Joanne clenched her hands together under the table, trying to soothe herself as JD took his seat. Fluffy hopped onto JD's leg, greedy for more treats.
"Alright, buddy, that's enough," JD said firmly, his tone light but commanding.
To Joanne's amazement, Fluffy obeyed, retreating to sit obediently by JD's side. Her jaw almost dropped. Fluffy wasn't known for his restraint but JD seemed to have earned a rare place of respect in the dog's eyes.
Joanne's gaze followed JD as he reached for the pitcher of lemonade on the table. He poured himself a glass, his movements easy and unhurried. When his green eyes, flecked with warm golden specks, softened as they landed on her, she felt a knot of tension in her chest ease.
This.
This was what she'd missed so desperately over the past five years: someone who was simply there. She'd achieved so much in those years, clawing her way to success with sheer determination. But the higher she climbed, the lonelier it became.
Her headache, which had been a dull throb all afternoon, began to recede as JD's steady presence anchored her.
"What color of wool would a grandmother who loves knitting and crocheting like best?" Joanne asked, her voice soft but tinged with curiosity.
She'd already decided on the perfect way to repay the man she owed everything to: through his wife. He had once proudly mentioned that his wife adored knitting and crocheting. What better gift could she give than something meaningful and personal?
She had selected the wool from her best sheep, ensuring it was processed using traditional methods to retain its natural softness and flexibility. Now, the final step was choosing the dye. She'd been stuck on the color for days.
"Grandmother? Yours?" JD asked, his brow lifting slightly as memories of his own grandmother flitted through his mind.
"No," Joanne replied, shaking her head. "My grandmother passed when I was ten." Her gaze dropped to the table briefly. "This is… for someone I owe. Someone I owe everything to," she admitted, her voice growing quieter.
JD tilted his head, a cheeky smile tugging at his lips. "Being mysterious, huh? Well, if you're aiming to impress a grandmother, you can't go wrong with Christmas colors. Festive, timeless, and cozy. What do you think?"
Joanne's eyes lit up, a relieved smile spreading across her face. "That's a great idea. Why didn't I think of that?" she sighed, already picturing the deep reds, greens, soft whites, and blues. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," JD said, his grin widening. "My own grandmother is big on Christmas. She starts planning the sweaters she's going to knit for all of us around summer."
His expression softened, and a flicker of sadness crossed his face. It was subtle, but Joanne caught it.
"Have you seen her recently?" she asked gently, sensing the weight behind his words.
JD let out a breath, his smile turning wistful. "Not in years. Life… well, life gets in the way sometimes..."
Joanne stood abruptly, crossing over to JD. Her hand rested on his shoulder, a firm yet gentle touch meant to reassure him. "I have a feeling you'll spend Christmas with your family this year," she said, her voice warm and brimming with certainty.
For a moment, JD simply stared at her, his green-gold eyes searching hers. Then, his lips curved into a smile—genuine and unguarded, a rare glimpse of the man beneath his charming exterior.
"I hope so too," he murmured, his voice faintly trembling with an emotion he rarely let slip.
Joanne's gaze lingered on him, her chest tightening as the vulnerability in his expression tugged at her heartstrings. There was something deeply familiar in his sadness.
Maybe both of them weren't all that different. They were lonely souls.
As she stood there, lost in his eyes, a strange warmth began to spread from where her hand touched his shoulder. It radiated outward, traveling from her fingertips to her heart, leaving her feeling both grounded and weightless.
JD's hand moved almost reflexively, covering hers. His touch was warm, steady—an unspoken acknowledgment that he needed her reassurance just as much as she offered it.
For a man like JD, who was used to begrudgingly shoulder expectations, this moment was new. It caught him off guard. Everyone in his life seemed to expect something from him—a decision, a favor, a solution.
But this was different. Joanne wasn't asking anything of him. Instead, she stood beside him, offering quiet support.
This warmth seemed so novel and yet familiar. This feeling… he had felt it before. But when?
He didn't know what compelled him. Perhaps it was the rare sense of peace she gave him, or the way her words planted a seed of hope in his heart. Without thinking, he lifted her hand from his shoulder and pressed his lips gently to her knuckles.
Joanne froze, the warmth of his lips on her skin sending an unexpected shock through her. It took her a few seconds to process what was happening.
Is he kissing my hand?
Her heart thudded wildly in her chest, and a flush of heat spread across her cheeks.
He is kissing my hand!