The Twelve Gifts of Christmas

by Rita Clay Estrada

  “You, the entire Hilton staff and guests could call it home,” she commented, walking over to the breakfast area, where a stone fireplace took up one whole wall.

  “You’re exaggerating,” he said, chuckling as he filled the coffeepot with water from a triple sink.

  “Really? By how much?” She surveyed the crisp white wooden staircase with the dark blue runner that led up to the second story. The white cabinets were inset with glass panels to show off china and crystal. Their brightness was accentuated by the navy-and-white polka-dot wallpaper. “Should I cut out some of the guests?”

  He briefly turned on a coffee grinder. “A few.”

  Carly slowly turned around, her gaze taking in the rest of the room. “This is beautiful. But I have to ask the obvious question, Pete. Why? You’re a bachelor, living alone, without an office in the home. You don’t even have kids living with you. What’s the purpose of having so much space?”

  “I liked it the moment I saw it.”

  She wouldn’t let him get away with that. “Most people like the Taj Majal when they see it, too, but they don’t duplicate it. Why did you?”

  He leaned back against the sink counter and crossed his arms. His narrowed eyes made him look imposing. “You’re just full of questions that don’t concern you, aren’t you?”

  “Inquiring minds want to know,” she said solemnly.

  His mouth twitched. “And you’ll keep up the inquisition until I tell?”

  She nodded, her green eyes not leaving his. “I promise.”

  Pete sighed. “Okay. Let me explain. I got divorced and gave my wife the house so the kids wouldn’t have to change school districts. When my ex-wife remarried, she sold it before I could buy it back.”

  “Where was it?”

  “Two doors down from Senator Kennedy’s place. You know where that is?”

  Carly nodded, impressed. The small subdivided area was walled in, with a guard in the guardhouse twenty-four hours a day.

  “But the one thing I decided was that when it came time to have my children for the summer or holidays, I would give them the same type of home we lived in before.”

  “When can you give me a tour?”

  He didn’t move, didn’t blink an eye. Carly had the feeling there was nothing he wanted to do less than show her around. Then he shrugged. “Why not now?”

  She smiled. “I’d like that.”

  Taking her hand in his, Pete led her into a formal dining area with a table that could easily seat twelve. They continued through an archway into a large living room that, by the ingenious placement of the furniture, would seat people into several different conversational groupings. Next was the combination library and music room, complete with a grand piano and a set of drums.

  Before she had time to take it all in, he led her up the circular staircase. She was torn between awe of the house and wanting to put him at ease. He seemed to be showing off and yet to be slightly defensive. She wished there was something she could say or do that would help, but nothing came to mind. They walked a few feet into each beautifully decorated, though somewhat sterile, guestroom before he led her down a hallway to the private wing.

  When he opened the door to the first bedroom, she knew exactly where she was. She took several steps inside. “This is your daughter’s room.”

  Pete nodded, his expression still cool and distant.

  The entwined cabbage roses and green-leafed vines that comprised the design of the wallpaper, drapes and comforter were both feminine and childlike. “It’s beautiful.”

  “Thanks, but I had little to do with it. It’s an exact replica of her old room.”

  “She must be thrilled.”

  “Cynthia hasn’t seen it yet.”

  If nothing else came through, the lack of tone in his voice underlined the intensity of the pain in his heart. “When will she visit?”

  “The week before Christmas. She and her stepbrother will be here for four days. Christmas isn’t exactly my favorite time of year, but I want to make the most of their visit. After that, I won’t see them for another six months, until school is out in the summer.”

  Although Carly knew it wasn’t aimed at her, his tone was so cold, it chilled her to the bone. She stepped out of the doorway and waited for Pete to direct her to the next room. Her heart sank as she peered through the doorway. It was a young boy’s room dressed in crayon-bright red and blue. All types of miniature planes hung from the ceiling by invisible threads.

  This was so obviously a labor of love for his stepson that her heart ached and she wanted to wrap her arms around Pete and give him the comfort she knew he needed. His rigidity as he stood in the doorway made her realize that such a gesture of empathy might break him completely. So she refrained. This love, this depth of emotional hurt was the reason Pete would never become involved with a woman who already had children. He knew he couldn’t make it through a bad relationship twice.

  “Ian’s room,” she murmured.

  Pete nodded, his voice as tight as his expression. “Ian’s room.”

  “Is it also a replica?”

  “Almost. When they moved, he took most of the airplanes we’d put together. These are a few I had in storage.”

  “You worked on them together?”

  “Yes.” Pete’s taut face relaxed into a smile as memory touched him. “We’d spend hours together in the evenings. He loved doing it and I loved helping him. For us, it took the place of watching TV.”

  She placed a consoling hand on his arm. “Ian is a lucky boy.”

  “Not really. For a while, I was the lucky one. Ian and my daughter were reasons for living. They were bright stars in a dark sky. Ian taught me that I could love and raise children decently before I even had my own.” The enigmatic expression returned. “But they might as well be on the other side of the world, now.”

  She wanted to ask him why he had doubted his ability to “raise children decently” but had a feeling he’d close the emotional door on her. Instead, she tried to help him be more positive about his children’s situation.

  “You talk about them as if they no longer exist. That’s unfair to both you and them, Pete. They had no control over their environment. They didn’t ask for a separation. And I’m sure that they’re not too happy with the circumstances, either.”

  Pete led her out of the room and softly but firmly closed the door behind them. “It doesn’t matter. The results are the same.”

  “It certainly does matter, or you wouldn’t have withdrawn so quickly,” she challenged.

  Pete opened the next door and stepped inside. She followed him, but all her attention was still on his hurt. “Are all men brought up to be stoic? Can’t you guys be up-front and ask for what you need?” she asked. “Why are men so reluctant to relate in an emotional way, as women do? We’re much stronger for it, you know.”

  “I’m not all men. Just me.” As if reluctantly, a soft, sexy grin touched his mouth. “Have you always been this opinionated, or is this something you feel compelled to express only with me?”

  She returned his smile. “I’m afraid I do this all the time. That’s why there aren’t that many men in my life. They can’t afford the heat of directness.”

  “I believe it. If you don’t mind, I’d like to take a rain check on this discussion until I’ve thought the topic through a little more.”

  Carly studied his expression. “And will you?”

  “Yes.”

  There was nothing more she could say. Instead, Carly looked around, suddenly realizing where they were.

  The master suite was a luxurious dream come true. As large as the ground floor of some homes, it had a seating area defined by a green and gold oriental carpet on which sat a cream leather couch and two plump, comfortable chairs. The furniture faced a large white brick fireplace framed with bookshelves. At the other end of the room was a king-size wooden four-poster bed that sat high off the floor. A down-filled duvet matched the pleated forest-green fabric skirting
the base. White plantation shutters on the five windows completed the overall contemporary look of the room.

  Carly could only think of one word. “Wow.”

  Pete watched her rather than the decor. “I think so, too.”

  She asked the one question that was hardest. “Is this also a replica of the master bedroom in your old house?”

  “It’s as opposite from Louis Quatorze as you can get.”

  She didn’t want to admit how relieved she was. “How much input did you have on the room?”

  “All of it.”

  “You did good,” she declared, staring at the small paintings on the walls.

  “Good enough for you to be talked into spending the night?”

  Carly stiffened. She pretended to continue looking at his works of art. “No.”

  Pete stood behind her, his hands lightly touching her shoulders. “No harm in asking.”

  “No,” she repeated, but her voice was quieter. His touch was soothing, mesmerizing.

  “I want you. You know that,” he said in a low, gravelly voice.

  “That wasn’t what we agreed upon.” This time she spoke in a bare whisper.

  “I’m renegotiating the contract. The attraction between us is the main reason we’re together tonight. We both know that.”

  “Unfair.”

  “What’s unfair?” he whispered in her ear. “My honesty? I thought you just said that the men in your life need to relate to women on their level. I’m only following your directions.”

  Although she still faced the bookshelves, she wasn’t seeing them. Instead, she felt his hands as if they were awakening every part of her mind and body. It was impossible not to respond. His body was barely touching hers yet it was burning her like fire. Did he know how she was reacting? Of course he did. “Damn you.”

  His hands moved down to stroke her arms. “Can’t we make love with all the passion we feel for each other and then go our separate ways without strings attached?”

  “No.”

  “Why?”

  “Because women don’t work that way.”

  “Men do.”

  “I know, but I don’t.”

  “Make love with me, Carly. Come to my bed and let me hold you until we both fall asleep.” His whisper was as seductive as his touch. “Do it, Carly. What have you got to lose?”

  A thousand reasons popped into her mind but she couldn’t seem to sort through and put them into any cohesive order. Instead, her body leaned into his. “I can’t.”

  His hands passed from her arms to encircle her waist, his strong fingers resting on her ribs for just a fleeting moment. “Forever, or just tonight?”

  Carly turned in his arms, suppressing a moan of satisfaction as his arms brushed her breasts. Placing her hands against the hardness of his chest, she stared up at him as if pleading her case. “We both know I can’t ask you to be around for the long haul, and you can’t ask me to do more than keep this on a light, platonic level. If we go for more, both of us will wind up hurting the other. That’s why this isn’t fair. You know it as well as I do.”

  She was asking him for a logical point of view, only he didn’t have one. But he wouldn’t admit it.

  He kissed the lobe of her ear, his warm breath caressing her neck. “And when we make love—and mark my words that we will—will you promise to be gentle with me?”

  A smile tilted her lips upward. Pete was right. If they continued to see each other, it would happen. And as his lips moved to her throat she wondered, why not now? He would continue to ask and she would finally give in. Goodness knew that she craved being in bed with him. She was already involved with him. Truth to tell, she was falling for the man and nothing she’d done so far seemed to pull her off that track. Go with it, an inner voice advised. “I promise.”

  “And will you respect me in the morning?” His voice was thick with teasing, as well as wanting.

  His mouth slid down to her shoulder and she felt delicious sensations all the way to her toes.

  Why was she waiting? What was she waiting for? She let out a sigh that was both resigned and anticipatory. “I promise I’ll respect you...tomorrow morning.”

  “Living dangerously?”

  “I’m with you, aren’t I?”

  His chuckle reverberated against her palms held against his chest. “I was waiting for you to appreciate that fact.”

  Gently but firmly, Pete removed her clothes, one piece at a time, until she stood naked before him.

  Gently but firmly Carly peeled off his tuxedo jacket, cummerbund and tie.

  She watched as he undid his studs, one at a time, then slipped off his shirt. Her hands reached for his pants, slowly lowered the zipper and let the trousers slip to the floor.

  His breath hissed between his teeth as she reached out and touched his flesh.

  “Cold?” she asked, the touch of her fingertips so light that he felt like a shadow.

  “Hot,” he corrected in a raspy voice. “How could it be otherwise when I see how beautiful you are?”

  Her laugh seemed loud in the stillness. “Thank you. I needed that.”

  “I can’t imagine you needing anything. You seem so damn self-sufficient.”

  “Believe me, everyone needs something.” And what she needed most right now was to be desirable in his eyes.

  “You’re so very special,” he whispered just before taking her in his arms and pressing her to the full length of him. Their kiss was hot and wet, with need building over each passing second.

  Pete pulled away, his breathing as rough and heavy as hers. “I didn’t expect this reaction.”

  Carly barely formed the words. “Yours or mine?”

  “Both. I knew we were combustible—I just didn’t expect this.”

  “Congratulations. Neither did I,” she whispered.

  Pete laughed and the husky sound made her shudder deep inside.

  “Do you always keep your cool in times of stress?”

  “Always. It’s the mark of a good teacher.”

  “Do you always return kisses with such sexy fervor?”

  She tilted her head and stared up at him. “I don’t know. Should we test it again and see if that ‘sexy fervor’ is still there?”

  Walking her to his bed, Pete threw back the duvet. He slipped his hands to her waist and lifted her onto the mattress. She lay full length on the crisp white sheets and he covered her body with his.

  Lacing his fingers with hers, he stretched her arms over her head and kissed her again as if his life depended on it.

  Her head reeled as she kissed him back. Then she groaned when he trailed a line of kisses down her neck to her breast, then caressed the nipple until she felt she would die from the ecstasy of feeling he produced.

  For just an instant, he pulled away to open his nightstand. She felt bereft until she realized he’d been thoughtful enough to provide protection for both of them.

  Then, when he entered her, she knew she was at the beginning of an extraordinary journey. Holding on to his shoulders, she followed him into heaven. When she got there, her own sighs opened the gates. His thrusts told her he’d reached the same place.

  Slowly they floated back to earth together. Carly realized she had never felt so complete as she did with this man.

  6

  CARLY OPENED HER EYES and stared at the ceiling. She blinked twice, acclimatizing herself to her surroundings. The weight of Pete’s arm rested on her waist, his hand loosely clasping her breast. More intimate still was the feel of his hard body pressed snugly against her back.

  It was the sound of his breathing in her ear that startled her into full wakefulness. What in heaven’s name had she done?

  The answer was devastatingly simple. She had willingly and actively made love with Pete Cade. She should have known better, should have run in the opposite direction, but she hadn’t. Instead of running, she had put her arms around his shoulders and practically ordered him to kiss her. All he’d done was accommodate her.r />
  She glanced at the digital clock on the bedside table. She’d been at Pete’s house for three hours. It was time to go home.

  With careful stealth, she slid from his embrace and picked up her clothing, which was strewn all over the floor. When she found her dress, she slipped it on without underwear. She’d be home in just a few minutes.

  Pete moaned and she stood very still. He rolled over and gave a sigh. Carly held her breath, waiting for some sign that he was still asleep. Carefully, she glanced out the window to see that the limousine was still parked in the driveway. The interior light was on, which meant the driver was behind the wheel.

  She tiptoed out of the bedroom and down the stairs. It took a moment or two to figure out the control panel next to the entrance. She’d hate to wake Pete up by sounding off all the alarms when she opened the door. It looked disarmed, and besides, she had no choice if she was to get home.

  To her relief, nothing happened when she stepped into the chilly night air and closed the door behind her. She’d made it. She didn’t know whether she was thankful or not.

  Acting as if this was routine behavior, she opened the limo door and slid inside. “Could you take me home now, please?”

  Jack folded his newspaper and placed it on the seat beside him. “Of course, ma’am.”

  Five minutes later she was in front of her own door. Civility was a wonderful thing; it made all this frenzy in the middle of the night seem normal.

  Once inside her own living area, Carly dropped her shoes and gave a sigh of relief. When the phone rang, it jangled her nerves so badly, she jumped.

  “Hello?” she whispered into the receiver.

  “You left without saying goodbye.” Pete’s low, sleepy voice flooded her mind and her senses.

  The cat suddenly appeared and rubbed its fur against Carly’s leg. It felt soothing. Real. “You were asleep.”

  “You were supposed to stay in my arms all night.” He sounded like a disappointed boy.

  “I have a daughter who needs me here when she wakes in the morning.”