Someone had set a Christmas tree in the corner of the room nearest the washrooms. It sparkled in lights and garland and had a waft of pine scenting the room. That was the first thing Auggie noticed when she and Josh entered the building.
Little white twinkle lights had been hung in loops across the walls, and festive pinecones had been sprayed with fake snow then paired with mistletoe as centerpieces on all the tables. The Mission’s dining area had been transformed with simple but cheery seasonal festivity.
Best of all, sacks of brightly wrapped gifts were stacked under the lower branches of the tree. A bucket of candy canes sat on an adjacent knee-high table. It was almost as if Santa had stopped in early.
“Lor,” Josh said, as he stomped the snow from his boots, “Looks like Christmas.”
That the decorations impressed him was clear in his tone, and it made Auggie want to reach out and simply hold his hand. As far as Christmas wishes went, being a real couple with Josh McLaughlin would have topped her list. If, that was, she still believed in Santa Claus.
Since she didn’t, she kept her fingers safely tucked into the pockets of her coat. Only when Josh reached over and offered to take it and hang it for her, did she slip her hands out of her pockets and unbutton the front.
If Josh felt awkward around her after she’d made it clear their tumble between the sheets could not lead to anything with significance, he didn’t show it. She, on the other hand, couldn’t quite wrap her mind around how she was feeling.
One moment she was ridiculously sad -- especially considering how briefly she’d known the man. The next moment he’d smile and his eyes would take on a warmth, or he’d lean in just a little, or touch the small of her back, even accidentally bump her wrist with his arm, and she’d be ready to climb up his body and rip his clothes off. A moment later, she’d feel resigned to reality.
And reality was, she’d had the misfortune to find an absolutely wonderful man. And he lived halfway around the world. Even Santa and his magic sleigh couldn’t bridge that gap.
Josh’s face felt positively brittle from smiling. Logically, he knew that Auggie hadn’t worn the red sweater dress to torture him, but that was what he was dealing with.
The dress fell just below her knees but had a slit up the side which allowed for mobility. It also slid around her right leg in a little fluttering flap whenever she moved. That brought his attention away from the way the dress hugged her curves and onto the mouth wateringly sexy knee-high boots she wore. He couldn’t look at her in those boots without fantasizing about taking her home, stripping the dress over her head, and making love to her while she wore nothing but those black boots.
Of course, he was getting the impression that he’d have his work cut out for him if he wanted to share more intimacies with Augusta Chamberlain.
He’d blown it with her that morning, he knew. Jumped too far ahead, scared her with ideas she wasn’t ready for. Not surprising, really. He had barely even known he was considering inviting her home to Ireland before the plan had popped out of his mouth. Stupid. He might have a reputation as a man who was as smooth as the whiskey he crafted, but he certainly hadn’t proven that today.
“Let me introduce you to Kit,” Auggie said. “He’s the director here. He’ll get us set up where he wants us today.”
“Right.” He smiled at her, hoped she hadn’t realized how deeply distracted he felt every time he looked her way. “Let’s meet the man, then.”
The man Auggie introduced him to was a big, burly guy. His arms were covered in sleeves of tattoos, his chin was covered in a salt and pepper beard. Josh liked him immediately.
“So, what do you do for a living, Josh?”
“I distill Irish Whiskey,” Josh answered absently. His eyes watched as Auggie tied a black apron around her waist. Only when he heard Kit’s grunt did he tear his eyes away.
“And you’re the face of the company?”
Kit’s eyes had sharpened and were looking him over like a father contemplating retrieving the shotgun from the back cupboard.
“Well, it’s my company, then,” Josh answered, looking Kit in the eye without flinching.
Whatever Kit read in his eyes must have mollified him sufficiently. Still, the warning he gave Josh was stern.
“I’m going to ask you to keep that information to yourself. We have strict policies here surrounding alcohol.”
“Rightly so, I’d imagine,” Josh said, unoffended. He wasn’t here to recruit customers. When Kit simply grunted, and held his eye a little longer than necessary, Josh took it in good grace.
“Potatoes,” Kit said finally. “We run this like a cafeteria buffet. People will file in and come through the line one at a time. Each plate receives a single scoop of potatoes, no more, and no exceptions.”
“They’ll try,” Auggie said, grinning at Josh.
“She’s not wrong,” Kit agreed. “But a company leader like yourself shouldn’t have trouble controlling adversarial situations.”
“I think I’ll manage,” Josh said, his voice mild.
“Augusta,” Kit said, “You can stand beside your… friend. That will put you on the mixed veggies.”
She smiled, and Josh noticed the way Kit’s cheeks flushed slightly. If Auggie saw the telltale colour creeping up the man’s neck, she ignored it like a champion. Without thinking it through, Josh lay his palm flat against Auggie’s back. The message was unmistakable, and he knew Kit received it loud and clear.
So, apparently, did Auggie.
“Really?”
“What?”
“Don’t even pretend innocence with me, McLaughlin. And for your information, I think Kit liked you. Even if he hates how you make your living.”
“At least he didn’t show me the door,” Josh said. He leaned in nearer and lowered his voice so only she could hear. “And you, Augusta Chamberlain? Do you like me then?”
“He wouldn’t kick you out,” Auggie said, looking down her nose at him. “Not today. He knows he needs the help. And as to you...” She let the thought trail off. It was on her lips to tell him no, he had nothing she wanted, but she wouldn’t lie. Not to herself, not to him. Instead, she turned and watched as the front doors were opened and the first guests trickled in. “This is neither the time nor the place for that conversation.”
“So long as you understand, it is a conversation we will be having, fine thing.”
Her eyes snapped to meet his, and what she saw there took her breath away.
“You’re being ridiculous,” she muttered, forcing herself to wrench her gaze away. “There’s no way to make anything long term work between us.”
“There’s always a way of when it’s something you want enough. It’s just a matter of finding it. And, Augusta Chamberlain, have I told you yet that yer looking fine in that dress? You drive a man to distraction, you do.”
His words had her flushing in pleasure, but she resolutely kept her eyes on the line of people filing towards them. It was only the crush of bodies filling the room that had her temperature spiking. That had nothing whatsoever to do with the man standing beside her, potato scoop in hand, self-assured smile on his face.
“Potatoes?” She heard him ask the first man in line. He scooped the pile of mashers onto the man’s plate as the man eyed the giant dish in front of Josh and held his plate out without a word. The man had matted hair and filthy fingers, and you could practically see the drool pooling in his mouth. This, Auggie realized, could well be the best meal the man would eat all year. For his part, Josh treated the man as if he was entertaining him in his own home. His smile flashed as he dropped the potatoes on the man’s plate.
“There you be, man. Enjoy.”
The man’s eyes jerked to Josh’s in what looked to Auggie like surprise at the goodwill. He dropped his gaze as quickly as he’d lifted it and shuffled along to where the turkey awaited.
When Auggie snuck a look at Josh, she saw him looking at the long line of bodies stretching from them to the door -- and beyond. There was a hint of red in his eyes, and she heard him sniff. It shocked her, seeing the compassion he was evidently feeling.
And just how did a woman resist a man like that?
He had a word for everyone, it seemed. Most who left with potatoes on their plates left smiling -- and it wasn’t only because of the food. The women, in particular, ate him up. Auggie had to hide her smile when a skinny woman with baggy, wrinkled skin and no front teeth practically fell over her own two feet when she heard the man’s accent.
“Woah,” she said, stopping dead in front of Josh and staring openly. Standing there and ignoring the complaints of the line behind her, the woman clutched her hand to her heart. So, of course, Josh lay the accent on extra thick, then winked at her until, face crimson, the woman hustled on.
When the trio of teenage girls started giggling hysterically over him, Josh put a little knightly flourish into his delivery of the potatoes. It made Auggie roll her eyes even as it sent the girls into another round of giggles.
“You just can’t help yourself, can you?”
“Don’t be jealous, Mo Cuishle,” Josh said, smiling at her in a way that would have told anyone watching that he’d seen her naked. “You know I’ve eyes only for you.”
She tisked under her breath and deliberately ladled a scoop of mixed vegetables onto the plate in front of her. Lifting the spoon, she waved it at Josh.
“And what does that even mean? Mo Cuishle.”
He grinned at her. “Come to Ireland with me, fine thing. I’ll tell ya there.”
Auggie snorted her opinion of this plan. “I’ll just google it later,” she muttered, making him laugh. “Until then, stop calling me… whatever it is.”
“Hey man,” a man said, “Tell your girl to hurry up with the food.”
Auggie turned in the direction of the man standing in front of her, plate out, scowl on his face. He wore three coats on top of each other, and filthy jeans that looked about three sizes too big.
“Sorry,” Auggie said, feeling her face flame. At her side, Josh bumped his hip into hers, the only support he could give her. Not that she needed it, but she had to admit, it was kind of nice.
“I’m not your girl, though,” she said.
His response was to laugh loudly enough that Kit looked over from across the room.
“You say that now,” he said, bumping his shoulder into hers. He was still grinning at her -- despite her narrowed eyes -- when Kit came over.
“We need someone to assist with clearing the dishes from the tables, and you,” he said pointing at Josh, “Are up. I’ll take a turn with the potatoes.”
Auggie saw Josh’s eyebrow arch. He shot her a look, but she kept her gaze firmly on the woman holding out her plate for her scoop of vegetable. When Josh handed off the potato scoop without at word, then walked away with an amused grin, she had to work to suppress the laughter that gurgled inside her belly.
“Your friend has a bit of an attitude, doesn’t he? Cocky.”
“He’s… fun, actually. And a surprising softie,” Auggie said. She glanced at Kit for a fraction of a second, then her eyes returned to tracing Josh’s movements as he wove among the tables collecting dirty plates with complete unconcern and good nature. He was the head of a multi-million-dollar business, but you sure couldn’t tell to look at him now. With his sleeves rolled up to his elbows and plates stacked up the length of his forearm, he looked like any college student working for his supper.
Everywhere he went, he took a second to chat with the diners. He left the men laughing at whatever he was saying, left the woman staring in his direction as he passed by. As she was herself, Auggie realized, and wrenched her gaze away. She found Kit watching her, his expression inscrutable.
“What?”
“You defended him against my criticism. You can’t tear keep your eyes off him. You’re in love with the Irishman, aren’t you?”
“What?” This time, her voice was sharp, the inherent protest tumbling from her lips. “I’ve only just met him, Kit.”
He nodded slowly, but the look in his eyes said he believed she way lying. To him, or simply to herself, Auggie didn’t know. Frowning, she glanced from where Kit stood beside her, to Josh at the far side of the room. Her expression softened when she saw him squat down and rock back on his heels to chat with a young boy who couldn’t be more than three. She couldn’t hear what the two talked about, but the child’s face grew more radiant the longer they spoke. Auggie’s heart melted at the sight.
“I can’t,” she said as panic grabbed her throat and stole the warmth that had spread through her seconds earlier. “I can’t love him. He doesn’t even live here.”
Snorting, Kit gave his head a little toss.
“Where there’s a will, Auggie,” he said, and shrugged. “People overcome a lot bigger challenges than geography when love is on the line.”
Kit gave a small smile. There was panic all over Auggie’s face and still she couldn’t stop staring at the man with his arms full of dirty dishes. Maybe Kit wished she would look at him with that expression in her eyes, but he was honest enough to admit she never had.
“Auggie,” he said, his voice gentle, “Don’t let something as superficial as distance come between you and something you want. If he’s something you want. Just,” he said even as he snagged the sleeve of a volunteer who was walking behind them with an emptied salad dish and moved to exchange places with the man, “You’re kind of something special. Make sure he really deserves you before you go following him around the world, okay?”
Auggie said nothing. She was stunned, really, to hear Kit speak to her like this. For one thing, although this wasn’t her first time volunteering at the Mission, it was hardly as if she were a regular, or anything.
A woman knew when a man was attracted -- and she’d been lying if she tried to say she hadn’t realized there was something in the way Kit looked at her. Still, there’d never been even the mildest flirtation between them. That he’d speak to her this way left her speechless. Once she recovered, she found herself a tiny bit distressed.
“Kit,” she said, and lay a hand on his sleeve. He stopped walking away and turned to look at her, and Auggie realized she had nothing to say. She had a lot of respect for Kit and the way he lived his life serving others, but there was just no attraction there. Not on her side, anyway. “Thanks.”
It was horribly lame. She wanted to take it back the second she said it. Kit, though, merely smiled briefly, then turned and walked away.
Across the room, Josh saw her lay her hand on Kit’s arm. When Kit walked away, though, Auggie’s eyes didn’t follow the retreating man. Instead, she glanced in Josh’s own direction. Their eyes locked onto one another from across the crowded room, so to speak. His lips lifted into a little smile that was just for her, and he nodded acknowledgement.
When her cheeks flamed so he could see the blush all the way from across the room, he grinned. And bent to retrieve another dirty plate.