But she would share the most important fact, the most important gift, of all.
Her love.
She loved Sean.
And it was time to tell him so.
Tonight…
No, she’d wait until tomorrow. Christmas day.
Christmas morning dawned with a shower of snowflakes. Sean smiled. A white Christmas for Zoe.
As Denali bounded through the snow outside, he added a log to the fire. He thought about the long kisses he’d shared with Zoe last night in front of this very fireplace.
Real kisses without an audience.
It had been more than he’d expected. Sean could have pushed for more. Zoe had seemed willing, but he had remembered what she’d said about working for him and being paid a salary. That had made him pull back. He wanted everything with Zoe to be special, to be perfect.
This was new territory for him, and like the times he wanted to climb a new peak, he needed to be ready. Oh, he might not need a topo map, climber beta, weather reports and avalanche forecast, but as with climbing, he wanted to limit exposure, minimize risk and stack the odds in favor of a successful summit attempt.
As much as Sean wanted Zoe, he had to be prepared.
Denali stood at the door. Zoe waded through the wrapping paper from their stocking stuffers strewn about the floor. “I’ll let her in.”
As Zoe wiped the dog’s paws, the fire roared back to life. Colorful flames crackled in his fireplace, vying for attention with the yule log and carols playing on the television screen. Sean sat on the couch with her present on his lap.
“This one’s for you,” he said.
Her smile lit up her face like the white lights on their Christmas tree. She sat next to him and took the box. “Is it fragile?”
“No.”
She shook it. “I don’t hear anything.”
“Open it.”
“If you insist.” She ripped off the bow and tore through the wrapping paper.
Sean couldn’t remember a better Christmas, not since he’d gotten his first snowboard a couple decades ago. Back then he hadn’t realized what an impact that gift would have on his life. Maybe today would be the same with Zoe.
Denali lay on her big floor pillow, chewing on the bone she’d found in her own stocking. Empty plates from their breakfast, cooked by him so the fire department could take it easy this morning, sat on the coffee table.
Zoe stared inside the gift box. “An airline voucher? Not to take this the wrong way, but do you want me to go away?”
The confusion in her eyes belied her attempt at humor.
“I want you to go home and visit your family. Emphasis on visit,” he said. “I gave you a voucher because I have no idea where they live so couldn’t buy you a roundtrip ticket. I also wanted you to be the one to decide the right time to go.”
As she read the voucher, tears spiked her eyelashes. “This…” Her voice cracked. “You didn’t have to do this.”
I wanted to,” he said. “Now there’s nothing to stop you from going home.”
“Thank you.” She cuddled against him, one hand on his chest, and looked up at him. “Maybe you could come with me?”
“I’d like that.”
The lyrics of the Christmas carol mentioned home and family. That sounded good to Sean. He held her in his arms. Man, he could get used to this.
“Have you called your mother yet?” he asked.
“No.” She snuggled closer. “But I will.”
His pulse kicked up a notch as she pressed against him. “Don’t forget, it’ll be crazy at my parents’. It takes hours to open all the gifts.”
Zoe sat up. “I’ll call home before we leave.”
“I’m interfering.”
“Yes, but I understand.” She squeezed his hand, sending a tingle up his arm. “It runs in your family.” He laughed.
She glanced at the clock. “Your present will be here in a minute. It’s not something I could wrap, but I hope you like it.”
He rubbed her back. “Having you here is the best Christmas present.”
“I can say the same about you. Though the airline voucher is a very thoughtful gift.”
Denali raised her head. She dropped the bone.
“Is someone here, girl?” Sean asked.
The dog trotted to the door.
“Come on.” Zoe jumped off the couch. “It’s your Christmas present.”
As he followed her to the front door, he heard bells jingling. Must be on the television.
As she rested her hand on the door handle, her eyes brimmed with excitement.
“Close your eyes.”
Sean did. He felt a rush of cold air, as if someone had opened the door.
“You can open them,” she said.
He stared out the front door at a horse-drawn sleigh in his driveway. A large black horse pulled a red-and-green sleigh decorated with a garland. Two old-fashioned lanterns hung off the front. A driver with a stovetop hat and forest-green frock coat held the reins with gloved hands. Denali had already jumped into the sled, ready to go for a ride.
Zoe touched her lips gently to his. “Merry Christmas, Sean.”
“Wow. I never would have expected this.”
She pulled back to gaze into his eyes, hers wide with hope. “You like it?”
“I love it.”
I love you, he thought. But he wasn’t ready to say the words just yet. He framed her face with his hands. “This must have been really expensive.”
“You’re worth it.”
“Thank you,” he said, choked up. “Thank you so much.”
Denali barked from the sled.
Bubbling with excitement, Zoe pulled a bundle of his clothes out of the coat closet. “Put these on.”
Insulated pants, down jacket, thermal socks for his feet. “Where are we going?”
She grinned. “It’s a surprise.”
Soon, they were on their way. Even Denali looked thrilled. The sleigh took them on a tour around town. Sean cuddled with Zoe under thick wool blankets. He brushed his lips across her forehead. “This is a fantastic way to spend Christmas. A sleigh ride through our own winter wonderland.”
“Just wait. The best is yet to come.”
Sean didn’t doubt it. His parents and family thought she was the perfect match. He had to agree with them. He’d never felt so close to another woman. He’d never wanted to settle down until Zoe. She’d come into his life exactly when he needed her.
He could imagine what would come next—a life together, more stockings hanging on the fireplace. He was ready for the future, a future with her.
CHAPTER TEN
TWENTY minutes later, the sleigh pulled up to a trailhead where a group of snowshoers stood around a bonfire. Sean took a closer look. Not any snowshoers—Jake, Carly, Kendall, Austin, Leanne, Bill and Tim with his young son, Wyatt, in a baby carrier. Just like last year. From their flushed faces, Sean could tell they were just back from their walk.
Maybe we can figure out something.
He’d completely forgotten what Zoe had said that night when the Christmas tree arrived, but she hadn’t. Her gesture underscored what he loved about her—her warm, generous heart, her impulsive nature, her understanding of how to have fun. He could only imagine how much she must have spent. She’d probably blown an entire paycheck on this. On him.
You’re worth it.
A lump formed in his throat. Sean couldn’t speak.
Zoe held his gloved hand in hers and squeezed. “I know you would have rather gone snowshoeing with everyone, but I hope you don’t mind hanging out and having hot cocoa and cookies.”
Sean cleared his throat. He felt an odd tingling in the pit of his stomach. “I don’t mind.”
She smiled.
A good thing he was sitting down, she would have knocked him down with that grin of hers.
He remembered what that Santa guy had said at the mall.
Zoe is a gift, Sean. Take good care of her.
&n
bsp; She was a gift, one Sean wanted to cherish and keep.
A ball of warmth settled at the center of his chest. He squeezed her hand. “This is such a special Christmas present.”
A satisfied smile lit her face. “Jake helped me with some of the arrangements.”
“But it was your idea.”
She nodded, a little shy.
“Thank you.” He kissed her. “I can’t wait to see how you top this gift next year.”
Her eyes widened again. Her breath caught. “Next year?”
Did she understand, Sean wondered, that he wasn’t joking, wasn’t pretending, wasn’t playing games any longer?
She smiled. “I’m sure I’ll come up with something.”
Sean thought about not only spending next Christmas with Zoe, but also the 365 days in between.
“But I still have something else for you this year,” she said.
“You’ve given me so much already.”
“I want to give you this.” Zoe took a deep breath and another. She gazed deeply into his eyes. “Sean, I love you.”
His heart jolted. The air rushed from his lungs. A fire lit in his gut.
Best Christmas, ever. Hands down.
He touched her cheek. “I love you, too.”
She grinned, the blue of her eyes sparkling. “Just remember who went all in first.”
Zoe had told Sean she would call her mother. She knew she needed to, but still she hesitated. A part of her worried what her mother would say.
Christmas had been perfect so far. Sean loved her. She didn’t want to ruin everything by having to hear her mother’s disapproving voice.
But it was Christmas. Zoe had to call. She picked up the telephone only to set it down again.
Pathetic.
If Sean and the rest of the Hughes had taught her anything this past month, it was the importance of family. She needed to do this.
No more pretenses. No more being who she wasn’t.
Despite their differences, she loved her mother. And that meant sharing a few basic, important things with the governor. Like phone calls on Christmas.
Or the fact that Zoe had fallen in love.
She called her mother’s personal number. The phone rang and rang.
Relief mingled with disappointment. She continued to let it ring so it would switch her over to voice mail. At least she could leave a message.
“Vanessa Carrington,” a stately female voice said.
Anxiety shot through Zoe. “Merry Christmas, Mother.”
“Zoe. How good to hear from you,” she said. “We got your presents. It was very thoughtful of you. You’ll see some extra money deposited in your account. We all thought that would be more practical than gifts.”
Zoe smiled wryly to herself. She thought about the number of presents under Connie and Hank’s tree with her name on them. But Zoe knew her family meant well. “Thanks.”
“How are you doing?” Vanessa asked with genuine concern.
“Fine.” Zoe hesitated. “But Mother…I’ve met someone.”
“A man?”
“Yes.” She held her breath.
“Zoe.”
The disapproval in that one word made her cringe. “It’s not like that, Mother. I know I’d say that anyway, but he’s different from the others. His name is Sean Hughes. He owns a snowboarding company in Oregon. I met him on Thanksgiving Day. He broke his leg. I’ve been taking care of him.”
“Well, I… Are you living with him? In his house?”
“Yes, but it’s not what you’re thinking,” Zoe explained. “I’m working for him. With a salary. Under the circumstances, we haven’t… We’ve kept that part of our relationship professional.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Maybe…that you’re happy for me?”
“I am, of course, but Zoe…do you need money?”
A familiar frustration gnawed at her. The old Zoe would have cringed or slammed the phone down. Not the new Zoe. “No, Mother, that’s not why I called. I’m fine. I’ve earned enough that I haven’t had to touch my allowance this month.”
“That’s very responsible of you.”
“I’m learning,” she admitted. “It isn’t easy taking care of somebody. Or myself. Maybe now I have a better understanding of what you must have gone through with me. Especially after Dad died.”
“My goodness. You sound different,” Vanessa said. “More mature. If this is the influence of your…new man, I approve.”
“Thanks.”
“I mean it.” Her mother’s voice warmed. “Merry Christmas. Perhaps, since you’ve learned your lesson, it’s time you come home.”
“I’m staying in Oregon.”
“Why would you want to do that?”
Zoe thought about the smile on Sean’s face when he realized the second part of his present. Or the way he kissed her while they sat at the bonfire with his friends. Her friends now. Or the way he planned on her being with him next Christmas. Joy overflowed from her heart. “I’m in love with Sean.”
The line went silent.
Zoe gripped the receiver. “Mother?”
“Love?” her mother’s voice rose two octaves. “You can’t be in love. When did you say you met him? Thanksgiving?”
“I’ll admit it hasn’t been that long, but I know what I’m doing,” Zoe said firmly. “There’s nothing that will make me change my mind.”
“Nothing?”
“Nothing. Not even my trust fund,” she reiterated to drive home the point.
“Because of this man? What’s his name?”
“Sean Hughes. Yes, it’s because of him, but it’s also because of me. I finally know who I am. What I want.”
“He could be after your money. I’d hate for you to have your heart broken again. I’ll have him investigated.”
“There’s no need, Mom,” Zoe explained. “Sean has a successful company. His family has lived in the area forever. They’re very well-known, liked, down-to-earth. No skeletons in the closet.”
Only a lot of ex-girlfriends.
But she had her share of ex-boyfriends.
“This sounds serious.” Her mother sounded more concerned than ever. “Why don’t you bring him home so your brothers and I can meet him?”
“He’s still recovering from his fall, Mom,” Zoe said. “He has a tib-fib fracture. It’s healing, but traveling might be too hard on him.”
“You are more responsible.”
“I’m trying to be, but I’m still me, too.”
“Well, you,” Vanessa said. “It sounds like I need to come to you, then. How does the twenty-eighth sound?”
Zoe gulped. “That’s only three days away. Why don’t you wait until after the holidays?”
“I don’t want to wait. E-mail my assistant your contact info,” Vanessa said. “I’ll let you know when all the arrangements have been confirmed.”
“Sure.”
“Dinner’s ready so I have to go,” Vanessa said. “Have a Merry Christmas, Zoe. I love you.”
“I love you, too, Mother.”
Zoe hung up the phone.
Her mother, the venerable Vanessa Carrington, would be here in three days.
What in the world was Zoe going to tell Sean?
Talk about a magical Christmas.
Sitting in his parents’ living room, Sean smiled at the scene around him. Flames crackled in the fireplace. The scent of ham lingered in the air. Colorful ribbons and bows lay strewn on the carpet. Kids ran around with their new toys and smiles as bright as the lights on the nine-foot-tall Nobel fir tree. But his favorite part was Zoe.
She’d seemed nervous, a little distracted, after her phone call with her mother, but all of that seemed to disappear once they’d arrived here and his family pulled her into their holiday craziness.
He put his arm around Zoe. “Enjoying yourself?”
Her blue eyes sparkled, matching the new knit scarf she wore around her neck. “This is the best Christmas ever.”
“Yes, it is.”
Not even his mother’s not-so-subtle hints about how special it would be if he proposed right there at the Christmas celebration bothered him. Truth was, a marriage proposal didn’t seem like such a crazy idea any longer.
She loved him. He loved her.
More mistletoe appeared over them, compliments of Aunt Vera. There was no longer any awkwardness about kissing under it, no more pretense or lies. This was for real. He’d never felt so relaxed and happy.
Sean kissed Zoe firmly on the lips, as if they had been together forever, not just since Thanksgiving.
She stared at him with suddenly misty eyes. “I wish today didn’t have to end.”
“I know, but New Year’s is only a week away.” Sean had a lot of work to do between now and then. He cuddled with Zoe. “Why don’t you come with me to the Rail Jam Extravaganza so we can ring in the New Year together?”
The next morning, Zoe stood in the bathroom. She stared at her reflection in the mirror.
“Sean,” she said aloud. “There’s something I need to tell you. Flynn is actually my middle name. My last name is really Carrington. My mother is Governor Vanessa Carrington. You may have heard of her. And me.”
Lame. Zoe shook her head.
Thank goodness her mother didn’t arrive for two more days. Maybe by then Zoe would know what to say to Sean.
“Zoe.” His voice sounded different. Urgent. Anxious.
She hurried down the stairs. “Are you okay?”
Sean nodded once. He stood on his crutches. “The call for a rescue mission just went out. I need to head to the base camp and help.”
Just for a moment, she wondered what he thought he could do with two bad legs. But she bit her tongue.
“Sure,” Zoe said. “Let’s go.”
“I can hop a ride with Jake.”
“No. I want to be there. With you,” she said, so there could be no misunderstanding. “This is an important part of your life. I want to know what you do up there.”
A muscle flicked at his jaw. “I won’t be up there.”
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