by Olivia Miles
It seemed like an eternity since she had first met Max, when really it had been only a week. A mere matter of days, and her whole world had been turned upside down. She almost had to chuckle, thinking of the events that had brought them to this perfect moment. She could still picture the look on Evelyn Adler’s face when Max had appeared in the dining room for breakfast that first morning.
“What are you laughing about?” Max mumbled. His voice was muffled with sleep and his eyes remained closed, as if clinging to the remains of a fading dream.
“Nothing, really,” Holly whispered. She traced her finger down the contours of his bare chest and again let her arm fall lazily around his waist as she sank down deep into the burrows of his warm body. “Just happy.”
Holly felt the shift in Max’s torso, the twist of his limbs. Rolling over to face her, he wrapped a strong, heavy arm over her waist. “Mmm,” he murmured into her hair. “This is nice.”
“It is,” Holly managed to whisper as desire overwhelmed her senses and caused her insides to quiver.
A smile began to play at Max’s lips as he slid his hand down the length of her thigh. Holly sighed ever so slightly as a surge of warmth filled her. “It’s Christmas,” he said, leaning down to skim her lips with his.
And it was. Christmas Day. The Christmas she had been anticipating for years was finally here. She had imagined it so many times over—what it would feel like to know her home was really and truly her own—but never could she have imagined she’d be sharing it with the man who had swept into town and nearly taken it from her.
“It’s your first official Christmas in your home,” Max said, roaming his blue eyes over her face. He pulled his hand from her hip and brushed a loose tendril of hair off her cheek. “Was there anything special you had in mind?”
“I think this will do just fine,” Holly whispered, nestling into the smooth curve of his neck.
“Mmm,” Max murmured as he wrapped both arms tightly around her waist. She could hear the smile in his voice, and her curiosity was piqued. “There’s just one little surprise I hadn’t mentioned....”
“What’s that?” Holly lifted her gaze to his, her eyes wide in alarm when she saw the mirth dancing through his.
The sudden chime of the doorbell tore through the house, interrupting their moment and jolting Holly away from the warmth of the bed. She sat up, wrapping the sheet around herself as confusion mounted. The bell rang again and again, the sound echoing off the walls of the large house.
Holly’s brow furrowed in confusion and her heart began to race as she turned warily to Max, who was laughing so hard he was clutching his stomach. “What in the world?” Holly demanded.
Max wiped at his eyes as another round of chimes began, and finally groaned as the remains of his laughter faded away, until a fresh round of ringing caused him to sputter once more.
Holly was on her feet, frantically pulling on a sweater and socks, her mind reeling with the possibilities of what could be going on, of who could be all but tearing down her front door. Had she forgotten about a guest? Surely they had all canceled. No one was scheduled to arrive until New Year’s Eve...unless... “Max?”
She slid her eyes to him knowingly as her heart lurched with hope. Max sat up in bed, propped on an elbow, his hair tousled, his eyes warm. He nodded to her just once, and that was all it took.
“The Adlers,” she said, releasing a sigh.
He grinned. “It wouldn’t be Christmas for you without a house full of everyone you love the most.”
Holly beamed. “Present company included.”
Epilogue
The White Barn Inn really did come alive for Christmas. Max smiled as he walked into the warm kitchen, drinking in the fragrant air.
“Smells delicious,” he said, stomping the snow off his boots. He’d never in a million years have thought he would hear himself say it, but it smelled like Christmas. And he liked that it did.
“Turkey will be ready in an hour,” Stephen announced from his familiar post in front of the stove. His girlfriend stood behind the island, placing appetizers on a sterling silver platter, and Evelyn Adler was perched on a counter stool, arranging cookies on a tray. When she noticed Max, she plucked the biggest cookie from the tray and handed it to him, smiling.
“Don’t tell me Stephen’s put you to work!” Holly said to Evelyn as she swept into the room with a half-empty punch bowl. Max’s pulse skipped at the sight of her. She seemed to have grown more beautiful overnight. Her eyes twinkled and her rosy lips were perpetually spread in a warm smile.
“It’s not work, it’s dinner!” Stephen countered. “And you’re in charge of the wine.”
Holly added more eggnog to the bowl and garnished it with a sprinkle of nutmeg, smiling brightly. Her expression changed when she saw the freshly chopped logs Max was holding to his chest. “What are those?” she asked, her voice an octave higher than usual.
“Wood for the fire. I thought I’d pitch in.”
Holly’s eyes blazed with mirth as she took in the jagged and splintered cuts of wood in his arms. She wagged a teasing finger. “I never want to hear you make fun of my stint as a waitress ever again.”
Max grinned. “Deal.”
* * *
As everyone trickled into the dining room and lobby, Holly finished up a few quick tasks in the kitchen, smiling as she listened to the laughter and conversation flowing through the rooms. She had lived in this house for five years, had spent plenty of holidays here as a child, yet this was her first real Christmas here. Oh, her guests were lovely, of course, but she had never realized how wonderful it was to be surrounded by the real people in her life for the holiday. In her real home.
Picking up the bowl of eggnog and balancing the cookie platter in her other hand, Holly walked into the lobby and set both items on the coffee table. A shiver of excitement zipped down her spine at the mere sight of Max who was now sitting in a club chair, chatting easily with Abby’s husband Pete, looking very much at home. It was almost impossible to believe that this was the same man, who, only days before, had looked more uncomfortable and out of place in this house than any guest of hers ever had before.
“I had a feeling it would all work out,” Abby said, coming to stand next to her.
Holly turned to her, unable to suppress the smile she had worn all day. “Sure, you did.”
“I’m just so glad that it did,” Abby mused. “But there’s just one thing that still doesn’t make any sense.”
“What’s that?” Holly pulled her stare from Max and turned to meet Abby’s furrowed gaze.
“The Millers. Why’d they do it?”
Holly shifted in her shoes. Max had explained everything to her—including the fact that the Millers had refused to accept any money for the sale of the land. The money would serve as a donation only. After Holly’s fury had faded, she had been left with an overwhelming sadness that Lucy had harbored this secret for so long, and that she hadn’t trusted Holly enough to share it. To think that Bobby had been responsible for the destruction of the library, and that Lucy had kept the knowledge bottled inside this entire time...it broke Holly’s heart to imagine the burden her friend had carried.
“They had their reasons,” she said to Abby. “I understand now. And I’ve actually invited them here today before they visit Lucy’s parents.”
Abby peered at Holly for a long moment and eventually said, “Well, if you’re at peace with it, then so am I.”
“I am,” Holly affirmed, nodding her head.
“Miss Tate,” Evelyn said, squeezing her way in between the two friends. “I read the most interesting thing in this morning’s paper.”
“What’s that, Mrs. Adler?” Holly looked down at her dearest guest, finding it still almost impossible to believe that she was even here. Just when she had thought h
er Christmas wish list was complete, she had opened the door this morning to find Evelyn and Nelson standing on her doorstep, demanding to know why on earth the door was locked.
Max was full of good surprises, Holly thought, feeling all warm and fuzzy again. Though she couldn’t have wanted more than for her house to be filled with her own makeshift family for Christmas dinner, a part of her couldn’t wait for everyone to leave so that she could be alone with Max again...
“They’re going to begin rebuilding the library in the spring!” Evelyn recanted.
“Really?” Abby asked, disbelieving. “But how? I thought there wasn’t enough funding.”
“Apparently an anonymous donor has come forward,” Evelyn remarked.
Abby’s wide eyes darted to Holly’s, but Holly refused to feed into the knowing stare. “I think I heard about that,” was all she would comment and she left the two women to go and greet George and Lucy, who had just arrived.
“Holly.” Lucy’s eyes were bright and tearful, and Holly could see the toll the past few days had taken on her. With shaking hands, she thrust a white pie box into Holly’s hands, saying, “Peppermint chocolate cream. I thought it seemed...festive.”
Holly smiled and reached out a hand to grab Lucy’s wrist. “It sounds perfect,” she said.
Lucy exhaled in relief and blurted, “Please forgive me, Holly. Some things have happened, you see, and we...we didn’t know what to do.”
“Lucy, it’s okay. Max told me everything.”
Lucy sighed and her shoulders slumped with release. With pained eyes, she held Holly’s gaze. “I’m so sorry.”
“I just wish you had told me what was going on,” Holly said quietly. “You could have confided in me. We’re friends.”
Lucy squeezed her eyes shut. “I don’t think you know how much it means to me to hear you say that.”
“You and George have been like family to me since I moved to Maple Woods. There’s no need to discuss this anymore. It’s over. We’re just going to keep moving along.” She nodded her head into the room and flashed Lucy a smile. “Now come on in and get some eggnog. Dinner’s almost ready and I think Max wants to talk to you about some other business venture he has.”
Lucy paled. “What now, Holly?”
Holly laughed. “What would you think about branching out with these?” she asked, holding up the pie box. “Now that Max is planning to stay in Maple Woods, he’s looking for some new investment opportunities.”
“Oh, is he, now?” From behind them Evelyn’s voice chirped. Holly turned to her, trying to suppress her smile at the obvious glee in the woman’s eyes. “Should I presume I’ll be seeing Max again during future stays at the inn?”
Holly laughed softly. “I think that’s a safe assumption, Mrs. Adler.”
Evelyn’s blue eyes gleamed. “This place just gets better and better.”
Holly watched as Evelyn scurried off to find Nelson. Although they usually didn’t exchange presents until after dinner, she couldn’t wait any longer to give Max his gift.
“Come here,” she said as she brushed past his chair.
“What is it?” he asked, sensing her need for privacy.
“You haven’t opened your present yet,” she said. She pointed to the tree and Max’s eyes sparkled as he leaned down and picked up the small box with his name on it.
“Should I just open it here?” he asked.
Holly nodded as Max quickly shed the box of its wrapping paper and lifted the lid. His expression folded, first in confusion and then in recognition, and a warm glow filled her heart as his eyes met hers in a tender, knowing gaze. The red-and-black toy train looked small in his hands, but not in the least out of place.
“It’s just the engine, but I couldn’t let you go through life without that train,” she said. “Even if it is about thirty years after you asked for it.”
Max grinned. “Some things are worth waiting for,” he said, leaning in to kiss her.
Holly wrapped her arms around his waist and snuggled into his chest, enjoying the weight of his arms around her shoulders, and the security they provided. She looked around the room at all the wonderful people that filled it and she smiled to herself. A week ago this house was an inn. Yesterday it was empty. And today, it was officially home.
* * * * *
Don’t miss Olivia Miles’s next MAPLE WOODS story! Available this spring wherever Harlequin books are sold.
Keep reading for an excerpt from A COLD CREEK CHRISTMAS SURPRISE by RaeAnne Thayne.
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Chapter One
The River Bow had never seemed so empty.
Ridge Bowman stomped snow off on the mat as he walked into the mudroom of the ranch house after chores. The clomping thuds of his boots seemed to echo through the big rambling log home he had lived in most of his life, but that was the only sound.
He was used to noise and laughter—to his sister Caidy clanging dishes or singing along to the radio in the kitchen, to his daughter watching television in the family room or talking on the phone to one of her friends, to barking dogs and conversation.
But Caidy was on her honeymoon with Ben Caldwell and Destry had gone to stay with her cousin and best friend, Gabi.
For the first time in longer than he could remember, he had the house completely to himself.
He didn’t much like it.
He slipped out of his boots and walked into the kitchen. A couple of barks reminded him he wasn’t completely alone. He was dogsitting for Ben’s cute little pooch, a three-legged Chihuahua mix aptly named Tripod. Most of the dogs at the River Bow slept in the barn and lived outside, even Luke now—Caidy’s border collie, who had been injured the Christmas before—but Tri was small and a bit too fragile to hang with the big boys.
The dog cantered into the mudroom and planted his haunches by the door.
“You need to go out? You know you’re going to disappear in all that snow out there, right? And by the way, next time let me know before I take off my boots, would you?”
He opened the door and watched the dog hop out with his funny gait to the small area off the sidewalk that Ridge had cleared for him.
Tri obviously didn’t like the cold, either. He quickly took care of business then hopped back to Ridge, who stood in the doorway. The dog immediately led the way back toward the kitchen. Ridge followed, his stomach rumbling, wondering what he could scrounge from the leftover wedding food for breakfast. Maybe a couple of Jenna McRaven’s spinach quiche bites he liked so much, and there were probably a few of those little ham-and-cheese sandwiches. Ham was close enough to bacon, right?
He managed to add a yogurt and a banana, missing the big, hearty, delicious breakfasts his sister used to fix for him. Fluffy pancakes, crisp bacon, hash browns that were perfectly brown on the outside.
Those days were over now that Caidy was married. From here out, he would just have to either fend for himself—and Destry—or hire a housekeeper to cook his breakfast. Too bad Ben’s housekeeper, Mrs. Michaels, wanted to move back to be near her grandchildren in C
alifornia.
He was happy for his little sister and the future she was building with Pine Gulch’s new veterinarian. She had put her life on hold too long to help Ridge out here at the ranch after Melinda left. At the time—saddled with a baby he didn’t know what to do with, right in the middle of trying to rebuild the ranch after his parents’ deaths—he had been desperately grateful for her help. Now he was ashamed that he had come to rely on her so much over the years and hadn’t tried harder to insist she move out on her own years ago.
She had found her way, though. She and Ben were deeply in love, and Caidy would be a wonderful stepmother to his children, Ava and Jack.
All his siblings were happily married now. He was the last Bowman standing, which was just the way he liked it.
He nibbled on one of Jenna’s delicious potato puffs then had to stop for a huge yawn. The obligations of running a ranch didn’t mix very well with wedding receptions and dances that ran into the early hours of the morning.
“Is it still a disaster out there, Tri?”
The little dog, curled up in a patch of morning sunlight trickling in from the window, lifted his head and flapped his tail on the kitchen tile, then went back to sleep, oblivious.
Ridge knew from his walk down the stairs that morning that the kitchen was just about the only clean part of the house right now. Jenna’s catering crew had done a good job in here and had wanted to go to work on the rest of the house, but he hadn’t let them. He had also had to shove his sisters-in-law out the door at 2:00 a.m. when they started wandering around with garbage bags. He loved Becca and Laura dearly, but by then he just wanted everybody to go before he fell over, knowing he had to get up in three hours to start his day.