Oh, Christmas Night by Jane Porter

Author:Jane Porter [Porter, Jane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance
ISBN: 9781951190309
Publisher: Tule Publishing
Published: 2019-11-04T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Rachel had just blown out the large cinnamon scented candle when the front door opened and Atticus stepped into the store carrying a shopping bag.

“Cleaning up is always easier with a separate pair of hands,” he said, setting the paper bag on the counter.

“I’m fine.”

He gave her a long, thoughtful look. “I don’t think that’s actually true.”

“I’m not in the mood.”

“For what?”

“For cheering up, or pity, or positive thinking. I know tonight was a massive failure. Please don’t try to convince me it wasn’t.”

“Tonight you had stiff competition. A band from Missoula was performing across the street at Grey’s. They’re pretty popular around here.” He emptied the shopping bags. “Plastic containers. We don’t want to waste all that food.”

She blinked, eyes burning. “That wasn’t necessary.”

“What were you going to put the food in?”

“I don’t know.”

“Neither did I. So let me help. No one enjoys cleaning up after a party all by themselves.”

The lump in her throat grew. She swallowed hard, fighting exhausted tears. “It wasn’t much of a party.”

“I should have done more to get people here.”

“It wasn’t your party. You don’t need to feel responsible.”

“I know.”

Her chin lifted and she met his gaze. “Atticus, don’t complicate things, please. We’re not on the same team.”

“We’re not enemies, either,” he said quietly. “Just because I’m fighting for this spot, doesn’t mean I’m fighting you. I don’t like seeing you hurt. I don’t want to see you hurt.”

Her pride in tatters, she gave a short nod. “Okay.”

“Where should I start?”

Rachel turned to face the platters overflowing with cookies and cakes and cheese and crackers and fruit, and then there was the chafing dish of meatballs. “Maybe there?” she asked, nodding at the chafing dish.

“You have a lot of meatballs.”

“I went overboard.”

“At least we know you commit. Commitment is a good thing.”

“Unless you are committing to the wrong thing, and then it’s a problem.”

“I don’t see that being something you would do. You’re pretty savvy.”

“I wish I was. But the truth is, I don’t even know what I’m doing anymore. I don’t know what I mean to do with the store. I have a really good job in California and there’s no way I can run Paradise Books from there. And, let’s face it, the store does not have enough revenue to pay for staff, not unless I get very creative very fast.”

“You do have that apartment upstairs. You can always rent that out. It’d provide some income, and maybe pay for staffing for the store.”

“So keep my real job and keep the bookstore?”

“Why not? It’s doable, if you can get the mail-order business going.”

She hated all the emotions washing through her. It was too much emotion. She felt like she was losing control. “I thought you wanted this place.”

“I do, but I don’t want to get it by being underhanded. Far better to acquire the bookstore when you’re ready to sell than to push you into something you’ll later regret.”

She sniffled. “You think I’ll regret selling the store?”

“I think it matters more to you than you care to admit.

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