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“I’m not going to replace Laura just because you think I need to get laid, Ben.”
“I’m not saying you need to replace Laura.” His voice is soft and close. When I stand and turn, he’s there, leaning against the shelf with his arms crossed. “I would never suggest that, Alex. I know how much you loved her.”
“Love,” I correct him. “I love Laura. That’s not going away.”
“I don’t think it needs to. All I’m saying is that you should think about it.” He glances over my shoulders, and I follow his gaze to the children’s corner. Maddie and Morgan are sitting together, reading a book quietly. “Your girls need a mom, Alex.”
Chapter Three
Jana
“Thanks for all your help this morning, Jana,” Mrs. Filly says, leaning across the table and clasping my hand. I offer a wide smile, gently squeezing her fingers.
“Of course!” I say, pushing hair away from my face with my free hand. “Thank you again for giving me a job at the last minute! I don’t know what I would do if it wasn’t for you, Mrs. F.”
“Oh, darling Jana,” she coos, her kind blue eyes softening. “You were my best employee. I was so sad to lose you when you left for college.”
“I’ve missed it here,” I admit, letting my eyes drift around the small bakery. The last time I was here was after my parents’ funeral, and not a thing has changed in all these years. It still has the same off-white walls and an old display case, the same checked flooring and mismatched tables and chairs. The only difference is the new kitchen appliances in the back.
“How long has it been since you’ve been back?”
“Six years,” I say, letting my eyes rest on the collection of photos lining the back wall. I don’t have to see them up close to know that at least three are images of my parents.
“Well, we’re glad you’ve come home, sweetie.”
Home. The word settles in my bones, raising the hairs on the back of my neck, and my fingers itch to tap against the linoleum tabletop. I don’t have a home anymore.
“I should really be going.” I smile as I push myself out of my chair. “Hadlee needs my help decorating today.”
The lie slips out easily, and Mrs. F doesn’t bat an eyelash. She smiles brightly and nods. “Ah, well, have a lovely afternoon, Jana.”
“Thank you, Mrs. F,” I reply, heading for the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“See you tomorrow, dearie.”
I leave the warmth of the bakery and pull my jacket tighter around my body. I still need to pick up a new coat, but first, I need to get a thank you gift for Hadlee. When she invited me to stay with her, I had worried about putting her out. Luckily, her beautiful house has a spare bedroom with its own ensuite.
Walking down Main Street, I take in the beauty and charm of Harmony. The rows of shops hold true to their small-town roots, made of red brick and big glass windows. Snow lines the streets, the wrought iron streetlamps a stark contrast against the bright white. Snowflakes fall slowly, almost lazily, while Christmas lights glint in the afternoon gray.
I smile, nostalgia crashing through me. Six Christmases without snow—how did I ever live that way? The storefronts are all decorated with lights and garlands and bright red bows, and my heart warms at the sight.
I continue down the street, looking for the bookstore. Hadlee has always loved books more than anything. In elementary school, we’d bonded over our love of fantasy novels—it was one of the reasons we were still such good friends.
I stop short when I see the bookstore across the street. It’s in the same spot as the little bookstore of my childhood, but there’s an utter lack of decorations, not even lights around the windows. The new owners have renamed the old store—it’s no longerIvers Books, butBrooks Books.
Despite the lack of familiarity, I hurry across the street and open the shop’s door. A cold burst of wind follows me in, mussing my hair and scattering a few pages on the counter. Two men stand behind the desk, and both look up at my entrance. My heart flops, my stomach doing a somersault at the unexpected attention.
“Welcome in!” the taller one says, ruffling his dark curls as he grins at me. I smile back, stepping further into the building. They’ve reorganized the store, to the point where I’m not sure I’ll be able to find what I need. There’s a cute little reading area in front of the window display, just across from the checkout counter, with comfortable-looking armchairs and raw wood end tables. The displays are expertly organized, and there are less shelves than I rememberIvershaving.Oh God, I hope they have something Hadlee will like. “Are you looking for something specific?”
“Oh, um…yes and no?” I say before I laugh. It’s an absurd answer, and the man who has yet to say a word smirks a little. I swallow, letting my eyes dance over the shelves nearest me. “Do you have any cute Christmas romances?”
“Yes!” the tall one says, his smile never faltering. “Alex here can show you where they are.”
I stand patiently, wondering what the silent conversation happening between the two is about. When Alex steps around the counter, I smile at him, and he returns it with a grimacing smile before he stalks forward.
“They’re over here.” His voice is rough, as if he hasn’t used it in a while. He mimics the motion his companion made, cutting his fingers through his dark hair. When he passes by, his cologne whispers around me—it’s woodsy, with a hint of citrus. I follow him around a bookshelf, only to almost run into him when he stops abruptly.
“I couldn’t help but notice you haven’t decorated the store for Christmas,” I say, trying to make small talk as he scans the shelves. He flicks his amber gaze my way, irritation evident in their depths.
