by Susan Hatler
I looked at Tom, who smiled in return, making my stomach roil.
“Do you think I don’t know you cheated on me when we were together?” I asked, gesturing to Tom. “That’s right, everyone. This golden boy dumped me because Dallas caught him cheating on me and then socked him one.”
Tom choked on his drink.
“Oh, my goodness.” Mom’s eyes went wide and she placed a hand to her chest.
Dad’s eyes narrowed as he slapped his menu onto the table with a loud thump. “You did what to my daughter?” he demanded.
“Um . . .” Tom squirmed in his seat, reaching up to loosen his tie. Probably trying to figure out a way to weasel out of this situation. Ha!
“Dallas!” Connor called out, waving his hand in the direction behind me. “About time you got here, man. Glad you got my text. Care to join us?”
Chapter Twenty-One
My heart leapt at the sight of Dallas. His dark-brown hair was mussed, there was sawdust on the tee shirt he wore under his leather jacket, and the knees of his jeans had stiff shiny patches that told me he’d been working with varnish and sealant when he’d received Connor’s text.
Nina had apparently escorted Dallas to our corner and she backed away nonchalantly, serving a nearby table. We’d gathered a bit of an audience at first, but people were politely pretending not to stare at the moment.
I was so shocked to see Dallas here that I couldn’t think for a second and when I could think I wondered if I were dreaming the entire thing. In his work attire, he looked so out of place here at the country club and yet so utterly perfect at the same time.
The red-haired hostess, Elizabeth, dashed up, clearly flustered. She squeaked out, “Sir, you need a dinner jacket to be here. We have a few in the back and—”
“No, thank you, ma’am,” he said, nodding to her. “I’m not here for dinner. I’m here for her. A jacket isn’t necessary for what I’m about to do.”
My mouth dropped open. Was he going to haul me out over his shoulder, alpha-male style?
Yes, please.
My brain cleared after I blinked a few times. I watched Dallas stand there, looking from me to my folks and his gaze flicked briefly to Tom, his expression impassive.
Connor grinned and sat back, his eyebrows lifting slightly.
Dallas took a deep breath. “Morgan, I’m sorry to interrupt. But I need to talk with you.”
Tears filled my eyes. “Okay . . .”
The hostess clapped her hands together in prayer position. “But, sir. Wearing a dinner jacket is one of our rules.”
I choked on a mixture of laughter and sobs. “Dallas has never cared much for rules.”
“I think we have one in your size, sir,” she said, wringing her hands together, before she sped off.
“Wine?” Connor lifted a glass in Dallas’s direction, but Dallas shook his head. Connor guffawed, before bringing the glass to his own mouth. “Hope nobody minds if I indulge.”
“What are you doing here, Dallas?” Mom asked, her cold tone slightly confused.
“I’m sorry to barge in on your dinner like this, Mr. and Mrs. Reed.” Dallas raised his palms, his tone apologetic, but firm. “I know you blame me for a lot of things and I get it. I was young and stupid and reckless. I did a lot of things in the past that put your kids at risk.”
I bit my lip, staring at Dallas in awe.
“I’m sorry for those things. I swear to you if I could go back in time and change things, I would. Not just for you or for me, but for Morgan because she’s suffered a lot over the years and I’d give anything to ease that for her.”
Mom looked down, her face turning white. “I think—”
“Please let me finish, ma’am,” he said, stepping closer to the table. “I know you think I’m wrong for Morgan. But, I swear, no one will love and care for your daughter like I will. She could have her pick of good men, but she’s the only right person for me. Every good memory I have is wrapped in her. Every bad decision I made when I was young was to try to get attention because my mom had left and my dad was drunk every day.”
“That’s right!” Tom stood, his face turning so red that his ears glowed. “You weren’t good enough for Morgan then and you’re not good enough for her now. You don’t belong here in this country club and you’re embarrassing this good family.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.” Dallas glared at him, pointing a finger. “You’re the one who isn’t good enough for her. I don’t care if you have a high-powered job or gazillions of dollars in the bank. Because when it comes down to it none of that matters. What’s important is how you treat the people you love.”
“You say that because you have nothing,” Tom spat out.
“I have Morgan’s best interest at heart. That’s more than I can say for you.”
Dad’s lips compressed as he stood. “You were unfaithful to my daughter while you were dating, Tom? That’s your idea of being good enough for her?”
“Not even close.” Connor coughed into his hand. “Dallas may have changed enough not to deck you right now, Tom. But I can’t say the same about me. It’s time for you to take a hike.”
“I’m not standing for any more of this,” Tom sputtered, looking at each of us incredulously as if he thought we were making a big mistake. But it wasn’t until I wiggled my fingers at him and mouthed, “Buh-bye,” that he finally stormed off.
I stood up then, moving toward Dallas and stopping in front of him. “I can’t believe you came here tonight after everything I said to you by the Falls.”
He lifted my hands. “I love you, Morgan. I always have and I always will. I’m sorry I didn’t keep you from falling in the river the other night.”
My eyes watered. “But you dove in after me and then pulled me out. That’s pretty heroic.”
“It wasn’t enough.” He sucked in a breath, shaking his head. “But I’ll do better to keep you safe from here on out. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Tears slipped down my face. “I can take care of myself.”
“I know,” he said, the corner of his mouth lifting. “It took me a while to be good enough to deserve you, but I’ve always been yours. Always will be.”
I smiled through my tears. “I’ve always been yours, too.”
Mom stood up. “Dallas . . .”
He turned to my mom. “I swear I won’t hurt her, Mrs. Reed. Give me a chance to prove that to you.”
“Call me Ivy.” She gave him a nod, then waved to someone behind us. “You’ll need a jacket from the hostess if you’re going to join us for dinner now. Country club rules.”
Dallas paused a moment, seeming choked up, before he finally said, “Yes, ma’am.”
“Thanks, Mom,” I said, pure joy flowing through me. Dallas squeezed my hands, swinging them back and forth as I stared into his beautiful caramel-colored eyes. Then I wrapped my arms around him and held him tight. “I love you,” I whispered. When I finally pulled back, he gave me a smile before he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to my lips.
We kissed softly and sweetly in front of my family, in front of the wait staff and in front of every single member of the country club. Applause rang out from somewhere and I knew I should pull back because—hello?—my folks were sitting right there. But there were no more secrets in this family. I loved this man and I was going to show my true self. Finally.
Dallas was the one who pulled back. “Thank you for letting me crash your dinner.”
The hostess, clearly confused by Tom’s hasty exit and this rather public display of love, gasped out, “Sir? Would you lift your arms please, so I can slip on your jacket?”
I burst into laughter. His arms were around me and I doubted he wanted to let go. I didn’t want to let go, either. I smiled up at him. “Better put that jacket on before every oldster in the place has a heart attack. We’d be killing off half their customer base.”
“We can’t have that,” he said, the corner of his mouth hitching upward. He shru
gged into the jacket, looking amazingly hot.
Dad put a hand up, gesturing to someone. “Nina, would you please bring our guest a fresh glass of tea, and a fresh setting?”
Nina’s smile was wide and her eyes were wet. For a moment, I wondered if it was because she felt sorrow over Dallas having chosen me but then I realized she was touched by the whole wonderful moment. She hurried off and Dallas sat in Tom’s hastily vacated seat.
Dad cleared his throat. “I wish I’d known the truth of why you punched that Tom a long time ago. I might’ve spared you the trouble and done it myself.”
“William!” Mom shook her head, but the glance she gave Dad was fond. “Honey, you’re too old for those kinds of things.”
He looked at her and his smile was radiant. “I seem to remember that I punched a boy who’d done you wrong back in our day.”
My eyes rounded. “You did, Dad? Really?”
Mom fluttered her hands. “Ancient history. Now, what are we thinking for an appetizer?”
With “I’ll be Home for Christmas” playing on the speakers and my family surrounding me, I smiled up at the man I loved. His hand found mine under the table and we laced our fingers together. I’d come all the way home, at last.
Chapter Twenty-Two
On Christmas Eve, my parents’ living room oozed festive cheer. The massive Christmas tree stood in the living room, shining with perfectly arranged lights and ornaments. The room was all designer furniture and expensive art on the walls. The presents under the tree had been sorted and stacked to maximize the beauty of the wrappings and ribbons.
I winked at Dallas and withdrew a few strands of tinsel from my pocket and then draped them on the backside of the tree, while I held my breath so my laughter wouldn’t give us away.
“If she blames me for that, I’m selling you out,” he said, tickling me until I laughed and then pulling me into his arms.
“Fair enough,” I said, giggling as I nuzzled his neck, inhaling the deliciously woodsy scent that was all him. Yum.
Connor came into the room with a pitcher of steaming cider. “Tinsel, Morgan? You’re aware that Mom’s going to blame me, right?”
I shrugged. “She’ll never see it.”
Mom entered the room, wearing a red sweater and black slacks, and carrying a tray of sugar cookies that gave off a heavenly scent. “I won’t see what?”
“Nothing!” Connor, Dallas, and I said at the same time.
“Oh, you kids. I’ll find out sooner or later, you know.” Mom set the cookies on the side table next to a silver-framed picture of Grace. She smiled fondly at the photo and then straightened a few throw pillows on the leather couch.
“Do I hear laughter going on in here?” Dad said, coming into the room. He had forsaken his usual suit and tie for a green sweater with a brown reindeer in the center, a red nose, and gold bells dangling off its antlers. “What am I missing?”
Mom’s lips twisted. “You can’t be serious, William. Where on earth did you get that sweater?”
“Secret Santa at work.” Dad tugged at the hem. “Don’t you love it? Perfectly festive for Christmas Eve, right?”
I broke into laughter. “Dad, that sweater’s awful.”
He sighed. “I had a feeling you wouldn’t appreciate it.”
Connor groaned. “I’ll have to find out who your Secret Santa was and get them back next year by giving them a reindeer sweater gift of their own.”
“That sounds like just the thing to do, Connor.” Mom nodded as if that kind of payback was perfectly acceptable. She took the pitcher of cider from him and arranged it next to the cups already on the coffee table. “Who would like a cup of cider?”
Connor raised his hand. “I’d love one, Mom.”
“I’d love one, Ivy,” Dallas said.
She gave him a warm smile. “Anyone else?”
Dad and I chimed in that we’d love a cup.
Dallas sat next to me on the couch, lacing his fingers through mine. My folks had invited him for our traditional Christmas Eve gift opening and his being here meant everything to me. It meant they had accepted him, finally, and my heart felt so light and free that I was surprised it didn’t float out of my chest and hit the ceiling.
Mom tapped Connor’s arm. “Sweetheart, would you poke at the fire, please? I love watching the flames while we open gifts.”
Connor dutifully headed to the fireplace while Mom poured five cups of cider. We arranged ourselves on the couch near the tree. I took a cookie and munched on it, letting the sweet and crumbly thing break between my teeth. Delish.
The doorbell rang then and a slight crease appeared between Mom’s eyebrows. “It’s Christmas Eve. Who could that be?”
I stood. “I’ll get it.”
I headed for the door and peeked out the peephole. “It’s Coraline.”
Dallas came up beside me. “Our landlady?”
“Yes.” I opened the door and gaped at the woman standing there. Coraline had wild, curly hair that not even the tan bowler hat she’d jammed down on her head could tame. I stared at her, trying not to laugh as I took in her outfit, which included the bowler hat, a pair of beige riding pants, high boots, and a heavy coat over a blue silk blouse accented by colorful scarves.
“Hello, Morgan,” she trilled out, pulling me into a hug. “Oh! And, Dallas Parker, you’re here on Christmas Eve. How interesting . . .”
The teasing tone of her voice made me pause as I stepped back. “Um, please come in, Coraline,” I said, curious about the smug look on her face.
Coraline stepped into the foyer, trailing scarves behind her. “Hello, Ivy. Love your manicure. Are those snowmen I see?”
“Yes,” Mom said, putting a hand to her chest. “Morgan did them. They’re a little more festive than my usual mani, but I thought it would be fun. She’s doing my hair next month.”
“How wonderful.” Coraline waved a tanned hand. “I hear I missed a lot of excitement here in town while I was off on safari. Not that I mind. You have no idea how glorious Africa was, the trip of a lifetime, I tell you. The lions tried to eat us one night, and they did eat one of the tents—and how that played out on their digestive systems is a mystery I don’t want to solve. Then there was that pesky rhino that thought our jeep was its toy, but. . . I’ve gotten off track as to why I’m here tonight. I received a lot of messages from Morgan and Dallas. I seem to have made a faux pas and rented my business space to you both.”
“Yes,” Dallas said, throwing me a questioning look.
I bit my lip. Did he want the business space all to himself? He was so manly that possibly the scent of shampoo and other products all day long was not his thing. But I loved the smell of wood that drifted into my side of the shop. I’d miss it so much if he were gone.
I gulped. “Yes, it was a mistake.”
The word tasted bitter and wrong against my tongue.
“Well, that’s unfortunate.” Coraline tugged her hat so hard it was a wonder her hair didn’t blow out the top. “So, does one of you want to break your lease?”
I turned to Dallas, biting my lip. I didn’t want to break my lease and I didn’t want him to break his either. Once upon a time, I would’ve done anything to get him out of my rented space and now I couldn’t imagine my business without him next door. He shuffled his feet, making me more nervous than ever about that question. What if he wanted to go?
His forehead creased. “I’m not sure how Morgan feels, but it would be difficult to uproot my store at this point. That furniture is heavy and I don’t know if any other space would be quite as perfect. And her part of the space seems to be pretty perfect, as well.”
I nodded enthusiastically. “I agree. Our businesses are good the way they are. I don’t know how you made such a mistake, Coraline, but I called you to ask and . . .” A strange thought halted me and I blinked. “Come to think of it, how did you manage to make such a big mistake? I just remembered that I looked at his lease that first day and it was dated well before mi
ne.”
Coraline tried for innocence. “Was it? Silly me.”
I advanced on her. “Yes, and not by a day or two either. Almost two full weeks earlier than mine.”
Coraline burst into laughter. Her eyes danced. “Well, maybe my good friend Melody King told me Morgan was coming back to town and she might’ve mentioned what a cute couple you two would make, but that you both were stubborn and might need a push.”
“Ms. King told you that?” I asked, glancing at Dallas whose mouth had curved upward. I should’ve known. I’d have to remember to thank my loving mentor on Christmas night when all of us girls sang for her at the extravaganza.
“Merry Christmas to you all!” Coraline tossed a scarf over her shoulder. “I must be going now that the lease situation is settled. I have so much unpacking to do. You wouldn’t believe the amount of things one can accumulate on an African safari.”
Dallas and I walked Coraline out to her car and she left in a flutter of scarves and words about how great the businesses we’d opened together were doing. We stood in the driveway looking at each other. His eyes crinkled at the corners. “Well, then.”
I burst into more laughter. “I don’t even know what to say.”
He opened his mouth to answer, but then shut it and leaned toward me. He touched my hair, turning a few strands over with his fingers. Then he looked up at the sky. “Looks like you’re getting that miracle.”
I blinked. “Say what?”
“Snow,” he said, and then drew me into his arms.
“Really?” I looked up and saw tiny white flakes whirling down from the cloudy sky. “The first snowfall of the year,” I said, giggling with delight.
“I’d like to give you a present now, if that’s okay,” he said, brushing the backs of his fingers along my jawline and making my skin hum. “It’s private.”
“Oh, really?” I grinned, my belly doing a cartwheel. “You do know that my mom probably got the binoculars out and is staring at us through the windows right now.”