The Mechanic’s Secret Santa (Christmas in Alpine Valley #8)

Chapter 11

Chapter Eleven

MEG

Like an idiot, I marched out of Aaron’s apartment without my coat or car keys. As heated as I am about Aaron hiding his job offer from me, it’s not enough to keep me warm in this chilly Christmas Eve air.

More than anything, I’m mad at myself.

Because maybe the man is right. Maybe I should be honest with Mom. How fair is it that I’m hoping she’ll sign over the deed without knowing the full extent of my plans? It’s still technically her bakery. She has a right to know.

“Meg?”

The sight of Mom holding up my coat is all it takes for those unshed tears to unleash. She helps me into my coat and then wraps me in the hug I was hoping for on the first day of her visit. I didn’t know how badly I’ve needed it.

“I know everything, Meg.”

“Well, you do now .”

“No,” she chuckles, as if I’m still her cute little girl in pigtails. “I already knew. Becky Sue told me everything.”

“What?” I gasp.

“Meg, she’s my oldest and dearest friend. I asked her to look after you. Do you really think I didn’t know about the expansion you were planning weeks ago?”

“But you were surprised about the oven?—”

“Hearing about it and seeing it are two different things.”

“You weren’t happy, though.”

“Change can be hard to accept, even when it’s good change.”

“I suppose you know my relationship with Aaron is fake.”

“Is it though?”

The word yes is lodged in my throat, trapped like the lie it is. The truth is, I never wanted it to be fake. I was always just afraid. And with that job offer from Benson Motorsports—I don’t have to be NASCAR fan to know that household name—he’d be a fool to turn it down. But I don’t know where that leaves us.

“When you two sort this out, I’ll be upstairs. I think you’ll really like your Christmas present this year.” Mom hugs me once more. “Spoiler alert: It’s a deed. I think your expansion plan is exciting. I support you completely.”

“You do?”

“Of course I do.” Mom nods at Aaron who’s standing a few paces back on the snow-dusted sidewalk, holding a pair of red gloves. “He’s a good one, Meg. You should hear him out.”

Aaron waits until Mom disappears inside before approaching me. “I was never going to take the job,” he admits, handing me the gloves.

“But it’s Benson Motorsports.”

“A year or two ago, I would’ve taken it.”

“But now?” I stare at the gloves as I slip them on, afraid to meet his gaze.

“But now I want more.”

“You can’t mean me .”

“And why not?” He’s standing toe-to-toe with me, his body heat radiating in my direction. All I want is to crawl inside that open coat and wrap my arms around him. Stupid me. I’ve gone and fallen in love with him.

“Because in a year or two, you’ll realize you’re bored with this small town life. You’ll resent me for holding you back. And Aaron, I’m not leaving. Maybe I want to expand my business, but only if operations stay located solely in Alpine Valley. This is my home.”

“Did I ever tell how I ended up here?” When his arms wrap around my shoulders, I don’t shrug him off.

“No.”

“A buddy of mine kept talking about this town he used to visit as a kid. Couldn’t shut up about it. Turns out, he had an uncle who ran an auto repair shop and was looking for a mechanic he could eventually hand over the business to. I’m tired of being constantly on the go. Of sleeping in a different hotel every night for weeks on end. I came to Alpine Valley to put down roots.” He cups my cheek. “That was before I saw this sexy baker and fell head over heels.”

“Then why are you living in an apartment over the shop? That feels kind of temporary.”

“Because they can’t break ground on the plot of land I bought until spring.”

“You’re building a house?”

“I kind of hoped we were building a house. That is, if you’re done pretending this is all fake.”

I’m overwhelmed by the turn of events, half expecting to wake from this dream. “You want to build a house with me?”

“In case you haven’t figured it out, I am truly, madly, deeply in love with you. I want to build a life together.”

“You know I work a lot .”

“You seem to have found a good work-life balance lately.”

“Great sex is a good motivator to take a break once in a while.”

“Want to know a secret?” he whispers against my ear. “The sex is only going to get better.”

“You sure about that?”

“Now that I’ve tasted your cookie, I’m addicted for life.” He draws me in for a long, deep kiss that makes my toes curl and fingertips tingle. It also makes my pussy clench. “But I have to warn you, Santa might not come tonight.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’ll be keeping you up all night long, way past your bedtime. So maybe Santa won’t come tonight, but you will. Many, many times.”