As he backed out the drive and onto the street, he guessed that the old saying was true that you couldn't go back home again. When he was younger, he was infatuated with her glamor and her flirtations. But now, she no longer had the same effect on him. He was no longer a boy and could see past beauty. And so far, he didn't like what he saw. Caden pushed on the gas, backed out of the driveway, and headed back toward town, wanting to see the sights before heading over to his parents' house. He was lucky that his parents were still alive and well. On one hand, it would be nice to live near them again, to help them out. But on the other hand, he wondered if he wanted to live in a town again that's main form of capitalism was Christmas. But now that he was here, he knew he could easily get used to it again. He drove back through the winter wonderland of ice and snow that covered everything, as if ordered specifically for the town, enjoying the festive feel. Somehow, Christmases away jus
Although Caden knew his father was proud of the choices he had made, his father was disappointed that he had spent so much time away from home. When he was young, his father used to drop hints of him taking over the family business. But with each visit, there were less hints, and his bitterness grew. "He's still disappointed that I didn't take over the family business, isn't he?" In June, the tree lot became a firework stand until the 4th of July. His parents were usually busy selling something throughout the year, including items they sold at the flea market in between.Emma sighed. "Don't worry about it. You're here to enjoy the holidays, not to discuss business." She turned and waved to her husband over her head and he waved back, frowning. Emma patted Caleb's arm and they started toward his car and stopped beside his Corvette. "Surely you don't expect me to get in that thing."Caleb chuckled. "Mom, it's not all that bad." He opened the passenger-side door. "Here. I'll help you."
"Now, don't stay out too late." Caden's mother warned later that night before he left for his date."Mom, I'm a grown man." He slipped into his black leather jacket. It was cold earlier and now he was sure it'd be freezing."I know that." She pointed to her cheek. "Now, come over here and give your mother a kiss before you go."He did as he was asked and then a sly smile spread across his face. Yes, he had a lot of his mother in him. "And I'll be sure to stay out very late."She looked at him, her eyebrows raised, and then burst out laughing and pushed against his chest. "Oh, you-.""Love you," he called out as he walked out the door."Love you more!" she called after him.He walked out onto the front porch and pulled the door closed tightly behind him. It had started snowing again, but was now just flurries. From past experience, he knew it would hold out for his date with Mallory.He had checked his messages earlier that day and Mallory had instructed him to pick her up at he
Caden let out a deep breath. "Mallory, I couldn't take you to basic training with me. I asked you to wait for me and you broke up with me."She folded her arms across her chest, pushing out her lower lip. "Well, I wanted to go.""Mallory, you couldn't wait just eight weeks for me?" He pulled the car to a stop onto the side of the road, but kept the engine running. "Mallory, I asked you to marry me.""When?" Mallory's eyes flared. "Yeah, and then I'd be engaged to a man that wasn't here. Then I'd be the wife of a sailor and I would have lost my chance at making it in California.""Then why didn't you go?""I didn't want to go alone. Then after my parents died- I had my reasons." Mallory looked down, defeated. When she looked up, tears were in her eyes. "I thought you were going to take me away from all this. We had made plans to go to California together, and then you went and joined the Navy. Why?"He shrugged. "For one thing, I wanted to serve my country, just as my father had.
The next day, Jocelyn was glad that she was off from work as she folded her mother's afghan and placed it across the back of the couch. She hadn't had much time off lately and was secretly glad to have some time to herself to think. She didn't want to be at work and have Caden walk in the door again, clouding her mind."You've got to be kidding me, Frank! We can't do it another day? I have plans." Mallory asked into her phone and waited, listening. "I screwed up? I don't think so!" She listened again, her ear to the phone as she shook her head. "Okay, okay! I'll be down there in a minute." She clicked off her phone, ending the call. "Jocelyn? Would you do me a favor?"Jocelyn looked up. Uh oh. When Mallory asked for a favor, Jocelyn usually got the raw end of the deal. "What?" she asked flatly."Frank screwed up the shoot and I had plans to go skiing with Caden today." She pooched out her lip into a pout. "Would you mind going with Caden for me?""What?" Jocelyn asked, her heart po
Jocelyn nodded. "I'm ready if you are.""Great!" Caden's muscles bulged under his jacket with the simple gesture of shoving his hands into his pockets.She walked beside him to his car, noticing that he was at least six inches taller than her. "So, when did you get to be so tall?" she teased.Caden smiled, opening the passenger door for her. "I guess it was the great Navy food."Jocelyn laughed. "Yeah. I'd bet." Then she slid into his Corvette.Caden chuckled as he closed her door. A moment later, he slid into the driver's seat. "Where would you like to go? Cedar Ridge or Snowflake Mountain?"Jocelyn shrugged, her heart racing along with the engine. Since she had never skied before, she had no idea which one was the best. "It doesn't matter to me. Where would you like to go?"Caden threw the car into drive. "Snowflake Mountain was always a bit too kitschy to me. How about Cedar Ridge?" He raised an eyebrow as he looked over at her, completely unaware of the effect he had on her.
He leaned in, placing a hand on the small of her back, and whispered over her head, "If Kyle's here, you want to have a little fun?"Jocelyn laughed. "It depends.""Upon?""Upon what it is.""Trust me.""Famous last words."He laughed and held the door for her as they walked in. Sure enough, Kyle was standing behind the front desk.Kyle looked at Caden, noticing his hand on Jocelyn's back, and frowned. "Caden. When did you get home?""Yesterday. It's good to see you, Kyle." A devilish smile appeared on Caden's lips.Kyle looked over at Jocelyn and nodded. "How've you been?""Good." Now that Caden was back.Kyle looked over at Caden and narrowed his eyes. "So, I thought you were dating Mallory, Jocelyn's sister?"Caden shrugged. "That was a long time ago." Then he looked down at Jocelyn. "I've moved on to better things."Jocelyn's heart pounded against her rib cage. Although she knew Caden was doing this for Kyle's benefit, her heart didn't seem to know it.Kyle's face con
No one was at the counter, so Caden walked over and Kyle smirked. "Back so soon?""Okay, Kyle. That's enough. Give Caden back his money," Jocelyn intervened. "You know I'd never skied before, but I thought I'd try.""Well, the lesson didn't last long." A knowing grin spread across his lips.Caden plopped the skis down, sending flakes of snow across the counter, melting into tiny pools of water."Hey! Watch it!" Kyle held up his hands as he backed away."Kyle, give him a refund- please." Jocelyn took a step closer to the counter, but Caden stepped in front of her, blocking her way."You heard the lady," Caden said in a low, menacing voice. "We'd like a refund."Kyle looked over Caden's arms at Jocelyn. "Okay." He walked over to the register, pulled out some money after punching some buttons, and then walked back over and laid the cash on the counter. "Here."A broad smile spread across Caden's lips. "Thank you." He scooped up the money and shoved it in his wallet. Then he looked