Nolan didn’t recognize the man’s voice, but his face—dirty-blond hair threaded with gray and eyes the same shape and color as Julie’s—gave away the relation to Julie. Nolan, who was taller than the older man by a good half a foot, automatically reached out to grip the offered hand.
“Not so little anymore, sir.”
Julie’s dad laughed. “No need to be so formal. Call me Greg.”
The woman by his side wearing the velvet green dress must be Julie’s mother, then. She turned, and he recognized her from his childhood days.
“Nolan Miller!” She pulled him into a hug before he knew what was happening.
“Nice to see you, Mrs. Green.”
An old woman he did immediately recognize shouldered her way through the kitchen.
“If you people have time to chat, you have time to help the catering staff arrange plates.” Ida Green, a force to be reckoned with even at her age, swatted her son and daughter-in-law away. Nolan was glad for the breathing room. When she held out her arms, he gave her a quick hug. She came up to the middle of his chest.
“Thank you for your help. If all the food is inside, why don’t you take off your coat and grab yourself a cup of punch? Julie should be down any minute.”
Nolan lost whatever he’d been about to say when the woman in question strode into the room. She wore a red dress that hugged her curves and ended just above the knee. Her hair was loose, still clinging to her face in damp waves. Nolan raised his hand and caught her eye. When she smiled, he forgot to breathe. She was gorgeous.
Meanwhile, he still wore his barn jacket with the nearest hat shoved onto his head for the drive. He pulled the hat from his head and ran his fingers through his hair, hoping that he didn’t look too unkempt in comparison. He met her just inside the doorway and touched her lightly on the elbow.
“I was hoping we’d have a chance to talk before the party got into full swing.”
When Julie took his hand, he closed his fingers around hers on instinct. Her hand was so small, her fingers so elegant compared to his. They fit together. She glanced around the chaos of the kitchen—his dad and grandfather were entering with the last of the food—and tugged Nolan into the hall. Even in here, there were little decorations that reminded him of her. Snowflakes strung along the top of the wall. Wrapping paper carefully tucked and taped around the light switch. He smiled and tightened his grip on her hand. When Julie did something, she went all in. He admired that about her.
In the cooler air of the hall—the heat of so many bodies packed into such a closed space was suffocating, to say the least—Julie let out a breath. She blew an errant strand of her hair out of her eyes.
“I had no idea throwing one Christmas party was so much work! I thought I’d already taken care of everything, but Gram has had me running around in circles all day. And a friend just reminded me about my interview in two days. Two days! I can’t believe it’s snuck up on me so fast. I can’t even think about anything else now.” She sighed, then squeezed his hand and looked up at him. “Sorry. I’m glad you’re here. Thank you for all the help you and your family are doing to pull this off. We honestly couldn’t put on this party without you.”
“It’s no trouble,” he said truthfully. He wanted to pull Julie into his arms and hug her, center her, but that wasn’t his role here. He untangled their fingers and pulled away.
She didn’t seem to notice but combed her fingers through her hair. “What did you want to talk about?”
Stay in Pinecone Falls.Right. The chances she would do that after she’d just heaped all her excitement about the interview onto him were less than nil. He shoved his hands into his pockets, balling one around the cold wool of his hat. “Nothing important. You look nice today.”
He had the satisfaction of watching her cheeks turn pink. She felt something for him, but… it probably wasn’t enough.
You won’t know unless you ask.
“Thank you. You look nice too.”
He laughed. “You’re assuming I do. I haven’t even taken off my coat yet.”
Her blush deepened. “You always do.”
Her words were overshadowed by her grandmother’s sharp call. “Julie! Come in here and help with the appetizers. The guests will be arriving soon!”
She glanced into the kitchen before meeting Nolan’s gaze again. “Are you sure it was nothing?”
Ask.
He took a step away from her instead. “I’m sure,” he said. He let her walk away, chiding himself for watching as she left. And for wishing they had longer to talk, to get to know each other.
There was no point in getting to know a woman who was hours away from walking out of his life.
Chapter 34
Julie wished she had more time with Nolan. When she’d pictured putting on the party, this was the part of the evening when she’d envisioned she’d get to sit back and enjoy herself. It was Christmas Eve! Instead, Gram had her arranging crab puffs on a plate.
