by Lynn Landes
“We’re going to get a tree and bake cookies,” Tinley yawns, startling her and she laughs softly.
“That’s what we’ll do then.”
They snuggle back down and sleep, unaware that the blizzard around them is larger than anything they’ve seen in a hundred years.
Sebastian wakes up and dresses quickly, worried about the temperature in his room. The house is cold, and he’s worried about Tinley’s bedroom.
He rushes down the hall to her room, her door is open and cold. The fire in her room is completely extinguished. “Tinley?” he rumbles and turns to check with his mother.
The kitchen smells amazing when he walks inside. The cook is busy making coffee and mixing dough. “Good Morning, has mother been down yet?” he asks, pouring himself a strong cup and stealing a pastry hot from the pan.
“Oh, you… with the stealing. Your mother’s in the library. The cold doesn’t let her sleep.”
“Is Tinley with her?” he asks as he walks to the door.
“I don’t know. I’m your cook, not your babysitter,” she teases.
Sebastian is chuckling as he walks into the library. His mother is tucked into a chair with her own steaming cup and a blanket over her legs. “Good Morning, Mother. Have you seen Tinley?”
“No, Son. I’ve been down here for a few hours,” she slowly puts down her cup.
“Where could she…,” he pales and looks at her with wide eyes. “You don’t think she would have woken Miss Miller?” he asks.
“Of course she would,” Elizabeth laughs.
Sebastian sits his cup on the tray beside her and sighs heavily. “This child is going to be the death of me,” he mumbles. “Much like her Grandmother,” he quips and stares at her.
“What does that mean?” Elizabeth asks.
“Why didn’t you tell me who she was? You let me act like a fool,” he insists.
“What? Oh,” she shrugs her shoulders, “I forgot. I’m old and we had a lot going on at once with a storm, a guest and a dance. You should know better than to rush to judgment, son.”
Shame flickers through him and he looks away. “True. I suppose I shall have to make it up to our guest, but you should know, now she’s wondering if you are as conniving as Aunt Darla.” He grins as she jerks in surprise and rushes from the room and up the stairs.
The door is ajar, and no light or sound can be heard as he steps up to it. He slowly pushes it open and stares at them, cuddled together on the bed. Tinley is tucked against her shoulder, and Aiylin is cradling her protectively. A smile of appreciation spreads as he looks at them.
How he wishes he could have given Tinley a mother who would love and cherish her. Instead, he chose a woman who ran away, leaving her three-month-old behind. Not even after she was so sick from the disease of addiction would she consider coming home to him.
For years he wondered what was wrong with him that she would choose opium over him. Tinley healed his heart, and now he’s discovered that she has a hole in hers. How will he heal it?
Sebastian takes a step towards the bed and glances down at Aiylin. His eyes are drawn to her pink lips as he thinks about her beautiful smile. She is lovely to look at but just as interesting to spar with. Her quick wit intrigues him, and she clearly doesn’t need his money. He plans on getting to know her over the next few days. The dig out will take time, and he has some making up to do for his behavior.
Satisfied that Tinley is safe, he strides from the room, unaware of the aqua eyes that watch him. Her heart is pounding hard in her chest. Aiylin eases out of bed, being careful to let Tinley sleep.
Sebastian is trouble. She’s attracted to him in ways that she’s never experienced. How many men have caused her heart to pound just by looking at her? None. Smart, wickedly handsome and a kind, funny, gentleman.
Walking to the wardrobe, she opens it and counts her dresses. Four. She chooses a day dress, warm velvet in a rich chocolate brown. After braiding her hair, she makes sure to twist it up.
Glancing out the window, she stares outside and gasps.
“Is it still snowing?” Tinley yawns.
“Yes. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much snow.”
“Does that mean you’re staying?” Tinley asks and sits up with wide eyed excitement.
“It does.”
“I’m glad.” She squeals excitedly and jumps from the bed. “Aiylin, can you help me get dressed?”
“Of course, show me to your room.”
She has to walk swiftly to keep up with Tinley. The house is large with multiple bedrooms, but Aiylin is surprised when she takes her to the third level of stairs. “My room is upstairs.”
Skipping ahead, Aiylin laughs at the child’s energy. “Wait up,” Tinley disappears around a corner, and Aiylin rushes to keep up with her and runs straight into a large, male chest.
“Oh!” Aiylin is laughing when she glances up into Sebastian’s handsome face.
“I’m sorry,” they both start to say only to talk over each other.
“You first, Miss Miller,” he says, and she realizes he is still gripping her by her upper arms. When he starts to rub, she steps away from his touch.
“I was trying to keep up with Tinley,” her eyes drop to his mouth.
“Good luck, she’s never still,” he laughs. “Of course, it could just be that someone my age has problems keeping up with her.”
Aiylin laughs and reluctantly steps away from the heat of his body.
“He does have a sense of humor,” she calls back.
“We have a lot to learn about each other,” he says. “I’ll see you in the dining room.”
Aiylin rubs her arms and tells herself to just keep her distance from him. How hard can it be?
“In here, Miss Aiylin!” Tinley calls.
“Coming.”
Sebastian watches her walk away and smiles. He heads off to bring down the Christmas boxes. Stanley will help, and he finds that for the first time in days that he hasn’t thought of work or contracts. The next few days will be about spending time with his family and the new guest.
Chapter 12
Aiylin listens to Tinley talk and describes every aspect of her room. “This is my favorite spot,” she climbs up in the bay window and wipes the panes of glass so she can see out.
“It’s enchanting. What do you like to do here?”
“Dream, imagine things, draw,” Tinley says.
“I can see why. This would be the perfect spot to do that.”
Tinley watches her and smiles. “What would you do here?” she asks.
“That’s easy, I’d play music.”
“Can you teach me a little bit?”
Aiylin smiles, “I could try. Guitar or piano?”
“I love the piano,” Tinley says.
“I’d love to teach you a song,” Aiylin says.
Tinley jumps down and runs to her wardrobe to grab a dress. They laugh and chat. Mostly, Aiylin just listens, remembering her childhood with Mena. It makes her smile fade a little when she thinks about how things are going to change at home. Mena will be moving out with Patrick, as she should, and the house will be different.
“Are you sad, Miss Aiylin?” Tinley asks.
“No, sweet. Just thinking of home and missing my family, but I’m very grateful to be here with you. How shall we do your hair?”
After she’s finished braiding Tinley’s hair, she guides her down the hall past a door and points, “That’s Daddy’s room.”
“Our rooms are the only two on the third floor. We both have large bay windows. It’s perfect for seeing the lantern.”
“Lantern?”
“Yep, its magic, you know.”
Aiylin laughs and glances at Tinley. “Is it?”
“I wished for you, and you came,” she smiles and claps her hands. “I’m so hungry, Miss Aiylin.” Aiylin watches Tinley run from the room with a baffled look.
Sebastian is sipping his coffee when Tinley comes running into the room. She runs s
traight to him with a smile to get her morning hug. Aiylin walks in just in time to watch.
“Good morning, my heart. How did you sleep?” he asks, pulling her into his arms.
“Good Daddy,” she wraps her arms around his neck, and Elizabeth watches the way Aiylin smiles at them.
“Perhaps we should ask our guest how she slept?” Elizabeth asks.
Aiylin walks over to the sideboard and pours herself a cup of coffee before sitting next to Elizabeth. She purposely chose to sit on the opposite side of the table from Sebastian.
“Yes, it would seem you had a visitor in the middle of the night,” Sebastian teases.
“Or two,” she murmurs and sips her coffee.
Sebastian raises his eyebrow and grins when Tinley grabs his face and guides it back to her. “Please don’t be angry, Daddy. I was cold, and my fire went out.”
A frown of concern has Aiylin immediately jumping to her rescue.
“Truly, Mr. Becker, it wasn't a problem.”
“Call me Sebastian,” he corrects her and glances at his daughter. “You could have come to me. Our guest needs her rest.”
Tinley pushes out of his arms and runs around the table to Aiylin who wraps an arm around her waist and pulls her close. “But, Daddy,” she says exasperated. “You sound like a bear.”
Sebastian sputters, and Elizabeth laughs as Aiylin covers her mouth with a hand to stop her own laughter. “I’ll tell you a secret, Tinley, all Daddy’s sound like that. My Papa is big, and my sister, Mena and I would try to sleep with our parents, but he took up the whole bed.” Aiylin gives an exaggerated sigh.
Tinley climbs into her lap with a giggle, “What did you do?”
Sebastian and Elizabeth observe their interaction. Tinley has no boundaries, but Aiylin doesn’t seem to mind.
Aiylin hides her face in Tinley’s neck and mumbles, “I can’t tell you. It was very naughty,”
Tinley giggles and pleads. “Tell me, Miss Aylin.”
She looks up with a smile. “Mena was afraid. She often had bad dreams, and one night, they were especially bad. Mena didn’t want to sleep in our room, and it was my job as the big sister to make her feel better.”
“Of course,” Tinley nods. “What did you do?”
“I thought really hard about what would make her feel safe. Then I snuck downstairs and let our dog, Beringer inside.”
Aiylin smiles when Elizabeth recognizes the old German word for bear. “What type of dog is Beringer?” she asks.
“The massive type,” Aiylin laughs, “He weighed about a hundred and twenty pounds, mostly fur.”
“What happened?” Sebastian asks, drawing her attention. He’s enchanted by the thought of a honey-haired version of her as a child.
Aiylin blushes and glances away from him, “Beringer didn’t know that he was supposed to go to our room.”
“Oh, no!” Tinley giggles and covers her eyes.
“Oh, yes. He hit the stairs running and didn’t stop until he landed straight on top of my Papa’s chest. Papa shouted, scaring my Mother, who fell out of bed. Mena and I just stood there watching the chaos unfold,” Aiylin laughs at the memory.
Sebastian and Elizabeth laugh while Tinley giggles uncontrollably. “Was your Papa very angry?”
“No, he got up to take Beringer back downstairs, and when he came back, he found us in bed, asleep with Mama.” Aiylin smiles softly. “That was the last time they forgot to lock the door.”
Sebastian grins at her. “That is exactly why we don’t have a dog.”
“Just a bear,” Elizabeth says.
“Exactly,” Aiylin laughs, “Beringer was the perfect sized dog for my Papa, but not a good inside dog.” The light in her eyes fades as she thinks about him.
“What happened to him?” Elizabeth asks.
“Berringer died a few years ago from old age. We were lucky to have him.”
“Don’t be sad, Miss Aiylin. You can make a wish under the lantern, and maybe Santa will bring you a new puppy!” Tinley says and hugs her.
Aiylin frowns, “Under the lantern?” she asks.
“Are you hungry, Tinley. We have hotcakes!” Elizabeth asks purposely.
“I love hotcakes. Do you like them?” Once again, Tinley distracts Aiylin who gets up to help her make a plate.
“Good job, Mother,” Sebastian grins.
“Thank you. I’m no amateur,” she laughs softly.
Chapter 13
“Today, we are decorating for Christmas and making cookies. Daddy isn’t going to work, not even a little, right, Daddy?” Tinley asks.
“Not even a little,” he promises. “Stanley and I brought the boxes down, but I warn you Aiylin, it’s a lot.”
She looks up at his use of her first name. “No one does Christmas like a Miller,” she sasses. “I assure you. I’ve seen it before.”
Elizabeth leads the way into the family room with Tinley, and Sebastian follows Aiylin. When she stops abruptly upon entering, he leans down to whisper in her ear.
“Do you like a challenge, Aiylin?”
Chills erupt all over her body, and she forces herself to walk into the room. Boxes are stacked three high, and Sebastian laughs at her.
“Speechless? That is a feat,” he teases.
“I take it back, Elizabeth. No one does Christmas like a Becker!”
“The rest is in the sunroom,” Sebastian grins.
“The rest?” Aiylin is incredulous.
“We haven’t brought it all down in years,” Elizabeth says holding up a stocking with Sebastian’s name on it. “Oh,” she sniffs, “do you remember this?”
“Dad and I made it as a surprise for you,” Sebastian says as he walks over to her. She sniffs again. “This will be the perfect Christmas, Mother,” he pulls her close and presses a kiss to her head.
“Is that a promise?” Elizabeth asks.
“What do you give the woman who has everything?” he asks as he looks into her eyes.
“A promise for Christmas,” she answers.
Tinley runs over to join in the intimate family moment, and Aiylin steps out of the room to give them some time.
Walking down the hall, she wipes away a stray tear as she steps to the window in the foyer.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much snow,” she says to herself.
“You didn’t have to leave, Aiylin,” Sebastian says from behind her.
She turns to look at him, and her eyes startle him, not because of the beautiful color but because of the emotion radiating from them. “Yes, I did, Sebastian.”
He walks forward and dares to touch her face. When she doesn’t back away, he steps closer. Close enough that she can feel the heat radiating from his body.
“Are you real?” he whispers.
“Very,” she smiles up at him.
“How is it that you aren’t taken?” he demands.
“Who says I’m not?” she jokes and tries to back away but bumps into the windowsill.
“Nowhere to run, Aiylin,” he wraps a hand around her neck, drawing her towards him until his body is touching hers. “I'm going to kiss you now,” he whispers just before his mouth closes over hers and stars explode behind her eyes. She gasps, opening her mouth to him and Sebastian tastes.
Aiylin slips a hand into his hair, gripping him fiercely as if afraid he will disappear. When his tongue touches hers, Aiylin’s knees buckle, and he drags her closer to his body. He should stop, but all rational thought escapes him the moment his mouth takes hers.
Until this moment, Aiylin had thought that kissing was overrated. The few men she allowed close enough to kiss her were bumbling oafs. Sebastian claims her mouth and marks her for life. Never again will she think of a kiss without remembering this moment. Hot, heat, desperation, and desire erupt inside her as if dormant. A fire waiting for a spark.
Softly she pushes him back to stare up at him in surprise.
“Again,” he demands and pulls her back in.
Sebastian whirls
her around and backs her towards the side of the staircase, away from any chance of being seen. This time she tastes, mimicking his movements and smiling against his mouth when he gasps and forces himself to step away from her.
Bereft, that is the only way to describe how she feels when he moves away from her. Aiylin’s eyes once filled with sadness, have now intensified with desire. She covers her swollen lips with one hand and stares at him.
“Sebastian?”
The sound of her husky voice speaking his name has him stepping into her and pulling her back against his chest.
“Tell me you aren’t spoken for, Aiylin. Is there a man waiting for you at home?” She stares at him and smiles.
“No. I’m not spoken for,” she replies and touches his face reverently. I was waiting for this, she realizes. Surprise rippled through her body and soul, causing her to step back from him. “I should go,” she stops speaking when he smiles at her.
“Yes, you probably should,” he waits until she turns and rushes away to walk to his office and sit heavily in a chair.
Chapter 14
Aiylin walks back into the room and finds Tinley with Elizabeth looking at treasures from Christmas’s past.
“What are you looking for Oma?” Tinley asks excitedly.
“One of these boxes has our advent calendar,” Elizabeth is breathing heavy and chewing her lip in concern. “My grandmother quilted it when I was a child. I remember sitting and watching her work. I even added some of the stitches.”
Aiylin frowns as she watches Elizabeth grow more and more agitated.
“I’ll look Elizabeth, you sit and have some tea,” Aiylin says softly and guides her to a chair near the fire.
“Yes, thank you. It needs to go up today. Tomorrow is the first day of December. The box is labeled.”
“Of course. Don’t worry. I will find it.” Aiylin nods and begins reading boxes, moving the ones she can lift until she’s buried behind them.
“Do you see it?” Elizabeth asks, leaning forward with her hot tea.