Page 7 of His Christmas Love Song

“We’re coming off a tour, actually,” Ryan says. “We’re staying here for a week to work on our new Christmas album.”

Jesse’s look of fondness turns to one of astonishment, perhaps at how enthusiastic Ryan sounds about the Christmas album. He’s still not sure it’s not going to be massively corny, but he did agree to give it a try.

“Well, I hope I’ll get to see something of you while you’re here,” Hank says. He glances between the two of them. “You’re not only here to work, right? Maybe we could grab dinner tomorrow night.”

“Definitely,” Jesse says.

“Wait, what cabin are you in? Emma, did you give them 12?”

“14,” she answers.

“Oh no, if 12 is free, you have to take it. There’s a skylight over the bed, and a sunken hot tub. Perfect for a couple’s getaway.”

Jesse seems to realize what Hank’s implying first, because he laughs while Ryan’s still processing. “Oh, no, we’re not a couple, though the hot tub sounds amazing. We’re just friends, despite what some fans believe.” He laughs again and the sound grates on Ryan’s ears.

“Yeah,” he echoes weakly, “just friends.”

“Oh.” Hank doesn’t seem fazed, but his gaze narrows slightly on Ryan. “Okay. Well, then 14 works. It’s got two awesome bedrooms. No hot tub, but it does have a huge soaking tub. Let me or Emma know if you need anything.”

“I already told them that,” Emma says. “Now let them settle in, Hank. It’s late. You can shoot the shit about your days in the Corps tomorrow.”

Hank rolls his eyes and Ryan misses his own sister for a single, fierce second. “Fair enough. It’s really nice to see you two. Let me give you my cell number.”

“Ryan, can you grab it?” Jesse says quickly.

Ryan takes out his phone and texts the number Hank recites to him so Hank has his number, too, then they all say goodbye with promises to get together tomorrow.

Jesse has the map and the keys, and they hustle out to the SUV which has gone cold in the intervening minutes. “What a small world,” he says, starting the car up and heading down the narrow track behind the main lodge building.

“You had no idea this was Hank Moore’s place?” Ryan asks. He yawns, suddenly exhausted despite his nap.

“I swear, I had no idea,” Jesse says with such vehemence that Ryan’s antennae perk up. Why would Jesse be so defensive? Unless he thinks Ryan thinks that he knew Hank would be here. And the only reason that would bother Ryan is if he….

“You aren’t trying to set me up with Dr. Moore, are you?” he asks, stomach tightening nervously.

Jesse pulls the SUV to a stop at a large wood frame cabin with the number 14 carved into a post at the front. He shifts in his seat, looks Ryan directly in the eyes and says, “I had no idea he’d be here, I swear, Ryan.”

Ryan believes him. Jesse’s not a liar. Even still, his neck itches as if he’s forgotten something as they carry their bags into the well-appointed, spacious cabin. He gives up trying to put his finger on the sensation and chalks it up to disappointment at hearing Jesse laugh at the idea they could be a couple. It’s not like Ryan doesn’t know his feelings are unrequited, but it still hurts to hear it straight from Jesse how laughable the idea of them being together actually is.

He takes a modicum of satisfaction in putting dibs on the slightly bigger bedroom. He’s got to take his wins where he can get them. Still, it takes a long time to fall asleep that night, listening to Jesse get ready for bed in the room next door.

FOUR

Jesse’s not exactly a morning person, but Ryan really isn’t a morning person. He’s still snoozing when Jesse throws on a jacket and boots and grabs his key before quietly closing the front door of their cabin and heading to the main lodge for breakfast. And reconnaissance.

He wasn’t lying to Ryan when he said he had no idea Hank Moore would be here. He hasn’t lied to Ryan about anything. They really do need to work on the album, and this place is perfect for that, even though, disappointingly, there’s no snow. The only thing he didn’t tell Ryan was the reason he picked Pine Tree Lodge was that Cameron, Ryan’s ex, is supposed to be here, too.

Cameron just finished up a stint as the keyboardist for a big pop act touring Asia. When Jesse heard through mutual friends Cameron was heading back to the States, he got in touch. Cameron’s from Columbia, Vermont, originally, and he told Jesse he planned to stay here through the holidays. When Jesse looked the place up and saw how great it would be for a work retreat, he hatched a plan.

Ryan and Cameron broke up about a year ago, and Jesse is pretty sure it wasn’t a coincidence that soon after Ryan’s songs started getting wistful and sad. They seem to constantly reference a love who is forever out of reach. Clearly, he still has feelings for Cameron. If Jesse can’t get him to go out with any of the eligible guys he finds, well, then he can put him back in the path of his ex. He told Cameron they would both come up to Vermont for a week, but he didn’t tell Ryan because he wasn’t sure Ryan wouldn’t duck out. And if something went wrong, he didn’t want to get Ryan’s hopes up.

He’s glad he listened to that instinct, because as soon as they arrived last night and Jesse checked his messages, he’d learned Cameron had been delayed and might not be there for a few more days. What the hell? If he was the one who hadn’t seen Ryan in a year, nothing would stop him from being here.

Okay, so Cameron isn’t around. That doesn’t mean the time will be wasted. It’s going to be awesome to see Hank and catch up. And if the flare of interest he saw in Hank’s eyes last night when he learned Ryan and Jesse were just friends wasn’t just a trick of the light, it won’t hurt to see if Hank might be an alternative to Cameron. A year apart might have changed the way Ryan and Cameron feel about each other. Jesse is pretty sure Dr. Moore is bi, like him. They kept stuff like that on the down low in the Corps, not because their coworkers cared, but because sometimes the areas where they worked had anti-gay laws and no one wanted to get tangled up in red tape in their host countries.

He finds the main room of the lodge easily by following the delicious breakfast smells, including coffee. The mild weather doesn’t look like it has affected bookings. There are half a dozen tables filled with hungry guests, and a roaring fire in the circular fire pit at the center of the room. The place has been decorated for the Christmas season, with a large silver-and-gold decorated tree in the corner, and pretty swaths of greenery tied with red bows on all the dark wood-paneled walls. The place feels homey and yet a bit grand. Jesse settles into an empty table near the fire pit and sighs happily. He’s actually looking forward to relaxing while he’s here. He’s worn out from the tour and the late night of driving.

“Good morning. Coffee?” A young woman appears next to his table holding out a silver carafe.