15
Jack waited at Spirits & Vine, the only spot where they could talk that was still open at this time in the village. The rehearsal had gone fairly well, but now he sat practicing a much tougher role—what he was going to say to Marina.
The stage didn’t scare him but entrusting his heart to Marina did. He motioned to a waiter.
“May I have two hot cocoas?” Jack asked.
“We have plenty of holiday editions this year,” the waiter replied, ticking them off on his fingers. “Peppermint mocha, spicy Mexican hot chocolate, and pumpkin-spice cocoa. If you like dessert in your cup, we have red velvet hot cocoa. Or, for extra warmth, we’re serving cocoa with a shot of Irish cream or hot buttered rum.”
Marina slid into the seat across from him. “That last one sounds yummy,” she said, sweeping her h
