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“Didn’t that just feel like extra work?” Jessica had never enjoyed school, doing the bare minimum to squeeze by. Culinary college and pastry school had been her first experience enjoying learning.
Mitch smiled as he shook his head. “I actually liked writing them and I still have them. They’re great to look back on and remember the adventures from my younger point of view, especially when I revisit those places now as an adult. And it’s a habit I’ve kept up.”
“You journal your trips?” Could the man get any more impressive?
“Yeah. That’s corny, right?” He was adorable when he blushed.
Jessica shook her head. “Not at all. Of course, using the word ‘corny’ is slightly ‘corny.’”
“I’m showing my age a little, huh?”
“Maybe a little.”
“Does my age bother you?” He appeared legitimately concerned that it might.
Jessica laughed. “You’re thirty-nine, not fifty.”
“So…that’s a no?”
“That’s a no.”
“Good,” he said with a smile.
And it was impossible to tear her gaze away. How had she never noticed those deep-set dimples before? She’d spent hundreds of days at Lia’s place growing up, but Mitch had always been just the older brother that Lia would shoo away whenever he tried to hang out wherever they were. Of course, the age difference back then felt huge.
“Should we eat?” she asked.
“I’m starving.” He opened the takeout bag from the beach-hut a few blocks away. They’d picked up sandwiches and fruit, and she’d packed dessert and wine in the basket.
“I can’t remember if you have any siblings,” he said, unwrapping a sandwich and then taking a bite.
Jessica opened the wine and poured it into two plastic wineglasses. “I don’t. I’m an only child. I think my parents felt like they needed to have at least one child, but they barely had time in their busy schedule to spend much time raising me.” She shrugged. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m not traumatized over it or anything. It was the family dynamic I grew up used to and I spent a lot of time with my aunt and uncle. They had four children, so I guess I got the best of both worlds.”
Time with her parents may not have been the traditional upbringing with their frequent absences, but she’d come to appreciate the relationship for what it was. They were close in a different way.
“I feel the same way,” Mitch said. “I was an only child for over ten years, so I got to experience having all of my parents’ attention, and then Lia came along and I was fortunate to have a sister.”
Fortunate. Lia didn’t see their relationship that way at all. She thought her brother was annoying and irritating and she’d never been close to Mitch. Did Mitch even realize how his sister viewed their relationship? She’d planned a family reunion earlier that year specifically when he couldn’t make it.
So far, Jessica couldn’t find fault with the man at all, so maybe Lia’s irritation was directed more at her parents and their apparent preference for Mitch.
“When’s your next trip?” she asked, then took a bite of a strawberry.
“In three weeks.” His gaze was on the sandwich he was unwrapping and she couldn’t read how he felt about that. “I’m hoping for Cambodia again. We accomplished a lot while we were there, but there’s more work to be done.”
Three weeks. Just until Christmas. She’d been hoping he was staying at least until the New Year. “Will you be in Blue Moon Bay until you leave again?” Did she sound hopeful? Playing it cool wasn’t something she’d finessed over the years.
“I haven’t really made any plans yet. I’ll spend time with my family, but I also might drive north to Big Bear for a few days. See the snow. Do some skiing.” He laughed. “The travel bug never eases up for long.”
She nodded. “That sounds nice. I’ve never actually seen snow.”
“Really? Never?”
“Never,” she said.
“Well, maybe you’ll expand your horizons a little and come along.” He paused, studying her a moment. “I just meant that I’d love to have company…only if you’re interested. No pressure.”
She was definitely interested. The problem was she was afraid of gettingtoointerested. Falling hard and fast was not an issue for her. It was knowing when the other person was as fully committed that she struggled with. And this guy had promised that he wouldn’t fall in love this holiday season…
