by Cathryn Fox
“That’s right.” He averted her gaze, but not before she caught the pain etched on his face.
She shifted and laid her head on his chest. He pulled one arm out from beneath his head and adjusted the blanket over her shoulders before wrapping his arm around her. It was a small gesture, but it made her feel so close to him.
“I tell you what, if you end up here for Christmas, you can share my family.”
“Josie…I…why are you being so nice to me?”
She tipped her chin and found him looking at her. “Because I like you.”
“Why? I mean, you know I let the casino deal go through, right? Even after your father asked me to stop it. Those people at the church aren’t going to have a place to go, to eat.”
She frowned. “You’ll do the right thing.”
“The deal is done. There is nothing I can do now.”
She put her hand on his face and kissed him. “Christmas is a magical time, Carter. A time when wishes come true. All you have to do is believe.”
“No, it’s not,” he said, his voice full of cynicism. He made a choking sound. “It’s not that at all.”
She caught the deep sadness in his eyes, and her heart ached for him. “Then what is it to you?”
“Nothing. It doesn’t matter.”
She rested her hand on his chest, and she could feel the powerful beating of his heart. “Maybe it matters to me.”
His hand closed over hers. “I just don’t like the holidays, okay?”
“Bad memories?”
“You could say that.”
“Maybe we could make new ones, ones that make you feel—”
“That’s just it. I don’t want to feel.”
“Carter?”
“Yeah.”
“Maybe this year Santa will bring you what you want.”
She listened to him scrub his chin. “I stopped asking for things fifteen years ago.”
“What happened? Why did you stop asking?”
“Because every year I asked for the same thing. But a kid who is tossed around in the system because no one wants him never gets what he asks for.”
“What did you want?”
His throat sounded tight when he swallowed. “I wanted the family I was placed with to keep me. Things were going so well. I was so happy. I was sure it was going to happen. So sure that, for the first time, I actually asked Santa for something else.”
“What?”
“A dog.”
“And instead of a family and a dog, you got moved?”
“Exactly.” He snorted. “But I’m not complaining. I learned a few good lessons that year.”
“Like what, that you should never ask anyone for anything?”
“Something like that.” He went quiet for a long time then said, “I have no idea why I’m telling you any of this.” He scoffed. “Maybe you’re way better at interrogation than I am.”
“No,” she said, understanding what was really going on. “It’s not me.”
“If you tell me it’s the white wolf, I’ll—”
She rolled on top of him and wet her bottom lip. “You’ll what?”
His ran his thumb over the seam of her lips. “I’ll have to find a way to get you to zip it.”
“I can think of a few ways,” she whispered and closed her mouth over his.
7
Carter rebooked his flight and closed the laptop Josie had lent him earlier that morning. He took a sip of his coffee and watched her sway to a Christmas song as she wrapped a basketful of presents for her family. She tossed him a big smile, a smile so warm and sexy it had him reminiscing about everything they did in her bed the night before. He could feel his cock harden, wanting to drag her back to the bedroom for round two, even though he knew it was a bad idea. Last night never should have happened, but his body had been too fired up to think past the moment. Really, how could he be expected to think with any sort of clarity after glimpsing those sexy candy cane panties?
But seriously, he really should have kept his distance. She was a nice girl who needed a nice guy. What she didn’t need was a prick who’d hardened himself to others and was about to put those less fortunate out on the street.
“All done¸” she said, and then started packing the presents back into the basket. “What time did you say your flight was?”
“Not until after dinner.”
“Good, then we have plenty of time.” She dashed to her room and came back wearing a knitted sweater. He looked at the dancing Christmas elf juggling three bulbs.
“Plenty of time for what? To sign up for the ugliest Christmas sweater contest?”
“Hey,” she said, and tossed one at him. “I’ve got one for you, too.”
He threw it back. “Like hell I’m wearing that.”
“Come on, Carter. It’s for the kids.”
“How does that change things? I don’t even like kids. I didn’t even like myself when I was a kid.” When she continued to stare at him, her lips all pouty and sexy, he gave an exaggerated exhaled. “Josie…”
She held the sweater up. “It’s not so bad.”
“How is it not so bad? It has a bucktoothed Rudolph on it.”
“I know. Cute, isn’t it? The kids love it. Jack has a bunch of them and won’t mind you wearing this.”
“How lucky for me.”
“So that’s a yes?”
He rubbed his temple and felt something in him give when he saw the way she was blinking up at him with those big, hopeful brown eyes. “Fine, but only because it’s for the kids.”
She gave him a knowing grin. “So you’re saying you do like kids?”
He shook his head. “Just promise me no pictures. If this ever got out…”
“Then what? Others might see how adorable you really are?”
“Josie—”
“Come on, let’s go.”
He pulled the sweater on and cringed. This was so not going to be fun.
Thirty minutes later, he found himself at Stone Cliff resort, standing in the same boardroom where he and the mayor had faced off a couple of days ago. He looked over the huge stack of presents on the long table.
“Where did all these gifts come from?” he asked.
“My dad plays Santa and keeps track of what each child wants. He sets up a collection, and the locals donate money for toys. Stone Cliff matches the monetary donations, and my family, as well as my dad’s staff, all go shopping.”
Okay, he hadn’t expected that. Something tugged at his chest. “Your father is a nice guy,” he whispered to himself.
“Yeah, he is,” she said quietly, a small, loving smile on her face.
“Hey, sis,” a male voice called out from the doorway. “You ready to wrap?”
Carter turned. He saw two guys standing in the doorway holding tape, bags, and wrapping paper, and assumed they were Josie’s brothers.
“Matt,” Josie said, rushing to grab the stack of paper from him. “Please tell me you and Jason are here to help.”
“Do we have to?” Matt’s shoulders slouched. “You know we suck at this.”
“Fine, then next year, you two can do all the cooking.”
Matt looked at Carter and rolled his eyes. “Does she do that to you, too?”
“Do what?” Carter asked.
“Twist things until she gets her own way.”
Josie whacked Matt. “Stop it. I do not do that.”
“Oh yes, she does,” Jason piped in. His gaze met Carter’s and his lips quirked. “But I don’t have to tell you that, judging from that sweater you’re wearing.”
When the two bothers laughed, there was nothing Carter could do but laugh along with them. “You’re right, you don’t have to tell me that.”
She waved a dismissive hand at them all. “Matt, Jason. This is Carter. He’s been staying at the cottage with me.”
“So we heard,” Matt said.
“Josie has been kind enough to lend me her sofa,” Carter explained, although he s
uspected the two could see right through that lie. He might be a good lawyer with an unreadable poker face, but something told him everything that he and Josie had done last night was written all over them. “I’m catching the next flight east tonight.”
“Well, as long as you’re still here, you can help us wrap,” Matt said, pulling a chair out.
Thankful for the distraction, Carter dropped down into one of the chairs and reached for the first box. The afternoon was lost to boxes and packages and listening to Josie and her brothers razz each other over the Christmas music being piped in through an overhead speaker. By the time he was done, late afternoon was upon them.
“One more stop before we deliver them,” Josie said to Carter as he stood and stretched out his neck. “Then I’ll take you to the airport.”
“Okay,” he agreed. He checked his phone, happy to see his flight was still on schedule. By this time tomorrow, he would be alone in his high-rise apartment, right where he wanted to be. Except, oddly enough, as he thought about leaving this Podunk town—Josie—a strange emptiness settled into his stomach. Then again, he hadn’t eaten in awhile, so it could simply be hunger. Yeah, that’s what it had to be.
Dinner hour was upon them when Josie pulled her vehicle into the driveway of a quaint bungalow. Decorated with lights and glitter and an inflatable Santa on the front lawn, he knew it had to be her folks’ place. Shit. Had he known her “one more stop” would be here, he would have grabbed a cab and went straight to the airport.
“Why are we here?” he asked. “I thought we were taking the presents to the church.”
“We will. I just have to stop here first. Come on.”
“I’m pretty sure I’m the last guy your father wants to see, Josie.”
“It’s Christmas Eve, Carter,” she said, like that explained everything.
She jumped from the truck and he followed her inside, where he was bombarded with everything Christmas. Mary greeted them at the door, and he glanced past her shoulders to see the dining room table all set for a family dinner.
He shifted from one foot to the other. He didn’t belong here. “I probably should go.”
“Don’t be silly. Come in and make yourself at home,” Mary said.
“What’s this talk about leaving?” Mayor Walker asked as he stepped into the porch. “Get on in here and get warmed up, son.”
Carter looked at Josie, who was shrugging out of her winter coat and chatting with her mother and Katee, the girl he saw kissing Jack at the church. He took a step back, ready to flee when her two brothers came in behind him, pushing him farther in to the house. With no way to escape, he just stood there, no idea what to do next.
Jack came around the corner with two glasses of eggnog. He handed one to Carter and in a conspiring manner, gestured with a nod. Carter looked up and saw the mistletoe.
“Thanks, man,” Carter said, grateful that Jack had saved him from having to kiss Josie in front of her family…not that he would’ve minded kissing her again, but he assumed her father hated him enough already. Jack nudged him with his shoulder to set him in motion.
“You watch hockey, right?” Jack asked.
“Yeah.”
“Good. Come on.”
As he grabbed a chair and sipped his eggnog, Mayor Walker, Matt, and Jason joined them. Matt dug into a bowl of peanuts on the table as Josie disappeared into the kitchen with her mother and Katee. The guys all focused on the hockey game, and Carter looked around. With a big, decorated tree in the front window, the house was warm, lived in, the kind of house he would have killed to grow up in. His stomach clenched, and he tried desperately to push down the things he was feeling.
When a commercial break came on, Walker turned to him, and Carter hardened himself, expecting a confrontation. But once again, Walker surprised him with his fatherly concern.
“Josie said you’ve been having trouble getting out of town. I’m sorry to hear that. You must have family you’re anxious to get back to see.”
“Yeah,” he said, hedging the truth.
“I guess if you have to be stuck anywhere for Christmas, Deerfield is just about as good as it gets.”
It was easy to tell how much they all loved living here, and he couldn’t blame them. Like one big happy family, the town all came together and did for one another—all one ever had to do was ask. He supposed Walker was right. If he had to be stuck somewhere, Deerfield was just about as good as it got.
“I don’t plan on spending it here, actually.” Carter glanced at his watch. “I leave in a few hours.”
His father nodded. “That’s too bad.”
“I thought you’d be happy to see me on my way,” Carter said.
“Not at all. As a matter of fact, this town could use a lawyer like you.” He grinned and added, “On its side.”
He wasn’t sure whether it was a compliment or not, so he didn’t say anything.
“But I guess you prefer the big city. Deerfield probably doesn’t have enough to keep you here.”
It has Josie…
Whoa…what the hell?
Before he had time to consider that, Mary called them from the dining room and everyone jumped to their feet. He followed Josie’s brothers and her father into the room, and when he saw the big table set for seven, something inside him hitched.
Josie sat and tapped the seat beside her. “Come sit by me, Carter.”
Carted lowered himself into the chair next to her, and Jack sat beside Katee, who looked at him with adoring eyes. Actually, she looked at him in much the same manner as Josie was looking at Carter. He swallowed. Hard.
Her father sat at the head of the table, and after everyone took a seat, Mary said a Christmas prayer and they all dug in. As soon as the plates were filled, everyone started chatting about their day, their jobs, the events that would take place later that night. Carter was constantly being pulled into the conversation, and the way everyone was so open, so welcoming, was totally messing with his head…and his heart.
The guys started in on Josie, telling Carter embarrassing stories from her childhood. She shot back with her own stories, and Carter couldn’t help but smile at her feistiness. She really could hold her own against them all. As he dug into his mashed potatoes, he looked around the table and could feel the affection between siblings, parents.
God, what he would have done to be a part of this as a kid.
Soon, dinner was behind them, and after the dishes were washed and put away, they all piled into their cars and made their way to the church. Inside, they found numerous kids running around, excitedly waiting for Santa. Josie’s father took center stage as Josie came in with a basketful of presents, her bothers and mother following behind. Carter hung back as the kids all lined up.
He folded his arms and watched each child take their turn on Walker’s lap, and while he tried not to feel…there was nothing he could do to choke down his emotions. Josie helped her father dole out the presents, and every now and then, casted a glance his way. When the basket was empty and the kids were clutching their presents, Carter made a turn to go, deciding he’d wait in the SUV. Except Santa called out his name.
He stopped dead in his tracks and turned back. Surely there had to be another Carter in the crowd. Josie darted in the back room and came back with a box. She crooked her finger, and he shook his head. No way in hell was he about to go over there and sit on Santa’s lap.
Jack came up to him and nudged him with his shoulder. “You’d better get over there.” He looked at the Rudolph sweater than back at Carter’s face. He grinned. “If you don’t, she’ll find a way to get you over there, and you might not like it.”
Hating every second of this, he crossed the room and stepped up to Josie and her father. “You didn’t have to get me anything.”
Walker held the package out, and Carter’s heart pinched as he thought about this family’s generosity to strangers, how kind they were to him, despite the circumstances.
“It’s Christmas, Carter,�
�� Walker said, like it meant something to him. And for the first time in his life, Carter couldn’t help but think that maybe, just maybe, it did…
Something inside the box moved. “What the…”
“Careful,” Josie said, and helped him balance it.
He pulled the lid off, and saw a big pair of brown, soulful eyes. Air left his lungs in a rush. He worked to breathe, to think, as tears pricked at his eyes. He pinched them shut and strived to pull himself together. Shit. He couldn’t believe this was happening.
“Carter,” Josie said, her voice low. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” he said, even though he was pretty sure he’d never be okay again. The little puppy yelped, and Carter pulled it from the box. “Josie,” he said. “You did this?”
“Well, you kept looking at him in the window, so I thought…”
Carter glanced around the room. He saw the young boy who’d asked Santa for a puppy and he turned back to Josie. “Thank you,” he said. “I know he was meant for me, and I don’t want you to think I’m not grateful, because I am, but I think there is someone who needs him more than I do.”
She smiled. “That’s what Christmas is all about, Carter.”
Carter walked up to the little boy and handed him the puppy. As the boy’s eyes lit up like a Christmas tree, his heart tightened. He turned to see the child’s mother and the concern on her face.
“I have to leave town, but I need a place to board him,” he explained. “I’ll get your information from Josie so I can take care of his expenses.”
When the mom smiled and thanked him, he knew he had to get out of there. This was all just too…much. He caught Josie’s attention and pointed to his watch. She bounced over.
“Time to go?” she asked.
“Yeah.”
They walked outside and he took note of the paw prints circling the truck. Feeling like he was being watched, a fine shiver moved through him as he glanced around, looking at the snow-covered sidewalks lit by the streetlamps. He fully expected to see a white wolf, but when his glance came up empty, he climbed in beside Josie. He stared out the window as she carefully negotiated the town’s slippery streets.