by Elena Aitken
“Portland,” he answered honestly.
“Okay, I’ll bite. Why?”
“I had an offer.” He stood up and took the empty dishes to the sink.
“What kind of offer?” she asked following him.
“A job offer. One from my dad’s old buddy at the Krieger plant.”
“That’s great.” The excitement in her voice told him that she hadn’t thought it through yet.
“It’s in Portland,” he said, turning towards her, leaving the dirty dishes in the sink.
“And?” She waited.
“And you’re heading back to Cali to finish school,” he supplied. She actually shrank a little. Her shoulders slumped and she frowned, getting the cute little crease between her brows she normally had when she was deep in thought.
“So, we’ve waited this long…” She bit her bottom lip.
He took her shoulders in his hands and pulled her close. “Right,” he said, instead of talking her into it. “If that’s what you want.” He kissed the top of her head and, before she could see the sadness in his eyes, turned back towards the sink to wash the dishes.
He heard her leave the room and closed his eyes as he leaned on the counter. Clearing his mind, he finished the dishes and decided he needed a quick walk.
He knocked on her bedroom door and could hear her talking to someone. When she opened the door, she was holding the phone to her shoulder.
“I’m going to take a walk,” he told her, then he motioned to her phone. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay.” She smiled. “Stay warm.”
He turned and left. Hitting the trail, he headed towards the beach. He was a little surprised when he found a woman walking towards him, two dogs on her heels.
“Morning.” She smiled at him and instantly he guessed that the woman was related to Todd.
“Morning.” He smiled back.
“I’m Lacey, Todd’s sister. My husband and I live just…” She motioned towards a hill. “Over there.”
“Eric Jenkins,” he replied. “We’re staying in the end cabin.”
“Oh, you’re the couple that got stuck on the trip up to Portland. Megan was telling me about how nice the two of you are. You and your wife.”
He smiled and nodded, but the woman’s eyes ran over his face.
“Oh my god,” she said, startling him, “you’re not really married, are you?”
He was taken back. “How… How did you know?”
“I have my ways.” She smiled. “But you’ve known each other forever,” she said as he bent to pet one of the dogs.
“Yes.” He sighed. “Her brother is my best friend.”
“How romantic.” Lacey chuckled.
“Yeah, until now, we’ve been… like brother and sister.” He straightened, but the other dog had waddled up and was now demanding attention.
“Nothing like being stuck in a snowstorm to strip away those layers.” Lacey smiled. “Sounds like you need some time alone to think.” She motioned towards the beach. “You couldn’t ask for a better spot to do it. Even if there is two feet of snow on the ground.”
“Yeah, I’m already planning on making a trip back here in the summer.”
“You’ll fall in love with the town.” She smiled. “Come on Bo and JoJo, let’s leave the man alone. He needs to figure out how to convince his best friends’ sister to marry him.” She laughed as she started walking down the path towards her brother’s house.
“How did…” he said to her back, but he was greeted with another laugh.
“It was nice meeting you, Eric Jenkins. Oh, and welcome to Pride,” she called out.
Chapter 13
Alice sat between the two car seats in the back of the full-sized truck and enjoyed the short drive into town.
She’d given Eric the seat up front next to Megan since there was more legroom.
“It’s a good thing I put the chains on this thing last week,” Todd said as they pulled into town. “I’m not sure how many others from town will make it in for this thing, but at least I know my brothers’ and sister’s families have made it here.” He nodded to a few other trucks.
“I met your sister today,” Eric told Todd.
“You did?” Todd chuckled. “Don’t let her spook you. She’s just… that way.”
Eric hadn’t mentioned to her that he’d met anyone on his walk earlier.
“What way?” she asked from the back seat.
“Lacey has a gift. My grandmother, if she was alive, would have believed that she could see into people.”
“Oh?” Eric asked. His voice sounded a little off.
“What did she say to you?” Alice asked.
“Nothing.” He glanced over his shoulder towards her. “Just… welcome to Pride,” he answered as Todd turned off the truck. They had parked across from the grocery store, but she could just see the town square out the window and gasped.
The little area where the Christmas lights and trees were last time was filled with people all dressed in holiday cheer. There were tables where people were handing out hot drinks and a huge bonfire in the middle with several smaller ones scattered around. People gathered around each one, trying to stay warm as the snow continued to fall.
“It’s the official Christmas town hall lighting,” Megan said as she started to get her son out of the car. Todd rushed over and nudged her aside and took his son, setting him down in the snow. “I’ve got Sara, you take Matt and head on over to get warm.” He waved his wife away as he reached for his sleepy daughter in her car seat.
“Official?” Alice asked. “Aren’t the lights already lit?”
Todd chuckled in response. “You’ll see.” He shifted his daughter in his arms so he could grab the thick blanket and toss it over her sleeping body.
“Come on, I’ll introduce you to the rest of our family.” He motioned.
Eric walked over and took her hand. “Well, you wanted to come along.” He nudged her. “This looks amazing,” he said softly.
“Yeah,” she agreed. “Who does this sort of thing anymore? Especially in a major snowstorm?”
“Apparently, Pride does,” he said as they caught up with Todd.
For the next half hour, they were introduced to a few people, including Todd and Lacey’s younger brother, Iian, who was deaf. They met his wife, Allison, who, they were shocked to find out, was one of Alice’s favorite artists. She even had a print of one of the woman’s pieces hanging above her bed in her dorm room.
They also met Lacey’s husband, Aaron, who was the town doctor. They had a daughter who was fast asleep in a stroller.
There was a loud whistle and everyone’s attention turned towards an older gray-haired man.
“That’s the mayor,” Lacey said over her shoulder.
“We all thought you were the mayor of Pride,” Todd said under his breath, earning him a poke in the ribs from Lacey.
“Shh,” she said as the mayor started to speak.
“Welcome to Pride’s annual town hall Christmas lighting. I’m especially pleased that everyone could make it in such beautiful weather.” There were a lot of chuckles from the crowd. “Now, I know everyone’s cold and tired and probably wanting to get back home to their warm houses, so I’ll make this short…”
“That would be a first,” someone shouted from the crowd, causing more laughter to erupt.
“Okay.” The mayor chuckled. “I just have to thank a few people”—there were a few groans—“without whom this beautiful display wouldn’t have been possible.” A few cheers. “To the Jordan family, your consistent support of Pride would make your father proud.” There were cheers. “To Patty O’Neil.” There were even more cheers. “Patty, you know exactly what you mean to this town.” Everyone clapped. “And Dr. Gerard Stevens.” The crowd grew quiet. “Doc, you will be missed by many. This year, our lights are dedicated to your memory.”
There was a moment of silence, then the mayor nodded and the entire square burst into a million bright light
s. She’d never seen so many in her life. Not even the malls in the city could have beat the small town’s display. The lights bounced off the crisp snow, no doubt causing a haze of light above the small town.
“I bet Santa can see us through the storm now,” Matthew Stevens said to his mother.
Alice hadn’t realized she was crying until Eric pulled her closer and wrapped his arms around her.
“Are you okay?” he asked, using his gloved fingers to wipe the tears away.
“Yes, it’s just… so amazing.” She sighed and rested her head against his chest. “I wish we could stay here forever,” she said under her breath.
“Me too,” he agreed, and they stood by the fire, looking out at the millions of lights.
When the crowd started to thin, Todd turned towards them. “We can hit the store and get those supplies now. I’ll meet you at Patty’s.” He motioned to the store just down the street a little. “I’ll get Megan and the kids settled in the truck first and then head in.”
They walked quickly towards the store. It was less than a city block away and someone had cleared all of the sidewalks, but still, they had been outside for almost an hour, and when she stepped into the store, she realized just how cold she’d gotten.
“I’ll get us a cart,” Eric said and moved over to get one.
“Did you enjoy yourselves?” Patty asked from behind the counter.
“Yes.” She smiled. “I’ve never seen anything quite like it.”
“I have some hot chocolate here. The moment the lights were flipped, I hightailed it back here. I’m too old to be standing around in the cold for too long.”
Alice walked over and made two cups of hot chocolate, then handed one to Eric.
“It doesn’t take age to realize you spent too much time in this cold,” he said easily, causing the older woman to chuckle.
“True.” She glanced over when Todd walked in. “Stocking up?” she asked them.
“Yes, we ran out of everything,” Eric answered. “I guess we didn’t realize that we’d be in town this long.”
“From the sounds of it, you’ll be enjoying Christmas with us as well,” Patty called after them. “Better stock up for at least one more week.”
While they walked through the aisle getting items from Eric’s list, she thought of trying to find something for Eric for Christmas.
She hadn’t expected to see him, but now that she knew they would be stuck here together, she wanted to have a present for him to open on Christmas morning.
Glancing out the main window, she saw a small store across the way and came up with a plan.
“I… I’d like to go across the way and get a few other… personal things.” She motioned to the drug store out the front windows.
Seeing the store, Eric nodded. “I’ll finish up here and meet you back at the truck.”
“Thanks,” she said and disappeared outside quickly.
Crossing over to the drug store, she glanced towards the windows and, instead, ducked into a small boutique, silently praying that they would have something that could pass as a gift.
She found several items and by the time she walked out, the small bag tucked deep in her purse, she noticed Todd and Eric loading the groceries into the covered bed of the truck.
“Need any help?” she asked, stopping by Eric.
“Nope, we’ve got this. Go ahead and jump in.” Eric opened the door for her.
“Thanks.” She smiled up at him and wiggled her way between the two car seats again.
The truck was warm and, this time, both kids were fast asleep.
“When are you due?” she asked Megan when they were alone. She couldn’t remember if it had been mentioned at any of the dinners.
“Not for another month,” Megan answered, rubbing her large belly. “But I was early with both of those two.” She smiled at her sleeping kids.
“So, Lacey mentioned that you two aren’t actually married. I hope I didn’t cause you any discomfort.”
“No.” She sighed. She’d hoped that her little imaginary bubble wouldn’t burst. Megan and Lacey knowing they weren’t really married somehow deflated it a little. “Not at all.”
“Todd and I were married when I was a few months along with Matthew,” Megan answered.
“I hear a little Boston in your voice,” she said finally. She’d been dying to mention it earlier but had never gotten a moment alone with the woman.
“Yes.” She chuckled. “I moved to Pride about a year before, when my brother Matthew died in a car accident.”
Alice sobered. She couldn’t imagine losing her brother Chris. They’d been so close, losing him would be like losing her best friend.
“I’m sorry,” she said softly. Megan’s eyes moved to her sleeping son.
“If it wasn’t for that, I’d probably be dead,” she said just as the truck doors opened and Todd and Eric climbed in.
“Telling her the story, eh?” Todd asked as he started the truck.
“I was about to.” Megan smiled over at her husband.
“Story?” Eric asked.
“Of how we met.” Todd chuckled. “Women love hearing love stories.”
“Shush.” Megan waved her husband off and started to tell her the story of how her brother, Matt, had died in a car crash, leaving her the big house and the B and B. Todd had been Matt’s best friend and when she moved into the house, she fell in love with him.
“Of course, we were all set for our happy ever after when her ex showed up and kidnapped her,” Todd added in. “She always leaves out that part.”
Megan frowned and glanced at her sleeping kids. “That’s because that darkness has no part in our bright lives.”
“What happened?” Alice asked, leaning forward as she tried to imagine the very pregnant woman who was sitting in front of her being kidnapped while she was pregnant with the adorable boy sleeping next to her.
“Todd found me and rescued me,” she added quickly.
“I found you, but you saved yourself,” he corrected as he pulled into the parking area in front of the house. “She jumped out a hotel window to escape the bastard.”
“Todd Jordan,” Megan said quietly.
“They’re asleep. They probably will be the rest of the night.” Todd smiled and lifted his wife’s hand to his lips. “Jordan women don’t need rescuing. I knew then and there that we were meant to be.”
“Oh?” Megan laughed. “It was that moment you realized it, was it?”
Alice could have sworn that he blushed, but he jumped out of the truck before she could check for sure.
Chapter 14
Eric finished hauling in the last load of groceries from the truck and set them on the countertop. Alice had put most of the things he’d already brought in away, but when he stepped inside this time and locked the door behind him, she had disappeared into the back.
Toeing off his boots, he hung his jacket and scarf and got busy putting the rest of the groceries away.
It was two days until Christmas and, still, the snow was continuing to fall outside. Some of it had melted during a brief sunny part of the day, but it had been too short-lived to melt much.
He threw a couple more logs on the fire, making sure to pull a few more in from the front porch, before going to look for her.
He found her soaking in a hot bathtub.
“Sorry.” She smiled up at him. “I just couldn’t get warm.” She sighed and rested back. “Want to join me?”
He thought about it for a moment and decided the tub was far too small for him to squeeze into. He was pretty sure they would have to mop up most of the water from the floor if he even put a foot in with her.
“I don’t think I’ll fit.” He sat next to the tub and leaned on the edge instead. He pulled off his shirt and tossed it onto the counter. “How about I wash your back?” And front and… his thoughts disappeared when she chuckled. The soft sexy sounds almost had him jumping into the water, regardless of the mess they’d make.
He ran the cloth over her back, enjoying the soft sounds of pleasure she made as he went along. She’d pulled her dark hair up into a messy bun, so when she rested her head on her bent knees, he slowly washed her neck as well, taking his time to move the wisps of hair away so that they didn’t get wet.
Then he cupped his hands and scooped up water to rinse her off, letting his fingertips trail over her skin until he noticed small goose bumps rising on her arms.
“Do you like that?” he asked, his voice cracking slightly.
“Very much.” She glanced over her shoulder at him with a smile. “How about you do my front now?”
He sat back and watched her lie down, the water lapping over her breasts. His eyes were frozen on her.
“Well?” she said after a moment. “Here, let me get you started.” She took his hand and laid it over one breast.
He swallowed hard and closed his eyes for just a second. “Alice,” he said softly.
“Eric, touch me.” Her hand covered his once more and forced it to start moving over her skin. He could feel her nipple through the washcloth and this time he was the one making the sounds of pure bliss.
She rolled her head back and rested it against the tub as his hands moved over her. His eyes moved to the apex of her legs. When he touched her and slid a finger into her, it took all of his willpower to stop himself from pulling her out of the water. Instead, he concentrated on pleasing her, watching her face as he built her up, mesmerized by the way her eyes turned, the way she bit her bottom lip and moved slowly under his hands. The water lapped at the edge of the bath as he bent over her, placing his lips gently over her lips as she cried out his name.
When she went completely lax, he gently picked her up out of the water. He wrapped her in a towel, carried her to the bedroom, and laid her on the bed. When he settled between her legs, using his mouth on her, she arched up and gripped his hair, crying out again.
“Eric,” she gasped.