Chapter Two

Mason

I hitched Juniper's old white Honda SUV to my tow truck and got back into the cab beside her, still in shock at finding my high school crush back in town in the middle of a snowstorm. The snowflakes were dancing like a flurry of white ashes against the canvas of the rapidly darkening sky, and I gripped the steering wheel tightly as I pulled back onto the road. The headlights of my truck cast a warm glow onto the frosted road ahead, slicing through the thickening gloom in the silent, snowy expanse of Springfield's outskirts.

"All set," I said, giving Juniper a quick reassuring smile. "Let's get you out of this storm."

"Thanks, Mason," she murmured, rubbing her hands together for warmth. The close quarters brought a rush of her scent—fresh pine mixed with a hint of vanilla—as well as memories of high-school dances and locker-lined hallways that quickly filled my mind.

"Anytime," I replied, flicking the heater up a notch. The drive was slow-going, and the tow truck's wheels crunched over the freshly fallen snow. I could sense Juniper's tension beside me, her fingers gripping the edge of her seat as we passed familiar landmarks barely visible in the dim light.

"Can barely see past the hood," she said, peering out into the whiteout, her freckled nose almost touching the window. Sure enough, every snowflake seemed like a tiny star against the night, lost as soon as it was seen.

"Good thing I know these roads like the back of my hand," I replied, hoping that I sounded more confident than I felt.

"Remember when we tried to sled down Miller's Hill and ended up in the creek?" she asked with a giggle.

"Ah, the infamous 'sled into swim' maneuver," I chuckled. "Didn't think I'd ever get warm again after that."

"Me neither," she admitted. I was glad to catch a smile tugging at her lips despite the tension of our predicament.

We continued on towards town, the atmosphere in the cab shifting, charged with something I couldn't quite name. I watched Juniper's profile out of the corner of my eye, the way her jaw tensed and the occasional furrow of her brow when the truck hit a particularly icy patch.

"Almost there," I announced after a tense stretch of silence, the auto shop's sign emerging ghost-like from the flurry.

"Thank goodness," she said with a loud exhale.

As we pulled into the shelter of Knight Automotive , owned by my Uncle Frank, the storm seemed to suddenly ramp up in intensity. I hopped out first and then offered Juniper my hand, helping her down to the frozen pavement. She took it, her fingers trembling slightly against mine.

"Let me get you inside," I said, leading her quickly to the building's entrance.

The clang of the door shutting behind us reverberated through the shop, sealing us inside like a cocoon insulating us from the wrath of Mother Nature. Juniper's gaze swept across the cavernous space, landing on the shadowy outlines of vehicles and tool-strewn benches.

"Looks like we're alone," I commented, my voice bouncing off the high ceilings. "Uncle Frank and I usually work late but he must've called it a night and headed out before the storm hit."

I flicked the light switch and the overhead bulbs buzzed to life, casting stark light over the auto shop's interior, chasing away the lingering shadows.

"There's a cozy office in the back with a couch. You can warm up while I check out your SUV," I said, pointing toward a door at the far end.

"Cozy office?" she teased, her cupid's bow lips curving upward. "Is that mechanic speak for dusty room with a coffee-stained sofa?"

"Guilty as charged," I replied, turning my hands palms-up in a gesture of surrender. "But I'll have you know that coffee stain tells a story. A tragic tale of a Monday morning."

Juniper laughed, the sound bright and genuine. It was easy to forget the years apart when she looked at me like that—with humor and if I wasn't mistaken, a hint of appreciation. I knew all the hours I'd spent in the gym over the last several years had paid off in both muscle and attention from the ladies—neither of which I'd been lucky enough to have in high school—but it was nice she was actually noticing.

"Every stain has its history, some more salacious than others," she said suggestively as she brushed past me, her arm lightly grazing mine. "Lead the way, storyteller."

My smile deepened, and I motioned her towards the office. We'd been friends long ago, but our interaction felt different now. I didn't know what it meant or where it might lead, but I liked it.

"Here we are," I announced, opening the door to reveal a small room that was surprisingly tidy, save for a few scattered car manuals and a half-full mug on the desk. The promised couch, complete with the infamous coffee stain, looked inviting enough.

"Home sweet temporary home," she quipped, stepping into the room. She removed her jacket, draping it over the armrest, aware of my gaze lingering on her.

"Make yourself comfortable. I'll grab some blankets and see if Frank left any hot chocolate stashed away," I offered, already turning towards the door.

"Hot chocolate would be perfect," she confessed, settling onto the couch. "Thanks, Mason."

"Anything for you, Junie."

As the door clicked shut behind me, I felt a surge of emotions. Here I was, snowbound with Juniper McCall, the silent guardian of my teenage dreams. The heat from the old radiator couldn't compete with the warmth spreading now through my chest.

I made my way to the back storage area, rummaging through the shelves until I found a couple of old, but clean, blankets. I also discovered a canister of hot chocolate mix tucked away behind some spare parts. A small victory, but one that made me smile. As I filled a kettle with water and set it to boil on the small electric stove in the corner, I couldn't help but think about how life had brought Juniper back into my orbit. The question was, how long would she stay this time?

Carrying the blankets and the canister, I returned to the office. Juniper was curled up on the couch, her discarded boots on the floor in front of her. Her eyes lit up when she saw what I brought.

"Blankets and hot chocolate? You really are a knight in shining armor," she teased, but there was genuine appreciation in her voice.

I handed her a blanket and draped the other over the back of the couch. "Just trying to make you comfortable. It's not exactly a five-star hotel, but it'll keep us warm while we wait out the storm. I hate to tell you, but we're probably going to be stuck here for a while."

"Warmth is all I need right now," she said, wrapping the blanket around her shoulders. "And maybe some of that hot chocolate."

"Coming right up," I replied, heading back to the kettle. I prepared the hot chocolate, glad that I was turned away from her so she couldn't see the giddy smile that seemed plastered to my face. When I was done, I handed her a steaming mug, the rich aroma of chocolate filling the small room. She took a sip and sighed contentedly. "Perfect."

We sat in companionable silence for a while, sipping our hot chocolate and listening to the wind howl outside. The warmth from the heater and the blankets slowly chased away the chill, making the office feel like a cozy haven.

"Remember that time in high school when we snuck into the old drive-in theater?" I asked, breaking the silence.

Juniper laughed, her green eyes sparkling with the memory. "How could I forget? We watched that terrible horror movie, and you spent the whole night pretending to be scared just to make me laugh."

"Hey, it worked, didn't it?" I grinned, enjoying the way her laughter brightened the room.

"It did," she admitted, her smile softening as she looked at me. "You always knew how to make me laugh, Mason."

The room grew quiet again, but this time the silence was filled with unspoken words and lingering glances. I wanted to ask her about Troy, about the years since she'd left Springfield and why she'd come back, whether she was seeing anyone now… but every time I opened my mouth to ask one of the myriad questions running amok through my brain, my tongue felt stuck to the roof of my mouth. I didn't know where or how to begin, worried about making her feel put on the spot.

"We have a lot to catch up on," I said finally, my voice steady but my heart racing. "Maybe this storm is a blessing in disguise."

She yawned, her eyes drooping with exhaustion. "Maybe it is," she agreed, her voice trailing off.

I could have kicked myself for not being sensitive to how tired she must be after driving all night. Setting my empty mug on the coffee table, I rose from the couch.

"I'm so sorry, I'm an idiot," I said. "I've been keeping you up. Why don't you get some rest until the storm passes? I'll take you home in the morning. Wi-Fi should be back up by then too."

"But what about my SUV?" she asked, stifling another yawn and pulling the blanket up around her shoulders.

"I've had plenty of coffee. I'll take a look at it now," I assured her. "I'll work on it all night if I have to. Just get some sleep."

I quickly made her a makeshift bed on the couch, using the blankets and an old pillow I found in the storage room. "Here, lie down," I said softly.

She nodded, obviously too tired to protest, and settled down on the couch. "Thanks, Mason," she whispered, her eyes closing almost immediately.

"Anytime, Junie," I replied, watching her for a moment as she drifted off to sleep. She looked so peaceful, like Sleeping Beauty from the childhood fairytale.

I walked back to the garage and turned my attention to her SUV, determined to fix whatever the hell was wrong with it. The hours passed in a blur as I worked, my hands moving with the precision of years of experience. The engine was a mess, but I was going to get it running again if I had to make a deal with the devil to do it.

By the time the first light of dawn began to filter through the frosted windows, I had diagnosed the problem—a faulty alternator—and managed to replace it, thank God. Wiping my hands on a rag with a sense of accomplishment, I returned to the office to check on Juniper.

She was stirring on the couch, stretching and yawning as she woke up. Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw me standing there, grease-stained and smiling.

"Morning, Sunshine," I greeted her. "I discovered the problem with your vehicle and fixed it."

She sat up, a look of amazement on her face. "You did? Mason, that's incredible! What do I owe you?"

I shook my head, my smile widening. "Nothing. It's on the house."

Her excitement was palpable as she sprang to her feet and rushed over to me. "Thank you, Mason. You really are my knight in shining armor." Before I could respond, she kissed me, her lips soft and warm against mine.

The kiss deepened to my surprise, and I pulled her in closer, responding to the feel of her soft curves hugged tight to my body. When we finally pulled away, both of us were breathless.

"Wow," I whispered. "Hadn't expected that."

"Me either," she said, pulling back enough to meet my gaze.

"How long are you in town?" I asked, finally finding my voice with the dawn of the new day.

"A couple of weeks," she breathed. "Just through the holidays. I work in landscape design now in Baltimore. I came back to Springfield to help my mom and sister with my niece and nephew for the season since Ginger's about to have another baby."

"Ah, that makes sense," I said, hesitating a moment before asking my next question. "I know you and Troy broke up, but I don't know whether you guys have stayed in touch or not. In case you weren't already aware, he's managing some big advertising company's new branch in Springfield now. Just fyi."

Juniper averted her gaze. "Yeah, my mom told me," she replied, meeting my eyes again with new intensity. "And yes, I know he and Paris Dubois are still dating. What do you think about giving them a run for their money this Christmas? It would be nice to spend more time with you, no strings attached, of course. I don't know about you, but there's only so much family time I can take without wanting to stuff myself down the chimney."

I laughed, wrapping my arms around her slim waist and pulling her to me again, harder this time.

"I'd say, come here baby, ‘cuz it's sure cold outside." I kissed her again feeling like Santa had just given me the gift of all my boyhood dreams.