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She didn’t look happy about it, but she gave up and sat, biting the head off of a gingerbread man.
Gingerbread. Remembering the scent of Jessica’s body lotion, it was now his turn to shift uncomfortably in his chair. His cell phone chimed on the table and, glancing down at it, he saw the photo of him and Jessica he’d snapped the night before lighting up the display.
Oh, thank God. He’d been wanting to text her all morning, but he was hoping she’d text first.
Jess:Heard Lia was here. How’s that going?
His fingers flew over the keyboard, out of sight from everyone, under the table.
Mitch:Just with the family now. Rather be with you.
He set the phone down and his knee bounced. Was that too much? They’d had a hot make-out session the night before, so probably not. But how was she feeling about that today? Regrets? He certainly wasn’t regretting it…
Another chime. He grabbed the phone, avoiding his mother’s look of disapproval of him breaking herno phones at the tablerule.
Jess:Can I see you tonight or do you have plans with your family?
He grinned. He’d bail on this bunch in a heartbeat, but that would probably raise some heavy suspicion. He’d already turned down dinner with his parents twice that week, claiming to be meeting up with some old friends in town. It wasn’t exactly a lie.
Mitch:Unfortunately, I think I’m stuck here tonight. Tomorrow?
Jess:Super busy day…
His heart raced. Damn. The closer they got to the holidays, the busier her schedule.
Mitch:Can I help?
He waited as the tiny dots appeared while she was replying.
Jess:Bakery delivery at six a.m. tomorrow morning. Don’t be late. X
He smiled. Bakery delivery at six a.m. the next morning it was.
Lia was eyeing him suspiciously when he glanced up. He tucked the phone into his pocket.
“So, Mitch says the inn is amazing,” their mother said to Lia. “Is it decorated for the holidays yet?”
Lia turned her attention back to their mother and nodded. “Except for the tree. Sarah plans to keep her grandmother’s tradition alive by inviting the community to do the decorating.”
His mother sent Mitch a smile. “That Sarah is absolutely lovely.”
Wow, no subtlety there at all. His mother made it no secret that she wanted nothing more than for him to find a nice person to settle down with and move home. Hell, she’d have him and his future family live with her and his father if she could. She’d be over the moon to discover that he was seeing Jessica. More reason to not tell her until the right moment.
“Sarah’s also engaged,” he reminded her. And most likely pregnant, if her throwing up the week before and the oversize sweaters she wore were any indication, but he kept that to himself. He didn’t know for sure, and it definitely wasn’t his place to tell anyone.
“She’s also a million years youngerandone of my best friends,” Lia said as though the idea that Mitch could possibly be interested in Sarah was just absurd.
He didn’t have to be a genius to figure out—she’d feel the same way about Jessica.
Which meant, for now, he’d be keeping his mouth tightly shut.
Chapter Nine
December 10th…15 Days Until Christmas…
“Good morning,” Jessica said as Mitch opened the passenger side door on her delivery van at five fifty-five the following morning. Playing it cool and not leaping directly at him took effort. In jeans and an old UCLA hoodie, one that actually looked like he’d worn it in his college days, his dark hair messy and a short stubble along his jawline, this new, not-so-put-together look had her practically drooling.
“Only because I get to see your face,” he said, suppressing a yawn. “I missed you yesterday.”
