Chapter 23

As the night wore on, it grew colder and soon they headed back to the church. By that time, Jocelyn's hands were nearly frozen. She shoved them into her coat pockets, knowing she should have worn her gloves.
"Come here." Caden took her hands into his own and began rubbing them. "Your hands are freezing." He leaned down to blow on them and warmth filled her body. When she looked up, her eyes met his. He had the most beautiful green eyes she had ever seen. Then he looked down and continued rubbing her hands.
"Thank you, but I think I'm fine now."
She looked up, but he didn't let her hands go right away. Her heart fluttered, wondering for a moment what it would be like to have a life with him. But she pulled her hands away and shoved them back into her pockets, knowing it could never be.
Turning, she continued walking toward the church and he placed a hand on the small of her back protectively. Heat rushed through her body from his touch and her heart went out to him. Although she kept telling herself that he wasn't hers and that he never would be, her heart didn't seem to know it. Every time she saw him, or he came near her, her body reacted as if she had seen her first Porcha.
"Thanks, everyone, for attending tonight," Preacher Crane announced to everyone when they walked into the church and warmed himself. "We spread a little sunshine tonight and received a few donations for the church in the process."
"And hot chocolate!" Mrs. Oberon shouted as she collected the choir folders.
Everyone laughed.
"Well, thanks, again," the preacher continued, "and be careful driving home."
"Want to go get something to eat?" Caden asked Jocelyn as they walked out the door.
"Haven't you seen enough of me today?" She kicked herself for asking, but the more time she spent with him, the more she feared her heart wouldn't survive when he left.
Caden gave her a heartbreaking smile, shaking his head. "Not yet," he teased. "Hungry?"
She shrugged. "I could eat."
"Santa's Café?"
"Perfect."
He held the passenger door open for her and she climbed in, wondering what in the world she was doing. On the way, snow started to fall in the headlights and Caden turned on the windshield wipers.
"Are you sure you still want to go?" Jocelyn asked, noticing that the snow was coming down pretty hard. "We might get snowed in at the diner."
Caden laughed. "I promise I'll dig us out if we get snowed in."
She laughed, not telling him that she wouldn't mind getting snowed in with him. She didn't dare. "I'm going to hold you to it."
He chuckled as he drove expertly through the falling snow.
"You never forgot how to drive in snow, huh?" Jocelyn asked. "If you like, you can pull over and I'll drive."
"Not a chance," he teased, turning another corner. "It's something you never forget. Like riding a bike."
As they drove through the dark streets, snow fell through the headlights. She loved the snow, but at times like this, it could be cumbersome. Before long, Caden pulled the car to a stop in front of the diner.
"Well, here we are." Caden slid the gear shifter into park. Then he looked over at Jocelyn and raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you wouldn't rather go somewhere else?"
Jocelyn shook her head. "No, why?"
He shrugged. "Just checking." Then he slid out of his side of the car.
She was about to get out of the car, but he was there, holding her door. "You became a gentleman while you were away."
"I've always been a gentleman. You were just too young to know."
"Ouch." A familiar pang grabbed her chest.
He frowned at her. "Jocelyn, you know what I mean."
She nodded as she gave him a weak smile. What was she doing? She had been going through her life just fine, thank you very much. But then he came back, awakening all of the old feelings inside her that lay dormant for so long. She took one look at him and she was more in love with him than she had been before he left for the Navy. Now, she feared he would break her heart. And if that happened, she would never recover.
"Ready?"
Jocelyn nodded, knowing she would follow him to the moon if he asked.
"Welcome to Santa's Café!" Tammy Snyder chirped a bit too brightly as her eyes traveled over Caden, ignoring Jocelyn. "Would you like a table?" she asked only Caden, ignoring Jocelyn completely.
"Cut it out, Tammy." Jocelyn rolled her eyes. "He's with me."
Caden bit his lower lip to keep from smiling.
"Humph!" Tammy raised her nose into the air, an indignant look on her face as she led them to a table by the window and laid the menus down. "Your waitress will be with you momentarily." Then she gave Jocelyn a fake smile and walked back to the front.
One corner of Caden's lips curled into a smile as he inclined his head toward Tammy. "A friend of yours?"
"Hardly. We went to school together. She was something else."
Caden leaned forward conspiratorially. "So, were you jealous just now?"
Jocelyn sat back. "Caden, don't." Then she looked out the window and watched the white bits of snow fall to the ground. Suddenly, she felt his warm hands on hers, sending warmth through her body.
When she looked up, a crease formed between his eyes. "I'm so sorry, Jocelyn. I was only kidding around."
She gave him a weak smile. "Don't worry about it." She let out a deep breath. "I'm just tired. It's been a long day."
"Yes, it has." He nodded, giving her a smile. "Would you like to take dinner to go?"
She shook her head. "No, I'll be fine once I get my second wind."
Just then, a waitress with deep auburn hair walked up. "My name's Angela and I'm your waitress for the evening. May I start you off with something to drink?"
"Coffee for me." Jocelyn folded her hands under the table.
"Me, too," Caden replied, but never took his eyes from Jocelyn.
The waitress didn't seem to notice. A broad smile spread across her face. "I'll have that out to you in a minute." Then she walked away and behind a false wall in front of the waitress station.