Tic-Tac-Mistletoe - N.R. Walker Page 0,23
drive in this.
After a few beats of silence, he said. “You’re right. What you said before. It was better than nice. I enjoyed having the company.”
“I enjoyed it too,” I admitted. “And sure, I’d have loved to have seen my sister yesterday, but I’m not at all disappointed I got to spend time with you.” I gave Chutney another pat, given she’d gone from standing on my lap and looking out the window to now sitting on my lap enjoying my attention. Then, while I still had the courage, I added, “And you know, if it’s just ninety minutes away, I can come visit you in your shop. I can bring morning tea or something. Or we can do dinner and we talk about all the gayness you want. Make a day of it.”
Ren’s smile became a grin. “I’d like that.”
I sighed, happy and relieved that even though we were saying goodbye today, it wasn’t goodbye forever, and I turned my attention to the scenery. I could see mountains now, more trees and more snow. Everything was white and so beautiful. But then we came up over a rise and on the other side was a valley, a river, and a small town. Not just any old small town, but possibly the prettiest small town I’d ever seen. The main street was lined with quaint stores with awnings and vintage signs, painted windows, and Christmas decorations hanging from streetlamps. Snow made everything glisten like a dream.
“Are you kidding me?” I asked, wide-eyed and smiling.
“What?” Ren asked.
“I did land in a Hallmark movie! This is a freaking Hallmark Christmas movie set! Actually, the last twenty-four hours have been straight out of a Hallmark movie, I’m sure of it. I think I hit my head when my car ran off the road.” I put my hand to my forehead. “I’m dreaming, aren’t I?”
Ren snorted. “Uh, no?”
“Pretty sure that’s what all gorgeous Hallmark movie guys say.”
“Gorgeous?”
“Utterly.”
He pulled the truck over to the kerb and shut the engine off. He turned in his seat to look at me. “You didn’t hit your head yesterday. You’re not dreaming. This is Hartbridge. It’s not a Hallmark movie set.” He shrugged, amused. “Though it could be, I guess.”
“It should be.”
His gaze met mine, and for a long moment, neither of us moved. Then his eyes dropped to my lips, and for a heart-stopping second, I thought he might ask to kiss me. But then he blinked and startled, shifting his focus out his window. “Right, well, here it is. McGee’s Mechanics,” he said, opening his door.
I took a hold of Chutney and carried her out of the ute . . . err, truck, and walked around to the footpath . . . err, sidewalk. God.
The mechanic’s shop was a white brick building with big roller doors at the front which were pulled down. “Are they open?”
Ren checked his watch. “Should be. It’s after nine. He keeps the garage doors down if he’s quiet and if it’s cold out.” He went to what I assumed was an office door, opened it, and called out, “Robert, you in?”
“Is that you, Ren?” came the reply.
“Sure is.”
“Yeah, come through. Thought I heard your truck.”
We walked through a small reception office area into the shop. It smelled of oil and grease, there was an old car up on a hoist, and my rental car on the ground with its bonnet up . . . err, its hood up. Robert was an older gent in blue overalls, with short grey hair and a broad smile.
Ren made quick introductions and got straight to business. “So, is there any damage?”
“It’s good news,” he said. “Just a loose connection and some water or moisture in the power control module. Happens sometimes when snow gets where it shouldn’t.”
“Can you fix it?” I asked. “I have to drive to my sister’s in Mossley.”
“Well, I can fix it, no problem. As soon as I hear from the rental company, anyway,” he replied in that old-man drawl. “But you won’t be driving to Mossley today. Beartrap Road is closed in both directions. They’re working to get it cleared, but it won’t be for a good few hours yet, if today at all. Tomorrow’s your day, if you got somewhere you can stay tonight. I think the motel is full, but you could try calling them.”
My heart sank. “Oh.”
They went on talking about the road and snow and powerlines and how the rental company had been notified and the paperwork had