Big on Christmas by Jan Romes

Author:Jan Romes [Romes, Jan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Holiday, Contemporary
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2014-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

The smell of apple cider, cinnamon and cloves wafted through the store. “Ready to ditch that tea for something better?” Luke tucked Cassie’s infamous Styrofoam cup behind him. It was three o’clock in the afternoon and the first break they had all day. He was ready to kick back for a few minutes with wassail and Cassie.

Customers had flooded the place to take advantage of his huge clearance sale. They were snatching up garden clogs and boots, birdbaths, solar lighting, patio furniture covers, chainsaws and pruners. Luke was thankful for the business for more reasons than just financial. This morning he remembered kissing Cassie again, after vowing not to. He blamed the alcohol he’d had while playing cards. The truth was more complicated. He liked Cassie. Really liked her. As controlled as he’d like to think he was, he couldn’t control his impulses when it came to her.

“I’ve been waiting to see what all the fuss is about wassail.” Cassie accepted the offered mug, took a taste test and broke into a big smile. “Not bad.”

When she licked her lips Luke wanted to do the same to them.

“There’s hope for you yet, Newman.”

Cassie swept her lashes slowly over her eyes, and her mouth dimpled with a deeper grin.

The jingling of bells cut into the moment and the door banged closed. Quentin Burrows barged in. “Dang wind about took your door off.”

“You’re just in time for wassail.” Cassie ladled a cup and held it out to Quentin.

“Did the card shark give you my present?”

Luke scoffed. “Card shark. Right. A first grader could beat you at cards.”

Cassie topped her cup off with more wassail and avoided Quentin’s eyes. “He gave me your gift.” She pointed to the archway that led to the part of the store with drills, saws, axes, lanterns and wheelbarrows. “Customers have to kiss Luke in order to buy a saw.”

Quentin’s chest bounced up and down with a laugh. “She is on her game, Luke.”

“No kidding.” Luke winked.

“Did you put the mistletoe to good use before you hung it up?”

A tinge of blush coated Cassie cheeks and Luke tried to sway the conversation. “What did you come in for, meathead?”

Cassie slinked away. Quentin watched her leave. “She’s so dang cute. If you’re not going to get her under the mistletoe, I will.”

Luke grabbed the back of Quentin’s jacket. “Leave well enough alone.”

Quentin guffawed. “I love getting you worked up.”

Luke rolled his eyes. “Seriously, what can I get you?”

“The weatherman thinks the nor’easter is going to fizzle before it gets here, but I still want to buy some batteries for my flashlights and new wicks and oil for my oil lamps, just in case.”

“Follow me. But stay away from the mistletoe.”

“No worries. I’d rather kiss a goat than you,” Quentin chortled. When they walked by the kitchen he stuck his head in the room. “You never answered my question. Did you and hot stuff swap spit last night?”

“You’re a pain, Burrows.” Luke grasped him by the jacket once again and tugged.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.