Page 6 of The Christmas List
Fucking hell.
“Bug, I’m not sure we could pull it off. Grams is busy helping Papa get around the house, and this competition sounds like a lot of work. We wouldn’t even have enough people to participate and?—”
She whips those puppy dog eyes up to Josie, cutting me off. “Miss Josie, could you be on our team? It would be so much fun, and I promise my dad won’t be grumpy to you. I’ll make sure of it. I promise.”
My brow furrows. I’m not grumpy… Okay, I’m a little grumpy sometimes, but still.
Josie’s warm brown eyes flick to mine as she pulls her plump, red-coated lip between her teeth. Shit, is she really considering this?
I shove my hands in the pockets of my jeans and swallow roughly.
“Oh please, Miss Josie! It would make me so happy. You’re thequeenof Christmas, remember? We couldn’t lose if we had the queen.Pleaseeeeeee.” Lucy’s sweet pleading is absolutely wearing down Josie’s resolve, and I watch her shoulder dip. I get it because I live with the girl every day, and I’m still not immune to it.
“Well, my family usually participates, but with my brother’s wedding this year, they decided not to, so… I guess I can? But I’m not sure if your dad is up for that?” she says, looking up at me through her thick, dark lashes, asking a silent question once more.
Heavy tension fills the air between us, overpowering the chill. Her eyes hold mine intently as she shifts on her feet.
This is probably not a great idea, I know it, and I’m sure she does too, but she’s so fucking beautiful that my brain seems to short-circuit, and any sense of self-preservation that I have leaves with it.
“I’m okay with it. I mean… if you are? I’m sure you’re busy too, so please don’t feel obliged,” I say gruffly, shrugging. I have no doubt that I’m going to regret agreeing to this, but whatever makes Lucy happy.
And I’d be lying if I said I’m not partially agreeing to it so I can spend time with Josie. Even though I’m well aware that it’s not a good idea.
Because honestly, my life’s complicated right now. A happy one, but still.
I can think of more than one reason not to agree to this. I’ve got my hands full with running the ranch while Papa is down. Raising my daughter alone, trying to be a good father and teach her how to be a good, kind human while giving her the love and attention that she needs. Trying to figure out what I want my life to look like here, once again back home in Strawberry Hollow.
There are a hundred reasons why Ishouldn’tspend time with Josie Pearce, and yet every single one of them I’ve got an excuse for. I’d be lying to myself if I said I didn’t want to spend time with her, and most of all, I just want to make Lucy happy.
“So… we’re doing it? We’re going to be a team?” Lucy asks.
Josie looks at me again, and after a beat of tense staring, she nods. I glance down to my daughter, my lip tugging into a grin, and agree. “Yeah, Luce, we can participate.”
She jumps up and down, squealing and punching the air like she’s already won the competition, causing both me and Josie to laugh as we watch her. Damn, I’ve missed that laugh.
Nerves churn heavily in my gut, but I push them down, instead drinking in my daughter’s joy. I’ll figure out the rest later, including the fact that I’m clearlynotover Josie Pearce.
And I’m not sure how I thought I ever was.
All those old feelings have already begun to resurface, and I’ve barely even seen her. I don’t know how the hell I’m going to pretend they’re not there when we’re forced to spend the next few weeks together.
Fuck.
’Tis the season.
3
josie
It’s been eight years since I’ve been to the Owens Ranch, and as I drive down the long, winding gravel driveway to the cabin where Wyatt and Lucy are staying, nerves swirl heavily in the pit of my stomach.
I never thought I’d be here again after Wyatt left. Truly, I never thought I’d see Wyatt again either.
I come to a stop in front of the small wooden cabin at the back of the property, surrounded by large oak trees, branches heavy with a blanket of fresh snow.
My fingers tighten around the steering wheel as I exhale a deep, stuttering breath, gathering my nerves and trying to quell the wild thrash of my heart.
This is nothing.
