Soon, it would be Christmas and he actually had someone to spend it with, since Trinity had requested to celebrate the holiday away from Braden again, this year. He understood. Since Daisy passed the holiday season was tainted.
Ty and Lane decided this year, they needed a tree after they found the one he’d put in storage in the hayloft. Decorated with beer cans that had been cut out, so the lights would have a snowflake like appearance, just made him laugh. The star at the top was the best part though. Single shot bottles of various liquor bottles each with their own tiny twinkle light sparkled atop the bachelor Christmas tree in a circular pattern. Having not experienced dorm life, Austin was starting to enjoy his younger roommates. Between them and Merryn, he felt eighteen again. He had a second chance and this time, he wasn’t going to screw it up.
“Okay, so can we come home after nine?” Lane asked. “I mean you two are old and stuff.”
“Lane, your mouth is someday, going to get your ass in real trouble,” Austin said as he pushed him out the door, along with the other guys who’d decided a night at Buddy’s would be a nice change of pace. Buddy’s Eve of Christmas Eve party was a staple of singles in the area. Merryn’s Jeep pulled up right as the guys pulled out.
Bo became interested at that point. Jumping on the top of the couch to see who was driving up. He let out a few warning yips before Austin gave a scolding look to him. Not to be deterred in his protective duties, the dog jumped and scurried to Austin’s side.
“Who is that?” Merryn asked as she approached with a basket covered with a holiday dishtowel.
“This fierce creature is Bo,” Austin said as he picked up the silky terrier. Only slightly larger than a Yorkshire terrier, he weighed a whopping ten pounds instead of five.
“Aren’t farm dogs supposed to be labs or shepherds?” she asked as she held her hand in a fist, so Bo could sniff before she gave him a good scratch on the head.
With Bo’s approval, they came in from the cold.
“I tried for that, but Daisy fell in love with this one’s face.” Austin smirked, as he stared at the dog not much bigger than a football. He hated to admit she made a good choice. Sure, Bo wouldn’t be able to protect anyone from an attack, but any squirrel or mouse trying to find its way in the house, he took them out. “I got stuck with him in the divorce.”
“Stuck huh?” Merryn kidded as he passed the dog to her. “Something tells me, he’s your best friend.”
“He’s a good boy. I’ll give him that. Even though he’s getting on in years.”
Merryn put Bo down and he stayed at Austin’s ankle as he finished the roast he’d been slowly cooking in the crockpot all day. He almost killed Lane when he snuck some potatoes.
“Do I get a tour?” she asked. “It’s much bigger than my little apartment. And now that I’m here, I see you are a crafty one.” The lights of the Christmas tree highlighted her smile as she fingered one of the beer cans.
Austin chuckled at her. “Not me. My roommates.”
“Oh, that was they who I passed?”
“Yep, I figured your first visit here shouldn’t include an inquisition.”
“Dang and I made pie.”
“I’ll take care of that for you.” Austin smiled once again, enjoying sweets. Merryn never offered him cookies and he appreciated she cared enough to reintroduce him to treats without the hard memories that assaulted him every Christmas season. He pulled back the dishcloth and found two pies one with hearts carved out of the crust showing a berry center. The other had the cut out pieces of crust from the first, placed on the top of a pumpkin pie. Two cans of whipped cream were on the side. “If I’m in a giving mood, I’ll leave a piece for them to share.”
“You’re going to end up with a gut.” She smiled and patted his belly. “What are you, seventeen?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean the last time I could put away as many pies, cakes and pastries as you do, I was a teenager.”
“You do have me feeling young again,” he said kissing her neck. “How about that tour?”
“Lead the way.”
The main floor was open for the most part. The kitchen flowed into the living room. Although they had a formal dining room, it had been turned into an office area with the guys having three different computers. Sadly, Lane and Ty usually played some stupid game on them, they even pulled Paul into their sick non interactive, yet interactive play time.
“That’s Hank’s bedroom,” Austin said pointing to the main floor bedroom that had been his parents. Opening the door next to it, he showed her the main floor washroom.
The stairs creaked as they went up to the landing where he had a bookshelf with pictures of his daughters and him. Merryn stopped and traced the outside of the framed picture of Daisy, Trinity and him when they’d gone to the Des Moines Zoo. The girls were acting like monkeys outside the cage. Trinity was on his back with one arm curled above her head. Daisy had her arms curled in a circle in front of her.
“How old were they?” she asked.
“Five and ten I think.”
“They’re cute.”
“Yeah.” He sighed and realized in a week, Trinity would be in Braden. She wouldn’t want to be cooped up at the farm and probably would want to see her friends from grade school. That was usually the way their visits went. He’d have to introduce her to Merryn because her friends would tell her. If they hadn’t already. Shit. He never thinks social media wise when it came to his kids and the gossip.
“Something wrong?”
“Trinity’s coming next week.”
“Oh, I suppose I’ll make myself scarce then.”
“We’ll see, I have a feeling word might have made its way to her.”
“The grapevine in Iowa is that long?”
“We all love to hear about things where we come from.” Austin turned the corner and walked past rooms all with their doors closed. “Ty, Lane and Paul.” He pointed to three doors before opening the final one. “I should have known better than to invite a woman and not at least make my bed.”
She walked into the room he’d had since he was a kid. Even when his father passed and his mother moved out, it still didn’t feel right sleeping in the master. Merryn examined the room with a few of his trophies still on the shelves. Rae had added girly features like a comfy chair in the corner which was covered in old mail and clothes. At least he had matching sheets and a queen size bed.
“This is nice,” she said plopping on the bed. Bo jumped next to her and laid his head on her lap, so she could scratch his head. “Bo, I have to say you might just be the cutest thing I’ve seen in years.” Bo rolled on his back and Merryn gave him a belly rub that had his eyes rolling back and his tongue dropping out the side of his mouth.
“I totally get you Bo,” Austin teased.
After the tour, Austin set out plates and Merryn sat across from him at the table. They had things to discuss, but he didn’t know how. Relationships weren’t exactly his thing. Life had happened last time. Major decisions had been made by his choices, not the other way around. “Christmas Eve,” he began. “What are your plans?”
“The last few years I’ve Skyped my sister and we opened presents together.”
“Isn’t she on location this year?”
“Yes, and in love with her leading man for the moment.”
That was a big secret for Merryn to share. He never would’ve guessed she was related to the Alicia Winters. If Ty knew this, he’d never leave the bakery in hopes Merryn would take pity and call her to come by. There were some sisterly comparisons though. The dark hair and lips, Alicia’s were fuller, but he did wonder if it was natural. “If I were to ask you to come to my mom’s with me, would that be too much?”
Merryn had a piece of meat resting on her fork about to go in her mouth. Instead, she lowered it to her plate.
He couldn’t read her eyes. “My mom doesn’t hear gossip, obviously, but I’m not sure how much longer she has. Even if we don�
�t…” His mouth was dry as he reached for his glass of wine and swallowed. “Merryn I’m falling in love with you and I want to introduce you to my mother.” Like a Band Aide, the confession stung as he rushed the words and took another swig of his wine, draining the glass. He couldn’t look at Merryn, that he knew. If her face paled or her eyes didn’t reflect she felt the same, he didn’t know if he could handle the rejection.
“What time?”
“Huh?” His head shot straight up.
“What time would you pick me up?”
“Seven, my brother and sister are coming into town for a few hours. It’s the first time in a few years that we’ve all been able to get together for something positive.”
“That’s bigger than meeting your mom.” Merryn spun her fork absently between her fingers.
“My mom’s opinion is the only one that matters.”
“I’ll Skype my sister early then.” She lips surrounded the roast and she covered her mouth with her hand as she spoke, “Should I bring anything? Egg salad? Pie?”
“She liked that lemon Danish you gave me.”
“Lemon Danish it is.” Merryn pushed her carrots around her plate a few times before meekly saying, “I’m falling in love with you too.”
“It’s Bo, isn’t it,” he teased in hopes that his smile wouldn’t be too wide. Damned if his stomach wasn’t tied tighter than a new baseball glove. Eating was out of the question now for fear of upchucking and sending the wrong message. “I get more girls because of him.”
Merryn peered over the edge of the table to the small dog waiting anxiously for a scrap or two to be tossed his way.
Bo noticed the attention from the bipeds. He promptly hopped on his hind legs and brought his front paws together like he was praying.
“Oh, my God!” Merryn gushed.
“Yep, knew it,” he said while tossing a small chunk of meat to him. “Good boy.”
Chapter Six
Merryn wiped down the tables before putting the chairs on top. Last minute customers rushed in for pies and cookies leaving her shelves practically bare as she finished closing. Checking in the back, she had two pies, a mincemeat and pecan, left so she brought them out and placed them in the glass case. A jingle from the door told her the day wasn’t over yet. “Hello,” she called from her kneeling position before pushing up and coming face to face with the suit.
Brad had stopped in a handful of times over the last month. Always at closing time which made her question his motives. Although his flirting had been turned up, hers had backed off, but he hadn’t seemed to notice. It could be why his increased…the whole not available vibe and all.
“No mistletoe?” he asked looking longingly to her door.
“Keeps the draft out. If I had to rush and kiss all my customers that door would never close.”
“I brought my own,” he said twirling a sprig of mistletoe between his gloved fingers. “It’s a law or something to kiss under it. I know because I’m a lawyer.”
“Didn’t I tell you?” Merryn held her hand to her chest. “I’m a master criminal. Wanted in seven states for ignoring mistletoe laws.”
“As a member of the court, I should drag you in.”
“Brad, is there something I can do for you today?”
“Now, you’re talking.” His eyebrow arched and she had to stifle her smile.
“And yet, you’re still not listening,” she said.
“I need a dessert.”
“Okay, I have two pies and a cake left.”
“What kind of cake?”
“Coconut, looks like snowflakes on top.”
“How about…” Brad leaned back examining the display case. “The cake sounds good.”
“Perfect,” she said as she took out a box and wrapped it up tight. “That will be twenty one dollars.”
“Is the cake that good? Will it melt in my mouth?” He growled. “I like when things melt in my mouth.”
“Then it’s too bad, it stopped snowing. You could have caught snowflakes…” she halted her comment. Talking about tongues and mouths seemed wrong with this guy. Sure, he was cute, but she was with Austin. This wasn’t Hollywood where harmless flirting was encouraged. All of Erik’s business associates were to think she was attainable, yet not be. It was a delicate balance she could perform like a pro because Erik was who she loved. She hadn’t thought about him for a month now. Her dreams contained a farmer with a baseball cap, not a man in a suit. Even now, looking at a man in a tailored, but not perfectly suit, she wasn’t even turned on. The chimes went off and Merryn finished her sale hoping Brad would leave.
Instead, he decided to wait. “You know this cake is pretty big, maybe after I perform my family duties, I could come back here with a piece or two. You do live upstairs don’t you? Or do I need to check on my favorite spies sources.”
“You’ve been doing a background checks on me?”
“I like doing my due diligence.”
“Well, you missed something because I won’t be here.”
“You going out of town?”
“No, but I have plans with a friend.”
“A good friend?” he asked the leading question that had nothing to do with friendship.
“I guess your spies need to do more background.”
“Or, I just need to find more time to come to town. Something tells me whoever he is…he’s not enough for you.”
“That’s a pretty bold assumption.”
“I grew up here. The moment my mother passes on, I won’t look back. There isn’t a man in this town worth anything. If they were they would of left long ago.”
“Hope your spies don’t know you feel that way.” Merryn felt her ire getting up to be proud of her town. “I chose to live here, maybe you’ll need a few more years away to appreciate it.”
“I doubt it.” He sighed and picked up his cake. “Guess you drank the Kool-Aid.”
“In one big gulp.” Merryn wasn’t sure why it irritated her the way Brad acted about her adopted home, but she never liked when people came through acting superior. The town was great and no better or worse than any other. Its charms out weighed any drawbacks of small town living.
“Maybe you’ve been trapped here too long. How about one day, I take you into the city? Take you to a show, dinner…we could talk about something, besides soybean prices and the latest takeover of family farms.”
“But soybeans are so versatile.”
Brad looked at the clock above Merryn’s head on the wall and conceded defeat.
Something told her it was just this battle and not the war. He would be back. When it rained, it poured. When he walked out of the bakery, she locked up for the night and went into the back where she began baking a dozen lemon Danish and mixing up a dish of egg salad. Not the traditional Christmas fair, but probably more appropriate than she could have brought.
She’d tried three times to Skype her sister, but the schedule never worked. Alicia promised to be available in the morning. Which, with the time difference, and her sister’s sleep schedule, meant around two on Christmas.
Austin arrived early. Dressed in khaki’s and a V-neck sweater that held his body tight. He shivered a bit on the stoop then when she unlocked the door, he stepped in and blew on his hands. His cologne was new and a bit strong as she fell into his arms.
“Where’s your coat?”
“Who needs one? It’s a balmy eight degrees out there.”
“What was I thinking?” she teased as she helped warm him up by rubbing his back briskly.
“You think you’re ready for this?” he asked with serious eyes. The brown coloring was her weakness. “You don’t have to come. I know it’s fast. Meeting my mom, that is.”
“I’ve known you for three years.” She stood on her tiptoes and gave him a light peck on the lips. “I’m overdue. Are you ashamed of me?”
“Way to flip that.”
“You liked that.”
“Very impressive.”
&nbs
p; “I’m nothing, if not skilled.” She raised her hands in the air with a flurry.
“Can’t disagree with that.” This time Austin leaned down and gave her a long lingering kiss that made separating hard to do. It wasn’t a normal thing for them though. Tucked away, the two lovers became lost in each other to the point, they would check out of the world entirely. This was not the time for that though.
“I’ve got my stuff in the kitchen,” Merryn said as she pulled back achingly slow.
“And my truck is running.”
“If the town gossiping didn’t make it official,” she said. “This sure will.”
“It’s not like I gave you my class ring.”
“Am I not worthy?” Merryn feigned hurt as she clutched her chest and stumbled her way to the kitchen. When she took the egg salad from the fridge and added it to the basket with the Danishes, the reality of what she was going to be doing struck her. This was a formal meeting of family. Austin’s whole family. The only one missing was his daughter. A shiver cut through her at the thought. She couldn’t have a casual fling with Austin, she knew that from the start, he wasn’t that type of guy. Pushing through the kitchen door into the bakery she saw him standing by the door with the dim lights that highlighted the faux cakes, breads and pastries she had in the windows.
Waiting for her, his focus wasn’t on a cell phone or some news story. He could give her the peace she wanted in life. Her walk became confident and when he heard her coming, he extended his hand for her to take.
* * * *
Driving the two and a half blocks to his mother’s house had Austin trying to come up with ways to properly introduce Merryn to his family. He still felt stupid saying girlfriend. Maybe, woman I’m seeing, my bad-ass-bitch…not if he ever wanted to have sex again, or my lover maybe? They say that in the movies. Introducing someone as your lover. He could sound so grown up and douchey at the same time.
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