A Savannah Christmas Wish

by Nan Dixon

  As he left the bed, she sprawled on her belly.

  He grinned, stripping off the condom. Bess was wasted.

  He brought back a glass of water.

  “Thanks.” She gulped back the contents as if she’d been working in hundred-degree heat.

  “Need another glass?”

  She sank back onto the pillow. “No.”

  He pulled her into his arms. “More wine?”

  “Nope.” Her head tucked into his chest. She traced the hair on his chest. “So?”

  “So?” he repeated. Her eyes were hidden, but something was going on inside her. “Do I need a pry bar to get you to talk?”

  “No.” Her fingers moved lower, brushing his hips. “I should go home.”

  His body stirred at her innocent stroking.

  “Or you could stay.” No woman had spent the night since Bridget had moved out. “I’d like you to stay.”

  Her sigh tickled his nipple. “Are we okay?”

  “I’m fabulous.”

  She poked him in the belly. “You know what I mean. You won’t boot me to the curb in the morning?”

  He pressed his lips to hers. She tasted of wine, lemons and spicy Bess. “I won’t boot you to the curb.”

  “What time are you getting up?”

  He rolled on top of her. “Right about now.”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  A weed is but an unloved flower.

  Ella Wheeler Wilcox

  A TONGUE SLICKED across Bess’s cheek. She turned her head and got a sloppy kiss, with long whiskers.

  Whiskers? Her eyes shot open.

  Carly snuggled between her and Daniel.

  “What are you doing here?” she whispered. No way could the puppy climb on the bed on her own.

  Daniel rolled toward them, a lazy smile covering his face. “Morning.”

  “We’ve been invaded.” Her heart sped up. What would happen now that it was morning?

  The puppy crawled up his chest. He stroked Carly’s head. “She was whining.”

  It dawned on her. “Carly sleeps with you.”

  “What? No.”

  “She does.”

  He put a protective arm around Carly. “All the changes in her life have been scary.”

  She laughed. Daniel did have a marshmallow side. “I thought she slept in the laundry room.”

  “She takes a nap there.” The puppy nudged his chin. “And spends the night in here.”

  She brushed a kiss on top of Daniel’s head. “As much as I’d like to stay and cuddle you and your dog, I’ve got to get to work.”

  “It’s Saturday.”

  She scooted out from under the sheets, wishing she had something to wear. No robe appeared. Her clothes weren’t on the floor. They were in a neat pile on the sofa. “When did you tidy up?”

  He set the puppy on the floor and threw back the covers, stood and stretched. “When I checked on Carly.”

  Oh, my. What a magnificent sight first thing in the morning. “You don’t need to get up. I’ll call a cab.”

  He frowned. “I’ll bring you home.”

  “You don’t have to.” Her words rushed out as she crossed the room and scooped up her clothes. She wanted to get out fast, worried Daniel would have second thoughts and ruin their perfect night together. And what about the way he treated Nathan? She couldn’t get him to understand his brother might have changed.

  “Hey.” He beat her to the bathroom, his lovely body on display. “What’s going on?”

  She held her clothes in front of her as a barrier. “I don’t want to bother you.”

  “Too late.” He closed the distance between them, backing her into the bathroom door frame. “I’ve been bothered by you for years.”

  He cradled her face and pressed his lips to hers.

  She backed away. “Let me brush my teeth.”

  Daniel’s hands cupped her bottom and pulled her close. His erection pressed against her belly. “Don’t care.”

  His tongue invaded her mouth, sweeping away her fear. Heat burned away her apprehension.

  Breaking apart with a gasp, he tugged her into the bathroom. “Shower?”

  “Um, yeah.” She could barely think.

  He flipped on the faucets and all three showerheads spouted water. He turned her into the closest showerhead. “I’m a water conservationist.”

  Pulling the soap from her hands, his fingers roamed her body as though he owned it. She groaned.

  His mouth latched on to the back of her neck. “I like it when you moan.”

  She heard the rip of foil. Then Daniel was behind her, easing into her.

  Water pelted her face as she tipped her head to kiss him. His fingers played her body like a harp. They merged smoothly, as if they’d been lovers for years instead of three separate nights.

  His slides were too slow, too intense. She reached behind her, trying to hold his slick body, but he grabbed her hands and placed them on the wall above her head. He surrounded her, enveloped her, took her over.

  She came in a rush and her legs turned to seaweed.

  He held her upright.

  “Please,” she gasped.

  He pounded into her, his harsh breaths echoing in her ears. “Bess!” he shouted as he came.

  She slumped against the wall, her cheek flush to the cool tiles.

  Daniel covered her back, his chest rising and falling with hers.

  “Does this mean you don’t regret last night?” she mumbled.

  He stroked his hands from her shoulders to her hands and laced their fingers together. “What did you ask?”

  Whoops. Her chest ached as if she was being buried in sand. She hadn’t meant to say anything. “Nothing.”

  He turned her around. “Bess.” He cupped her face and kissed her, a deep kiss as warm as the drenching water. “I don’t regret last night.”

  The strain in her chest eased. Their bodies slid together, meshing like the foundation blocks of a retaining wall.

  But she knew how easily walls were torn apart. How quickly things and people she cared for had been ripped away. First, it had been her papa. Then her beautiful bedroom.

  The losses cascaded through her—Daniel’s first rejection, Eric falling out of love with her and into love with their intern. The small business she and Eric had started, her job at King’s Gardens. Now her apartment. The weight on her chest returned.

  She was tired of losing. Tired of explaining each failure to her family.

  “Are we okay?” he asked.

  “Yes.” She built a lather with the soap, rubbing her hands on his muscled chest.

  He took the soap, reciprocating the action.

  She chewed her lip. “Can we keep this to ourselves?”

  He paused. “You don’t plan to tell your sisters?”

  “They don’t know anything about you and me.” She grabbed his woodsy shampoo.

  He massaged the shampoo into her hair. Who was this man scrubbing her hair?

  “Did you tell Nathan about us?” she asked.

  “No way.” He pulled his hands away and snatched the shampoo off the shelf. Moving to another showerhead, he scrubbed his own hair.

  Sore subject. It was sad that they couldn’t even talk about his brother. And a good reason not to let people know about their relationship. She wasn’t sure she could be with someone who couldn’t treat his own brother with respect.

  “This is so new. Our families...” Daniel should understand the pressure they’d be under. “I don’t want to have to explain—us.” She set a hand on his back.

  He slipped out from under her fingers. “Sure. Whatever. I’ll make coffee. Then we can go.”

  “Thanks.”
<
br />   But he’d already climbed out of the shower.

  While he dried off, she lingered under the water. The connection between them was pulled as taut as a rubber band about to snap.

  Once he headed into the bedroom and closed the door, she heaved a sigh.

  She was being realistic by making that request.

  Wasn’t she?

  * * *

  DANIEL KEPT IT TOGETHER. How could Bess want to keep their dating a secret? What did this mean?

  Pulling into Bess’s parking lot, he asked, “Do you want to catch a movie tonight?”

  “I can’t.” Bess gathered her purse. “I’m hosting the wine tasting.”

  He put the truck in Park. “Aren’t you done at seven?”

  “Yeah.” She ran her fingers up and down the straps of her purse.

  “We could catch an eight-o’clock show.” Now it was a test. Apparently she didn’t want anyone to know they were dating.

  “Oh.” Her mouth formed a delicious O, but he had no urge to take a nibble. “You want to go out that late?”

  “I can stay up past ten.” He leaned toward her, but from the backseat, Carly stuck her head between theirs. “I won’t turn into a frog.”

  “We could rent a movie.” She touched his arm. “And you wouldn’t have to worry about Carly.”

  Was she worried about the dog or about someone seeing them together? “I have Netflix.”

  “Perfect.” Her smile lit up the cab of the truck.

  “I could pick you up at Fitzgerald House?”

  “How about Carleton House?”

  He took a deep breath. Couldn’t have her sisters spot them. “Carleton House. I’ll pick you up at seven thirty.”

  She brushed a kiss on his lips. “Thank you for dinner—and last night—and this morning.”

  She started to slip away, but he cupped the back of her head. “Hang on.” He kissed her, a deep promise of what could be. “Why don’t you pack a bag?”

  Her green eyes twinkled. “Are you inviting me to stay the night?”

  He bounced another kiss off her lips. “Yeah.”

  “Okay. See you tonight.” She rubbed Carly’s head.

  She bounded up the steps to her apartment building and waved. The For Sale sign shone bright blue and yellow next to the steps. He waited until the lights came on in her apartment and drove off.

  “Let’s grab coffee and head home, girl.” He stared in the rearview mirror. “I want to get the schedules lined up for next week. Then we’ll visit your buddy, Pop.”

  Carly had her nose to the window, slobbering on the glass.

  “Guess we’re washing the truck today, too.”

  He could swing by the carriage house and make sure the plumbing was finished, but Bess might be upset if he did. Or he could head over around seven and check out the plumbing.

  Good lord. She was messing with his head and his work. If he needed to stop by Carleton House, he would stop by Carleton House.

  No woman he’d dated had ever begged to keep it a secret. He swallowed the bitter taste in his mouth. Wasn’t this what Bess had wanted years ago? Hell, after their disastrous first encounter, she’d driven to Georgia Tech, pleading him to give her a chance.

  So what was she worried about now?

  * * *

  “JIMMY, MOVE THE stake a foot to your left,” Bess called. Setting up to dig dirt was a great way to start Monday.

  She and Daniel were on the same page. She didn’t want more than they had now. Nothing heavy, just lots of talking and fabulous sex.

  Jimmy slid over.

  “Right there,” she called. “Done.”

  “Thanks.” Jimmy grabbed his water jug and tossed Bess hers.

  She took a deep swallow. “You and Molly can handle the Bobcat work.”

  With Molly keeping an eye on him, Jimmy should be able to handle the excavation. Just in case, she walked both Molly and Jimmy through the work plan.

  As she headed to her car, Cade pulled in.

  “Hey, Cade.” She threw her water into the backseat.

  “How’s it looking?” Cade shoved his hands in his pockets.

  “It’ll be a showpiece.” She stopped next to him.

  “Just what the client ordered.” They both watched Jimmy back the Bobcat off the trailer.

  “I picked up a couple more strip malls wanting fall flowers.” Cade rubbed his foot in the shell driveway.

  “Good for you.” And she meant it.

  “Wondering if you could do more freelance work.” He named a price.

  The money was fair. “Can I work with Molly?”

  Cade tugged on his ear. “Sure.”

  “Email me the details.”

  Bess waved as she drove off. She would have steady income for the next two months. And Gray had already sent his acceptance on the bids for his warehouse condo building. He’d agreed to everything.

  She’d call the loan officer and have her loan capacity reassessed. The chance to buy her own place was gone, but the apartment on the second floor was still for sale.

  She pulled into the Fitzgerald House parking lot. The kitchen screen door slapped behind her as she walked in.

  Cheryl refilled coffee carafes. “Hey, Bess. The patio you’re building looks great.”

  “Thanks.” She pulled open the fridge. “Is Abby around?”

  Cheryl loaded cookies on the cart. “She’s checking in guests.”

  “Okay.” Bess hoped any food she took wasn’t designated for anything.

  Cheryl headed to the door. “If you see Josh, can you tell him to find me?”

  “Sure. Shouldn’t he be in school?”

  “They’re having an admin day.” Cheryl sighed. “He wanted to come here rather than day care.”

  “We love having him at the B and B. If I see him,” Bess promised, “I’ll send him back here.”

  She found ribs in a container labeled and dated in Abby’s precise handwriting. She forked the meat off the bones and piled it on a slab of wheat bread.

  The swinging door creaked and Abby walked in.

  “Who’s pilfering food?” her sister called.

  “Late lunch and I’m heading over to finish the patio.”

  Abby touched her shoulder as she headed to one of the fridges. “There’s lemonade.”

  “Fantastic. And sweet tea to add to it?”

  “I’ll grab it for you.”

  “Thanks.” Bess needed a bit more caffeine to get through the day. She wolfed down her sandwich on the way to the patio. Mamma would shake her finger at her for not sitting and having a proper meal. I’m working, Mamma.

  She spotted Josh and Daniel crouched under the widespread live oak. She hadn’t decided what to do with the tree—maybe she’d ask Daniel to build a bench to surround the gorgeous old thing.

  Carly slept at their feet. Daniel talked to the boy as they bent over something set on the wobbly bench.

  Josh grinned up at Daniel.

  Her heart gave out a sharp jolt. Someday Daniel would have a son. A son who would look at him with hero worship in his eyes, just like Josh looked at Daniel.

  She headed in their direction. “What are two such fine young men doing out here?”

  “Hi, Miss Bess.” Josh’s brown eyes gleamed. “Mr. Dan’s helping me with my mom’s Christmas present.”

  She looked at what they’d laid out on the bench.

  Josh was always coloring. Every one of her sisters and Gray had bought him coloring books and crayons. She had his pictures stuck on her fridge. But this wasn’t from a coloring book. This was hand drawn.

  She knelt next to him. “This is beautiful.”

  Josh had drawn the Fitzgerald frog fountain. In the
background was the gnome and flowering azaleas, even though they hadn’t bloomed since March. He’d captured the deep green of the leaves and the bright pinks of the flowers. “Your mother will love her picture.”

  “Mr. Dan helped me make a frame.” Josh bounced as he talked. “He had scrappy wood.”

  She raised her eyebrows. This was lovely smooth oak, not scraps. And the matting around the picture picked up the green leaves perfectly.

  Daniel stared at the picture. “It’s extra stuff I had sitting around.”

  “Right.” She set her hand on Daniel’s shoulder. He’d bought framing material for Josh.

  “Miss Bess.” Josh tugged on her elbow. “I glued the picture and Mr. Dan helped nail the frame.”

  “Your mother will be so proud.”

  “Thanks,” Josh said.

  She squeezed Daniel’s shoulder before standing. “If you want help wrapping it, Josh, let me know.”

  “Mr. Dan said he would help.”

  Were Daniel’s ears turning pink? She bent over. “You’re a very nice man, Mr. Dan.”

  Daniel rolled his shoulders. “Anyone would do this.”

  To Josh, she said, “Your mom’s looking for you.”

  “Okay.” The boy tucked the framed picture in his backpack between two big coloring books. “Thanks, Mr. Dan.”

  They watched Josh head to Fitzgerald House. “He’s a great kid.” Daniel wouldn’t look her in the eye.

  “Are you embarrassed?”

  “No. It’s...” Daniel looked at her. “He doesn’t have a dad to help with stuff like this. I’d like to have a kid like him someday.”

  He touched her shoulder, then gathered up Carly’s leash and headed into Carleton House. “See you later.”

  It was as if Daniel had drenched her with ice water. What was she doing? She may long for the same dream as Daniel—a child and a home—but why would being with Daniel be any different than anyone else she’d care for? She couldn’t hang on to anything or anyone she’d loved.

  It was better to keep the relationship light and fun. Take it one day at a time.

  She didn’t want to lose him. Not yet.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Where flowers bloom, so does hope.

  Lady Bird Johnson

  THE DRILL SCREAMED. Daniel secured the last sheet of drywall in the master bedroom and stepped back. He scrolled to his phone’s to-do list and checked off Sheetrock MB carriage house. Even with the plumber’s delay, they were on schedule.