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No, there wasn’t a choice.
He wanted to be happy. He wanted Roni.
He deepened the kiss, holding her so tight, certain he never wanted to let her go. Not again. He held her close, reveling in the feel of her lips against his, her softness, her warmth. Before he could taste her tongue with his, she pulled back and looked up at him with fear in her eyes. He didn’t blame her. He’d hurt her too.
Music from outside drifted to him and without thinking, he pulled her close to him and started to sway to “White Christmas.”
“You know what?” he asked.
“What?” she whispered.
“I think Pineville and Christmas are starting to grow on me.” He smiled and held her tight.
“Just Pineville and Christmas?” She held him tighter.
“I think you’re growing on me too,” he admitted and kissed the top of her head as they slowly danced, holding on to each other in the middle of Brianna’s dining room.
CHAPTER14
Roni held Jimmy tight as they swayed to the music. The taste of his lips still lingered on hers. His kiss was even better than she remembered. Even better than what she’d been dreaming about all year. He was finally here, and it seemed all her wishes were coming true.
Maybe Spooky was magic. She smiled against his chest.
Be careful what you wish for.
Jenni’s words mocked her.
She tried not to wish, but couldn’t help herself. She was falling for him all over again. She needed to stop, to take things slowly. Otherwise, he was going to break her heart all over again. His life was in Denver. He was only here to help his parents, and then he was going back. If she wasn’t careful, he’d take her heart with him.
Again.
She repeated the mantra she’d been telling herself ever since he arrived. Worse, the heartbreak this time would be much more painful than it was last time, and then what would she do? Cry into her peppermint lattes? Absolutely.
Maybe he’d ask her to follow him? If he did, would she? Could she leave her sister and all her friends, her business, and Pineville? Her heart squeezed at the thought. Coffee Corner was her history, her legacy to her grandma.
Her life.
There was no way she could leave it behind, and no way she could expect him to change his life for her. No, they were doomed. Tears filled her eyes, and she quickly blinked them away. She wouldn’t let him see them, wouldn’t let him see how badly she was falling for him again.
She blew out a deep breath. She was borrowing trouble. Wasn’t that what Melanie always said? “Don’t borrow trouble where there wasn’t any. Just enjoy the moment.”
She rested her head against his chest as they danced and he pulled her closer, his warmth touching her cheek and the soft cotton of his shirt absorbing her tears. She needed to enjoy him while he was there, because soon he’d be gone, and she’d be alone once more.
The song ended, and he took a step back, releasing her. “Are you ready to go to dinner?”
He looked sad. She felt sad. She nodded and followed him to his truck.
He looked around the parking area in front of the house. “Where’s your car?”
“At home. Brianna picked me up.”
“Do you need to stop by your place for anything?”
Maybe to hug Spooky, she thought. She needed a good hug right then. She shook her head. “No, I’m good.”
They waved goodbye to Brianna and Owen who were skating with their guests on their frozen pond and headed down the hill toward Charley’s.
Dinner was nice, romantic, and soon her sadness disappeared as she enjoyed his company. She and Jimmy had always been friends first; maybe she should cling to that. “So I had an idea today I’d like to run past you.”
