Christmas Kisses (Romance on the Ranch Series #5)

by Clay, Verna

  Sean glanced from his father to Cecelia. "How much longer until we eat? I've been working on a new beverage for the shop and I just need to check a few things on the internet."

  Cecelia stopped her motion of tossing the salad. "That's fabulous. I can't wait to hear about it. Oh, dinner will be ready in an hour."

  An hour later, the three of them sat at the small dining room table that could have been decorated by Martha Stewart. Mac had already berated himself for his touchy attitude and kept the conversation light. Somehow the current topic turned to hobbies and Cecelia admitted how much she loved to cook and decorate. When Sean questioned her further, Mac was mesmerized by the joy on her face as she described the perfect home. She blushed and said, "Sorry about being such a motor mouth. What about you, Sean. What's your hobby?" She paused and then asked, "Do you paint or sketch?" Mac shot her a warning glance.

  Sean said, "The only thing I can draw are stick figures. And my best paintings are done with finger paints."

  Cecelia laughed. "Okay. I'm the same. But I do appreciate beautiful artwork." She glanced at Mac when Sean wasn't looking. He sent her another warning look.

  Sean took a bite out of a turkey leg. "I do love music and play the guitar and piano."

  Mac inhaled sharply. Rose had been a gifted musician and Mac had encouraged her to pursue her gift. She'd laughed and told him she would when Sean was older. The turkey dressing in Mac's mouth suddenly tasted like sawdust.

  Softly, Cecelia said, "Maybe someday you'll play for us."

  Sean glanced at his father. "Sure."

  Their conversation ceased and the congenial atmosphere vanished. Mac glanced at his watch. "What time does your movie start?"

  "In an hour."

  Cecelia said with what sounded like forced cheerfulness, "Then you have time for pie."

  Sean picked up his plate and stood. "Would you mind if I saved it until after the movie? I'm walking to the theater to meet Harris and there might be a line. I want to get there early."

  "Of course you can wait until you get home. And just leave your plate. I don't mind cleaning up."

  Pointedly looking at Mac, Sean replied, "My mom and dad always make me take my plate to the sink." He quickly turned and left the room.

  Mac sat silent, still lost in memories of Rose playing beautiful melodies on the piano. Neither he nor Cecelia said anything. A few minutes later they heard the front door close.

  Cecelia started to scoot her chair back but stopped when Mac said, "Why did you ask Sean if he's artistic?"

  In a soft and compassionate voice, she replied, "You know why. If he is, then it's something the two of you can bond over."

  Mac could hear the torment in his own voice when he responded, "I don't want to bond with the boy and I'd appreciate it if you'd stop meddling where you're not wanted."

  "You're a liar, Mac. Are you telling me you don't want to hear him play the guitar or piano?"

  Mac slapped his left hand on the table. "Dammit, you don't understand! His mother was a gifted musician. Listening to him play would only open wounds that need to stay closed. The boy belongs back with his family in San Diego. His coming here has been a travesty."

  His words catapulted Cecelia from her chair. With her hands gesturing wildly, she said, "You selfish bastard." Mac marveled at the fire in her eyes. "Do you really think the world revolves around your desire to paint? My God, you have a son who is crying out for his father's attention and you can't even acknowledge his revelation that he plays music. That boy wants your love more than anything. Don't tell me you know nothing about child psychology. Sean acts like a brat to gain your attention. But you're so wrapped up in your own woes you haven't time for the precious gift of your own child. Yes, you lost your wife. Yes, you lost some physical abilities. But–" She leaned across the table, "You didn't lose your SON!" she shouted.

  Mac couldn't move. He couldn't breathe.

  She gulped a breath and continued with the same anger. "I would give anything, anything, to have a child. When I was thirty-eight, I was reckless and had a brief affair with a man I met through a business associate. I was lonely. He was lonely. But we never had a spiritual connection. We parted ways with no regrets. Later, when I found out I was pregnant, I was so happy. Selfishly, I kept putting off the day I would have to tell the father about his child…and then I didn't need to." Her lips trembled when she continued, "For a short time, I basked in knowing I would have a child to love. But just as importantly–" Her voice broke on a sob, "I would have someone to love me!"

  Mac felt paralyzed by her admission.

  Cecelia sobbed, staring past him. "But the pregnancy was ectopic and I lost not only the baby, but any chance of having children." Another heartfelt sob broke Mac's heart. Tears streamed down her face. She whispered, "And you're blind to anything but yourself. I hate you."

  Mac watched her rush from the room. As fast as he could with the aid of his cane, he followed. She had entered her bedroom and shut the door, but he opened it anyway.

  "I want you to leave!" she shouted.

  Ignoring her protest, he advanced forward and she stepped backward until her legs bumped a chair. Her eyes widened when he tossed his cane away and reached for her.

  "No. Please don't," she cried.

  He ignored her and pulled her into his arms. He half expected her to fight him, but when she said, "Oh, God," and planted her lips on his, he returned her passionate kiss. She kept repeating, "Oh, God. Oh, God," while fervently kissing him.

  His restraint crumbled in the wake of this sweet woman's passion. He needed her passion as much as he needed air. Cupping the back of her head he infiltrated her mouth with searing kisses. Her hands roamed his body and when she fumbled trying to unbutton his shirt, he reached and pulled it apart, popping the buttons. Her hands molded to his chest and then moved down to his abs. She groped his waist and pulled him so close they were one skin.

  He rasped in her ear. "God, how I want you." As he backed her toward the bed, he reached to unfasten her skirt. She lifted her mouth from his only long enough to pull her blouse over her head. Her skirt dropped to the ground, as did his shirt and her blouse. Now bare-chested, he pulled her forward until her breasts, clad in a lacy bra, flattened against him. Cupping her bottom, he pulled her center upward toward his own as he bent his knees. She felt so good he groaned at the long dormant sensations rampaging his body and forgot the ache caused by bending.

  Chapter 20: Sean and Preston

  Cecelia arched into Mac. Everything about the man intoxicated her—his slight, soapy smell, his rough countenance, his longish black hair, his stormy grey eyes that sometimes became azure when he smiled, his love for his child, but most of all, his spirit trying to find its way out of a dark place. She wanted to be his salvation. She wanted her love to rescue this tormented man.

  For a long time she caressed him and allowed him access to every secret place in her body and heart. Never had she felt such all-consuming love. And when their bodies joined, she whispered her love.

  After their passion was assuaged, Mac lifted slightly above her. He kissed her forehead and moved his mouth to her ear. He whispered, "Beautiful Cecelia, your love is misplaced with me. I'm cynical and jaded. I do not believe in happily-ever-after. But if I did, you would be the one to break me free of my prison."

  His words touched Cecelia so much that she brought her lips back to his, and said against them, "I expect nothing from you. Like I told you before, I'm here until January. My desire is for you to enjoy the holidays with your son. Can we share this Christmas with Sean without expectations or judgments or thoughts of the future? Can we live in the now for just a few weeks?"

  Mac responded without removing his mouth. "When you say it like that, how can I refuse?" He kissed her deeply and rejoined his body to hers.

  *

  Sean waved at Harris as he approached the theater. He was glad to get his mind off his father. The guy was impossible. Before his dad had gotten into one of his funky m
oods at the table, Sean had actually been enjoying Thanksgiving dinner. He'd even admitted his ability to play music. If he had a kid, he'd sure want to hear him play something. The look on his father's face had said everything—the last thing Mac wanted was to hear Sean play anything. The rejection had hurt so much he'd almost cried.

  He caught up to Harris who was already standing in line. It wasn't until his friend stepped sideways that he saw Tessa. Harris said, "My mom and dad invited Tessa's family to Thanksgiving at our house and I thought she might like to see the movie, too."

  Sean nodded. "Hi, Tessa."

  When she gave him her sweet smile, his heart started tripping all over itself and he forgot about his hurt over his dad. He couldn't think of anything else to say. Thankfully, the line started forward and she stepped so that her back was to him. She probably thinks I'm an idiot!

  Inside the theater, Harris waved to Toby and Preston. Sean groaned. He had no trouble telling the twins apart. Preston always eyed him with animosity. He liked Toby, but Preston not so much. The twins walked over and Preston said, "Hi, Tessa. Didn't know you would be here."

  Sean thought, What a lame thing to say.

  Tessa said, "Hi, Preston. Hi, Toby."

  Sean saw Tessa glance across the room and her expression changed slightly. He turned to see whomever or whatever she'd seen. A boy, probably about the same age as Tessa, glared at her. Preston leaned toward her. "Don't worry about him. If he bothers you, me and Toby will kick his butt."

  Sean was all ears at this latest development. When the others started down the hallway toward the movie screens, he leaned toward Harris and whispered, "What was that all about?"

  Harris whispered back. "That guy is a real jerk. His name is Jared and he likes to make Tessa's life miserable. He calls her Tubby Tessa."

  Sean jerked his head around to stare at Jared and then back at Harris.

  Harris nodded. "Yeah. He's a creep. I guess no one knew about his bullying until he slipped up and Tessa's stepmom caught him. My mom was there and the way she tells it, Mrs. Branigan lit into the kid something terrible. Tessa's dad contacted the guy's parents and he caught holy hell. Although Tessa's never said anything, I think he still gives her a bad time when no one's around to hear."

  Sean clenched and unclenched his fists. If there was one thing he hated, it was bullies, and for someone to treat a sweet girl like Tessa so badly, it made him want to pound him. While they walked up the stairs to find seats, Sean positioned himself so that he could sit next to Tessa. He saw Harris try to hide a smile. He didn't care. When Toby pulled Preston to the row in front of theirs, Sean grinned at his good fortune of Preston not sitting on the other side of Tessa. He searched the theater for Jared and when he entered and sat in a front row, Tessa seemed to relax.

  Harris said, "Hey, Tessa, now that we have our seats, you can save them while me and Sean get popcorn and sodas. What do you want to drink?"

  Tessa said, "Seven-Up," and reached into her pocket for money.

  Sean said, "No. Keep your money. I got it." Before she could protest, he stepped into the aisle.

  Preston turned in his seat and asked, "Tessa, will you watch our seats, too, so Toby and me can get snacks? Can I get you anything?"

  "Sure, I'll watch your seats. And no, I don't need anything."

  Preston and Toby followed Harris and Sean to the concession stand. While they waited in line, Preston said to Sean. "If you say anything hurtful to Tessa, I'll kick your ass."

  Sean turned incredulous eyes on the kid. "Now why the hell would I do that?"

  Preston shrugged, "Just sayin'."

  The kid behind the counter called, "Next!" and when Sean stepped forward, Preston said, "You know, don't you, that you're too old for her, she's only about to turn thirteen."

  Sean decided to put an end to the conversation. "I don't know what your problem is, but I'm out of this hick town in January. It was only an emergency that's kept me here this long. So keep your crappy comments to yourself."

  The boy behind the counter said, "Ya'll got people in line behind you. Do you want to order or not?"

  Preston said, "Sean, you just made my day. Have a great trip home."

  Sean turned to the clerk who had opened his mouth to say something else. He cut the kid off. "Two large popcorns, a large Coke, and a large Seven-Up." He turned to Harris and said, "Order what you want. I'm paying."

  The movie was excellent, but Sean couldn't get his mind away from Tessa. The more he was around her, the more he liked her. When she squealed at a sudden scary part and ducked her head, he grinned, and started to put his arm around her. He jerked it back. Heck, like he'd told Preston, he was gone in a few weeks and the way his dad was acting, he'd never return to this town. Sometimes life was a bitch.

  After the movie, Toby and Preston took off with friends and Harris glanced at his watch, "Let's get an ice cream at the DQ. We've got time before my mom picks me and Tessa up."

  Sean walked the two blocks to the DQ with Harris and Tessa. It was just starting to get dark, and when they passed the coffee shop, Tessa said, "Isn't it wonderful?"

  Sean had to agree. Cecelia had strung the outside with thousands of tiny white lights and the large murals inside had spotlights shining on them when the shop was closed. Cardboard figures of elves that had arrived a week after their decoration party and positioned in strategic locations, made Santa's Workshop perfect. So perfect, in fact, it had become the talk of the town.

  They paused outside the window and Sean chuckled. "I think Cecelia has added even more lights and decorations to the Christmas tree."

  Tessa's eyes were alight with wonder when she looked at Sean and said again, "Isn't it wonderful?"

  Sean had had a couple of girlfriends since the age of thirteen, and even kissed them, but now, looking at Tessa's shining eyes and cute dimple, he had to hold himself back from bending and lightly touching his lips to hers. Instead, he said, "Cecelia closes the shop at three, but she said the week before Christmas, she's going to reopen from six to nine. I'll be working then; maybe you can stop by."

  Tessa responded in her shy manner, "Okay."

  Harris said, "Cool. Hey, come on. I need an ice cream fix."

  When Sean tried to treat Tessa and Harris to ice cream, Harris refused and insisted it was his turn to pay. Tessa ordered a single scoop of pineapple sherbet, and although he could eat a triple scoop of chocolate-chip fudge brownie, Sean decided to not overtax Harris' wallet and ordered a double. Harris ordered a triple pralines and cream. They sat in a booth and rehashed the movie. During a lag in the conversation, Tessa said in her soft voice, "Um, Sean, I'm having a birthday party next Saturday. Would you like to come?" She met his gaze and then quickly looked at the table, turning red.

  Sean's heart jumped in his chest. "Yeah. I'd like that. Should I bring some food?"

  Tessa lifted her long lashes and met his eyes again. "Oh, no. My mom and dad have taken care of everything."

  Sean glanced sideways at Harris who was licking his ice cream and grinning like the cat in Alice in Wonderland. He looked back at Tessa and teased, "So, are you going to be eleven or twelve?"

  "Oh, no; I'm going to be thirteen." When she realized he was teasing he got a good look at that dimple while she laughed.

  When they were about to leave and head back to the theater, Tessa excused herself and went to the restroom.

  Harris said, "So, you kind of like her, don't you?"

  Sean acted dumb. "Who?"

  "Tessa, of course."

  "Yeah. She's a nice girl."

  Harris shrugged. "You and Preston like her."

  Sean ignored his last remark.

  Harris started to say something else, but stopped.

  Sean asked, "What?"

  "Nothing."

  "I hate it when people do that. What were you about to say?"

  Harris shrugged and wiped his mouth with a napkin. "Your dad is something of a mystery around here. No one knows him except Cecelia and she's not tal
king. The town even calls him Mystery Man."

  Sean said, "So."

  Harris grinned sheepishly. "I was just fishing for information. You know how people can't leave the unknown alone."

  Sean replied, "Well, if you find out anything, then let me know. He's a mystery to me, too."

  Chapter 21: Happy Birthday, Tessa!

  Sean glanced between his dad and Cecelia. The day after Thanksgiving he'd noticed a change in both of them. Was he losing it? They actually seemed to be making mushy eyes at each other. After the way things had gotten tight during Thanksgiving dinner, he'd figured his dad would be as close-mouthed as ever and Cecelia would act all bright and happy trying to relieve the tension. Now, there was no tension in the air and his dad was watching Cecelia with a little smile. Have I entered another dimension?

  Cecelia said, "Are you almost ready? If we leave now, I'll get you to the party in plenty of time. Tooty gave me directions to the Branigan ranch. It's only about twenty minutes outside of town.

  Sean shut down the game he was playing on his iPhone. "Ready." He stood and stretched. "Just let me run upstairs for my jacket and Tessa's present." He headed down the hallway and glanced back once to see Mac and Cecelia smiling at each other again. Sheesh!

  In the hallway, he had to pass the locked door. That dang door was always locked. Almost every day when no one was looking he tried the knob. From past experience, he knew secrets were hidden behind locks. Was his father hiding secrets? He'd bet a year's allowance he was. And I'm going to discover them.

  The drive to Tessa's house was filled with Cecelia's usual upbeat chatter, which Sean didn't pay much attention to. Suddenly, he asked, "Why is the door in the hallway always locked?"

  Cecelia abruptly stopped talking. Her reply was a little too breathless, "It's just a junk room."

  Yep, they're definitely hiding something. "Why keep it locked?"

  "Ah, the junk belongs to the owner of the house and she doesn't want anyone going through it."

  "So, my father doesn't own the house."

  "No, he's renting it. As you know, I'm also renting one a few blocks over. Sometimes you want to try out an area before you purchase a home."