“I need to go outside for a minute,” I tell Tina.
“But they’re about to announce the trophy winner!” she argues.
“You can tell me who won. If I don’t get out of here and get some air I’m going to pass out,” I respond.
I’m lying, but I really just need to get out of here. Tina means well, but she just doesn’t understand. Once I get this holiday behind me, I’ll go home and erase all decorations and all signs that I was ever stupid enough to fall for Eb Mason.
“This year we’re doing things a little different. We’re going to award a prize to the best decorated home. There will be a first and second prize and the winners will get a fifty-dollar and a one-hundred-dollar gift card, respectively, from Grayson Hardware, compliments of Victor Grayson,” the mayor announces and I frown.
Isn’t that great?
The one year they give out a prize worth having and I haven’t been paying attention to my home to even try to win. This is just another thing that is Eb’s fault.
“In second place is the lady the whole town has come to rely on for her Christmas spirit and her delicious holiday goodies. Heck the town has even nicknamed her, Christmas Joy. Joy come on up.
I don’t move. I feel like a deer trapped in the sites of a hunter’s scope. I don’t want to go up there and stand by the mayor. I don’t want to stand in front of all of these people.
I just wanted to leave!
“Come on up, Joy,” the mayor urges again and I look at him and then look at the door. I would have made a run for it, but Tina all but pushes me around her. I stumble into the aisle as people start clapping, leaving me no choice than to reluctantly walk to where the mayor is standing.
I’m going to kill Tina.
Chapter 24
Eb
I watch from the corner of the room as Joy accepts her gift certificate. She looks so good. I have to clench my hands in fists to keep from going up and grabbing her. She will be mine soon enough.
“Our first place winner is a new resident to Juniper, but from the looks of his lawn he is definitely a welcomed addition. We’re delighted to have award winning novelist E.B. Mason as part of our community and are pleased to announce he wins first place in this year’s contest.”
I watch as surprise comes over Joy’s face. It shouldn’t. She did all the decorating. She had to know she would win. She put her heart into decorating my house. Just like she put her heart into loving me.
I walk toward her and I see the exact moment she spots me. Her body jerks and I can see the tremble that shudders through her. She’s going to run. I can see it in her eyes and I can’t let her. I pick up my pace, my legs eating up the distance between us. She turns away just as I get there and my hand clamps on her shoulder. She physically coils away from me as if my touch is painful. I tighten my hand up on her forearm to the point it’s probably painful, but I don’t let her get away.
“Thank you, mayor.” I answer, taking my gift card from him. I have no idea what Grayson Hardware is, but maybe I’ll give it to Joy. From the look in her eyes she wants to kill me and there’s probably something there to help her in that endeavor.
“You’re welcome. Now, how about we—”
“If you don’t mind Mayor, I’d like to address the citizens of Juniper for a moment if I could.”
“Why sure, son. Go right ahead,” he says standing back.
“I’ll just go,” Joy murmur’s trying to pull away.
“No. I need you to hear this too Joy. Especially you.”
“I don’t want to hear anything you have to say.”
Her words are more than understandable. I ignore them. I have one shot at this and if it doesn’t work I’m not sure what I will do. Probably kidnap her and tie her to my bed until she does listen, because losing her is not an option.
“When I first came to Juniper I was a different man. I hated everything about the world I lived in. My agent said I was a caveman, a recluse and she was right. I lived for days I didn’t have to have human contact. That’s what I wanted.”
“Because you’re an asshole,” Joy mutters and I smile.
“I was an asshole.”
“You still are.”
“Probably, but being in Juniper has changed me, Joy. Being with you changed me.”
“It made you a bigger ass.”
“I hated everything about Christmas before I came to Juniper and then this beautiful blonde with sparkling eyes offered to decorate my yard and I took one look at her and…”