In Love by Christmas

by Cari Lynn Webb

  “Mother has impeccable timing, as always,” Adriana muttered. A scowl transformed Adriana’s face. Her gaze tracked her mother like Josie tracked a spider in her apartment—she was annoyed and alarmed.

  Josie took a step back. Where was the close-knit Taylor family Josie had read about online and in magazines? Wasn’t anyone pleased to see the matriarch of the Taylor family?

  “Is that Daphne Holland with mother?” Adriana shifted behind her brother’s shoulder as if contemplating a surprise attack. “Theo, what’s going on? Daphne isn’t on the features’ list.”

  Before Josie could ask what a features’ list was or who Daphne Holland was, Theo distracted her again. “Ms. Beck, thank you for stopping in. We’ll be in touch.”

  Back to the formality. Panic infused Josie. She’d never perfected the art of lying. She pushed the garment bag into Theo’s chest and whispered, “I can’t take this. It belongs to your family.”

  “I’m Lilian Rose Taylor.” The older woman extended her arm toward Josie. “Theo’s mother.”

  Josie stopped shoving the garment bag at Theo and his solid chest. He made no move to take it, anyway. Josie elbowed him in the side to let him know she disapproved, then adjusted the bag to free one hand. She reached out to shake Lilian’s cool hand. “Josie Beck. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  “What do you do, Josie?” Lilian held onto Josie’s hand, but not in the we’re-long-time-friends-and-I’ve-missed-you sort of way. Her grip was too firm and unrelenting, as if she intended to keep Josie right there until she learned exactly what she wanted.

  “Mother,” Theo said. The warning in his tone dropped between the women.

  “It’s a perfectly acceptable question. Polite even.” Lilian Rose squeezed Josie’s hand and released her. “Especially given your lack of manners, Theo.”

  Josie tucked her hand and her sudden discomfort underneath the garment bag.

  “Josie is a local business owner and we’re keeping her from her work,” Theo explained.

  Lilian Rose ignored her son and tipped her head toward the petite woman pacing around Theo’s office, her cell phone pressed to her ear, her mahogany hair sweeping across her jaw. “That is Daphne Holland. Are you single, Josie?”

  “Mother.” The single word was clipped, as if Theo’s clenched teeth chipped each syllable.

  “Daphne is the premier matchmaker in the city. Why shouldn’t Josie know her?” Lilian set her fingers against her mouth and spoke around her hand as if imparting a secret to Josie. “Daphne is also my matchmaker.”

  “I thought we were keeping that information confidential.” Theo coughed and cleared his throat.

  “Josie won’t share, will you?” Lilian Rose smiled as she eyed Josie. Her gaze critical, her grin challenging. “I’m quite certain Josie has been vetted. Otherwise she wouldn’t have been granted a private meeting with you, Theo.” She paused. Nothing stilled in her assessing eyes. “My son can’t be too careful. It seems everyone wants something from him and they’re willing to do whatever it takes to get it.”

  If only she’d worn higher heels, Josie would’ve met Lilian Rose eye-to-eye. Still, Josie tipped her chin up, refusing to let Theo’s mother look down on her, too. Theo had sought out Josie. Josie should’ve been the one to do the vetting. Surely Theo would correct his mother’s misconception.

  Theo never responded.

  “Why don’t we let Josie get on with her day?” Adriana stepped beside her mother.

  Yet Adriana’s smile lacked her earlier enthusiasm, was less infectious, more strained. More forced. Nothing like the photographs Josie had glanced through.

  “Theo has a full schedule today,” Adriana continued. “And I have wedding details to finalize this afternoon.”

  “If you’d like a meeting with Daphne Holland, please let me know.” Lilian Rose applied a shimmery lip gloss to her mouth.

  The deep red color reminded Josie of the poisoned apple Snow White bit into. The princess had a charming prince and the power of true love’s kiss to save her. What about Josie?

  She slid a quick peek at Theo. He closed his eyes and inhaled. There was power and mastery in the simple action, as if he’d practiced the technique often. As if his mother forced him to center himself often.

  Josie was on her own.

  “I’ll be more than happy to arrange one.” Lilian Rose added one last swipe of lip gloss, pressed her lips together and winked at Josie.

  There was nothing hollow in the older woman’s smile. Or insincere in her grey gaze. But Josie searched for the catch behind Lilian Rose’s offer. “Thank you.”

  Adriana stepped forward, wrapped her arm around Josie’s shoulders and led her away and into the safety of Theo’s admin, Fran.

  Josie handed the garment bag to Adriana. “You should probably take this back.”

  “I’ll be in touch about my grandmother’s wedding dress.” Adriana gently pressed the gown toward Josie and slid her gaze toward Theo’s office. “Thank you, Josie. I have a really good feeling about working with you.”

  Josie searched for a good feeling among all her confusion. What had just happened? She’d met Theo’s mother. Was judged by Theo’s mother. Then asked if she wanted a meeting with a matchmaker. All the while, Theo stood beside her, silent and reserved. She’d have to bypass dissecting the Taylor family dynamics and channel her energy into her dressmaking. Still, her curiosity about the Taylors was getting the better of her.

  Adriana guided Josie around Fran’s desk. “Fran will take you to the elevators.”

  Fran held her arm out, pointing the way to the elevator bay. “Did your meeting with Adriana go well?”

  Josie stared at the elevator call buttons. “I think so.”

  “I’m so pleased.” Fran pressed the down button. “Adriana deserves the most beautiful wedding day.”

  Theo said he wanted the same thing for his sister. Josie wondered if Theo and Adriana had different visions for what a beautiful wedding day entailed. That wasn’t Josie’s problem to solve. She had to get sewing. Now. After her early afternoon fittings with the Curtain Call Children’s Theater group and the six teens from Somerset Playhouse’s Scrooge production. Then there were the late-afternoon alteration appointments. No matter. She’d work into the night. One day her sleeplessness would pay off.

  Inside the elevator, Josie unzipped the garment bag and peeked at the gown inside. Layers of lace shifted under her searching fingers. She discovered several satin rosettes before the elevator bounced to a stop and the doors slid open. Adriana wasn’t the only one excited about the gown. Josie was ready to race back to her shop to see the full dress.

  Josie closed the garment bag. Annoyance slowed her steps through the lobby. There would be no gown to reveal. Because of one stubborn man who couldn’t possibly know what would or wouldn’t look good. A man with an impossible vision. The one who’d accept nothing less than perfection. As if that could be delivered. There was always a first time. And for Josie, it had to be now.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  “YOU DIDN’T HAVE to be quite so rude to Josie.” Adriana stepped beside Theo and shoved her elbow into his ribs.

  Josie had elbowed Theo earlier. He’d missed what she’d been whispering, yet had barely restrained his smile at her boldness. Now he frowned and walked with his sister toward his office. “I wasn’t—”

  “Yes,” Adriana interrupted. “You were rude. And you need to apologize.”

  “But I’m not sorry.” He’d given his opinion. Expressed how he felt. He’d never apologized for that before. Maybe he could’ve used different words. Or not been quite so blunt. Theo shook his head. No. He was always blunt. No need to change now, even for the softhearted Josie Beck. As for the wisp of guilt shifting through him, he’d ignore that, too. Right now, they had other things—other people—to focus on. “Mother wasn’t kidding earlier. She reall
y is Daphne Holland’s newest client at Holland Matchmakers.”

  Adriana swayed on her heels and squeezed his arm. “That’s not funny, Theo.”

  Neither was giving Josie false expectations. But he’d done just that at their lunch meeting yesterday. She’d looked at him, gratitude and hope shining in her big blue eyes. Something about Josie Beck stuck to him and made him question himself. There was nothing amusing about that. Or the guilt that lingered. “When was the last time I made a joke?”

  Building a national brand required single-minded concentration and dedication. Light moments and laughter, however welcome, offered little return on investment. If Theo dwelled in those lighter moments too long, he feared he’d become content, like his dad.

  You’ll never build anything worthy if you become content like me, Theo. Love will do that to a man. Make you believe you have enough. Yet when you look back, all you’ll really have is an endless list of regrets.

  His father had expected Theo to be better. He had to be better. He’d earned his parents love after he’d grown the business. Only then had he been welcomed home, or, rather, welcomed home to the house he’d bought for his parents. The business had brought his family back together. Only continued success would ensure they stayed together.

  He had no regrets since he’d accepted control of his father’s company a decade ago. Yet watching Josie walk away, her head held high despite his negative words about her vintage dresses, he knew she could be his only regret. If he wasn’t careful.

  But he’d mastered the art of caution. He hadn’t defended Josie against his mother, preferring not to put too much importance on the dressmaker. His mother would’ve honed-in, and she was already too curious about Josie.

  “Mother hired a matchmaker to find a fiancé quickly, didn’t she?” His sister’s briskness confirmed his belief that she was truly worried.

  “So it appears.” As for his interest in Josie, he’d learned as a child to be more disciplined with his emotions. He’d perfected that skill as an adult, been determined to prove he was an obedient son and not merely another one of his father’s regrets.

  “We have to stop her.” Adriana glanced inside his office. Their mother sat at his eight-seat conference table and was touching up her makeup.

  “We’re going to.” Theo walked into his office, waited for Daphne to end her phone call and take a seat next to their mother. Then he looked at his sister. “Right now.”

  Adriana walked to the opposite end of the conference table, choosing a seat the farthest away from their mother. Adriana and their mother shared the same high cheekbones, defined features and dark hair color. The similarities ended there. Their mother preferred to offer advice and criticism to her daughter in the same conversation. Adriana opted to challenge her, yet with actions, not words.

  “Thank you for coming in today, Daphne.” Theo closed his office door and picked up a remote from the center of the large table. One press of a button and the windows dimmed, blocking his employees from seeing inside.

  “I’m delighted to be here.” Daphne tucked her dark brown hair behind her ear and smiled at Theo as if he’d agreed to become her client, too. “It’s wonderful when an entire family comes together to support their loved one’s journey to find companionship and, hopefully, love.”

  Support wasn’t the word either of the Taylor children would use. His gaze collided with his sister’s. Adriana rose to cover her sudden cough, opened the small refrigerator and handed out bottles of water. The only support Theo intended to give was for the cancellation of his mother’s contract with Holland Matchmakers.

  Their mother clicked her compact closed, the distinct snap drawing everyone’s attention to her where she’d always desired it to be—on her. “Daphne has brought a list of potential matches for us to look over together.”

  His mother used the word us as if they’d collectively agreed she should hire a matchmaker. The Taylors agreed on very little. From things as simple as food—his mother preferred chicken, while Adriana maintained a strict vegetarian diet and Theo chose a medium-rare steak, prime rib or bacon-wrapped hamburger any chance he could—to the Christmas holiday, which Theo always worked. Adriana always escaped to Ryan’s house. Their mother floated from one social event to another.

  “We’d like to begin the initial meet-and-greets as soon as this Saturday.” Daphne pulled out a large slate-gray folder.

  Saturday. As in two days away. One day before Josie had promised to have two prototypes completed. Impossible. He’d given Josie an impossible task. From the looks of Daphne’s extra thick folder, her task wouldn’t be simple, either. Although, Theo could simplify the list quickly by persuading them that none of the potential matches suitable for his mother.

  That would require he stay in his office and look over each candidate. That was also impossible. He didn’t have that kind of open time on his schedule. He had actual work to do. A job to perform. A company to oversee.

  His office door opened. The film-crew trio spilled into the room. Nolan, wearing his ever-present boyish grin, carried a fuzz-covered microphone. Timmy balanced the camera in one hand and tugged off his usual knit beanie with the other, as if he’d arrived for a sit-down family dinner. Barry—the assistant producer and leader—closed the office door and clasped his hands together as he surveyed the scene like a seasoned director.

  Theo stood and shook hands with Barry, Nolan and Timmy. “Guys, this is a bad time.”

  “There couldn’t be a better time.” His mother set her cell phone on the table and rose like a queen pleased to take another audience. She hugged each man and urged them farther into the room.

  “You won’t even know we’re here.” Barry kept his arm linked with Theo’s mother’s.

  Way too late for that. Theo smoothed out his expression and his irritation. “Mother, we haven’t asked Ms. Holland’s permission to film her.”

  “It’s no problem.” His mother released Barry and set her hand on Daphne’s shoulder. “It’s just rough footage for our possible TV show. You don’t mind, do you, dear?”

  Daphne touched her cheek and scanned the film crew.

  “There are usually written consent forms involved.” Theo returned to the table, gripped the chair back and held onto his frustration.

  Nolan slid a piece of paper across the table toward Daphne. One edge of his mouth tipped up along with his one-shoulder shrug. “We like to be prepared.”

  And Theo liked to be forewarned.

  “This is only footage to determine the final cast for the show.” Timmy raised the camera and settled it on his shoulder. “It won’t be aired.”

  Daphne took the pen his mother offered her and signed the paper. Theo rolled the chair away from the table and reluctantly sat down.

  “Let’s get started then.” His mother took a portion of the paperwork and divided the pages into three piles. Eagerness punctuated her movements, delight her words. “There are so many. How should we proceed?”

  “We shouldn’t proceed.” And Theo should’ve proceeded much differently with Josie Beck.

  He should’ve opened their lunch meeting by informing Ms. Beck that her dressmaker services were not required. Regardless of her feelings. Feelings had no place in business. Ever. He added, “Daphne, it’s not an appropriate time to begin this process.”

  It would’ve been an appropriate time at lunch to explain to Josie that her boutique would be renovated and redesigned from the storefront to her not profitable business model on Coast to Coast Living’s new TV series. If she agreed to the terms.

  “Look at all these potential matches, Theo.” His mother’s half smile and the blush that tinted her cheeks revealed her pleasure. “Seems like a very good time to start.”

  Barry stepped forward and grabbed a paper from Theo’s pile. “What are we starting?”

  “The journey to find my perfect partner, of co
urse.” His mother beamed and waved toward Daphne. “Gentleman, this is Daphne Holland, my talented and successful matchmaker. Would you gentlemen like to help us look through profiles, too?”

  Theo narrowed his eyes and slapped his hand on his pile of profiles, stopping Barry from seizing more papers. Barry tiptoed back beside Nolan.

  If Theo canceled the matchmaking, he didn’t trust his mother not to go out and find anyone willing to say yes to her hasty proposal just to spite him. His mother adjusted her phone, nudging it closer to the matchmaker. Nolan and the oversize microphone shifted into Theo’s view as if eager to capture Theo’s comeback. He pressed his lips together.

  Daphne brushed her bangs to the side to reveal her face, as if she was suddenly willing and more than ready to be fully seen on camera. “Lilian Rose wasn’t very specific on what she was looking for in a partner.”

  Theo had wanted to be very specific about the idea of Josie meeting Daphne Holland. Instead, he’d flattened his rapid refusal between his clenched teeth. It wasn’t his place to dictate Josie’s dating life. Even if the idea of Josie with another man roiled his stomach.

  He’d have to get used to the discomfort. Protecting Josie wasn’t his priority. Neither was dating. Yet maintaining the family image mattered. “Mother, that surprises me. You’re always very particular.”

  Adriana opened her water and drank, as if washing down her response.

  “I want what Adriana and Ryan share.” Lilian Rose pressed her ring finger against the edge of her eye, as if smoothing out the age-revealing fine lines for the camera. “But I don’t want someone Ryan’s age.”

  Theo wanted to remember that relying on a pair of blue eyes, no matter how captivating, was beyond dangerous. His father had fallen under the spell of a pair of dove-grey eyes. Married young and often lamented about his unfortunate lapse into a life of contentment.

  Theo had a lapse in judgment. He’d requested two dress prototypes, not one, from Josie. As if Josie’s liquid sky-blue eyes provided a compelling enough argument to hire her sewing skills.