Luke's Christmas Love (A Sweet Christmas Romance)

by Maya Stirling

  "Is that why you became a lawman?"

  He smiled. "You make me sound like something out of the wild west," he said with a grin. "I'm no cowboy sheriff."

  Her eyes narrowed, and she gazed across at him. "You are to me," she said softly.

  He peered across at her. Although there were about thirty other diners in the restaurant, the only person he could see right now was Erin. She looked so amazing that once again he felt a warm glow in his heart. He knew what was happening; knew what had been happening since Erin had arrived; since he'd seen her stranded in the snow.

  And the time they'd spent the night before at the fair, with her holding onto his arm; kissing her under the mistletoe; walking her home. All of that made him realize something shocking, but also something that was wonderful and unexpected.

  He was falling for Erin Scott.

  And that was okay, as far as he was concerned. Because she was just about the most beautiful woman he'd ever set eyes on. Not only that, her soul had a special quality; there was a wisdom in her that made him feel something new, something compelling. He was drawn to Erin as if some guiding hand was gently pushing him closer to her every day.

  "I took up the law because I wanted to make a difference to this town. I wanted to keep this place safe; keep the good people who live here secure and free of fear." Luke shook his head and took a sip of his mineral water. "You don't want to hear me making speeches all day long," he scoffed.

  Erin smiled at him. "I like listening to you. I like what you say. I haven't heard anyone talk the way you do, before." She crinkled her nose at him. "It's kinda cute, if you ask me."

  "Cute?"

  Erin nodded. "Yeah. You know what cute is, don't you?"

  He shook his head. "I'm the cute sheriff?" he asked.

  Erin pouted her lips and made a face as if she was thinking it over for a second. She gazed straight at him, and he thought there was much more than just good humor in her eyes. "Yeah. I think that's just about right. You're my cute sheriff."

  He laughed and felt his face color.

  "Have I embarrassed you?" she asked smiling.

  He sat back in the chair and pulled his jacket down nervously. "Not at all."

  She quirked a brow at him. "I have, haven't I?"

  She took a long sip of her glass of apple juice.

  He was about to say something to her when he heard a cell phone ringing. Erin frowned and thrust a hand into her bag, lifting the phone up and peering at the screen. "It's the Mayor," she said, her face suddenly serious.

  "You want me to step over there a bit?" he offered.

  She thought for a moment and then shook her head. "No. It won't take long," she said over the sound of the phone's urgent ringing.

  She connected the call. "Mr. Mayor. What a surprise. I didn't expect to hear from you so soon."

  Luke heard the faint, scratchy sound of the Mayor's voice from the phone. He watched Erin's face, expecting to see some concern, some disappointment on her features. She'd told him about the meeting and that she had the feeling the council was going to go ahead with giving the permit to the TV company. The final authority to invade the town, as far as she was concerned. He'd been surprised at her emotion as she'd spoken about it, taken aback by the seriousness of her purpose.

  He'd assumed she still wanted to get the permission her boss so badly wanted. But, it seemed as if Luke had misjudged Erin. As she'd told him all about the meeting, he'd come to a startling conclusion. Erin had made her mind up that the last thing Montana Falls needed was a TV reality show taking over the town for a few months.

  Had she gone to the meeting with the Mayor with the intention of stopping the show from taking place? Why would she do such a thing?

  He saw her nod her head a few times as she listened to the Mayor. And then he saw something which took him completely by surprise.

  Erin started to smile broadly, her eyes gleaming suddenly with bright emotion. She looked real happy about something.

  "Really? You can't give the permission," he heard her say. She sounded excited. "And that's your final decision?"

  Luke heard the Mayor's faint voice babbling on for a few more moments.

  Once again, Erin smiled when she heard the Mayor's response. This time she directed that smile straight across at Luke. Her eyes widened at him.

  Had the Mayor just told her that she'd failed? If that was the case, how come she was looking so happy, right now? Surely she should be disappointed. What would her boss think of this? Luke couldn't figure it out.

  Finally, she laughed. "Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I'm sure you've made the right decision."

  The Mayor said one final thing to Erin, and Luke saw her shrug her shoulders. "I know my boss will be disappointed. But, he'll get over it. I'll tell him right away."

  Erin looked across at Luke. "Thank you very much, Mr. Mayor. I'm sure you won't regret this. Thank you," she said and disconnected the call.

  Erin squealed loudly as she thrust her phone back into her bag. Some of the other diners looked across at her.

  "Good news?" Luke asked, even though he already understood what had just happened.

  "The best news possible," Erin said excitedly. "They said no."

  "What?"

  "They refused permission for the show to go ahead. Isn't it great," she said.

  Erin lifted her head back and sighed heavily. He saw her shoulders drop as if all the tension had drained out of them.

  "Isn't that the opposite of what you wanted?" Luke asked.

  "No!" she exclaimed smiling at him. "I wanted them to turn it down."

  "You did?"

  Erin nodded. "It was the only thing that made sense."

  Luke frowned. "What's your boss going to say?"

  Erin shrugged and smiled. "I don't care."

  "Really? Won't he be disappointed?"

  "I suppose so. I still don't care."

  "But, he might decide you didn't do your job properly," he suggested.

  "I did exactly what I thought was right. For the first time in my life."

  Erin smiled. She looked completely at peace with herself.

  "You just persuaded the council to refuse permission?"

  Erin nodded. "I didn't exactly persuade them." She rolled her eyes thoughtfully. "Just laid out the details for them. Helped them see both sides of the argument. Then, it was up to them. The Mayor cast the deciding vote. It seems that Mrs. Brown wasn't going to budge. So, it came down to the Mayor."

  Erin took a long sip of her apple juice. "I knew he would see that it was the right thing to do."

  Luke frowned. "Isn't your boss going to be mad?"

  "Probably," Erin replied. She shrugged. "He'll get over it. He'll just move on to the next project. He already has something in mind."

  "And you?"

  Erin squinted at Luke. "What about me?"

  "Is he going to let you keep your job?"

  Erin's gaze drifted down, and he saw her eyes were suddenly thoughtful. "I've been thinking about that," she said.

  She looked slowly around the restaurant, and he could see she was thinking about what to say next.

  "I like Montana Falls," she said gazing across at Luke. "A lot," she added lifting her glass to her lips and taking a sip.

  "I can believe that," he said.

  "Maybe it's time I made a fresh start," she said slowly.

  Luke peered across at her. What was she talking about? Was she hinting that she might stay in Montana Falls? He felt hope surge in his chest. Where had that come from? Why had he reacted like that to the slightest suggestion that Erin might not leave Montana Falls?

  Erin stared across at him. There was a mischievous determination in her eyes, now. He was lost for words, so he hurriedly called for the bill, paid it and then they left the restaurant. He could see that Erin was still excited.

  Outside it felt colder than before. Luke peered up at the sky. "I think it might snow again," he observed.

  She lifted her gaze and then loo
ked up at him. "You think so?"

  He felt a sudden urge, the same one he'd felt last night at the Christmas Fair. The need to kiss her. Her eyes widened imperceptibly as she looked up at him. She knew what he wanted to do. He could tell by the way she was looking at him, her eyes waiting. Then a car sped past, startling them both out of their dream.

  As if to compensate for his disappointment, he prompted her to take his arm, which she duly did. They walked along the street slowly. She gazed into the store windows. He could see she was enjoying looking at all the gifts on display in the windows. He wanted to buy her something. Anything that would give her even the slightest hint of what he was feeling about her. But, surely she already knew. He remembered the kiss under the mistletoe. Of course, she knew how he felt, he told himself.

  They turned the corner into the square. Her arm tightened around his, and he wondered why she had done that. Then he saw the reason why. She was staring at the figure of a tall man in a dark suit standing at the foot of the steps to the Town Hall. The man turned and stared straight at Erin. When he did that, she wrenched her arm away from Luke. He stared at her. "What's wrong?" he asked.

  "I don't believe it," she said staring at the man in the suit.

  "What?" he replied.

  "It's Bob," she hissed.

  "What?" Luke exclaimed, looking at the man who was walking straight toward them.

  "My boss is here," Erin stated, her voice filled with sudden dread.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  "What's wrong, son?" Luke's mother asked him as he stood in the kitchen drying dishes, later that evening.

  "Nothing, mom. Just thinking," Luke said idly.

  Annabelle took the dish from Luke and placed it on the countertop next to the sink. "I haven't seen you looking like this in a long time.

  Luke peered at his mother. "Don't you mean, you've never seen me like this?"

  Annabelle nodded and looked at the clock. Luke saw that it was already eight. Where was Erin? He'd left her on the steps of the Town Hall. She and her boss had been having an intense discussion. Bob hadn't been at all happy when Erin had broken the news to him about the council's decision not to go ahead. Not one bit.

  It turned out that Bob had decided to come to Montana Falls himself, without telling his own employee. Luke couldn't understand how that could happen. Didn;t Bob know he should treat Erin with some respect?

  Bob had flown the red-eye up to Montana and had even brought his personal chauffeur. Somehow they'd managed to get their rental limo through the snow.

  Luke figured that Bob showing up like this made it pretty clear he didn't have one hundred percent faith in Erin. Maybe he'd picked up her growing reluctance during her calls to him.

  Luke had waited for a short while, just to see what Erin planned to do. But, it soon became clear that Bob was intent on demanding a meeting with the Mayor. The last Luke had seen of Erin, she'd been walking up the stairs, behind her irate boss. She'd given Luke a shrug of the shoulders as if to say that there was nothing she could do. And then she'd gone inside the Town Hall trailing her boss.

  Luke glanced out the window. The snow was falling steady now. It had been falling like that all afternoon. He figured the open road Bob had used to get into Montana Falls might well be blocked if the snow continued overnight.

  "Come to the living room, Luke," his mother said. "You and I need to talk."

  He followed his mother to the living room and took his seat at the fireplace opposite her. Scoot came up to him, and Luke stroked the top of the dogs head.

  "You've got something on your mind," Annabelle said. "I can see that plain and simple."

  Luke shook his head. "I don't know, mom. It's complicated."

  "Surely it's not so complicated you can't talk to me about it." She smiled at him. "Is it about Erin?"

  He frowned. "How did you know?"

  Annabelle shook her head. "It's as plain as the nose on your face that Erin's found her way into your heart," his mother said.

  "That obvious, huh?"

  Annabelle nodded. "I think she likes you, son."

  "She's pretty amazing."

  "I know she is," Annabelle agreed.

  "I thought that about her back in the summertime when she was here with her boss. I didn't expect to see her again," he said.

  "I remember you telling me about her," Annabelle said.

  "You don't forget much, do you, Mom?"

  "Nothing gets by me, son," she replied. "You should know that, by now."

  Luke sighed. "The thing is, I figure she's in two minds."

  "How so?"

  "She thinks the world of Montana Falls," Luke said. "She doesn't stop telling me it's just about the best place she's ever seen."

  "I imagine, it doesn't do any harm having the town sheriff show you around."

  Luke smiled at his mother's comment and then continued. "She doesn't seem to be able to make up her mind whether she wants to keep on working for that TV company. She told me all about her growing up in LA. Her parents seem like they're good people. Maybe she wants a change," he said.

  Annabelle narrowed her eyes at Luke. "Can't you see it, Luke?" she asked.

  "See what?"

  Annabelle sighed. "She doesn't just want a change, Luke." His mother leaned forward and peered at Luke. "She wants you," she added with a patient smile.

  Luke felt suddenly warm and wondered if he was sitting too close to the fire. Of course, he wasn't. It was what his mom had said that had caused the flush of heat to his face.

  "She's one amazing girl," he said.

  "She sure is," Annabelle agreed.

  Luke cleared his throat. "Maybe she just wants a friend," he said wondering why his throat was suddenly so dry.

  "I think she wants more than just a friend, son," Annabelle insisted.

  Luke stared at his mother. "What if she leaves?" he asked barely able to get the words out.

  "What if you do something to encourage her to stay?" his mother retorted.

  Luke shook his head. "I don't know what I can do. Her boss will be going back to LA on Friday. He'll probably take Erin with him."

  "If this snow doesn't let up they might not be going anywhere for a while," Annabelle said glancing out the living room window.

  Luke's gaze followed his mother's. She was right. The snow was getting heavier now.

  Annabelle leaned back in the chair and seemed lost in thought for few moments. "Maybe there is something you can do about that," she said.

  Luke leaned forward. His mother was always a source of good ideas, he reminded himself. Perhaps this time would be no exception.

  "Today is Wednesday. I'm assuming Erin's boss is going to do all he can to persuade the Mayor to change his mind."

  "Erin told me Bob isn't the kind to take no for an answer."

  Annabelle frowned. "That may be the case, but he isn't in LA now. We do things differently here in Montana Falls," she said firmly.

  Luke had to suppress a smile. When his mother got on the case, there was nothing that could stop her.

  "What if you make Bob an offer he can't refuse," Annabelle said.

  "Like what?"

  "Ride along," Annabelle said bluntly.

  "Sorry, mom. What did you say?"

  Annabelle stared at Luke. "Take Bob on a guided tour of the town for a day or two. Show him what the place is really like. I'm sure the Mayor isn't going to just bend over backwards, not right away. Especially not now that he's already made his mind up against Bob and his plans."

  Luke squinted at his mother. "Wait a minute. Are you suggesting I take Bob as a passenger while I'm carrying out my sheriff duties? Show him around for a while?"

  Annabelle nodded. 'Exactly. That way he'll see whatever you choose to show him. I'm sure you can think of plenty of ways to show nothing but the good side to the town. In fact, I'm sure you could make Montana Falls seem like the dullest place in America to the likes of Mr. Bob," Annabelle said sounding triumphant now. Luke thought it was fun
ny that she referred to Erin's boss as "Mr. Bob". He didn't see the sense in correcting her.

  Luke had to hold back his laughter. "That's a crazy idea," he said.

  "Bet you'd be willing to do it, if meant you'd get a chance to help Erin make her mind up about staying a while longer."

  Luke felt a rush of determination. Sure, he would be willing to do anything, within limits, if he could persuade Erin that she belonged here. Maybe he had a chance to make things better, after all.

  He saw a flash of light from the street. He went to the window and saw a black limo draw up in front of the house.

  "That must be Erin," he said.

  Annabelle came to the window and stood next to Luke. "My, that is some kind of car, isn't it," she said putting a hand on his shoulder.

  Luke turned to Annabelle. "You really think something like that would work?" he asked.

  His mother shrugged. "It's worth a try, isn't it?"

  It was, he told himself. It truly was.

  "Besides no-one from the outside knows how to put the best shine on the jewel that it Montana Falls better than my son," she said. "Isn't that right," she added. It wasn't a question. It sounded more like an order. "I'm sure you can find a way to persuade Mr. Bob that there's nothing for him here."

  "What about Erin?" he asked.

  "What about her? I'll keep her busy here in the house." She gazed around the living room. "There's plenty to do to get things ready for Christmas day on Sunday. A good day for Christmas, if ever there was one."

  Luke saw Erin get out of the car and pause at the open door, talking with her boss who was still sitting inside.

  "I wonder where he's going to stay while he's here," Luke said.

  "Someone with his kind of money will have no problem finding somewhere," Annabelle. "I'd put him up here, but there's no spare rooms."

  "Maybe just as well," Luke said. "He seemed like a kind of abrasive type when I met him today."

  "Well, he can keep his abrasiveness somewhere else for the moment. At least until you've finished putting some sense into that skull of his."

  Luke smiled. Once his mother got going, there was no stopping her.

  "I better be going, mom," he said.

  "What's the hurry?"