“Sorry. I think I skipped us over the dating part.” And she didn’t mind at all.
“Oh, there will be dating. I have plans.”
“What kind of plans?” She stroked her hand down his flank.
Nuzzling his nose into her hair, he whispered, “Sneaky plans to make you fall in love with me.”
Already in love with him, she whispered back, “What kind of sneaky plans?”
“I’m not giving up my secrets. You’ll have to wait and see.”
She could live with that kind of waiting.
“While I’d love to stay here and snuggle, technically I’m obligated to help you get ready for Christmas.” Untangling his legs from hers, he rolled and sat up. “After that, I’m open to any debauched suggestions you might have.”
“Debauched. Mhm.” Mackenzie stretched, arms overhead and toes pointed. “Excellent incentive to speed-decorate. Let’s do it.”
Sunshine streamed through the bedroom window. Reluctant to move, Mackenzie lay in bed, listening to the birds chattering outside. She luxuriated in the memory of Jared’s hands stroking her body, the feel of his mouth on her. A strange mix of lazy contentment and invigoration hummed through her veins. She pulled the spare pillow over her face and inhaled the remnants of his scent.
Jared had made good on all of his promises. After they’d gotten a bite to eat, they’d divvied up decorating chores. He’d braved the cold and got the lighting nets set up while she’d arranged everything inside, save the Christmas tree, to her satisfaction. Then, feeling light-hearted and down-right lascivious, she’d challenged him to a spicy game of “Truth or Dare.” The man had a wicked and creative mind.
Her body ached in the best of ways.
The only thing she had to do today was decorate the tree. And clean the house. And grocery shopping. And she wanted to do a little more baking today.
Her phone chimed. She rolled over and grabbed her phone off the nightstand, then burrowed back under the covers.
Allison: Usually you thank someone when they give you a present.
Mackenzie snorted out a laugh and hit speed dial.
“Good morning, Allison. I’m calling to thank you and Hillary for my amazing Christmas present.” She had no intention of telling her sister how amazing.
“About time.”
“You’re the best big sister ever. Hillary is the best sister-in-law ever. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”
“It almost didn’t happen. I have no idea what we would have gotten you for Christmas, then. Hillary accused me of matchmaking. I don’t think she bought into my two-birds-one-stone argument. When she saw Jared moping around and grumbling that you weren’t there for the auction, she finally came around to my way of thinking. So did my plan work?”
“I shouldn’t tell you, but yes, your meddling worked.”
“Y-e-e-e-s!” The sheer jubilation in Allison’s voice made Mackenzie laugh. It wouldn’t surprise her if Allison was doing a fist pump. “If I weren’t at work, I would be doing a happy dance right now.”
“Calm down.”
“Did he ask you out? Did you ask him out? Give me details.”
“What are you, fifteen?”
“Did you invite Jared to Christmas dinner?”
“Not yet.”
“Why not?”
“Allison.”
“Fine,” she huffed. “Speaking of invites. Expect a call from Mom. Olivia doesn’t have any plans for Christmas and Mom wants to invite her over for dessert and coffee.”
Since the skiing accident, Olivia, also a widow, had been helping their mom whenever Allison or Mackenzie couldn’t.
“I’ll call Olivia and ask her to join us for dinner. I better get going.”
“Hang on. I’ve got one more thing for you. You didn’t win any of the silent auction items but I’ve got the number for the voice teacher. Hillary talked to her and she has openings for new students.”
“Text me her number.” After the holidays when things quieted down a bit, she’d call and see about setting up lessons.
“Will do.”
Mackenzie heard Allison take in a huge breath as if gearing herself up. Now what?
“You and Jared fit. I like him, and I haven’t liked many of your boyfriends. I know how wrapped up you get with work. I say this with love, Mackenzie. Don’t mess this up.”
Her good mood flatlined. “Thanks for the vote of—”
“There’s nothing like falling in love with your best friend. I want that for you, too. Don’t let this pass you by, okay?”
Mackenzie tamped down her annoyance. “You sound like Mom.”
“I can’t help it.” Allison sighed. “It’s the boys. The older they get, the more I seem to channel Mom. Invite Jared to Christmas dinner. Talk to you later. Love you, bye.”
“Love you, bye.” Mackenzie set her phone back on the nightstand. Flipping the heavy comforter back, she stood up, and—feeling agitated despite her sister’s good intentions—stomped to the shower.
Water pounded down on her. She lathered jasmine-scented shampoo into her hair. “Jared’s busy with his company too. Maybe she should tell him not to mess this up,” she grumped.
A good part of her irritation over the phone conversation was fear that Allison was right. She knew she’d allowed the line between work and personal life to blur, but she was working on it. Her ideas were more abstract theory than concrete plans, but she had told Bryce “no” several times and that should count for something. After vacation, Mackenzie would sit down with her boss and hash out some new guidelines. She finished her shower, letting the scalding water sap out most of her pique.
She’d just pulled on a fleece cowl-neck when her phone chimed. Finger-combing her mostly dried hair with one hand, she scooped up her phone with the other and saw she had three texts.
Allison, Bryce, and Jared. She tapped on Jared’s.
Do you have a ladder?
She shuddered and texted back, No.
He responded with a smiley face emoji.
Allison’s message earned an eye roll from Mackenzie.
Ho! Ho! Ho! followed by a gift box emoji and the promised phone number.
Last, she opened Bryce’s. Allison’s words ran through her mind as she read the text. She needed caffeine.
As she walked past the dining room table, an erotic image filled her mind. Her face flushed, remembering the bone-melting dare. Thank God for sturdy maple furniture.
Good mood completely restored, she walked into the kitchen. The rich, aromatic scent of coffee greeted her. She poured a steaming hot cup and silently thanked whoever engineered the first programmable coffee maker. Fortified by twelve ounces of dark roast, Mackenzie called her boss.
“Did you call Phil?” Bryce asked immediately.
“No. I’m on vacation. I have no”—she emphasized no—“projects going right now. I’m on vacation. Aren’t you the one always reminding me you’re the boss? You can take care of this.”
She poured a second cup and meandered into the living room while her boss raged. Standing before the Christmas tree, with its branches now fully opened and ready for decorating, she experienced the same giddy feeling she’d had as a child waking up on Christmas morning. She breathed in the fir’s fragrant scent, only half-listening to Bryce. It might be easier if she did run into the office and see what the real issue was between Phil and Anna. She doubted it would take that long. If Bryce were a better listener, he could sort it all out easily enough.
The sound of a vehicle pulling into her driveway made her turn and look out the front window. Jared.
“Bryce, talk to Anna.”
He ignored her and kept talking.
Mackenzie set down her coffee cup and went to the door, opening it as Jared came up the steps.
“Nothing will get done unless you get Anna and Phil together and—”
Bryce kept talking.
Jared nodded at the phone, a question in his eyes. When she mouthed “Bryce,” he frowne
d.
“Let me call you back.” She disconnected the call and laid her phone on a marble-top side table. Going up on her toes, she gave Jared a light and flirty kiss. “Hey there. I thought you had to work today?”
Jared held on to her hips. “Delegation and the perks of being your own boss. I’ve only got four small jobs between now and Christmas Eve. My crews have everything under control. I decided to take the morning off.” He kissed her. A slow, sweet, lingering kiss that made her toes curl and left her teetering slightly when he released his hold. She could get used to kissing him good morning like that every single day.
“So, what was that all about?” He jutted his chin toward her phone.
“Our construction manager and design coordinator aren’t playing well together.”
“And your boss wanted you to, what? Come in and fix things?” His voice held disapproval and a hint of exasperation.
“Basically.” She retreated to her coffee cup. “It’s no big deal.” Based on the scowl on his face, she decided not to tell him she’d considered running into the office.
“The guy should respect time boundaries.”
“I agree.” She sipped her cooling coffee. “Are you here to help decorate the tree?”
“No. I can if you need help, but I thought I’d put some more lights up outside. I noticed you looking at the icicle lights yesterday. I bought a few packages, clips, and timers.”
“You didn’t.” Delighted, she bounced on her toes.
“I did.”
“The Imperial March” sounded from the side table.
Wincing, she picked up her phone. She was on vacation, damn it. Bryce would handle it. And with Jared here, she had no desire to go into the office. “Bryce, I’m not coming in. I’m on vacation. Please don’t call again.” She listened for a moment, then said, “Fine. I’ll call Phil.” She hung up.
Jared opened his mouth, then closed it.
“It’s one call.” She fidgeted with her phone. “It won’t take long.”
Jared opened his mouth again, then clicked his jaw shut.
Her emotions flickered between irritation and unease at his silence. A knot of tension formed between her shoulder blades. “I’ve got coffee. Do you want a cup?”
“No, thanks. I’m good.” He scrubbed his fingers through his hair. “Don’t suppose you want to help me put up lights?”
The knot loosened.
“There’s hardly any wind and it’s a balmy thirty-four outside.” His mouth kicked up into a grin.
“I can help but I’m not getting up on the ladder.”
“You’re afraid of heights? How did I not know this? You bid on a hot air balloon ride.”
“I’m not afraid of heights. I’m afraid of ladders.” Her whole body shook as she shuddered.
Pointedly, he looked at the Christmas tree. “Guess you’ll need help getting lights and ornaments on the top of that.”
“For that, I can use a step stool. Those I don’t mind. But if you’re offering to help, I’ll take it.”
“Let’s see what time it is when I get done putting up the lights. Does it bother you to see people up on ladders?”
She paused, thinking about it, then shook her head. “No. That doesn’t bother me. Just being up on one myself. Let me throw on my coat and gloves. I can hand you things. Or be your gofer.”
Jared glanced at the phone in her hands. “Better make your call first. I’ll get started. Come on out and join me. Okay?”
“Okay.”
It ended up taking almost an hour to resolve the issues between Phil and Anna. Even though her weather app promised it was thirty-six degrees, she stood on her porch wearing wool-lined boots and a light jacket, gauging the actual temperature. Satisfied she wouldn’t freeze; she stuffed a pair of gloves in the pockets and went in search of Jared.
Pale blue lights hung on the front of her house. She couldn’t wait to see them lit up after dark. Snow crunched under her boots as she made her way around to the side. The lights were up there as well.
She found Jared on the north side of the house.
“Hey, up there,” she called out.
“Hey. Everything settled at work?”
Mackenzie heard a soft rebuke in his tone.
From the safety of a bare-limbed walnut tree, a blue jay protested their presence.
“It is. Looks like you only have a little bit left to do here. I can help with the west side. Of course, I’ll tell everyone I helped you with the whole job,” Mackenzie teased.
“West side’s done. Just need to finish this and put on a timer. I set the front one to six PM but you can change it easily enough.” He dug a clip out of his pocket and attached it to the gutter.
“Okay. Do you need anything up there?”
“I’m good.” He secured the strand of lights onto the clip.
A breeze blew her bangs into her eyes and sent the tiny blue lights swaying.
Mackenzie watched him work for a few minutes. “Sorry it took me so long on the phone.”
Jared made a noncommittal sound as he came down the ladder. He moved it six feet, and paused, gripping the rails. “I’m curious. You’ve said, repeatedly, that you’re going to stop letting your boss take advantage of your time. Are you serious?”
Feeling a little ganged up on between Allison’s earlier warning and now this, she snapped out her words. “Yes. I’m working on it.”
He climbed back up the ladder and attached another length of lights to the gutter. “I know you think you are, but I’ve seen you sit outside the yoga studio answering text messages instead of going into class. I’ve seen you leave parties because Bryce needed something. Even when we’ve gone out for coffee you wind up on the phone. Maybe Bryce needs to hire more people? Or get you a personal assistant?”
Stomach hurting, Mackenzie wrapped her arms around her middle.
“Have you thought about going into business for yourself?” He came down the ladder.
“I don’t want the pressure of owning my own business. I like my job. I like the people I work with.” Her voice wavered with frustration. “Change isn’t one big step, it’s dozens and dozens of little ones.”
“You’re right.” He walked over to her, put two fingers under her chin, and lifted her head until her eyes met his. “How serious are you about singing lessons? Or learning Italian? Or any of the things on your carpe diem list? What little steps are you willing to take to make them a reality?”
She glared at him.
“I’m not trying to piss you off.”
“Well, you are.”
“Fair enough.” He brushed his thumb over her bottom lip. The tenderness in his touch echoed in his eyes. “I bring work home. I have to change plans sometimes because of the job. It happens. But my business isn’t my entire life. From my perspective, your job bleeds over into your personal life.” He brushed his thumb over her cheek, and Mackenzie felt the hot sting of tears threatening. “Something amazing is starting up between us. I don’t want you to push us into the background before we even have a chance.”
Regrets, her mother’s voice whispered through her mind. The word, and all it entailed, took the starch right out of Mackenzie. “I’m going to talk to Bryce after the holidays.”
Jared pressed a light kiss on her forehead. He refilled his pockets with little plastic clips, walked back to the ladder, and climbed up.
He was wrong. She wouldn’t let work sweep away their relationship. She’d set boundaries. Hundreds of millions of people balanced work, family, and friends every day.
Her phone rang. She didn’t miss the stiff set to Jared’s shoulders. Her stomach roiled. Hesitantly, she pulled it out.
Anna. “I’ll let it go to voicemail.” She tapped “decline” and set it to vibrate.
“I need to get back to work. All I’ve got left is this short stretch and to hook up the timer.”
“Oh. Okay.” Mackenzie watched him finish up. She bet hundreds of millions of people went to bed each night
promising that the next day they’d stop eating sweets or start exercising or write a novel or go back to school or find a better job, and all of them woke up and went about their lives unchanged. She didn’t want to be one of them.
A thousand words whirred through her mind. She snatched at them, hoping to find the right thing to say. The one perfect thing that would resolve everything. The breeze picked up its tempo. Deep in her head, she didn’t notice the slap of cold.
She watched him plug the light cord into the timer, set it, then crouch down to insert it into the electrical outlet. Not once did he look up at her.
Desperate to lighten the tension between them, she offered a lame, “I signed up for the January/February session at the yoga studio.”
“I’m signed up too.” He picked up a nearly empty package of clips, and other odds and ends he’d used.
Mackenzie took them from him so he could carry the ladder to his black four-wheel-drive truck. She followed.
“Maybe you need to change your perspective,” Jared said as he stowed the ladder. “Maybe instead of saying no to Bryce or your co-workers, you should look at it as saying yes to yourself and interests outside of work.”
She heard the unsaid, “and your relationships.”
“I’ll see you later.” Jared gave her a quick squeeze before he got in the truck. The engine roared to life, and he drove away.
It had been a damned buddy hug.
Numbness weighed Mackenzie down. She trudged into the house. Still wearing her coat, she stood transfixed in front of the Christmas tree. She didn’t have the heart to decorate it. Her emotions seesawed between despair and anger.
It pissed her off that he had no faith in her. Jared was wrong. She would get things fixed at work. She’d stop thinking about doing it and actually do it. But if she started making calls, odds were good she’d get sucked into something. After Christmas, she’d talk to everyone and explain that she was cutting back. She would start delegating. Allison was wrong. Mackenzie wouldn’t mess up this nascent relationship with Jared. She could balance with the best of them. Then she would call the voice teacher and set up lessons, and she wouldn’t cancel them. And she would shut her phone off before she drove to yoga class, that way she wouldn’t answer it and miss class.
Christmas Wishes: A Christmas Romance Anthology Page 21