“What if she doesn’t want to give up her life and stay here?” That wasn’t going to happen, because she was moving here and that was all there was to it.
His mother’s lips set in a thin line. He knew from past experience, that she was about to lose her temper. It didn’t happen very often, but when she did, it was frightening. She didn’t yell or rant, she became very still and the razor’s edge of her voice could slice anyone in two. “Her life and her destiny are in her hands. She must make her own decision. You need to tell her about who you are, but you can’t tell her about her future. If you try to trick her into staying or force her into staying, I’ll deliver her back to Austin myself. That’s a promise. Are we clear?”
His mother never made a promise/threat that she didn’t back up.
He really didn’t have a choice. “I understand.”
Her gaze bored into him. “I know you understand. I spoke plainly. I’ll have your word on it.”
He’d never been able to get away with anything or out think her. She’d always seen through him. Lana was like that too. He loved both of them for it. “You have my word.”
She nodded once, and that was that.
She resumed time, and he caught the snow globe before it shattered.
“Oh no. I’m so sorry. It must have slipped out of my hands.” She grabbed for the snow globe, and their fingers brushed.
The same zip of nervous excitement rocketed through him. She had to stay. She had to be okay. She had to choose him.
“Have dinner with me tonight?” They had to start somewhere.
She cradled the snow globe to her chest. “I can’t. The big cookie decorating contest is tonight, and then there’s the lighting of the town Christmas tree. And, I need to make dinner for the seniors.”
She pointed towards the dining room.
He’d forgotten all about that.
“Well, um... ” He glanced at his mother pleading for help.
“Don’t worry about dinner.” His mom waved it away like it was nothing. “I’ve got it. I can have Meta Anderson and Gillian Maybry help out. You two should go have some fun.” She stared directly at him. “After, you can come to the cookie decorating and the tree lighting. We can finish the gingerbread houses tomorrow.”
“Oh, what about all of the cookies that we need to make?” Lana didn’t look as excited as she used to before they went out on a date. In fact, she looked like she wanted a way out of spending time alone with him. Had he ruined his chances with her by hurting her in the past?
Sadness and regret nearly choked him to death. He couldn’t get her conversation with Jules out of his head. She wanted to know what was wrong with her, so she could fix it.
He had to make this right.
“Come on. It’s just dinner. No strings.” Even though he really wanted some tying of himself to her–forever. He had a lot to make up for and not much time to do it.
His mother winked at him. “We only need to bake them. I finished cutting them out last night.” She nodded towards the walk-in refrigerator. “I’m a bit of a night owl.”
“Oh.” Lana looked disappointed as she glanced at the walk-in. “I don’t remember seeing them in there.”
“They’re behind the boxes of produce.” His mother winked at him again.
He was willing to bet all of the cookies were now behind the boxes of produce and hadn’t been there before.
“Right.” Lana pinched the bridge of her nose just like he’d seen her do with Mark. “Dinner. Sure, why not.”
She sounded like it was the last thing she wanted to do.
“Great.” He refused to let her lukewarm response get to him. “I’ll cook.”
“You can cook?” Lana looked up, and the interest in her eyes gave him hope. “I don’t remember you knowing how to cook. In fact, you’re the only person I’ve ever met who actually burned water.”
“It was just that once when I forgot about the pot and left it boiling all day. I’ve learned a few things since then.” Unfortunately, none of them were about cooking. Surely, he could follow a recipe. He could just have the food appear, but the caveman part of his brain wanted to kill something for her, drag it home, cook it, and feed it to her. He suppressed a Neanderthal grunt. While he didn’t have time to hunt, he was sure he could pull off steaks on the grill, a baked potato, and a salad. How hard could it be? “I’ll pick you up at six.”
She looked down at her jeans. “Let’s keep it casual. Just two old friends getting together. I don’t feel right about going into the haunted closet and asking for anything... extra.”
Not only did she accept a possible haunted closet, but she refused to use it for frivolous things. How had he lived without her all of these years?
“You’re beautiful.” He kissed her on the cheek. “The clothes don’t matter. You’d still be beautiful in nothing.”
Lana’s eyes narrowed. “Excuse me.”
His mind wrapped around the words that had just come out of his mouth. “That came out wrong. I meant that you don’t need clothes because... um... even without them you’re so beautiful.”
“The longer you talk, the less charming you become.” His mother burst out laughing. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen him try to be charming. He’s really terrible at it. His brother got all of the charm. Poor Nick, every time he opens his mouth, words just fall out.” She laughed so hard tears leaked out of her eyes. “As a mom, I’d like to help him out, but I’m not sure where to start.”
Lana massaged the muscles in the back of her neck. “One of the most charming things about him is that he has no idea how to be charming. He’s authentic which in my experience has a charm all its own.” She sounded like she was contributing this tidbit of information against her own better judgment.
It looked like she was warming to him. His mood increased ten-fold. Maybe it wasn’t too late to make this right.
“Thanks.” He beamed at the compliment until he thought about it. “I think.”
Lana nodded. “It’s a good thing. Charm only gets you so far.”
“My brother will be so disappointed.” Nick matched her smile. “Six okay with you?”
“I’ll be here.” Lana finally smiled, and his heart melted.
His thoughts got a little cloudy, and he stared at her. He was supposed to do something, but he couldn’t remember what it was so he just stood there staring at her. Her green shirt matched her eyes, and it seemed to make her hair even copperier.
His mom elbowed him in the ribs. “Don’t you need to go home and get ready for your date? I’m pretty sure you need to clean your house.”
“Wait... what?” His mom’s words finally made it through the Lana haze. His mother was right. His house could use a once-over with the vacuum, and he wasn’t sure when he’d dusted last or for that matter if he’d ever dusted. He was a guy. Unless the dust collected on the remote control or his workout equipment, he didn’t really notice it. “Yes. I need to go.”
He needed to clean his house, get a grill, and figure out how to use it. He headed to the swinging door.
Right before he stepped through it, he glanced back at Lana. She was beautiful and caring and thoughtful and generous. And he wanted her to choose to stay here because he loved her. He wanted a future with her. He couldn’t lose her again.
Chapter 12
Lana wrapped the fluffy white bathrobe she’d found on the hook next to the tub around her and tied the belt around her waist. She bent over and wrapped a towel around her wet hair. She tried to not get her hopes up where Nick was concerned. It was just dinner. After this week, the chances that she’d ever see him again were slim to none.
She couldn’t trust him. She couldn’t fall into that trap again. She couldn’t let herself get hurt like that again. Picking up the pieces after he’d left had taken her years. She still couldn’t figure out what she’d done wrong.
She opened the closet where Janis had hung her clothes. There was one black business suit and her
gray business suit. Two shirts—one light blue and the other white hung behind the suits. She glanced at the jeans and shirts folded on her bed. Either jeans or a business suit. Neither possibility was that appealing.
Female vanity called for her to look fantastic so Nick would regret what he’d done to her. She grabbed the box of folded clothes from the closet downstairs and hung up the shirts. Maybe if she wore one of her business shirts, a pair of jeans, and topped it off with one of the suit jackets. As she hung up the last shirt, something red caught her eye.
It was a red dress, her red dress. Her favorite dress. She’d bought it on sale at Nordstrom and every time she wore it, she felt beautiful. She didn’t remember packing it. Or, for that matter, having seen it hanging in the closet two seconds ago. She looked down. Her matching red shoes were there.
Now, she knew for sure, she hadn’t packed those.
She glanced around checking for any sign of the resident ghost, but all she saw where white subway tiles.
“Thank you.” She said anyway. “I appreciate the help.”
No one answered.
She shook her head. She was talking to a ghost who delivered clothes she was sure she’d left in her closet at home. This wasn’t her first ghost, she’d seen one once before.
The Christmas day that her father collapsed, she’d sat in the hall outside the ICU frightened and alone. Her mother had been in the ICU holding her father’s hand, but they hadn’t let Lana in to see him. She’d alternately cried and prayed and tried to hold it together.
An old man came and sat beside her. Oddly enough, she remembered that he’d been wearing shorts and a Hawaiian Santa shirt. Back then, that had made her smile. Without saying a word, he took her hand and held it in both of his. For the longest time, they just sat their side-by-side. He was a complete stranger, but she’d felt comforted and loved.
Right before her mother came out to tell her that her father had passed away, the man looked down at her and told her that her father loved her and no matter what happened, he would always love her.
That stranger made her feel safe. When her mother had walked out into the hallway where Lana had been waiting, the stranger had just disappeared—and not like around the corner, but actually disappeared before her very eyes. She’d told her mother about the man, but she hadn’t believed her.
Just as she had at the hospital, she was certain that the spirit helping her out now was benevolent.
“Whoever you are, I wish I’d met you in life. We would have been friends. I can’t wait to tell my best friend, Jules, about you. She’s going to love you. She’s a veterinarian. We’re coming here on our next girl’s trip.” Lana looked around. “Please don’t go into the light or whatever until after you’ve met her.”
Now that she’d heard it out loud, she was being very selfish. “I mean you should go into the light or whatever if it’s your time, or if you’re in pain, or if you want to. All I’m saying is that I’d like for you to meet her, but if you’re waiting on loved ones to join you or the reason you’re still here resolves itself, I don’t want you to stick around just for me.” She glanced around the room looking for some sign of a yay or nay, but her toiletries were still lined up on the shelf above the sink, the towels were still neatly stacked on the built-in shelves next to the closet. Nothing moved or even rattled. Maybe the spirit had moved on to help another person.
It was a little self-centered of her to think she was the only person who needed help in the inn.
Forty minutes later, she’d used the hairdryer to dry her wavy hair into straight submission. She swiped some red lip gloss on her lips and stood back to check her appearance in the full-length mirror behind the bathroom door. She smoothed down nonexistent wrinkles in the front of her red wrap dress and slid her feet into her red sling-back heels. She felt beautiful. It was no longer about showing Nick what he’d given up, she wanted to look beautiful for herself. The inn’s ghost had gone out of her way to help out. At least, Lana thought it was out of the ghost’s way. She wasn’t sure about metaphysical travel methods.
Knocking started on the door to the stairwell that led to the attic.
She glanced at the clock on the bedside table. It was exactly six o’clock. Nick had always been punctual.
“Knock, knock anybody home?” He called from the bottom of the stairs.
“Come on up.” She walked out of the bathroom and told herself that they were just friends and nothing more. She glanced down at her red dress. She’d certainly dressed like they were more than friends.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to let myself in, but I wasn’t sure you could hear me knocking.” Halfway up the stairs, he caught sight of her. “Wow, you look amazing.”
“Thanks.” She couldn’t help the satisfied female smile she was wearing. It was the appropriate response to the daze look on his face. And, okay, some small part of her wanted to show him what’d he’d given up.
His eyes never left her as he ran up the rest of the steps. “Wow.” He looked a little sheepish. “I already said that didn’t I?”
His uncharm made her laugh. “Yes.”
“Wow.” He just flat out stared at her. “Wow.”
He had on a charcoal sport coat over a white collared shirt and dark jeans. The jacket made his eyes look bluer, and the white shirt accentuated the slight tan on his face. His five o’clock shadow gave him just the right amount of devil-may-care.
“You look handsome. Wow back at you.” She couldn’t help but admire him. He’s always been attractive, but the years had mellowed out his baby face. She was pretty sure that friends noticed things like that about each other.
He shook his head to clear it. “I promise I know more words than just wow.”
It was nice to be admired. Not that she hadn’t been admired by a man since him, but no other man had ever been as dumbfounded by her as Nick. She’d missed that and so many other things when he’d left. She mashed her lips together to keep from asking him why he’d left. It could wait. Tonight, she just wanted to enjoy their time together. It was casual... just a couple of friends getting together for old time sake. This time, she had zero expectations when it came to Nick.
Nothing but friends.
She told herself she believed that.
“Are you ready?” He smiled down at her. “Do you have a coat?”
“Oh, right, let me grab a jacket.” She walked back into the bathroom and went to the closet, but her two suit jackets weren’t there. She slid the hangers back and forth. Only her shirts and suit skirts hung in the closet. She checked the shelf where her new jeans sat perfectly folded. Her jackets weren’t there. She glanced around the bathroom in case she’d taken them out of the closet and let them somewhere. Nothing.
She walked back into the main room and scanned every available surface. Her suit jackets were gone.
“What’s wrong?” He followed her gaze.
“You’re not going to believe this, but I think the ghost who left me this dress has taken my suit jackets. I thought she was into helping me. But why take my jackets?” It made no sense.
“You mean the same one who left the box of clothes for you in the downstairs closet?” He grinned. “We should probably talk about that. There are some things I need to tell you.”
“Okay, fine.” She was just going to have to go coatless. She snapped her fingers as a thought hit. “Maybe it’s some sort of trade-off like she has to take my jackets in order to bring me my favorite dress from home.” She pointed to the dress.
“She?” He seemed only interested and not like he thought she was crazy.
“Yes, the ghost has to be a woman. She brought me the shoes I like to wear with this dress.” She stuck her foot out so he could see her shoes. “What man would know to do that?”
“She has great taste.” A slow smile ambled across his face. “That dress is killer. You look... wow.” He rolled his eyes. “Now, I’m back to wow.”
“Do you know anything about the ghost? Did she d
ie here?” Lana wanted to know all she could about her helpful ghost. All those years ago in the hospital, she’d never been able to thank the man who’d sat with her. It would be nice to be able to repay the person or spirit, who was helping her.
“I’m not aware of anyone having died here. I think I can explain your ghost—”
“No, no. I’m fine with the ghost. I know I told you about the one who sat with me at the hospital the day my father died.” She glanced back at the bathroom. “It has to be a ghost otherwise, there’s some creepy person breaking into my room and leaving me clothes. Trust me, ghost is a better explanation.”
“You’re right. It is a ghost at least in a manner of speaking.” Nick shrugged out of his sports jacket and held it open for her. “This should keep you warm.”
“No, no, I’ll be fine.” She shook her head. “You’re going to need your coat.”
“I really have to insist.” He pointed to the stairs. “If my mom sees you without a coat, she’s going to assume that I didn’t offer you mine. That will upset her and she’ll lecture me on manners. Probably, my father will overhear and then he’ll start in. I’m looking at an entire evening’s worth of how they taught me better.” He waggled the coat. “You’d be doing me a favor, trust me.”
She slipped her arms into the sleeves of his coat, and he fitted it around her. It was warm from his having just worn it. She tried not to be charmed. It smelled good too. She brought the collar up to her nose and sniffed. It smelled like him—sandalwood and cinnamon. She’d missed that scent—his scent.
“Did you just sniff my coat?” He grinned, and both of his dimples dented his cheeks.
She was busted, so she tried to play it off as casual. “Yes. I owed you a sniff from the elevator yesterday.”
“That’s not fair. Yesterday was a covert sniff. You just took a blatant sniff.”
“It wasn’t that covert. I caught you.” She pulled her hair over to the side and presented her neck. “Go for it.”
Welcome to Christmas, Texas: A Christmas Network Novel Page 10