Christmas with the Sheriff

by Victoria James

  “I love it. Thank you, Auntie Julia!”

  They met Chase at the front door; he was all dressed in uniform and Julia had to tear her eyes away from him, because of how good he looked. He was hard lines and admirable strength and she found it hard to breathe, and harder to ignore the feelings he brought out in her.

  Ten minutes later they were walking the downtown. Julia paused for a moment, taking in the picturesque town on this particular night. It was her favorite night of the year. The downtown core of Shadow Creek was magical during the Christmas festival. Lights twinkled from the trees and storefronts. Wreaths on lampposts glowed with red bows and white lights. Carolers filled the air with lively Christmas carols. There was a hot chocolate booth in front of the town square and families were strolling and chatting. The stores were all open late, cedar roping draped over the windows, twinkling lights strung. Horse-drawn wagons with jingling bells trotted down the main street. How many years had she attended the Christmas festival night in Shadow Creek? But never had she attended with Chase. She looked up at him, and a part of her felt the need to reach out and take his hand in hers. She wanted to know what it would feel like to walk with him.

  As though he knew she was looking at him, his gaze snapped to her. “It’s good to have you here with us tonight,” he said in that deep voice that made her insides warm.

  “There’s my class!” Maggie yelled, tugging on his arm. “Can I go?”

  “Sure, we’ll go and get a seat,” Chase said. “Have fun, Maggie.”

  “I will!” she yelled, before running off to join her classmates standing beside the large outdoor stage.

  Julia took a deep breath of the cold winter air, trying to rein in the emotions that ploughed through her, pushing her from the present moment and into the past; the last time she was at the Christmas Festival. Michael and her sweet baby were alive. Matthew’s eyes had been wide and curious, squeals of excitement erupting from his mouth as she pushed him in his stroller.

  “You okay?” Chase whispered in her ear.

  The sound of his deep voice, thick with concern, pulled her back into the present. She looked up at him, a slight frown across his brow, but it was the warmth in his eyes that appealed to her. Chase could be all hard lines and tough man, but the man had the softest core and she knew she was one of the few that was on the receiving end of it. She didn’t breathe for a moment, his face close to hers. Her gaze lingered on his mouth and for a second she wished he’d kiss her. She knew, in her gut, that Chase kissing her would make her forget everything else. When was the last time she’d wanted a man to kiss her? Five years was a long time.

  She cleared her throat and looked away when she realized she was staring. She pointed to the stage in the center of the park. “We’d better get a seat. Maggie will kill us if we don’t get one near the front.” She tried not to cringe at the squeaky sound of her voice. When had she become so obvious? Nothing could ever happen between her and Chase. She would be leaving Shadow Creek in a few weeks. He had a daughter. Neither of them could enter into a casual relationship. She had no choice but to get it together.

  “Let’s go,” he said, taking her hand in his. A shiver raced through her even though she was bundled up and warm. It was him. Having him hold her hand effortlessly, as though he’d been doing this for years. People stopped and chatted with Chase and he was polite and charming, flashing that smile of his easily. The town loved him and he was so at home here. Gwen, Cassy, and Edward were waving to them from the second row. Gwen gave her a pointed stare and raised her eyebrow high as she joined their row. Julia avoided eye contact with her. She knew to expect a barrage of texts as soon at the night was over. “They always get the best seats,” Chase said.

  Once they were settled, the crowd quickly filled in the remaining seats. Julia smiled as the stage curtains moved and small feet poked out beneath.

  “There’s always a badass back there that sneaks a peak through the curtain. And ten bucks says it’s a boy,” he said in her ear. She laughed, just as a dark haired little boy poked his head out.

  Within minutes the performance started and the sound of children singing “Jingle Bells” filled the night sky. Tears pricked her eyes at the sweet sound of their voices and her heart felt full, her chest ached and she wasn’t sure she’d be able to take a deep breath. As though he knew, Chase took her hand in his and rested on her leg. She didn’t feel as alone, as solitary in her thoughts. He knew. He knew what she was thinking. Matthew would have been here tonight; she’d be watching him sing. How would he look now? What would his sweet voice have sounded like? It was so hard to imagine because in her mind he was always two. She had been blessed with the memory of him saying “mama” and she’d never forget it. Her heart swelled painfully, her body filled with shivers, goose bumps.

  “You okay?” Chase whispered.

  She nodded rapidly and then looked over at him while the crowd clapped as the first number ended. Her breath caught in her throat at the look in his eyes. “I’m okay. I’m having a great time. I can’t wait to see Maggie’s class,” she said, blinking back tears and looking straight ahead. She meant it. No matter what she was feeling, the memories she was battling, it was so good to be back here with everyone, to see Maggie here tonight.

  They had to wait for two more classes to finish their songs and then finally Maggie appeared. She stood center stage and Chase sat up a little straighter. She glanced over at him and he was sitting there with unmistakeable pride stamped on his handsome face. The class began a singing and dancing number, some of the kids struggling to stay coordinated with the others. One boy almost fell off the stage and the crowd gasped, but he managed to regain his balance. They all stood and clapped, laughing when the number was over. “You can’t get theater like this in the city,” Chase whispered in her ear.

  She laughed as they filed out of their seats.

  “Are you coming to the tree lighting after?” her mother-in-law asked as they filed out.

  “Yes, I think I’ll go with Chase to pick up Maggie backstage. I promised her,” Julia said. She noticed that Cassy looked extra happy with that news.

  “That’s very nice, dear,” she said, patting her on the shoulder and all but pushing her into Chase. Apparently the entire family was encouraging this. She shouldn’t be surprised. She knew her in-laws wanted her to be happy and she knew they wanted the same for Chase and Maggie. God, how she didn’t want to disappoint any of them when she left town again.

  They made their way through the crowd, Chase’s hand linked in hers, and she wondered how it felt so natural. She didn’t pull away. How could she? She was discovering him on a whole new level and while it was purely a friendly gesture, she felt it in a much more profound way. He had to stop every now and then and speak with people, and she noticed the curious glances some gave her.

  “Julia, Julia, you certainly get around town!”

  Julia forced a smile on her face as Marlene stopped them in the crowd. She heard Chase’s sigh.

  “Marlene, you have the funniest way of welcoming people.” He softened his statement by laying on one of his charm-the-pants-off-a-woman smile.

  “I guess what I meant to say was that I didn’t realize she was out and about with you, Sheriff Donovan.”

  Chase squeezed her hand and his smile tightened. “Well, we’re just two friends enjoying my daughter’s play and the Christmas festival.”

  She waved an arm around. “Of course, of course. It was wonderful and little Maggie is adorable. It’s so nice to see the both of you. We really have missed you, Julia. After the tragedy…well, it broke all our hearts to lose you too.”

  Julia swallowed and spoke up before Chase felt he needed to jump to her defense again. “Thank you, Marlene. It’s good to be home. Shadow Creek is always home to me.”

  “Perhaps it could be again! We could even work together,” she said, leaning forward, her oversized Christmas tree chandelier earrings dangling with the motion. “Look what we accomplished in t
he short time you’ve been back. Think about it. You could join my brokerage.”

  She could have sworn she heard Chase groan.

  She smiled. “That’s always something to think about, thank you so much for thinking of me. Nice to see you. I guess we’ll chat about those offers tomorrow.”

  “You’ve got it, Missy. I’ll buy you a coffee and we can talk business. We have to make sure the sale goes smoothly so our beloved sheriff gets his dream house for his little girl…and maybe start a family again. That house definitely has more than enough room.”

  “Well, we’d better get moving in case Maggie gets scared that we’ve forgotten to pick her up,” Chase said, ushering her away. She swallowed her laugh as they walked toward the stage.

  “She’s still your favorite person, isn’t she?” she asked him, trying to keep a straight face.

  He gave her a smile that made her heart skip a beat. “Right up there with my ex.”

  She laughed.

  “Daddy! Julia!” Maggie yelled as they rounded the outdoor stage. She came running up to them and hugged a leg on each of them.

  She dangled her head back, while still holding on to them. “Was it the best play you’ve ever seen?”

  Chase laughed. “Of course.”

  “Did you like it, Auntie Julia?”

  “I loved it. You were great, honey.”

  Maggie beamed. “And are you going to stay for the tree lighting? You’re not going to leave now, are you?”

  The fear that was stamped across Maggie’s little face tugged at her heart. How many people had left her life? “Of course I’m staying. I’ll be around for the next few weeks, until after the holidays so we don’t have to worry about that, okay?”

  Maggie nodded, her shoulders relaxing. “Okay. Let’s go,” she said, grabbing each of their hands. Carolers were still strolling the sidewalks and the stores were bustling as they walked toward the town square. The giant tree was already surrounded by a small crowd waiting for the official lighting. She still remembered the expression on Matthew’s face when he’d been here when he was two. The exact moment the tree went from dark to a magical brightly colored beauty. He’d squealed and clapped his hands. She remembered the full feeling in her heart at the sound. Her heart had never been as full as those days since before the accident. She doubted it ever could be again.

  As the carolers’ singing filled the air, she stood beside Chase and Maggie and waited. When the tree was finally lit, all the children clapped. Maggie beamed up at her, still holding her hand. That familiar feeling crept back, that feeling that only a child could bring. The innocent, unabashed happiness that a child had. She hadn’t been back here long and she was already starting to feel things again. If she wasn’t careful, the next few weeks were threatening to open up her heart again, and then where would she be when it was time to go home? She would not leave here broken-hearted again.

  Half an hour later, they were standing by her rental car. Maggie was having a hot chocolate with the Baileys while Chase walked her back to her car.

  “Thanks for helping with the hair debacle,” he said with a half-grin.

  “My pleasure. I arrived in the nick of time, I think.”

  “I was getting pretty suicidal, yeah,” he said and she laughed out loud.

  “What was Maggie’s reaction when you told her about the new house?”

  He stuffed his hands in his pockets. “She was a little concerned at first but then when I told her all about the new place and how it’s the perfect house to make new memories and a fresh start, she got excited.”

  She smiled. “That’s sweet. I think she’ll be so happy. There’s so much room to play and I love the room that will be hers—with the big windows overlooking the backyard. Perfect.”

  “I’m sure by the time I’m done taking orders from her it will resemble a pink and white candy cane.”

  She laughed. “You’re probably right.”

  Snowflakes tumbled out of the sky lazily, adding a magical addition to the festival. White flecks clung to Chase’s dark hair and her voice caught in her throat when he took a step closer. They were on a deserted side street, surrounded by quiet houses, the noise from the festival muted and in the distance.

  She wanted to know if he knew the truth about Michael. She wanted to know because Chase had been her ally since the accident. He symbolized honor and loyalty, and it would kill her if he’d known, and it would kill the feelings she’d developed for him, not that she was willing to act on those feelings…but it was important for her to know.

  “Thanks for being here, Jules,” he said in that deep voice. His eyes held something in them that made her toes curl and as he reached out to hold her hand she said a silent prayer that he was the man she hoped he was. She needed to know that good guys still existed, that there were still people out there that were actually what they claimed to be.

  “Thanks for inviting me,” she said, her voice sounding breathy to her own ears. Of course, it was probably because he was standing inches from her, his large hand wrapped around hers, and she was imagining what it would be like if he leaned down and kissed her. Oh, God, she was setting herself up for disaster because she knew he’d be as good as she’d always imagined, but she shouldn’t give in. Or if she did give in…well, one kiss didn’t have to mean something. It wasn’t a marriage proposal. It didn’t have to change anything…just one.

  “I mean, I’m glad you’re home, in Shadow Creek, and I’m glad you’re here, with me. I’m not a guy who wastes time wishing for things, but if I were, I wish you’d stay.”

  She hadn’t expected that candor. She looked away from his intense gaze for a moment. “I don’t…I haven’t thought about it. It feels good to be back and of course see all of you. But I can’t promise something that I know isn’t going to happen,” she whispered. She saw the unmistakable flicker of disappointment in his blue eyes, along with something else. It was the something else that made her stomach quiver.

  “Hm,” he said, swallowing up the last step between them, and any chance she had at ever being able to breathe normally again. Chase this close to her, with a heated look in his gaze was completely overwhelming—in the most wonderful way possible. “I wonder if I can convince you before the holidays are over that you should make this your home again.”

  She didn’t answer his question because he’d reached out to frame the sides of her face with his hands, and frankly she was a wreck. His face was inches from hers, and her eyes seemed to not be taking any orders from her brain to not look at his mouth. It was a gorgeous mouth, and she knew he would know exactly what to do with his mouth. Omigod she was acting like a teenager, a teenager who’d never been kissed.

  “Chase,” she whispered, finally able to talk. She needed to know. She had to have an answer before he kissed her, because then it’d be even harder to walk away from him.

  “Yeah?” he said, his gaze going from her mouth to her eyes.

  “I…did you know that Michael was cheating on me?”

  Chapter Eight

  Hell. What. The. Hell?

  Chase felt his body go from burning hot to cold in five seconds flat. He dropped his hands from Julia’s face and took in her insecure expression. He knew she wasn’t a liar. He would never question that, but the idea of what she was saying…it was impossible. He jammed his hands into his pockets and replayed her question in his head. Michael had been cheating?

  “Cheating? Michael?”

  She nodded and her eyes filled with a wariness and vulnerability that made his gut churn. She wanted to know if he was as big an ass as his best friend. God, if Michael were alive he’d kill him. He still remembered feeling so jealous of him when he went on his first date with Julia. He thought Michael had it all, and then when they’d gotten married, and then when Matthew was born. He had never let himself think he was a good enough man for Julia.

  But it turns out his best friend had been even worse.

  “Did you know, Chase?”

/>   He shook his head. “No. Hell, no. God, no.”

  She closed her eyes for a moment and her shoulders slumped slightly. He bent his knees to look at her, eye level, and held her arms gently. “Are you sure? When did you know?”

  She took a deep breath and then looked up into the sky. “After I moved. When I finally was able to go through his computer. I was looking for banking information and retrieving files that I would need. I noticed a string of emails from a lawyer whose name I recognized. He’d talked about her a lot in that last year. I stupidly didn’t think anything of it.” She paused and her chin wobbled and she adjusted her hat, before looking down at her boots. He struggled to remain calm and not demand all the answers. He was also struggling with his own need to pound his fist through a wall at the thought of what Michael had done. It wasn’t fair. How could he have done that to her? She’d had to deal with all of this alone? All these years?

  “What happened, sweetheart?”

  Her head shot up and the tears were gone this time. “They…this woman and him had been seeing each other for about a year.”

  He bit back a few of his favorite expletives. “You know this for sure?”

  She crossed her arms in front of her. “Yup. There were texts that I found. Oh, they were careful. They always added that there was a ‘meeting’ at such and such a place. So the important meetings and late nights that Michael was busy with? More like he was busy with LeAnn.”

  Chase ran his hands down his face. What an ass. Michael had had everything and he’d ruined it. He ruined Julia’s memory of him and their family. He was mad as hell for her.

  “I called her.”

  He dropped his hands and tried not to let his mouth hang open. She had guts. If there was one thing he knew about this woman, it was that she had guts, and a heart of gold and it’d been broken way too many times.

  “She admitted everything. She was married too.”