Chapter 21

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Aiden stood at the counter of the Sugar Maple general store, waiting while Leon put the final touches on gift-wrapping the present he'd just purchased. He watched, thinking to himself that he was always surprised at what a deft hand Leon was at wrapping presents. It's not something he would have ever expected, but Leon had really perfected it over the years.

"You made an excellent selection here," Leon commented, taping down the last corner of the dark-green paper printed with silver and gold trees. "Who's it for?" He had a gleam in his eye as he looked at Aiden, his mouth curling up on one side, and Aiden knew he was caught.

"It's for Nora," Aiden admitted, unable to stop the smile that spread over his face too. Just thinking about her had that effect on him, especially after the kiss they'd shared while watching the sunrise. He was eager to see her again and give her a gift that he hoped would tell her exactly how much he'd paid attention. How much he wanted to show her that he cared.

"You're both wonderful young folks," Leon said noncommittally, as if he were talking about the weather. "I could see the two of you being happy together, you know."

Aiden raised an eyebrow. "She has a whole separate life in the city." He said it flatly, as if he hadn't wondered since their first date whether or not Nora might change her mind about moving back. As if he hadn't imagined her deciding to take a different direction with her life, after coming home and experiencing Evergreen Hollow with fresh eyes. Now that things had changed between them?—

He shook off the thought. He wouldn't move to Boston for her, give up the life that mattered to him here to go somewhere that he knew he wouldn't be happy, so why would he imagine that she would do the same in reverse? Their time together was limited, but he had been doing his best to simply enjoy it for what it was.

Leon seemed to read something in his expression. "Don't write off the possibility of things working out," he advised, tying a gold ribbon around the small package. "If the two of you want a relationship, there's always a chance it might go the way you hope it will. You never know."

"I'll try to keep that in mind. Thanks for this." Aiden picked up the package, nodding at Leon, and headed back out to his truck.

He'd been planning to save the gift until he saw Nora next, but as he drove past The Mellow Mug, he caught a glimpse of her familiar peacoat and navy scarf as she ducked into the coffee shop. On impulse he turned around, pulling into the parking lot and following her inside.

Nora looked up as the small bell above the door rang, and her face lit up when she saw him. He felt a flush of pleasure at that—at how happy she looked to see him. As if it had brightened her whole day.

She walked over to where he was standing as she waited for her coffee, smiling. "Come sit with me over there?" she asked, pointing to a corner table where Aiden saw that she'd set her things down. "Unless you need to be somewhere else."

"Nah, I can take a break for a little while. Perks of being my own boss." He grinned, and Nora laughed, a light musical sound that he thought he could easily get used to hearing. Leon's words echoed in his head. It was a long shot, but maybe he didn't have to entirely give up on the possibility of something working out between them.

They both grabbed their coffees, Aiden putting in an order for a macchiato after Melanie made Nora's, and Nora carried her drink and a plate with one of Melanie's buttery cinnamon rolls over to the table. They sat down next to each other, and Nora nudged her planner and magazines out of the way so there was room for their coffees and the pastry between them.

"Did you just stop by to get some midday caffeine?" she asked teasingly, and Aiden laughed.

"Actually, I was on my way to the grill to get some takeout. But I saw you coming in here, and I thought I'd stop because… well, I wanted to give you this." He reached into his pocket, taking out the gift that Leon had just finished wrapping. "Merry Christmas."

Nora's eyes widened as she took it from him. "Oh, Aiden, you didn't have to! I haven't gotten you anything! I actually haven't done any shopping," she added sheepishly. "I've gotten so caught up in festival planning I forgot I might need to get Christmas gifts for everyone."

He waved a hand. "You don't need to get me anything. I thought you would like this, that's all."

Nora carefully undid the wrapping paper, setting it aside as she lifted the lid off the small black box. She let out a small gasp when she saw what was inside.

It was a small golden compass on a fine gold chain, able to be opened up. There was a tiny diamond at the top, where the northern arrow would be. She stared at it for a long moment, and then back up at Aiden, her expression stunned.

"It's beautiful," she whispered, her eyes misting slightly, and he rubbed a hand over the back of his neck.

"Protection from getting lost again," he explained, smiling a little as he felt his face pinken. "Since you're so bad with directions and all."

Nora laughed, reaching for the necklace and immediately clasping it around her neck. She sniffed, touching it gently as it fell against the front of her sweater.

"I love it," she said, and leaned forward, her hand on Aiden's arm as she tilted her chin up to give him a soft kiss. The kiss lingered for just a moment, his hand covering hers, until he heard Melanie clear her throat from the counter.

"You know I can see you two, right?" Melanie teased from where she was standing, and Aiden felt his cheeks flush.

He chuckled sheepishly as he pulled back, and Nora laughed too, her eyes shining.

"What are your plans for the rest of the day?" Aiden asked, peering at the stack of magazines and the checklist stacked next to Nora's planner.

"I have a few orders to finalize for the festival." She gestured at her laptop. "Just some busy work is all, and then I'm going to brainstorm some more ideas for the inn."

Aiden took a long sip of his coffee, straightening. "Well, I don't want to keep you from it," he said, starting to get up, but Nora put a hand on his arm.

"You're welcome to stay while I finish up," she said, smiling, and the look on her face put him at ease. "After all, I can't finish this whole cinnamon roll by myself. And I like the company."

"I never turn down a good pastry." He grinned at her, relaxing back in his seat. He was happy that she'd extended the invitation. In all honesty, he thought as he picked at the cinnamon roll and sipped coffee while Nora opened her laptop and started looking over her list, he was enjoying just watching her work. He always thought she was beautiful, but there was something special about seeing her in her element, that focused expression on her face as she ticked away at items. He loved how he could see her mind racing as she scanned through ideas—it was obvious to him just how good she was at her job.

Leon always told him how lucky the town was to have him there, working to keep it in good shape, but he thought they were lucky to have Nora back too. Having her touch on the festival would make it an extra-special event this year, he was sure, and he was excited to see what she had in store. They hadn't talked much about the details of it, with too many other things to catch up on, and he was looking forward to the surprise.

He glanced up from his coffee a few minutes later, and saw Nora looking confusedly at her screen, her brow furrowed. "What's wrong?" he asked curiously, and Nora let out a breath, shaking her head.

"I have a Google doc for my inventory for the festival. I'm supposed to be the only one who has access to it, but I can see that Sabrina is active in it." She pursed her lips. "She's changing things I planned on ordering! I hadn't kept a backup list because this was supposed to only be available to me."

She turned the laptop around in an attempt to show him, frustration clearly written across her face, but Sabrina's icon had already disappeared.

"I don't see it," Aiden said apologetically, and Nora glanced back at the screen.

"She must have seen my icon in the document and logged off, knowing I'd notice." Nora's jaw tightened. "I don't understand why on earth she's so set on changing my plans for the festival. She's not even talking to me about it, she's just bulldozing in and doing things her own way." She let out a sharp breath. "I don't get it. I'm just trying to help."

Aiden ran a hand through his hair. "I wish I had an answer for you," he said quietly. He really did. He could tell the situation was frustrating her, and he wanted to do something to help. He just wasn't sure what that might be.

He couldn't solve the problem that was bothering her right then, that much he knew. But he wanted to do something to try and cheer her up. He ran a hand through his hair, offering her a smile.

"I'm going to be working late tonight. But maybe we could go for a walk tomorrow evening? Take your mind off things a little. And now you can't get lost." He gestured at the dainty compass resting against the neckline of her blue sweater, winking at her teasingly.

Nora brightened instantly, and he felt a warm glow in his chest. "I like the sound of that," she said, agreeing instantly. "I think you're turning me into an outdoorsy girl after all, despite all that time in the city."

He grinned, cheered with the idea of how much the plan seemed to please her. She seemed genuinely enthusiastic, and Leon's words came back to him once more, generating a warm spark of hope in his chest.

Maybe she wasn't as eager to go back to Boston as he'd thought.