Sweet Montana Christmas (12 page)

That wasn't what she wanted either.

The man twisted her in knots. The fingers of an ache dug into the edges of her skull.

Sugar scratched to go out. In spite of the variable temperatures, the little pug loved sniffing every new odor in the great outdoors, at least until she became chilled. Then she couldn't get in fast enough.

Sue Anne smiled. The pug was more predictable than the male species. She should stick to her original plan, focus on the business, and put all thoughts of good-kissing men from her mind.

By the time she'd poured the next cup of coffee, Sugar was scratching at the door. She made sure the dog had enough food and water for the day. Then she went into the shop, locking the door behind her.

“Hey, Julie. All quiet?”

“Yes. We had the usual crowd in for breakfast. We're becoming a regular stop for a lot of folks.”

“That's great!”

Julie's wide grin matched her own, reminding her of the easy friendship they'd once shared.

Men. They sure caused trouble.

“What needs doing?”

“I was about to start a second batch of huckleberry fudge. It's our biggest seller.”

“I can get started with that,” Sue Anne said.

“Good, that way I can clean out the tempering machine and the molds.”

“Remember—”

“I know. Don't use detergent. You sure are nervous about that.”

“I guess it was drummed into my head when I was learning to make chocolate.”

She pulled out the pots she needed to make fudge, as well as the high-grade cocoa, sugar, and milk. Soon the odor of sweet chocolate filled the small space, wrapping her in an imaginary childhood.

Her mother had never made fudge in her life, was always too concerned about her looks to let sweets tempt her. Every morning, she'd spend an hour on hair and makeup, whether or not she was going out. Sue Anne had unconsciously picked up her habits, so much so she'd kept it up her entire freshman year. But then she'd adopted the outdoor-focused town as her own and let a lot of things slide.

She glanced at her nails and grimaced. It was past time for a manicure.

The memory of Brittany's perfectly sculpted nails on Zach's arm made her wince. Definitely time to up her game.

“Why don't we do something fun on Sunday?” she asked Julie. “Go for a mani and pedi like we used to do."

“I'm busy on Sunday,” Julie said.

“Oh. Okay. Another time maybe.”

“Sure.”

Sue Anne continued to stir as the mixture pulled together, trying to gather her thoughts in the same manner. Somehow she needed to sort out her feelings about Zach.

No she didn't. She needed to forget about the man entirely.

The doorbell jangled.

“I'll take over the fudge,” Julie said. “I'm a mess.”

Sue Anne handed over the spoon and went to the front of the store. A young man stood in front of the candy counter. From his erect posture, she figured he had to be in some kind of military unit.

“Can I help you?”

“Hi there! Someone in my squad bought some chocolates from here. I'm told they were really good.”

Zach.

“Didn't you get any?” She gave him a big smile and started to slice a piece of fudge for a sample.

“Nuts. I'm allergic. Not deadly, but I get a really bad reaction that isn't pleasant.”

She looked at the slice in her hand. Almost all the fudge she made had nuts. Something to think about.

“How about a truffle? We have some huckleberry truffles that are a big seller.”

“That'd be great. How much?”

“No charge. It's a sample.”

“Great!” He took the sample and bit down into it. “Oh, man,” he said when he'd finished chewing. “This is amazing.”

“I'm glad you like it.” His bright cheerfulness was a nice change from Zach's moodiness or Reed's controlling ways. “You work with Zach?”

“He's in my squad.” He held out his hand. “My name's Pat.”

“Sue Anne.”

“Can you get me a couple of boxes of these? One with nuts and one without? The guys will like it.”

“Sure. Always glad to take care of the folks at the airport.”

“How's business going?” he asked as she wrapped up the chocolates.

“Pretty well. We're going to do our official grand opening at the beginning of May. That's if I can get all the advertising in place in six weeks.”

“It's a lot of work. My girlfriend owns a shop in Alaska. That's where I'm from.”

“Must be hard to be separated.”

“Yeah. She's trying to sell the business and move down here to be with me, but it was tough on her to give up something she owns.”

“She'd do that for you?”

He cocked his head as if she'd said something strange. “Of course. I tried to find work up there, but it was going to be the same situation no matter where I went because there weren't jobs near her store.”

Sue Anne couldn't imagine giving up her store to follow some guy.

“Say, do you ship?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“Can you send an assorted box of candy to her in Alaska?”

“Sure can. She allergic to nuts?”

“Nope.” He grinned.

She took care of his payment, got the address, and watched him walk out the door, all the while wondering about a woman who would give up everything for a man in this day and age. He seemed nice enough, but still...

The jangle of the bell brought her back to reality.

• • •

The aroma of chocolate hit Zach's nose the moment he walked into the squad room, bringing memories of his one date with the chocolate lady. No. Undate. It had been simply two friends going to a wildlife refuge.

Keep telling yourself that, Crippin.

He wished he could get her and her damned kissable lips out of his mind.

She was offering friendship,
without
benefits. It was only fair; he'd told her he was leaving. Still, she drew him like the North Pole called Santa Claus back home after Christmas.

God, he was beginning to think like her.

“You were right, buddy,” Pat said. “These are great chocolates. Even the ones without nuts.”

“Glad you like them.”

“Have some.”

“Sure.” Zach bit into a piece. A blast of cinnamon tore through his taste buds. All he could concentrate on was the experience. It drove all sense of self-preservation from his mind.

After he finished savoring the candy, he asked, “Did she say anything about me?”

Pat's eyebrow lifted. “I thought you weren't interested in dating. At least that's what you said last week.”

“I'm not interested in dating. I was just curious, that's all.”

“Right.” Pat shrugged. “Have it your way. But, no, she didn't ask about you. Maybe she's gotten over you.”

“Could be.” He should leave her alone then.

“What gym do you use?” Pat asked as he closed the chocolate boxes. “If I'm going to eat these chocolates, I need to start working out. I have a wedding in my future.”

“Oh? That's fast work. You've only been here a few months.”

“Not really.” Pat grinned, one of those shit-eating grins that only guys in love get. “She's from Alaska. I asked her to marry me before I left. And she said yes.” He gently punched Zach's arm. “You should give it a try.”

“What—marriage?”

“Love, buddy, love.”

It was all he could do to keep from snorting.

A twinge of jealousy snuck into his heart.

“Tried it once. That's what got me demoted.”

“Sorry to hear that. Want to talk about it?” Pat asked.

“Not really.” He checked his watch. “Shift's over. Gotta go. Oh. I go to Gold's on Reserve. In fact, I'm going there now.”

He walked to the door.

“Hey, man. I didn't mean to pry,” Pat said. “No hard feelings?”

Zach shook his head. “No problem.”

• • •

Zach loaded another weight onto the bar. Pushing himself like this was the only way he knew to get past his current angst.

Women. Dealing with a fire was easier some days than figuring out the path of a woman's mind.

He slammed the bar back into its holder. He'd been an ass with Sue Anne, but he didn't know how to recover or if he even wanted to.

How could he possibly be in the same room with her and not keep his hands to himself?

He scanned the room before picking up the bar again. In the back of his mind, he'd hoped to run into her again. So far it hadn't happened.

“Need a spotter?” A polished blonde in revealing workout clothes stood by the bars. She looked familiar, but he couldn't place her.

“Brittany,” she said. “I was at the social. You took us around, remember?”

All those women. The chief had called it an opportunity to get to know the community. He hadn't realized the community was made up only of females.

“Oh. Yeah. Thanks, but I'm fine,” he said, wiping his brow with the lower part of his t-shirt. Maybe if he acted like a heathen, she'd go away.

“Okay. But I'll be around if you change your mind.” Hips twitching, she walked off in the direction of the squat machine.

She had one fine butt.

Shaking off the image, he went back to work. He'd finished his upper-body work, and was contemplating cardio when he spotted the person he'd been waiting to see.

Sue Anne was toning her fine body on the Stairmaster. There was no question as to who had the better butt—Sue Anne won over Brittany hands down.

He watched her work, taking in the rest of the trim figure. While her outfit wasn't as suggestive as the other woman's, it fit her closely, leaving little to the imagination. His hands itched to touch her. Good thing he couldn't see her lips or it would be all over.

Why did he have to be attracted to this particular woman? Someone who'd made it clear she was in Montana for good. He should ignore her. Find someone else.

His body let him know it had other plans.

A row of bikes stretched behind her. A woman got off of one, and he made a beeline for the equipment.

He was turning into a goddamn stalker.

No, he was simply admiring a nice-looking woman.

To what purpose, Crippin?

An intent as old as man and woman.

He pedaled hard, striving to sweat away the resulting effect of his view. He focused on his breathing, trying not to think about what a jerk he'd been at the airport, how he'd deliberately not phoned her, wanting to put distance between them.

She was too attractive to him, more than Erin had been. If he felt like that now, why torture himself further when he knew he'd have to leave her eventually.

His mind told him, “No,” but his body was on the opposite side of the argument.

Sue Anne finished with the machine she'd been using and turned, her gaze locking with his.

The internal argument was decided as swiftly as that.

He grinned at her and stopped pedaling.

She stared at him for a few moments before she pivoted and strode toward the ab machine.

He followed her.

“Sue Anne,” he said as he caught up with her.

“Yes?” Her face was guarded.

“How are you?”

“I'm fine.”

The silence between them echoed with the clang of metal upon metal and the grunts of exertion.

“Have a good workout,” she said and turned back in the direction she'd been going.

He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. Why couldn't he just ask her out?

Because he'd already screwed up with her.

“You finished your workout?” Brittany slipped in front of him, erasing his ability to see the woman he wanted.

“Yep.” No point in being here any longer.

“Me, too. Let me buy you a shake.”

“No, that's okay. I should be going.”

Brittany waved a finger under his nose. “You know better. Protein right after a workout is a good idea. C'mon. I'd really like to get to know you better.”

She linked her arm through his and led him in the direction of the juice bar.

As he walked away from the equipment, he felt Sue Anne's stare piercing the tender spot between his shoulder blades, not needing to look at her to know her eyes were filled with anger at his action.

It was for the best.

That bastard.

Sue Anne pushed the pin into the weights a level higher than normal. Crunching through the set, she grunted with the effort of the new setting. Not very ladylike, but the result would be worth it.

Who was she kidding? She'd never be able to compete with a bombshell like Brittany.

Ten. Eleven. Twelve.

She let go of the handles quickly, and the weights hit each other with a clank, earning her a glare from a nearby trainer.

Men.

Nope. She didn't need Zach Crippin in her life. They'd had one date. Correction. Friendship outing. It had been nice enough, but he was leaving, and there was no way she was selling her chocolate shop to follow him.

She grabbed the handles and began again, the effort of movement more painful now. Payment for her sins. Too much chocolate and she'd become the blimp her mother had always predicted she'd be.

“Sue Anne,” her mother would say, “you really need to lay off the sweets, darling. They'll absolutely ruin your figure,” ruin pronounced in the way that only a southerner could pull off.

She'd work it off. No way was she going to stop pleasing herself with chocolate. It was a much more reliable substance than a man. Even if the man kissed her in a way that sent her senses reeling.

Of course, she'd been the one to snub Zach this time. What would have happened if she hadn't given him the cold shoulder?

Nothing but pain that way—and not the satisfying pain of ripping her muscles.

Glancing at the trainer, she released the handles more gently.