Christmas at Cedar Creek by J.L. Jarvis

Author:J.L. Jarvis [Jarvis, J.L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781942767398
Publisher: Bookbinder Press

They stayed up late laughing and talking. They even broke down and watched a Christmas movie. As the credits rolled, Cole joked about the transformation being complete as he lifted his cocktail napkin and pretended to dab his eyes. Even as he did it, he felt another transformation at work in his heart. It was almost too late to turn back. He was falling for her.

Abruptly, Cole stood to leave. “This was a really fun day.”

Sophie followed him to the door and waited while he fastened his coat. As he put his scarf around his neck, Sophie reached out and smoothed down the edge. It was a casual gesture until their eyes met, and they froze.

He half whispered, “Sophie.”

They closed the space between them and kissed. It was tender, and yet as they pressed close together, Cole felt as though he had stepped too close to the edge. He was the first to pull back, but Sophie wasn’t too far behind.

He heard his own husky “I’m sorry,” as he tried to read her expression. She looked stunned, but he couldn’t discern whether it was from pleasure or abhorrence. Whatever it was, he knew he had stepped over the line and pushed their friendship to a place it was never meant to be. He’d been determined to keep his feelings under control, and he’d failed. He wasn’t ready to open his heart. This was a mistake.

With a muttered “Bye, Sophie,” he left.

The walk home was bitterly cold, as if his confusion weren’t misery enough.

Hours later, he sat in an old Morris chair and stared into the fire while he struggled to reconcile his head and his heart. His psychology degree hadn’t been of much use to him since graduation, except to convince him that he was depressed. Since losing his business, he’d lost the ability to enjoy aspects of life that he used to relish. He barely thought about getting on his bike anymore, although the snow would have prohibited riding anyhow. He didn’t care about what the future held for him. All the plans and dreams he had cherished and worked diligently for had been senselessly ruined. Hopelessness overwhelmed him for most of his waking moments—except when he was with Sophie. With her, he felt almost alive.

As flames burned their pattern through the logs in the fire, Cole went through it over and over again, but it always led to one irrefutable fact. He had nothing to give her except disappointment.

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