The Christmas Bliss Romance Collection

by Jennifer Youngblood

  They smiled in response.

  “I can give you a ride,” Gunner offered, holding Kinsley’s eyes, “I get VIP parking.”

  Well, aren’t you special? was the first thought that went through Kinsley’s mind, but she wasn’t about to say as much and unleash everyone’s wrath. “That’s okay,” Kinsley said quickly. “I don’t mind driving.”

  Her daddy made a face. “You’d better take him up on his offer, pumpkin. It’ll be nearly impossible to find a place to park.”

  “Can we go with you too?” Jolene joked.

  “Sure,” Gunner said.

  Jolene waved a hand. “Nah, it’ll take us a while to get ready. You and Kinsley go ahead. We’ll meet you there.” There was a twinkle in Jolene’s eye as she looked at Kinsley, as if she knew it killed Kinsley to accept a ride from Gunner.

  “Lee and I will ride with you,” Sue Ellen said to Jolene and Hollis. “I’ll get these dishes cleared away while y’all get the girls ready.”

  Hollis’s eyes rounded. “You don’t want me helping them get ready.”

  Jolene laughed. “No, we don’t.”

  Hollis looked relieved for half a second before Sue Ellen Spoke. “Hollis, you and Lee can help me clean up the kitchen.” She looked at the two men expectantly, leaving no room for argument.

  “All right,” Hollis said dejectedly, a mortified expression on his face.

  Jolene winked at Hollis. “See you in a bit, honey,” she said sweetly, her eyes holding laughter as she looked at Sue Ellen.

  Gunner stepped up beside Kinsley. “You ready?”

  “Yep,” she clipped. The idea of riding alone with Gunner was nerve wracking.

  He motioned. “After you.”

  7

  Kinsley wasn’t sure how to react when Gunner came around and opened her door. “Thanks,” she mumbled.

  He went around the other side and got in, starting the engine. She wasn’t about to open the conversation. They could sit in stony silence for all Kinsley cared.

  Gunner backed out of the driveway and pulled onto the road that had been cleared of snow. Kinsley was glad the drive to the square was only five minutes.

  “So,” Gunner began, giving her a sideways glance. “How did you end up playing Mary tonight?”

  For a second, she considered ignoring him. Instead, she angled towards him, arching an eyebrow. “I’ll give you one guess.”

  “Lillian.”

  “Yep,” she said tersely.

  A smile slid over his lips. “Lillian must be holding something big over your head.” Curiosity lit his features. “Care to share?”

  She crossed her arms over her chest. “Nope.” Her lips formed a tight line.

  He shook his head, smiling. “That was quite the performance.”

  Her brow furrowed. “What do you mean?” she demanded, even though she knew exactly what he was getting at.

  “When you accused your family of trying to get us back together.”

  The amusement on his features sent the hair on the back of her neck rising. “You don’t have to look so pleased about the whole thing,” she spouted.

  He grunted a laugh. “Well, you sort of brought it on yourself.”

  She gave him a hard look, taking note of his defined jawline and rugged features. “Regardless of what my parents said, they are trying to get us back together,” she snipped.

  “I know.”

  Her jaw dropped. “What did you say?”

  A playful grin tugged at the corners of his lips. “You heard me.”

  She shoved him hard, causing the truck to weave.

  “Hey, watch it,” he complained. “You’ll cause us to wreck.”

  “I can’t believe you just sat there like Mr. Innocent, letting me take the rap.”

  He looked at her with those baby blues, causing her insides to melt. It was impossible to stay mad at Gunner, now that she was with him in person.

  “It was fun watching you dig the hole deeper.”

  The tension inside her eased as she let out a full, warm laugh. “I’m glad I could add to your amusement.”

  Gunner drove into the town square. The trees were decked out with white lights, and large, leafy wreaths hung on all the lampposts. One thing the town of Remember knew how to do was put together a Live Nativity. People came from miles around to see it. “Wow, this is impressive.”

  “You say it like you’ve forgotten.”

  “Yeah, I guess I have.”

  He looked sideways at her. “I guess it’s easy to forget a lot of things if you stay away long enough, huh?”

  She bristled. “Not the important things, like how you married Carol Ann,” she barked.

  His jaw tensed. “Yeah, I guess we need to have a talk.”

  “I think we’ve said everything that needs to be said.”

  He pulled into a parking spot near the city hall where the Nativity was set up beside an enormous Christmas tree. He turned off the engine and turned to face her. “Kinsley, I made a mistake. It happened two years ago. Can we just put it behind us and move forward?” She was surprised to see the anguish on his face. “I was furious with you for leaving. Carol Ann came along.” He paused. “When I was with her, I didn’t dwell on missing you.” His voice caught as his eyes burned into hers. “I never stopped loving you. After I married Carol Ann, I realized I’d made a terrible mistake.” His eyes turned to dark pools of vivid blue. He laughed humorlessly, rubbing his jaw. “In fact, part of me was relieved when Carol Ann had the affair.”

  She stiffened. “Why?”

  “Because it gave me an excuse to end the marriage.” His eyes pled with hers. “I miss you, Kinsley. Come back to me, please,” he uttered, giving her an intense look that was dangerously intimate.

  Emotion sat like stones on her chest. She detested the tears that pressed against her eyes. She’d fought this for so long, knowing deep down that all paths would eventually lead her back to Gunner. “It would never work. I live in New York. You live here.” She tried to control the dizzying currents racing through her, putting up any defense she could. “We’re worlds apart.”

  His magnetic eyes moved with tantalizing slowness over her face. “This isn’t about worlds, but about hearts.” His voice took on a husky edge that stirred a longing inside her. “My heart and yours. We belong together.” The certainty in his voice almost made her believe him.

  He caressed her cheek, her skin thrilling under his touch. The smart thing to do would be to move away from him, get out of the truck this instant. But, she couldn’t move, spellbound by the tenderness of his gaze and how he seemed to be soaking in her every detail. “Kinsley,” he whispered. The air crackled with electricity as he leaned in, shrinking the distance between them. She silenced the warning bell in her head. Sweet anticipation sang through her veins as she parted her lips, welcoming Gunner’s mouth that came down on hers, hard and demanding. His clean, masculine scent was intoxicating, encapsulating her in a turbulent wave of passion. She gave herself fully to the kiss, sliding her fingers around his neck. He buried his fingers in her hair. So many times, she’d dreamt of being in Gunner’s arms, but the reality was even better.

  The sharp rapping at the window nearly caused Kinsley to jump out of her skin as she pulled back, her face burning. Gunner rolled down the window.

  “Hello,” Lillian bubbled, her eyes dancing with laughter. “Sorry, to interrupt, but I’ve been sent to collect the two of you for the Nativity. We’ve got some restless natives waiting for their replacements.”

  Great! Of all the people to catch them kissing. Why did it have to be Lillian? Kinsley looked at Gunner. “Are you in the Nativity?”

  A quirky grin eased over his lips. “I’m Joseph.”

  She let out a long sigh, shaking her head. “Why am I not surprised?”

  Gunner motioned with his head, his eyes melting into hers. “Shall we?”

  “Sure.” Kinsley’s mind was spinning. She couldn’t believe she’d kissed Gunner. Her lips still fel
t the burn of his. She should’ve felt guilty, disgusted with her lack of restraint, but all she could think was how that one kiss wasn’t enough. So, help her, she wanted infinitely more!

  * * *

  Playing Mary brought Kinsley an element of peace, helping to keep her thoughts at bay. Of course, the entire time, she was keenly aware of Gunner standing tall and stalwart by her side. She’d forgotten how amazing the Live Nativity was. The sense of community was strong, families gathering to pay homage to the Christ child.

  Afterwards, as Kinsley stood amongst the crowd, watching Gunner playing the guitar and singing with the children, she felt like she was drifting in a sea of indecision. She’d left New York, secure in the knowledge that she and Fleming would get back together. She planned to suffer through Christmas and then go back to her normal life. Now, everything was turned upside down.

  Gunner was a natural at performing. He seemed to draw energy from the crowd, projecting it back a hundred-fold. Kinsley felt bad for misjudging him about his music and the hardware store. Gunner had built a good life here, a life that in many ways was much fuller and richer than her life in New York. Kinsley had spent so much time focusing on her career that she’d neglected the other aspects of her life. She’d been so consumed with wanting to achieve greatness that she’d failed to notice all she was lacking.

  Her nieces looked beautiful in their burgundy velvet dresses with crisp, white collars and black patent shoes. August caught her eye and smiled, causing Kinsley’s heart to swell. She gave an encouraging thumbs-up, flashing a large smile. Gunner’s eyes locked with hers, sending sparks of warmth through her. Kinsley felt like she’d been given a set of special glasses, allowing her to once again see all that she’d blocked from her vision the past five years. Family. Connections. Those were the things which lasted.

  “He’s never been the same since you left.”

  Kinsley turned to see Lillian, leaning on her walker. She shook her head. “I’m sorry?”

  “Gunner. He cares about you deeply.” Lillian breathed out a sentimental chuckle. “The two of you remind me of me and my dear Howard, God rest his soul. We fought hard and loved hard. What you and Gunner have only comes along once in a lifetime.” Her expression held the luminance of an inner glow as her voice grew reflective. “You have to savor the moments the good Lord gives you because you never know when they’ll end.”

  Kinsley knew she was referring to Howard and how he died suddenly of a heart attack.

  Lillian gave Kinsley a beseeching look. “Be kind to Gunner. Don’t break his heart.”

  She stiffened, the words coming out reflexively. “He broke my heart, not the other way around.”

  “You’re the one he’s always loved.” A thoughtful smile touched Lillian’s features as she patted Kinsley’s arm. “Sometimes, life gives us another chance to make things right.”

  “A chance to rewrite the past,” Kinsley mused, thinking of what her mama said.

  Lillian’s smile widened. “Yes.”

  Kinsley cocked her head. “I picked up your lunch today, but you’d gone home.” She didn’t try to hide the accusation in her voice.

  “Thank you,” Lillian said pleasantly. “I’ll eat it tomorrow.”

  Okay, Lillian sidestepped that one, but Kinsley wasn’t finished. “How are things going with A. G. Wells? Any word yet on the meeting?” She was going to hold Lillian’s feet to the fire.

  “A. G.’s warming up to the idea.”

  “Really?” That was hopeful … maybe. With Lillian it was hard to know what the true situation was. Still, Lillian was Kinsley’s only connection with A. G. Kinsley knew it was in her best interest to keep on good terms with Lillian, as much as she detested being her minion.

  “We’ll talk about it tomorrow morning when you come to the Inn.” Lillian looked past Kinsley. “Right now, I’d better go check on the hot chocolate and cookie stand.”

  As Kinsley watched her shuffle away, she got the distinct impression that Lillian was stringing her along. The question was … why?

  * * *

  After the program was over, Kinsley made her way over to Gunner’s truck so she could get a ride with him. She could’ve ridden back in the minivan with Hollis, Jolene, the girls, and her parents, but Kinsley wanted to spend more time with Gunner. She needed to set things straight in her head where he was concerned. Could they make a go of it? Was she crazy to put her heart into his hands again? It was so tempting. Heat wafted over her as she thought of the kiss. She’d never felt like that with Fleming or anyone else. With the passage of time, she’d convinced herself that she’d built up her relationship with Gunner to be more than it was. However, coming back here, seeing things with a fresh perspective, she now knew that wasn’t the case.

  Her heart skipped a beat when he walked up to her. His face split into a wide grin that glowed through her like sunshine. “Hey,” he said, “I was hoping to find you here.”

  Kinsley’s cells danced feverishly at being this close to Gunner. Her eyes flicked over his strong, lean jaw and firm lips. She longed to touch his face, trace the outlines of his rugged features. “Time is a curious beast,” she mused. “We’ve been apart for so long, and yet being here with you feels as though it were only yesterday. I’m assaulted by a kaleidoscope of memories that shift at random to form the pictures of my youth.” She wrinkled her nose. “Or is it my present or future?”

  He grinned. “It is from those pictures that we construct the continuity of our lives.”

  She blinked, a smile overtaking her lips. “Ah, it seems I’m not the only writer here. You used to write such clever song lyrics.”

  “I still write music, from time to time.”

  “So you haven’t completely given it up.”

  “No, it’s in my DNA.”

  She laughed, feeling lighter than the snowflakes softly falling. “I’m glad to hear that. You sounded great, by the way. The kids did too.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Where’s your guitar?”

  “I left it in a room at the city hall. One of the conference rooms has been converted to a storage area for costumes and props.” He pulled out his clicker and unlocked the doors. Then, he opened the door for her. All of Kinsley’s senses were heightened. She kept thinking about what Gunner said, how Carol Ann had been a huge mistake. How he was relieved when the marriage ended. Mostly, she replayed the part where Gunner said with such certainty that they belonged together. Add to that her mama’s words earlier today and the things Lillian had said, it made a convincing case.

  Gunner got in the truck and started the engine. “Let’s get some warm air blowing in here before we freeze.”

  Kinsley fought off a shiver, hugging her arms. “Good idea.”

  When they got away from the town square, Kinsley assumed they were headed back to her house. She was surprised when Gunner looked her direction, giving her an easy smile that sent her pulse racing. “Where to?”

  The night held a sense of magic, like anything was possible. “The sky’s the limit,” she laughed.

  “How about we drive around and look at Christmas lights?” he suggested.

  “Sounds great to me.”

  They drove in comfortable silence until Gunner spoke. “Tell me about your life in New York.”

  She angled toward him. “What do you want to know?”

  His face split into a wide grin. “Everything.”

  She told him about her first big break and how she’d been so nervous about writing her first play. Then, she spoke of the euphoric feeling of accomplishment she felt when the play was produced and received good reviews. As they drove from house to house, Kinsley felt the connection between them growing as she spoke of the ups and downs of the playwriting world and how hard it was to remain at the top of her game. She could tell that Gunner was really listening to her. She was tempted to tell him about A. G. Wells and how she was desperate for a meeting, but she decided to keep that to herself. Also, she didn’t tell him about h
er on and off relationship with Fleming. Here and now, with Gunner, her thing with Fleming felt like it was inconsequential, like he’d merely been a placeholder for the real deal.

  When Gunner pulled into her driveway, Kinsley’s tongue was tired. “I’m sorry,” she apologized. “I’ve been doing all the talking. You should’ve stopped me.”

  Gunner pulled the truck over to a secluded spot. He kept the engine running. Kinsley wondered if that was because he wanted to keep them warm, or maybe he wanted to keep this part of the evening short. Maybe she’d bored him to tears with all her jabbering, to the point where he no longer wanted anything to do with her. “It’s never a good idea for me to talk about plays. I don’t know when to shut up.”

  He turned to face her, his compelling eyes moving over her face. “I loved hearing every word.”

  “Really?”

  “Really.” He touched her cheek. Her breath caught when his fingers lightly traced the curve of her jaw.

  “Is this really happening?” she asked, mostly to herself. “It feels like a dream.”

  “A dream I never want to wake up from.” His gaze was steady, his voice smooth and velvety.

  “Me either.” She leaned closer, bridging the distance between them. This time, craving the closeness that they’d shared earlier, her lips were the first to touch his as she gave him a long, persuasive kiss that flowed delicious warmth through her. Moments later, she pulled back, studying him as a pleased smile quivered at the corners of her mouth. “How was that?”

  Even in the thin light from the porch lamp, she caught the faint amusement in his eyes. “Not bad.”

  She shoved him. “Hey.”

  He pulled her closer, his mouth hungrily covered hers. Her stomach churned a wild swirl as she let out a groan, freely giving herself to the ecstasy that spiraled through her. When the kiss was over, her mouth was left burning with fire.

  Gunner took her hand, linking his fingers through hers. “I love you,” he uttered.

  She jerked, searching his face. Her stomach tensed. They’d been living separate lives for so long. Could they really just pick up now and make it work? Even as her mind was trying to come up with a response, the words rushed from her mouth. “I love you too.” Her eyes widened as the revelation sank in. “I really do.”