by Joanne Rock
Rachel lounged in her favorite pair of silk pajama pants decorated with abominable snowmen that reminded her of the crazy karaoke party where Mr. Garrett had greeted them in his cotton-ball-covered costume.
Gavin joined her at the window, one arm sliding around her waist as he rested his chin on the top of her head to stare outside with her. “It always amazed me that the locals could find so much Christmas cheer even after preparing for this day three hundred and sixty-four days a year.”
“And now, we’ll be as holiday-obsessed as everyone else.” She shifted in his arms so she could peer up at him, careful not to bump his sprained wrist since he’d stopped wearing the splint.
He’d flown to Austria, then straight to Park City for some more training with his team before returning to Yuletide on Christmas Eve morning. But they’d spoken every day since then, making plans for a future where Rachel started work on the Jingle Elf cottage while Gavin focused on preparing for the Olympic Games. She was actually really excited to take a break from her design work for a few months, to recharge and put her skills to work in another area completely.
She was also looking forward to honoring her father through her first real contribution to Yuletide as an adult. She’d returned to town to make peace with her ex-boyfriend and with the residents, not realizing how much fulfillment she would gain in making peace with her memories of her father.
“If you get tired of life in Yuletide, we can hire help to manage this place while we explore other areas. Spend a few months out West. Anywhere you want.” Gavin smoothed a hand over her hair with his uninjured hand, kissing her temple.
“I’m not going to get tired of it. I forgot how much I missed it. Not just the place, but the people too.” She was anxious for Kiersten to get home from her honeymoon in Barbados so they could spend more time together.
And Rachel had already been hanging out with Emma, who was turning into one of Rachel’s best local champions. Emma had also taken an interest in the charity Gavin worked with, and she was looking to start a chapter in Yuletide to help kids find more fun and healthy exercise outlets.
Gavin drew her away from the window and back into the living room where they’d retreated once Rachel’s mom joined her friends in the town square to visit, take a walk around the empty sidewalks and enjoy the atmosphere.
They dropped onto the leather sofa in front of the fireplace. Well, Gavin took the sofa seat. Rachel climbed in his lap and laid her head on his chest. He wore a lightweight thermal Henley with the name of some faraway ski town on it. She toyed with the buttons on the placket, thinking how very lucky she was to have him back in her life.
“How are you doing with the news about your dad?” Gavin asked, wrapping an arm around her hips to steady her.
After Luke’s call to reopen the investigation into Chris Chambers’ disappearance, his mother had shocked everyone by turning herself in for her role in encouraging him to leave. For helping him to steal that fourteen thousand dollars. They’d had an ongoing affair, apparently, and when her husband found out, he had vowed to kill her lover if she didn’t get him out of town, seeing the adultery as more than just a marital betrayal, but as an affront to the Harris family name.
At the time, Mrs. Harris had traveled frequently to Mexico for her job, and she’d warned Rachel’s father to leave Yuletide as fast as possible from pay phones scattered around Cancun and the Dominican Republic. She’d alerted him to the availability of cash in the town treasury and told him where to find the key. With eight years between her admission and the crime, the local judge could choose to be lenient—or not. Mr. Harris had hired the best attorney in the area to represent his wife’s case.
None of that brought Chris Chambers home, but it had brought Rachel and her mother some peace to know what had happened. He’d been stressed about the revelation of an affair. And from Rachel’s mother’s perspective, it gave her a new freedom from her old guilt about any role she might have played. “I’m glad I finally know what happened,” Rachel said honestly, lifting her head from Gavin’s chest to meet his gaze. “He was a flawed man, but not in quite the same way I thought. I like to think the side of him that he showed us—the side of him that he gave to Yuletide—was him at his best.”
Gavin was quiet for a long moment. “Sometimes, when I’m at a race and I get to the bottom of the hill, I’ll hear someone cheering, and for a minute, I’ll think that I see him.” He shook his head. “That makes no sense, I know.”
“In the future, you’ll have another Chambers at your races to cheer for you—don’t worry.”
Gavin laughed, his voice deep and rich. His happiness making her happy.
Everything about this Christmas was making her heart swell with love.
“I’d like that.” He kissed her nose. “I’m so glad you’re going to be there with me when I go for the gold.”
“You know my mom wants to use that money she saved up to go with me?” Her mother was buying Rachel’s ticket too, insisting on making the whole trip a gift.
“Awesome. I’d love to have her there.” He reached under the couch pillow and came up with a wrapped box. A very small wrapped box. “Merry Christmas, Rachel.”
Her heart stopped for a moment.
Then beat wildly.
“What is this?” she asked, looking over at the tree where he’d left a whole stack of gifts. Then back at the tiny box.
“Your Christmas present.” He eased her off his lap so they sat side by side.
The moment burned into her memory, from the Ella Fitzgerald song in the speakers—the same duet they’d done at the Garretts’ party—to the scent of pine logs in the fireplace and the feel of Gavin’s hand on her knee.
“Gavin?” She glanced up at him again, feeling unsure. They had talked about waiting until the summer to take the next step. “Is this an Olympic pin?” She knew the athletes got commemorative pins at each of the games.
He slid off the couch. Dropping to one knee. “Would I do that to you, Rachel?” His eyes were one hundred percent serious.
Her chest squeezed tight with emotion. She tore off the paper to reveal a distinctive turquoise-colored box.
On opening it, she found a fat round diamond in a platinum setting.
“Rachel.” He took her hand in his. “Would you do me the honor of being my wife? I love you with all my heart and I want you in my life forever.”
She knew how much he risked asking her now—before they’d finalized plans for their future or discussed marriage. He’d put himself on the line for her, giving her the most precious gift she could imagine. His trust with his heart.
“Gavin, you are in my heart forever, even without this ring.” She glanced down at the glittering diamond. “But I can’t wait to be your wife, and share your name and a home with you.”
His smile dazzled her even more than the ring. She would never forget this moment.
“I love you, Rachel. I got the ring when I was in Austria, and couldn’t wait another day to give it to you.” He removed it from the box and slid it onto her finger. A perfect fit. “The design is called ‘snowball.’”
Happy tears gave the stone even more rainbow refractions as she looked down at it.
“How perfect. It’s so beautiful, Gavin. I love you, too.” She flexed her fingers, admiring the gift and all it stood for.
“I hope you don’t feel rushed, Rachel. But it was eight years between that first and second kiss.” He rose, drawing her to her feet with him. “That was plenty of time for me to know how I feel about you by the time I got my second chance.”
“I don’t feel rushed,” she assured him, wrapping her arms around his neck as she stepped into his arms. “I feel perfect. Like the happiest woman in Yuletide.”
“Should we share the news yet?” He glanced out the window toward the happy holiday celebrations outside in the town square. “We’d have a captive audience.”
“Not yet.” She brushed a kiss over his lips. “I’m going to have to share y
ou soon enough. Moments alone are hard to come by.”
Lifting her off her feet, Gavin brought her nose to nose with him, hands on her waist. “I like the way you think.”
“Enough to steal away with me upstairs for a few hours before Christmas dinner?” she whispered in his ear, her fingers toying with his hair.
His feet were already moving toward the steps, the white banister lights twinkling a path toward her happily ever after.
The End
The Road to Romance Series
When a popular life coach claims that making peace with your romantic past paves the way for romance in the future, the idea inspires a group of down-on-their-luck friends to follow the advice. As they set out to sever ties with the past, they are each surprised to find sexy adventure along the way!
Book 1: Last Chance Christmas
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Book 2: Second Chance Cowboy
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Book 3: A Chance Encounter at Christmas
View the series here
Don’t miss the newest series by Joanne Rock and Catherine Mann…
The Runaway Bride Series
Book 1: How to Lose a Groom in 10 days
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Book 2: The Wedding Audition
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Book 3: There Goes the Bride
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Book 4: Bride on the Run
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Enjoy an Exclusive Excerpt from
His Christmas Gift
Sarah Mayberry
Copyright © 2015 Sarah Mayberry
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Jenna Macintosh glanced up from the trial transcript she was reading, but the prison gates she was monitoring from the warmth of her car remained steadfastly closed.
Typical. The Montana prison system didn’t care that Jenna’s client had been waiting for this moment for nearly three long years. The system moved at its own pace, and even though Jenna had been told that Lacey Gallagher would be released by eight, it was now nearly ten and there was no sign of her.
The windshield was starting to fog up, and Jenna cracked her window and cranked up the fan on the heater to try to clear it. Billings, Montana was supposed to be enjoying a whole thirty-five degrees today, but it felt far, far colder to her.
She brought her attention back to the transcript but got distracted thinking about the three hour drive ahead of her. If the prison delayed Lacey’s release much longer, there was a high risk Jenna would be driving through snow on the return journey once she’d delivered Lacey to her home town of Marietta. The thought made Jenna’s stomach tense, and she frowned down at the thick document in her hands. If worst came to worst, she could handle a bit of snow. She had good tires on her ten year old Volvo SUV, and she’d be travelling on major roads. It was stupid to get all sweaty about it.
And yet here she was, sweaty. That was the awesome thing about her subconscious – no matter how many times the rational part of her brain gave it a stern talking to, her subconscious went on its merry way regardless.
Movement caught the corner of her eye and she glanced up. The heavy-duty pedestrian gate was opening. Jenna reached for the glasses she needed if she wanted to see anything clearly at a distance, sliding them over her ears just as someone stepped outside. The woman’s shoulders were hunched against the cold, her long brown hair pulled back into a no-nonsense braid. She was holding a heavy-looking plastic carrier bag, and she glanced around uncertainly. Jenna tossed her paperwork to one side and hastily scrambled from her car.
“Lacey!” Jenna waved to attract the other woman’s attention, and Lacey’s head swiveled her way. After a small hesitation, Lacey started walking, and Jenna met her half way.
Up close, Lacey was very pale, her big, green eyes wide as she absorbed her first few minutes of freedom. Jenna had seen that look before on recently released inmates. For nearly three years, Lacey had dreamed of this moment, but now it was here, and all the problems she’d left on the outside – plus a whole host of new ones – were about to descend on her. Then there were all the things she’d have to get up to speed on, because the world hadn’t simply stood still while she’d been wearing prison khaki and living in a concrete and steel box. Taylor Swift had conquered the world. Gay marriage was legal, and marijuana was heading that way. The world had changed, while Lacey’s world had become so small and focused she’d almost disappeared.
Even though their relationship was a professional one, Jenna couldn’t stop herself from throwing her arms around Lacey and giving her a big hug. Ideally, Lacey’s older brother, Sawyer, would be here today, greeting Lacey on her first day of parole, but he hadn’t been able to get away from work, so Lacey was going to have to simply suck up having a hug forced on her by her lawyer.
“Hope you haven’t been waiting too long,” Lacey said, belatedly lifting her arms to return Jenna’s hug. “‘There was a situation in one of the pods and it slowed everything down.”
“I got some work done, no problems.” Jenna couldn’t stop herself from beaming at Lacey.
For over a year now, she’d been getting to know this quiet, smart, determined woman. After hearing about Lacey’s story via another client, Jenna had taken the time to look into Lacey’s case, and it had quickly become evident that Lacey was the victim of a gross miscarriage of justice. Ever since then, Jenna had been advocating for Lacey in any way she could, going through her court records looking for grounds to have her conviction overturned, keeping Lacey up to speed on her parole application.
And now, here they were – day one of the rest of Lacey’s life.
“You want to grab something to eat? Maybe some real coffee? There’s a Starbucks nearby.”
Lacey’s wide mouth tipped up at the corners, slowly becoming a full smile.
“Is it too early for a pumpkin spice latte?”
“Are you kidding? I’ve been mainlining those puppies for weeks. Come on.”
They got into the car, Lacey stowing her bag of personal belongings on the back seat.
“Thanks for the new clothes. I really appreciate you ordering them for me,” Lacey said.
Jenna had bought a few things for Lacey from one of the prison-approved clothing catalogues, wanting Lacey to feel confident on her first day out in the world.
“You’ve got clothes and things at your brother’s place, right?” Jenna asked as she reversed out of the parking spot.
Lacey’s gaze was fixed on the high prisons walls and it took her a moment to snap-to and respond. “Yeah. I think so. I didn’t think to ask.” She glanced down at herself. “I hope my winter coats still fit. I porked up a bit. Then again, maybe the extra layer of fat will keep me warm.”
Gaining weight in prison was a common complaint – prison food was notorious for being high in heavily processed carbs.
“Are there places you can pick up gear locally in Marietta, or should we try to find you a coat before we head down there?” Jenna asked.
The thought of the forecast snowstorm tickled at the back of her brain again, but she pushed it away. Making sure Lacey had the best possible start in her new life was more important than the echo of bad memories.
“Marietta’s not exactly a one-horse town,” Lacey said, giving her an amused look. “We have electricity and running water and everything.”
“I didn’t mean it like that. I’ve just never been there. It could be one of those places with nothing but feed stores and flannel shirts and men who chew tobacco and whittle.”
Lacey’s smile flashed again. “Careful, city girl. That hole you’re digging just keeps getting bigger and bigger.”
They continued to talk and joke about nothing much during the short drive to Starbucks, where Jenna ordered two venti pumpkin spice lattes before they hit the road.
It wasn’t until they were on the outskirts of Billings that it occurred to Jenna that Lacey might like to call her brother to let him know all was well and she was on her way. Grabbing her phone from the center console, she handed it
to Lacey.
“Feel free to call your brother or anyone else if you like.”
Lacey stared at the phone for a beat before setting it back in the console.
“Thanks, but we’ll be there soon enough.”
Jenna glanced at her, but Lacey’s face was turned toward the window, hiding her expression. Jenna knew Sawyer Gallagher had visited his sister regularly, and she’d assumed they had a good, close relationship. But maybe she’d misread the situation entirely.
God knew, she was no expert in navigating the murky undercurrents of family life. In fact, it was almost laughable that she even felt the urge to try. What was that old saying about getting your own house in order first?
“I really appreciate you doing this for me today,” Lacey said.
“It’s not a big deal.”
“It’s six hours of driving, round trip.”
“Yeah, but it’s better than being in the office.”
She could feel Lacey studying her, and Jenna took her attention off the road for a second to glance at her passenger. A small frown wrinkled Lacey’s forehead and she looked troubled.
“What’s wrong?” Jenna asked.
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but one of the things I promised myself in prison was that I would never not ask the difficult, important question just because it might make someone feel uncomfortable, and I’ve been wanting to ask you this for a while now.”
“Why do I suddenly feel nervous?” Jenna joked.
“Why are you helping me like this? Why did you take on my case?”