Sleigh Bells in the Snow

by Sarah Morgan

  He knew they were worried about him, but this was one situation he had to handle by himself. Not that he’d done well so far.

  What the hell had he been thinking? Had he really expected her to give up her well-paid, secure job to come and work at a place that was teetering on the brink of disaster?

  He never should have asked that of her.

  No wonder she’d panicked and run.

  Right now, he didn’t want to talk about it, nor did he want to be fed gingerbread Santas or think about the work facing him.

  He was so desperate to be left alone that when he heard the sound of a snowmobile coming up the trail behind him, he swore. The last thing he wanted was company, not even tourists who were essential for the future of this place.

  But it wasn’t tourists, it was Tyler. And seated behind him was Kayla, wearing Alice’s red knitted scarf around her neck.

  Jackson stood still. She should have been on her way back to New York.

  She shouldn’t be here.

  Tyler steered the snowmobile to the edge of the trail. “You need to learn to drive one of these things yourself,” he grumbled. “I’ve got better things to do than drive you around.”

  “I will. I promise.” Kayla slid off the back and leaned in to kiss him on the cheek. “Thanks, Tyler.”

  Tyler threw a wary glance at his brother. “Not my fault. Women just can’t help themselves around me.” Winking at Kayla, he drove off without giving Jackson an opportunity to respond.

  Which left the two of them alone.

  Jackson took a deep breath. “You’re supposed to be at the airport.”

  * * *

  IT WASN’T THE welcome she’d hoped for, but she couldn’t blame him for that. “You didn’t answer your phone. I left about a million messages.”

  “I assumed it was my family. What the hell are you doing here, Kayla?”

  What if she’d messed it up by walking away?

  “I couldn’t leave.” She stared through the trees, thinking she’d never been anywhere more beautiful. “You said I needed to experience all that Snow Crystal had to offer and I haven’t even touched on it, have I? I haven’t built a snowman. Walter says I need to see you tap the sugar maple trees. I want to see the lake when it isn’t covered in ice and ride a mountain bike over these trails in the summer. I want to see the fall foliage. But most of all I want—” She broke off and took a slow breath. It felt like stepping off a cliff, especially with him watching her with those blue, blue eyes. “I want you. I want to be with you.”

  There was a long pause. Just long enough to make her courage falter.

  “You said no.”

  “I panicked. It was all so sudden, so unexpected and—and I’m a coward. You were right about that.”

  “I never said you were a coward.”

  “You said I was scared, and I am scared. But I don’t want to be this way anymore. I can’t go back to being the old me. I can’t go back to making choices just because they’re safe.”

  He didn’t respond, and she felt a lurch of terror that he might have changed his mind.

  “I threw myself into work because it was the one thing I could control.” She tried to explain. “I could depend on it. And I was successful and that gave me a buzz. I worked hard because success made me feel good about myself and because—” she found it hard to admit, even to herself “—and because when I was working I was never alone. Thinking about work meant I didn’t have to think about all the things that were missing from my life. And it became normal for me. I didn’t even question it. I never slowed down. Except at Christmas. That’s the time of year when it’s impossible to miss the fact you have no one in your life.”

  His gaze was fixed on her face. “So you’re back here because you don’t want to be lonely anymore?”

  “No. I’m back here because I don’t want to live without you in my life. We have so much fun together. You make me laugh. You help me be the person I’m too scared to be by myself. You made me feel like one of the family.” She was not going to cry. She was not going to cry. “And you’re indecently hot, of course, and the sex is amazing, and— God, this is the worst speech I’ve ever made.” Hand shaking, she pushed her hair away from her face. “Yesterday, Christmas Day...that is the first family Christmas I’ve had since I was thirteen and when you all gave me gifts...” Tears clogged her throat.

  Shit. So much for not crying.

  Jackson frowned and stepped toward her. “Kayla—”

  “No, let me finish.” She dug her hands into her pockets, knowing this wasn’t the time to hold back. “Work is important to me. I’m not pretending it isn’t. But I used work to avoid life. I used it to avoid relationships. And you’re right that when I get back to New York the work on Snow Crystal is going to be done by someone else. And I realized in the car that I don’t want that to happen, because it isn’t just an account to me anymore. And you’re not a client. I want to be here with my sleeves rolled up doing the work. I want to be with you.”

  There was a long silence. “So does this mean I should cancel my flight to New York?”

  She stared at him. “You booked a flight?”

  “You wouldn’t stay with me here, so I decided to come to you. I shouldn’t have asked you to give up your job.” His voice was hoarse. “You love it, and you’re so damn good at it. I thought maybe we could find another way. Long-distance can work.”

  “You’d do that for me?”

  “I’ll do whatever it takes to have you in my life.”

  She felt a burst of happiness. “I’m glad you feel that way because I called Brett and told him I don’t want the promotion. It was a long conversation, but basically I’m going to stay in my current job. That way I can be more involved with Snow Crystal. And I can work from here a few days a week and commute backward and forward. It might be complicated at first, but I’m willing to do whatever it takes.”

  “Hell, Kayla—” there was a look of disbelief and uncertainty on his face “—you worked hard for that promotion. And there’s no corner office here.”

  “But there are other things. There are trees, mountains, snow, moose—don’t forget the moose—and there’s your family—” Tears slid down her cheeks and she wiped them away with her palm. “And there’s you. You’re here. That makes it the only place I want to be.”

  “Are you sure? I can’t believe you did that for me.” He closed the distance between them and pulled her into his arms. She clung to him, relief flooding through her.

  “I did it for me. For us. I can’t believe you booked a flight to New York.”

  “Good job I had to mend the trail first, otherwise we would have passed each other on the road.”

  “When you didn’t answer the phone I was terrified you might have changed your mind.”

  “I’m never going to change my mind.” He cupped her face in his hands. “You think it’s that easy to switch love on and off?”

  “I don’t know anything about love, Jackson, except that it makes me do crazy things. And you. You’re doing crazy things, too. You’ve known me a week. That’s not long enough.”

  “Do you really believe that?”

  She gave a choked laugh. “No. The truth is you know me better after a week than anyone else has after years. I came here to avoid Christmas. I didn’t expect to enjoy it. I didn’t expect to be welcomed the way your family welcomed me. I didn’t expect to feel included. I’ve been the outsider for so long I had no idea how good it would feel to be on the inside. But it felt good. It feels good.”

  “Kayla—”

  “I love you, Jackson. I’ve never said that to anyone before, but I’m saying it now. I love you, and I want to live my life with you. I want you to be there to pick me up when I fall down and I want to be there to do the same for you.”

  He hauled her against him and hugged her tightly. “I love you, too. All I want is for us to be together. The rest of it, we can work out.”

  “I was thinking that in the long-
term I might think about starting my own business. You talked about it the other night, and I think it might be something I’d love.” She was stammering. “To be honest I have no idea how we’re going to do any of this, but I know we’ll work it out somehow.”

  “Are you sure this is what you want? I can spend time in New York, too. If you want that promotion, you should take it.”

  “Everything I want is right here. You’re right here.”

  “Are you sure? You’re a city girl.”

  “Turns out I’m not as much of a city girl as I thought. And if I stay, I can wear these gorgeous warm boots I bought and the gloves you gave me. I can drink hot chocolate and learn to ski without landing on my face. I can see what summer looks like from your bed.” She hugged him tightly. “I love you, Jackson O’Neil, and if you’re still carrying that diamond ring in your pocket, now would be a good time to give it to me and ask the question you asked yesterday.”

  He pulled out the box and slid the ring onto her finger.

  It sparkled in the winter sunshine, the diamond catching the light like a snow crystal.

  Her throat felt thick. “It’s the best gift anyone has ever given me.”

  He lowered his head and kissed her gently. “Marry me, Kayla.”

  “And those are the best words anyone has ever said to me,” she whispered against his mouth. “Yes.”

  The sound of bells interrupted them, and they pulled apart, ready to move out of the way of the horse-drawn sleigh.

  “Merry Christmas.” Walter sat in the driver’s seat, his hands on the reins while Alice and Elizabeth sat snuggled together under a rug in the backseat. “This is supposed to be a moment she remembers forever and you pick a hole in the trail and a gas-guzzling snowmobile? Get in the back and do it again so you can tell your kids you proposed in a horse-drawn sleigh.”

  Jackson closed his eyes. “Gramps—”

  “There are still some things I know more about than you. Now get in.”

  Laughing, drowning in happiness, Kayla jumped into the back of the sleigh and was immediately hugged by Elizabeth and Alice. Maple popped her head out from the protection of Elizabeth’s warm coat and barked.

  “This is the best Christmas present.” Alice took Kayla’s hand and studied the ring. “And you’re wearing the scarf I knitted you.”

  “Of course she’s wearing it,” Elizabeth said. “Why wouldn’t she? It’s a beautiful scarf.”

  Shaking his head in disbelief, Jackson sprang up next to her. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

  “Of course she’s sure,” Walter said over his shoulder. “She’s here, isn’t she? Now get on with it. Just pretend we’re not here.”

  “I’ve already done it, Gramps. She said yes, although she might be about to change her mind now you’ve reminded her what marrying me entails.”

  “I’m not going to change my mind.” Kayla couldn’t ever remember a moment more perfect. She took Maple from Elizabeth and tucked the puppy inside her coat. “I’m really not.”

  “Are you sure?” Jackson put his arm around her and snuggled her against him. “I can’t pretend it’s not going to be a challenge.”

  “Haven’t you heard? Challenge is my favorite breakfast dish, along with a side of difficult marinated in the impossible. Only these days I’m adding in a taste of maple syrup. I find it adds that extra special something.”

  “I can’t believe you’re staying.”

  “I fell in love—” tears shone in her eyes “—and not just with the man. With the place. That’s what happens at Snow Crystal. It’s magic.”

  And it felt like magic with his arms around her, his mouth on hers and the soft flutter of snow falling like confetti.

  * * * * *

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  First, a huge thank-you to my readers who continue to buy my books thereby giving me the opportunity to write more.

  Special thanks to my brilliant and talented editor, Flo Nicoll, for her enthusiasm and insight. Working together on this book has been more fun than anyone has a right to expect from a job.

  I’m grateful to my agent, Susan Ginsburg of Writers House, for her wise advice, and to the fantastic team at HQN and Harlequin UK for their support and hard work.

  Without Kimberly Young and Lucy Gilmour I doubt my career would have reached this point. I owe them both a great deal.

  Particular thanks to Dianne Moggy for her encouragement and for allowing me to use real-life Maple as fictional Maple in this story. All errors my own.

  Love and thanks to Laura Reeth for her friendship, support and astute observations on life.

  All writers need writer friends. I am fortunate to have more than I can mention here—you know who you are!—but I am particularly indebted to Carol Marinelli and Nicola Cornick.

  Writers also need nonwriter friends. Love and thanks to Sue, who has been there through thick and thin and occasionally forces me to talk about real people as well as fictional ones.

  I am fortunate to have a wonderful family. Love to my parents and also to my fantastic children for the hugs and laughs and for never complaining when I’m on a deadline and make them eat pizza.

  Finally, love and thanks to my husband for proving that romance can happen outside the pages of a book. I am grateful to him for teaching me to ski and for patiently picking me up when I landed on my face, thus providing me with plenty of material for this story!

  USA Today bestselling author Sarah Morgan writes hot, happy contemporary romance and her trademark humour and sensuality have gained her fans across the globe. Described as ‘a magician with words’ by RT Book Reviews, she has been nominated three years in succession for the prestigious RITA© Award from the Romance Writers of America and won the award twice; in 2012 for her book ‘Doukakis’s Apprentice’ and 2013 for ‘A Night of No Return’. She also won the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award in 2012 and has made numerous appearances in their ‘Top Pick’ slot.

  Sarah lives near London with her husband and children, and when she isn’t reading or writing she loves being outdoors, preferably on vacation so she can forget the house needs tidying. You can visit Sarah online at www.sarahmorgan.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AuthorSarahMorgan and on Twitter @SarahMorgan_

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  ISBN-13: 9781460320990

  SLEIGH BELLS IN THE SNOW

  Copyright © 2013 by Sarah Morgan

  All rights reserved. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

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