Christmas In Mustang Creek

Charlotte was finding out for herself that change was a challenge, and she had the distinct impression that this sweet old lady could manage anything she wanted to. At least it explained why Jax was there.

Sort of.

Jax was focused on the food. “This looks fantastic.”

He was right; it did.

“The way to a man’s heart.” Mrs. Klozz glowed, either heedless of the timeworn cliché she’d uttered or not caring. Before meeting Millicent, Charlotte hadn’t been aware that people could actually glow, but here was proof.

Not standing on ceremony, Jax picked up the plate of sandwiches and offered it to her. “Ladies first.”

* * *

JAX KNEW HE’D have to come clean, and quickly, because Charlotte was intuitive; she’d guess that something was up. If she didn’t want him there—and he was sure she wouldn’t—he’d go dislodge Rufus and sleep on Nate’s old couch. The thought overwhelmed him with loneliness. And the old house really was homey.

He had to wonder what Charlotte was going to do with a place like this. She was used to sleek apartments, cabs and limos and subways. While the small-town girl with the crocheted hat might thrive living within these walls, he wasn’t so sure about Charlotte’s alter ego, the no-nonsense city woman. And right now he hadn’t figured out which Charlotte he was dealing with.

At Millicent’s urging, they took their places at the table.

In the next moment, Mrs. Klozz bustled off to some other part of the house, presumably to give them some time alone.

Charlotte immediately tucked into a sandwich. Well, that answered one question anyway. “I can’t believe how good this is.” Between bites, she dropped her voice and whispered to Jax, “She can’t stay. I’ll gain a thousand pounds.”

Jax smiled at the picture that arose in his mind. “I doubt that,” he said. “A hundred pounds, maybe. But a thousand?”

Charlotte was still fretful. “This is just too delicious.”

Jax agreed. “Best I’ve ever had.”

City Charlotte was back, as quickly as that. “You never answered my question. Why are you here?”

“I...well... I’ve been invited to live here.”

For a few seconds, he really thought Charlotte was choking. He was this close to performing the Heimlich maneuver.

Then she recovered. “Oh, you mean in Mustang Creek. You’re joining Doc Cameron’s practice.” She hesitated and reached for a second sandwich.

“Well, it’s more than that,” he said solemnly. Might as well get this over with. “I called earlier, as Mrs. Klozz mentioned, to ask you where I should look for a place since you’re familiar with Mustang Creek. One thing led to another, and before I knew it, the woman was showing me the east bedroom, apparently convinced I’d be moving in right away. She even came up with a few odd jobs for me to do, starting with walking Mutley.”

“Here?” Charlotte paused midbite, her green eyes wide. “You mean, here here? In this house?”

This was how he’d pictured the conversation going, but it was little comfort. Against all reason, he’d already started thinking of the place as home. When had that happened?

“I wouldn’t be around much,” he heard himself say. “I’m good at fixing things. And I do need a place to stay, as I said before.” He studied Charlotte’s face; she seemed astonished, though not affronted. “But it wasn’t my idea, Charlie. I swear.”

“You can’t sleep down the hall from me.” She wasn’t looking at him; she seemed to be lost in thought.

He should have shut up, he knew that, but he couldn’t refrain from trying to make his case. “Charlie, I’m not going to ravish you, all right? Remember last night? We were in the same room and I didn’t so much as touch you, did I?”

Her response couldn’t have surprised him—or delighted him—more. “I’m not worried that you’ll ravish me, Jax. I’m worried I’ll ravish you.”

The instant the words were out of Charlotte’s mouth, she regretted them. She reddened, obviously horrified. She glared at him, but he could tell she was bluffing. “Forget I said that,” she ordered.

Never.

Things were already improving.

“I’ll lock my door,” he promised, taking a banana muffin. He was very careful not to smile, although he wanted to. God, how he wanted to. He cleared his throat and tried to look earnest. “Seriously, I don’t want to make you uncomfortable. I’ll find a room or apartment somewhere, and in the meantime... I’ve slept in worse places than Nate’s couch.”

Right on cue, Mutley came over and laid his head on Charlie’s leg, gazing up at her. She said curtly, “Mut, don’t take his side. Hasn’t anybody told you that dogs are supposed to be loyal?”

Jax sensed victory. “He loves you, that’s all,” he said in the animal’s defense.

And so do I.

“It’s a male conspiracy to make me say yes.”

Just before Jax took a bite out of a muffin, he asked hopefully, “Is it working?”

“Maybe. I’m fond of Mutley. He’s a hard guy to refuse.”

“Well, then, there you go.”

“Plus, it wouldn’t hurt to have some money coming in.”

Jax allowed himself a grin. “I’ll pay double the going rate,” he said.

“Don’t push it,” Charlie warned. Then she sighed again. “If Mrs. Klozz is behind this, and of course she is, I might as well go with the flow. I’m powerless to resist.”

He felt the same way.

Jax took his time, using his napkin to wipe his mouth as an excuse not to respond immediately. “Let’s take this slowly. I’d appreciate the hospitality, at least for tonight, because the alternative is either the hotel—if they have a room available—or bedding down on Nate’s couch. With his bloodhound, Rufus by name. I’m as fond of bloodhounds as the next guy, but they’re heavy and they drool a lot. A bed here would certainly be preferable.”

Charlotte rubbed her forehead, looking beleaguered—and amused. “Go ahead and stay until you find something else. You should know, however, that I haven’t got the slightest idea what I’m doing with my life. That’s about as honest as I can be. I lost my job, for one thing.”

“I gathered that from your online post.” Oops. He blamed his slip on the muffin; it was delicious. Beyond delicious. “I’m sorry about the job, but not sorry you left New York. Want a bite?”

She plucked off a morsel and ate it. Her shoulders slumped. “I’m not sorry, either. I just want it understood that I have no idea where my plans are right now. Let me get through the holidays first.”

He might argue with the assumption that he was there in pursuit of her, except that it was true. It made sense. If you lived in Idaho, met a woman in New York City and then showed up in someplace like Mustang Creek, Wyoming, your intentions were pretty unmistakable.

Subtle, he wasn’t.

“I’m planning to spend Christmas Eve at the clinic,” he threw out, in case she thought he’d need hand-holding over the holidays.

“You’re in charge of the pet adoption thing this year? Aunt Geneva was telling me about it today. She still reads the weekly paper from cover to cover. Luckily, she’ll be home for Christmas. I’d find it hard to feel merry without her.”

Mrs. Klozz came back in then, followed by the cat, his tail swishing. “I’ve been informed that cats need to eat, too.” Her comment was punctuated by a demanding feline yowl. “You see? Jaxon, would you mind getting Mutley out of here? If only they made dog food that tasted like cat food, then everyone would be happy. He shamelessly eats it in one gobble, and poor Can-Can is left in the lurch.”