Christmas Love Connection (Luck in Love Book 2) Read online

  “And high school,” Leslie said.

  “Yeah,” I said.

  “And you’re pushing that fine man away,” Michelle said. “If he’s half as good looking as I remembered—”

  “Tell me about it,” Casey said. “Shauna, if you don’t want him, I do. Point me in his direction. Better yet, set me up on a date. You’ll be helping me help yourself. I’ll take that fine man off of your hands.”

  “He’s also a player,” I reminded them.

  “We can change that,” Casey said.

  “Casey,” Leslie said. “This is why you have your problems choosing men.”

  “Anyway,” Casey said, dismissing everyone because we all agreed. “Shauna, your problem is solved unless you want him. This race is going to be more fun than I thought. Think I’ll get to meet him there?”

  “If Ren is the same person, two charity events within the same month is highly unlikely,” Leslie said. “I’m shocked that he did one. And that they didn’t have him stand at the finish line as an eye candy incentive to finish.”

  “You’re married Leslie!” Alyssa said and laughed.

  “So were the women who also volunteered,” I said. “He has that effect on people. You’ll see…if a miracle strikes and he shows up again.”

  ---

  He has that effect.

  He sure did on me. Ever since Thanksgiving, I spent late nights and early mornings reviewing our conversations. Not one, but three dates. And he was begging to carry me to dinner. I didn’t know if it was because he knew I loved going out to eat or if he wanted to hang out. Both options made it easier for him to slide me into his bed.

  The next week I was sad that I didn’t happen to run into him anywhere. I even went downtown, to the area where he worked, to pick up dinner from one of the Valerie’s locations. No Ren there. When I rode the train back to my apartment, I saw him. Ren. A tall, chocolate man with his hair cut close. He was wearing a Christmas red, cable knit sweater. My breath hitched.

  I rose, holding onto the pole and he turned around. It wasn’t Ren. And I felt silly standing in the middle of the train ride. So I stood for another couple of stops before sitting down. I had it bad. But I had his phone number. I could have ended this torture and say he won. I’d “hang out for the information.”

  After I savored my meal at home, I twirled my phone around in my hand. I opened our picture. His smile was bright. He secured me in his arm as if I was his woman. There was no denying that. We did make a good looking couple.

  All I had to do was scroll down half a page and click to call him. Take a chance. But I couldn’t. I was afraid. Afraid that he was the same, at his core. His metamorphosis was part of his tactics. Afraid that after he had me tangled up in confusion, I’d sleep with him. Then he’d be gone. He’d win. Finally, he would have gotten to the girl he forgot to check off all of those years ago. He’d be able to move on and find the one.

  ---

  “Excited?” I said as I drove to the Christmas Race.

  “It’s too early in the morning for all of this energy,” Casey said, half sleep, lied back on a seat cushion. “I need sleep.”

  “No, you’ll need that peppermint coffee they’ll have,” Alyssa said, wide awake, riding in the passenger seat. “That’s one of the reasons this is my favorite race. They have a feast after.”

  “I’m excited about that too,” I said. “Hopefully, the take out people will be there with their strong plates and foil paper.”

  “I still don’t believe you on that one,” Alyssa said. “People walking around with plates? That would be hilarious.”

  “It’ll be funnier when we’re all dressed up.” I was the only one not in my attire yet. Instead of moping about Ren all week, I should have been picking up my registration packet and suit. Michelle, who was unusually silent, already had.

  I parked in one of the garages reserved for participants, since three fourths of my car was participating in the race. Alyssa and I were able to easily get Michelle and Casey out of the car. When Michelle saw a group of guys walking to the registration table, she woke completely up.

  To my surprise Leslie, Londyn, and their significant others—Jackson and Keene—were at registration, waiting on us. Keene had just helped Londyn adjust her Santa jacket. The scene was kind of funny because her hair was in big, spiral curls and her unborn baby helped her complete the look. All she was missing was the grey hair. I snorted then we all had a bit of a giggle. Our amusement turned to Casey who whipped out a white, long haired wig.

  “You’re not wearing that,” Michelle said.

  “I am,” Casey said. “I’ll have that wind in my hair, running look. The wind is on my side.”

  “It’s not on mine,” Alyssa said, putting on ear muffs. “It’s cold.”

  As they made small chat, I snuck away to get my packet and find out where we were assigned. With the information in hand, my friends and I gathered for a picture then split up—to the races and to the volunteer area where we’d be handing out water.

  At first Michelle and Casey were weary of the assignment—we only stood and handed out water. But after I explained that we’d be on the side and most likely everyone would see us, the assignment became the greatest ever. The two adjusted each other’s suits to make sure they were rocking them in the best way possible.

  We greeted the other volunteers and began pouring water into the cups. A few minutes into my line of pouring, I became crazy again.

  “Good morning,” Ren was saying to the people around him. A few women were asking him general questions about which race he planned to do—the 5K or the walk. He answered their questions then excused himself. He was a little late to his assignment.

  Seconds later, I felt a tap on my shoulder. “We were meant to meet again my love.”

  My love? I knew it was simply an expression but… Tingles.

  “Shauna?” Michelle said, smiling at me.

  Casey flashed hers as well. “Care to re-introduce us?”

  I inhaled and pivoted to see Ren. He had a suit on too. I bit my lip, not to laugh.

  “I’d be naughty for that Santa,” Casey muttered. “Very.”

  “Um,” I said and re-introduced them all.

  Hair that could be flipped was and they lingered in their handshakes. To be honest, their display of affection was annoying me just a bit. I cut into it with an explanation of how we were pouring water and that we needed to fill a certain amount before the runners would be by.

  Casey squinted at me then asked if Ren had any brothers. He let them know about Allen, who also was single at the moment. Good. Michelle and Casey could fight over him.

  We had fun the rest of the morning, pouring drinks and pretending that we were a bar to adults who ran and walked by.

  “Cold beer!” Ren announced, although water was clearly seen through the plastic. People laughed and chose Ren’s water over ours. Then we made passing out waters a competition between us. Michelle and Casey attracted their share of men. Ren stood by me, so that was probably scaring my portion away.

  When our job was over, we gathered to go find the others in the party area. All interested in what was available to eat that time, we discussed the vendors that we expected to show up. Like the last race, there were plenty of vendors, actually more, because the race was akin to a winter fair.

  Peppermint bark, candy cane hot chocolate and coffee, pumpkin spice lattes, and sugar cookie shakes were a slice of the drink assortments. Pancakes came in pumpkin spice, gingerbread, sweet potato, and peppermint chocolate flavors. Egg nog French toast, gingerbread waffles, and pumpkin cinnamon rolls lay aside egg casseroles, bacon bit biscuits, and quiche. One of the best surprises was that larger sample sized portions were available for all. Deserts—brownies, cookies, cakes— in basically every flavor again were available as well.

  We made a plan to find that plate tent and see how full we’d get on the samples alone. Ren informed us that he had seen the tent and led the way.

  W
ith plates in hand we partied, visiting each vendor and commenting on the flavors and creativity of the foods along the way. Casey made a sour face after biting into the peppermint pancakes.

  “Casey are you okay?” I said. “Can you tell us if you’re okay, Casey?”

  We fell out laughing.

  “Be a lady and swallow it,” Michelle said.

  My eyes lit up. Then Michelle’s did too. Ren had turned his head away to double over. I was sure Michelle didn’t mean for that to be a joke. And if Casey’s mouth wasn’t full, she would have added something further, but she only smiled then playfully punched me in my arm, tying to make me say the rest. I wouldn’t. She finally got the food down and notified me that I missed my opportunity. We laughed again over that.

  “So what’s your favorite thing so far?” Ren asked me as we all strolled.

  “Anything and everything from Valerie’s,” I said. “Did you taste that pumpkin spice cinnamon roll and their egg casserole? The candy cane hot chocolate?”

  “Yeah, they were at the top of my list. And by my office.”

  “I’d be there every day,” I said. “Good thing the one I know of is closer to Leslie’s house.”

  “Hmm,” he said.

  “What?” I said.

  “Nothing. I just know what to get you for Christmas now. If you agree to dinner.”

  “Let me get this right,” I said. “To get my present, I have to go to dinner.”

  “It’s in your best interest. Remember your relatives?” Ren said. “Speaking to Mrs. Geraldine was a temporary fix. You’ll need more info to carry this on for a longer time.”

  “No. I’ll just break up with you.”

  “And never hear the end of it at Christmas Dinner. The one I’d be attending. That would be weird.”

  “Agh, that’s right,” I said. “I thought I had a way out.”

  “It’s only one dinner,” Ren said. “What’s the worst that could happen?”

  “You’d persuade me out to another one.”

  “I’m not sure I’m that great at persuasion,” he said. “I failed to convince you to talk to me every day for the past two weeks. I know you had the craving to. You missed me. But you still didn’t call. I didn’t do my job well enough. I’ll have to find another way.”

  “Over yonder,” Casey announced, pointing ahead of us.

  Feet away stood the missing half of our crew. To be funny, we strolled over to them with me on Ren’s left arm and Casey and Michelle on his right.

  “Seems as though you all have been having fun,” Keene said. “I didn’t know there was whiskey in the egg nog.”

  “If there is a sponsored tent, please point out the way,” Jackson said. “This Christmas music is making me melt away.”

  Jackson’s statement cued Casey’s and my silly side in our partial re-enactment of the evil witch melting away and screeching that she was doing so, which was only the beginning. We continued with dancing silly dances and movements to the kid’s Christmas music in between people watching the rest of the morning. Some of our friends joined us. Ren hopped in to teach us a new silly dance.

  Agh! I loved him already.

  Chapter 5

  Shauna

  Smack, at the beginning of the next week, I woke up, having dreamed about those sweet potato pancakes. I was on a mission to get some that morning no matter the cost. Lucky for me, I was up an extra hour early, which was strange because I loved my sleep.

  The dark morning was cold. The wind slapped me a few times in the face along my trot into Valerie’s, the one by Leslie’s house. I had given a little thought to going downtown, as I had every morning when I thought about Ren. But running into him would challenge my ability to make up excuses to be there. There were none. Downtown was entirely out of my way from everything I did and all of my friends. Let alone, far from my work. Leaving from there would cost me more traffic and an angry boss.

  As expected, Valerie’s was warm and inviting. My face returned to normal temperatures and I tugged my scarf away from my neck. The place was so cozy that I contemplated removing my jacket. I didn’t want to wait too long for my food, so I found a spot at one of the bar’s cushy stools. My jacket fit well over the back of it and I plopped my purse in my lap to dig for my wallet.

  “Is this seat taken?”

  No. Yes. I popped my head up. Ren. Ren? What was he doing there? I asked him.

  “My old condo is around the corner,” he said.

  “Why’d you move?” I asked.

  “Besides the stalker I made, it reminded me of the old me. And I wanted a bigger place. Higher floor in the building.”

  “A place closer to work?”

  “No. It takes longer, actually. Didn’t think that part through too much. I don’t always have to be in the office though.”

  “So you haven’t finished your lease on this one yet? Is that why you’re still in the area.”

  Ren smiled. “I own it honey.”

  “Must be nice.”

  “It is. I don’t know if I’ll sell or not. It was home for many years. Now, it’s just a place to stay during the week.”

  “But your stalker. You lost them?” I asked.

  “Yep,” he said. “Moving made her think I was one hundred percent gone. She’s my ex.”

  “Wow, your ex became your stalker. What did you do to her?”

  “Treat her nice,” he said. “Ignored her crazy side for too long. Three months after we had broken up, she still chased off a lot of women. I knew I had to move after that. She wasn’t physical with them yet.”

  “Yet?” I said and raised my eyebrows. “Should I be scared that I’m having a conversation with you?”

  “No,” he said. “I heard she finally got help when I disappeared. She moved out too. We shouldn’t be seeing her around too much.”

  “We?” I said.

  He smiled. “I’m sure you’ll be visiting me more.”

  “Funny.”

  “You should know that, subconsciously, you chose to see me.”

  “I didn’t know that you lived here.”

  “Fate did.”

  “Ha!” I said. “Now you’re getting delusional.”

  “Think about it, Shauna. What’s the likelihood of you eating out before work and me happening to be hungry and awake at…” he glanced at his watch, which sat under his mint green dress shirt. That shirt and his grey pants suited him very well. It wasn’t too tight around the muscles that it hid below. “Seven am?”

  “Seven?” I asked, forgetting what he said previously.

  “Are you normally out and about at seven?”

  “Well…”

  “Fate brought us together at both races; brought you here now.” He paused, forcing me to stare straight at him. “I’m your destiny.”

  “I…” My words didn’t form fast enough. Lucky for me the waiter broke in the lack of conversation to ask for our orders. Turned out Ren came for the same reason. Those pancakes.

  “I’ve been thinking,” Ren said when the waiter left. “Two things. One, I’m sure this counts as a date.”

  “No,” I said. “This is not a date.”

  “OK, this is not a date. You’d like to do something else instead. That gives me an idea.”

  “What is that?” I asked, cocking my head to the side.

  “Happen to run into me a few times per week.”

  I threw my head back and laughed. “Make your fate.”

  “Our run ins are not frequent enough, but they make the day a little better, don’t you think?”

  It makes the day a lot better. Tons. And his idea was a good excuse to not “date” him. We’d happen to hang out. “Deal,” I said.

  “Wha? Really? I didn’t know you missed me that much.”

  “Don’t flatter yourself.”

  “Ah, in the Christmas spirit for giving back?”

  “That’s more like it.”

  “And speaking of…” Ren produced a small card sized present from his
pocket, wrapped in candy cane paper. Tis the season.” He handed it to me.

  “What’s this?” I asked.

  “The Christmas present to remember me by.”

  My mind shot straight to the gutter; that would be a great one to remember him by. How could a card beat that?

  “You don’t have to wait until the 25th,” he said. “Open it!”

  I unfolded the paper to see the word “Valerie’s” engraved on the front. “Wow! You know me already.”

  “They were one of the best places at the race.”

  “Yeah.”

  “And you did keep circling their tent, waiting for your chance to swoop in and steal a second sample.”

  “I did nothing of the sort.” I put my hand on my hip. “I ended up buying food from them.”

  “Only when your original plan didn’t work.”

  “You are something else.”

  “I know.”

  We talked more about ourselves, my family, and what we had done since college until the food came. He admitted that he was glad nothing worked out in our dating lives for either of us. He was also happy to see me frozen in my moment when he first saw me, volunteering at the Turkey Race.

  Our food came and we ceased all conversation to savor the breakfast flavors.

  “This was divine,” I said, grabbing my napkin. My plate was clean.

  “I agree.”

  “Finally something we agree on.”

  “Speaking of…” Ren said as he dismounted his stool. “Our plans for later.”

  Full, practically overstuffed, I waddled off of the bar stool.

  “Careful,” he said, holding out his hand to help me off of the stool.

  “I’m fine,” I said, waving him off.

  “True again.”

  “Okay, Ren you have about sixty seconds to speak before I’m out that door and off to work.”

  He laughed. On our way through the glass doors, Ren caught me at my weak point. Post Valerie’s. In addition to our “happening to run into each other meetings,” I also agreed to let him call me to discuss learning more about him. He insisted that I needed to be prepared for the Christmas Dinner he was invited to. We also needed to get together to practice being smitten over each other.