He met her eyes. Could he commit to that? He was probably at the halfway mark of attending Christmas events right now and could easily bow out of the rest of them. If he agreed, then not only would he be facing more of a holiday he’d hated for his entire life, but he’d be spending a lot more time around Noelle.
The exposure therapy for Christmas might just work to turn it into a holiday he loved. But exposure to more of Noelle might just make him fall more in love with her, too. And he knew just how dangerous that would be to his heart.
But still, he found himself nodding and saying, “Okay, it’s a deal.”
nine
NOELLE
Noelle pulledup in front of her parents’ house in her own car. It was so nice to have Elfie back! It wasn’t as nice as the rental she’d been driving, but it was great to feel “home” again in her car. She opened the back door to let Aiden and his dog, Bailey, out. Aiden immediately grabbed Bailey’s leash and ran across the lawn, weaving between all the lawn decorations, to where her family was congregating around the hot chocolate before the hayride, excited to introduce his dog to her parents’ dog, Captain.
Noelle went around to help Rachel out of the car, but she was doing well enough that she was out before Noelle even got there. She looped her arm in Rachel’s like they were sisters, so she was right there if Rachel needed any help.
They walked through the mostly tramped-down snow, around the nativity and the giant ornaments. Rachel looked to where Aiden was making himself at home with Noelle’s family. “Thank you so much for all you’ve done for Aiden. You’ve gone well beyond everything I was hoping for him.”
Noelle looked at Aiden, too. “He’s a cool kid. I’ve enjoyed every moment of it. And I’m so glad you’re feeling well enoughto join us for the hayride! It’s one of my favorite traditions, and if you’re going to experience one, this is it. It was my gran-gran’s favorite, too.”
Rachel smiled as they made their way across the snow-covered ground. “From what little I’ve heard of your gran-gran, she sounds like she was a pretty cool person.”
“She was. I was kind of worried about today because it was one of our favorite traditions, but I’m doing better than I thought I would. Last year, celebrating felt like we were just ignoring that she was no longer with us. This year, though, it feels like we are honoring her by continuing the traditions she loved.”
“It sounds like that’s what she would’ve wanted.” Rachel smiled and gave her arm a little squeeze. “Thank you for including me.”
Based on the Christmas decorations in Rachel’s yard, Noelle figured that she actually did like the holiday. She probably hadn’t been able to celebrate it much at all, though. “Do you think it might make you nauseous? We do go pretty slow, but it’s sometimes a little bumpy.”
“I’m doing pretty good today, actually. I think I’ll be okay.”
Noelle grinned and led them toward the table filled with hot chocolate supplies where all of her family was congregating.
This year, she was even more excited about the hayride. Not only was Jack coming, but Rachel was there, too. Which meant that she’d be able to get some more info about Jack.Now that she was seeing his personal side and finding out more and more about him, the more she wanted to know. She felt like she was stranded in the desert, and information about Jack was a jug of cool water—she just couldn’t get enough of it.
It didn’t take long after Noelle introduced Rachel to her parents and sisters and their spouses and kids that Rachel was chatting with her and her sisters like they had known each othertheir whole lives. And it didn’t take long for Noelle to start picturing her as a sister-in-law.
Stop that, she chided herself.Nothing is happening between you and your boss, so stop setting yourself up for heartbreak.
And then Jack pulled up in front of her parents' house and got out of his car. When his eyes found hers, he wore an expression that had her whispering out loud, “Or maybe I’m wrong.” Because the smile on his face felt like it was just for her. It quirked up on one side just slightly more than the other, and his eyes were all soft and warm, and it made her stomach flutter and happiness wash over her. And gosh, he looked good even in a wool coat, gloves, a hat, and a scarf.
His eyes stayed on her as he walked around the lawn decorations and across the snow, only leaving hers for a moment while he went up to Rachel, gave her a hug, then gave a nod toward the hot chocolate. She nodded, then his eyes were immediately back on Noelle’s. So, of course, she took a couple of steps to the hot chocolate table.
“Hi,” he said, and it felt like so much was loaded into that single word.
“Hi,” she breathed back, practically melting. Then, realizing that her dad was at the hot chocolate table, ladle in hand, she cleared her throat and said, “Would you like some hot chocolate?”
Jack nodded. “I’ll get some for Rachel first.”
Aiden noticed that his uncle had arrived, so he came running over from where he’d been playing with his new friends, Bailey at his side. Her dad ladled up hot chocolate into four cups, and Noelle helped Aiden make his—mixing in chocolate chips and a massive scoop of whipped cream—while Jack added caramel and a pinch of sea salt to Rachel’s.
Then she and Jack started making their own. She reached for the spoon in the raspberry jelly, her favorite hot chocolate mix-in, at the same time as Jack reached for it, their hands bumping. “You like raspberry in yours?” No one in her family liked it. Well, except for Gran-gran.
He looked at her, surprise on his face. “You do, too?”
The biggest shock, though, was when they both reached for the cayenne pepper next.
“No way,” Noelle’s dad said. “I thought Noelle was the only person on the planet who liked raspberry and cayenne in hot chocolate.”
Jack gave her that smile she loved that quirked up more on one side. “I’ve always thought she had impeccable taste.”
“Corbin,” Katie said to Becca’s husband as she pulled her phone out of her pocket. “Are you ready for an interview?”
