Unforgettable Christmas - Gifts of Love (The Unforgettables Book 3)

by Mimi Barbour

  Jace groaned as he got out of bed and pulled on his pants. “I think I’ve spoiled you, woman. What if I said we’re going out to dinner instead?”

  She threw a pillow at him and he ducked just in time. “I’d say you’d better be full of you-know-what,” she retorted with a grin.

  When Jace put on a T-shirt and folded muscular arms across his chest, Niagara licked her lips – that those beefy arms had power, but could hold her so tenderly were an incredibly, heady boon.

  She adored everything about him.

  “For your information, I have everything ready for our Friday night martinis, and Moi,” he pointed to himself, “has a nice tempting appetizer ready to put in the oven.”

  Her nostrils flared appreciatively. “Something else smells mighty good. What is it?”

  “Mr. Crock Pot has been simmering since early this afternoon – I call it Jace’s Jumbo Jambalaya. It’s a new recipe.” He held out his hand. “Come on, get up and put on a robe. Dinner treats await us.”

  ***

  Their martinis and the asparagus on the table between them, the couple dug in with gusto. They ate and drank in a companionable silence until Niagara said, “Oh, by the way, I ordered that new computer software to enhance the graphics I’m currently using. You know, the package we were discussing earlier in the week.”

  Jace looked at her over the rim of his martini glass. “Good. I think it’s a great investment and will make your job much easier.”

  She smiled and popped the last of her appetizer into her mouth. “I used our company credit card, but then…”

  Jace took her hand. “Shush. As much as I love how we’ve become business partners and that our new enterprise is marching along successfully, and so soon, I’d rather talk about something else, besides our professional lives.”

  “Yes, but…”

  “No buts,” he said firmly.

  Niagara pulled his hand to her lips and kissed it. Jace’s persistence that they not discuss business gave her the cheap way out of sharing she’d lost her new smart phone. It contained all their accounts listed in her contacts file.

  Not yet password protected…

  “What do you have in mind?” she asked nonchalantly.

  “I thought we’d take my father’s motor coach out for a spin in a week or so, before it gets too cold. We could hit a campground or two, on our way to the falls.”

  His love gave a delicate, but unmistakable, shudder. “Jace, I’d really rather drive the car and spend the evenings in hotels.”

  Jace got up, took a ladle from the tool rack, and gave his jambalaya a smooth stir. “Oh, come on, it’ll be fun, an adventure. You’ve never been inside the rig. The thing’s like a hotel on wheels. Plus we’ll have all the privacy we want, without me having to worry about the other hotel guests hearing your scream when…”

  “Stop,” Niagara quickly interjected, a rosy blush creeping over her face. “You’re embarrassing me. Besides, I’m not a nature girl. I don’t even own a sleeping bag, for crying out loud.”

  “Finish your martini, dinner’s almost ready,” he merely replied.

  She did as he asked, and held her glass out for another.

  He laughed softly as he refreshed their drinks. “Who said anything about needing a sleeping bag? The RV has a nice, comfy Queen sixed bed.” He fixed a stern glance on her. “This isn’t just about traveling in the RV, is it?”

  Niagara avoided his gaze and plucked an olive from her glass. She bit it in half and made a great show of chewing it thoroughly. “I suppose not,” she admitted. “I just don’t want to miss the Giants game.”

  He snorted. “Since when have you become a football fan?”

  She studied her nails. “I’ve always been partial to a good football game. The way those players are all over each other trying to move that pigskin down the field is a special viewing favorite of mine.”

  Jace walked over to the table and tipped up her chin with his forefinger. “It’s time, love.”

  Her eyes met his, but then swiftly looked away. “What if they don’t like me?”

  “My dad and his wife will adore you. How could they not? You’re beautiful, intelligent, and you love me. Actually you saved me, you know, and my family realizes that, too.”

  “Saved you from what?”

  “You know what from. We’ve discussed this many times. You rescued me. You pulled me from my despair over Pete’s death, pushed me to move forward with my career, and forestalled the ultimate loneliness that threatened to bog me down. The additional bonus of being in a romantic relationship with you was the day you agreed to become my business partner. We’re a great match and don’t you forget it.”

  Tears sparkled in her amber-brown eyes at his words, and the emotional way he’d delivered them. She quickly recalled his false bravado the evening they’d met, and realized how far he’d come, these last few months, to be able to convey such lovely sentiment.

  She’d do anything for this man. If going on a camping trip, even if there were bugs and critters around, made him happy, so be it. She had nothing to fear, with Jace to protect her. Meeting the parents he seemed so fond of suddenly sounded like a nice proposition, since her own parents had been gone for so long.

  Jace had chatted about his father and stepmother often, until she felt like she already knew them. Certainly, it couldn’t hurt to have some parental figures around, as long as they liked her.

  “Okay,” she nodded. “Perhaps you’re right. An adventure sounds like wicked fun, as long as you know how to drive the coach, because I’m not sure I’ll have the nerve to drive it myself.”

  “And my parents?” he asked with a slight smile. “You won’t have an apoplexy over meeting them?”

  “No,” she replied. “Actually, I’ve been thinking about it and you’re right – it’s time. Now, about your brother and sister, and their spouses. Do you mind if we postpone my meeting them for another time? Making nice with your parents will be fine, but then leaving for a trip in the RV’s a tad, well… let me put it this way. These are big steps for me, and a bit overwhelming. Are you all right with that?”

  Jace steeled himself from gathering her into his arms and kissing away her lack of confidence. Although he found her emotions unusual, her earnest plea for his cooperation touched his heart. Once again, it enabled him to act like the Alpha male he was, to protect his mate and her fragile sensibilities.

  “I get you, Babe, no worries,” he told her. “All you have to do is be yourself, the wonderful, compassionate, and eclectic woman I fell in love with on our first non-date.”

  She giggled and poked him in the belly. “Enough of the flattery, wise guy,” she quipped. “It sure was a non-date, until it wasn’t, though. I still can’t believe I passed out on our way to my room.”

  “And I can’t believe we slept the night away fully dressed,” he joked. “Look at us now. Waking up each morning in our birthday suits, and so well rested, it makes getting up for work an enormous pleasure.”

  “I’ll say,” she replied. “Now, are you going to stir that stew all night, or am I going to starve to death?”

  Jace gave her an elegant bow. “Coming right up, Ma’am. I live to serve.”

  Niagara sent him a wink. “Good, as long as it’s a meal that you’re serving.”

  Where the hell did she put it all? He wondered to himself as he ladled the jambalaya into two bowls. Even though she ate like a vulture on road kill whenever he cooked, which was often, she never seemed to gain an ounce.

  He opened the oven where French bread had been warming and, placing it on a breadboard, sliced it into one-inch pieces. The butter was already on the table and softened. After grabbing the ice bucket with the chardonnay, their meal was ready to commence.

  Chapter Two

  Memory Musings

  Jace walked out of the bathroom after his shower, just in time to find Niagara stretching in all her naked splendor as she awoke.

  For two cents, he’d ditch the to
wel wrapped around his waist and hop right back into bed with her, but they had errands to run.

  This was Saturday, after all.

  Noting his beloved had rolled over with a soft snore, he shook his head and headed to the kitchen. The aromatic coffee that would soon be brewing always woke her up.

  Go figure. Jace could bang pots and pans until the neighbor’s dog barked, or turn the XM radio up full blast, but neither disturbed her slumber. Put a pot of coffee on, though, and she was bright eyed and ready to tango, the instant the scent hit her nostrils.

  Once the coffee was going, Jace popped two pieces of raisin bread into the toaster, to tide them over until they grabbed brunch at their favorite restaurant. They both loved the entire menu, Jace even more, because it gave him ideas for new recipes to cook for Niagara on Sundays.

  He spied a note clasped in a magnet on the side of their stainless refrigerator, and gave it a peek. A chuckle escaped him, as he read Niagara’s elegantly scrawled version of their Saturday shopping agenda.

  “Mums to decorate for autumn, Pumpkin for Jack-O-Lantern, Scarecrow, Stop at Cellular store for Niagara’s upgrade.”

  Jace scratched his head thoughtfully. Hadn’t they recently purchased a new cell for her…?

  “Good morning, my love,” said Niagara, tying her robe as she gracefully strolled into the kitchen. “Do I smell coffee?”

  Although she questioned him about the coffee every day, he didn’t mind at all. Giving her a quick smooch, he poured the brew into matching burgundy and gray mugs, and set them on the table.

  As he got the toaster going, he looked once more at her list. “You’d like to decorate the house for Halloween and Thanksgiving, I take it?”

  Niagara nodded. “Yes, won’t that be fun? I’ve never decorated for harvest time before and I’m so excited. Thank you in advance for indulging me, Sweetie.”

  “Not a problem. Getting rid of my dreary apartment and renting this house with you is sure one of this year’s highlights for me. Decorating it together will be a blast, especially for Christmas. Toast’s ready.”

  Niagara munched happily on the raisin toast. “Another thing I’ve been missing since my parents died is a home cooked Thanksgiving dinner.” She shook her head sadly. “Did I ever tell you how I’ve spent my Thanksgivings the past decade?”

  Jace sipped his coffee, staring at her over the rim of his mug. “No, I don’t believe it’s come up.”

  She nodded. “Yeah, well, I’d book a hotel in Atlantic City and drive there from Allentown the Wednesday before. On Thanksgiving, the casino supplied hot turkey sandwiches to the people who were gambling.” Her face was etched in sadness. “Was a lonely way to spend a holiday that’s supposed to be all about family.”

  He put down his mug and strode over to his love. Taking her hands, he pulled her to her feet and embraced her tenderly.

  “That’s something you never have to worry about again, darling,” he told her. “I almost hesitate to ask, but what about Christmas? How did you spend your day?”

  Niagara sent him a soft smile. “Ah, but Christmas is another story. I decorated the house the weekend after Thanksgiving, every year, using every decoration my mother used to put up during my childhood. I hung the garland my mother knitted with red and green yarn, and then she’d added tiny silver bells and silk poinsettias with a glue gun. It’s very intricate, and she had such talent with her knitting needles.”

  She sighed with the happy memories. “Mom once made a huge wreath with two wire coat hangers. She attached fake spruce, pine, and holly to it with thin wire, took the glue gun and added Christmas balls of every color, and then wound lights throughout the wreath. She also put a huge red velvet bow on it, and hung it on the door each year. I pack her decorations with tissue paper when the holidays are over, to keep them safe for the next year.”

  “Where are they now?”

  “Stored in my walk-in closet at the house. When I rented the place, I put a padlock on the door to keep my renters out. Some of my mother and father’s photo albums are stored in there as well, and Mom’s headpiece and wedding veil. Irreplaceable items, all of them.”

  Jace left her to fetch the coffee pot, and refilled their mugs. He sat back down in his chair and peered at her thoughtfully. “We should go and get those treasures right away, don’t you agree? I can’t imagine why you left them behind, when you moved in with me. We have plenty of storage here.”

  Niagara looked away. “I wasn’t sure, at the time, if our arrangement was the permanent kind,” she whispered. “Plus, I didn’t want to seem too forward.”

  Jace’s eyes widened with disbelief. “Oh, for the love of God, Niagara, that’s ridiculous. When you and I went house-hunting and found this place, was I not clear this place would be yours, just as much as it’s mine?”

  “Yes, you were very clear,” she replied hotly. “You told me I wouldn’t be tied down staying here with you, if I didn’t want to be,” she cried. “What makes you think I’d ever consider that option? I rented out the only house I’ve ever lived in, so we could make a home together, but since we only signed the lease together for one year, I wasn’t sure about the duration of our commitment.”

  Her man shook his head, and then began to clear the table. Apparently, their Saturday was swiftly taking an awkward, downward spiral.

  He took his time with the clean up to gather his thoughts, before further damage either ruined the day, or their weeks to come.

  Jace also knew what she wanted, no, needed to hear. He turned from the sink, flipped on the radio, and played with the dials until he found the station he sought. Smooth classic rock music surrounded them.

  When a Four Seasons cover band began the song they’d fallen in love to, he held out his hand. “May I have this dance?” he queried.

  Niagara nodded once, and took his hand in hers. He slowly spun her around until they were face to face once more, and began to waltz her around the kitchen.

  “I love you, baby, and if you say all right, we’ll have us, baby, a new lease signed up tight…” he softly sang into her ear.

  Niagara pushed him away playfully, but her face bore a false smile. That Jace didn’t step up and make the heartier commitment she yearned for was disappointing, but she couldn’t help but laugh at his silly rendition of their song.

  “Cool it, you nut,” she said, snapping off the radio. “I get it. A new ‘lease’ in our lives will make all the difference.”

  “But, wait…” her man began.

  She placed a finger on his lips. “Not now. Let’s get ready for our errands, shall we? Perhaps we can discuss those particulars later, over brunch.”

  “Gosh, Niagara, you don’t know what I wanted to say,” he replied as she headed towards the bedroom and closed the door.

  Jace knew the window of his opportunity to propose marriage had shut down, that he was a serious nitwit. He wanted to tear out his hair in frustration. He wanted to rush into the bedroom, kneel before her, and make his feelings known.

  He did none of those things. A voice inside of his head whispered, “Find a better time, you ass. Buy her an engagement ring first. Maybe then she’ll take you seriously.”

  Jace glanced towards the heavens. “Thanks, Pete,” he whispered to his guardian angel. “I’ll do that.”

  Chapter Three

  An Unexpected Delivery

  Niagara was putting the finishing touches on her makeup when the doorbell rang.

  “I’ll get it,” Jace called.

  She cocked an ear towards the bedroom door, wishing it wasn’t closed. Muffled, masculine voices were all she could decipher and disappointed her nosy radar.

  Giving herself a critical once-over in the mirror, she blotted her lipstick and headed for the living room.

  Jace and another man stood in the foyer. She disregarded the stranger, and focused on her man. “Who’s this, Jace? A Jehovah Witness? Please tell him we’re not interested.”

  A muddled expression contorting his face, Jac
e scratched his head and pointed to the guy standing beside him.

  “This guy claims to be an Axelrod Heatherton.”

  Niagara bit back a laugh. “Axelrod? Isn’t that the name of a dairy product?”

  “Babe, I don’t think you get it. He says his last name is Heatherton,” he enunciated.

  Niagara’s mouth popped open. She stepped forward and looked at the stranger full in the face - a man who looked exactly like a younger version of her father, black curly hair, green eyes, and all.

  Cupping her flaming cheeks with both hands, she cried, “Oh, my God. Your last name can’t be Heatherton! Who the hell are you?”

  The man looked down and shuffled his feet. “I’m Thelma Heatherton’s half brother.”

  “But I’m Thelma Heatherton,” she yelled.

  Axelrod gazed at the ceiling as he pulled a document from his shirt pocket and unfolded it. “It says right here on this birth certificate Thelma’s half brother’s name is Axelrod Heatherton. Mother’s name was Myra Chadwick and father was Joseph Heatherton. They’re both deceased.”

  Niagara snatched the paper from his hand and scanned the contents. “This doesn’t prove anything,” she said, her lips pressed in a firm line as she handed it to Jace.

  He took the document, looked it over and sighed. “Why don’t you come in, Mr. Heatherton, and have a seat, so we can sort this out. Niagara, come along.”

  Axelrod nodded at the invitation. “Yes, I would like to talk to my half sister,” he replied to him. “Thelma needs to know what her half brother’s been doing since the parents died.”

  The man called Axelrod began walking towards the living room, when he suddenly began to do a two-step cha-cha during his short stroll to one of the chairs.

  Niagara shook her head in amazement at his little dance, until Jace took her by the elbow and escorted her into the living room. “Have a seat, dear,” he said through clenched teeth.

  She sat on the sofa with a dull plop and folded her arms. “So, where have you been all these years, Axelrod, that you suddenly show up at my door? How did you know how to find me?”