Chapter Two
Caroline
I almost feel guilty for staring at his butt and then startling him until he rudely yelled at me. He is a jerk, the finest jerk in the world. Taller than any man should be allowed to be when I’m only five-four, and too damn built. He had on a puffy sports coat, and I could still make out his broad, muscular physique underneath. The man has to be at least six four. A whole giant foot taller than me. What the heck was he worried about falling for? The snow was nearly up to his thigh. He would have had a safe landing, or at least I tell myself that after being so careless.
I’ve never felt so guilty and angry at the same time. As soon as he saw me, his tone changed. I know guys like that. They see a cute chick, and they change their tune, but I’m not playing that game. Besides, I have no idea who he is. This is only the second time I’ve seen him since I moved in. He could be a family member or her husband. I’m always working, so it’s not like I keep an eye on people’s schedules. I hope for her sake he isn’t her man because he was clearly trying to flirt with me, and that is so repulsive.
I rush off and go to the grocery store. When I return, the handsome guy is gone. I send up a silent prayer because that means I won’t have to see him again for at least a couple of weeks.
When I return home with the missing ingredients, I set them on the counter in my kitchen and get to work, baking my holiday cookies. I started the project before I saw the hostile yet gorgeous man on the ladder, but then I ran out of butter and brown sugar, so I had to make a trip to the store. It’s my only day off for a few days. Plus, I actually have a date tonight, somethingI absolutely never do, and I’m almost positive I’m going to regret it.
An hour and a half later, my cookies are baked, racked, and cooled, so I decide to take a small batch over to my neighbor across the street to apologize for startling her boyfriend or whatever he is.
He hasn’t returned, so I rapidly knock on the door, hoping to do a quick apology and hand off.
“Oh, hello. Come on in,” she says as she opens the door, wiping her hands on a kitchen towel.
Shit, I don’t remember her name. “Carrie, isn’t it?” she says as she continues to stroll into her kitchen. Her house mirrors mine in layout, and the décor is similar except she has green and white with hints of gold. Everything feels woodsy and whimsical here.
“Carrie is a nickname. My name is Caroline,” I answer as I trail after her, waving my tin of cookies.
“Sorry. It’s Chloe, by the way.” She turns around, stopping so quickly that I nearly slam into her.
“I don’t mind being called Carrie at all.” I straighten myself and set the tin on the counter. “So, I don’t know what happened outside earlier, but I just want to apologize for my brother.”
My head tilts slightly as I try to process the words. “Your brother?”
“Yes, that big old beastly man. He’s a little grumpy since he ripped his jacket on the ladder.”
“Oh, no. That’s totally my fault. I’m so sorry. I just thought he was having a problem up there. I was about to call for help, and I accidentally startled him.”
She covers her mouth to stop herself from giggling. “I shouldn’t laugh. That wouldn’t be nice if my brother fell, but startling him is extremely hard to do.”
“No, it wouldn’t be nice if he fell, but he was so upset with me.”
She waves my concern off. “Oh, he’s fine. My brother just does not like the holidays. He particularly hates Christmas.”
“He does?”
“Totally, like the worst holiday ever to him. He’s got the idea that people give gifts to people they don’t care about just to make themselves look good.”
“Oh, wow.” My mouth falls open and closed in slow motion.
“I personally love the holiday; it brings great memories.”
“Me too; I find it comforting. Well, I brought you some cookies that I thought you could enjoy as a peace offering, and I just wanted to apologize again.”
“Thank you. He’s supposed to come back later, so maybe I’ll save him some.” She giggles. “Or not.” We both laugh.
“Honestly, I thought he was your boyfriend.” I bite my lip, waiting to see what she says, and her face instantly contorts into a grin before she flips into hysterics.
“Oh my goodness.” She gasps as she tries to catch her breath. “That’s hysterical. I’m totally telling him you thought that. He’s going to be grossed out.”
I don’t think it’s that funny, but then again, if I was in her shoes, I would crack up too. “My brother would say the same thing if people thought that too.” Immediately I think about my brother, and I’m sad because I miss him.My brother is in the military, so I don’t see him that often. He’s definitely not aroundfor the holidays this year, which is so depressing. He hasn’t even seen my new house that I bought with my first grown-up money.
I check my smart watch, and it’s past time for me to jump in the shower. “Actually, I have a date, so I need to go get ready.”
“Oh, where are you going, if you don’t mind me asking?”
