His Christmas Bride

by Lara Van Hulzen

  It was important for him to be in New York, even more so now with Wes and Mike based in Montana. With great people skills and a knack for marketing, Lucas ran publicity and was the “face,” so to speak, of the St. Claire empire. Sure, Wes showed up at the fancy affairs, but was too busy talking business in the corner. Lucas was there, as well, but to pat backs, encourage smiles, and give the St. Claires a friendlier vibe than his stoic brother.

  Yes, sometimes Lucas walked away with the sense he was the family’s dancing monkey, but in all fairness, it wasn’t because of how they treated him. It was simply part of the game that was played in business.

  His father had encouraged Lucas to go into acting. With his connections, Lucas could get a foot in the door no problem. But that wasn’t where his heart was. As well as he did in a crowd, he was most at ease outdoors. Riding horses was his guilty pleasure. To live full-time on a ranch and run that? That was his dream.

  But his family needed him. His dad and Wes had given him respect and a senior position. He wasn’t going to let them down. As the third son, lost in the shadows of his two older brothers, he wanted nothing more than to shine in a way that made them proud.

  Yet another reason Vanessa was a good choice for him. She came from a strong, New York family, had a great work ethic, and would fit right in with the world he lived in.

  “You’re deep in thought.” Mike grabbed a water bottle from the fridge and parked himself on a barstool diagonal from Lucas.

  Franchesca followed and sat beside her husband. “You wanna talk about it? I imagine you have a lot on your mind with a wedding coming up so soon.”

  Mike took a pull from his water bottle and set it down on the island. As much as Lucas would like to believe they had a casual conversation in mind, he couldn’t help feeling like he faced a firing squad instead of his brother and sister-in-law.

  “So, did you two draw the short straw?”

  Mike laughed. Franchesca tried to mask her thoughts but failed.

  “You got us.”

  Franchesca swatted his arm. “You were supposed to be casual about things.”

  “I was!” Mike defended himself as he rubbed his arm.

  Lucas couldn’t help but laugh.

  “Fine. We volunteered to be the ones to come and talk to you about Vanessa and the wedding.”

  Of course. His family had had a powwow after Vanessa left, and Mike and his lovely bride ended up the ones to come and “talk some sense” into Lucas.

  “It’s not that we don’t like her, bro. She seems nice enough. It’s just pretty fast.”

  “Says the man who married after only a few months—a fantastic choice in my opinion…” He winked at Franchesca for good measure.

  She nodded a “thank-you.”

  “And from Wes, who eloped of all things.”

  Mike hung his head. “I know. We know. It sounds bad.”

  “I’m a grown man.”

  “That’s what I said.”

  Now Lucas nodded his thanks to Franchesca.

  “None of us are arguing that, Lucas.” Mike ran a hand down his face. “It’s just that… well…”

  “Well, what?”

  “You’ve made decisions in the past that weren’t… thought through. We want to make sure this isn’t one of those.”

  Lucas tamped down the anger that threatened to bubble up, along with the desire to defend himself. He’d all but expected this. Wes was the dutiful oldest boy, Mike the boy scout who didn’t make bad decisions, which left anything Lucas did to look as if he flew by the seat of his pants without thinking things through. It wasn’t entirely untrue, but it wasn’t accurate, either.

  So he’d had more relationships than his brothers. So what? He didn’t have a trail of ex-wives somewhere or anything. He liked to go out and have fun. Dating wasn’t a crime. If anything, it kept the press away from Wes and Mike and gave good society shots for the magazines and news outlets that followed them around. Yet another reason he loved Montana. No one bothered him here.

  Who was he kidding? The elephant in the room was his whirlwind romance with a woman named Emmaline. No one would mention it, but a few years back he’d trailed her across the globe, only to have the whole thing blow up in his face when she told him she was married. Separated from her husband, but still. Lucas had had stars in his eyes and leapt without thinking. His family probably saw this as the same thing. But Vanessa was different.

  And now he was mentally defending himself, which was no better than barking back at his brother, who deep down had Lucas’s best interest at heart. But still.

  “It’s good to know the family trusts me.” He took a sip from his own glass of water that sat in front of him.

  “It’s not about trust.” Mike shook his head.

  “You don’t like Vanessa.” It wasn’t a question. If that was the issue with his family, he wanted to be aware of it soon rather than later.

  “No one said that.” Franchesca leaned forward, a tenderness in her eyes that made Lucas appreciate her presence. “I’m sure it was tough for her to meet all of us at once. I met the family over time, and Noelle being my friend helped. But I was still nervous.”

  “You were?” Mike looked at his wife.

  “Yes, love. All of this”—she motioned around the room, the house—“can be a bit intimidating.”

  Lucas smiled.

  “We don’t know her well, yet. That’s all.” Franchesca turned back to Lucas. “And you’re right about us getting married in a short amount of time. But wouldn’t you rather wait until summer when the weather is nice? Or if you want to get married so soon, do it in New York.”

  Lucas leaned back in his chair. “I’m the one who wants to get married here and Vanessa wants a Christmas wedding. This way we both get what we want.”

  “That sounds like a great compromise. And you said the engagement party this weekend is at the Graff? How are the plans going for that?”

  Lucas appreciated Franchesca moving the conversation from his decisions to details. “Really well. Vanessa hired someone local and they’ve got things covered. We’ve decided to have the ceremony at Tanner Ranch as well. We haven’t heard a definite yet on whether the Tanners approve, but we should in the next day or two.”

  “Tanner Ranch? Isn’t that where we rode horses in the summer when we were kids?”

  “Yeah. It’s a great property. Vanessa saw it as we drove to the Graff and thought it was perfect for the wedding.”

  “Okay, then. Sounds like you and Vanessa have things all worked out.”

  Lucas crossed his arms in front of him. “Were you really sent in here to talk me out of this?”

  Mike shook his head. “No. Just get a feel for where you were at with it.”

  “I’m getting married.”

  “I can see that. And we support you. We really do.”

  “We all love you, Lucas.” Franchesca came around and hugged him.

  He loved them, too. Even if their love was pushy and stifling at times.

  Vanessa was perfect for him. They just needed time to see it.

  Chapter Four

  Erin stood in the lobby of the Graff Hotel. She’d been there before, of course, but not for a formal event. After Troy Sheenan had renovated the place, everyone in town had come to see what the San Francisco technology tycoon had done to turn things around. Since then, it had become a Marietta landmark.

  With marble, rich paneled wood, and gorgeous light fixtures, it was elegant and all that any bride-to-be would dream of for the location of her engagement party. The knot that had formed in Erin’s gut the second Cynthia had told her about Lucas and his wedding twisted and grew bigger. Why had she agreed to come to this thing anyway? She’d told Cynthia Lucas and Vanessa could use Tanner Ranch for their wedding, but only because Erin needed the money. She wanted to be as far away as possible from this blessed event. Vanessa wanted to meet the owner of Tanner Ranch and when Erin had told her dad about the whole situation he thought it best she han
dle it all. He was happy to be available at the ranch if anyone had questions or needed guidance, but the social part was up to Erin.

  Hence the reason she paced in a corner of the lobby questioning her sanity. Cynthia had loaned her the most beautiful long fitted skirt made of a shimmering silver material. A red lace top with short sleeves added to the holiday feel and color of the ensemble. Although Cynthia said she looked like a princess in it when Erin had tried it on, everything in her felt more like the dusty country girl she was.

  However, the high-heeled shoes Cynthia had given her that matched the skirt did make Erin carry herself in a way that was much more confident than what she was actually feeling.

  People entered the Grand Ballroom, most of them with a date or in a group. Cynthia was there, but she’d be running around making sure everything went smoothly. Erin’s friend, Holly, would be there, too, but since she was Noelle’s sister, most likely would have to stick close to family and work the room as a relative of the St. Claires. When Erin had told Holly the whole situation, she’d reacted the same as Cynthia. Show up, look amazing, knock his socks off, and see what happens.

  She’d only met Holly after she and Noelle had moved to Marietta. Noelle ran the dance studio in town and Holly had her own web design company. Erin and Holly had met one night at Grey’s and became fast friends. She’d told Holly a bit of her history with Lucas, but still held certain things close to the vest. Holly was Noelle’s sister and Lucas was Noelle’s brother-in-law. Things got tricky there. Not that Erin didn’t trust Holly. She did. But Cynthia had all but dragged Erin’s feelings out of her and they’d known each other for years. Erin wasn’t one to pour out her heart, even to a good friend like Holly, and especially not about a man she’d loved since she was a kid who was about to marry someone else.

  She took a deep breath in and let it out. The doorway to the Grand Ballroom stared her down, daring her to enter. Who was she kidding? Lucas probably wouldn’t even see her or talk to her. He had his bride-to-be to focus on. Besides, after what had happened at Grey’s a few months ago, she was sure he’d forgotten her.

  Wes and Noelle had thrown a big party at Grey’s Saloon to celebrate their marriage. They’d eloped on a weekend away in New York but wanted to celebrate with friends and family in Marietta. Holly had invited Erin to go and she’d said, “No, thank you.” But Holly wouldn’t take that for an answer so Erin had found herself at a corner table at Grey’s, watching intently for Lucas to make sure she didn’t run into him. Which ended up not being a problem. Except for one glance her way without recognizing her, he’d danced with almost every girl in the place but her, then chatted with his brothers at the bar the rest of the time. He’d looked relaxed. Happy.

  She’d seen him the next day at Main Street Diner. She’d been having a cup of coffee and a bagel before going to Big Z Hardware and Lumber. Sitting at her favorite booth in the back, she’d been able to observe him without being seen. He’d sat at the counter alone and sipped coffee and ate breakfast. He hadn’t looked happy that day. Sure, he’d given the smooth smile of his to anyone who said hello, but something in his eyes told her he was keeping up appearances.

  He’d left without looking her way. She’d sat a bit longer, thinking of what could dim the light that had always glimmered in his eyes when he was at Tanner Ranch as a kid. According to the gossip columns and some social media—which she wasn’t on other than Facebook to keep track of a few friends, including McKenna—Lucas spent his weekends with famous models on his arm at fancy events, along with helping his family keep their business successful.

  Okay, okay. She’d admit to Google-searching his name from time to time, only to find heartache when a new girlfriend popped up in pictures. That grin of his that melted her insides would stare at her from her computer screen, reminding her of summers splashing in the lake and nights making s’mores over an open fire. Yes, McKenna had been there most of the time, but, during high school, when McKenna’d lost interest in horses, Lucas would come over and spend time on the ranch.

  But the last summer after they’d graduated high school, he’d kissed her behind the barn then left for college. She’d gone to school as well and, from that point on, he didn’t spend as much time in Marietta. If he did come to town, it wasn’t for long, and he hadn’t tried to contact her. By then, their time together was a distant memory for him, even though, for her, it had been the best time of Erin’s life.

  Music played from inside the Grand Ballroom, the party well on its way. Erin’s phone dinged in her purse. She looked at it and read a text from Cynthia to get herself in there. Of course her friend knew she was there and battling herself about going inside. Cynthia had threatened to drag Erin there if she didn’t cooperate. She’d assured Cynthia that brute force wasn’t necessary. She’d be there.

  With a deep breath, she dropped her phone back in her clutch purse—also borrowed from Cynthia—and headed for the Grand Ballroom. It was now or never. Time to face the music and be done with it.

  As always, her friend had done a fantastic job of decorating and pulling together a huge party on short notice. Twinkle lights were draped everywhere while Christmas trees covered in red and green ornaments adorned each corner of the room. The dance floor was full of people while others milled around sipping champagne and smiling. Cynthia had told Erin that friends of the St. Claires as well as Vanessa’s side had flown in for the event. Some planned on staying through the holidays. Others would fly back again for the wedding.

  It was a festive affair to be sure. Erin swallowed hard and found Cynthia standing beside her fiancé, Chad, and talking with a group of people. They made eye contact and Erin moved to join them, accepting her friend’s hug with gratitude.

  Cynthia pulled back and looked at her. “You look amazing!”

  “You’re biased. These clothes are yours.”

  “Technically, they’re my sister’s, but still… you are a stunner, girlfriend.”

  Erin laughed. Cynthia’s stepsisters were gorgeous—model material—and had a wardrobe to match. Cynthia had raided their closets for Erin.

  “Thank you. For everything.”

  Cynthia blinked a few times, her smile a bit… off.

  “Erin? Erin Tanner?”

  She didn’t have to turn to know who’d said her name. The deep timbre of his voice stirred up memories from long ago. Lazy summers lying in the tall grass of the meadow looking at the clouds and playing the “What If” game. Goofy kid questions such as, “What if the sky was green and the grass was blue?”

  With her insides spinning as if she were on the Tilt-A-Whirl at the county fair, she turned.

  “Hello, Lucas.”

  *

  Lucas leaned against the bar. Not a fan of champagne, he took a drink from his water glass and set it down. Vanessa had organized an open bar, but for whatever reason, he wasn’t in the mood, which frustrated him. It was his own damn engagement party. Shouldn’t he be in a more festive mood?

  Mike’s words rattled around in his mind. “You’ve made decisions in the past that weren’t thought through.”

  Lucas grunted. Whatever. Why his brothers were so negative about things, he wasn’t sure. He was a good businessman. Did his job every day, most days going above and beyond the call of duty. It wasn’t as if their personal lives had been perfect. Why did they feel the need to scrutinize his?

  Who was he kidding? He knew why. They were his big brothers. They’d questioned him his entire life. Given advice when it wasn’t asked for, poked their nose in where it didn’t belong. Hell, he should thank his lucky stars McKenna was off traveling somewhere and couldn’t be there. She hounded him more than his brothers combined. But her criticism always came across different.

  A free spirit, she lived life on her terms, not the family’s. However, she was the youngest, and only girl. She’d been given more get out of jail free cards than any of them for that reason alone. None of the St. Claire children had been spoiled, by any means. Taught a solid
work ethic, they all stepped up to contribute to the family business, but she didn’t live in the shadow of Wes and Mike like Lucas did.

  He looked around the room. Vanessa stood with a group of her friends who’d flown in to enjoy the party. She looked radiant. Her dark hair was swept up in a clip, a few soft curls caressing her face. Meeting his eye, she smiled then turned her attention back to the group. He’d smiled in return, understanding her need to socialize. He also understood he should be doing the same. But he couldn’t muster the desire for a beer, let alone socializing.

  He’d driven by Tanner Ranch earlier that day. It really was a fantastic property. Even under snow and ice, it had a gorgeous view of the hills beyond and warmth radiated from it. He’d stopped coming to Marietta in the summers once he left for college, and he had visited, of course, during his mother’s illness, but those times were spent in the house being near his mother and his family as much as possible. Being back now made him see how much he’d longed for it. A longing he’d pushed back in his mind to focus on work and his social life.

  He’d sat in his truck, memories washing over him, warming him inside like a hug from an old friend. As much as he loved New York, the time spent in Marietta was all about open spaces, room to breathe. Freedom. If he were honest with himself, Erin Tanner had been the closest friend he’d ever had in those years. Sure, he’d had his buddies from home, but she was different. Not afraid to be herself, she never fussed with makeup or frilly clothes. Preferring horses to people and books to parties, she’d been called a wallflower. But she wasn’t. Not in truth. Lucas had always considered himself lucky to be one of the choice few who got to see the strong, confident side of her.

  Guilt tugged at him for letting their friendship fall by the wayside. But they’d gone to college and although he knew she’d come back to Marietta to work on her family’s ranch, the years had passed, both of them leading different lives. Hell, she probably didn’t even remember him.