by Nikki Duncan
“I wrote it after seeing you downstairs.” He moved close and swept his nose along her hair, inhaling her. The more time he spent with her the more impossible leaving became. There would be no easy escape from Aimee. “My band hadn’t even heard it yet.”
“It was beautiful. Heartwarming, yet heartbreaking. Like you’d found love one moment and lost it the next.”
Because I had. The truth fell into place as lyrically as the song had. He hadn’t seen it while he’d penned the words, but he’d been in love and heartbroken over it at the same time.
He’d seen Aimee and felt the warmth of home, love, yet a few short minutes later she’d detonated a bomb in his heart by saying they couldn’t be together. Until this moment he hadn’t realized how deep the truth ran.
“Aims.” Josh placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her to face him. She looked up, fear and hesitance darkened her stunning eyes. It was a look he never wanted to see again. A look he would fight to keep away.
“You were right when you said we’re from different worlds.”
The darkness deepened. He continued quickly. “Though I don’t think they’re as different as you think.”
“Hmpfh.”
“Let me rephrase.” He brushed a thumb over her cheekbone. “They’re not so different we should allow them to keep us apart.”
“You’re on the road so much you don’t have a home of your own, Josh.”
“You’re right. I have a mailbox and when I’m not touring I stay with my parents.” He kissed her left temple. “I’ve never said I didn’t want to change that.”
“I’ve loved our time together.” Her hands rested hesitantly on his stomach. “I want you to be involved with Kendall, but we need a man who’s around more than two weeks out of the year. We can’t be a vacation stop.”
“Now see, here’s the thing.” He grinned triumphantly, because without knowing it she’d just made his point for him. “Our worlds aren’t so different after all. I’ve been thinking about a re-alignment of sorts. Less tour time. More studio and family time. Kell’s telling the band it’s their Christmas present.”
The fear in her eyes eased a bit. Not much, but it was progress. She was beginning to believe him.
“I want you and Kendall to be a part of that family time, Aims. A big part.”
She shook her head and fear moved back to the forefront.
He nodded. “I’ve come to realize something else.”
The moment was the kind that held a humming power and the next person to speak would be the one to submit control. Josh clamped down on the need to add justifications and explanations and instead settled in to wait. A clock wouldn’t have shown much time passing, but the time that did pass felt interminable.
Finally, so quietly he’d have convinced himself he imagined it if he hadn’t seen her lips move, she asked, “What did you realize?”
“I want to marry you.”
Her eyes flared wide. She might have stepped back, but it seemed shock held her in place.
“I want to be here for Kendall. And I mean here, as in here in Whispering Cove. I want to see our daughter grow up.”
Aimee shook her head again, but she still didn’t step back.
“I want to be Kendall’s dad, not just her father. I want to be here for her first words and steps. I want to go with you to take her to her first day of school, and I want to be there to interrogate her first date.”
“Josh.” Her voice squeaked. Her head shaking grew more insistent.
“More than I want any of that…” He framed her face with his hands and stared into her eyes like he had in the bedroom earlier. “…I want to spend every day with the woman I love. I want to be your husband as badly as I want you to see me as a partner in life.”
Her jaw jerked up and down, but no words came. A blankness covered her face. She couldn’t generate an argument any more than it seemed she was fully grasping what he’d said. It wasn’t often that the quick-minded Aimee could be shocked speechless, and he liked that he’d been the one to do it.
“Before I propose, though, I want something else,” he added.
She raised a brow, but remained speechless.
“The snow is going to get worse as the day passes and before long we’ll be snowed in here. While that holds a powerful appeal, I want us to pack up Kendall and take a little trip.”
“Where?”
“My parents’ house.”
“Excuse me?”
“I always spend Christmas with my family. Before I ask you to join them, I think you should meet them.”
Aimee shook her head like she as struggling to believe him.
“You’ll get to see how non-glamorous my world really is. I want them to meet you and our daughter.” He kissed her then. A long, lingering kiss that would keep her reeling with uncertain footing. “And then, when they’ve helped lull you into complacency, I’m going to ask you to marry me.”
“We can’t get married. We barely know each other.”
She’d finally found her words, and since he didn’t particularly like them he chose to ignore them. “If we leave in the next hour we can catch a flight and be home for Christmas. On the way, I will tell you everything I know about you. And you can do the same.”
“You’re crazy. This is insane. I’m supposed to spend Christmas with Carmen.”
“Crazy for you. And can you think of a better Christmas present than a bigger family? Kendall has grandparents and aunts and uncles who will all want to spoil her every chance they get.” He kissed Aimee again, knowing full well he was pushing her mommy buttons. “Don’t you want those things for our daughter?”
“Josh Bryan, you’re not at all the nice man I thought you were. And what about your schedule? I’m not traveling year round with Kendall.”
“I am booked for the next several months, and that will take some work from both of us, but I already told you I’ve been considering some changes, and playing nice didn’t get me ahead in my career. Why would you think I’d play nice when it mattered most?”
“It’s a rotten quality.”
“But it’s one you love.” He wrapped her in his arms and grinned. “If you want we can even take Carmen. It’ll be a good chance for everyone to get to know each other.”
“I haven’t agreed to go anywhere with you.”
“But you know you will.” Carmen said from the hall where she stood with Kendall. “You’re crazy to deny the man.”
Aimee looked between them. Josh smiled at Carmen and grasped the lifeline he’d been extended. “Listen to your sister. Come home with me for Christmas.”
“Your family isn’t going to open their arms to us like you claim.”
“Then you don’t know half as much as you think you do about me.” Placing his palm beneath her jaw he raised her head. He leaned down and kissed the corner of her mouth.
Pleading silently, he opened himself up so his feelings for her escaped into the kiss. Aimee sighed into him, her body went lax against him, and suddenly her mysterious scent lost its mystery.
It was everything pure and powerful, erotic and elusive, rousing and rapturous. Her every breath captivated him as if spellbound. Aimee and the heady scent that seeped from her pores was magic. He’d always loved magic. Especially at Christmas.
“Okay. I give.”
Carmen let out a whoop that startled Kendall. Josh laughed and kissed Aimee again. “You won’t regret this. You two go get packed.” He went and took Kendall from Carmen. “I’ll take care of Kendall’s bag.”
Aimee propped her hands on her hips. A quick glance into her eyes revealed an excitement and happiness that belied her stubborn stance. “What do you know about packing a baby for a trip?”
“Diapers, wipes, powder, diaper rash ointment, burp cloths, lots of onesies, blanket, bottles and frozen milk in a small cooler. I’m Uncle Josh, remember.”
He looked at her, daring her to argue, because now that he knew what he wanted he was going to have
fun getting it. “Do you want me to go on?”
“I guess not.”
“What about the plane tickets?” Carmen asked.
“Covered.” With a quick call to his pilot, but he’d save that surprise for the airport. Satisfied that he’d won, Josh turned to go pack Kendall. He reached the door when Aimee called out.
“And Josh.”
He looked back to find her smiling. “Yeah?”
“I love you too.”
He was grinning as he headed to his daughter’s room. He’d never dreamed of becoming a father for Christmas, and he doubted any holiday would ever top this one, but he’d sure try with Aimee at his side.
Epilogue
“Another round of couples mated.” Byron raised his tumbler for a toast. “Couldn’t ask for better Christmas presents.”
“Especially the one of us with a month’s supply of rum comin’.” Errol laughed.
“That wouldn’t be you, ye old codger.” Harold rearranged his cards and then moved them back to their original arrangement. He’d convinced himself long ago that playing with his cards would keep Byron and Errol off guard. It never did.
“You can’t think you won,” Byron exclaimed. “Your plan was an afterthought.”
Errol rolled the bottom edge of his tumbler on the table and nodded thoughtfully. “An afterthought he couldn’t pull off without us to help.”
“That desperation made you easy to read.” Like too many of their bets there was no clear winner, but Byron had decided that somebody was paying up this time. “The kids saw right through you.”
“Ye think they didn’t see through you pulling Josh Bryan in? Ye may as well have been waving a flag declaring yer plans.”
“But I was never doubted.” Byron smiled. “See, it’s not a hard sale that Josh loved the town enough to come here a second time.”
“And Jon would’ve had to deal with his house whether Lila had been there or not.” Harold huffed in apparent triumph.
“Ye claimin’ victory by the simplicity of yer plans?”
Byron shrugged. “Never knew you to be such a sore loser.”
“Fine.” Errol groused. “Ye think I lost. Tell me who won.”
Byron and Harold looked at each other, neither of them able to say one had beaten the other. It dawned on Byron that maybe they got so wrapped up in getting couples together they failed to get specific in their terms.
“Ye can’t do it.” Errol laughed. “Ye can’t say it cuz it ain’t true.”
“You’re right,” Harold drawled. “But if neither of us won, then we tied.”
“Which would mean Errol owes us both a supply of rum.”
“That was not part of the bet,” Errol argued. “But it’s Christmas, so I’ll be the better man and give ye each half a supply.”
“No way.” Byron shook his head and rested his swollen fingers over his cards. “We don’t want your pity rum, but I have a new proposition.”
Harold and Errol both straightened in their chairs.
“We lay low until Spring, planning our next couples.” Byron smiled as the idea grew firmer. “We each have the same start date and end date. Our couple must declare their love publicly. The most unique declaration, determined by the complexity of their vow, wins the bet.”
Harold and Errol each grinned. Nodded slowly. “And the two losers owe a month’s supply of rum.”
Byron raised his tumbler and waited for his poker pals to raise theirs. “Do we have a deal?”
They clinked glasses and began debating the rules of their next wager. They would be specific.
About the Author
Heart-stopping puppy chases, childhood melodrama and the aborted hangings of innocent toys are all in a day’s work for Nikki Duncan. This athletic equestrian turned reluctant homemaker turned daring author is drawn to the siren song of a fresh storyline.
Nikki plots murder and mayhem over breakfast, scandalous exposés at lunch and the sensual turn of phrase after dinner. Nevertheless, it is the pleasurable excitement and anticipation of unraveling her character’s motivation that drives her to write long past the witching hour.
The only anxiety and apprehension haunting this author comes from pondering the mysterious outcome of her latest twist.
Nikki loves to hear from her readers. She can be found at all the predictable online places.
Twitter: @NDuncanWriter
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NDuncanWriter
Website: www.nikkiduncan.com
Look for these titles by Nikki Duncan
Now Available:
Sensory Ops
Sounds to Die By
Scent of Persuasion
Illicit Intuitions
A Killing Touch
Tulle and Tulips
Tangled in Tulle
Twisted in Tulips
Whispering Cove
Wicked
Burned
Her Miracle Man
Coming Soon:
Sensory Ops
Taste Me Deadly
Whispering Cove
Fiery
Some couples just click. Others require a hard hat and a stud finder.
Handcuffed in Housewares
© 2013 Nikki Duncan
Tulle and Tulips, Book 3
Monday mornings have a reputation for sucking, and today is no different for Burton Anderson. One year ago, his “perfect” life full of prestige, money, success and travel crumbled in the glaring light of betrayal.
This morning? This close to making his new construction business a success, a date gone awry has left him handcuffed to a toilet in a housewares store. Naked. And the first customer of the day is coming down his aisle.
Planning and shopping for other couples’ Big Day is about as wild and crazy as buttoned-up Leigh Schyuler gets. Until she gets an eyeful of Hearth and Home’s daily special. He’s definitely a “designer” temptation while she’s “off the rack”.
But there are risks, and then there are risks. Burton isn’t sure he can once again trust his heart to a woman who holds the power to ruin him. And Leigh discovers too late that indulging in a little no-strings sex is tying her dream of Devoted Love into hopeless knots…
Warning: Contains a hard-hatted, hard-bodied hero who’s good with his hands, and a woman who’d like him to build a bridge over her sexual boundaries. Nuts and bolts never had it so good.
Enjoy the following excerpt for Handcuffed in Housewares:
I enjoy working with my hands. Leigh stood in Burton’s office, the place where he planned his jobs and made business decisions. Dark furniture and cream-colored walls with gorgeous sconces that offered a soft light. An efficiently organized set of shelves and file drawers backed the masculine desk. A large window overlooked the immaculately landscaped and solar-lit lawn. The space was appealing enough to let her know she’d thought of the right man for Jace’s project, but as appealing as the room was it didn’t appeal to her as much as the man who’d created it.
“You accomplished a lot in a month.”
“I’m efficient when I’m not locked to toilets,” he said with a wink.
He was kind, fun and funny, but there was a hesitance in him. Something that held him back from completely opening himself up, even as she suspected he was opening himself up more with her than he normally did. He was a mystery she wouldn’t mind trying to solve.
“So you plan on buying, fixing up and selling house after house?”
“The idea’s occurred to me.”
She sat on the edge of the large executive desk that held only a laptop, phone, notepad and pen all precisely placed to be within easy reach. “You don’t want to put down roots?”
“I have roots in family.”
“Are they around here, or did you move around a lot as a kid?” That could explain his detachment to a house, because most people formed an attachment when they invested as much time and effort in a place as he already had.
“They’re here. How about you? Where are your ro
ots?”
“I’m still trying to figure that out. My foster family is here, and I know how I fit with them, but…” She took a long drink and sat the beer beside her.
“But?” He sat his mug on the desk. His arm brushed hers as he moved back to lean against the wall across from her. “There’s something still missing?”
His eyes, piercing and soulful, met hers and silently encouraged her to share her innermost feelings. She’d talked about her professional dreams with Lori and the other planners. Misty knew some of her past because they’d been in college together for a while. She didn’t normally talk about personal stuff with people.
“But, I…” She wasn’t entirely sure what her dreams were, but somehow, facing Burton, she suspected he’d play into her figuring them out. “Do you ever feel like you haven’t found your place? Like maybe you’re close, but haven’t quite gotten there?”
“Sounds familiar.”
“Ever figure out what’s missing?”
“Nope.”
All evening he’d been talkative and fun. Now, when they were alone and she especially wanted to know what he thought, he grew quiet… Then he stepped forward. “I’m beginning to wonder, though…”
The spanning distance between them was minimal, but he closed each step with determination and strength.
“Wonder what?” Energy pulsed along the air. The headlights from a car turning the corner shafted through the open blinds, illuminating Burton even more than the soft light coming from the wall sconces.
“If maybe you’re part of what’s been missing.”
Leigh’s heart jumped with the dull thud of each of Burton’s footfalls. It soared with the suggestion in his tone.
Burton stopped with a foot still separating them. He scooted his feet across the hardwood floor until the toes of his shoes bumped the toes of hers. Leigh straightened off the desk so she stood before him, her pulse pumping harder.