Hunter’s lips curved into a smile, and his dimple flashed. “Now, isn’t that the million-dollar question?”
Aaron drew his brows together.What? Oh!He wasn’t sure if it was intentional flirtation and didn’t know whether he wanted it to be, but he pulled himself straighter, assuming a mantle of professionalism. “Were you after something in particular? A gift, perhaps?”
“No. I’m not shopping for anything today. Actually, Mom asked me to come by.”
“Oh.” Aaron’s traitorous heart fell.Damn!He didn’twantto be disappointed that Hunter was here at someone else’s request, but it seemed his heart had other ideas.
“It’s a nice place you have here.” Hunter wandered up to the center table and lifted a small wooden nutcracker doll from the toys displayed there. “How long has the store been open?”
“Hmm… small talk. You don’t have to pretend to be interested.”
Hunter looked taken aback, and Aaron felt a flare of guilt at snapping his head off.
“Iaminterested, Aaron. You used to be my friend. I understand that we’re not exactly friends anymore, but we are acquaintances, and as such, perhaps we can be civil?”
“You’re the one who started with me yesterday!”
Hunter shrugged. “It’d been a long car ride.”
“That’s a shit excuse—”
“Look, I wasn’t exactly relishing coming back to town, okay? You caught me at a bad moment—both mentally and physically. The car was fucked, I was cold and pissed off, and… shit. Sorry. You don’t need to hear all my shit.”
He looked at Aaron with those warm brown eyes, eyes that used to make Aaron melt and seemed to be having the familiar effect even after all these years and Hunter’s asshole behavior. “I—”
“Can we maybe let bygones be bygones? I’m only here for a short while, and I’ll be gone before you know it.”
If he didn’t know better, he’d think Hunter was nervous. The poor little nutcracker must have been getting dizzy from being turned over and over in his hands. Aaron walked over and took the toy from Hunter’s fingers—watching him handle the damn thing had been too distracting. He placed it back in its row of soldiers, making sure the line was straight, all the little figurines marching in formation toward a dish full of colorfully wrapped candies.
“I—” He was going to say was that he thought they were past that point, past the stage of being able to forget what happened between them, but the track changed and the melodic tones of Michael Buble’s ‘It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas’ filled the store. Christmas, in Aaron’s mind, was a season for friends and family, and yes, maybe for forgiveness. He smiled at Hunter, this time with some warmth. If Hunter was willing to put their history behind him, then he was too. “What’s a bygone anyway?”
“It means—”
Aaron chuckled. “I know what it means, Hunter. Sure, let’s just try to enjoy the festive season, shall we?” He held out his hand.
Hunter seemed to consider his outstretched palm for a moment before taking Aaron’s hand in his own.
Aaron ignored the shiver that ran up his arm. He could do this. He just needed to push the memories of some of the sweetest times in his life away.Hunter is an acquaintance, that’s all.He was going to see him around town, but it wasn’t like they had to become best buddies. Again.Aaron cleared his throat. “So what was the errand?”
“What? Oh!” Hunter shoved his hands into his pockets. “Mom said you had some decorations for her?”
Uh-huh, business.That he could handle. “I do. Melody thought it was about time we freshened things up a bit and bought some new decorations—”
“And you had nothing to do with it?” Hunter said, his tone teasing, his gaze dancing around the brightly decorated store.
“Uh, I might have made a suggestion here or there. But you know your mom. She’s over the top about decorating.”
“Yeah. I can’t imagine she took much convincing.”
“I’ve got half a dozen cartons out the back.” Aaron gestured toward the back of the store where the storeroom was located. “Did you want to take them now or do you need me to deliver them?”
“I’ll take them. I’ve borrowed the truck, so there’s heaps of room, so long as they aren’t too big.”
Aaron considered for a moment. “There are a few boxes, but they should fit.”
Hunter looked at his feet, then back at Aaron, hands still shoved deep in his pockets. He finally met Aaron’s eyes. “There’s something I should tell you.”
Aaron’s gut tightened. “What’s that?”
