She doubted that. A carpenter didn’t produce top quality woodwork in a mess. “Maybe someday, when we have time, you’ll show me where they were made.”
“Maybe. New shirt?” He pointed to her reindeer sweater, complete with 3D antlers. He was definitely avoiding the subject.
“Wait here,” she said excitedly. She’d nearly forgotten what came in yesterday’s order. Rover raced after her to the office.
She rifled through the boxes until she found what she wanted. “Rover, sit.” He sat at her feet and didn’t move while she wrestled the doggy headgear onto him and snapped a photo. He was adorable with reindeer antlers and a Santa hat. He perfectly matched her shirt and the red sweatshirt Jesse wore. She plopped a red velvet, fur trimmed Santa cap on herself.
“Come on, boy, let’s go show Jesse.” Ever in agreement, Rover barked once and followed her back.
When Jesse saw them, the cupboard he was carrying thumped to the floor.
“What have you done to my dog?” he snapped. Deep furrows appeared between his brows.
“It’s a Christmas hat.” She crossed her arms over her chest, trying to ignore the way the antlers on her sweater poked her arms. “He likes it. It’s adorable.” Why was Jesse so upset? It was just a hat.
“Take it off. It looks ridiculous.” He glowered and shoved the cabinet into place with a low grunt. “Rover and I don’t do Christmas. You know that.”
“Come on, we got you one, too.” She waved a Santa hat at him, grinning. “You’ve got a beard, the red sweatshirt, you’ll be the perfect Santa.”
“I’m a hundred years too young to be Santa and you know I dislike holiday hustle and bustle. Take it off him, please.”
“You might not do Christmas, but Rover and I do.” She swallowed hard, trying to keep the hurt from her voice. She should have known better. He’d told her a dozen times he disliked the holidays. Sure, he’d teased her about her holiday clothing and accessories, but he’d been joking, hadn’t he?
No, she admitted sadly to herself. It wasn’t all bluster. He was serious. She set the extra hat on the shelf.
“I’ll be right back. I have to do something?” Tears in her eyes, she fled to her office. Rover scooted in just before she closed the door. Arms wrapped around herself, she stared sightlessly at the mountain of boxes overtaking the room. Holiday items. Every. Single. Package. The beginning of her dreams. And maybe, the end to her fantasy of a life with Jesse.
“Oh, that man.” She stomped her foot. Rover rubbed his head on her leg, setting the hat askew. She tried to take it off, but he backed away, taking it with him.
“At least you like it.”
How had she been so foolish to think Jesse would fall for her love of Christmas? He probably didn’t even like her, though she was falling for him. She brushed away a tear. She would not cry over this. He was only a handyman, only in her life for a short time.
A few more days.
Somehow, knowing he was leaving made the agony worse.
He’d move on, she’d open her store. She’d be a huge success without him. She’d leave his memory to melt away with the snow.
Chapter Twenty
Jesse stared at himself in his bathroom mirror. He didn’t look like a monster, so why did he feel like the lowest form of jerk on earth? He’d lashed out about the hat and she’d taken off, tears in her eyes. Okay, maybe he’d over-reacted. A bit. It was just a stupid hat. Rover didn’t seem to mind. Crazy dog loved Hailey; he’d do anything for her. What was he thinking? Hailey had pulled Jesse into her world and he didn’t mind, except for all the Christmas stuff.
She had a simple strength and solid kindness about her. She defended him against her own mother and stood back without judgment when his mother blew a fuse. Not many people would do that. She had every right to kick his mom out of the store. Instead, she’d let him deal with her, stepping in as a last resort.
Why had he blown his cool?He’d hated the holidays since he was a kid. They were supposed to take a family skiing vacation the year his dad ditched them. Anger over his father’s betrayal had kept him from learning to ski and blackened his mind about the holidays. When Amy Jo followed their father’s footsteps and moved at Christmas, it had turned him into a total Scrooge.
Hands on the bathroom vanity, he leaned closer to the mirror and studied his face. He was barely twenty-eight and he had lines in the corners of his eyes. He’d always thought the miniscule wrinkles were laugh lines. Now he wasn’t so sure. He ran his hand over his beard. He’d trimmed it a few days ago, but it was still long and unkempt. Was it any wonder Hailey mistook him for a homeless person?
Hailey.
She’d kissed him anyway.
More than once.
He’d really messed up there. Was a hat on his dog such a big deal? He’d made a big stink over nothing. Christmas was all around him. Silver Creek loved its holidays and he’d never kicked up a fuss before. He just went his own way and ignored it all.
Fall decor blended into Thanksgiving and Halloween. Oranges turned to red and gold mid-November and Christmas arrived early. Every single year. Year in and year out. He went all out for Halloween and ignored Christmas.
