Chapter Two
“Oh, you bumped into Colton?” My sister hid a smile and let out a sigh. “That’s definitely not the McAlister to run into if you want to stay mad at them.”
“I don’t think any McAlister—”
“But he’s gorgeous, don’t you think?” she interrupted. Her brows rose in admiration.
“I suppose if you’re into that rugged, capable kind of sexy . . . sure.” I rolled my eyes and looked out the kitchen window, something I’d done thousands of times before while growing up.
My parents had a beautiful piece of property, and while the home looked like a single-story house, it had a walkout basement below, which was where my sister and I had spent most of our teenage years. They’d recently remodeled the kitchen, but it still felt like home.
“Who isn’t?” she asked. “I mean, come on.”
I tilted my head slightly, thinking of my sister’s fiancé. He was exactly what I’d think of as a finance guy. Lean—a little wiry, actually—unable to do much of anything around the house, and a little pasty. Even though they lived in Colorado, they weren’t the types who went hiking or skiing, but he was perfect for her, so I guess I never imagined she was into someone a little bulkier, a little . . . hotter.
I remember one time I was on the phone with her and some guy had just shown up to their house to change light bulbs.
Light bulbs?
“He’s one of those men you only want to admire from afar.” I went back to rinsing off potatoes. “Who pulls out one-liners after not seeing someone for what? Fifteen years?”
“Maybe he liked what he saw.” She crinkled her nose. “I’m pretty sure you did.”
Cassie started slicing the potatoes I’d put in the bowl. She was lucky she was the one with the knife.
“I imagine he’s single.” I tried to sound uninterested, which, considering the question, was impossible.
“Are you ever going to admit you had a crush on him?” My sister tossed the potatoes in seasoning. “It’s okay. It’s not like it’s the worst thing in the world.”
“Excuse me?” I turned off the water. “I never had a crush on any McAlister.”
“I think every girl in high school did.”
“Even you?” My brow arched in surprise.
“Sure. In an it’s-never-gonna-happen kind of way.”
“Then I suppose that’s what we’d call mine too.”
“But I was never attracted to the athletic type. I liked the nerds.” A coy smile spread across her face. “You’re the one who always liked the players and athletes and—”
“And look where that’s gotten me.” I dried off my hands just as I heard my mom come through the front door.
“What smells so heavenly?” she asked, marching into the kitchen with bags dangling from her arms.
“Pot roast,” my sister informed her.
My mom dropped the bags into a chair and gave me a big hug.
“I bailed on your father. I had to get some shopping done.” She took in a deep breath and looked around the kitchen. “It’s so good to have both of my girls back for the holidays. And by the way, the lights in the windows look amazing. You two should be enjoying your vacation, not working on our house.”
My mom untwisted her brown hair from her bun and let it fall to her shoulders.
“It was fun, and tomorrow is the tree.” My sister beamed and I nodded.
“Only if you insist.” My mom looked pleasantly relieved. She always hauled out the Christmas tree and faithfully decorated it with us growing up, but I wasn’t sure it was her favorite task this time of year.
The doorbell rang, and I glanced at my sister and mom, wondering if they were expecting anyone.
“It might be a package for your dad,” my mom informed us.
“I’ll go get it,” my sister volunteered while I collapsed in one of the kitchen chairs.
I was probably more like my mother than I realized. All this decorating had me exhausted. Or maybe it was running into Colton.
“So how was the store today? Busy?” I asked.
“Crazy busy, which is why I’m so happy we hired more people for the holidays. This is the first year your father finally got some part-time help. But I needed to get out of there. Having to mix one more gallon of paint today would have thrown me over the edge. There’s one lady who has brought back four different gallons we’ve had to add to our Oops paint section, even though there’s no oops on our part.”
“About how I remembered.” I laughed. “How about Dad? How’s he holding up?”
“I think he’s feeling it too.” She let out a tired sigh and sat down at the table across from me. “Retirement is calling, but I’m not sure either of us is ready to take the plunge. What would we do?”
I laughed and shook my head. “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe sleep in a little, travel, pick up some hobbies.”
“I don’t know about all that.” She hugged herself as if she’d gotten a chill just thinking about the idea.
“Dear Gina.” My sister came bounding into the kitchen. “You have a visitor.”
“Who?” I whispered, hopping up from the chair.
“You’ll just have to go find out.” She sat in my chair and traded glances with my mom as I left.
I wandered down the hallway and almost gasped when I saw Colton McAlister standing in my parents’ foyer.
“Why’d she let you in?” I asked, and he smiled.
“It’s good to see you too.” He slid off a black knit cap to reveal a tangle of dark hair and my heart skipped a beat.
He was too good-looking for his own good.
“I’m simply surprised to see you here is all, especially inside,” I said calmly, even though I was anything but. My heart was rattling around my chest and my stomach was knotted so tightly it hurt. I hated that he was so attractive.
“Well, I can go stand on the porch if it makes you more comfortable.” His eyes sparkled with that golden glow I noticed at the grocery store, and I tilted my head to look at the ceiling when I realized a bundle of mistletoe was hanging over us.
I hopped back quickly and he laughed.
“Sorry,” I muttered under my breath, feeling my cheeks warm. “Nothing personal.”
“That’s good to know.” He held his cap in his hand and drew in a deep breath as his eyes connected with mine. “Listen, I’m headed up to the mountains for the holiday with my family, but I’d really like to take you out to dinner before I go. Maybe catch up and . . .” He bit into his bottom lip, which only made my mind wander to places it shouldn’t. “Let me apologize for everything.”
“Everything?” I folded my arms across my chest, and I noticed his gaze drop to my breasts. Instead of being annoyed, I liked the attention. “That’s kind of broad.”
I noticed a little of the ego from earlier had disappeared, but what was left was plenty. It must be nice going around town and always getting what you wanted.
“I’m sure I have a lot of apologizing to do.”
I shook my head and waved my hand to dismiss him. “All water under the bridge. I don’t give anything a second thought.”
“You know” —his voice lowered and he took a step closer— “I wish I could believe that, but I don’t think that’s the case.”
“How do you figure?”
“If your eyes could throw daggers in my direction, I’d be a dead man.”
A tiny pool of guilt flooded my stomach, and I shifted my weight.
“I doubt that.”
“I don’t.” He glanced at the banister my sister and I had recently finished decorating and smiled. “That’s beautiful.”
“Thanks, but I really don’t think now is a good time to meet. I haven’t been home in years, and I really would like to spend as much time as possible with my family.” I glanced at the clock on the wall. “With Christmas only a few days away, there really is no time, especially with you heading to the mountains.”
If Colton was disappointed, I couldn’t read it. It was as if he half-expected to get turned down before he’d even set foot in our house. Although, that was a good assumption on his part, considering everything his family had done to ours over the years.
He slid his wallet out of his jeans, pulled out a business card, and handed it to me.
“How about if you change your mind, you give me a call and we can have breakfast or lunch together. I can make it quick.” His smile softened me slightly, and I cursed myself for falling so easily into his web of charisma. “I’m not leaving for the mountains until Christmas Eve. Maybe you can fit me in.” He drew a breath, glanced at the mistletoe above, and brought his gaze back to mine. “People change, Gina. I’ve changed.”
“Honestly, I’m over everything. Really, I am.” I hugged myself a little tighter, and his eyes canvassed my body, gauging my reaction to him, and right now, I looked like Fort Knox.
I immediately dropped my arms to my side and straightened up.
“Well, thanks for stopping by. If I get hungry enough, I just might give you a call.” I pressed my lips together so hard they began to tingle.
“If I don’t see you, Merry Christmas, Gina.” He took a step toward the door, and I felt a sense of panic, and I had no idea why.
“Merry Christmas, Colton.” I cleared my throat. “And Happy New Year.”
He turned around, and his eyes stayed on mine.
All the teenage feelings that I’d done such a good job of pretending never existed came rushing back. Every teenage urge and desire crashed down on me as if they meant something now as a thirty-year-old woman.
We’d never been in the same circles, and it had been my own fault for being fooled into believing he was different from the other McAlisters. The truth was that the family had always and would always be out for themselves.
When he didn’t open the door, I drew a breath.
“Merry Christmas, Colton,” I repeated, knowing it didn’t matter what kind of man he grew into because I knew what kind of boy he’d been, and I resented him for it, his whole family, really.
“You’ve certainly outgrown your shyness.” He smiled.
“I was never shy.” I shook my head.
“You sure were around me.” His voice lowered, and the attraction I’d always felt for Colton McAlister came whooshing back.
“Like you said, people change.” Since he wasn’t budging, I started to the door and opened it wide, feeling the icy air swirl its way into our warm home.
“I just hope you’ll give me a chance to show you how I’ve changed,” he said, barely loud enough for me to hear.
I held the door open against the wind. “Goodbye, Colton. Thanks for stopping by.”
Our bodies brushed against each other, and my entire body lit up like the Christmas tree we’d yet to finish decorating. He caught my tiny gasp as I felt how hard his entire body was. We stood against the door, me partially frozen.
The pull he had over me held me in place as it had back in high school, but this time I refused to give in.
Even when he lowered his head and kissed my cheek, I knew I wouldn’t see Colton McAlister again.