They glance at the boy, and his parents try to turn him, but the guys give him a wave. “You playing today?” Jaxon asks Penn.
“Not that you need an enforcer for a friendly holiday game with kids,” he jokes with a laugh.
“Actually,” Jaxon says. “Why don’t you take left wing?”
“Left wing? You want me on the same line as you?” he responds, and reaches for his coffee.
“Actually, yeah,” he responds casually. “But why don’t you play against me? It’ll be fun.”
“Yeah, sure. I guess. If Coach wants me there.” He takes a sip of his coffee, as more people enter the inn’s guest dining area.
“Grab a beer tonight?” Jaxon asks.
Penn nods, looking unsure when he answers. “Uh, yeah sure.”
“Beer tent!” I once again blurt out like an idiot.
“How about we show up for one drink, then sneak out and hit up Freemans and play some pool?” He shakes his head and glances around, then he leans in. “I love my parents, and this inn, and Christmas, but a guy can only take so much peppermint.”
“Preach,” I shoot back and we all laugh. Just then, said parents walk into the dining room.
“Jaxon,” his mom Fiona says, coming up behind him. He stands and gives her a hug and I note the uncomfortable way Penn shifts. “I can’t believe you have to leave tomorrow. You just got here.”
“I know. But I’ll be back. Nothing is keeping me from Christmas dinner.” He hugs his dad, and that’s when Penn shifts even more.
“Penn, it’s so good to have you staying with us,” his dad Donovan says. “You and Elaine are welcome to join us for Christmas dinner.”
“Thank you,” Penn says. “That’s very kind, but we’ll be having dinner with family.” He smiles at me and I reach across and put my hand over his.
“Ah, so it’s true,” Donovan says as Jaxon’s gaze goes back and forth between us. “Wedding bells in the future.”
Jaxon’s brow crinkles. “You mean…you two…”
“We’re engaged,” I blurt out, and Jaxon sits back, a strange expression on his face. Sure, Jaxon caught us in bed together, but an engagement is a whole other thing.
“I actually didn’t even know you two knew each other all that well,” he mumbles.
That clearly seems to be the consensus. “Oh, it’s a long story.” I give a dismissive wave. “But yes, we’re engaged. No big plans yet. Mom is set on the country club of course, but we could have a winter wedding.” All eyes are on me, and for some reason I can’t seem to stop babbling. I glance at Penn, needing him to come to my rescue.
“We have lots of time to make plans.” He gives me a slow, easy smile that helps calm me. “Right now, you have a festival to run.”
“Are you two enjoying the peppermint honeymoon suite?” his mom asks.
“It’s perfect.”
She grins. “What do you think of the mistletoe alarm?”
I pause. Do I tell her the truth?
Penn links his fingers through mine. “We think it’s fun.”
“Oh, good,” she says and claps her hands. “Okay, we’ll leave you for breakfast. We’ll see you guys at the game this afternoon.”
Jaxon sits back down, quieter now as he studies us. “Jaylynn,” he finally says. I lift my brow and he continues. “Are you moving back to Boston?”
“I…well…right now. The festival.”
“We’re just taking things slow,” Penn says.