Tis the Season

by Jill Sanders

  “New place?”

  Sara nodded. “We put an offer in on the Ross place next door to Mom and Dad’s place.”

  “Wow, I didn’t know it had gone on the market.”

  “It didn’t. They stopped by one day, mentioned they were thinking of selling, and wanted to give us first chance. So Parker put our place on the market. We close the week before Christmas.”

  “Wow, new baby and then moving.” He shook his head.

  “Parker’s taking care of everything. Besides, you know Mom and Dad.” She chuckled. “You think either of them are going to let me lift a finger?”

  “Hell no.” He smiled. “Count me in to help,” he added, tucking the wine under his arm. “Come on, I’ll walk you out to your car.”

  She sighed and glanced back at the busy kitchen.

  “Don’t make me cart you out or worse—call your husband.”

  She groaned. “I’m going.” She walked over and grabbed another carton of ice cream. “I don’t know why, but this is all I want to eat.”

  He chuckled. “Mom only ate red meat when she was pregnant with you and Suzie,” he said as they stepped outside. The snow had stopped midday, and the ground was now mushy melted snow. He held onto his sister as they made their way across the lot towards her Jeep.

  “How do you know?” she asked.

  He shrugged. “I remember.”

  She glared at him. “You were four.”

  He laughed. “And it is one of my first memories, seeing our mother chow down an entire steak, then hurl it up. I thought she was going to die. Then they told me I was going to be a big brother.” He smiled and reached up to open her door for her. “Best day of my life, so far.” He kissed her after she climbed in.

  “Now you did it.” She wiped a tear from her face. “You made a pregnant woman cry.”

  He laughed. “Go home, have another carton of ice cream, put your feet up, and watch a sappy movie. Your husband will probably be home soon.”

  “Matt, talk to Uncle Iian. He has a few crazy stories about seeing Grandpa.”

  “I thought about it.” He nodded. “Drive safe.”

  “Snap a picture of the ghost, if you can.” She waved before driving away.

  He hadn’t thought of that, either. He stopped off at Patty’s store. The older woman used a walker now, but she was still as boisterous as she’d been all his life.

  She told him she’d ask around about his ghost but didn’t know anything off the top of her head. He grabbed the few items they needed at the house, then headed out so the food didn’t get too cold.

  He pulled into the driveway just as Parker was loading up his truck.

  “Done for the night?” he asked.

  “Yup. We got most of it done. We’ll finish up on the hallway and stairs tomorrow, then start on the kitchen and bathroom tile next. After that, it’s the bathrooms upstairs and then the carpet.”

  “Sounds great.” He shut the Jeep door.

  “Blake should have it all painted before we start laying the carpet in the upstairs bedrooms. She started in your office.”

  “She did?” He glanced towards the French doors to his office that Parker had installed while he’d been overseas.

  “Works fast,” Parker said, getting into his truck. “Night.”

  “Night.” He waved and then pulled out the rest of the stuff he had to carry in.

  He was juggling the wine and the bags when the door opened for him.

  “I saw you coming.” Blake smiled and held the back door open. She took the wine bottle from him.

  “Parker says you started on the office?”

  “Finished, about half an hour ago.” She smiled.

  “You painted three rooms today?” Suddenly, he felt like an underachiever.

  She chuckled. “When you do this for a living you learn tricks and get fast at it.” She smiled and set the wine down. “I have a few things being delivered the day after tomorrow, including your office desk, and I wanted to get it done.”

  He set the bags down on the counter. “Food first, then I’ll see the progress.” He pulled out the containers of food. “Dessert.” He set a container into the small fridge. “New fridge and other appliances are scheduled for delivery tomorrow.”

  “You should have a complete home by Christmas. Which reminds me—do you have decorations? I overheard you saying that your family was celebrating here.”

  He opened the wine bottle. “I don’t have a thing,” he admitted, which caused her eyebrows to raise. “Is that something you can do?”

  “Me? That’s something that’s more… personal, don’t you think?”

  He shrugged. “Nowadays it’s all standard stuff. Red and green balls, white stars, candy canes.” He chuckled as he poured two glasses of wine. “That sort of thing.”

  She nodded. “Okay, real tree or fake?” she asked as he set a glass of wine in front of her. He moved to sit next to her at the bar and then pulled the food containers closer to them.

  “Real. We can go find a tree on my land. I’m sure there are plenty of them around that I can chop down.”

  “Okay.” She nodded. “Red, green, or blue decorations?”

  “Can’t I have all three?” he asked.

  “Colorful tree,” she hinted.

  He thought about it. “Red and gold,” he decided, and she nodded.

  “Red and gold it is.” She picked up her burger.

  “What are you doing for Christmas?” he asked.

  She stilled. “My parents say they’re coming up here for the holidays.”

  “Both of them?” He took a bite of his burger.

  “Yes.” She sighed. “It will be the first time since I was young that they’ll be in the same place.”

  “Don’t they get along?”

  She shrugged. “When they are on different sides of the planet, sure.”

  He chuckled. “It can’t be that bad.”

  She sighed and set her burger down then took up her wine glass. “They gang up on me.” She groaned.

  “Gang up…” He thought about the times his parents had manipulated him and smiled. “I totally understand.”

  “No, I don’t think you do.” She smiled. “If they want me to go to Italy to visit Dad, my mother will call and say she’s coming to visit me for a month. Then Dad will casually hint that he has some health issue and, boom, I’m stuck in Italy for a year.” She sighed.

  “That really happened?” he asked.

  She took another sip of her wine. “Why do you think I was going to school in Italy?”

  “You said it was because the best schools…” He stopped when she chuckled. “Right.” He nodded.

  “So, what do you think their diabolical plan is this time?” he asked between bites.

  She chuckled. “Honestly, I think they think I’m hiding a man from them.”

  His eyebrows shot up. “Are you?”

  She shook her head, her eyes avoiding his.

  “Have you told them about me?” he asked, turning slightly towards her.

  “There’s no reason to. You’re a client,” she answered.

  “We both know I’m more than that.” He pushed his empty food container aside.

  She sighed and pushed her half-empty container away. “Let’s go check out the progress.” She stood up, but he stopped her by putting his hand on hers.

  “Blake, why do you keep denying this?” he asked, feeling the strings of frustration building.

  “Because I need to focus on the job.”

  He stood, blocking her from leaving the room. “From the sounds of it, you’ll be done long before Christmas.” He nudged her until she was between him and the countertop, then held her in place by putting a hand on either side of her, holding the countertop.

  He heard her breath catch as she glanced up at his lips, which made him smile. He leaned in a little more.

  “Matt…” She licked her lips. Then she rushed forward and wrapped her arms around him as her lips crushed a
gainst his.

  He let her lead, enjoying the way her lips slanted over his, the way she pressed her body tightly next to him.

  He hoisted her onto the countertop, and the food containers scattered away as she wrapped her legs around his hips. The kiss turned hotter and, before long, he was pretty sure he’d end up taking her right there on the countertop in his new kitchen.

  “Blake,” he said between catching his breath and trailing kisses down the long column of her soft neck.

  Her name seemed to shake her out of the desire and she froze. “I…” She shook her head and he rested his forehead against hers.

  “See, can’t deny it, you want me.” He smiled when he saw her eyes heat. Then she pushed him away. He stepped back, not trying to hide the hard-on that had his suit pants bulging. Her eyes traveled there quickly, then back up to his eyes.

  She slid off the counter and straightened her paint-splattered T-shirt. “I’m going to go up, shower. Take a look around.” She started to leave, but he stopped her again.

  “At least walk through it with me.” He smiled. “I’d like you to be there, so I can compliment you.”

  She smiled. “I do like compliments.”

  He chuckled. “Besides, I brought dessert, remember?” He nodded to the small fridge.

  “It had better be chocolate.” She narrowed her eyes.

  “Of course.” He smiled. “I remembered.”

  She nodded, then motioned for him to lead the way.

  Since they were in the kitchen, he moved into the formal dining room and smiled at the soft brown color. “I have a perfect chandelier for in here. Parker is going to have his electrician install it tomorrow.” She nodded to the small dome light in the middle of the room.

  “The color goes perfect with the built-ins.” He nodded to the two small sections. Parker had changed the one side to fit the wine fridge under it. The top cabinets had been redecorated so that now wine bottles and wine glasses hung in small sections. There were also shelves for other liquor bottles and other assorted glasses to sit.

  “I have a beautiful painting of your aunt’s I’m thinking of putting here.” She motioned to one wall. “Your cousin found a perfect circular table and chair set for this room and a matching china hutch. All in distressed wood that will tie the two rooms together nicely.”

  “It’s perfect.” He smiled. “Curtains?” he asked, nodding to the windows.

  “Long, dark drapes, but they will be tied back to each side. No reason to block the view.” She nodded to the dark window. “During the day, it’s amazing.” She sighed.

  He nodded in agreement. “The floor looks great in here.”

  “They finished just before I started painting. Then they worked on the hallway.” She motioned for him to follow her into the living room. “I’ll need the tall ladder for in here. Parker says he will bring one for me.” She motioned to the tall living room ceiling. “While it’s here, I’ll have the electrician install the new ceiling fan I ordered.”

  “The Big Ass Fan?” he asked with a chuckle.

  “Yes.” She smiled. “You’ll love it. I have a few clients that had them installed. They have nothing but great things to say about them.”

  He followed her into the hallway.

  “Wow.” He glanced up and down the long space that ran the length of the home. “This changes the feel of the space so much. Even with the wallpaper still up, it looks… more inviting.”

  She nodded. “The wallpaper will come down tomorrow. I’m hoping to get all this and your bathroom done next.”

  How long does it take you to put up this much wallpaper?” he asked.

  She sighed. “Longer than it does to paint. Still, if all goes well, it will be done by the time you get home from work tomorrow.” She started walking down the hallway towards his office.

  He liked the way she had called this place home. He watched her hips sway in her work jeans and smiled. He liked the way she looked in them even more. Following her, he stepped into his office and stopped.

  The floor in here was done, and so were the walls. They were a warm gray, setting off the white trim and celling.

  “You painted the ceiling too?”

  “Yes, it needed it. My arms are going to be hurting tomorrow, but it was worth it. The Mindful Gray looks amazing in here.” She stood in the middle of the room. “When the sunlight hits it”—she nodded to the French doors and the other big windows—“it’s so bright and cheery. Like you’re working on the beach.”

  He did a full circle. “Where do you see the desk going?” he asked.

  “Here.” She walked until she was standing directly across from the French doors. “Facing that way.” She pointed towards the doors. “A small love seat here.” She moved over to the large side window. “Bookcases behind the desk, file cabinet hutch here, off to the side. Two low-back chairs across from the desk, nothing high enough to block your view out the doors. Come spring, you’ll have potted flowers, maybe a blooming cherry tree out there.” She walked over and looked out the doors. It was pitch dark out now, but he could tell she was imagining it all.

  “It’s perfect.” He walked over and laid a hand on her shoulder, turning her towards him. “You’re amazing. I can tell you love this.” He nodded around. “When we first met, I couldn’t imagine someone doing this sort of thing for a living, but now…” He sighed. “I’m sorry I doubted you.”

  Her face changed, her eyes grew softer. “Thank you.” She smiled.

  “Why don’t you go up and shower. I’ll get out of this suit, then start a fire. We can sit around the fireplace on the new hardwood flooring and eat some chocolate.”

  “Sounds good. I have a layer of dust and sweat I’d like to wash off. Besides, I need to feed Butters.”

  “Oh!” He snapped his fingers and took her hand, dragging her down the long hallway. “I bought something for him.” He smiled at her as they walked.

  “You… bought something for my cat?”

  “It’s nothing big, just something to keep him entertained while he’s here.” He set the large bag he’d gotten from Patty’s in front of her on the counter.

  She slowly opened it and smiled. “It’s… he’s going to love it.”

  It was a three-decker circular ball toy. Three balls were wedged in a circular plastic tree. The balls ran around the circles when the cat pushed them.

  “It will keep him entertained. My mom’s cat has one and the thing goes nuts on it sometimes.” He chuckled.

  “Thank you,” she said, taking the box in her arms and backing up. “I… I’m going to go clean up.”

  He nodded and watched her retreat. He smiled, knowing he’d knocked her off kilter. Now all he had to do was convince her that being off kilter was a good thing.

  Chapter 8

  Okay, she had to admit it, she was totally out of ideas for keeping Matt at bay. What was she supposed to do with a man who bought her cat a gift? Not to mention the way he’d kissed her.

  Her knees went weak thinking about it and she nudged the water a little colder and dipped her head under the spray again. God, she wanted him.

  Why was she denying herself? She hadn’t the first time.

  She smiled as she remembered that first night he’d walked her home. The way he’d kissed her along the riverbank. Then they had walked hand in hand and she’d invited him up to her apartment.

  They’d drank a little wine, made out, then he’d pulled away and told her that he wanted to see her the following day.

  She’d been so giddy, she’d agreed on the spot.

  So, she’d skipped classes and met him at a little café for breakfast. She’d shown him around the city as if they were two tourists, even though she was pretty sure he’d been there before. Still, she’d taken him to some of her favorite spots in the city. They’d had lunch at a little place along the river that he’d told her about. They’d finished the night at the Piazza Della Signoria.

  He’d kissed her again at the foot of the Ne
ptune fountain, and she’d once again invited him to her place.

  They’d taken a cab back. When she pulled him in the front door, she’d told him straight up that she wanted him.

  Their clothes had hit the floor just inside her doorway and he’d taken her there, pinned against the wall in her hallway. Then, again, after he’d carried her to her bed, then several more times so that by sunrise, she was fully sated.

  In the morning, he’d cooked her eggs and told her he had some business but wanted to meet her for dinner. She had to work that evening and he promised to meet her there. She’d gone through her entire shift thinking he would be a no-show. Ten minutes before she was due to clock out, he showed up with a bundle of wild flowers.

  They had walked slowly back to her place and had a repeat of the night before. It continued that way all week long. She never asked him what he had been doing in her class that first day and hadn’t cared, but it was obvious he didn’t attend school there and knew nothing about design.

  She didn’t ask him for more information other than his name, and he didn’t ask her either. It was the most perfect week of her life. Then things had happened, and she’d packed up everything she owned and fled.

  The shower water turned colder, and she shut it off. She hadn’t realized tears were rolling down her cheeks until she closed her eyes.

  She pulled on a pair of leggings, threw a large sweatshirt over a tank top, and put on a pair of thick winter socks. Tying her wet hair up in a loose bun, she smiled at Butters, who was still playing with his new toy, attacking it with vigor.

  Walking down the stairs, she felt a quick shiver at the top of them but hurried down and found Matt in the living room, in front of the fireplace. He’d moved the sofa back into the space and had set it a few feet away from the fire.

  “Feel better?” he asked.

  “Much.” She sat next to him, propping her feet up on the coffee table. He leaned forward and handed her a mug. “It’s spiked. I figured after the long day you had, you deserved it.”

  She took a sip and felt the warmth of both the liquid and the liquor soothe her even more than the shower had.

  “Wow.” She sighed and closed her eyes. “Orgasmic.”