Trapped Under the Christmas Tree (Christmas Tree, PA Sweet Romcom #1)

Chapter 13

Jake

That was a bold statement, and maybe I should have kept my mouth shut. But she feels perfect. She fits perfectly against me, and she feels so soft and sweet in my arms, and I lay my head on top of hers and wonder how I can get these words out. How do I tell her that in the last three hours, I think I’ve fallen in love?

Especially when I was rambling on about how I didn’t think romance was important, and I didn’t say in so many words that love wasn’t necessary for marriage. But as short of a time as it’s been, this didn’t start out with feelings. It started out with me knowing what kind of person she is and then not wanting to let her go.

“Why is that?” she asks, and I remember my bold statement. It’s true; I think I’m going to look back on this night as the best night of my life.

I swallow, my throat suddenly dry, as I lean back to look at her. Somehow I have to be unafraid, to put my feelings out there, to organize my thoughts and the ideas that I have, swirling in my head, and round them up into some kind of rational sentence. Something that’s not going to scare her completely away.

“I admire your willingness to come out in the freezing rain and help me. I know you think that anyone would have done it, but I don’t know if that’s true. I appreciate the fact that you respected me when I said I didn’t want the tree to be cut. You... You showed your character tonight, and I found it to be beautiful. I also thought that we agreed on a lot of things, one of those being that a relationship should be based on values and morals and a commitment to stay together forever. I... I’ve had some time to think; when you’re trapped under a tree, that happens.” My words make her smile, and that’s what I wanted.

“And?” she prompts.

We’re still swaying to the music, and I still have my hand on her back. It slides up slowly, I feel her warmth and the suppleness of her skin under my palm. “And I was hoping that you might be interested in exploring that potential with me.” That sounded very formal. “I like you. In fact, the idea that I’m falling in love with you is crazy, I know, but it feels real. I was hoping you might feel the same way. But I just wanted you to know that I’m not interested in a relationship just to have a good time. I’m looking at a lifetime thing. Did I scare you away?”

I get the words out, and now my heart is beating like crazy, and I can hardly breathe as she looks up at me, expressions flitting across her face so fast I can’t read them.

“You think you might be falling in love with me?” she asks, although her tone does not say disbelief. It sounds more like wonder.

I nod. “Yes.” The word comes out low and heavy, and it hangs there as she thinks about it.

This is the most vulnerable I’ve ever felt in my entire life before, and for some reason, her reaction seems to be more important to me than anything else. Could she possibly feel the same?

The song shifts, something a little faster, but we don’t start moving in time to the music. We continue to sway, and now her hands are on my shoulders. I think I feel one finger running along my neck. It sends a burst of heat from my head all the way to my toes and back. If I needed to be warmed up, all I need is Tessa’s finger on my skin apparently.

“Maybe this is a good time for me to admit that I’ve had a crush on you for years?” she asks, her head tilted, and there’s a little bit of insecurity on her face. I realize I’m not the only one who’s being vulnerable right now.

That makes me want her even more.

The fact that she’s willing to meet me halfway. Even further, since I know exactly how difficult it is to be vulnerable, especially in this area.

But her words surprise me. “Me?” I question.

She smiles a soft smile. It makes her entire face glow with a beauty that shines from a heart that is pure. “You’re the most eligible bachelor in Christmas Tree, three years running.”

“Oh goodness. I’m never going to live that down.” I drop my head and shake it. But her words have still made my toes curl in my boots. She has a crush on me? She even noticed me?

I guess she’s saying how could she not notice me? The whole town has held me up as the most eligible bachelor.

“I never thought you’d be in my living room, never thought you’d be saying these things to me. It feels...like I’m in a dream. Are you sure this is real?” she says, and her smile hasn’t wavered, but she seems to be asking me seriously.

“It’s real. It’s definitely real. But I’m also being straight-up honest with you when I say that I’m not messing around. I don’t want to play at this. I don’t want this to be something we do for six months and then call it quits. Do you know me well enough to think you can make a decision like that?”

She huffs out a breath and looks to the side. “I’ve known you forever. I’ve watched you forever. I guess I really have trouble finding anything to fault with you, other than the fact that you don’t visit the library nearly enough.”

Now I think she’s flirting with me. I laugh at her.

“I’ll make a commitment right now to visit the library every day for the next three hundred sixty-five days. At least once. I might go there morning and evening, I’m not sure.”

“Every day? Even on the days it’s closed?”

“I might have to break in. Perhaps I know someone with the keys who can help me out in my quest.”

“The library is a very romantic place.”

“That is a good place for a married couple to have a date night,” I say, and her eyes light up. I don’t mean to charm her, but I’m pretty sure that’s what is happening. I feel her softening in my arms, if that is even possible.

“I know you’re joking, but I think you just said the magic words.”

“I knew if I kept talking, eventually I’d stumble on something that resonated.” Then I shake my head. “I’m totally joking. If you want to go to the library, I’ll spend hours at the library with you. But... You do know that I’m a farmer first.”

“My little dream, the one that I think will never come true, is to have a farm on the outside of town. I guess I kind of thought I was destined to live above the Christmas shop for the rest of my life.”

“Not if I have anything to do with it. That dream of living on a farm on the outskirts of town will most definitely come true, if this goes the way I hope it’s going to.”

“I’m in,” she says, looking up at me with sincerity in her eyes. “I’ve known you forever. We went to school together, I’ve seen you around town, I know your reputation, I don’t have to think about this. I’m in. For life, if that’s what you want.”

“I want it to be what you want too. I don’t want to be the only one pushing for this.”

“I guess I don’t have to worry about not having those feelings, because I do. I have them for you. I guess... I can only hope that someday you have them for me too.”

“Oh, I’m feeling the feelings. I’m definitely feeling the feelings. But I think the feelings fade, and I want to have a foundation that we can build upon for the rest of our lives. I want you to know that I’ll protect you with my life, that I’ll give everything I have for you and for the family we create.”

“And I’ll devote just as much to you and to our family.”

They feel like vows, the things we just said, and how else do you seal vows except with a kiss?

I start to lower my head. But I know this is kind of fast. “Is it okay if I kiss you?” I whisper, and I’m not looking at her, I’m looking at her lips. The ones that distracted me from the very first moment I saw her this evening.

“Please,” she says, and I think that’s better than a yes.

My head lowers, and our lips meet, and I forget about vows and trees and even Christmas. All I think about is Tessa and that I’m pretty sure she said I could be doing this for the rest of my life. I can’t think of anything better.

I lift my head, my breath coming hard, as I look into her eyes. “You should have warned me,” is the only thing I can think of to say.

Her brows draw down. “About what?” she says, sounding concerned.

“How good you are. I... I think that I better go. That was the stuff of dreams.”

She smiles, like my words please her. “Why don’t we try one more time? Then, I want to know that I’m going to see you tomorrow before you leave tonight.”

“You’ll be seeing me. I was serious about showing up at the library. I’m pretty sure that wherever you are, that’s where I will be too.”

Then, I lower my head and do what my sweet Tessa asked and kiss her again.

***End of Trapped Under the Christmas Tree***

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