Her Snow Valley Fake New Year's Eve Boyfriend Read online

  She ran back into the freezer and fetched the other two piles. If she could get the arrangements finished by six when the flower shop closed, then she could still have a couple of hours to work on her novel. This one was going to be big; she could just feel it. She had to make good on something after coming back to Snow Valley with her tail between her legs.

  “I don’t know who Minnie is, but I’m sorry to hear about her funeral,” the man said.

  “Minnie Cole,” she called out as she moved to the front of the store.

  A man’s back was to her—a man she didn’t recognize. He was peering into the flower fridge.

  She evaluated him. Roughly six-one or -two. He didn’t wear a coat, just one of those tight athletic shirts. She could see every muscle in his shoulders and biceps. “Hello.” Her voice came out hoarse. Was she nervous?

  The man turned and his eyes widened, giving her a quick up-and-down look. He pointed at the fridge. “Hi. Can I just take a pile of those daisies in there?”

  If she’d thought his shoulders and biceps were nice, his face was gorgeous. He was like one of those Vikings, with short, untidy blond hair and blue eyes. His facial hair was just the perfect length. Attraction sizzled through her. It took a moment before her brain and her body synced back up. “Yes.” She rushed to the fridge and retrieved a bundle of daisies. “I can put them in some plastic for you. Or wrap them up nicely.” Her mind was racing. Who was this guy? He was definitely not from Snow Valley. And why did she care?

  He hesitated. “Sure, wrap them up. That would be great.”

  He was close enough that she could smell some type of aftershave. Whatever it was, it smelled good.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  She jerked out of her reverie and returned to the counter, where she pulled out a red paper to put the daisies on. “Yes, sorry. It’s just …”

  “The funeral,” he said, flashing a smile. “I heard you singing, by the way. Are you going to sing at the service? You’re good.”

  She froze. It’d been almost a year since she’d sung in front of anyone. “Uh, no.” She focused on arranging the flowers, then put a rubber band at the bottom to hold them together and wrapped them.

  He glanced around her to the back counter. “Looks like you’re busy.”

  “Because of the funeral,” she said, not looking at him. This guy made her feel out of sorts.

  “Right.”

  “I need to make three arrangements before six, and that only leaves me an hour.”

  “That must be a lot of work. I know nothing about flowers.”

  She wasn’t sure why he was talking to her like they knew each other. She stopped and gazed at him. “Do I know you?”

  He put his hand out as if he were all official. “Jax Casey. Not from Snow Valley.”

  She let go of the paper and put her hand in his bigger one. His hand was warm and callused but surprisingly soft. “Tia Snow.”

  “Nice to meet you, Tia Snow.” His blue eyes were like ocean waves.

  She smiled. “Nice to meet you, Jax Casey.”

  Their hands stayed together for a long time.

  Finally, he let go and grinned, making a dimple pop out. “The daisies.”

  “Sorry. That was weird, right?” She was acting like some lovesick puppy.

  His eyebrows went up. “Naw, not weird. What happens at six?”

  Was he asking for a reason? She glanced at his left hand and didn’t see a ring. “Um …” She rushed on, unable not to talk. Her mother had always told her that she was a nervous talker. “I’m a writer, and I’m trying to get in my words for the day because you have to stay on a schedule if you want to be successful.” She knew she was probably blushing. “But I have to go somewhere at six for an hour; then I’ll book it home and write the words.”

  “Honestly, I would think you’re a singer with a voice like that.”

  “Used to be, but … I changed careers.” She didn’t want to get into all of it.

  “Oh.” He looked around. “So, this is your part-time gig while you write the great American novel?”

  Was he teasing her?

  “Exactly, I’m only working here full time for the next couple of days while my aunt and uncle and a bunch of my cousins and their kids are all on a cruise for New Year’s.”

  “Hmm.”

  She didn’t know why she felt like she had to explain but she kept talking. “I’m living with my aunt and uncle while I’m writing said great American novel because … well.” She waved a hand through the air and moved to the cash register. “It’s a long story that you probably don’t want to hear, so sorry I keep talking.” She pressed in a code for a simple bouquet. “That will be seven dollars and fifty cents.”

  The guy pulled a ten out of his wallet. “I’d love to hear the story.” He cocked his head to the side. “The long story.”

  Tia felt another spike of adrenaline. The guy was way cute. Was he hitting on her? She wasn’t familiar with that. “Why are you in Snow Valley?”

  “My grandpa had a heart attack,” he said soberly.

  Her hands stilled over the register. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  He held up the daisies. “He’s okay. I’m staying to help out at his ranch for a while, and …” He broke off, holding up the daisies. “My grandpa already had me buy flowers for a woman at the hospital, so that shows you he’s recovering nicely.”

  “That’s cool. Hospital romance, that’s funny.” She relaxed a bit. “Well, I can see where you get your flirtatious nature from.”

  The guy let out a laugh. “The truth is that I never talk to women like this. Usually, I’m shy.”

  She scoffed. “Right.”

  “Seriously. I heard your singing and … Well, it’s been a long tour, and sinking back into civilian life keeps me at a distance from people most of the time.”

  “Well, thank you for your service.” It was something her mother had drilled into her—respect for the military.

  “You’re welcome.”

  She was about to ask him more about his grandpa when the door opened.

  Her ex strutted in. “Tia—I didn’t realize you’d be working today.”

  Tia’s emotions warred within her. Annoyance won. “Brad.”

  Brad glanced at Jax. “Uh, I guess you’re covering for Janet while they’re in the Caribbean, right?”

  “What do you need, Brad?” All she wanted was for the lying sucker to leave.

  He moved to the fridge and waited. “Excuse me,” he said, acting rather pushy toward Jax.

  The side of Jax’s lip tugged up. “I think you can wait your turn.” There was a sharp edge to his voice.

  Brad hesitated, giving Jax a once-over. “Sorry.”

  Tia’s heart raced. Seconds ago, Jax had been so chill and almost flirtatious, but now she had the distinct impression that Jax would take Brad down in three seconds if he didn’t behave.

  Jax gave her a secretive little wink.

  Brad frowned and moved to the counter. “Listen, I’m just getting Mama some flowers because, you know, I broke up with Ellie and these wouldn’t be for her.”

  Oh, how she knew about his break up. The thing she loved and hated about this town was that everyone knew everything and liked to tell it. She reached back and picked up a bouquet she had in some water behind her. “She’d love these. That will be seven dollars and fifty cents.”

  He frowned and pulled out his wallet. “I’ve been trying to text you.”

  “And I’ve been ignoring you.” She held her hand out. “Seven fifty.”

  Brad grimaced and put his card in the card reader. Again, he glanced at Jax. Jax was staring at the fridge, but she could tell he wasn’t interested in more flowers.

  “What have you been up to?” Brad asked.

  She printed the receipt and handed it to him. “I’m not doing this small talk with you.”

  He took his card back and picked up the bouquet. “Why are you still mad at me? It’s been a full yea
r since it happened.”

  “Right.” She remembered how long it’d been. “I remember the event clearly.”

  He let out a breath. “Uh, so I heard you’re MC’ing the New Year’s Eve dance.”

  Tia moved around the counter to the front door. “Yep.” She opened the front door. “Bye, Brad.”

  “Ti—you don’t have to be angry still.”

  “Go.”

  “Right.” He rubbed a hand over his face. “So do you have a date for the dance?”

  Tia wasn’t sure which pissed her off more: the fact that he was asking, or the fact that she didn’t have a date. She looked at the new stranger in town, and an idea occurred to her. “Actually, I do.”

  Brad frowned, looking confused. “No, you don’t. I would have heard about it.”

  Taking a huge chance, she moved to Jax’s side and grabbed his hand. “I was waiting to tell you.”

  Jax’s eyes met hers, and he gave her hand a little squeeze.

  “Uh, yeah, this is Jax Casey. He’s my date for the New Year’s Eve dance, and he’s also my boyfriend.”

  Brad looked skeptical. “Really?”

  Jax didn’t even flinch, only grimaced at Brad. “Sorry, dude. We weren’t going to tell you like this.”

  Brad was floored. He was gaping like a fish. “Who is this guy?” Brad asked angrily.

  She wanted to laugh out loud, but she kept up the game. “We met a couple of months ago when I was in New York, and now he’s here to help his grandpa out.”

  Brad’s scowl deepened. “You met him a couple of months ago?”

  She nodded.

  “I was on leave,” Jax said, grinning at her like he meant it. “Who knew dreams come true? I mean, I never expected to meet a Snow Valley girl in New York. We hit it off, and it was just meant to be.” His hand brushed her cheek.

  “A miracle for sure,” she said. Wow, the cheese factor was off the charts, and she loved it.

  Brad still didn’t leave. “Who’s your grandpa?”

  Jax’s happy face turned neutral. His hand dropped to Tia’s waist. “Roy Casey.”

  “I didn’t know he had a grandson.”

  “Yep,” Jax said evenly. “My family has always been military, so we haven’t been here a lot. But I’m just grateful I was coming to visit anyway and I could be here to help him out.”

  Brad outright glared at him, but Jax stayed cool as a cucumber.

  “You’d better get the flowers to your mom,” Tia said. “Or maybe you and Ellie could make another video for the New Year’s Eve dance.”

  Brad reached for the door but paused. “She apologized for that a long time ago.”

  “I never forgave her, so it doesn’t count. And I never forgave you, Brad, so don’t ask me out again.”

  With a scoff, Brad said, “Ya know, I don’t believe you guys are boyfriend and girlfriend. I would have heard about it.”

  Jax put his hand on her hip and pulled her closer. “If you heard she’s not dating, it’s because she’s been tied up with me and I’ve been away, but I’m here now.”

  Before she knew what happened, Jax pressed his lips to hers. Fire rushed through her veins. The man was strong, and she felt his muscles beneath his shirt. For a moment, she forgot where she was. All that was here was him and her. She’d never actually experienced going weak in the knees, but she did right now.

  When the kiss ended, he smiled at her sincerely. “I’m here.”

  She gulped back her surprise and stuck her chin into the air, facing Brad. “I think you should leave.”

  Brad stood there, paralyzed.

  “As she said,” Jax said, “I’m here now, and we’ll be seeing you at that dance. You can go.”

  Dang, this guy was tough.

  “Geez!” Brad cursed, then left, slamming the door behind him.

  Jax’s eyes followed Brad until he disappeared; then he let go of her hand. “Sorry about the kiss. I was just selling it for you.”

  It felt like her world had been flipped upside down. “That’s okay.” She moved back around the counter, needing to get some space between her and this smoking hot guy who’d just kissed her like he’d come home from war. She tried to collect herself. “Thank you. That was my ex.”

  “I gathered that.”

  “Right.” She fumbled with the paper she’d gotten out, turning away from him to put it back.

  “I understand all about exes, believe me.”

  “Yeah.” Her cheeks burned.

  “Would you want to get dinner?”

  Taken by surprise, she turned back to face him. “What?”

  “Dinner. Do you want to get dinner with me?”

  Her mind spun. This guy was seriously asking her to get dinner with him? She’d promised she’d go visit Chandra tonight, plus the arrangements still had to be done. “Ah, I do want to, but I have to finish here.”

  “Right, but I could come back later.”

  “Uh. Man, I really hate this, but I actually have a commitment tonight. I’m sorry.”

  He lifted a hand and moved to the door. “No worries, really.” He opened the door and held it, looking back at her. “That was an amazing kiss, by the way.”

  Feeling ridiculous, she laughed. “Yes, it was.”

  “Good luck to you.”

  She watched a very good-looking man walk away. Why hadn’t she just said yes to dinner?

  Chapter 3

  Jax mucked out a stall in his grandfather’s barn, heavy metal music playing loudly from his phone in his jacket pocket. He paused, still reeling from the amazing kiss earlier. Tia was all he’d been able to think about the rest of the night—even as he’d taken the flowers back to Grandpa and watched as Martha had accepted them and given Grandpa a kiss on the cheek. It’d been cute.

  Cute? Was he really thinking words like that?

  How come his seventy-year-old grandfather could attract a lady and he couldn’t? He pretty much could bank on the fact Grandpa wouldn’t be eating alone tonight.

  A Rocky IV song was next on his playlist, and he jammed to the music. He moved onto the next stall. It’d been a long, cold year in the women department. Karli’s beautiful face flashed into his mind. She was blond, sun-kissed, and tall. But they’d only dated three months before eloping to Maui. He cursed. He should have realized it’d all been an act.

  He thought again about how it’d been a long time since he’d kissed a woman like that. The guys on his team were teasing him that he’d gone all monk or something. He hadn’t wanted to explain to them how hurt he was over Karli. He didn’t need to; they knew. But that kiss earlier had stoked a fire inside of him again.

  After he finished with the stalls, he fed Husky and Piper, giving them an extra rubdown with the brush. He had loved working with the horses and doing ranch stuff when he’d been young. That felt like a separate life, because he hadn’t thought about it for a long time.

  He moved to his grandfather’s office. There were scattered papers all over the desk, and an old-fashioned phone was attached to the wall. He halted, noting there was a picture of him and his grandpa in the corner of the desk. He picked it up and studied it, noting that he’d been a boy then, maybe eight or nine.

  His mother had come then, too. He sucked in a breath and put the picture down, bringing up a wall to block those feelings.

  Suddenly, a text from Karli appeared. Thinking about you.

  Anger surged inside of him. Over the past couple of days, she’d been sending little texts like this and he’d been ignoring them. It was clear that she and the other guy hadn’t worked out. But c’mon, she’d left him standing on a beach with a preacher and his grandpa waiting. Why would she think he would want to talk to her?

  He texted her back. Quit texting me.

  She responded instantly, like she was watching for his reply. I’m sorry, Jax. I’m so sorry. I made a mistake and I want to talk to you.

  How many times had he longed for her to say those words to him? Not that he ever saw Karli. Hon
estly, they’d never even run into each other. It wasn’t that hard for him to eliminate people from his life. He’d moved so much, he had a knack for it. It was just eliminating them from his heart that he found harder to do.

  Through the window of the office, he saw an old punching bag and lifting equipment. Well, well, well. He hadn’t remembered a workout room. He strode out and turned on the light that was hanging from the ceiling. The room was half a barn and half cement floor. It was cold, probably twenty degrees, but he didn’t care.

  He took off his gloves and coat and started up the heater in the corner. He took his phone out of his pocket and went to his workout playlist. “Hearts on Fire” blared out. He focused on the bag. This was what he needed—to hit something.

  Jax leaped into a roundhouse kick. Jujitsu, tai chi, and boxing were all part of his training, and it felt so good. He began his routine of punching and kicking that he’d done several times a week for years. It calmed him.

  The girl’s face popped into his mind again. Not Karli this time—Tia.

  He liked the name. He wouldn’t have liked the name if he hadn’t met the woman associated with it. He liked the pride in the woman’s eyes when she’d told her ex that she was going to the dance with Jax.

  Dang, the girl had guts.

  He laughed and tugged off his shirt; sweat was already trickling down his back. Yes, he so needed this.

  With a pang, he visualized his buddies on the beach in Cabo. Man, how he needed the sunshine. Then he thought about his re-enlistment notice, which he’d gotten last week. It told him that if he wanted to stop being a SEAL, now was the time he to do so.

  He punched some more. Of course he would keep being a SEAL. What would he do if he wasn’t a SEAL? His grandpa had mentioned that at one point, he’d wanted to be a rancher. But he’d grown up. He’d chosen a path, and he had nothing else. No home. Only his team. He had to re-enlist.

  A twinge in his shoulder made him stop punching, and he grabbed it with his other hand. Dang it. He grimaced against a burst of pain. Even though it’d been two years, sometimes it caught at just the right spot. As he massaged his shoulder, Tim’s face flashed into his mind. His best friend. His teammate. The one he’d lost.