If either man in her life were to notice her right then, they might see her Merry Christmas smile. She knew now why mothers didn’t want to work once they had children. How could they want more than what they already had waiting for them at home?
She savored the word—home. It had become an alternate universe, a mixture of the quiet love of a steadfast man and the rambunctious adoration of a little boy. She debated between watching her two favorite men for a few minutes longer or finding out what Santa brought. Easy Peasy. Santa won, but only because she needed to see Tyler’s reaction when he saw what waited under the tree.
“Did Santa come yet?” she whispered from under the edge of her covers.
“He did!” Tyler squealed, his eyes nearly bugging off his cute little face. He grabbed both parent’s hands and pulled until they had no choice but to rise and shine. “Come on. I show you.”
Rory flopped back onto his pillow, pulling Tyler with him. “But I’m still really, really tired. Can’t we sleep a little longer? Puh-le-e-eze?”
Tyler wiggled away from his father’s clutches and stood on the bed with his hands on his hips. “We hafta stick to the sked-ool.”
Ember giggled.
“Did he just throw my words back at me?” Rory asked in mock disbelief.
“You’ve trained him well.” Ember watched the father and son team at what they did best—play.
“Come here, you.” Rory climbed out of bed, grabbed his son and tossed him up onto his broad shoulders. “Fine. Let’s stick to the schedule then.”
“Come on, Mama,” Tyler urged Ember to follow. “Hurry. Fast. You gotta come, too.” If the electricity in his blue eyes could’ve been channeled, he’d have lit up the whole east coast.
Ember pulled a fluffy blue robe over her snowflake pajamas. “I’m coming.”
This was the morning for flannel in the Dennison household. Even Rory wore a pair of black and red plaid bottoms with a black T-shirt. As usual, Ember would have been content to walk behind him, just to watch how anything he wore hung suggestively off his hips, even flannel.
She’d always loved how lazily he walked, or how good he made his slacks, jeans, or any other pair of pants look. But she was part of the threesome now, snagged into his arm to make the grand entry into the living room where too much had been sent from Nebraska or bought locally for a little boy’s delight.
The Christmas tree sparkled with multi-colored light, red glass bulbs, and silver ribbons. For many years she’d ignored the day, her childhood memories not conducive to merriment or gift giving, but now? The Rory Dennison family actually celebrated Christmas. He had a set of old albums that she was nearly tired of hearing. He and Tyler had set up a nativity scene, and the rest of the apartment was wildly over-decorated. It was—perfect.
She settled into the corner of the couch, content to watch the proceedings unfold.
“Put me down, Daddy,” Tyler suggested anxiously, his body all wiggles. He was beyond the point of sitting still. “You gotta put me down.”
“But if I put you down, you’ll open everything,” Rory teased.
Tyler thumped the top of Rory’s head in excitement with both palms. “It’s okay. I been a good boy. Bemember?”
Rory blinked under the assault, but swung Tyler off his perch and kissed his forehead before he released him. “Yes, you’re a very good boy, but don’t forget the rule. You have to show us every present before you unwrap the next one, right?”
“Yep.” Tyler went straight to the blue and green Kawasaki Tough Trike parked alongside the tree. His face beamed with a million-watt smile as he tugged the big red bow on the handle bars. “A motor-syko! I got a motor-syko, Mama! Look it!”
Rory snuggled into Ember with a sigh. “It took me half the night to put that darned thing together,” he growled playfully in her ear.
“I know, but look at him smile.” Ember couldn’t take her eyes off Tyler. There was no need for other presents. He was all man and one hundred percent happy with his new wheels. It reminded her of another guy who loved his toy, also known as a sporty Mercedes, now parked beside the family car in their garage.
“I didn’t have to put this together, though.” Rory set a red-foil covered package in her hands. The embossed Cartier logo gave the surprise away.
“You shouldn’t have. You’ve given me enough.” She held out her left hand for him to admire the three-carat wedding diamond glistening there.
He lifted her fingers to his lips. “I’ll never be able to give you enough,” he said suggestively. “In fact, once Tyler falls asleep with his toys, I’ve got another present I know you’ll love.”
Ember giggled. Yes! She definitely loved that present.
“Open it,” Rory urged, his eyes more serious than playful. He glanced at his watch, then to their happy son, still enamored with his toy motorcycle.
She tore the red foil away to reveal a jewelry-sized box. “You know me. I’ll love whatever it is.” And that was the truth. Her parents had both been alcoholics, prone to forget the few important days in their only daughter’s year. Like her birthday. Christmas. Easter.
When she opened the box, a red dog collar fell out. It had little silver spikes like the ones she used to wear. Not exactly what she’d expected from Cartier. “Wow,” she said quietly. “Do you want me to start wearing all that stuff again?” There was a day not long ago she’d embraced the Goth darkness and its bizarre body piercing, arm-cutting depression. Not any more.
The doorbell interrupted Rory’s answer and their gift giving. He was off the couch like a shot. “I’ll get it.”
“No!” Tyler howled as he raced his father to the door. “I get it, Daddy! It’s my turn.”
One of them must have opened the door because a big, friendly voice boomed, “Merry Christmas! Is she decent?”
“Harley! Judy!” Ember exclaimed, jumping to her feet. What a nice surprise. “Come in.”
“Merry Christmas, darlin’.” He grabbed Ember up in a big hug that lifted her off her feet and spun her around while Judy beamed. She did have a glow about her.
“How’s the mother of twins?” Ember asked when she landed again.
“Trust me. You’ll want to hold off on having twin warriors for as long as you can,” Judy murmured. “I swear they’re already wrestling and using my bladder for a trampoline.”
Ember took their winter coats and offered coffee, but Harley waved it off as they sat on the couch. “Just sit yourself down, little lady. We came over to join in the festivities, not to make you wait on us.”
She took her place across from them on the easy chair.
“You’re looking particularly pleased with yourself,” Harley commented with a twinkle in his eye. “Did Santa bring you what you wanted for Christmas?”
Ember nodded toward Tyler’s new trike and sighed. “He did. I feel like what’s-his-name in that old-fashioned Christmas movie.”
Harley arched a brow. “You feel like the Grinch? That’s not good.”
Ember chuckled. “No. That other show, the one about the guy who didn’t think he made a difference in anyone’s life. The one with Clarence, the angel.”
“It’s a Wonderful Life,” Judy offered, her head cocked and a knowing smile on her lips. “You feel like George Bailey.”
“Yes,” Ember said softly with a shrug. “I’m the richest person in the world right now.”
Judy smiled, her eyes bright. “You can’t be. I am.”
Harley pulled her close. “Will you two knock it off? It’s been one heck of a roller coaster day already and—”
“I gave him two pairs of itty-bitty baby cowboy boots for Christmas,” Judy explained as she patted his chest, her eyes shimmering. “You should’ve seen my big tough guy bawl.”
“Aww, how sweet,” Ember exclaimed.
“It was sneaky was what it was. Cute PJs by the way,” he said nodding at Ember’s attire to change the subject. “I like a woman in flannel.”
Judy elbowed him. “Har
ley!”
“Ouch,” he teased, rubbing his ribs where her elbow had connected. “Well, I do.”
“If I’d known you were coming, I would have dressed up.” Ember pulled on the flannel sleeve sticking out of her robe. Her husband and son were by now noticeably absent and way too quiet. “Where are those guys? They should be out here opening presents.”
Tyler giggled from his bedroom, followed by a quiet ‘shush’ from his father. When Tyler giggled again, Ember’s ears perked up. Those two guys of hers were up to something.
His bedroom door opened, and out he ran like a boy on a mission, squirming his way behind her on the easy chair. He giggled with an excited hiccup as he wrapped his body around her back and covered her eyes with his hands. “Close your eyes, Mama. You gotta close your eyes. Is they closed?”
She pressed his fingers to her eyes to make sure she couldn’t see. “They’re closed now.”
“Kin you see me?” He bent his body around to see her face. “Huh? Kin you?”
“No, honey. I can’t see you or anything else,” she answered truthfully.
“Oh, goodie.” He bounced again. “I so ick-cited!”
“What have you and your daddy been up to?” she asked, curious as she felt a box placed onto her lap.
“Open it!” Tyler exclaimed. “Open it, Mama!”
“Can I look now?”
“Oh yeah.” He dropped his warm and sweaty little boy hands. “Go ’head. You kin look.”
She did. Rory stood at her feet, his hand on another gift box wrapped in red foil only without the Cartier embossed logo. “Wow. It’s big. What on earth could it be?”
Tyler reached to help her unwrap the gift, but tucked his itchy fingers under his arms when he glanced up at his father. “Come on, Mama. Open it! Open it! Hurry!” He jumped up and down on the chair beside her. “Open it! Open it!”
“Yeah, Mama,” Harley repeated the chant. “Open it. Open it.”
Rory blew her a kiss and a wink.
“Umm, Tyler? Would you help me?” Ember asked. The darn box had just moved.
“I kin. I know how.” Shudders of excitement rolled off of him as he scooted to the floor. He took hold of the paper-covered lid. “See, Mama. It’s easy. You just lift real careful. Like this.” With a small flourish the lid was off and the box was opened. And there she was.
Tyler clapped, his neck tucked into his shoulders while he bounced. Harley oooh’d. Judy smiled. Rory looked down at her with the tenderest look of love in his eyes. And a cocker spaniel puppy blinked up at her from the box. Ember scooped the tiny thing into her hands while Rory set the wrappings aside.
“Is she cute?” Tyler squealed. “Huh? Is she? She is, huh? Do you like her? I picked her just for you.”
“She’s adorable,” Ember agreed, running her fingers over the puppy’s sweet face and soft, floppy ears.
Rory tapped the top of his rambunctious son’s head. “Inside voice, son. She’s a baby. We don’t want to scare her.”
Tyler’s voice dropped to syrupy soothing while he stoked the puppy’s head and ears with both hands. “Oh, yeah Mama. Talk real soft. She a baby puppy.” He pressed his nose to the tiny dog’s muzzle. “You so-o-o cute.”
Rory stood with the sappiest, handsomest look on his face. “Well?” he asked quietly as he pulled Ember and the puppy into his arms. “Can we keep her, Mama?”
“Oh, Rory.” Ember had once owned a cocker spaniel when she’d still lived with her parents. Her father had run it over one day. “She’s the same color as my Taffy was.”
“I wasn’t sure.” He sighed as he ruffled the puppy’s furry face. “I just knew you needed another baby girl in your life.”
“I’m glad the collar’s not for me,” she said as she wiped her eyes. She and Rory had worked a seemingly innocent protection detail that morphed into an assassination attempt on a sweet little girl’s life, one Nima Dawa. When the detail finally ended, it had broken Ember’s heart to tell that child goodbye. She still grieved for the loss. Always would.
“Yeah,” Rory drawled gently, wiping her tears away with his thumb. “I like you better without collars and chains. Merry Christmas, Mrs. Dennison.”
Ember kissed him extra long and hard. “Merry Christmas, Rory.”
He released her and turned to Harley and Judy. “Coffee anyone?”
Harley wiped his own eyes. “You’d better have more than just coffee. Us guys want bacon, don’t we, Tyler?”
“Yeah!” Tyler crowed. “Bacon!”
“That’s why you two are here,” Ember said. “You brought this little girl with you, didn’t you?”
Judy arched an eyebrow at Harley. “Yes. She’s been spoiled rotten at our house, so you’ll definitely have some un-training to do.”
“Hey, woman.” Harley leaned into Judy’s neck for a quick nuzzle. “Seems like you’re the one I need to train a little better. You should know by now that you cannot spoil a dog any more than you can spoil a kid, not if you love ’em.”
His hazel eyes glowed warm and tender. Harley was definitely smitten with his wife. He reached for the newest addition to the Dennison family. “Come here, Tyler. Let me show you a few things about that little puppy girl.”
Tyler was instantly on the floor with Harley and the puppy. Rory returned with coffee all around and chocolate milk for Tyler. All eyes were on the canine handler on the floor explaining the finer points of puppyhood to a very attentive little boy who was unexpectedly sitting very still.
Rory made himself comfortable at Ember’s side. “I’ve got more dog supplies in the laundry room. I didn’t want to wrap ’em. Figured she was surprise enough.”
“Wow,” Ember sighed. “I never expected a puppy. She’s perfect.”
“I probably should’ve asked first.”
“No. You did good. I love her already.”
“I just wanted to give you a happy ending.” He pulled her into his side. Together they watched the man-child, Harley, wrestle with the real child, Tyler, and the very ferocious puppy, who growled when Harley tugged long strands of holiday ribbons out of her mouth.
Christmas was supposed to be all about Tyler. Ember and Rory had over-shopped, over-baked, and over-done the season in every way imaginable. But she’d loved every minute of it. The holiday had always been a forgotten day in her childhood. Never again.
Puppy girl spotted Ember’s cat, the tubby and very stuffy Maple Syrup beneath the couch. She barked in the cutest little voice, asserting her dominance in the Dennison pack. Maple Syrup hissed and retreated farther under the couch, yowling a feline warning. Tyler giggled. Harley out right laughed. Judy sipped her coffee while resting against the support of the couch cushions.
And Ember knew she had the silliest smile on her face. She couldn’t help it. The warmth of the day enfolded her. The spirit of Christmas had brought comfort. Great joy. Greater peace.
George Bailey had nothing on her.
Secret Hearts
This short story is for Sasha Kennedy, also known as Mother, the nosy, bossy, lead information technologist who keeps Alex’s cup full of coffee and The TEAM on course. Chronologically, it takes place after Lee, Book 12. Mother is a genius with computers, but can be obtuse when it comes to gossip, and she’s a little short on people skills at times. She vexes Alex no end, yet still he’s kept her on staff. Want to know why? Keep reading…
Chapter One
Sasha Kennedy, silver-haired genius and Alex Stewart’s Girl Friday, marched smartly into her hotel building, her leather satchel in hand. Yes, her building.
The personal information and the address she’d provided her tough-as-nails employer when he’d hired her was accurate and complete—well, almost. She was living one of those lives where the-names-were-changed-to-protect-the-innocent, where all was not as it appeared to be. Most bosses didn’t look any deeper than the address on the resume, and her address was right—almost.
It was easy to fool people. Sasha doubted that even her very astut
e boss had done a thorough background check on her. Why should he? She’d never given him a reason to doubt her dedication to him or The TEAM. Not once.
She was never late, always ran his errands, and even fixed his numerous cups of coffee throughout the day, not that he expected her to. No, she’d just faithfully anticipated his needs, keeping one step ahead of him. She stayed ready, willing, and able to accept any task that came out of his grumpy mouth. If he wanted prompt, she gave him lightning speed. If he wanted information, she gave him an encyclopedia worth of details. If he wanted the database tweaked, she was on it like white on rice.
Christmas used to be just another day at the office until Alex met his wife Kelsey. God bless her for coming into his life when she did. Alex hadn’t been the same since. He’d been distracted. Sasha liked that in a boss. Asking for time off might cause suspicion, and Alex Stewart was no dummy. Sasha protected her secret from him most of all. He knew she was wealthy, just not—this.
Overlooking the Potomac to the south, she thrived on the energy in the upscale neighborhood she lived in, but demanded her privacy. Unbeknownst to her few friends and business associates, she’d owned the hotel and lived in the penthouse suite since she’d sold her first video game. In fact, she owned the entire block, no simple feat in pricey, upscale Georgetown.
Despite what it looked like to everyone else, this place and her accepted lifestyle was one of those good-enough compromises she’d made early in life. She needed to stay close to a certain medical facility in nearby Maryland. To do that, she’d given up the glitz of fame and fortune, and she’d settled for anonymity. She had to.
Between her good paying job, her better paying inventions, and her over-the-top gaming royalties, she lived a life of seeming normalcy and she intended to keep it that way. She’d built trusted friendships to ensure her lifestyle remained her secret.
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