Lifting his hand to her face, he brushed a lock of hair off her cheek. “I’m not going anywhere for a few months. Why don’t we stay friends and see what happens?”
She liked that idea, but she needed to be clear about her intentions. She’d worked hard to get where she was and she wouldn’t give that up, even if Aidan was the best thing that had ever happened to her.
“I won’t change my mind about leaving,” she gently told him.
“I don’t expect you to. Who knows? If we spend more time together, we might decide we’re better off as friends and nothing more.”
Jackie couldn’t see that happening, but his smile took away some of her disappointment. “You could be right, especially if we have to dance together again. I didn’t step on your toes last night, but I can’t guarantee you’ll be safe next time.”
“We’d better cross ballroom dancing off our list of date options, then.” He grinned and let go of her hands. “If you show me where you keep the chocolate powder, I’ll make our drinks. And while I’m doing that, you can tell me how the plans for your knitting store are coming along.”
Jackie walked into the kitchen with him and took a container off the counter. A relationship with Aidan might be doomed to failure, but she enjoyed spending time with him. All she had to do was focus on each day and forget about tomorrow.
But, for someone who didn’t leave anything to chance, spending time with Aidan was more than a leap of faith. It was like jumping off a skyscraper and expecting to fly.
CHAPTER10
On Tuesday afternoon, Jackie sat with Daniella in her office at The Fairy Forest. They were hunched over a wooden table, going over the menu options for the upcoming Christmas gala. The scent of the cinnamon cookies Jackie had brought with her filled the air as they debated between white chocolate and cranberry bliss balls or gingerbread cookies for dessert.
Daniella tapped her pen against her chin. “We’re already having cheesecake, red velvet cake, and apple pie, but so many people enjoy Brooke’s bliss balls that I’d love to include them.”
“Maybe we can have both? We could serve the bliss balls with the gingerbread cookies after dessert,” Jackie suggested. “The children will enjoy them, and they’d be a nice option for the adults to have with a cup of eggnog or coffee.”
Daniella smiled. “That sounds like a good plan. Can we afford to have both?”
Jackie studied the budget they’d allocated for the catering. “Easily. By using local caterers, we’re saving a lot of money.” The company that usually provided the food for the events at The Fairy Forest was busy on the night of the Christmas gala. So, they were splitting the contract into two. The church’s hospitality class would provide the dinner buffet, and Megan and Brooke from Sweet Treats would provide dessert and coffee options. It would make working from The Fairy Forest’s kitchen a little hectic, but it would give the local economy a boost.
“It’s a deal, then.” Daniella picked up the menus spread around the table and grinned. “It was more fun choosing a menu than I thought. Usually, it takes ages for people to decide what they’ll have.”
“Unfortunately, I don’t have the luxury of time. Whenever I’m not working with Paris in The Flower Cottage or doing this, I’m knitting.”
“How are the plans going for your new business?”
“Slowly. I can’t do anything until I hear from the bank.”
Daniella frowned. “When were they supposed to get back to you?”
“I thought it would’ve been yesterday, but I haven’t heard anything.”
“Have you checked your emails this afternoon?”
Jackie shook her head. “Not since lunchtime.”
“Look now. You never know, they might’ve made a decision.”
Biting her bottom lip, Jackie took her cell phone out of her pocket. Each time she’d checked her messages, her heart had pounded out of control. “I’m worried they’ll say no.”
“I was the same. When you have your heart set on something, it makes waiting so much worse.”
With a trembling hand, Jackie opened her email account and scrolled through the messages. “Oh, my goodness. The email has arrived. Wish me luck.”
Daniella leaned forward. “You don’t need luck. You have an amazing opportunity that the bank would be crazy not to support.”
“I hope you’re right.” Taking a deep breath, she tapped on the email. As she read through it, her eyes widened, and a huge grin spread across her face. “I’ve got it! I got the loan I need to start my business!”
“That’s wonderful!” Daniella said as she hugged Jackie tight.
After taking a deep breath, Jackie smiled at her friend. “I’ll call Penny and let her know I can lease the cottage. I’ll feel less stressed when I know that’s done.”
