Page 4 of Christmas Obsession

The thin man leans in for a hug, the scent of some fancy cologne on the collar of his jacket.

Okay, he smells good. There’s nothing wrong with cologne. I mean, I prefer a more naturally rugged kind of smell, but this is nice too.

“Great to meet you. I’m Jake,” he says, his voice two or three octaves higher than I naturally prefer. “Allie told me quite a bit about all the sweet things you do for the community. She said you volunteer at the senior center?”

I nod slowly as the man holds the door to the diner open for me, the wind whipping in with us as the faint hum of Christmas music welcomes us inside. I love the diner this time of the year. They go all out with greenery and twinkling colored lights. Plus, they have this vintage-looking reindeer display in the front window that I’ve seen over and over since I was a kid. I know it’s Christmas when I see Prancer go up in the window, and I know it’s Valentine’s Day when I see him come down.

“I do. The senior center is great. I like being useful, and it seems the people down there can really use some extra love and care. I enjoy it.”

“That’s sweet.” He tucks into the red vinyl diner booth and stares toward me with wide eyes as though he’s a deer in headlights and unsure of what to say next. Then again, I didn’t really add anything.

I really suck at this.

“So, ugh,” I tuck my hair over my left shoulder as I scan for something interesting to say, “Allie says you own your own heating and cooling company?”

That wasn’t at all interesting.

“I don’t own it. I do the bookkeeping and purchasing. Numbers are kind of my thing.”

I figured as much, but I’m not going to let that keep me from getting to know him. I have to stop viewing men through this impossible lens of perfection, or I’m going to die alone.

Very alone. I don’t even have any pets.

“Oh,” my tone is far too fake and high, “that’s interesting. How long have you been doing that?”

“I’ve done bookkeeping for ages. I was doing it for a business my brother and I owned until we went under a few years ago.” He blows out a breath and crosses his hands together on the table, which I see now are rather soft. “It’s not exciting or glamorous, but the pay is good and I set my own schedule, which I like. What about you?”

“I work for Mike Wilson.” I swallow hard as Mike’s name leaves my lips. Partly because I like saying his name, and partly because I know it evokes mixed feelings in folks.

The man tips his head back slowly, and I know right away what kind of business he lost. “Mike Wilson… he’s a piece of work. How do you stand him?”

“Stand him?” I’m questioning his comment, but I already know why he’s not a fan of Mike. Most guys that lost a business in the last few years can’t stand Mike.

“Yeah, he ran a bunch of us small guys out of town. Pretty close to being the Devil if you ask me.”

“The Devil?” I narrow my brows as I fidget with a sugar packet on the table. “He’s not that bad. Actually, he’s pretty great, and people hire him because he gets the job done fast and offers the best prices.”

“Because he had the money to take a cut on every job while he built loyalty.” The man’s tone has shifted to a darker place. “The small guys didn’t have that luxury.”

“I’m sorry, but do you have some kind of personal vendetta against him?”

The man shakes his head. “The business my brother and I owned is gone because of Mike Wilson. He sucks. Sorry… guess this isn’t the ideal audience for griping about that.”

You think? I don’t say that part out loud, and I’m sure now this isn’t going to work, but instead of leaving, my brain goes out in more defense of Mike.

“He also donates two new houses a year to folks on the mountain. Both go to families in the area that need help, and he builds them himself on his free time. So, people can say what they want about him, but he’s a really kind guy who gives a lot to the community.”

I stop for a moment, like I’m done talking him up, but a second later I’m unexpectedly rambling again. “He’s also a great boss. He’s helped me through so much. Like, when my mom died, I completely lost it, no one could do anything right, and I kept biting at anyone who tried, but Mike Wilson kept showing up. He never once made me feel bad for losing my cool. In fact, he brought me all my favorite foods and planned a little break for me at this cabin he built up in the mountains.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize—” The man pauses and nods. “How long have you worked for him?”

“Ten years.”

Ten years. How have I been an assistant for ten years? I know I had other things planned for my life. A medical degree, a job in the city, a family, a home, anything but another blind date.

I blow out a heavy breath as Jake opens his mouth again.

“No wonder you’re so defensive over him. That’s a long time. Again, I’m sorry if I offended you. We should start fresh.”