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“Dad asked me to take over running the clinic. To replace him.”
Jessica’s heart raced. That would be amazing if that was what Mitch wanted. She’d love it if he stayed in town, and it would obviously make everyone else happy and alleviate Mrs. P’s work dilemma. But Jessica knew it wasn’t the plan Mitch had for his life. “That had to put some pressure on you, I imagine,” she said.
“Little bit,” he said, sounding torn. “It was never something I was considering. I never thought Dad would retire this early and I thought I’d made it clear that living here full time and owning my own practice wasn’t for me.”
Her gut twisted, but she knew that already. Mitch had never made any promises about staying longer than the holidays. He talked about leaving all the time and he’d even asked her to consider leaving with him. Another decision that she was running out of time to make. “But your dad must understand that, right?”
“He does, but I’m just struggling with this guilt of wanting to do the right thing, but not quite sure what that even is.”
Jessica stepped toward him and took the spray can from his hand. She wrapped her arms around his neck and stared up at him. His gaze was still pained and full of conflict when his eyes locked with hers. She wished she could make this easier on him, but all she could do was offer him the same advice he’d given her.
“You need to do what makes you happy. If that’s traveling the world, then that’s what you should do. Your dad followed his dream. You should keep following yours.” Even if it was going to destroy her when he left again. How quickly these feelings had spiraled into something real and strong…something she’d lost the fight against. She hadn’t even had a chance.
Mitch was everything she wanted in a man—kind, caring, compassionate, funny, sexy as hell and the way he made her feel was unlike anything she’d ever experienced in a relationship before. He made her feel special without doing much at all. The way he looked at her set her pulse racing. The way he touched her had her craving him when he wasn’t around, and the way he made love to her, she knew she’d never again find a partner as loving and passionate as he was. Their short time together had her imagining what a future with him could look like…if she was willing to let go of the direction it was headed in now and take a chance. But could she do that after only being with him for a couple of weeks? Could she take a leap that far based on feelings that very well could be one-sided?
He kissed her softly and rested his forehead against hers. “You really are amazing. You have this way of calming me, helping me keep my overthinking in check and stay focused.”
She forced a smile. Now if only she could figure out a way to have that effect on herself.
Her cell phone chimed in her pocket and she recognized Sarah’s tone. “It’s Sarah. They’re all meeting us for the Night of Lights tonight.”
She’d forgotten to tell him that the outing was a group thing, and she hoped he wouldn’t mind hanging out with her friends that evening. It was a tradition for her and Whitney and Sarah to do the walk along Main Street together, bundled in warm clothing and drinking hot chocolate. This year, they’d all be together with plus-ones and a kid.
Mitch smiled. “That’s great.”
Jessica’s heart warmed, but then it pounded in her ears as she read the message from Sarah. “Uh-oh…Lia and Malcolm are coming, too.”
Mitch looked unfazed. “Great. The more the merrier.”
“Only not great, because I’m still not sure about her knowing about us.” So far only Sarah knew. Wes and Trent suspected, and she really needed to tell Whitney. Her best friend would be pissed if she was the last to know…but Lia—eek!
Mitch sighed. “Well, I could bail?”
She shook her head. “No. I really want to share this with you. Especially since you haven’t done it in ten years.” She bit her lip. “Can we keep things…us…on the down low?”
He grinned. “Like keep it a secret? Pretend we’re not looking forward to ripping each other’s clothes off again soon?”
Thank God he was on the same page regarding that. “Exactly.”
He laughed. “I can do that.” He stepped forward and cupped her face between his hands. “But it won’t be easy.”
…
True to his word, Mitch hung back as the group left their meeting point at the bakery, hot chocolates in hand, and made their way south along Main Street a half hour later. Seeing Jessica with her friends only had him liking her even more. They all adored Jessica. She was the glue holding the threesome best friendship together, and her inclusion of his sister when the other two could have easily done without Lia’s overbearing, overcompensating, desperate for love ways that made her unbearable, had Mitch’s heart growing like the Grinch’s.
Not being able to hold her hand or wrap his arm around her or kiss her as they made their way down the lit-up, magical-looking Christmas display show was torture, but it made him feel slightly better knowing she was feeling it, too.
The women walked ahead with an excited Marissa leading the charge and the men lingered behind with him. Trent had seen them together already, and that evening, the guy seemed more accepting of the fact, so Mitch relaxed a little. Sarah would have told them all they were keeping things under wraps with Lia around.
Unfortunately, he knew his sister would be more pissed to learn they’d been keeping the secret, but he was honoring Jessica’s wishes with his silence. And besides, he was still annoyed at Lia for messing with his resolve earlier that day. He’d put his father’s clinic out of his mind, but that day she’d gone and made him second-guess everything and feel guilty for not wanting to take over.
Arriving at the bakery and seeing Jess in that sexy skirt had been the only thing that made him feel better again. And damn, she’d certainly made him feel incredible. He couldn’t believe they’d actually had sex in her freezer. It was admittedly one of the most impulsive things he’d ever done in his life, but once she’d started kissing him, there had been no turning back. Despite the cold, he’d been red hot, and he’d never wanted anyone so badly in his life. Thank God she’d been up for the wild, impromptu sex.
Which only made her that much more fascinating.
He watched her now as she skipped alongside Marissa, pointing at different displays. Her cheeks rosy and her joyful energy was like a drug for him. One that was bringing him back to life. One he couldn’t get enough of.
She obviously loved kids. She’d make a terrific mom…
