Lydia's Pine Harbor Christmas, стр. 4
“Close enough.”
“Sorry. I just think you two are so cute together.”
Lydia nodded. “We are. We’re adorable—adorable friends, which is all we’ll ever be.”
Allie had that look on her face she got when she was thinking of rearranging the shop, which was fine for the shop but not so fine for Lydia’s life.
“I can’t be misreading the signals. You two have chemistry—maybe not on the surface, but there’s something there.” Her voice trailed off as she looked over at Lydia.
Lydia considered whether to confide in Allie. Although Allie was more of her mother’s friend—reason enough to exercise caution—she was Allie’s friend too. But Allie was also her boss. Lydia decided that some things were better left unspoken—like her feelings for Marco.
Allie shrugged. “Well, I still need some fresh greenery to finish the brewpub. And we’ll need votive candles and holders for the tables. Oh, and floral wire. I can get that when I pick up the mistletoe. We’ll hang that strategically throughout the bar.”
“I feel a sexual harassment lawsuit coming on.”
Allie raised an eyebrow. “Do you mean to tell me that if Marco cornered you under some mistletoe, you’d sue him?”
“No, I’d sue you. Oh, look! Here we are! Thanks for the ride. See you tomorrow.” Lydia hopped out of the car and rushed into her apartment, which was conveniently located next door to Allie’s shop.
Once inside her room, she let down her carefree demeanor and thought about the new situation Allie had created. She knew about Lydia’s feelings. That much was clear. How she knew was a mystery to Lydia, but she could think of no other explanation for Allie’s sudden interest in playing matchmaker for them. She’d picked up on the chemistry, which was a polite way of describing Lydia’s starry-eyed gaze fixed on Marco whenever she was near him. She was no Madame Curie, but chemical reactions didn’t work just one way. That was what she had with Marco.
Allie knew her too well. What she didn’t know was that for months, Lydia had been trying to let go of those feelings, but her heart wouldn’t obey. She was trying so hard to get over Marco, then Allie had to butt in. Allie meant well, but she had just thrown fuel on the fire.
A whole morning with Marco—it was torture, yet she looked forward to it.
Three
Marco parked his SUV at the end of a private road at the top of a hill. Lydia hopped out and met Marco at the back of the car.
As he opened the hatch, she said, “Are you sure it’s okay if we trespass all over the place, taking evergreen branches from somebody’s land?”
Marco smiled at her as if she were a child. “You worry too much.”
“About trespassing? Yes, because as much as I love Christmas, I’d rather not go to jail for traipsing around someone’s property and denuding the landscape.”
Marco turned to face her and put his hands on her shoulders. Her heart skipped a beat, but she pulled it together. We’re just friends. There is nothing between us. My heart is not pounding. Nor am I aware of the gentle pressure of his fingertips on my shoulders or the way he is gazing straight into my eyes without saying a word. For God’s sake, please stop. Do not part your lips.
Marco blinked. He was frowning, as though he’d just awoken from a horrible dream. She’d just had a dream, too, only hers wasn’t horrible.
He looked confused. “Sorry, I just…”
Had a nightmare? It was about me, wasn’t it? I know. I get it.
“I, uh, was going to say that we have permission to be here. Theo’s saving up for a down payment on this land. He’s friends with the owner, so we’re good.”
“That’s a relief. I had visions of an unkempt recluse emerging from a cabin—probably irate and possibly armed.”
Marco peered at her. “So you’re okay with a recluse who’s fastidiously kempt?”
“Yes, and I’d probably date him.”
Suppressing a grin, Marco said, “In that case, I’ll keep an eye out.”
“Thank you.” She reached for the sled in the back of the car.
“Leave it. We should be able to find what we need within a short walk from the car. If that doesn’t work out, we can come back for that later.”
“What’ll we use for the branches?”
He reached into the back and pulled out two enormous Ikea bags and gave one to her.
“That’ll work.” She turned toward the woods. “Which way?”
Marco pointed, and they were off on their evergreen adventure. As soon as they entered the woods, the smell of pine trees engulfed them.
Lydia took in a deep breath. “I thought Allie was nuts when she sent us out here, but it’s gorgeous up here and so quiet and peaceful.”
Marco’s eyes lit up as he looked up at the trees. “I love it here. Theo and I have talked about building two cabins. With about a dozen acres to work with, there’s plenty of room.”
“That sounds perfect.”
With a mischievous look in his eye, he said, “Perfect for what?”
Her mind took off on its own side trip as she thought about Marco living in his perfect little cabin in the woods, overlooking the ocean. All it was missing was her. And there she was again, back on her usual circuit in which her mind ran around a romance-laden track like a runner who didn’t know enough to stop. Of course, the only exercise she got was in futility. She desperately wanted to be free, which was why hiking with him was such a bad idea.
“Hello? Perfect for what?”
“What? Oh. Cabin building. You could be a recluse-in-training. While you’re at it, you could build a still, hide it from the revenuers, and supply the brewpub with your own moonshine in canning jars.” Her mind wandered to thoughts of Marco shirtless in overalls—typically not her favorite look for a man, but for Marco, she could make an exception.
“That’s an oddly thorough plan you’ve cooked up.”
“I’ve got an oddly thorough imagination.” That is so