Desired in December (Spring River Valley Book 12) by Clarice Wynter Page A
Authors: Clarice Wynter
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Laughing, she clapped him on the back until he managed to swallow the last, half-finished bite. “I…cfff…cfff…I think I can.”
“A lot of humans like them, so I hear.”
“They’re actually better than a lot stuff we got fed in the mess hall.” In fact, he’d have gladly traded these for field rations any day.
Cassie’s smile faded , and she looked away.
“What’s wrong? That was a compliment.”
“I…there were so many times I wanted to send you things…care packages.”
“It’s okay.” He wanted to touch her, put his fingers under her chin and draw her face to his. “Don’t feel bad.”
“Don’t feel bad?” Now she did meet his gaze, and there was fire in her eyes. “I don’t feel bad because I didn’t send you cookies. I feel bad because all the times I wanted to, I sat down and reread your Dear Jane letter to remind myself that you didn’t want me to…to…you didn’t want me.”
“Cass…I—”
She cut him off with a wave of her hand. “No. Let’s not go there. My bad for bringing it up. It’s done. I’m sorry. Here.” She shoved the basket into his arms. “Take them. I’m sorry I never sent any. I’ve got to go. Lock up when you’re finished.”
She raced out the back door before he could decide what to say to stop her. She thought it wasn’t fair to b ring up the letter, and he knew it wasn’t fair to ask her for anything. A second chance had to be earned, and he hadn’t figured out how to do that yet. But he would, because he’d be damned if he’d give up the fight so soon.
Chapter Eight
James barely saw Cassie over the next three days. She only stopped at the shop briefly to check on the progress of the refrigeration cases and the floor tiles, never staying long enough for them to have a moment alone.
He worked laying tile and prepping the walls for painting in the creamy butter yellow color she’d chosen. The physical labor kept his mind occupied and left him too tired at night to spend much time ruminating on how Cassie might be spending her evenings.
On Friday after work, he strolled into Colette’s on Owen’s invitation to hear the band play. His friend Matt Kelso met him at the bar just as he was ordering a beer and snatched the ten-dollar bill out of his hand before he could give it to the bartender.
“Your money’s no good here, man,” Ma tt said, tucking the bill back into the pocket of James’s shirt. “Gino, put anything this man orders on my tab.”
The young man behind the bar nodded , and Matt waved away James’s protests. “It’s cool. Don’t worry about it. Come sit with us.”
Matt motioned to a table near the stage where Tanner Croft sat with Evie, his partner Quinn Preston, Quinn’s girlfriend Lily , and Matt’s girlfriend Bailey. James had met all the ladies at his party, and he still couldn’t believe the good fortune of his friends, most of whom had been dedicated to the single life when he’d left for boot camp. It seemed like while he’d been gone, everyone in town had become part of a couple.
Including Cassie.
He dismissed that sobering thought and took a seat, which, thanks to some shuffling around of drinks and chairs, ended up being next to Evie. She immediately clinked her half-empty glass against his beer bottle and graced him with a bright, friendly smile. “In case you’re wondering, your issue of the Herald sold out. Everyone in town wanted to read about your homecoming.”
James smiled ruefully. “I hate to break it to you, Ms. Prentice, but my parents probably bought all those copies. There’s a stack of papers three feet high on our dining room table, and my mother is busy stuffing them in envelopes to mail to every person who’s even remotely related to me.”
“That’s okay. A reader’s a reader. The more people who see my byline, the happier I am.” She patted his arm. “It’s also very sweet of your mom. She must be really proud of you.”
“She may want to hit you up for
“A lot of humans like them, so I hear.”
“They’re actually better than a lot stuff we got fed in the mess hall.” In fact, he’d have gladly traded these for field rations any day.
Cassie’s smile faded , and she looked away.
“What’s wrong? That was a compliment.”
“I…there were so many times I wanted to send you things…care packages.”
“It’s okay.” He wanted to touch her, put his fingers under her chin and draw her face to his. “Don’t feel bad.”
“Don’t feel bad?” Now she did meet his gaze, and there was fire in her eyes. “I don’t feel bad because I didn’t send you cookies. I feel bad because all the times I wanted to, I sat down and reread your Dear Jane letter to remind myself that you didn’t want me to…to…you didn’t want me.”
“Cass…I—”
She cut him off with a wave of her hand. “No. Let’s not go there. My bad for bringing it up. It’s done. I’m sorry. Here.” She shoved the basket into his arms. “Take them. I’m sorry I never sent any. I’ve got to go. Lock up when you’re finished.”
She raced out the back door before he could decide what to say to stop her. She thought it wasn’t fair to b ring up the letter, and he knew it wasn’t fair to ask her for anything. A second chance had to be earned, and he hadn’t figured out how to do that yet. But he would, because he’d be damned if he’d give up the fight so soon.
Chapter Eight
James barely saw Cassie over the next three days. She only stopped at the shop briefly to check on the progress of the refrigeration cases and the floor tiles, never staying long enough for them to have a moment alone.
He worked laying tile and prepping the walls for painting in the creamy butter yellow color she’d chosen. The physical labor kept his mind occupied and left him too tired at night to spend much time ruminating on how Cassie might be spending her evenings.
On Friday after work, he strolled into Colette’s on Owen’s invitation to hear the band play. His friend Matt Kelso met him at the bar just as he was ordering a beer and snatched the ten-dollar bill out of his hand before he could give it to the bartender.
“Your money’s no good here, man,” Ma tt said, tucking the bill back into the pocket of James’s shirt. “Gino, put anything this man orders on my tab.”
The young man behind the bar nodded , and Matt waved away James’s protests. “It’s cool. Don’t worry about it. Come sit with us.”
Matt motioned to a table near the stage where Tanner Croft sat with Evie, his partner Quinn Preston, Quinn’s girlfriend Lily , and Matt’s girlfriend Bailey. James had met all the ladies at his party, and he still couldn’t believe the good fortune of his friends, most of whom had been dedicated to the single life when he’d left for boot camp. It seemed like while he’d been gone, everyone in town had become part of a couple.
Including Cassie.
He dismissed that sobering thought and took a seat, which, thanks to some shuffling around of drinks and chairs, ended up being next to Evie. She immediately clinked her half-empty glass against his beer bottle and graced him with a bright, friendly smile. “In case you’re wondering, your issue of the Herald sold out. Everyone in town wanted to read about your homecoming.”
James smiled ruefully. “I hate to break it to you, Ms. Prentice, but my parents probably bought all those copies. There’s a stack of papers three feet high on our dining room table, and my mother is busy stuffing them in envelopes to mail to every person who’s even remotely related to me.”
“That’s okay. A reader’s a reader. The more people who see my byline, the happier I am.” She patted his arm. “It’s also very sweet of your mom. She must be really proud of you.”
“She may want to hit you up for
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