Chapter 38

"You added the bit at the end, but I like it," she whispered.
He held the pose for a moment, enjoying the feel of her in his arms a bit too much as he looked into her eyes. At that moment, he could see a life with her. Caden could see eternity in her eyes, as well as their future. He never wanted the moment to end. In that moment, he felt more love for her than he had for any other woman.
"Caden?"
"Yes?"
"Are you going to let me up?" she asked, breaking the spell of the moment.
"Oh! Yeah- if I must," he teased. And then helped her up.
"Thanks." She started to skate away, but he took her hand and looked into her eyes. "Caden, no," she said, her voice merely a whisper.
He nodded and let her hand go. "So, are you hungry?"
She shrugged. "I could eat. What do you have in mind?"
"Santa's Café?"
Jocelyn laughed. "I thought you said nothing too Christmassy."
"In this town?" He held up his hand. "We'd have to try real hard not to do something Christmassy."
"Sounds good. Let me go inside and change first." She sat down on the stone bench and changed her skates out for her boots.
Caden sat down beside her and exchanged his skates for his shoes, as well. "You don't have to do that. What you're wearing is fine."
"Well then, let me go and lock up." She tied the laces of her skates together and laid them across her shoulder. "Be right back."
Caden knotted the laces of his skates, too, slid them over his shoulder, and headed toward his Corvette. For some reason that he couldn't explain, he was beginning to feel anxious when he wasn't with her. Get a grip, man. He slid into his car and started the engine, listening as it roared to life. He looked up toward the house, waiting for her. Within minutes, she stepped out onto the front porch and locked the door. He started to relax when she walked across the front lawn and slid into the passenger seat beside him.
"Ready?" he asked, as she snapped her seatbelt into place.
Jocelyn gave him a smile that melted his heart. "Ready as I'll ever be."
He turned the car around and soon they were headed toward town.
"It was fun, skating with you today. Do you go skate often?" Caden asked, turning the car down another familiar street.
She shook her head and smiled. "Believe it or not, I haven't been in a while."
"Why not?" A crease formed between his eyes, taking her in.
She shrugged and then looked out the window. "It brought back too many memories, I guess."
Caden wondered what she meant by that, because the memories he had of skating with her years ago were wonderful, which was just about the only time he had ever skated. But he brushed it off, deciding not to push it farther.
Within minutes, they pulled into town, decorated in festive colors for the holidays, and he pulled the car to a stop in front of Santa's Café. Reaching over, he placed his hand on hers, claiming her attention. "Wait here." Then he got out of the car and opened her door for her and extended his hand.
"Quite the gentleman, aren't you?" she teased as she let him help her out of the car.
He shrugged as he hit the automatic lock to the car on his key. "I try," he replied, and then placed his hand on the small of her back to guide her toward the café. As they walked toward the restaurant, he knew he had to speak with Mallory, and he vowed to do it as soon as he saw her. If not anything else, he'd text her to make an appointment to talk to her in person. But right now, he just wanted this one day with Jocelyn. Even if it was just the one day, he was okay with that.
"After you," he said, opening the door for her.
As he walked in behind Jocelyn, memories flooded back to him. Good memories. He was surprised that Jocelyn was in most of the memories he had. Secretly, he was glad he moved away. During that time, she had grown to become the beautiful, kind woman that she was today. But now, he was glad that he was back and had the opportunity to create even more great memories with her.
"Welcome back!" Angela chirped, stepping up to the counter. "Table for two?"
Caden nodded. "Yes, please. Thanks, Angela."
She laid two menus on the table. "It's my pleasure." She clasped her hands together. "Now. Could I start you both off with some of Mrs. Claus's famous hot chocolate?"
"Yes, please." Caden looked over at Jocelyn and raised his eyebrows.
"Make it two," Jocelyn added, sliding into the booth across from him.
"Will do!" Angela replied, a bit too chipper. "I'll give you two a few minutes to look over the menu and I'll be right back with your hot chocolate."
Jocelyn started perusing a menu. "I'm going to get fat if I keep eating like this."
"Yeah, right. You have nothing to worry about." Caden was about to say that he'd love her anyway, but stopped himself, making a mental note to talk to Mallory as soon as possible. "So, would you like to go Christmas shopping with me tomorrow?"
Jocelyn shook her head, smiling. "Can't. I have to work tomorrow." Then she pointed a finger at him. "And don't get any more caveman ideas about carrying me off again. I have to make a living, you know."
He laughed. "It's tempting."
She raised an eyebrow at him as one corner of her lips curled into a smile, melting his heart.
He reached across the table and casually held her hands. "So, what would you like for Christmas?"
Jocelyn discretely pulled her hands away. "You don't have to get me anything."
He shrugged pretending not to notice that she had pulled away from him. He made a mental note to talk to Mallory soon. "Who said I was going to get you something?" he teased. "Come on. What would you like?"
She shook her head, blushing. From the way she reacted, there was something she didn't want to tell him, which made him even more curious.
"Come on. What is it?"
"Oh, no you don't!" she replied.
"Here you go!" Angela chirped, setting two cups of hot chocolate on the table in front of them.
Caden made a mental note to ask one of the ladies Jocelyn worked with what she wanted. He was sure they would know.