by Leslie Kelly
When they pulled up outside, the clan was gathered on the front lawn, holding yellow ribbons and welcome banners, and she was glad she’d come along. Rafe had been happy all morning, and, of course, last night. But now, in the loving embrace of his family, he seemed completely content, as well.
They swarmed around him the moment he got out of the car. Not just his parents and brothers, but lots of Santori cousins, too, all of them shouting welcomes. Then they turned immediately to her to do the same.
She only had one sister and a few distant cousins, so she should have felt overwhelmed. But she’d gotten used to the Santoris when she and Rafe were together and found herself thrilled to be back in their midst.
“So what happened? Why did you drive from New York? And what is this about an accident?” Rafe’s mother said.
“We’re fine,” Rafe said. “Just skidded on the ice.”
“And ended up staying in the town of Christmas,” Mrs. Santori said with a wink. “I hear there’s magic in that place.”
“I don’t know about magic,” he replied, meeting Ellie’s eye. “But I would definitely say it’s lucky.”
Yes. So would she.
It was freezing out, and still snowing, so they were soon swept into the warm, happy house with all the relatives for a feast. Breakfast went on for hours, seguing from eggs and ham to pasta and roast. Ellie laughed and ate, finding herself kissed by brothers, cousins, aunts and uncles, not to mention lots of babies. All of them clambered all over Rafe, asking a million questions that he answered with patience and good humor. But he was tired, and she was glad when he slipped away by himself, probably just for a couple of minutes of peace and quiet.
“Ellie, would you please ask Rafe to come down into the rec room for a family picture?” Mrs. Santori said when they were clearing up the last of the dishes from the dining room. “I think he is in the living room, putting water in the tree.”
“Of course,” she said, heading through the huge house. To her surprise, she didn’t trip over family members and wasn’t stopped for conversation. Everybody seemed to have sifted down into the huge rec room, and she walked into the living room to find Rafe there all alone.
He was standing in front of the Christmas tree, watching the door, and as soon as she came through it, a broad smile lit up his handsome face. “There you are.”
“Here I am.”
He extended his hand to her. She walked over and took it, but before she could mention his mother or the picture, Rafe dropped to one knee.
“What are you...”
“I’ve had this for seven years.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box.
Ellie’s heart skidded and raced and she found it hard to breathe. Tears formed in her eyes.
“I bought it before I was deployed, but it didn’t feel right to ask you to take it and then wait for me.”
“You really...you wanted to...”
“Of course I wanted to,” he said. “I’m sorry I didn’t, more sorry than I can say. I regret pushing you away. I wish to God we’d had seven years of visits home and video calls and family gatherings.”
“So do I. But none of that matters now. You’re home and we’re together. I’m not going anywhere again, not even if you say you want me to.”
“I’ll never do that, Ellie. I can’t live without you.” He flipped open the box with his thumb, revealing the perfect solitaire ring inside. “My mother has been holding on to this for me. She swore someday it would end up on the right woman’s finger.”
She sniffled, stunned that he’d kept this secret for so long...that, while he’d asked her not to wait for him, he had, the entire time, been waiting for her.
“I can’t wait another minute more. Will you marry me?”
She gazed down at him, tears of pure joy in her eyes, unable to say a word. Her throat was too tight, her pulse racing too fast, her heart pounding too hard. In answer, she could only nod and extend her left hand.
He slipped the ring onto her finger. It was a perfect fit.
Then he was on his feet, taking her into his arms, kissing her passionately. She wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly, kissing him back. Memorizing his taste, she was overwhelmed with gratitude that she would get to kiss that wonderful mouth every day for the rest of her life.
After the deep, hungry kiss ended, she was finally able to speak. “Yes, Rafe. Oh, yes, yes, yes, I’ll marry you.”
He laughed softly, realizing he’d shocked her into silence before and she simply hadn’t been able to say a word.
“I love you so much,” he said, cupping her face gently.
“And I love you. Merry Christmas, Rafe. Welcome home.”
“Merry Christmas, sweetheart. Thanks for being my home.”
His home, yes, she was. Just as he was hers.
No matter where they went, as long as they were together, they would be home.
* * * * *
JOANNE
ROCK
PRESENTS UNDER THE TREE
Thank you to members of the Armed Forces
for your dedication, service and sacrifice.
I’m so grateful to you.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
1
“I’M NOT SURE gold sequins and red spandex really convey the true spirit of Christmas, Ari.”
Stage-show producer Arianna Demakis glanced up from her clipboard to see Krista, her best friend and also the star of her latest Vegas production, holding a tiny costume against her generous curves.
“They do in this town,” Arianna teased, tugging the sequined bra top out of her friend’s hand. They were lingering backstage after the last performance of Holiday Hoopla at the Platinum Mine Hotel and Casino. “People stay home if they want to see carolers bundled in woolen mufflers. They fly to Vegas for some sizzle.”
Which Ari knew from personal experience. Captain Dylan Rivera had been looking for some sizzle four months ago when he’d blown into town for his thirtieth birthday. Seizing an opportunity to connect with a guy she’d crushed on way back when, Arianna had offered to celebrate with him in a rare impulsive moment. They’d burned up the sheets and found a passion that had left her breathless before he’d jetted off to his super-secret military deployment at some undisclosed location.
She hadn’t seen him since.
“Well, suffice it to say, I’m glad you didn’t put me in the hoochie-mama number.” Krista tossed the bra’s matching red lamé boy shorts in a costume box that would be bound for the dry cleaners after the Christmas Eve performance of their sold-out show. “I couldn’t bring myself to ask ‘Whose Child is This?’ while dressed like a downtown working girl.”
“Not fair. The girls in those outfits sing a very adorable rendition of ‘Santa Baby.’ Totally appropriate.” Arianna thumped her friend’s shoulder with the clipboard, trying not to glance at her watch. Dylan had texted her twice in the past week, promising to make it back into town by December 25th after his in-processing...or whatever it was he had to do upon his return from overseas. He’d refused to give her any specifics, so she hadn’t even been able to welcome him home when he touched down. She’d left him a ticket for the performance at the box office, but he hadn’t picked it up. At 11:15 p.m. on Christmas Eve, he seemed more and more like a no-show.
“Well, I might not mind parading around like a show girl the rest of the year, but on Christmas Eve, I’m glad I got ‘Winter Wonderland.’” Krista swiped a few lingering fake snowflakes from her full blond curls and pushed tortoiseshell eyeglass frames higher up on her nose. She looked more like a high-school student than a Grammy-winning singer wh
o’d traded touring for the steady money of Vegas shows and the ability to spend more time with her steady guy, an air force lieutenant colonel who, like Dylan, was also currently deployed, but unlike Dylan, he talked with his girl Krista on Skype almost every night.
The difference in Krista’s relationship with Lars and hers with Dylan stung. Arianna wished she had her life as on track as Krista did. Professionally, Arianna kicked butt and kept her world in order. On the personal side...
Not so much. Which is why she was lingering backstage on Christmas Eve.
“You can count on me to put you wherever you want, hot stuff.” Arianna hugged Krista, knowing she should let her leave. The backstage area had emptied out faster than ever as the cast rushed to get home for the holiday. “Are you sure you don’t mind stopping by the Midnight Christmas Circus?”
Arianna had three shows running in town tonight. Holiday Hoopla had just finished, Magic with Noelle would wrap in another half hour and the special single showing of the Midnight Christmas Circus would begin shortly in the decadent new Pompeii Theatre. She hated that she wouldn’t be there in person since it was a once-a-year event and it had sold out two years in a row, but she’d planned to be with Dylan for the holiday.
Not that she expected some warm reunion after the awkward way they’d parted four months ago. They’d hardly spoken since that one night together. She understood communication could be difficult during a deployment, depending on where he’d been sent, but still...a Skype call or two would have gone a long way toward easing the awkwardness between them.
She watched a janitor sweep up a pile of loose magenta feathers, his impatient sigh a clear message he was ready to lock up and go home to his family for the night.
“Of course,” Krista said. “Lars won’t call me until the morning, so there’s no rush for me to get home.” Krista squeezed Arianna’s forearms. “I’ll zip backstage and make sure things are running smoothly for Maisey, or pitch in if she needs a hand. You deserve the break, Ari. Enjoy it.”
Guilt nipped at Arianna for the lie she’d told her friend about wanting to take Christmas off this year. She hadn’t shared the Dylan debacle with anyone, so no one also knew about her plan to break things off with him tonight.
She smoothed her hands over her straight skirt and took a deep breath, hating that she had to dissolve a relationship with a military guy after he’d been off serving his country. First she’d welcome him home, obviously. But after that...she’d tell him the truth.
“Thanks, Krista. I really appreciate it.” She kept her tone light even though her frustration mounted as the minutes ticked down toward midnight. Should she admit the obvious conclusion—that Dylan wasn’t showing—and just go do her job at the Pompeii tonight instead?
Krista sent her a long look. “If you’d rather have company, we could toast the holidays together.”
Shaking her head, Arianna smiled and gave her friend a gentle shove toward the door. “I’m fine, and you’re the best for helping me feel better about taking a break. Maisey knows what she’s doing.” Maisey, her assistant, had lists upon lists of details to take care of tonight. “Now go enjoy the holiday. Merry Christmas!”
“Merry Christmas.” Krista hurried toward the door, blond curls bobbing on her shoulders. “I’d better get going if I want to make it before the opening curtain!”
Right. Because it was definitely late. Midnight Christmas Circus would be starting soon. And it was stupid and sentimental to linger backstage here any longer when the unavoidable truth stared Arianna in the face.
She’d been stood up for the holiday. How ironic.
Gathering her things, she apologized to the custodian for taking so long and strode out to the mostly empty parking lot. She didn’t have far to walk; Vegas didn’t do as much business this time of year. Instead, the locals ventured out to the shows during December, snapping up deals on tickets and enjoying a town normally overrun by tourists. Other years, Arianna would be grateful for the once-in-a-blue-moon lull in her business. But not this year when it meant going back to her decorated condo by herself, her foolish hopes proven to be the pipe dreams they were.
That tree she’d put up alone was going to mock her all night. In hindsight, it had been foolish to go Christmas crazy for a guy she needed to break up with. But she couldn’t get over the fact that he’d been overseas serving and that he deserved a warm homecoming, if only to honor their old friendship. They had been really good friends once.
“Ari!” a male voice called from far off.
Turning, she expected to see the custodian chasing her down. Had she forgotten something?
“Arianna!” the shout came again, but no lights shone from the closed backstage door.
The sound hadn’t come from there, anyway. Confused, she clutched her purse tighter and hastened her pace. She didn’t expect a street thug to know her identity, but who would be following her in a dark parking area—
“Dylan?” She hated the surge of hope in her chest. If she ended up mugged because of a wishful heart, she was going to be so angry at herself.
And him.
The sound of footsteps pounding the pavement became clear. Became closer. Whoever it was was running toward her.
She sidled closer to her car and got out her keys to unlock the door so she had a safe exit....
“Arianna?” the voice shouted again.
So familiar now. So close.
“Oh, my God.” Relief flooded her, along with a mix of other emotions all tangled together. She could distinguish his outline in the gloom now as he ran through the darkness. Recognized the proud way he carried himself. “Over here!”
She clicked the panic button on her car for a split second, just long enough to light up the vehicle and sound the horn.
The speeding footsteps picked up pace.
“You can slow down,” she warned him. “I’m right here.”
The last word barely made it out of her mouth when Dylan all but barreled into her, throwing the brakes on his feet at the last second so he skidded to a stop a couple of inches from her. His face was suddenly visible in the glow of street lamps—the straight slash of eyebrows, the closed, serious expression.
“I had a friend drop me off out front, but the valet told me you had a VIP spot back here.” His warm male presence was suddenly far too close. “It’s not midnight yet. I kept my promise.”
Her heart thudded a heavy beat, her whole body aware of him and the spicy scent of his aftershave.
How could she stay mad at an air force officer returning from a deployment in a war zone? She wouldn’t ruin his homecoming.
“Welcome home, Captain.” She dropped her purse on the trunk of her car and wrapped her arms around his neck.
He studied her in the dim light, angling his head back to—she thought—try to see her better. Seriously? That was it? She’d expected a kiss. But wasn’t that why she was going to break up with him? Because she kept expecting things she was never going to get?
Needing to know, she lifted up on her toes and brushed her mouth over his. Warmth tingled along her lips and all through her veins. Memories of their limbs entwined, their bodies seeking each other over and over again through that one night they’d spent together, made her body go loose in spite of the tension between them.
The kiss went to her head faster than a straight shot of the tequila Krista favored for birthday toasts. It had been so long since Arianna had been with Dylan. So much longer since she’d been with anyone else. In one night, Dylan Rivera had uncovered all her erogenous zones and made her wonder how she could ever be with any other man again.
A soft whimper of want sounded in her ears, and she realized she’d made that hungry noise. Did she have no self-control at all? Pulling away, she became aware of her surroundings again. She was pinned between the trunk of her Buick and the hips
of a sexy officer in a dark flight suit.
More than that, he seemed to be untwining her hands from his neck. The rejection stung, until it occurred to her that he was feeling his way along her fingers.
Specifically, her ring finger.
When he came to the simple filigree band that rested there, he released a pent-up breath.
“You’re still wearing the ring.” His observation was matter-of-fact. Remote, even.
But then, he’d never been the kind of guy to show his emotions. His gray eyes missed nothing, however.
“We are still married,” she reminded him, knowing the delicate silver symbol wouldn’t be staying there for much longer now that he was home. “Or did you forget?”
“Waking up married to a woman I hadn’t seen in over a decade?” His lips moved in a way that might be as close as the man ever came to a smile. “I definitely didn’t forget.”
2
HIS WIFE.
Dylan stole another look at Arianna’s profile as she drove them through the Vegas backstreets toward her condo. Christmas lights mingled with the usual neon glitter. One lamppost featured a cowboy Santa with a lasso. Another street lamp had a banner of a tree decorated with poker chip ornaments. Familiar with navigating the city, Arianna circled behind the Bellagio and left the Strip behind.
He was grateful she’d driven. After not seeing her for months, it gave him a chance to devour her with his eyes. Greek ancestry gave her dramatic features, from her dark eyes to the thick waves of raven hair she streaked with vivid crimson. Not many women could carry that off and make it look elegant, but on Arianna, it worked. Everything else about her was so refined, from her feminine skirt to the gold hoops in her ears, that the streaked hair seemed a nod to the girl she’d once been. He remembered when her personal heroines had been kick-ass video-game sirens and not award-winning singers who could headline the shows she produced.