“This is Maggie,” she explained in a cheerful tone. “She’s lost. We need to help her find her mom. Is there a police station nearby?”
Wyatt’s features softened, his lips curving into a smile. “Hey, Maggie,” he said gently.
Maggie shyly pressed herself into Haven’s side, burying her head.
“It’s okay,” Haven said, “Wyatt’s my friend. He’s going to help us find your mommy.”
A woman pushing a stroller with a baby inside rushed up to them in a flurry.
“Mommy!” Maggie squealed, releasing Haven’s hand and running toward the woman as fast as her little legs would carry her.
“Thank goodness you’re okay,” the woman breathed, embracing Maggie in a tight hug. Maggie looked up at her mom. “Haven was trying to help me find you.”
Tears rushed to the woman’s eyes as she put a hand over her chest. “Haven, thank you so much,” she breathed. “I turned my back for one second, and Maggie was gone. I’ve been searching everywhere for her.”
“I figured that was the case,” Haven answered. “We were about to take Maggie to the police station.”
“You are an answer to my prayers,” the woman said, her face shining with gratitude. “I’m Chloe, by the way.”
“Nice to meet you, Chloe.” Haven’s heart swelled. “I’m glad we could help. I happened to look over and see her. Then I realized she was alone and lost.”
“Maggie, you need to stay by my side from now on,” Chloe said firmly.
“Yes, Mommy,” Maggie replied dutifully.
“Thanks again,” Chloe said.
Maggie, now all smiles, waved broadly. “Bye, Haven.”
Haven returned the wave as Chloe turned the stroller and walked back the direction she’d come. “Bye.”
Wyatt turned to her, his eyebrows furrowing. “Why did they call you Haven?”
Haven flinched, her heart speeding to a sprint. Crud! She was so caught up in talking to Chloe and Maggie that she’d not realized they were calling her by her name. Why hadn’t she thought to correct them in front of Wyatt? Better yet, why did she give Maggie her real name? Heat fanned her face, despite the cold. The explanation rushed out, words tumbling over one another and colliding in a heap. “Um … I’m not sure. Maybe Maggie misunderstood?” She’d been ready to tell Wyatt the truth earlier, but now, when the moment was upon her, she lost her nerve.
He made a face. “I don’t know how. Brynn and Haven sound nothing alike.”
She forced a laugh. “Maggie was upset. She’s just a kid. It’s understandable.” You’re such a coward, her mind shouted.
His eyes assessed her.
“What?” Haven felt like he could see right through her, like he knew she was a fraud.
He cocked his head, looking thoughtful. “You know, the name kind of suits you. Haven,” he mused. “I like it.” He grinned broadly. “That’s my new nickname for you.”
“Really?” she blurted, laughing incredulously. This whole thing was spiraling out of control—a renegade comet bound to crash her world sooner or later. If it has to happen, let it be later, she prayed. A saying her dad always quoted went through her mind, “Oh! What a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.” No doubt this was payback for her dishonesty. Goodness gracious. She’d been so hollow and empty inside, searching for comfort during Christmas. It wasn’t as if she were a bad person.
“Yes,” he countered, his blue eyes teasing.
She pointed to a candle, trying to divert his attention. “Thanks for getting those for us.”
“Oh, yeah.” He handed her a candle. “Sorry it took me a few minutes. The line was ten miles long.”
Haven curled her gloved fingers around the glass, appreciating the warmth the flame generated. “What happens next?”
The words had no sooner left her mouth when a hush came over the crowd. The sound of carolers singing drifted melodically into the moist, night air.
“They’re coming,” a young boy proclaimed joyously.
A sense of wonderment came over Haven, crowding out her worries, as the carolers came their direction. They were dressed in period costumes, their breath coming out in puffs. As they strode forward, people watching from the sides of the street began walking with them.
“You ready?” Wyatt asked, putting a protective hand on the small of her back. When the carolers reached them, they stepped into the street and joined the crowd. The song was Joy to the World. They both began singing along. A rush of gratitude went through Haven as she glanced at Wyatt. He winked and grinned in response. This is what she’d wanted, to experience an old-fashioned, heartfelt Christmas. Tears misted her eyes. If only her dad could see her now. He was surely smiling down from heaven. The multitude of voices singing in unison was thrilling. This was so much better than anything Haven could’ve imagined. Maybe this was why she’d felt impressed to go to New York, so she could meet Wyatt and be part of this. Warmth flooded her chest, and she was grateful that she’d listened to those feelings whispered to her heart.
They walked a quarter of a mile to a prominent-looking, municipal building, which Haven assumed was the courthouse. Her heart leapt when she saw the enormous Christmas tree in the open green space beside the building. Everyone gathered around the tree and continued singing well-known carols—Deck the Halls and Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. Haven caught sight of Chloe. She smiled, giving Haven a look of such pure gratitude that it spread embers of warmth through her like a cozy fire. Being here made Haven feel a part of something bigger, like her life had purpose. The crowd grew silent as a girl in her early twenties stepped forward, holding a candle. She sounded like an angel as she sang the first verse of Silent Night. The crowd joined in on the second and third verses. Haven was unprepared for the rush of emotion that flooded her, sending a single tear rolling down her cheek. Wyatt reached for her hand and laced his fingers through hers.
In that one, small moment everything was right with the world.
5
“What’s your favorite Christmas song,” Wyatt asked.
Haven pursed her lips thoughtfully. “That’s a hard one. There are so many good ones it’s hard to choose.” After returning to the cottage, they’d picked up the game they started earlier in the day, asking each other questions. Haven initiated it so she’d have a direction to channel her mind. Simply being with Wyatt was consuming her. The more time she spent with him, the stronger her attraction grew. She had to distract herself from it. She tucked her leg underneath her, sitting cross-legged, as she shifted to get comfortable on the couch. “I like Silver Bells.”
He shrugged. “Yeah, it’s okay,” he said nonchalantly.
Her eyes widened. “Okay? It’s fantastic, a classic! How could you not like Silver Bells?”
“Hold your horses, little lady,” he drawled. “I didn’t say I didn’t like it. There are just other songs I like more.”
She raised her eyebrows, crossing her arms over her chest. “Such as?”
A cryptic smile played on his lips, making her wonder what he was up to. He stood and strode to the other side of the room. He opened the doors to a waist-high cabinet.
“Is that a record player?”
“Yep.”
Haven couldn’t help but smile. Of course Wyatt would have a record player. He had every trait on the planet that made him irresistible to females. Why not a record player too? She stood and went to his side, intrigued to see which records he owned. She was now more certain than ever that this cottage belonged to Wyatt’s family.
He thumbed through the stack of albums and pulled one out. Removing the record from the sleeve, he placed it on the turntable. He turned it on and placed the needle on the circling vinyl. A second later, a twangy tune filled the air.
Haven burst out laughing. “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer, are you serious?”
“I love this song,” he countered. “It’s a classic.”
“Yeah, if you live in Redneckville.”
Wyatt started doing a ridiculous, silly dance across the floor. With his high steps and bobbing neck, he reminded her of a strutting chicken. “Chicks dig this.” His eyes danced with laughter. “You should’ve seen me in my heyday—all those high school sophomores crowded around the scrawny, four-eyed kid doing his thing.”
“I can only imagine.” She wagged a finger. “That has got to be the goofiest dance I’ve ever seen.”
He turned to face her, moving closer. “You know you’re impressed.” He swayed his hips in an exaggerated circle like he was wielding an imaginary hula hoop.
Haven giggled, feeling like a teenager again.
“Come on. Join me,” Wyatt urged. He slid an arm around her waist, pulling her to him as he coaxed her to follow his lead.
Heat surged through Haven being this close to Wyatt. Yeah, he may’ve been acting like a goofball, but he was nothing like the awkward kid of his youth. Now, his antics made him even more enticing because he could laugh at himself and have fun.
Wyatt was strong and lithe, all muscle—magnificently male. The song ended and another one began. The rich, deep sound of Elvis Presley filled the air with Blue Christmas. Wyatt pulled her closer, singing the lyrics into her ear. His lips grazed her earlobe, sending a pleasant shiver down her spine. They moved in a perfect rhythm. Haven felt like she was floating in a beautiful dream with Prince Charming holding her in his arms. When the song ended, Wyatt stepped back and twirled her around. Then he dipped her back, peering over her, as he searched her face. Trembles went through Haven when she saw the flicker of longing in his arresting eyes. It was tempered with caution and wistfulness. She thought—hoped—he might kiss her, but he lifted her up and stepped back, letting her go.
Instinctively, she knew Wyatt was fighting some inner battle where she was concerned. He was probably wondering if he could trust her, or Brynn. No doubt Brynn had proven time and time again that she couldn’t be trusted. Her heart thudded dully in her chest. Once Wyatt learned the truth, he wouldn’t trust Haven either.
“Would you like some hot chocolate?” Wyatt’s voice had a forced cheerfulness. Haven could almost see the wall going up between them.
She touched his arm. “Hey.”
“Yeah?”
She had no idea what to say. She couldn’t tell him the truth. Not yet. Haven wanted their relationship to deepen first, so she’d have a fighting chance of keeping him. Oh, boy. Sometime during the drive from New York, dinner, and caroling, her thought patterns had shifted. She was no longer simply thinking of having a good time with Wyatt during Christmas. She wanted to get to know him. To pursue a real relationship … as herself. “Whatever happened between us before …” she coughed to clear the frog in her throat “… can we just forget all that and start fresh from here? As if we just met?”
A look of surprise flickered in his eyes. His features relaxed as he smiled. “I’d like that.”
“Me too,” she agreed.
“On that note. Would you like to watch a movie while we drink our hot chocolate?”
She kept her expression serious. “On one condition.”
He grinned warily. “Oh, yeah. What’s that?”
“That we make it a Christmas movie.”
He laughed. “You’re on.”
Their mugs full of hot chocolate, Haven and Wyatt sat down on the couch and selected a movie. Haven took a long drink from her mug, the warm liquid coating her throat as she swallowed. The movie, a romantic comedy, began but Haven hardly heard a word. All she could think of was how close Wyatt was beside her, their knees nearly touching. Wyatt exuded such confidence and charisma that it filled the space between them. She took another drink of her hot chocolate, forcing herself to swallow. The affect he had on her caught her off guard. She forced her brain to concentrate on the movie, but her eyes kept moving to the Christmas tree and the coziness of the fire. She didn’t dare look at Wyatt for fear he’d read her thoughts, that he’d know how smitten she was.
Ten, or so, more minutes crawled by before Wyatt reached for the remote and turned off the TV.
“Hey,” she protested, “I was watching that.”
“No, you weren’t,” he countered, a knowing smile stretching over his lips. He placed his mug on the coffee table in front of them. “You were thinking about me.”
Her hot chocolate went down the wrong way, strangling her. She coughed to clear her throat. He gave her a couple of swift slaps on her back.
“You okay?”
“Yes,” she croaked, sitting up and depositing her mug on the table. She was about to wipe the thin trail of liquid from her chin when Wyatt beat her to it.
“I’ll get that,” he murmured. After wiping the liquid away, he traced the outline of her lips with the delicacy of a feather.
Her breath hitched, her senses reveling in his touch. Her heart rate spiked when she saw the flicker of desire in his blue eyes. Heat simmered in her stomach as anticipation circled through her. “I wasn’t thinking about you,” she protested, her face growing hot.
A low chuckle rumbled in his throat as he grinned, crinkling the corners of his confident eyes. She was briefly transfixed by the depth of his eyes. “Liar.”
She stiffened, lifting her chin. “You certainly have a high opinion of yourself.”
“What you said earlier, about us starting fresh. I’d like that.” He paused, his eyes darkening to a deep, royal blue. “I’ve been thinking about you too. In fact, you’re all I can think about.”
His admission seeped into her, hydrating her thirsty heart. Was this really happening? How could she fall so hard, so fast for a man she’d just met?
His fingers, warm and strong, trailed to her cheek. Deliberately, slowly he traced the length of her jaw. “You are so beautiful,” he murmured.
The husky edge to his voice reverberated like a symphony in her chest, making her feel the wild urge to throw her arms around his neck and thread her fingers through his thick, tawny hair.
“The caroling was incredible.”
“Yes,” she said softly. “One of the neatest things I’ve ever done.” His strength and masculinity circled around her in an invisible band that pulled her closer. She felt the warm tickle of his breath on her skin.
“I can’t count the number of times I’ve stayed in this cottage,” he continued, laughing to himself. “The times I’ve eaten at Oscars, gone caroling.” His gaze held hers, and she was struck by the inherent strength of his defined features. “Tonight, it all feels new.” He searched her face. “I feel like I’m seeing you for the first time.”
Her eyes misted as she caught the significance of his words. She blinked to hold back the moisture. “Do you like what you see?” Her breath froze as she waited for him to answer, feeling as though the rest of her life hinged on his next few words.
A large, unencumbered grin overtook his features. “What do you think?” The air took on an electric charge as he cupped her cheeks, his lips brushing against hers with a tickling, teasing sensation. She parted her lips and drew closer, silky shivers rippled through her. With deliberate slowness, he lightly kissed the tip of her nose, each corner of her lips. Just when she thought she couldn’t take the anticipation a moment longer, his lips crushed hers, their mouths coming together in a breathless dance of passion and urgency. His hands moved over her back as she did what she’d been wanting to earlier and buried her fingers in the tantalizing curls on his nape. Haven was surprised by her eager response to the demands of his lips. She felt the sensation of riding a river of fire that seared through her body, melting her soul. She lost herself in his touch, and then found herself again in complete harmony. This is what she’d been missing in her life—feeling completely alive and in the moment.
The warmth and tenderness in his expression almost moved her to tears. “Haven,” he uttered. “That was amazing.”
Her eyebrow lifted questioningly, hope filling her chest.
“I figure a fresh start is a perfect time for a new name. I feel that r
ight now—that you’re my haven.”
An exuberant smile curved her lips. “No, you’re mine.” She touched his face, her hand resting on the firm line of his jaw. She lifted her hand and pushed away the unruly lock of hair that had fallen over his eye. His fingers moved down to her neck, tracing the outline of her collarbone. Her heart skipped a beat, a flame of desire igniting in her. “Say it again,” she implored.
“What?”
“My new name.”
“Haven,” he uttered before claiming her lips once more.
6
Wyatt stood in front of the bakery counter, trying to decide what he should get Brynn and him for breakfast. “Let’s see, I’ll take two cinnamon rolls, a strawberry streusel and a blueberry muffin.”
The girl behind the counter flashed a bright smile. “Great choice. I love our cinnamon rolls.” She wrapped the items and placed them in a white bag.
“Would you like anything else?”
“No, that’ll do it. Thank you.” He reached in his back pocket and pulled out his wallet to pay.
“Sure thing.” She gave him his total and took his card. A second later, she handed it back with his receipt.
Wyatt awoke early this morning. Not wanting to wake Brynn, he left her a text, explaining where he’d gone. His phone buzzed as he walked away from the counter. He stopped and pulled it out. It was from Brynn. He grinned thinking of how wonderful things were with her. He woke up this morning, walking on air. Not even the leaden sky could put a damper on his spirits. To think he almost hadn’t stopped by Brynn’s apartment yesterday. He only did so because bringing a girl home for Christmas would keep his parents and ex-girlfriend, Kat, off his back. Now, in a wonderful twist of fate, things between Brynn and him were different, like they could have a future together.
His blood turned to ice when he read Brynn’s reply to his text. He told her he was running out to pick up breakfast. Her response was:
The Christmas Bliss Romance Collection Page 5