The Christmas Proposition

by Cindy Kirk

Rachel held up both hands, palms out, and shook her head.

  Mary Karen laughed uproariously. “I have three little boys to raise,” she said when she could finally speak. “I don’t need a fourth.”

  July chuckled, then fixed her gaze on Rachel. “Come on, Rach. Can’t I interest you in a husband?”

  “No husband for me.” This was a discussion Rachel had had with her friends many times. Whenever they brought up the subject, she usually just laughed it off…or changed the subject. “But I will take a glass of wine.”

  Mary Karen lifted a half-empty bottle of merlot from the counter just as the doorbell rang. She paused, the bottle hovering over the glass. A frown furrowed her brows. “I wonder who that could be?”

  “I’ll go see.” Rachel pulled off the bulky mitt and tossed it on the counter. “Just don’t let anyone near my wine.”

  Rachel hurried past the living room full of cheering men and the family room where the kids sat watching a video. She waved at Mickie, wondering who else was coming. Although now that she thought about it, upon arrival Travis had mentioned something to her about inviting a guy he’d met skiing today. Pasting a smile of welcome on her face, Rachel opened the door.

  She froze. Her breath caught in her throat. Standing on the porch was the last person she expected to see tonight. “Derek. Hello. It’s…uh…good to see you.”

  Rachel couldn’t stop the pleasure that sluiced through her at the sight of the man who’d consumed her thoughts the past five days. She told herself she was so happy because she’d been worried about him and was relieved to see him looking so…fabulous. Instead of being clouded with pain, his eyes were a clear blue. A slight bruising at his left temple seemed to be the only residual from the accident last week.

  Yes, she was very happy he’d recovered so completely. Last weekend she’d picked up the phone five or six times to find out how he was doing. But each time she’d clicked off without placing the call, worried that after her fan-girl ramblings, he’d misinterpret the reason for the follow-up.

  “This is a pleasant surprise.” Derek’s gaze slowly surveyed her from head to toe.

  Rachel shivered. She reassured herself that the response had nothing to do with the heat in his eyes. It was simply because of the frigid temperatures. As if to further substantiate her explanation, the wind gusted, dusting his hair with white flakes and almost pulling the door from her hands.

  “Come in, please.” Rachel stepped back and motioned him inside. “It’s freezing out there.”

  The second he was in the house, Rachel shut the door behind him. “I’ve wondered how you were doing.”

  “All you needed to do was call,” he said in a teasing tone, his gaze never leaving her face. “You had my number.”

  Rachel wiped her sweaty palms against her jeans, battling unexpected butterflies. She smiled sweetly. “And you had mine.”

  “Touché.” He chuckled and rocked back on his heels. “Well, it appears that despite our mutual lack of effort, our paths were meant to cross again.”

  “Looks that way.” Suddenly Rachel was glad she’d chosen to wear her favorite blue sweater tonight, the one that matched her eyes. It gave her extra confidence to see the appreciation in Derek’s gaze.

  “Travis Fisher invited me.” Derek glanced around as if expecting the man to materialize. Instead, a loud roar sounded from the living room. “Does he live here?”

  Rachel could barely hear the question over the cheering in the other room.

  “No, but you’re at the right place,” she said once the noise died down. Rachel gestured toward the living room. “Travis and the other guys are in there. Before you join them, let me take your coat.”

  Derek shrugged out of his jacket and handed it over, his hand brushing hers. His eyes darkened for a second as if he’d felt the same spark that shot up her arm.

  Static electricity, she told herself. Simple static electricity.

  “Is this your house?” His expression gave nothing away. It was almost as if they were polite strangers, which was what they were…right?

  She clutched his coat tight against her. Still warm from the heat of his body, it retained the spicy scent of his cologne. “The house belongs to a friend of mine, Mary Karen Vaughn. She and Travis go way back.”

  “Do they live here together?”

  Rachel couldn’t help but laugh. “Oh, my goodness, no.”

  Everyone knew Mary Karen and Travis were tight. But living under the same roof with three small boys was a Travis impossibility.

  “Derek, my man.”

  Travis’s deep voice sounded behind her. “Glad you could make it. Looks like you and Rachel are getting acquainted.”

  Derek smiled, relieved to see the man who’d invited him. And even more relieved to know Travis and Rachel weren’t involved. “Actually, Rachel and I crossed paths last weekend at the Pitching and Catching Workshop.”

  “Really?” Travis turned to Rachel with a questioning glance. “I didn’t know you liked base— Oof.”

  A small boy who looked to be about five years old slammed into Travis’s side. A second boy who was the spitting image of the first—with the same mop of blond curls—immediately appeared. If not for the devilish gleam in their eyes, the two might have been mistaken for little angels.

  “Mom needs your help,” the one who’d done the initial body slam said to Travis.

  The second boy shoved his twin hard, almost knocking him off his feet. “She told me to ask him.”

  “Enough.” Derek stared in amazement as Travis grabbed both boys by the shoulder with firm hands and turned them around to face him.

  “These two hellions are Connor and Caleb Vaughn.” Travis’s gaze shifted and his lips curved up in a smile. “That beautiful creature headed our way is their mother—and our hostess for the evening—Mary Karen.”

  The young woman looked more like a college student than a mother. Her blond hair was a little lighter than Rachel’s and eyes weren’t quite as blue. While her smile was warm and friendly, her eyes had a decidedly curious gleam. She held out her hand.

  “Welcome. I’m Mary Karen Vaughn.”

  “Derek Rossi.”

  Her expression brightened. “You’re the guy Mickie hit with a baseball.”

  “The girl has a wicked throw,” Derek said, his smile widening at the memory. “But Rachel patched me up good as new.”

  Okay, so it was a bit of an exaggeration, but the pretty nurse had come to his rescue. And Derek had no doubt if there had been patching up to do, the woman standing to his right would have taken care of him.

  During the five days since he’d last seen her, Derek had told himself she couldn’t be nearly as beautiful as he remembered. But when she’d opened the door, he realized he’d been wrong. The blue of her sweater brought out the color of her eyes and her hair wasn’t just blond, it was golden honey.

  “Rachel is the best.” Travis looped an arm around her shoulders.

  Derek stiffened at the familiarity between the two. Had Rachel minimized her relationship with Travis? But he was almost certain Travis had also said he wasn’t in a relationship. And where did Mary Karen fit into the picture?

  “I wish I had a hundred Rachels,” Travis added.

  “Thank you for the compliment, Dr. Fisher.” Rachel brought a finger to her lips, her eyes dancing. “But I think I’ve heard you give that same compliment to a dozen nurses in the past month.”

  “That’s Travis.” Mary Karen chuckled. “He’s nothing if not consistent.”

  Derek felt the tension leave his shoulders at the warmth in her voice. Yes, there was definitely something going on with Travis. But whatever it was, it was between Mary Karen and the doctor.

  Doctor?

  Derek settled his gaze on Travis. “You’re a physician?”

  Travis tightened his grip on the squirming twins who were desperately trying to break free. “Yep. OB-GYN. It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it.”

  “Don’t let him f
ool you,” Mary Karen said. “He loves the adoration.”

  “Mary Karen.” A feminine voice rang out from the kitchen. “Could you come here, please?”

  “Be right there,” Mary Karen called out. She turned to go, then paused and refocused her attention on Derek. “Can I get you a beer? Or some wine?”

  “A beer sounds good,” Derek said. “I can get it myself if you just point me in the right direction.”

  Mary Karen smiled. “No worries. I can bring it to you.”

  “Connor said you needed me for something,” Travis said before she walked away.

  “It can wait,” Mary Karen said with an airy wave. “Why don’t you introduce Derek around?”

  “After I drop his coat off in the bedroom, I’ll start the sloppy joes.” Rachel hugged Derek’s jacket close and made her way to Mary Karen’s bedroom at the back of the house, an extra spring in her step. Before Derek arrived she’d been having a perfectly fine time. But something about the former ball player brightened the cold winter night.

  It had to be his smile. Derek Rossi loved life and it showed. Who wouldn’t be drawn to a guy like that?

  Rachel skidded to a stop. She wasn’t attracted to Derek…was she? The woodsy scent of his cologne teased her nostrils and she realized not only did he look good, he smelled wonderful.

  Not fair. Not fair at all.

  Pressing her lips together, Rachel marched to the bed and threw his jacket on top of the other coats.

  “He means nothing to me,” she muttered.

  “Are you okay?”

  Rachel whirled. “Derek, what are you doing here? I mean, here, in the bedroom.”

  Even though her heart skipped rope in her chest, she relaxed her shoulders, determined to act casually. She only hoped the fire heating her cheeks didn’t show.

  Thankfully, he didn’t appear to notice. He merely gestured to the bed with one hand. “I left my cell in my coat pocket.”

  Reaching past her, he retrieved the tiny phone and dropped it into his pocket. When he turned back, he was. Right. There. The large room suddenly seemed much too small.

  “You look lovely tonight,” he said.

  A nervous chuckle slipped past Rachel’s lips.

  “I’m serious.” His gaze darkened and the laughter died in her throat.

  He was a mere heartbeat away and, without warning, Rachel found herself drowning in the deep blue of his eyes. She realized for the first time that there were tiny flecks of gold in the aquamarine depths. “You have beautiful eyes.”

  “So do you,” he whispered.

  Rachel wasn’t sure who made the first move, but a second later she found herself ensconced in Derek’s arms…and she was kissing him.

  The first few kisses were gentle ones, her mouth lightly brushing his. But that wasn’t enough. She slid her fingers through his hair, pulling his mouth more tightly against hers. Although she hadn’t kissed a man since Tom died, it felt so natural to be kissing Derek.

  His tongue swept across her lips and she’d just opened her mouth to him when the door Derek had kicked shut flew open.

  “The sloppy joes are—” Mary Karen stopped.

  Rachel jerked out of Derek’s arms.

  “Derek came to get his cell phone.” Her heart pounded and her breath came out in little puffs. “We got to talking and lost track of time.”

  A smile tugged at the corners of Mary Karen’s lips. “I can have Lexi help me make the sloppy joes if you and Derek want to…talk some more.”

  Rachel kept her eyes focused on Mary Karen, trying to ignore the testosterone coming off Derek in waves. “We’re done…talking.”

  “Sure you wouldn’t rather stay here?” An impish smile lifted Mary Karen’s lips. “You didn’t look ready to conclude your conversation.”

  In that moment Rachel could see why David Wahl had accused his sister of making his life a living hell when they were growing up.

  “I should get back and see how the game is going.” Derek’s gaze lingered on Rachel for several heartbeats before he finally left.

  Mary Karen showed great restraint in remaining silent until Derek was out of earshot before she squealed, “Ohmigod, you were practically doing it with the sexiest man in the major leagues.”

  “He’s no longer playing ball.” Rachel smoothed her hair with fingers that trembled slightly.

  “And may I point out, we were merely kissing.”

  “And may I point out that given a few minutes more, your clothes would have been on the floor.”

  Never. Kissing another man was bad enough. Making love would be unforgivable. Rachel crossed her arms. “You’re wrong. I would never betray Tom like that.”

  Mary Karen’s teasing smile faded. She placed a hand on Rachel’s arm. “Honey, Tom is gone. You’re still alive.”

  Rachel blinked back tears, appalled that not only had she kissed Derek, but she’d also liked it.

  Mary Karen moved close, her blue eyes serious. “You deserve some happiness and I think this man may just be the one to give it to you. Think of him…as an early Christmas present. Unwrap him. Play with him. But most of all enjoy him. Something tells me he could give you some very pleasant memories.”

  Although Rachel had no doubt of that, she wasn’t even tempted. Okay, maybe just a little. But while she liked Derek, her heart belonged to Tom. That was why this was one present that was going to stay wrapped.

  Chapter Four

  Mickie leaned back against the overstuffed sofa with a contented sigh. If Rachel hadn’t agreed to take her in, she’d be spending the holidays in a group home. Instead she was here, surrounded by new friends.

  She liked Mary Karen’s house. Everything about it felt like a home. From the skinny Christmas tree decorated with strings of popcorn and dried cranberries to the tiny toy cars and plastic soldiers on the floor. When Mickie had first walked through the door she’d been a little scared. But then Addie, Lexi’s daughter, had arrived with her family. They’d become instant friends.

  “How long will you be staying with Rachel?” eight-year-old Addie asked.

  “Until New Year’s Day.” Although she and Addie had lost interest in the movie after the first five minutes, the twins were still watching the DVD, so Mickie kept her voice low.

  “That soon?” Addie’s face fell. “I wish you were staying longer.”

  A familiar tightness gripped Mickie’s heart. “I wish I could, too. Rachel is super nice.”

  In many ways the nurse reminded Mickie of her mother. Although she couldn’t recall her mother’s face, she remembered how she’d felt when her mom was alive. Safe. Loved. She felt that same way when she was with Rachel.

  Addie twirled a strand of dark hair around her finger. “Maybe she could adopt you. Then you could stay.”

  As much as Mickie wished and prayed that would happen, it didn’t seem likely. “Rachel said she’d like to keep me, but she works at the hospital and she’s always gone.”

  “My mom works at the hospital,” Addie said, a puzzled look on her face. “Up until she married Nick she had two jobs.”

  “Then it’s an excuse.” Tears pushed against the back of Mickie’s lids. “She probably doesn’t want me and is just saying she doesn’t have enough time.”

  “Or maybe…” Addie’s amber eyes lit up like a Christmas tree “…she thinks you need both a mom and a dad.”

  Mickie chewed on her lower lip. Rachel had told her more than once that she was sure there was a mommy and daddy out there for her somewhere. She hadn’t just said a mommy. She’d said a mommy and a daddy. “You may be right. But while I’d like a dad, I really want Rachel to be my mom.”

  Addie’s brows furrowed. “We have to find her a husband, like Nick. Only she can’t have Nick because my mommy loves him. I love him, too.”

  Mickie fought back a pang of envy. “Rachel doesn’t even have a boyfriend. And I’m leaving in three weeks.”

  “That’s plenty of time,” Addie said with a sureness that buoyed Mickie�
��s spirits. “When my mommy met my stepdad, it only took a few days for them to be in love.”

  “Really?” If it took Addie’s mother only a few days, surely Rachel could find someone in three weeks.

  Addie’s eyes took on a determined gleam. “We have to find a man who doesn’t already have a wife. And he has to think Rachel is pretty. It won’t work otherwise.”

  “Once we find this guy, how do we get them together?” Mickie felt silly asking a third-grader such grown-up stuff, but for being only eight, Addie knew an awful lot. Especially about moms and dads.

  “You’ve got to get them to kiss.” Addie picked up her Barbie and Ken dolls and pressed their faces together. “Like this.”

  “I saw Rachel kissing a guy in my mom’s bedroom tonight,” Connor said, not taking his eyes off the television screen.

  Mickie was about to tell him he shouldn’t be listening to a private conversation when the words registered. “Who was she kissing?”

  “Was it Travis?” Addie asked, eyes full of excitement.

  “Naw,” Connor said, still not looking their way. “The new guy.”

  “That has to be Mr. Rossi,” Mickie said. “He’s really nice. Rachel and I went out for pizza with him once.”

  Addie dropped Barbie and Ken to the sofa, her eyes wide. “They’ve already been on a date?”

  Mickie found Addie’s excitement contagious. “I guess they have. And if they’ve already kissed…”

  “I saw them,” Connor said loudly.

  “Connor sees everything,” Addie said and Mickie could hear the admiration in her tone. Oh, yeah, Addie knew a lot.

  “So what’s the next step?” Mickie asked.

  “They have to be together so they can do more kissing,” Addie said. “Being together is veeeery important.”

  “That might be a problem.” Mickie’s heart sank. “Until tonight Rachel hasn’t seen Mr. Rossi since last Saturday.”

  “You have to figure out a way,” Addie said. “Otherwise they’re not going to fall in love and you won’t be able to stay here.”

  Mickie had tried being good and not asking for much because she’d wanted Rachel to like and hopefully keep her. That hadn’t worked. Rachel liked her, but she was still sending her back.