Rescued by the Magic Of Christmas

The gesture, no doubt meant to be platonic, sent unexpected tingles shooting out from the point of contact. Carly gulped. She hadn’t experienced tingles in…years.

No big deal.

“From your lips to the judges’ scores,” Jacob said.

She glanced up at him. “It’s delicious.”

His gaze met hers. “I’m happy you like it.”

“My new favorite.”

“Mine, too. Especially if it keeps that big smile on your face.”

The way he stared at her, as if she were the only woman in the room, made Carly’s insides clench. Her temperature shot up. She looked away.

“Thanks for putting the beer into production.” She watched a bead of moisture run down her glass. “It means…a lot.”

“I know.”

Carly got the feeling he knew a little too much. She took another swig of her beer, but the liquid did nothing to cool her off or help her relax.

So what if he still had his hands on her shoulders?

No big deal.

He might still be a total hottie, but she wasn’t a schoolgirl with a crush on her brother’s best friend. No reason to freak out.

Jacob removed his hands. Thank goodness. Carly blew out a puff of air.

As he sat on the bench next to her, his thigh brushed hers. More tingles and a burst of heat erupted where he’d touched her. She scooted away. “Where are the kids?”

“In my office playing cards,” he said. “They finished their ice cream sundaes and were still hungry so I gave them cookies.”

Hannah tsked. “You spoil them, Jake.”

“I indulge them,” he countered. “A big difference.”

His easy grin made him look younger and so carefree. Compared to him, Carly felt old and troubled.

Sure, she was home for the first time in years surrounded by family and old friends. Laughter and cheers filled the air, a good time being had by all the smiling faces. But something was missing.

Not something, Carly realized.

Nick and Iain.

She looked across the table at Hannah, resting her head on Garrett’s shoulder. How did she handle this? Not just evenings like this, but every night, every day, raising Nick’s kids in his house, in his hometown where memories lay waiting around every corner.

Somehow Hannah had found the hope and the courage to love again. And had made her peace with the past.

Not Carly.

She had barely made it through dinner tonight.

She stared at her bare hands. There hadn’t been an engagement ring on her finger for years—never a wedding band like Hannah had worn. And yet…

Carly glanced sideways at Jacob, her cheeks warming. She almost felt guilty for being so aware of the man sitting next to her. It seemed strange to be feeling this way, for reacting to his nearness and his touch. This was where Iain had tended bar and she waited tables. Where they would have celebrated their rehearsal dinner had he made it down the mountain.

But he hadn’t made it down. And she hadn’t died up there with him even though it had felt like that at the time.

Losing him and Nick had hurt so bad.

She had wanted only to forget, but perhaps it was time to follow Hannah’s example and remember.

Instead of avoiding the past, Carly could try to embrace it. Maybe then she could finally put the pieces of her heart back together and learn to love…again.