Sweet Montana Christmas (8 page)

A few faces looked familiar, and others, obviously doing the same thing, smiled at her. This was a different group of women from the ones she'd known at the university. Time to take another step toward adulthood. She'd join.

“And now I'd like to have Brittany Johnson talk about the spring social,” Melissa said when the speaker was done.

Brittany walked to the podium spine ramrod straight, her bright smile and confident stride bringing everyone's attention to her.

“We're having our social a little early this year, but it's going to be very exciting. We've made arrangements to hold it at the airport, and they're going to give us a tour of the facility, including the old tower. It's going to be the best ever.”

The woman knew how to take control of a room. It was the kind of presence Sue Anne was going to need to make her business more than a small-town shop. She studied Brittany's flawlessly made-up skin, professional haircut, and glistening nails. Sue Anne's mother could command that kind of attention.

It was time to stop dismissing Mom's advice without looking at it first.

“We're still looking for a few more of you to supply extras for the meeting. We have the main snacks covered, but it would be great to have some fill-ins—chips, cookies, that kind of thing.”

Once the meeting was over, she made her way to Brittany, who was standing with Melissa.

“Oh, hi there,” Melissa said. “Did you enjoy the meeting?”

“Very much.”

“I forgot your name.”

“Sue Anne.”

“Sue Anne's opening a chocolate shop. Isn't that exciting?” Melissa said to Brittany.

“We've already met.” Brittany smiled—not a we're-going-to-be-best-friends-tomorrow kind of smile, but one that bespoke professional control.

 “I'd love to provide chocolates for your social. I could do a variety of styles and flavors—truffles, fudge, some spicy, some traditional.” Remembering Zach's airport buddy, she added, “I'd provide some without nuts so people who are allergic could try. I use separate equipment for non-nut chocolates, so there's no risk of contamination.”

She forced herself to stop talking. She could talk about chocolates for another half hour without stopping.

“You have to be a member,” Brittany said.

“I'll join right now.” She dug in her leather purse for her checkbook.

“I think that would be wonderful,” Melissa said. “I'm sure we can find room for Sue Anne's chocolates at our event, don't you?”

“Absolutely...” Brittany answered.

“I do!” Melissa pointed to the check-in table. “I'm sure they can get you signed up right now.”

Putting sugar in her smile, Sue Anne said, “Thank you,” and walked to the table, allowing the debutant walk her mother had worked hard to instill in her take over. The shift in her own self-image caught her unaware. There was more to learning how to walk than she'd imagined.

She'd have to call her mother soon.

• • •

He really needed to stop kissing Sue Anne.

Zach pulled his radio from his belt. “Crippin.”

“We need your help by the upstairs gates. Two passengers inbound from Seattle appear to be escalating an argument that started on the plane.”

Zach pounded up the stairs to the second floor, his equipment jangling from the rush.

At last, something to break the monotony.

“You took the last vegetarian sandwich.” A slender gray-haired woman in a lavender pantsuit pointed an accusing finger at a slightly overweight, florid man. “You know I don't eat meat, George. How could you do that to me?”

“Marsha, I didn't do it deliberately. My stomach's been acting up again.”

How could a grown man sound like a two-year-old? Sue Anne wasn't the only one with strange ways of thinking.

“Your stomach is giving you trouble because you overeat and drink too much.” The finger jabbed his rotund belly. “You're going to go and die on me. Then what am I going to do?”

“Spend the life insurance?” he suggested with a wry smile.

Marsha stopped jabbing. The muscles in her face twitched, as if she was holding back a smile. She lost the battle.

“You're an idiot.” She put her arms around him. “I love you. But I'm worried. You need to take better care of yourself. I don't want to be spending your life insurance without you.”

“Well, that's going to be very difficult, isn't it, dear?” He put his arm around her and led her toward the stairs.

They were totally oblivious to the team of security officers nearby.

Zach grinned at the other two members of his squad.

“That was easy,” Pat said, answering the smile with one of his own. “I wish they all could be like that.”

“Yeah.” For a moment Zach forgot Pat was supposed to be his rival. “Wonder what it would be like to have a relationship like that.”

“Bet it took time. I know you have to stick through the tough times as well as the good ones, but I'm going to get a chance to find out. My girlfriend is selling her business and moving down here to be with me.” Pat smiled.

“Congratulations.” The two men fell in step on their way back to the squad room, something about what Pat had just said nagging at Zach.

“Excuse me.” A young woman in boots and jeans hailed them. “I can't seem to find my luggage. Where do I report that?”

“Let me show you,” Pat said. After a quick grin at Zach, he led the young woman to the back of the terminal.

Zach shook his head and headed back to the squad room. It was time to go over the fire truck and make sure everything was clean and in order.

As he detailed the inside of the cab, the friendly conversation replayed in his mind. The chief was right—he was being a jerk. Pat was a nice enough guy. Working as a team was important. He'd learned that in Denver but apparently not well enough. As soon as he'd made his mistake, the team had turned on him.

Still, he needed to get past his knee-jerk reaction that the men didn't respect him because of his failure. No one had treated him badly.

All he had to do was pay attention to his job and avoid overwhelming distractions.

Like pretty women in candy shops.

Not happening, dude.

Great. Now his libido had a voice of its own.

Well, they didn't have to do anything
serious
, did they?

He Q-tipped the radio, examining his work when he was done. He'd never admit it to anyone, but he had a deep sense of satisfaction when the equipment sparkled and everything was stowed in an orderly fashion. A sense of control when his world seemed out of whack. He'd had enough emergencies to know the critical importance of reaching for something and finding the item in working condition where it was supposed to be.

That's what he'd liked best about Erin. As a nurse, she'd shared his need for order. But she'd never totally believed he loved her. Reassurances were a regular part of their life. That's why he'd phoned her the day of the test.

It was his fault he'd missed the call, and he'd blamed her for her neediness, hitting her where it hurt. Their fights had escalated, and he'd finally moved out. Although he still justified the decision, he was beginning to suspect he'd made the wrong move.

An ache in his heart told him he'd made a mistake, but it was too late to fix. She'd found someone else fairly quickly, and from everything he heard, she was happy.

 “Say, Zach.” Jim's voice echoed through the large space. “Is that chocolate shop open? I gotta get something for Maryann for Valentine's Day.”

Zach swung off the truck.

“I think she opened Monday.”

“You think? You didn't go over there to support her? I thought you had the hots for this girl.”

“It's not that kind of relationship.”

“And it's never gonna be if you don't get your priorities straight. You should bring her something. Flowers maybe. To celebrate her opening.”

“Never thought about it.”

“Get your head out of your ass, man. You'll be a lonely old guy like Bob down at the coffee shop if you don't watch out.” Jim slapped him on his upper arm. “I came to help. Chief says we're due for an inspection soon, and he wants everything top-notch.”

“Sure thing.”

It was time to relax his guard.

People in down jackets holding steaming cups of hot cocoa stuffed the chocolate shop when Zach walked in, carrying a flower arrangement he'd picked up at a shop on Higgins. The few chairs were taken, but people didn't seem to mind. Everyone was smiling and chatting.

Chocolate must be magic.

“Hi, Zach,” Julie called out from behind the display case. “Sue Anne's in back, making more hot chocolate. She'll be right out. Would you like a cup?”

“Sure.” He reached for his wallet.

“It's free today.” She smiled as she handed him the cup.

“Here it comes!” Sue Anne's voice sang out from the corridor. She held a tray full of cups balanced in one hand and smiled as she slid them to the top of the display case. Energy vibrated from her as she handed out the tasty liquid to waiting customers.

“Make sure you get some chocolates for your sweetheart. Valentine's Day is tomorrow! You'll want to surprise him or her with the best chocolates in Missoula.”

“Montana,” Julie added, although her volume didn't quite reach the same level.

“They're the best!” Zach chimed in. “Missoula Airport Security Squad stamp of approval.”

Sue Anne looked over and beamed at him.

He felt like he'd made the tie-breaking pin against the rival high school wrestling team.

People crowded up to get hot chocolate and peer at the display cases.

The women had been hard at work. Not only did they have the shelves full of fudge and truffles, but gaily-wrapped boxes were available for purchase too.

He sipped his chocolate and watched Julie ring up orders with efficiency. No wonder Sue Anne had chosen her. She could initiate the strangest conversations, but she appeared to be a savvy businesswoman.

“These are for you.” He handed Sue Anne the vased flowers when there was a lull in the customer traffic.

“Oh, that's so sweet.” She took them and placed them at the end of the counter. “They'll be perfect there. Brightens the place up.”

“I should have brought them earlier. I mean, you've been open since Monday.”

She came around the case. “That's okay. It's great that you brought them at all. It was very thoughtful.”

He couldn't think of anything else to say. In an instant, he felt like he was leaning against a high school locker asking a girl out for the first time, his stomach doing a slow, steady flip.

“I see you got some hot chocolate,” she said. “How is it? Being our official taste tester and all.”

“Like everything else in this store, it's delicious.” Suddenly aware of the double meaning, he stopped talking.

Sue Anne gave him a wink with her perfect lashes.

“Do you want to go to Lee Metcalf on Saturday?” he blurted, just as he had when he had approached a girl as a chubby teen.

“I can't. Shop's open.”

“What about Sunday? Or do you go to church?”
Crap.
He was sounding desperate.

“That would be lovely.” The smile returned. “I've been trapped in this place since the holidays.”

Tension released his muscles.

“Pick you up at nine.” He frowned. “Where do you live?”

“Apartment round back.” She gestured down the hallway.

“See you then.” He stood there for a few seconds, wanting to say more, do more.

Kiss her.

“Oh, no,” she said.

Was she going to cancel? One more somersault for his stomach.

“Do you mind taking Sugar? I haven't seen her all week, and she's starved for attention.”

She only wanted to take her dog. His stomach settled in its rightful place.

“No problem. See you then.” This time, before he left, he ran his index finger down her cheek.

As he closed the door behind him, the dark clouds released the sun, filling the snowy streets with bright light.

• • •

“I'd call today a success,” Sue Anne said to Julie as she propped her feet up on the steamer trunk that served as a coffee table in her apartment. Sugar was nestled beside her on the couch.

“My feet would agree.” Julie lounged back on a second-hand armchair, her feet perched on a nonmatching ottoman. “At least we sold more than we gave away.”

Sue Anne took a sip of the peppery pinot noir she'd purchased as a splurge from Liquid Planet and studied her friend.

“What's up with you?” she asked. “We've been doing well, but you don't seem happy.”

What if Julie didn't want to continue on with the business? Sue Anne could live without Reed, but she needed someone to tend the store and keep production going while she marketed the business and went to trade shows.

“I'm fine with the business.” Julie ran her finger around the rim of her glass.

“What, then?”

“It is Valentine's Day, you know. And here we sit. Dateless.” A sheen of tears was visible in Julie's eyes. “I mean, you had a boyfriend, even if you dumped him a few weeks before the big day.”

“Going out with Reed would have been worse than not having a date.” Sue Anne was positive about that. Sugar nosed her hand, as if to agree. She scratched the pug behind the ears.

If only she could find a man who looked at her with the same adoring eyes as her dog and who had the same sense of loyalty.

“But at least you had him. No one's been interested in me since we graduated last June.”

“Wasn't there the teacher you met at the sweet shop where you worked? The one doing a summer stint?”

“He was gay. Remember?”

“Oh. Yeah.”