Caroling in the Snow (New Hope Sweet Christmas Romance 2)

He wasn’t sure who this Ashley Lynn was, but he could tell there wasn’t much love lost between the girls. After a few moments of an awkward stare down, Ashley Lynn got up from her pew and left with a condescending twinkle in her eyes.

“Right!” Chloe forced a laugh and her eyes went wide. There was a glint of crazy in them. She reminded him of his Uncle Irwin when he went off his meds. “We’ve got more than a dozen rehearsals between now and the show. We need to work on hitting our marks and timing and not to mention, choreography. There’s still a lot of work to be done.”

Jordan could feel the warm sense of accomplishment drain from his body. He was starting to resent this pretty little package of energy bobbing around in front of him, waving her bright colored nails and calling people out.

“Laurie needs to project more,” she said with a finger pointed at her friend. “The angels needs to learn how to sit still. I’ve got two shepherds who can’t seem to stop giggling and a wise man who has been playing on his phone all night.” She gave each of them a fierce glare. “Not to mention you, Mr. Davis.”

He took a step back and stared at her. “Me? What do you mean?”

“I need you to feel the dialogue. You were as flat as a railroad tie, delivering those lines tonight. I need more from you.”

Resentment flared up inside him. “Wait a second, you said you needed a man who could sing. I sang. That’s all you asked of me.”

“I asked you to be in my play.” She placed her hands on her tiny waist and pursed her lips. “That includes singing and acting. We’ll work on it.”

He threw his head back in disgust and walked back down the church aisle, shaking his head in amazement. For one small moment, he’d been thinking maybe this wouldn’t be so bad. Sing a few songs, get the interview of his dreams. But with a miniature General in heels barking orders at him, he wasn’t sure he was going to make it until Christmas Eve. Even if the General was the most beautiful thing he’d ever laid his eyes on.

“Alright, that’s enough for tonight.” Chloe’s clipped tone set his teeth on edge. “Everyone go get your eight hours of sleep tonight. I want you here the day after tomorrow,

on time. I’m looking at you, Shepherds.”

He rolled the script up and stashed it in his back pocket, ready and willing to sink into that Santa comforter waiting for him in his hotel room. Outside the church, the night had turned crisp and frigid. His breath appeared in front of his face in little puffs of white.

Popping the collar of his coat up, he pulled it in tight to keep out the chill. Springtime couldn’t come fast enough. No more of this holiday nonsense and brutal cold. Give him football and green lawns and warm breezes. He’d take those any day.

“You sang great,” a voice said from behind him. He turned to spot Chloe wearing a deep purple pea coat with matching leather gloves. She jogged to catch up with him, her heels clicking on the sidewalk. “You really did. But we’ve got to work on your romance.”

He smiled incredulously at her, putting a hand to his chest. No woman had ever accused him of that. “Excuse me?”

“Your romance.” She smiled and blinked up at him. “It’s dead. This is the greatest love story of all time. I need a little love from you.”

Shoving his hands deep in his coat pockets, he shook his head and started off toward his car. She settled into a walk beside him, buzzing like a fly in his ear.

“Come on, I’m sure you know how to put on the moves,” she said. He grimaced at her, but she wouldn’t give up. “I think most people don’t realize what kind of love story there is between Mary and Joseph. That’s what I want to expose with my musical. And you, son, need to bring the romance. They’re in love, for goodness sake.”

“Well, I’m not sure I’m going to be able to help you,” he finally said, coming to a halt behind his car. He sighed and scratched his head, trying to put together the words to explain it. “I don’t really know anybody in love.”

“You don’t?” She looked up at him with eyes wide in horror. “You’re serious?”

“Nah, not really. Besides, I don’t really believe in the whole romance thing.”

Her eyebrows shot to the sky. “You don’t do romance…? But Christmas is all about romance and love and family.”

Leaning his hand on the car, he smiled at her. What a charmed life she’d led. He wished for a moment that he could trade places with her. To live one moment without the pain and scars of his past and the fear that came with the future.

“I don’t really do Christmas, either,” he said matter-of-factly. “It’s all a big scam to me. A way to get people to waste their money.”

He could tell he’d hit a nerve by the way she brushed invisible dirt off the front of her coat and huffed. Despite the annoyance he’d felt only minutes ago, he couldn’t help but admire the curve of her lips when she was angry. Never had he met someone who could be so attractive and furious at the same time.

“My parents split when I was young,” he added, although he wasn’t really sure why he was telling her. He never told people that. “My step-dad treats my mom like dirt. Not exactly Romeo and Juliet. There was never any romance in my life.”

She opened and shut her mouth, as if she couldn’t find the words to say, and her eyes filled with sympathy. For a moment, he was afraid she was going to relieve him of his part. Take back her offer. He wasn’t exactly the best candidate for a love story. Instead, she sighed and touched him on the arm.

“I’m sorry, I had no idea.”

“It’s in the past.”

“Still, I shouldn’t assume everyone’s had a childhood like mine.” She gazed up at the sky. Stars had begun to reveal themselves in the inky blackness. “I guess this just means we’ve got more work to do. Goodnight, Jordan.”