Christmas in Angel Harbor - Jeannie Moon Page 0,45
Why do you actually know that?”
“I’m a lawyer. It’s how I win arguments.”
He was going to pull the lawyer card? He had no idea who he was dealing with.
She was a scientist; facts were her wheelhouse. “Was it the intent of the studio and the filmmaker to market it as a Christmas movie, counselor?” Jane turned to face him and reached back to place her hands on the edge of the cool granite countertop.
“What did you say? Intent? I’m not going to dither over intent.”
Rising, he picked up both coffee mugs and moved to where she was standing, setting the mugs in the sink before turning to her with a smile. “You’re not going to win this, Janie.”
She narrowed her eyes. That silly man. “Intent doesn’t matter?”
“No.”
“Hmm. Attempted murder, robbery, assault. That sounds to me like intent matters. Attempt to defraud? Intent.”
“Those are crimes. It’s not the same thing.” His eyes narrowed, however, and she could see that her argument had hit home.
“Calling a movie about a murderous gang of bank robbers a Christmas movie is a crime.”
“Come on.” He folded his arms, digging in.
“No. It was released in July. It was never marketed with any Christmas theme. The tag line focused on the adventure aspect. Not. A. Christmas. Movie. Santa wasn’t even in the movie, not once.”
Danny chuckled and moved a little closer. His scent was subtle, but made her oh-so-aware of his proximity. Bergamot, cedar, spice. Just like the other night.
“We’re going to have to agree to disagree then.”
“Fine.” Jane folded her arms and looked away. She couldn’t keep up with the zing of desire pulsing through her. The man was lethal. “You’ll still be wrong,” she muttered.
When she glanced over, she saw his smile, while his blue eyes flashed with humor. And heat. Intense heat that traveled through her body on a wave.
Jane remembered these feelings all too well. She’d hoped she’d be immune to him after all this time, but it appeared the years and the maturity only made him more attractive. But Danny wasn’t staying in Angel Harbor. He had come home with a specific goal, and a relationship with a small-town shopkeeper wasn’t it.
For so long, Jane had kept her emotions wrapped up tight. Now she was on the cusp of letting go of all that control because of the wonderful boy who was now an amazing man.
She shuddered when he reached out and took her hand. He was so close, she could feel the heat coming off of his big body.
He filled the space, six feet tall, broad and muscled. Danny’s proximity caused the warmth to bubble and churn in her belly. When his other hand came up and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, Jane was undone.
“You’re still the same, you know?”
“The same?” Jane looked up and nearly drowned in the blue of his eyes. “How so?”
“Sweet. Kind. Always thinking about others.”
The words floated around her, dredging up the old feelings even more. She remembered the little wisps of hurt in her heart every time she heard news of a new book, or movie, or saw photos of his glamorous author life.
She wasn’t enough for him. She knew it then, and it was still true now.
What she needed was a little distance, and the car door slamming outside gave her the perfect excuse to step back.
“That’s Tara.” Jane could barely hear her own voice over the pounding of her heart. It took a second for her words to register, but when they did, he dropped his hands.
“Right.” The disappointment cast a shadow in his eyes, and it forced her consider what might be going on in his head. Did he want more? Was he feeling the same pull she felt, something that went beyond just a fling?
“What’s wrong, Jane? Tell me.”
Was something wrong, or was Jane just a realist? Sometimes the truth hurt.
“Nothing. Don’t worry about it.” Jane felt the flush rising in her cheeks. Fabulous.
He was about to speak when Chloe hopped off her bed, ran to the side door, and started barking. In seconds she heard Tara greeting the dog.
“Mom!” her daughter said, excited and breathless. “It didn’t suck! I was really worried, but—” Tara stopped short when she walked into the kitchen and saw Danny leaning against the counter right next to her very red-faced mother. “Oh, hi.”
His hand came up in a little wave.
“So, it went well?” Jane asked. “No missed cues? No set disasters?”
Tara shifted her gaze back to Jane and nodded. “It was