why she spent so much time on the sales floor while Kels handled a lot of the behind-the-scenes business stuff. “Here, let’s start a dressing room for him.” Melody took the three hangers from Ainsley and hung them up in the empty dressing room near the back of the store. “You have a good eye for fashion.”

Ainsley positively glowed in the light of the compliment. “You really think so?”

“I do.” And she seemed so passionate. “If you’re ever looking for an internship or anything, I’d love to have you here.”

“Really?” She picked up her mug and took another sip. “Because I’ve been thinking about spending all of next summer with my dad. I haven’t told my mom yet, but I really love it here. The city is so big and chaotic compared to Cookeville.” Her expression became guarded. “I just don’t know how my mom would feel.”

That had to be so difficult, always trying to appease both parents. “If there’s one thing I know about moms, it’s that we all want what’s absolutely best for our kids. I’m sure you and she can figure out what that is together.”

“Yeah.” Her smile made a comeback. “And she’s pretty cool about everything. I’ll let you know after I talk to her.”

“No rush.” She’d be happy to have the help over the summer. Maybe it would give her some time to actually sneak away with a certain principal…

Thoughts like that were still catching her off guard, but she could see sitting on a beach with Jonathan for a weekend.

“What’re you guys doing?” Tate poked his head out of the break room.

“We’re picking out clothes for my dad to try on,” Ainsley said happily. “He needs a new wardrobe.”

“That’s boring .” Her son ran to Jonathan’s daughter. “How about we go look for supplies for the race instead?”

“Yeah!” Finn darted out of the break room too. “We don’t have much time to get everything ready.”

“Boys, Ainsley came here to shop with her dad.” Melody added a suede trucker jacket and a denim shirt to the dressing room. “You’ll have to wait—”

“Actually, I’ll bet the corner store has a bunch of the things we’ll need.” Ainsley abandoned the clothing racks, already heading for the door. “We can run down there real quick and be right back.”

“Yes!” Finn raced her to the door, plowing it open.

“Whoa.” Jonathan stepped inside the shop. “What’s happening?”

“We’re gonna go to the corner store with Ainsley real quick,” Tate called over his shoulder, already sailing past his principal. “Be back soon!”

“Did we get ditched again?” Jonathan was wearing her favorite smile.

“I think we did.” Not that she was complaining this time. Stealing moments alone had proved to be quite the challenge. Melody hurried to meet him, all cylinders inside her body firing at once. She stopped a good three feet away, lest she lose herself in the magnetic pull and kiss him right then and there.

“Hey.” He simply looked her up and down appreciatively for a few seconds, his smile growing slowly. “Ainsley left me a note to tell me I’d better get my butt down here right after my meeting to buy some new clothes.”

“I hope that’s okay.” A telltale warmth snaked through her. “Because if you’re not interested in new clothes, we don’t have to—”

“I came right away,” he interrupted, closing the distance between them. “And I may have even broken the speed limit the whole drive here.”

“And why is that?” Melody moved her arms up around his shoulders, drawing him closer. Yes, they were on display in front of the big picture windows, but who cared? It was snowing too hard to see much anyway.

“Because you’re here.” He lowered his mouth to hers, his lips light and teasing. “And I’ve missed you.”

A long contented sigh melted her into him. “I’ve missed you too.” She couldn’t stop herself from glancing outside to make sure the kids wouldn’t see them.

“I know we don’t have much time. And I really could use some new clothes.” Jonathan kissed her nose and shed his coat. “Now, don’t forget…your text said I would look good in anything.”

That’s right! That embarrassing text she’d sent him. “I still don’t know what you replied.” Conveniently, they seemed to get interrupted every time she asked him.

“I’m not sure I can remember now,” he teased.

She held out her hand. “Then give me your phone. I’ll bet I can find it.”

“All right.” He unlocked his cell and handed it to her. “I’ll take off my clothes while you look.”

Melody fumbled with the phone. “Wait, what?”

“In the dressing room .” He shot her a naughty grin. “What were you thinking?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Melody shooed him away with a mysterious smirk. Her blush had likely made both her scandalous thoughts and desires obvious.

While Jonathan changed, she scrolled through their texts, and she had to go way back to that first exchange. There.

You’d look good in pretty much anything. She cringed one more time at those three eggplants in a row and then scanned his response.

You really think so? Maybe you’re just being nice, but I’m going to take a risk and tell you something. Melody, I think you’re beautiful. I have since the first time I met you. Beauty shines out of you and makes everything around you brighter. I know things never come out right when I’m talking to you but that’s how I feel. Three fire emojis punctuated the declaration.

Tears blurred the screen in front of her. That was the sweetest text she’d never gotten, and the correct punctuation was adorable.

“You found it?” Jonathan stood a few feet away, hesitating.

Why was he hesitating? She lunged for him, hugging her arms around him, peering up into his vivid eyes. “Thank you. That would’ve been the best text I’ve ever gotten.”

“Then I’ll send it again.” He pulled away and took his phone from her hand, tapping around on the screen.

A chime rang out from her back pocket.

“You have no idea how terrified I was after I thought the text sent.” Jonathan clasped her hands in his and towed her back to him. “That’s why I misplaced my phone. I was so afraid to see your response that I shoved it into my baking crate. Didn’t find it until I unpacked everything the next day.”

“That’s kind of how I felt when I accidentally sent the eggplants,” Melody admitted. “I didn’t want you to get the wrong idea about me.”

“I mean, I took that as a compliment.” His laughter lured out hers.

“The truth is, Jonathan.” She rested her hands on his chest. “I have feelings for you. They took me off guard and I wasn’t sure what to do with them. But I think I’m starting to figure it out.” She wanted this. She wanted him. For the first time, he had her reimagining her life—dreaming about what could be. Cupping her hand around his jaw, she drew his face to hers, watching his eyes the whole time.

Holding nothing back, she kissed him until she had to stop to breathe. “By the way, I really like this sweater on you,” she murmured when her lungs had calmed. She smoothed her hands over his shoulders. “But I’m thinking blue might be even better.”

“I agree. The gray is kind of blah.” Jonathan pulled off the sweater. He pulled it off! Right there in the middle of her shop.

“Wow.” The word came out in a squeak. Woooowww. She’d known he was broad and strong but the sight left her completely transfixed.

“You want me to dance or something?” Jonathan swiveled his hips, so cheeky!

“You’re teasing me and it’s not fair,” Melody whined. Not when they were standing in her store and anyone could walk in—including their children.

“Is it working?” His steamy little grin told her he already knew it was.

“What do you think—”

Loud chatter outside tore her focus away from his abs. The kids were coming! “Go get dressed!” She threw the blue sweater at him, and Jonathan darted away, laughing. She couldn’t seem to keep a straight face either. When she’d sat across from Mr. Braxton in his office, she’d never dreamed he was so playful and funny and…sexy.

“Hi, Mom!” Finn led the others through the door.

“Hey.” Her face still radiated heat. “How was the shopping trip?”

“Awesome.” Tate held up a bag. “We found some great stuff for the snowman part of the race.”

“How’re things going here?”

Melody took in the knowing smile Jonathan’s daughter wore. She’d totally left them alone together on purpose.

“Everything’s going great.” She stooped to pick up the gray sweater that lay where Jonathan had dropped it during his striptease.

“What do we think?” Jonathan paraded out of the dressing room in his next outfit—the blue sweater, blazer, and dark jeans like he was walking the runway—stopping, turning, chin up, chin down.

He had all of them laughing, even the boys.

“I love it!” Ainsley hurried to straighten the blazer’s collar. “You actually look cool, Dad.”

“Very hip,” Melody agreed, sending him another message with her eyes. Hot.

“That looks so uncomfortable.” Tate shook his head. “Sorry you have to wear that, dude.”

The sound of Jonathan’s laughter brought Melody so much happiness.

“It’s not that bad.” He patted the sweater. “Actually, it’s pretty soft.”

“Cashmere,” Ainsley told him. “We’re getting it all,” his daughter declared while Jonathan disappeared to change back into his old clothes. “The whole outfit.”

“Good thing I brought my credit card.” He emerged from the dressing room with the new garments on hangers.

“I forgot to tell you we’re having a buy-one get-one sale this month.” What good was owning a boutique if she couldn’t make up spur-of-the-moment sales?

As Melody was ringing up his purchases, she did her best not to make eyes at Jonathan. But he openly stared like he didn’t care who saw.

“Hey, Ainsley,” Finn asked as Melody bagged up the clothes. “You want to come over to our house and help us keep planning tonight?” She’d never seen her younger twin speak so shyly.

That was sweet, but…“We won’t be home tonight,” she reminded him. “It’s our family ice skating outing with Aunt Kelsey and Uncle Doug and Genevieve and Papa and Nonna.”

“Oh man.” Finn’s shoulders slumped.

“Why do we have to go ice skating again?” Tate asked.

“It’s a tradition. We go ice skating every year.” The town park had the best rink on the frozen pond. When they were little, she and Thomas used to bundle them up in their snowsuits so they could hardly move and they’d hold her hands while they toddled around the ice. Someday, all of these traditions they’d shared would mean something to them. She had to believe that.

“Can we bring our hockey stuff instead of skating around in circles?” At least Finn hadn’t asked in a whiny tone.

“Yeah, ice skating is boring unless you have a stick in your hands,” Tate grumbled.

“I guess you can bring your hockey stuff if everyone wants to play.”

Finn turned to Jonathan. “Mr. Braxton, can you skate?”

“Sure. I used to play hockey.” He pocketed his wallet and took the bag of new threads from Melody. “A long time ago.”

“Really?” Tate looked at him with a new appreciation. “That’s so cool! Our dad was a hockey player too.”

“So you and Ainsley will come to the skating rink with us tonight?” Finn had officially started to beg. “Please? Then we can have enough for teams.”

“That’d be so much fun!” Ainsley rounded her eyes in a puppy-dog formation. “Please, Dad? I haven’t been ice skating in years.”

Jonathan hesitated, glancing at Melody as though trying to gauge how she felt about the invitation. “We don’t want to impose on your family outing.”

“The more the merrier,” she told him with a raise of her eyebrows. Things were changing. She would always have the memories of Finn and Tate all bundled up at the ice skating rink, their chubby cheeks rosy. But they were entering a new era.

For the first time, that didn’t seem like such a bad thing.