"For our final number," the conductor said, addressing the crowd, "we'd like to solicit your help. Please join in with the words, if you know them, or hum the tune. It's a song I'm sure you're all familiar with." Turning back to the choir, he lifted his baton and the song began.
The crowd sang along to Deck the Hall. After the first round of fa-la-la-la-la's the choir stepped down from the stage and began walking along the brick lane, two by two. A small group of people from the crowd joined behind the choir as they passed.
Kyle gripped Lauren's hand. "Come on."
"No, I can't," Lauren said, giggling. Something about the day, the moment, seemed enchanting. Being with Kyle, she felt light as a winged dove soaring to the clouds.
"Why not?"
The afternoon sun danced in his eyes and her breath caught in her throat. "Because you're crazy."
He gave her a lopsided grin. "Just crazy for you." He squeezed her hand.
An elderly couple who'd been seated in front of them gestured for them to join in. "Tis the season," the gentleman sang, then said, "Come on."
They moved shoulder to shoulder down the brick lane with the crowd of carolers, singing and laughing as they went. Lauren couldn't help but steal a quick glance at Kyle as they walked in formation. His face radiated a smile so bright, it was as though he were intoxicated by the moment. A feeling Lauren couldn't deny had consumed her as well. Their eyes met and held for a lingering moment and his expression changed. What she saw was the etchings of raw human emotion nakedly revealed on the lines of Kyle's face. It should have frightened her, but to her surprise it only added to the mounting desire welling up inside her.
What she saw did not frighten her. What she wanted in return did.
# # #
Chapter Six
A smoldering fire burned in the depths of Kyle's ice blue eyes and suddenly, Lauren wondered just what it would be like to be engulfed by that flame. Hearing her heart beat like a timpani in her ear, she sucked in a breath and held it, before emitting a cloud of mist.
Deck the hall...
His lips didn't move. He was no longer paying attention to the music coming over the loudspeaker or the people singing. He focused on her and her alone. She wasn't sure when it happened, but they stopped moving and the carolers drifted pass them down the lane. She forced a chilled breath deep into her lungs and trembled with anticipation.
He bent his head and his mouth came over hers like a gentle summer breeze caressing her skin. Hot, moist and oh, so inviting. Kyle placed his hand on the nape of her neck and deepened the kiss, seeking what she never thought she had to give. His scent filled her head and sent her senses reeling. He was warm and hard against her softness and she heard herself moan with delight. Or was that him? She didn't know...and didn't care. All she knew was that she'd been swallowed by an all-consuming passion that now threatened to dissolve her. And she didn't care if it did.
She heard his sharp intake of breath amid the music blaring over the speakers as he pulled away. His breathing was ragged, as was her own, she realized. With his hand still at the back of her head, he gently caressed her neck and combed his fingers through her hair before dropping his hand.
He held her gaze and she wondered what he saw written in her expression. A gust of wind lifted her hair and broke the trance between them.
"We'd better get going." She turned away and looked into the faces of people who were filing away from the courtyard. For a moment she'd forgotten where and who she was or the presence of people around her. Suddenly, she felt as if she was an item on display, although she was sure none of the strangers were paying any real attention to them.
Shaking her hair, she tried to regain her composure. "I don't want to get back too late." She spun around and walked toward the stores.
"We have all the time in the world, Lauren," Kyle said to her back. She knew he wasn't talking about hours in the day. Within seconds, his hand was clasped around hers in a tight hold. It was clear he had no intentions of letting her take flight from him after their kiss. The thing that she couldn't figure out was why she didn't want to.
As they walked down the brick path, they passed a store window displaying an assortment of gift-wrapped packages under a silver-limbed Christmas tree. Although the red and green ornaments were festive and shimmered under the display lights, it held little charm.
"That's the saddest tree I've ever seen," Kyle said, staring at the display. "I like cranberries and popcorn, myself."
She looked up at him in awe that he was thinking the same thoughts as her own. "And gingerbread cookies with gold ribbon," she added.
He smiled. "Scotty made a star out of aluminum foil in pre-school a few years back. You should see his face when Mom puts it on the tree."
"Hey, that's a good idea. We don't have a tree topper. I'll have to remember that when we put up our tree. Oh, look!" Lauren dropped Kyle's hand and raced to the toy store display window a few yards away.
Behind the glass was a magical winter wonderland. A pair of moving Santa and Mrs. Claus figurines stood in the center of the display surrounded by miniature elves buried in a sea of fake snow. A toy train, set on tracks suspended from the ceiling, disappeared into a tunnel before coming back to the display for the outdoor viewing.
But the thing that caught Lauren's attention was the magnificent antique dollhouse. It was every little girl's dream come true, from the Farmers porch with swing, to the miniature furniture and people all set up inside. The house opened on hinges, giving ample space for a child of any age to sit and re-arrange the pieces. She could just envision her and Kristen sitting on the floor of her bedroom, playing with it for hours.
"Krissy would just love that." Lauren kept her eyes on the dollhouse and felt Kyle's hand on her shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze.
"I've got the feeling you would, too," he said softly. "Let's go inside and take a look." Kyle led her to the double doors, opened one, and waited for her to proceed inside.
Pulling the scarf from her neck, Lauren groaned and trudged to the display. There was no sense falling in love with this dollhouse, she thought with a sigh. Without even looking at the price tag, she knew that it was far beyond her reach.
"Beautiful detail," Kyle said in admiration as he bent down and pulled the white tag, holding it out for her to inspect the price.
Lauren’s shoulders sagged when she read the numbers. Just as she expected, it was well beyond her financial reach. She would never be able to afford spending an entire month's rent no matter how perfect a gift it would make.
As if reading her mind, Kyle offered, "What do you say I pick it up as a gift for Kristen?"
She glared at him, angrier with herself for not having the means to enjoy giving such a luxury than at his attempt at charity. Piqued, she knotted her scarf around her neck. "We've already been through this, Kyle. I won't take your money."
She spun on her heels and pushed through the store door with force tantamount to her anger. When she reached the sidewalk, he caught her arm and twisted her around to meet his gaze head on.
"Hey, this is no big deal. Why won't you let me do something for you?" he huffed. His drawn expression told her he was hurt by her rejection, not angry.
Seeing his reaction defused some of her anger, but did nothing to squash her pride. "It is to me. I should be able to give my child what she needs without any help from you or anyone else."
Damn, but she's stubborn, Kyle fumed inwardly. If it wasn't for the fact that he knew her pride would be destroyed, he'd run right back into the store and buy the dollhouse despite her protest. But he knew she'd hate him for it. And he couldn't bear that.
His mind raced. If she won't take the money from him, maybe he could convince her to take a store credit. "Wait a minute. Let's go back in and see if we can work something out with the manager."
"What good with that do? I still can't afford it." She sighed and his heart broke in two. It was such a simple thing, buying this damned dollhouse, yet she a
cted like she'd be giving up her first born child by accepting his gift. It was so ironic, he thought. Lauren was so unlike any of the women he’d known who were always too eager for him to pull out his checkbook for them.
"Maybe not in one lump sum, but spread out over time, you-"
"I can't, Kyle." He sensed her embarrassment as her gaze dipped to the ground and she shoved her hands deep into her coat pocket. "The store is not going to give me credit on my salary. It's no use even trying. Even if they did, I doubt I'd be able to make the payments."
Kyle looked back at the dollhouse in the window. There had to be a way without Lauren feeling that she was compromising her ideals.
Suddenly, this dollhouse held all the magic of Christmas. It wasn't just a toy, it was a symbol, a home. He envisioned his house and the fantasy he'd created earlier of Lauren and Kristen living there with him. As he peered back at her, he saw a sheen of moisture in her eyes. "Then I'll give you credit," he said, determination spurring him on.
She sucked in a deep breath, her jaw set, and started to protest, but he put up his hand and cut her off at the pass. There was no way he was going to lose this battle.
"Hear me out, lady, this is not charity. This is a loan." He sucked in a frosty breath and waited for her next move.
She tilted an eyebrow and he thought he saw a spark of hope settling in her eyes. Good. It was just what he needed to bring the deal home.
"It will be strictly business. A little like some of the wheeling and dealing I use to buy property. It's called creative financing."
"Oh, I see." She rolled her eyes. "And what kind of creative financing are you going to give me? Non-existent payment plan? No thank you."
The skepticism in her tone did nothing to deplete his resolve. He found the energy and spunk that made him what he was today come back to him tenfold with her stubbornness. She was a challenge, indeed, but no tougher than any of the other challenges he'd faced in his life.
"We can figure out a workable payment plan. Whatever you decide you can afford comfortably." He could almost hear the wheels in her head spinning, contemplating, and then deciding.
"With interest, right? I won't take-"
"I know, I know, you won't take charity." He puffed his cheeks. "No interest."
She raised her eyebrows and stuck out her chin.
"Instead of interest," he bargained, placing his index finger to his cheek, "you spend the holidays with me and my family." There. He'd just used his trump card. How could she pass up a family Christmas?
Her face softened, the wildcat fire in her ebbed away and was replaced by pain. "Christmas is a time for family."
"And friends. There'll be lots of people at my parents' Christmas Eve. You and Kristen can stay in the spare room at their house."
"You can't just invite me into your parents' home, you know," Lauren argued.
Does this woman back down to anything?
"They already invited you for Christmas Eve. I told them you'd be coming for Christmas, too." It was a lie; he hadn't told them any such thing. But he had her on the run and he wasn't about to let her slip through his fingers now by telling her so. Besides, he knew his parents wouldn't mind her staying the night. The more the merrier as the saying goes.
The tension in her face eased and she gazed up at him, searching his expression. "Why do you keep doing this?"
Because I can't think of anything I want more than being with you on Christmas morning, Lauren Alexander. He thought about saying the words, but in doing so, he knew she'd just make up some excuse for not spending the holidays with him. The thought of her and Kristen being alone was something he couldn't bear. The thought of him being without them suddenly seemed just as bad.
Her wide eyes glistened and a smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "What if I'd said no?"
"Does that mean you're saying yes?"
She poked him in the ribs and chuckled. "You first."
He hesitated for a second, weighing his words. He leaned into her and said softly, "I would have been incredibly disappointed."
Her eyes flew open with surprise. After the kiss they just shared, how could she not know how he'd feel? "Really?" she whispered.
He shrugged. "Yes." Why did he suddenly feel like he was standing buck naked on the street corner bearing his soul? Maybe because, in a way, he just did. He was surprised at how good it felt.
She glanced back at the dollhouse in the window, a twinkle of glee sparkling in her eyes. "It's a deal." Lauren extended her hand to his and, with a nod of her head, gave it one hard shake to cement their deal.
With their hands still clasped together, they pushed through the toy store doors to buy the antique dollhouse. This simple toy was much more than just a child's plaything. It was a symbol, the beginning of an upward climb toward trust. And he had every intention of reaching the top.
* * *
During the ride back to his house, Kyle couldn't help but revel in the triumph that lingered in him. The sun was still bright in the sky, glistening on the snow with a blinding sheen. He made the turn onto Tower Hill Road and stole a glance at Lauren as she looked out the window. He couldn't believe the transformation that had come over her this afternoon.
Despite what she'd said about not wanting to get involved, she did have feelings for him. What transpired between them when they'd kissed was not something that could be imagined. It was raw volcanic emotion. Damn, but this woman could spark a fire below his belly that would blow a mountain top sky high. And he was sure it was something they both had experienced.
She looked out the window at the scenery as they drove, a hint of a smile still dancing in her eyes. Several times he'd caught her turning to look at the box they'd carefully covered with a blanket and tucked in the back of the Jeep so Kristen wouldn't suspect anything. He couldn't keep from smiling himself. Not because it was the perfect gift for Kristen, but because of the milestone they'd achieved between the two of them in purchasing it.
Lauren was beginning to trust him, if only in a small way. This one baby step they'd taken felt like a giant leap. If he had his way-and he was determined he would-this was just the first of many leaps forward.
The street was lined with hundred-year-old maple trees displaying sturdy branches, now bare of the leaves that colored them each autumn. Just beyond a large farm was his property. He'd always loved this road. He hoped Lauren would, too. Blood raced through his veins in anticipation. He'd work the last two years designing, and then constructing the home he planned to live in alone. Why should he care if she liked the house?
But he did care. He wanted her to like what he'd done because he hoped that someday she and Kristen would be living there with him.
"This is it." Kyle pointed to the custom two story home set back from the road.
Lauren leaned forward in her seat and sighed. Kyle's home was exactly how she'd imagined it. Completely breathtaking. She recalled her first reaction when looking at the blueprints in his apartment and how he'd described the yard. The driveway started at the far end of the property and meandered back a few hundred feet to a three car garage. Clusters of white birch trees were scattered in the front yard as if they'd been purposely landscaped that way. Lauren closed her eyes and could just imagine the vivid colors of tiger lilies and garden phlox glowing against the white tree bark in summertime. It was an awesome effect. Opening her eyes again, she saw the blanket of white covering the ground, no doubt hiding any blemishes to the earth caused by the ongoing construction.
From the outside, the house looked completed, but Kyle had mentioned it needing the finishing touches.
"It's beautiful, Kyle." She felt breathless and was sure she sounded that way as well.
Kyle smiled his pleasure as he parked his Jeep behind the van. "What's first, the grand tour or a ride down the hill on a Flexible Flyer?"
"Call me a wimp, but I'll take the tour."
* * *
After an impressive review of the house, Kyle joined his father in th
e back yard to help the children apply the finishing touches to a snowman they'd been working on. Lauren and Judy stayed in the kitchen sipping the last of the hot chocolate from the thermos.
"I don't know how you do it," Lauren said. "I'm always exhausted by the end of the day and I only have one child, you have four!"
Judy laughed. "Some days it might as well be ten."
"How do you do it?"
"I really felt the work when Julie and Scotty were born. I'm sure Kyle has told you all my children are adopted."
Lauren nodded.
"The little ones were the only two that Will and I have raised since birth. The list for adopting a newborn in Massachusetts is long, so we had quite a wait. Zoey was four when she came to live with us. We adopted her a year later." Judy patted Lauren on the shoulder. "Brace yourself for the teenage years. You'll need all your strength and patience then, my dear."
Lauren groaned inwardly. No one had to tell her how trying a teenager could be. All she had to do was remember her own adolescence.
"I'm glad you came into my son's life." Judy propped herself against the island counter in the center of the kitchen and eyed Lauren. She'd seen the same look before, at dinner last weekend, but dismissed it as simple kindness. Now she recognized it as a warm affection towards her.
She couldn't help but chuckle. "Kyle's a pretty tenacious guy."
"That's my son for you. I admire that in him. It's helped him along in life. Although Zoey may not see that as the most admirable trait in her big brother." Judy began tossing the leftover paper plates from their afternoon picnic into a trash bag. "But where you're concerned, I'd have to say I approve."
Heat crept from her toes to her cheeks as she remembered how Kyle had kissed her earlier. "We're, ah, just friends."
Judy stopped in mid-motion and stared at Lauren. "Hmm. Well, whatever it is, I think you're good for him."
She turned away from Judy's scrutiny and stared out the window, fixing her gaze on the snowman project. "He likes to help people. I don't think I had anything to do with that."
Judy chuckled. "Ask Zoey and she'll tell you he likes to help a little too much, to the point of being downright meddlesome."
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