Page 27 of Chasing Cheer
“Don’t wait for my drink to arrive. I know how you feel about coffee.”
He raised his mug toward her in gratitude. “Thanks. This will get me through the next round of sanding.” He took a sip of the warm liquid, everything about the sensation causing him to both relax and perk up. Some of the tension in his head slowly started to subside.
Holly looked at her watch, her brow furrowed.Is she late for something?He had seen her looking at it a few times before. When she saw him noticing, she tucked her hands under the table.
Tyler returned with their orders a few moments later and whispered in his ear, “Sofia wanted me to let you know that Lucas is here.”
Ash sat up, the coffee suddenly feeling cold in his hands.What is he doing here today?The tension instantly returned.
“Everything okay?” Holly asked, studying him. He tried to smooth his facial expression and took another sip of his coffee.
“Yeah. We just have an unexpected guest.” He nodded his thanks at Tyler, who left them with their lunch plates.
Ash flexed his hands again, still trying to work out the tension from holding the sander. “The Christmas faire is going to be here before we know it. I’m really glad we’re taking care of Santa’s sleigh now, at least. The chamber of commerce is having a meeting in the café tomorrow night, and most of the vendors will be there. You’re welcome to join, if you feel like it. Fair warning—you may get suckered into volunteering more than you already have. I’ll try to tell them you already have your hands full with the sleigh, and maybe that will keep them off you.” He watched Holly’s face as he spoke, hoping she wouldn’t feel overwhelmed. Their little town could be a lot.
But she simply nodded and let out a delicate laugh. It sounded like music to his ears after the news about Lucas.
“Thanks for the warning. Don’t worry. I won’t volunteer for anything I can’t handle.”
She always told him she could hold her own, and from what he’d seen, she was right.
“After the miracle you worked at the fall festival, I’m not sure there’s anything you can’t handle.”
They picked up their sandwiches then and began to eat, with Ash occasionally interjecting to say hello to someone walking through the restaurant. As old friends and acquaintances walked by, he found himself wanting to introduce Holly to each of them. Once he realized he’d introduced her to three people during the half hour they’d sat there, he decided he might need to take it easy.
“People are so friendly here,” Holly mused. “It reminds me of home.” She glanced out the window, which was covered in frost despite the lack of snow. It seemed her thoughts drifted for a moment, and he assumed she must be thinking of Canada. He had a feeling he would love her home too.How magical does a place have to be to produce a woman like this?
“Emerald Hollow has that effect on people.” He thought of all the good people who were part of his life. Then he thought of the one who wasn’t. “Though not everyone is taken by its charms.” He quickly stood and bussed their table before Holly could inquire about what he’d meant.Why did I share that last part?It seemed like his brain had no filter around her.
He remembered that Sofia had told him she’d shared with Holly the fact that his mom had left when he was young. She’d felt bad about sharing his private information and said the words had just flowed out of her unexpectedly. He didn’t blame her. He’d trusted Holly immediately, as well. He collected himself as he carried away their dishes then returned to the table.
“I’m heading back to the workshop to finish sanding. If you want, I can call you when I’m done, and you can get started with the painting whenever you’d like. Did you determine whether there are any other materials you need? I can send someone to the hardware store.” His mind was sparking on all cylinders again, fueled by coffee and lunch. Even as he spoke, he was scanning the restaurant and lobby, making sure there was nothing that needed tending to.And where did Lucas wander off to?He should see why he was there.
“It’s fine, Ash. Everything I need is in the warehouse.”
He smiled at her casual use of his nickname. Everyone who knew him around Emerald Hollow called him Ash, but he loved how quickly she’d adopted it.
“Great. What’s your phone number? I’ll text you when I’m done sanding.”
He pulled out his phone, and Holly shook her head, a panicked expression flashing across her face. He wanted to ask her if she was okay, but he spotted Lucas in the café, which momentarily distracted him.
“Oh, I don’t have a phone with me currently.”
He turned back to Holly, and her expression was back to normal—calm, open, beautiful.
“Maybe I’ll just check in at the warehouse in an hour. Or you can leave a message for me by calling the lobby. I’m just going to run an errand, then I’ll be ready to start painting.”
He studied her for a moment longer, still feeling like he had missed something important, but he shrugged, letting it go. If there were things she didn’t want to share, he didn’t want to force her. He’d just done the same when the conversation had almost veered to his mom.
“Okay, then. I’ll call the lobby. See you in a bit.” He gave her a soft smile then watched as she exited the house. When she was out of sight, he took a deep breath and entered the café.
“Hey, Luc.” He kept his tone even and casual. Lucas didn’t intimidate him, but their history was murky. And Lucas’s visits were never for social calls, at least not anymore. “What can I do for you today?”
Lucas had been his friend as a child. He was a couple of inches taller than Ash, but Ash always felt that their eyes were level with one another. Lucas’s beard had grown out a bit since he’d seen him last, and the dark hair was a strong contrast to his pale skin. He sensed that something else was different, too, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.
“Ash.” Lucas nodded at him, his voice curt. “Just came for a cup of coffee. That’s still allowed, right?”
“Of course,” Ash replied, though he didn’t trust the explanation.
