AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Now what is it you want to tell me that no one else can hear?” The best and worst thing about her friendship with Lena was that the woman could see right through her.
“Did you see the news about the track closing?”
“What? No!” Lena’s mouth hung wide before she snapped it shut. “Oh my god, what are you going to do?”
“Well, I thought maybe I should move to Southern California and ride at one of the tracks down there. Or else go to work for some sport horse trainer. Or get some other job.” It was the simple truth, but saying it aloud made her feel like she might throw up. “But none of those options feel right. And now that I’m here…” She didn’t know why it was so hard to justask. Maybe because the question was bigger than just a job, and mixing business and friendship was risky.
“OMG! YES! Stay and work with me!”
Her bestie was a mind reader. And as terrifying as it was, it was exactly what she wanted to hear; she’d loved it when she and Lena had worked at the track together, before Lena left for Australia. Working with Lena would be like coming home. But even though it was exactly what she’d hoped Lena might say, maybe it was too good to be true. “Really? You mean it?”
“Of course I mean it, dummy! Wasn’t I just telling you yesterday that I wanted to expand, but I can’t until I have good help?” Lena beamed at her. “This would solve all my problems!”
“But…what if we end up hating each other? Or what if there’s not enough work?”
“No buts! Is it something you’d want to do?”
“Yes. Absolutely.” Only now that it wasn’t just an idea in her head, but an actual possibility, it seemed huge. Maybe she hadn’t thought it through enough.
“Well, okay then. We’ll just have to figure it out.”
“I really don’t think it’s that simple.” She didn’t know the first thing about what was involved in moving to a whole other continent. She couldn’t just stay in a foreign country indefinitely. “Wouldn’t I have to get a work visa or something?”
“We’ll work it out. I bet Lachie knows about that kind of thing. He’s always traveling for work.”
“What does he even do?” Carissa knew she should focus on the job Lena had just offered her. She also knew if she had questions about Lachlan, she ought to ask the man himself. But it hadn’t escaped her that if she took a job with Lena, maybe Lachlan could be part of her life too, and asking Lena about him was so much more expedient. And it was far less of a risk to let Lena see she might be a teensy tiny bit interested in Lachlan than it was to give him that impression.
“He’s a military consultant, but I never understand what it is he actually does. Oh! That reminds me!” Lena beamed at Carissa. “I hope you brought some holiday stuff to wear, because I’ve got something planned for you. And Lachie.” Lena waggled her brows. “You two are going to be great together!”
8
VISIONS OF GINGERBREAD
Lachlan wasn’t sure exactly what he’d been roped into, but he was always up for any kind of adventure, big or small. He’d done all kinds of things during his time in the service and since—parkour in Paris, scuba diving in Japan, snowmobiling in the Alps, climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. New experiences were invigorating. He just hadn’t really expected to be having them at Christmas. But he was here for whatever new ideas these American girls had about the holidays. First it was the egg nog (as terrible as its off-putting name suggested) and now it was whatever Lena had concocted for the evening.
Lena clapped her hands. “Everybody! Welcome to the first annual Gingerbread House Deco-race!” She was in her element, wearing a full holiday get up: bright green shorts and a red tank top withMerry and Brightemblazoned across it in sequins. Now it made sense why she’d been so determined to decorate the Christmas tree the night before. Its lights twinkled from its place in front of the lounge’s picture window, making a festive backdrop.
Lena had also decorated the room to the hilt. The folding tables she’d set up for the guests were topped with a red and green plaid tablecloth and each had a stack of gingerbread house kits in the centre. All of the windows were strung with gold star garlands that caught the light, and the mantel was festooned with gum tree boughs and red globe ornaments and candles. Three stockings hung from brass hooks, the namesAbilene,Heath, andCopperemblazoned in more sparkly sequins. He never would’ve thought that someone as serious as Heath would end up with someone who loved so much sparkle. He guessed opposites really did attract, at least some of the time.
The buzz of conversation that had filled the lounge quieted. The lounge was brimming with people. He knew Carissa, of course, but he also recognised several of the older ladies from town, who were all active in the Country Women’s Association and were at almost every community event the town put on. There was Mariah, who he knew from the vet clinic where he took Pickle, and Holly, who’d made up the holiday gift basket he’d gotten for his mum. Heath had also convinced a couple blokes from the Returned Service League to attend—which explained the extra beers in the fridge.
Lena went on, explaining the rules. “You’ll have an hour and a half to complete building and decorating your gingerbread house.” She pointed at the table nearest the front door, piled high with the most eclectic collection of candy he’d ever seen. “Over there, you’ll find all the decorating supplies: frosting, candy canes, gumdrops, peppermints, marshmallows, sprinkles, chocolate chips. You name it, it’s probably on that table. Help yourself to anything you want: it’s all up for grabs.”
He raised his hand. “If this is a competition, then how is the winner decided?”
“I am so glad you asked that!” Lena’s eyes were shining and her smile hadn’t dropped from her face once. She truly did look happy. “Once your house is finished, we’ll take a picture of it. I’m going to post all the pictures to my social media accounts and ask our friends and family and followers to vote on which one they think is the best. And you’re all welcome to share my post and try to get more votes.”
“And what’s the prize for the winner?” If it was a competition, then Lachlan wanted to win, no matter the prize.
“Bragging rights? The glory of winning?” He got the distinct feeling Carissa was poking at him for his focus on the competitive aspect of the evening.
Lena was unfazed. “Nope! The lucky winner will receive a prize pack that includes two CWA candles for Carols by Candlelight and a $20 gift card to the Cyprus Cafe.”
Heath shifted in his seat at the head of the table, and damn if the man wasn’t besotted, his expression full of warmth as he watched Lena. Lachlan never would’ve expected it from the bloke he’d met the previous year while they were both working the barbies at the town picnic. Anyone who’d seen Heath then, before he and Lena were an official couple, could vouch for the fact that Lena had been the best thing that had ever happened to the man. She’d brought him back to life, stopped him from becoming a full-on recluse. If tonight wasn’t proof of that, nothing was.
Lachlan wasn’t the only one noticing the way Heath looked at Lena, either. Carissa’s eyes went from Heath to Lena and back again, almost like she was cataloguing what she saw.
“Can we compete as teams?” If he was going to blow the rest of the competition out of the water, he needed some help in doing it. And he had just the person he wanted in mind.
