by AJ Matthews
Winn followed Tyler to the car, and satisfied by the click of his seatbelt, started the engine and maneuvered the compact green hybrid around the circular gravel drive of their cottage. She turned onto the narrow stretch of rural road and spotted the Martin’s impressive brick home, decked out for the holidays in ribbons and greens. Another quarter mile away sat the more modest, but no less impressively decorated, Crane home.
Back in Maryland, almost everyone, with the exception of the retail stores, waited until the day after Thanksgiving to get their holiday on. In Darden, decorations went up right after Halloween. People drove from 50 miles out, sometimes more, to view the heavily lit homes and businesses along the two-mile stretch of West and Main Streets. The whole town got in on the action early to ensure anyone who strayed off the beaten path enjoyed their visit.
Winn loved the hospitality of everyone she’d met in Darden, even if they were a little nosy and eccentric sometimes.
But she hated this custom.
More accurately, Winn hated the cracks the holiday exposed in her freshly plastered emotional façade. She’d put in so much effort to patch the wounds, both physical and invisible. She didn’t want anything to rip off those scabs again.
All of this Christmas cheer, though, reminded her of the day she returned to Gus’s apartment after leaving the hospital. The orphaned gifts under the tree had mocked her, sparkling ghosts of memories that wouldn’t be made that year, and at the time, if there would be another Christmas with Gus. The unreturned phone calls from “friends” had emphasized how alone she would be in the scariest challenge of her life.
Winn decided there would be no Christmas for them this year.
She still planned on buying Tyler a few things, but there would be no tree, no garland, no stockings. No Year without a Santa Claus or Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer or How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
As far as she was concerned, she was the Grinch.
Which begged the question: why in the hell was she going to a Christmas parade?
Oh, right, so Tyler could see the dogs.
“And?” Winn questioned herself.
Tyler grunted from the back seat, and she realized she’d spoken out loud.
And so I can ogle their über-sexy handler, she silently confessed.
She glanced at the precious boy in the back seat with his eyes closed as he rocked softly side-to-side to the beat of a song in his head.
She didn’t have time to indulge in any of the lascivious fantasies she’d been having about Eric.
No matter how delicious the indulgence could be.
***
Eric glanced around from his perch atop the Christmas float, hoping to catch a glimpse of those coppery curls cascading down Winnona's back, as though attempting to brush against her softly rounded backside...
Stop it, man. He wasn’t the “relationship” guy. He’d had a few flings in the last couple years—but only when he’d been on the road, and never with anyone in Darden. It was the one way to keep the town out of his personal business.
Tuck nipped at his hand, compelling Eric to finish his “Santa” duties. He should’ve been up waving and “Ho-ho-ho-ing.” Instead, he'd been scoping out the crowd for the potential Mrs. Santa.
Where in the hell did that come from? He wasn't searching for a Mrs. Anything.
He bet Winnona would be irresistible in a “sexy elf” costume, though.
“Ho! Ho! Ho!” Eric bellowed from beneath the scratchy fake whiskers, smiling and waving and squinting in the bright afternoon sun.
They were nearing the mid-way point in the parade with no signs of Tyler or Winnona. Eric sure hoped they made it today. Tyler would want to see Tuck.
That was the only reason he hoped they came. He would hate for Tyler to be disappointed by missing the parade and the dogs.
His own disappointment at not catching a peek at Tyler's gorgeous aunt be damned.
“Ho! Ho! Ho!” This declaration held less cheer as he furtively scanned the crowd. Then he spotted them, his breath catching in throat as he croaked out another greeting to the crowd. Tyler's blond head bobbed to the high school marching band's rendition of “Jingle Bell Rock.” Winnona scanned the crowd as though hunting for someone.
She looked right at him, then away, but in the next moment their gazes locked and her eyes widened in recognition.
The moment passed quickly as Tyler spotted the dogs dressed as reindeer at Santa's side and tugged on Winnona's hand.
Tyler appeared disappointed the dogs were so far away, and Eric hoped she would explain to him how Santa and his helpers would be greeting visitors at the end of the parade. That moment couldn't come soon enough for Eric.
He returned to waving and shouting “happy holidays” and “Merry Christmas” to the onlookers. He was relieved to be approaching the finish line. The crowd thinned here, and Eric suspected the shade cast by the town's tallest building made the spot too chilly for most people.
Eric shivered himself and imagined a few pleasant ways to warm up. Not surprisingly, they all involved one other person, and little clothing.
“Cool it, Santa Bigelow, North Pole Gigolo,” Eric chided himself as he jumped off the float and pulled down the ramp, signaling Tuck, Maggie, and Jock to follow.
The trio of dogs followed behind him as they made their way to Santa's workshop set-up inside the bank's lobby. Mr. Mervyn, the bank manager, kindly opened the building to them this year. The temperature typically hovered around 60 degrees in the afternoon this time of year and so they normally did this all outside, but Mayor Jenkins and the town council had appealed to Mr. Mervyn earlier in the week in hopes of moving the festivities inside, given the frigid temperatures expected for today.
Selling Mr. Mervyn on the idea of bringing the dogs took a bit more effort. Eric had lobbied the old man, reminding Mervyn how he owed the Donnelly family a favor or two for the significant business they’d given the bank over the years.
Eric usually didn't like to call in favors, but he’d do anything to make sure the kids coming for Santa got to visit his doggy helpers, too.
He crossed the bank's lobby, his boots thudding on the polished black-and-white marble. He took his seat in front of the snowy backdrop as the town's photo studio operator Rena Lindsey finished setting up. Eric heard the murmurs of excitement coming from outside the bank doors, and a few anxious faces pressed their noses to the glass hoping to get a glance of Santa.
Eric took a deep breath and braced himself for another tempting encounter with the pretty redhead. Hoping he had the strength to resist her was his only Christmas wish.
***
Winn squeezed Tyler's shoulder, hoping to ease the tension in his body as they waited in line. She herself was not good with waiting, a trait she hoped to improve upon, but she understood it was much harder for Tyler. The noise and the press of bodies so close together were often overwhelming for his little system.
They were closer to the head of the Santa line than the back, which made her heart do a silly little flip in her chest as the corners of her mouth tugged upward.
Winn admitted she was a bit surprised when she’d realized who was playing Santa.
While she shouldn’t have been shocked Eric would volunteer for the part, given his soft spot for the kids, he’d been so cool in his old Levi's and vintage concert shirt the day they met, and dressing up as a jolly old man in a red fur-trimmed suit was so different.
Winn snapped out of her reverie as people pushed at her, and she realized the line was moving inside the bank. She was thankful, given the chill in the air. However, as soon as they moved into the lobby to line up behind the brass-and-velvet stanchions, she spotted Eric and instantly overheated.
Damn, the man was sexy even behind a fake beard and padded belly. She must be hard-up to think Santa was a hottie, but she couldn't tear her gaze away from him.
Eric caught her eye and winked. Winn glanced away, her cheeks hot with the embarrassment of being caught.
Anything to avoid direct eye contact with Hot Santa again.
When their turn to approach Santa arrived, Eric bellowed, “Ho! Ho! Ho! Come on over, little boy, and tell Santa what you want for Christmas.”
Unfortunately, Winn couldn't avoid talking to Eric any longer.
“I'm sorry, Santa.” Winn smiled anxiously at him. “Tyler didn't come here for you. He's here to visit your little helpers.”
Tuck and the other two dogs began wagging their tales as Tyler approached them and sat on the floor.
The smile Winn detected in the crinkles around Eric's expressive eyes dropped for a moment, and then she sensed a little mischief.
“Then why don’t you tell Santa what’s on your wish list, young lady?”
The stern-faced, bespectacled photographer not-so-subtly coughed. “Do you want a picture, ma'am?”
Startled at the photographer’s sharp tone, Winn replied, “Oh no, I didn't bring my wallet, so I can't buy one right now.”
“Ms. Lindsey, can you send the bill for this one to the North Pole? I'll make sure you’re paid straightaway.” The photographer pursed her lips and curtly nodded her head.
Eric winked at Winn again.
Both her stomach and heart flopped a little this time.
“No, no, that's not...”
Eric interrupted. “I insist. An early Christmas gift.”
“This is mighty kind of you, Eri-I mean, Santa. I accept.”
The corners of Eric's eyes crinkled again, and he took Winn's hand to bring her to rest on the arm of his chair.
Fire shot through her belly, and she grew lightheaded.
The camera flashed, and the resulting photo revealed a grinning little blond boy crazy in love with new fuzzy pals, a dazed redhead, and a Santa candidly admiring the woman perched on the chair next to him.
The picture was, Winn believed, about the most perfect Christmas photo ever.
Even if everything about Christmas unsettled her.
And everything about Eric unsettled her even more.
However, there was no place for him in her life this Christmas, or any other time of the year.
Chapter 2
Sitting on her front porch, Winn relished the quiet morning. This was her time. After Tyler left for school and before she checked into her tutoring assignments, she had some peace. First, time for yoga.
Winn answered a text from Gus, who thought a service dog for Tyler was a fantastic idea, and took one last sip of her steaming coffee. She stood and shook her shoulders and arms around, trying to ward off the cold. It wasn't quite as chilly as it had been the past week, but still cool enough that Tyler needed his parka this morning.
As she entered the house, a blanket of coziness settled around her. It was a lovely home, small, but warm and inviting. All they needed to make a fresh start.
So Winn had believed.
The past week, however, she’d reconsidered what she needed, and what Tyler needed too. She’d thought she could put her needs—especially her physical needs—aside and do what was right for her nephew.
Now all she could think about were Tyler, and Eric. She knew so little about him, aside from the way he made her feel.
She pulled off her coat, turned the television on, rolled out her yoga mat, and put on her yoga DVD. She sat and assumed the half-lotus pose, pulling her left foot up to rest on her right thigh, closing her eyes and taking deep, cleansing breaths as she cleared her mind.
Well, tried to clear her mind.
As she moved into a low warrior pose, she imagined Eric touching her arms, his fingers stroking her sensitive skin.
Winn opened her eyes, shook her head, and moved into a downward facing dog. Instead of distracting her from visions of Eric's roving hands on her body, this particular pose made her think of him coming up behind her...
A hot flush crept up her chest, and she stood and reached for her water bottle, hoping to cool her ardor.
Maybe she couldn’t stop thinking about him because she needed to talk to him about the possibility of getting Tyler an assistance dog. She’d put off calling Eric, though, hoping distance would ease the white-hot attraction kindled when she first saw those deep dimples.
I should make the call. Get it done and purge him from her system. Desensitize herself to his considerable charms. That was the premise behind exposure therapy, right?
Winn turned off the television and grabbed her cell. She dialed the first few digits of the number from Eric’s business card stuck on the fridge, but hit cancel before she completed the call.
Oh good grief, stop acting like you’re 16. He’s a professional, and you’re a potential client.
The voice in her head sounded so calm and authoritarian. The way her heart thudded in her chest, Winn had a hard time believing the sensible words. She took a deep breath, punched in the digits, and hit “call.”
Voicemail, voicemail, voicemail.
“Hello, Darden Dog Training.” Instead of a clipped message asking her to leave her name and number at the beep, Winn was enveloped by the hot-buttered-rum richness of a live Eric's voice.
She squeezed her eyes shut, took another deep breath and did a little dance in place.
“Um, hi, Eric?”
“Yes, this is Eric. Who is this?”
“Oh, um, sorry, Winnona. Garringer.”
“Of course. I apologize. I should’ve recognized your voice.”
Winn had to admit she was a little disappointed Eric hadn’t recognized her voice since they’d already met twice. Especially since she’d recognize his voice, his smell, if blindfolded in a room with a dozen other guys?
“What can I do for you, Ms. Garringer?”
How businesslike. The rhythmic tap-tap-tap of a keyboard echoed through the lull in the conversation.
“Hello? Are you there?”
“Oh, yes. Sorry. Tyler seems to respond to your dogs, and I’d like to meet with you about getting him a dog of his own.” A silent whoosh of breath escaped her. There. Easy enough.
“Can you meet today?”
That was unexpected.
“Now? Uh sure. Should I come to your office?”
“Don’t have one. I work out of my house. I’m headed out to Harvey’s Hardware for a few supplies, and I actually missed breakfast. How about an early lunch at the Depot Diner on Main in about an hour?”
Winn’s heart struck up the now-familiar rhythm at the idea of being close to him. This was ridiculous. She was a grown woman conducting business with another adult. Even if she fantasized about making things more personal…
She couldn’t go there. Not now. Tyler needed her attention, and then in a matter of weeks, Gus would be home and he’d need her too.
No time for anything messy or complicated.
Determined she could resist her growing attraction to the handsome dog trainer, Winn agreed. “Early lunch works. I’ll be there in an hour.”
Winn hung up the phone, more determined than ever to collect herself and show Eric nothing but the caring, concerned mother figure doing what was best for her child.
Ignoring her own needs.
That’s what good moms did, right?
In the week since she’d met Eric, ignoring her own needs grew more difficult. She kept picturing his legs encased in denim, felt a tug in her belly imagining his strong arms wrapped around her, pulling her to him as he ravaged her with his mouth, tongue…
She needed to re-direct her imagination, or shut it down altogether. Tyler needed her full attention, and Eric, well, he likely had no need for her.
The idea left Winn cold and a bit jealous of whoever it was Eric would want—and need.
***
Eric sat at the counter of the Depot, nursing a mug of strong, sweet coffee. The familiar sound of a train whist
le blowing from the kitchen signaled an order was up, and the bells tinkled lightly on the front door. He turned again to check if Winnona had arrived. A blast of frigid air hit him, but the sight greeting him warmed him to the bone.
Winnona’s ginger curls were plastered to her pale cheeks, tinged pink from the blustery air. Her neon green ski coat skimmed the flair of her hips, emphasizing her soft curves. Eric swallowed and stood up to greet her.
He waved and caught her eye. “Hey. Glad you could make it.”
Grabbing his mug of hot coffee, he placed his hand on the small of her back to guide her to a nearby booth. She flinched, more a twitch, at his light touch. He shook it off and slid onto the bench across from her.
Eric held up his mug. “Want some coffee?”
Unzipping her coat and setting it on the bench next to her, she nodded, her shiny hair bouncing. He wondered how the strands would feel wound around his hands as he pulled her in closer for a kiss…
“Yes, that would be terrific.”
Eric quit his daydreaming and signaled Jaynie, who approached with a fresh pot and a cup for Winnona.
“Thanks for meeting me.” A slight, almost-nervous smile crossed her face.
“Not a problem at all.” He placed an order.
Winnona, lips pursed, studied the menu like there would be a test on it later. “Two eggs, scrambled, with cheese, bacon-extra crispy. And hash browns, please.”
Thank goodness she’d ordered something other than fruit and water. He appreciated a woman who enjoyed a hearty meal.
Jaynie topped off Eric’s coffee and darted away to put their orders in.
“Ms. Garringer…”
“Please, call me Winn.”
“Winn.” He liked the way her name rolled off his tongue. “So tell me what I can do for you?”
“Well, you were right. Tyler loves the dogs, especially Tuck. How does the process work?”
Eric pulled an application out of the file and pushed it across the table to her. “Fill this out. It’s basic stuff, to help me understand Tyler’s behaviors better, your household dynamics, and help me figure out what type of dog may be best for the two of you.”