Christmas Joy
Page 30
“It was. It is.” She shrugged. “But I don’t think it’s what I really want anymore.”
“You okay?” Ben placed his hand on her cheek. Looking into her eyes for the truth.
She nodded her head slowly. “Surprisingly, I am. I thought I wanted that so badly, but today, tonight, right now, it doesn’t seem quite so important.”
He pulled her into his arms. “It was your Christmas wish.”
“My priorities are changing. There are more stars. I can make a new wish.”
“Can I take some credit for that?”
“Well, you’re an accountant. It is all in the numbers, right?”
“Yeah. Something like that. If you were to make that wish over again … tonight…” He pulled her into his arms. “Right now. What would it be?” He tipped her chin up with his fingers and kissed her. Slowly. Tenderly. Then ran his thumb across her lips. “Wish on a star.”
She glanced up. “You pick the one.” Her voice shook.
“Doesn’t matter which one you pick. If not in the sky, then in our hearts, in our memories.” He brushed his fingers over her eyes.
She closed them, relaxing with the moment.
“Tell me.” His soothing voice probed further.
“I wish how I feel right this minute would never end.”
Then his mouth claimed hers. “I want that wish to come true for you.”
“I’m afraid.”
He took her hands into his. “Don’t be. I’ll never hurt you on purpose. We can do this. We’ll take it slowly.”
“You’re right. I take huge risks in business, but I don’t take risks with my heart. I can’t deny that, but I’ve fallen in love with you. And I’m afraid. Not afraid in a bad way, more nervous and excited in a really good way. Eager?”
“Excuse me? Did you say—?”
“Oh, what? I say you’re right, and you just quit listening.”
“No. I don’t need to be right. My brain couldn’t process that last part because what I thought I heard you say was you love me.”
“I did,” she said quietly, her lips quivering.
“I never thought I’d hear those words from those lips, and they sound so sweet. Say it again.”
“I’m falling in love with you.”
“You’re my perfect match. You are my joy. I was afraid to believe it could happen so fast, but something my mom said the other day really hit me. She said I used to be fearless as a little boy. Fearless.”
“You’re not going to try to fly off the second story with a towel for a cape, are you?”
“No.” He laughed. “Not today, anyway.”
“Good. Because that could be dangerous.”
“And if I broke my leg, I couldn’t take walks with you. I want to take lots of walks with you. And runs. In the rain. Or the snow. All the time!” he exclaimed with intense pleasure.
A warning voice whispered in her head. Licking her lips nervously, she said, “Long-distance relationships can be difficult.”
“Yeah, but if it’s as real as this … we’ll figure something out.”
Relief filled her. “You’ve touched me in a special way, about so many things. Things I thought I never wanted to feel again. Thank you for that.”
He held up a hand to silence her. “Do you hear that?”
Unsure of where the sound was coming from. “The bells?”
“The bells on Christmas Eve.”
Joy bit her lip to stifle a laugh. “But it’s not Christmas Eve.”
“Not technically, but here in Crystal Falls, we ring them in celebration of Christmas during the Crystal Christmas Cookie Crawl too. At ten. So, it’s not quite midnight. On almost Christmas Eve.”
The warmth of his smile echoed in his voice. “I’m trying to be romantic here. Roll with it. And you are the best part about it.” Ben kissed her softly.
“And you are the reason I will love every Christmas from now on. Including the real one next week.” She touched her lips to his. “Thank you for that gift.”
“Excuse us,” Renee said. “Sorry, someone said they saw you come back here. Is this a bad time?”
“No. I want you to meet Ben.”
“Ben.” Renee looked at Joy. “The Ben?”
Joy giggled, and Ben took her hand.
“I’ve heard a lot about you, Ben,” Renee said.
Kevin reached out to shake Ben’s hand. “Nice to meet you, man.”
“Well, this looks cozy, and the girls are pooped out. We’re going to head back to the inn, but I had to ask you about something before I left.”
“What’s that?”
“Did you ever open the envelope from Poppy?”
“No. It said wait until Christmas.”
“Feels like Christmas in Crystal Falls,” Renee reasoned. “Go get it.”
“Okay, I’ll be right back.”
Joy went inside and pulled the silver envelope from her purse, where it had been ever since the day Poppy gave it to her. She carried it back downstairs and outside, where Renee and Ben were waiting. “Kevin took the girls on back to the car. They were getting cold.”
“Okay, well, let’s make this quick, then.” She slid her finger under the flap and lifted the embossed foil sticker that held it closed. “It’s not a Christmas card.”
Dear Joy,
Just a personal little something from me to you. Changes are abounding at Wetherton’s, and we will be conducting business a bit differently than in the past. You have been an important part of our external support. A real part of the Wetherton’s family and values.
The world could use more shining stars like you in it. You sparkle from the inside and are destined for great things. I’m bringing our market research in-house. I would love you to be on my leadership team.
I’ll be announcing a new store and corporate offices opening near Charlotte, NC, on January 1. If you’re up to a new challenge in your career, I hope you’ll call me directly the first week of January to discuss.
Wishing you a brilliantly shiny new year,
Poppy Wetherton
Renee squealed and grabbed both Joy’s arms. “This is great! More than great. Amazing! Oh my gosh. I can’t believe you have a chance to work at Poppy’s side. She’d be the most amazing mentor!”
“It doesn’t exactly say that.” But her heart was pounding. It wasn’t a sure thing, but it sure was a compliment. That meant something.
“In Charlotte? That’s commuting distance,” Ben added.
“Well, it’s implied,” Renee said. “A new opportunity. She’s handpicking her winning team. And you’re on it. And she trusted you with top-secret news.”
Renee had a point. The leaders at MacDonald-Webber would die if they knew that she’d been walking around with this news in her purse all this time.
“We can’t breathe a word of this,” Joy said. “Promise me. We have to keep her secret. You can’t even tell Kevin. Promise me.”
“I promise. No question about it, but you have to admit this is exciting. Ruby would be happy to have you nearby. Your condo will sell in a heartbeat. Or you could rent it out. No-brainer. I’ll miss you like crazy, but we can still visit.”
“Or I could steal you from MacDonald-Webber.”
“Now you’re talking. Yes! Steal me. Do that! We make such a great team. It would be amazing. And there’s another plus too.”
“What’s that?”
“You’d be closer to Ben.” Renee nudged Ben. “Is that what you were thinking?”
“You read my mind.” Ben smiled. “I might be getting exactly what I dreamed of for Christmas.”
“And every Christmas to come.”
About the Author
USA Today bestselling author NANCY NAIGLE delivers small-town love stories filled with hope, joy, and a whole lot of heart. Now happily retired from a career in finance, she devotes her time to writing novels and antiquing. A Virginia girl at heart, Nancy now calls North Carolina home. You can sign up for email updates here.
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Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Chapter Twenty-six
Chapter Twenty-seven
Chapter Twenty-eight
Chapter Twenty-nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-one
Chapter Thirty-two
Chapter Thirty-three
About the Author
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
CHRISTMAS JOY. Copyright © 2016 by Nancy Lee Naigle. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
www.stmartins.com
Cover design by Kerri Resnick
Cover photograph © PlainPicture/Peter Frank
The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:
Names: Naigle, Nancy, author.
Title: Christmas joy / Nancy Naigle.
Description: First Edition. | New York: St. Martin’s Griffin, 2016.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016020659 | ISBN 9781250106070 (paperback) | ISBN 9781250106087 (e-book)
Subjects: LCSH: Christmas stories. | BISAC: FICTION / Romance / Contemporary. | GSAFD: Love stories.
Classification: LCC PS3614.A545 C48 2016 | DDC 813/.6—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016020659
e-ISBN 9781250106087
Our e-books may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, extension 5442, or by e-mail at MacmillanSpecialMarkets@macmillan.com.
First Edition: October 2016