Christmas in Sugarcreek by Shelley Shepard Gray Page A

less than she deserved.
    She’d been too reserved all her life.
    To her shame, she’d even looked down upon others who wore their emotions for anyone to see.
    She’d been disdainful of the way Caleb wore every emotion on his sleeve. Of Anson’s penchant for focusing on his wishes instead of his chores. To her shame, she’d even lost patience with Joshua a time or two. She’d thought his struggle over his future had been a bit silly, especially when it had been painfully obvious that Josh and Gretta were perfect for each other.
    By 6:30, after Ben finally shooed the last of their customers out, her nerves felt like they’d been stretched so thin they were about to break and snap. Now she was going to have to suffer through two hours of being alone with him in the store? After, she was going to have to sit by his side in an enclosed buggy. There, in the closed confines, their cold breath would mingle and their bodies would brush against each other. Attempting to stay calm, cool, and collected seemed an insurmountable task.
    As the ridiculous bird clock chirped above them, Judith felt her stomach knot.
    And then Ben chuckled.
    “What?”
    “Sorry, did I startle you? Were you gathering wool?”
    Well, she’d been gathering all her thoughts about him . Not that that was anything new. . .
    Ben continued. “I was laughing at the man who just left. Can you believe that guy bought ten pounds of pecans and five baskets?”
    Trying to recall what the man had looked like, though of course she couldn’t, Judith nodded weakly.
    He grinned. “I never imagined nuts would make a gut gift, but he seemed right proud of himself. When he started talking about his favorite ways to eat them, I had to bite the inside of my mouth to keep from smiling.”
    “I’ve given up trying to second-guess what people are interested in,” she agreed. “One thing is for sure, though, they’re likin’ everything we’ve got. I don’t remember a better December for sales.” Yes, this was the way to do it! She simply needed to keep the conversation only about business.
    “What would you like me to do for you?”
    He was standing so close she felt her breath catch. Forced herself to remember that Ben was talking about work. Not anything else.
    “Maybe you could go around the aisles and pick up a bit. Also, please look and see if you notice anything that we’ve just about run out of. Later we can restock.”
    “I can do that.”
    Judith busied herself with counting money and receipts, trying not to be too hard on herself when she continued to count the same stack of dollar bills over and over again.
    When Ben came back toward her, he carried a list in his right hand.
    Unable to stop herself, she watched him approach. His shoulders were broad and, as usual, there wasn’t a bit of hesitancy in the way he moved.
    Once again, she recalled gaping at him during their last year in school together. And remembered the way he’d raised a brow when he’d caught her doing so.
    In a flash, the memories rushed back, just as if it had been yesterday. They’d been on the playground, and for once she was sitting by herself. He’d been bouncing a basketball on the blacktop . . . and she hadn’t been able to stop staring at him.
    “Did no one ever teach you manners, Judith Graber?” he’d asked. She’d hated that she’d been so rude, and had hated even more that he’d noticed. “The last thing I need is a lesson in manners from you.”
    “Doubt that.”
    Her head had popped up. “Why?”
    “Because every single time I turn around, I see you staring at me like I am stained,” he replied, his voice turning husky.
    She’d felt her cheeks heating. “I don’t. I mean, I don’t think you’re stained.”
    “I think you do.”
    “Nee—”
    Four steps brought him close. So close, he stopped a mere foot away from her. “I know what I see. I know what you see when you look at me. You know I’m not good enough.”
    Her mouth had gone dry as