“You’ll get your jacket filthy, leaning like that,” he warned.
She shrugged. “Work jacket, remember?”
“Still, no sense mussing it up. It’ll be black as sin in seconds. Metal work is dirty. Hang on.” He rummaged in a cabinet and unearthed an old horse blanket. “If you’re going to lean, at least put this behind you.”
She stepped forward and he draped the brown wool over the workbench. He leaned beside her, crossed his arms over his chest, and looked at her.
“Did you need something?” His close scrutiny made her uncomfortable. She tried to hide her confused emotions. They must have showed, because he quirked up his eyebrow.
“No. I just needed...I don’t know...escape?”
“What are you avoiding?” His tone carried a wealth of understanding, as if he knew about running away.
“The fact that I’m a chicken.” She sighed.Why was she here?“I got a letter from work. I’m afraid to open it. What if I’m fired? It’ll ruin Christmas.”
“What if you’re not? It could make Christmas better. Besides, isn’t knowing better than wondering?” He stepped away from the bench to look at her straight on. “You’re not a coward. If you were, you’d have an easy job, and you wouldn’t have risked it by rushing home and taking over here. That takes a strong, brave person. Good or bad, you can handle the news. Why don’t you open it?”
“What if I’m fired? Then I’m stuck here.”
“Would staying in Snowy Hollow be so terrible? You mentioned running the inn being part of your future.” He paused, a frown crossing his face. “I thought we were building something between us. We’ve spent every evening together. We share so many likes. Our values are the same. Weren’t we building something special and long lasting? Am I totally out to lunch? I’m totally in love with you. Am I just a way to pass time while you’re here? Am I a diversion?” Hurt and indignation lay heavy in his voice. His hands tightened into fists until his knuckles were white and his biceps bulged, stretching his shirt to near bursting.
Could he really be that angry? Or was he just clenching to avoid revealing more feelings?
“No! You’re more than a diversion. You’re my friend,” she blurted, unable to express the full depth of her feelings. Her heart danced knowing he loved her, but fear kept her mouth shut. She loved him, she did. Deep inside. She just couldn’t say it. Saying it would trap her here and she wasn’t ready to leave the city permanently. But losing Owen might destroy her heart.
“Friends. Wow.” He turned and picked up his welding helmet. “I’m on commission. I have to get this done. You should go before I fire up the welder. You wouldn’t want to hurt your eyes.” His voice was blizzard cold. No, it was as cold as Scrooge’s heart. He mumbled something about the friend zone under his breath.
Icy dread froze her motionless for a moment. Only when he picked up his striker to ignite the torch did she bolt from the building, letting the door slam behind her.
Holy crap!
What had happened in there?
“What did I say?” She stood outside, staring at the building, running their conversation through her head. He wasn’t just a way to keep busy. She was going to miss him like crazy when she was gone. She should have said that.
Vicelike bands tightened around her chest compressing tighter and tighter until she felt like her chest would either disappear into another dimension or explode like a squashed toothpaste tube. She struggled to draw a breath around the pain. It hurt so bad she dropped to her knees.Was she having a heart attack?She clutched her chest, struggling to breathe. Spots swirled in front of her eyes.
What was wrong with her?
“Rill? Are you alright?” Carrie’s voice pulled Rill’s attention away from the pain in her chest. “Let me help you inside.” She grasped Rill’s elbow and pulled her upward. “Johnathon, get over here!” Her shout reverberated in Rill’s ears. A moment later she said, “Help me get Rill inside. I think she needs a doctor.”
Rill stumbled along between them, each supporting her by the arm. Slowly, the spots faded. Before she knew it, they had her inside, sitting in a wingchair in the common area. She waved her hands. “I’m okay. I just had a scare. That’s all.”
Boy, what a scare! Owen’s anger and disappointment had hit her physically. What would she do without him? They weren’t officially dating, though they had gone sledding and to dinner and a movie a couple times. Of course, they spent every evening together, watching movies, playing simple card games, or talking. She was as attached to him as if they were engaged. The idea of not seeing him again had floored her. Literally.He may have broken my heart.
“You’re pretty pale,” Johnathon said. “We should get you to the doctor, just in case.”
“He’s right. You were clutching your chest and white as a ghost,” Carrie added. “Are you having chest pains?”
“No. Really. I’m fine.” She was so far from fine, it wasn’t funny. She was scared to death.
Never mind that suddenly she wasn’t sure she wanted to go back to her old job, if it even existed. She loved working for Splitz, didn’t she? It was exciting. Never a dull moment. She was always busy. Always on the go. And always stressed.
Kind of like here at the inn. Always something to do. But here there was no demanding boss shouting at her and keeping her up all night. And she wasn’t always exhausted and hungry.
“Are you sure you’re fine?” Carrie asked. “You’re mumbling under your breath.”
Rill slapped her hands on her knees. “I’m good. Cross my heart. I’m just overtired and a bit headachy.” Heart-achy was more like it. “I’m going to go lay down for a few minutes. If you see Owen, let him know I’ll be out later.”It wasn’t like she was going to fall asleep. Ever. Who slept with a broken heart?
