Jingle Spells. Rhonda Nelson

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      Until now, she hadn’t thought about what would happen if and when her plan worked and she eliminated whatever problem was keeping her from a happily ever after with Cole. Her business didn’t require her to live in a certain place, which meant logically she’d be the one to move.

      She let that idea percolate to see how she felt about it. Turned out she was perfectly okay with leaving Seattle if it meant being with Cole. The decision wouldn’t even be that difficult. As much as she traveled, she could see her friends and family when she was between jobs.

      But her home would be here in Gingerbread with Cole, wherever he lived. Come to think of it, she had no idea what his place was like, which seemed odd to her, considering they’d been naked together so recently. She’d ask him about it when he came to pick her up later that morning.

      Remembering that she had to be ready soon, she tucked into her protein-free but delicious breakfast, took a quick shower in the claw-foot tub with its old-fashioned circular shower rod, and dressed in a clean pair of jeans and one of her nicer sweaters. Until she understood the corporate culture at Evergreen, she’d go with something a bit less casual than her usual techie outfit of old jeans, a faded T-shirt and a hoodie.

      She was in the lobby chatting with Mrs. Gustafson about things to do in town when Cole walked in. Taryn might have been prejudiced, but the guy knew how to make an entrance. He swept in wearing that long black coat, a green wool scarf, and no hat. His tousled dark hair gave him a rakish look she’d never been able to resist.

      “Ah, Cole!” Mrs. Gustafson, plump and graying, clasped her hands together. “Your guest is a delight. She’s already in love with our little town. I hope you’re planning to give her a tour.”

      Cole’s bemused smile indicated he hadn’t planned anything of the sort. “Uh, sure. Why not? But first we have some business to take care of at Evergreen.”

      Mrs. Gustafson waved a hand at him. “Well, I know that. The guests you bring here always have business at Evergreen. But Taryn has taken a real interest in Gingerbread, haven’t you, dear?”

      “I have.” Taryn had to work hard not to laugh at Cole’s uneasiness. “And I’d love a tour if we have the time.”

      Cole’s green eyes flashed with amusement. “I’ll see to it. Shall we go?”

      “I’m ready when you are.”

      “Have fun, you two!” Mrs. Gustafson called after them as they left the cozy lobby.

      “We will!” Taryn called back.

      “Chatting up the landlady?” Cole said once they were on the front porch.

      “Is that a problem?”

      “No, I just...do you really want a tour of Gingerbread?”

      “I wouldn’t mind.” She took a deep breath of the crisp air as they started down the sidewalk toward the parking area. “I like it here.”

      “Well, good...that’s good.”

      She glanced at him, and his cheeks were ruddy. It could have been from the cold, but she suspected he was agitated. “You’d prefer I never come back here, right?”

      “I can’t stop you from doing that if you want to.”

      “But it makes you nervous.”

      “Yes.”

      “You’re the one who raved about the Christmas cheer in Gingerbread. And sure enough, the place is charming. I have friends who would love to vacation here.”

      He sighed. “Then they should.”

      “I think so, too.” She longed to assure him everything would be okay, because she was going to figure this out, but saying anything like that would alert him to her covert plans. For now, he couldn’t know what was in her mind and her heart. Soon enough, he would.

      Getting into his sleek black sedan reminded her of their songfest the night before, but she doubted he wanted to repeat that. He was tense this morning, and she had a hunch as to why. He was second-guessing his course of action. Pulling out of the inn’s parking lot, he drove slowly down the street. As they rolled along, Taryn checked out the shops.

      Cup of Cheer bustled with morning activity. “Cute coffee shop,” she said. “I suppose you never go there.”

      “No, but my sister Belle does.”

      “She still lives in Gingerbread?” Back in college, he’d mentioned two brothers and a sister, but she hadn’t thought to ask where they lived now.

      “We all work for Evergreen.”

      “Oh. That’s nice.” Or it could have been, except that if everyone had to keep the same damned secret, what kind of life did they have here? “Will I be meeting them?”

      “We’ll see. Depends on everybody’s schedule.”

      “You don’t want me getting chummy with your siblings, do you?”

      He glanced over at her. “The thing is, they know you were my college girlfriend.”

      “Aha!” That pleased her immensely. “Then I’d be surprised if they didn’t want to get a look at me. I would, if I were in their shoes.”

      “They probably do want to.” He sounded resigned.

      “Great. Then I will meet them.” She settled back in her seat with a smile.

      Cole, however, was not smiling. In fact, his profile resembled an ice sculpture.

      She’d have loved to thaw him out. “You know, I realized this morning I have no idea where you live.”

      His throat moved as he swallowed. “It, um, doesn’t really matter, does it?”

      “It does to me. I’m not in the habit of taking my clothes off for a man when I have no idea where he lives or what his place looks like. Until this morning, I hadn’t thought about that discrepancy. You do live in Gingerbread, I assume?”

      “Outside of it, but yes, in a sense. It’s the closest town.”

      “Will you let me see your place?”

      “That’s not a good idea.”

      “Why not?”

      “Taryn, don’t push.”

      “I hardly think it’s pushing to want to see your home. Back at MIT we went back and forth between my apartment and your duplex all the time. I knew what was in your refrigerator and you knew what was in mine. Having no idea about your living space feels weird, Cole.”

      He sighed. “We’re not at MIT. And I can’t show you where I live.”

      She heard the note of finality in his voice and tucked that information away. Wherever he lived, the secret lived, too. If that weren’t so, he’d have agreed to take her there.

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