Peppermint Kisses

by Valerie Comer

  Several tall candelabra with poinsettias massed at their bases cast a golden glow across the front of the church. A lit Christmas tree, decorated in red and white, stood off to one side, the star sending a gentle spotlight to illuminate the bride and groom.

  Rebekah Jackson wiped one tear from her eye then another, mesmerized as Noel Kenzie kissed his bride. She mustn’t mess her mascara.

  Surely all women cried at weddings. They cried because the bride was so beautiful. Because the music, flowers, and candles evoked a celebratory mood. They cried because true love had been found at last.

  Good thing Rebekah had come supplied with a whole packet of tissues. She dabbed her eyes. To think her best friend’s big brother had chosen to marry someone else, oblivious to the fact that Rebekah had adored him from afar forever. She’d had to see his wedding for herself before she could tuck away the fantasies she’d indulged in.

  “Isn’t she gorgeous?” Amber, her best friend and the groom’s sister, whispered. Amber had married Rebekah’s brother last summer. It was at their wedding that Rebekah’s crush had proposed. To the wedding coordinator.

  And now he stood at the front of the church with his bride wrapped in his arms. The kiss went on and on until snickers from the audience turned into rolling laughter with a few catcalls for punctuation. Then the couple separated just enough to gaze into each other’s eyes.

  Rebekah had never been to a wedding like this. The groom wasn’t wearing a tux or even a tie. A crowd of twenty-somethings attended in blue jeans. Well, yes, the invitation had mentioned casual dress, but come on, it was a wedding.

  “May I introduce to you for the first time, Noel and Claire Kenzie!”

  Cheers went up as the beaming couple turned to face the well-wishers. Noel clutched his bride tight to his side. Her dress was sort of appropriate. At least it was white, if not floor length. Her bouquet, rather than formal roses or lilies, looked like a bunch of wildflowers tied with twine, for all the world like some kid had cut them off the hillside.

  Rebekah would believe it if it weren’t the dead of winter. As in snowing with a howling wind. Not quite a blizzard, but definitely not wildflower-picking weather either.

  Noel and Claire strode down the aisle toward the back of the church, smiling and waving. Amber let out a huge sigh. “Oh, I’m so happy for my brother. He’s finally married. And to the greatest girl in the world.”

  Rebekah pulled away from Amber. “Thanks a lot, friend.”

  Amber giggled. “Oh, come on. Look at them. They’re perfect for each other. You just haven’t found the right guy yet. My brother was never going to be the one for you.”

  That hadn’t stopped Rebekah from daydreaming. But the fact was, Noel had said his vows, and he’d said them to someone else. Someone he obviously adored. And unless Rebekah wished divorce or early death into their relationship, he was now officially out of bounds.

  “Shawn and I have family photos for the next bit.” Amber tucked her tissues back into her purse. “Are you going to be okay without us? Just go down the stairs at the back. I think they’re setting up for the reception right now.”

  “No problem.” Rebekah waved a hand. “Don’t worry about me.” Not that she knew a soul here other than her brother and Amber, but she’d find plenty of people to talk to in the brightly lit basement.

  * * *

  The vision in the glittery gold gown hesitated at the head of the stairs for a moment. Her hand slid lightly down the banister as she descended.

  Wade Roper sucked in air and let it out again. An angel from heaven couldn’t be more breathtaking. Who was she? Who came to a wedding alone? True, he’d seen her across the church with a young couple, but they seemed to have abandoned her.

  Wade started forward and stopped again just as quickly.

  For the first time, he wished he’d worn something more formal to this shindig. Sure, Noel had threatened his tree-planting crew, saying it was up to them to keep this party from getting too formal. Wade and the others had laughed and agreed. That was fine as long as they were just hanging out together, but he’d never expected to meet a girl… a lady… an angel.

  James nudged him. “Wow, she’s a little overdressed, don’t you think?” His buddy already had a glass of punch in his hand as he pointed at the vision.

  “She’s gorgeous.”

  “She is kind of pretty.” James clapped him on the back. “And not just because you’ve been in the back country too long.”

  Wade had spent the last few months in college, not planting trees in the mountains. It’d been good to see his work friends today, but none of the girls he’d planted with had ever caught his eye like this.

  She paused at the bottom of the stairs and looked around.

  That did it. Wade started forward. She didn’t have anyone here, and she looked lost.

  “Hi, there. My name is Wade Roper. Can I get you a glass of punch?”

  Brown eyes blinked up at him. “That would be lovely, thank you.” Then her gaze took in his jeans and denim shirt.

  He had a three-piece suit hanging in his closet in Boise, thanks to his brother’s wedding last year. Should’ve worn it again. Should’ve. But it was too late now.

  Wade returned with two glasses of punch a moment later and filled his eyes while taking a few sips.

  Soft blond hair flowed to her bare shoulders. A chunky turquoise necklace curved against her throat, and a matching bracelet slid up her arm when she lifted the punch, long fingernails glimmering with turquoise polish.

  She hadn’t told him who she was. He needed to know. But he’d already introduced himself. What could he say next? “I’ve worked in Noel’s crew the past three summers. Are you a friend of his, or of Claire’s?”

  Those brown eyes met his gaze again, and her pink lips tightened. “I’m a friend of Noel’s sister, Amber, who’s married to my brother.”

  “I see.” And he did, kind of. But who was she? “And your name is…?”

  She laughed just as softly as he’d expected. “Rebekah. Rebekah Jackson.”

  Wasn’t it Rebekah in the Bible who had been described as uncommonly beautiful? “It suits you.”

  “Thank you.” But she looked puzzled.

  He was making a ham-fisted mess of introducing himself. Where were the smooth one-liners James could spin out at a moment’s notice?

  “This punch is different. Is it alcoholic?”

  “I don’t think so.” She couldn’t possibly be under age, could she? No, her face wasn’t that of a teen. “I think the base is apple juice and berry juice from Green Acres.” He took a sip. “With a touch of mint, it tastes like.”

  “Green Acres? Isn’t that where…?”

  “The farm where Claire lives with Sierra and Jo. Oh, and Jo’s husband, Zach, of course. Haven’t you met them? They’re around here somewhere.”

  “I might have met them at Amber and Shawn’s wedding. I’m not sure. Wasn’t the wedding to be at the farm, but then there was a fire?”

  Wade nodded. “A forest fire came very close the night before. Everyone had to be evacuated.”

  “Right. I’d been looking forward to seeing that place. I couldn’t imagine Amber choosing a farm over a church or even a beach ceremony.”

  Wade grinned. “You can see it this trip, but it’s under a foot or two of snow. Not quite the same as July.”

  She swirled her glass and lowered her voice. “Are they a bunch of crazies, those girls?”

  He couldn’t keep the guffaw back. “Crazy? Not at all, or at least not in the way I think you mean. They’re real down-to-earth. Great people. Claire can make anything taste good, but when she has great homegrown ingredients, she’s a miracle worker.”

  The girl frowned at him. “How do
you know?”

  “Oh, she cooked for our tree-planting crew last spring. We’ve never eaten better.” He glanced around to locate Simon, where he talked with Jess and James. “Don’t tell Simon I said that. He’s our regular chef. He’s a great cook, too.”

  “Men.” She rolled her pretty eyes and smiled. “Always thinking of their stomachs.”

  “We work hard, planting trees. Doesn’t matter if the day is a hundred degrees or forty and sleeting rain. Mosquitoes to slap, bears to dodge…” Okay, he’d never actually dodged a bear. But still. He’s seen fresh sign. “It takes a lot of fuel to keep a crew like ours going.”

  Her attention had been snared by the one word, and she placed those turquoise-tipped fingers on his arm. “Bears?”

  “Yes, ma’am. We work high in the mountains. Bear country.”

  Rebekah shuddered. “That’s so brave.”

  It was just a summer job to earn money for school. He didn’t deserve a medal for it, but he could still feel his chest buttons tighten at her words. “I love working in the backcountry. It makes me feel close to God, you know?” Wade watched her face. If she wasn’t a believer, he ought to walk away right now, before he drowned in those brown eyes.

  “I hadn’t ever thought of it that way before.” Rebekah looked up at him quizzically. “I go to church to feel near to God. Or read my Bible at home.”

  Wade nearly wept with relief. “You should try nature sometime. Where do you live? There must be some great hiking trails or something nearby.”

  “Well, yes. I’m sure. I live in Boise—”

  “That’s great! I’m a senior at Boise State.”

  She blinked up at him. “Really? That’s my school, too. How come I’ve never seen you before?”

  “I’m in the biology program. You?”

  Rebekah let out a little giggle. “I’m in social work.”

  He couldn’t help the stupid grin. “That would account for why I haven’t seen you there.”

  His heart was soaring. They actually went to the same college. It must be a God-thing to meet here, so many miles away, but he’d do his best by the end of the evening to get her phone number so he could keep in touch when they got home.

  * * *

  Rebekah was pretty sure Wade was the cutest guy in the reception hall, not counting the groom, who’d just arrived with the rest of the wedding party. She cast a sidelong glance at Noel, circulating among the guests with Claire tucked close to his side. She needed to let him go. He was already gone. In truth, he’d never been hers.

  But Wade… he seemed to be really good company.

  The room was rather dark for Rebekah’s taste. White Christmas lights surrounded the space, and candles brightened each white-clothed table. A cloud of twinkle lights illuminated the food counter. Peppermint candy canes lay scattered across the deep green tablecloth, with several poinsettias dotting the length between candles and platters of savories and sweets.

  So many people milled around that Rebekah lost track of Wade for a moment. Someone took her hand. Panic shot through her until she saw it was him.

  He leaned closer to her ear. “A lot of this food was grown and prepared at Green Acres.”

  No way. “It’s the middle of December, silly. I’m not falling for that one.”

  His eyes twinkled. “I’m serious. Even those tomatoes are from their sunroom.”

  Rebekah eyed the little red orbs, stuffed with something white — cream cheese? — and a sprinkling of herbs.

  “And I bet Claire made these peppermint candies.” Wade reached in and snagged two pink kisses, holding one out to her on a napkin. “She once made them for our work crew last spring.”

  It seemed a little forward to accept a kiss from a guy she’d just met, but she couldn’t resist. A second later the candy melted in her mouth, and her eyes widened. “Oh, my goodness! That’s homemade?”

  An elbow jabbed her in the back.

  “Hey, I’m really sorry!” The guy caught her as she wavered. “Didn’t mean to run into you like that.”

  Wade had already stepped between her and the other man. “Watch where you’re going, James.”

  James winked, clouting Wade on the back before making his way through the throng.

  Oh, great. Wade’s friends had noticed he was hanging out with her. Would they hassle him about it a lot? But, so far, he didn’t seem to mind.

  A crash reverberated and the lights cut out. Someone screamed. The candles on the long tables flickered and held. Across the church basement, the exit light blinked on like a beacon.

  Rebekah slapped a hand over her mouth. That scream. Had it been her? The darkness. Bodies too close. If it hadn’t been her the first time, it would be soon.

  “You okay?” Wade’s voice came from close beside her. “I’m sure the power will be back on in a minute. There are a lot of glitches in rural areas.”

  “I—”

  She felt the swish of air and heard the clunk as he set down his plate. Then his fingers twined around hers. “Let’s head for the door and see what’s going on, okay?”

  Rebekah pulled in a long breath. “Okay.” The air was already thickening. She tightened her grip on his hand. Surely he was safe.

  An authoritative voice boomed from ahead. “Can I have your attention, please? I’m Ed Graysen, an elder here at the church, if you don’t know. The wind and ice dropped the elm tree on the south side of the church and tore out the power lines.” He hesitated. “It crunched a couple of cars, too. If you drive a black Corolla or a blue Escort, come talk to me.”

  Blue Escort? Oh, no. Rebekah’s knees wobbled. How many of those were in the church parking lot?

  Wade steadied her. “You okay?”

  “My car…”

  He steered her toward the voice. Easy to do, as the man kept talking. “It doesn’t look like we’ll get electricity back in the twenty minutes the authorities give us to clear the building. I hate to bring Claire and Noel’s party to an abrupt end, but our hands are tied.”

  “Maybe we could run the food over to Nature’s Pantry and finish the reception upstairs there,” a woman called.

  A shaft of freezing air shot through the room then a door slammed shut.

  “Looks like we’re not the only place without power,” a male voice said. “All of downtown is dark, even toward the health food store. So Sierra’s idea won’t work.”

  “We’ve got power out at Green Acres, though.” That sounded like Jo. “Anyone who wants to help load up the food and come out to the farm, feel welcome. I think we can fit everyone in, though it may be a little crowded.”

  Someone clinked glasses together. “Thank you all for coming and sharing our special day.” Noel cleared his throat. “And thanks for the invitation, Jo, but Claire and I were planning to ditch this place shortly anyway, so we’ll head out now.”

  A few guys whistled and catcalled.

  Rebekah shifted uncomfortably and bumped up against Wade. Oh, no. What must he think?

  “Sir?” Wade said. “This young lady thinks her car might be one of the crushed ones.”

  “Miss?” the elder replied. “I have a flashlight. I’ll come outside with you and we’ll confirm whether it’s your vehicle or not.”

  “Where’s your jacket?” asked Wade. “Can I get it for you?”

  Her coat. She hadn’t wanted to be encumbered by it and had tossed it in the backseat before entering the church. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “We’ll be outside for only a minute, I’m sure. I’ll be okay.” Hopefully just long enough to know that someone else would have an insurance nightmare over Christmas. Please, God. Not her.

  * * *

  Rebekah’s strappy heels were definitely not made for navigating an icy parking lot in the dark, but Wade couldn’t bring himself to mind having this pretty girl clutch his hand as they followed the bobbing flashlight.

  “Be careful where you step,” Ed Graysen said. “Don’t get too close to those power lines.” The flashlight be
am wavered over wires strung low between vehicles. “Once they tell us it’s safe, most of these cars can just drive out of here. Not that one, though.”

  The light caught on a blue Escort tangled in wires, its roof and hood crushed under the weight of a massive tree trunk. That’d be a write-off.

  “No, no, no…” Rebekah’s grip on his hand loosened as she crumpled to the ground.

  The flashlight swung back around. “Is she okay?”

  Did it look like it? Wade bent and scooped Rebekah up in his arms. “I take it that’s her vehicle. Doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere even when its new hood ornament gets removed.”

  Voices moved toward them, and Ed’s flashlight jerked up.

  A man asked about the Corolla, but Wade tuned out the exchange as he made his way across the slippery parking lot, carrying Rebekah. Her head lolled back over his arm and her skin felt like ice. Women and their strapless gowns, even in winter. Too bad she hadn’t taken the invitation seriously when it stipulated casual. But then, she was stunning in that dress.

  The church doors had been flung wide and people scurried past, carrying platters of food out to waiting vehicles. Noel and Claire ran out clad in parkas, nearly bowling Wade over as he neared the steps.

  Claire’s eyes widened. “What happened? Who is that?”

  “Rebekah.” Wade shifted his burden. “That tree totaled her car. And she’s freezing.”

  “Oh, man, that’s awful. Is she going to be okay?”

  “Yeah, I think so. Just a bit overwhelmed, I guess.”

  Noel peered at the girl. “Rebekah Jackson? She’s my little sister’s best friend.”

  “How can we help?” asked Claire.

  Was she for real? “Uh… aren’t you leaving for your honeymoon?”

  “As soon as Amber and Shawn get out here to give us a ride to Spokane.” She glanced around. “But we have a few minutes.”

  Noel chuckled. “Sweetie, it’s not like we can make a difference by staying. We’re doing everyone a favor by getting out of here and letting Jo and Sierra figure out where to put this mob.” His chin poked toward the girl in Wade’s arms. “You sure she’ll be okay?”