A CHRISTMAS COLLECTION

by Wilton, Patrice

  His eyes burrowed into hers, as if wanting to read her mind, but her mind was flopping all over the place, so he wouldn’t learn much. She pulled his head toward her and kissed him. At first tentatively, but then she grew restless, and wanted more than that. She wanted to taste his sweetness.

  His tongue met hers, and the fire inside of her sparked into a flame. Her fingers splayed into his hair, holding his head so that she could lay claim to his mouth. He might not like the women who wanted him, and after this evening he might not want her again. But tonight he was hers. For this hour. Until ten o’clock, and then like a pumpkin the carriage would deliver them home, and he’d be gone.

  Leaving not so much as a shoe.

  She giggled.

  “Now what?” he murmured, his mouth nibbling down to her neck.

  “I feel like Cinderella. At the stroke of ten, this magic will be over.”

  “It doesn’t have to end.”

  Her insides exploded. With want. With need.

  “Yes, it does. But we still have some time left.” She rolled her head back, loving the feel of his tongue, his teeth, as he kissed and nipped the length of her neck and then took her mouth once more.

  She opened her mouth, taking his tongue, and plunging with her own. The kiss was electrifying, sizzling her from the tips of her toes to the hairline. Soul-deep kisses that would warm her memories for many nights to come.

  Finally, she gasped, unable to breathe. Her eyes widened as she gazed beyond him at the sky. “Look at the moon. It’s almost full. So big and bright. Did you arrange for that too?”

  “Of course I did. I wanted a perfect night for you.”

  “I see why you’re popular,” she said with a teasing grin. “Do you make all your ladies feel this special?”

  “No. And I don’t have any ladies to speak of. Present company excluded.” His hands played with the strands of her hair. “Last summer there was someone. But it only lasted a few months. She went back to California.”

  “Her loss,” Jennie answered, and kissed him once more.

  The ride through the park was lovely, although too dark to see much except the same pretty lamp posts that were on Main Street, and a lake that was frozen over. She imagined that was the popular skating pond, but at this hour it was deserted.

  He squeezed her hand. “Close your eyes. I have one more surprise.”

  She did as he asked, wondering what more he could offer her.

  “Okay. Open them now.”

  When she did, she gasped. There was a huge Ferris Wheel all lit up, and a lovely carousel too. Oh, how the children would love this!

  “Unbelievable! This is so sweet, and amazing. No wonder you wanted me to see your park. And why you love Heaven so much.”

  “What’s not to love? We have everything we need a half hour away, but here we have something the city can’t offer. A communal sense of how life should be—a peaceful existence, with security, and serenity.”

  Her insides rumbled. It would be easy to live here, but she’d hate to relocate the children and then find out that this was all a fantasy. Or that Nick’s interest in her wasn’t real. Not that he’d be the number one reason she’d move here, of course. But how would it be to see him every day and not have his arms to depend on?

  She sat back, putting a little distance between her and Nick on the return ride. He seemed content to hold her hand and not ask for anything more. He was a wise man, she decided. Too wise to ask for things he shouldn’t, and to take only what was offered.

  When the carriage stopped in front of the Inn, Nick jumped down and held out his hand. She accepted his help, then thanked the driver, and again patted the horse.

  “It was an amazing ride,” she told Darcy. “Thank you so much. I loved every minute.”

  “Anytime.” He doffed his cap. “Hope to see you again soon. Have a lovely night now.”

  “I will.” She turned to thank Nick but he was standing at the doorway of the hotel, holding the door for her to enter.

  “You don’t need to come in,” she said, brushing past him, feeling her heart flutter like a trapped bird.

  “I would love a nightcap. Won’t you join me?”

  She saw the bar was still open, and two other people were seated at a small cozy corner table sipping on a hot whipped cream drink.

  “That looks delicious,” she said. “Okay.” Jennie didn’t want the magic to end. What harm would another half hour do? She could sleep in the morning. No kids to worry about. When was the last time she had that? The day before they were born?

  They ordered Kahlua coffees and sat in the cozy armchair by the window. His long legs were stretched out under the table and his feet touched hers.

  She set her drink on the low table. “I can’t thank you enough.”

  “Did I make you happy?” he asked, his eyes dropping to her mouth and flushed cheeks.

  Oh yeah! It had been a long time since she’d been kissed like that. Even though she and Daniel had been happily married, their kisses had grown less passionate. Tonight had made her feel young again, starry-eyed, explosive, like rockets and flares were going off. She smiled, her heartbeat picking up again. “Very.”

  “That’s all the thanks I need.”

  “I’m going to miss this town when I’m gone,” she said simply, knowing she’d miss him too. But she needed to get back to her kids and family and reality, and the numerous responsibilities that being a single parent brings.

  “You’re leaving in the morning?” Nick put his hands around the hot glass mug, his eyes on the whipped cream and not her face.

  “I am. It’s Sunday and the insurance adjustor never called me back. It’s doubtful that I will hear anything until Monday. Not sure if we will meet then, or after Christmas. So there is no reason for me to hang around here. It’s only a half hour drive.”

  “That’s true.” He picked up his spiked coffee and took a big sip, then wiped the whipping cream off his lips. “Drop by if you do get back here in the next few days, or when you return for your car. I’d like to see you and the kids again.”

  “I’d like to see you too.” She looked at him, wondering if he could be the one. She didn’t feel ready to love again, but her children needed a father in their lives, and one day she would have to open her heart and share her bed. She almost wished it could be him.

  “Good. Don’t forget, I have a house for sale. After the holidays, and before you buy something else, you might want to take a look.”

  “I might.” She smiled, feeling better knowing that she had a solid reason to see him again. “Before I make an offer on anything I need to have my Virginia house sold. I priced it well, and hopefully it should sell before summer. That would be the ideal time to move.”

  “Agreed. So you won’t be moving quite yet? For some reason, I thought you were in a hurry to relocate.”

  “No. I want the kids to finish the school year where they are. This holiday I want to spend some time looking around at areas and homes to see what is available, and what I can afford. Plus I’d need at least two or three month’s closing time for my home, and also the one I’d be buying.”

  “That makes sense.” He finished his coffee, his eyes on her face,

  She drank hers slowly, half wishing the night didn’t have to end.

  “It’s been a long time since I enjoyed myself so much.” She pushed the cup aside and batted back tears. “What are you doing for the holidays? Is your restaurant open for Christmas?”

  He smiled. “No. We’re sold out Christmas Eve, and then we stay closed until the 28th. I wanted to give Ally and Byron a few days off in case they want to go visit family.” He shrugged. “Ally’s been with me a year, Byron two, and yet they never talk about their family. I asked a few times, but they just shrug it off.”

  “Well, that being the case, maybe you should join us for Christmas dinner. I know my parents would love to have you. And the kids would enjoy it too.” The words were spoken impulsively but she knew it was
true. The only thing she hadn’t added was how much his visit would mean to her.

  “How about you?” he asked slowly.

  She held his look. “Please come. I might find us some mistletoe.”

  “Confirm with your family,” he said with a smile. “And then give me a call.” He pulled out his wallet and handed her a business card with the restaurant number and his own personal cell. “Anytime.”

  Her heart jumped and skidded. She swallowed nervously. Oh my, but he did things to her insides. It was deliciously scary.

  “I will.” She pushed herself out of the comfortable chair, knowing she’d better leave before asking him to stay. “Thanks for everything.”

  “Drive safely tomorrow. Take care.”

  They looked at each other, and she very much wanted to kiss him. But not here in the lobby under bright lights. It had been a magical thing on the carriage ride, and she didn’t want to sully the image now. If they kissed again, she wanted it to mean something. To be real.

  “Goodnight, Nick.” She turned and fled.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Jennie woke up the following morning feeling refreshed after a long night’s sleep. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d slept so well, but she knew it was before Daniel’s accident. Just like everyone in the world remembers where and what they were doing when the terrorists attacked the Twin Towers, that phone call telling her that her husband’s copter went down was firmly etched in her memory.

  She’d been picking up groceries from a local upscale market, selecting her organic vegetables and salads when her cell phone rang. She had her cart half full. Organic chicken, and meats, a loaf of fresh bread, cereal, treats for the kids and her sweet-toothed husband.

  Then she answered the damn phone. In a solemn voice someone informed her that they were very sorry, but Captain Daniel Braxton and Captain Jerry Sloane and two staff sergeants were tragically killed in a training exercise. It was confirmed that there were no survivors.

  Her world had gone black. She woke up on the floor of the produce section, a stranger peering into her face. And nothing had ever been the same again.

  She stretched and flipped over, not eager to leave the cozy warmth of the bed and luxurious duvet. The clock next to her said it was seven thirty, but she didn’t need to rush anywhere. Her family expected her around noon.

  She hugged her pillow, eager to expand this rare moment when she had no obligations and places to be, but could simply explore her thoughts and analyze her feelings. Yes, her world had changed, and this past year had been a very difficult one. This move was a good decision as she needed a fresh start and a chance to rebuild her life over. It would be sad to leave their friends behind and the house that had brought her so much joy when Daniel was alive, but now the house was filled with memories. It was time to make new ones and stop living in the past.

  Her mind flickered back to Nick and the special night he’d given her. The kiss. She wiggled her toes as she remembered the feel of his lips and the honeyed taste of his mouth. He was yummy. And she might see him at Christmas.

  The thought brought a smile to her face. She knew her mother would be delighted, and her dad more cautiously so. Her sister would be all over him, wanting to know everything at once. She cared deeply about Jennie’s happiness and worried about her and the children.

  While Christy grilled Nick, her husband, Matt, would sit back and quietly make his own assessment. He was easy going, warm, caring and bright. Her father and Matt enjoyed each other’s company, and both took a back seat when it came to their wives.

  Jennie pushed the duvet back and slipped out of bed. She needed to use the bathroom and grab a cup of coffee before she planned her morning. After using the facilities, she found the two cup coffee maker and set it to brew.

  While she waited she opened the curtains just enough to see what Heaven’s weather would bring them today. Not surprising, the sun was out, glistening on the pure white snow. How could one place be so perfect, she mused, when the rest of the country was suffering from major catastrophes? Only days ago there had been terrible mudslides in California, a hurricane along the Jersey Shore, and a tornado in Kansas.

  Nick had described life here as a peaceful existence, with security and serenity. Lord knew, she and the girls could use some of that. But she needed to get a decent job, and Philadelphia offered so much more opportunity-wise. It made sense to be close to her parents, as they were getting older and if anything happened to one of them, she could be there lickety-split. Also, having her parents within a ten or fifteen minute drive would mean free babysitting on demand, and to see them at will.

  The scent of freshly brewed coffee beckoned her, and she poured herself a cup. She sat up in bed, pillows behind her, sipping on the coffee, and turned the TV on to NBC, reporting from Philadelphia’s news station. The coffee splashed in her hand when she heard the lead story this morning. There had been another random shooting in a mall full of city shoppers—the alleged shooter had been apprehended, leaving the aftermath of several people dead, and twelve injured.

  Her children needed to be kept safe. And if this wholesome little town could give them a sense of security then perhaps this was the answer after all. Right, Daniel? “You did this, didn’t you?” The feeling gave her a warm buzz. “Either this is a small detour from my life’s journey, or it’s the reason we ended up here.”

  When she didn’t hear an answer, she finished her coffee and went in to shower. Later, once she was fully dressed, she called down for room service, ordering a cheese omelet and whole wheat toast. Then she sat down to call her mother.

  “Good morning, Mom. How are the kids?”

  “They’re enjoying the pancakes Papa made for them. He even made a smiley face with blueberries, then topped it off with whipping cream and syrup on the side.”

  “Oh my. They are getting spoiled.” She added, “Keep up this treatment, my girls won’t want to come home with me.”

  “It is such a pleasure having them. They are so well behaved and sweet as can be.”

  “Thank you. I think so too.” She hesitated for a moment, then sucked in a breath, and released it in a rush. “Well, you’ll never guess what I did last night. I was so tired that I slept half the night, and ordered a sandwich in.”

  “That sounds a little lame,” her mother said. “Didn’t you see Nick?”

  “Well, that’s where the surprise came in. He showed up at the Inn around nine. With a horse and carriage.” She laughed, feeling the excitement all over again. “Can you imagine? I didn’t show up at the restaurant so he brought the buggy ride to me.”

  “How romantic,” her mother murmured. “He is a very sweet man.”

  “Yes. Well, the driver’s name was Darcy. Isn’t that perfect! And he took us down Main Street.” She sighed and put a hand to her chest. “It was so pretty at night with all the lights and street decorations, and the park was amazing. I need to tell the girls something. Can you put them on?”

  A second later, Katie answered. “Hi, Mommy. We’re eating breakfast. Papa makes better pancakes than you do. It’s got whipping cream!”

  “I’m glad. Enjoy it now because when we get home it’ll be back to school and only time for porridge, or an egg sandwich.”

  “I know. Do you have a car? Are you coming here now? We could save you a pancake.”

  “I’ll be there in a couple of hours. I have to do a little more shopping for a couple of special people.”

  Katie giggled. “Me and Brooke?”

  “Yes, and Nana and Papa.”

  “Okay. We’re going to a mall too. Maybe it’ll be the same one.”

  “I hope not. Don’t want to ruin your surprises. But I’m calling because I wanted to tell you something. It’s really special.”

  “What?” Her young voice rose with excitement.

  “There’s a very cool park here in Heaven and it has a carousel and a Ferris wheel!”

  “Wow! Can we go on it? Can we?”

&nb
sp; “Well, I’m pretty sure you can. If it’s running during the winter. I couldn’t tell because it was late at night. Nick took me on a carriage ride.”

  “Are you going to marry him?”

  Jennie choked on her coffee. “No, honey, of course not! Why do you ask?”

  “Because he’s nice and I wouldn’t mind if you did.”

  “Oh, sweetheart.” This was why single mom’s didn’t date. “I barely know him.”

  “I know, but he seems to like us. And he’s a good cook!” she added, as if that might seal the deal.

  “Everyone likes you and your sister, because you are both so sweet, and clever and nice.”

  “You’re just saying that ’cause you’re our mom.”

  “I’m saying it because it’s true and I love you both more than anything.”

  “Love you too, Mom. Want to talk to Brooke? Her mouth is full of pancake.”

  “Okay. Tell her to swallow.”

  “Hi, Mom. Did you say something about a Ferris wheel? Where?”

  “Here in Heaven. In the park. When we come back to pick up the car, maybe we could all go for a ride on it. If it’s up and running.”

  “Nick too?”

  “No, Nick will probably be busy working.”

  “Well, we like him. And Grandma does too. I heard her telling Auntie Christie all about him.”

  “I’m sure she did, but Brooke, even though we all like him, we don’t know him very well.” Jennie had made the call to ask her mother about inviting Nick for Christmas. Now she had to reconsider. She didn’t want her children or her family getting the wrong idea. He didn’t seem like the marrying kind, and she wasn’t ready even if he was. Perhaps it would be best for everyone not to invite him after all. She could make up a simple excuse. He wouldn’t mind. Might even be relieved. Although the memory of his kiss and the way he’d looked at her when he said goodnight, told her differently.

  She heard a knock on the door and welcomed it. She had a lot to consider.