“It’s not that. We actually got along great. There were no awkward pauses. I didn’t feel like he was judging me and thinking I was silly for wanting security, and he seems to have a sense of humor.”
“What’s bothering you then?”
We stopped to stretch at the beginning of the trail, Tani half-turning so she could still face me as we dipped down.
“I wouldn’t say it’s bothering me, but there’s just something really familiar about him.”
She chewed on the inside of her cheek, her eyes lifting toward the gray sky as she thought. “You’ve never had a guard before, right? Maybe it’s that. Maybe he’s worked security for something for you before.”
“Nope. I’ve never had private security for anything. Not even for the big events and stuff. I have no clue why he seems familiar, but it can’t be that.”
“I’m sure you’ll figure it out.” She nudged me just before we took off. “Maybe he’s just got one of those faces.”
“He has a gorgeous face, but not in that generic way that makes me think I’ve seen it somewhere before when I haven’t.”
We kept an easy pace. Neither of us was training for a marathon or looking to outrun the other. One of the best things about this time we had together was the girl-talk. We didn’t make having it impossible by pushing ourselves too hard.
“A gorgeous face, huh?” She waggled her brows at me. “Tell me more about this gorgeous face.”
I felt my cheeks heating up, and it wasn’t because I was exerting myself. “It’s nothing. He’s just really good looking. I have no idea how I’m going to sleep with him just down the hall without thinking about things I shouldn’t.”
“Better stock up on batteries on your way home,” she teased. “What’s he look like? It’s been a while since I’ve met someone that made me think of things like that.”
“I’m pretty sure Carter will make anyone with a pulse think of things like that. If you look up Tall, Dark, and Handsome in the dictionary, you should find a picture of him there.”
“Ooo, I like Tall, Dark, and Handsome. I’m also kind of grateful it’s not my house he’s moving into. It’s been way too long for me to have a hot guy who I actually get along with under my roof.”
“You’re telling me.” I reached up to wrap my ponytail around itself. Cold or not, it was getting a little too hot to have my hair on my neck. It’s not just because I’m thinking and talking about Carter. It’s not.
I nearly rolled my eyes at myself. Yeah, right. Of course, the sudden heat in your entire body has nothing to do with him.
“What am I going to do?” I groaned. “Except for buying batteries. That’s a really good plan, but will it be enough? Maybe I should invest in a new lock for the guest-room door so he can guard himself from my libido.”
She burst out laughing. “At least you know everything is still working, right? I distinctly remember you saying a couple of months ago that you were sure your hymen had grown back and you didn’t even care.”
“True. How is it that you always manage to find a silver lining?”
Turning to jog backward, she shot me a wink before facing the path again. “It’s a talent. This guy is with you until at least New Year’s, right?”
“Right. I’m going to be facing the holidays with a stranger. Where’s the silver lining in that? Please tell me you can find it.”
“I can think of at least ten Christmas movies where holidays with a stranger who’s no longer a stranger by Christmas works out pretty darn well.”
“If only my life was a Christmas movie,” I pretended to lament. “Unfortunately, it’s been more of a tragedy recently.”
“Oh, stop being so dramatic.” She laughed again.
I swiped a hand across my brow, grinning before I threw my arms out to my sides. “I’m an actress, darling. I was born to be dramatic.”
“You just had to throw in the ‘darling,’ didn’t you?” She made air quotes with her fingers, shaking her head while trying to get her laughter under control.
“You know it.” I winked before getting serious again. “What are your plans for the holidays? Any handsome strangers I should know about?”
“Sadly, no. Cash and I are going to my aunt’s upstate. I’m pretty sure the youngest man in her community is in his eighties. He’s a sweet old man, but I just don’t really see anything happening there.”
“Maybe he has a hot son or grandson coming in for Christmas?” I suggested hopefully. Tani was a romantic. Despite that, I knew she’d given up on finding love for herself but I was still holding out hope for her.
She rolled her eyes. “First, she tells me I look great and then she tries to make me believe I’ll be falling in love with someone in Mr. Tanner’s family. You do know you’re really bad at lying, right?”
“Yeah.” I sighed. “I’m going to be working on it with Carter actually. But I’m not lying to you. I’m trying out your whole optimism thing, and you really do look great.”
“Maybe you should leave the optimism to me. The last thing I need right now is to fall in love. I’d rather not even think about it.”
“And you say I’m bad at lying.” I gave my head a brief shake before we lapsed into silence for a few minutes.
I loved this part of the trail even more than the rest of it—especially at this time of year. Between the trees, I caught glimpses of the city streets being decorated for Christmas.
Lights were going up and others were already there. Most of the stores had festive décor in the windows, and every now and then, I spotted a tree inside.
Warmth filled my heart and a smile spread across my face. My life felt a little crazy right now, but Christmas was still my favorite time of year. There had been a time not so long ago when I’d been at such a low point that I didn’t even really believe I’d live to see another Christmas.
I knew better now, but I’d made myself a promise back then to treasure every moment, and I planned on keeping it. The crispness of the air, the smell of cinnamon wafting from the bakery I knew was up ahead, and even the sounds of traffic from the streets nearby were things I took a moment to appreciate.
Eventually, Tani and I slowed to a walk and grabbed our coffees from a nearby truck when we were done. She held her mug in both hands as she nodded at the Broadway poster overhead. “Are you looking forward to being on one of those again soon?”
The warm fuzzies I’d been feeling crashed into my stomach lining. “I was, but not so much anymore. Did Jules tell you about what happened with Nathan Biles?”
“No.” She frowned. “What did that creep do now?”
“He found out about Wicked somehow.” I was still miffed that he knew about it. “Have you heard any rumors?”
“Nothing out of the ordinary. Definitely nothing that specific.” Worry darkened her eyes when she looked at me. “It really weird. As far as I know, everyone has been doing a good job of keeping your part in it under wraps.”
My teeth sank into the inside of my lower lip. “That’s what I thought, too. He was either guessing or there’s a rat somewhere. It’s pretty difficult to believe that, though.”