“So what do you usually do for fun?”
Linc tried to remember the last time he’d done anything for the pure pleasure of it. “I run in the morning.”
“That’s for exercise, not fun.”
“I had fun coaching the boys. I think I might volunteer to coach basketball. The church has a team starting up after New Year’s.”
She clutched the papers to her chest. “You’re good at it, and it did make you smile.”
There was an appreciative twinkle in her eyes that gave him courage. “You like my smile?”
She shrugged. “It’s not bad. I could stand to see more of it.”
“Because you like my smile or because you want me happy?”
“Everyone should be happy. Come on. There must be something you look forward to?”
Being with you. He stopped the words from being spoken. “I used to look forward to breakfast with my dad. Every Saturday we’d go to the Magnolia Diner, sit in the last booth by the window and discuss things. Just the two of us.”
“Did he do that with the others?”
“Yes. They each had their own special time and place.” Linc caught a flicker of envy in her green eyes and recalled her comments about her family. Maybe she’d never known that kind of family closeness. Gemma looked at him with concern in her eyes.
“Maybe you should go to the diner and have breakfast one morning. Say goodbye. It might ease the pain a little.”
“Alone? It wouldn’t be the same.”
“I’ll go with you.” She blinked as if she’d not meant to say the words out loud. “I mean…I like breakfast, that is.”
He’d like nothing better than to share a morning with her. And Evan. Maybe he could start a new tradition. “How about this Saturday?”
“I can’t. That’s the judging of the lamppost contest. Your mom is a judge and she volunteered you to watch Evan. But I’m sure he’d love to have breakfast with you and carry on the tradition.”
The implications sent Linc’s pulse racing. Having a family of his own had been something he thought about, but always in the distant future. Lately he’d been thinking more and more about a settled life, something more than running Montgomery Electrical.
“The frown is back.”
Linc looked into Gemma’s smiling eyes. “Sorry, I guess I do have a lot on my mind. With Dad gone I have to step up and fill in.”
“You’re not your dad. You can’t do things the way he did. You have to find your own path. Do things the way that works for you.”
He tapped her chin with one finger. “That’s good advice. How did you get so smart?”
“I’ve had to carve out my own path my whole life. Following in my parents’ footsteps was never an option for me.” She bit her lip, then smiled. “Thank you for hanging the lights. Does this mean you’re finally behind the new celebrations?”
The light in her deep green eyes warmed his heart. He didn’t want her to ever be disappointed. “I guess it does.”
“Good. I’m glad we’re finally on the same side.”
“Me, too.” He watched her walk away, wishing she would stay at his side. Always.
*
Settled at her desk once more, Gemma tried to focus on the Christmas events, but thoughts of Linc kept diverting her attention. She touched her wrist, the one he’d held, reliving the feel of his fingers on her skin. There was a magnetic force between them. An energy that she couldn’t ignore, and it had all started when she saw him high in the bucket, hanging lights.
What had prompted him to help? It was a far cry from his earlier attitude, and while she was grateful, his change of heart left her off balance. His story about having breakfast with his dad had replayed in her thoughts, too, filling her with envy. She had no such memories. No warm fuzzy recollections of family get-togethers or special times with her parents. In her home you stayed quiet, invisible and made sure you got As on all your schoolwork.
Leatha appeared in front of the desk, peering over the rim of her glasses. “Gemma. Have you decided what to do about the nativity?”
Shoving aside thoughts of Linc, she focused on the next problem. “I suppose I’m going to have to go back to the storage building and take another look at the old one.” She’d ordered a new nativity, but with no money to pay for it, she’d had to cancel.
“I know you had your heart set on that shiny new nativity, but folks here had a deep affection for that old one. Some of them were sad to hear it wasn’t being used this year.”
“Let me guess. It was a tradition, right?”
“Yes, but it was more than that. Most people in Dover have probably forgotten, but the nativity was donated to the town by the Ballard family after the death of their infant son on Christmas Eve.”
Gemma exhaled a sigh. “Oh, how sad.”
“It was a difficult time. The Ballards were a well-loved family here. The town held a vigil for the baby for several years. The family eventually moved away, but the nativity always held a special significance at Christmas.”
“I appreciate you sharing that with me. I’ll take another look at the old one. Maybe we can get another year out of it.”
It was late afternoon before Gemma found time to visit the storage building. She went immediately to the section she’d set aside for the items she planned to discard. The old nativity was near the front of the pile. Besides the canceled parade, her decision to order a new nativity had been another thing Linc had balked at. The twelve-piece set was faded and weather-beaten. The baby Jesus figure had a large hole in its side, hardly the image of the baby savior she wanted to present to new visitors. As she ran her fingers over the large gash, a scripture came to mind, reminding her of why He’d come to earth in the first place. Not to be a sweet baby in a manger but a man on a cross who died to redeem his children.
Hot tears stung the backs of her eyes. Maybe she’d been too quick to dismiss all traditions as pointless. Looking at the nativity now, she saw it in new light, a way to honor the memory of the child who was lost and the child who came to save the lost.
She’d fussed at Linc for not knowing the roots of the traditions he cherished. She owed him an apology. The more time she spent in Dover, the more she came to see that holding on to certain things in the past might be necessary. Remembering happy times or people who were no longer with us could be comforting. Most things in her past she’d worked hard to forget.
The nativity was dirty and faded, and making it presentable would be time-consuming, but she felt confident Leatha would know someone who could handle it.
A loud snap split the quiet air. A shudder shot down her spine, making her aware of how alone and isolated she was in the old building. Linc’s warning to not come here by herself took on new meaning. She wished he was here. His steady, dependable presence always made her feel protected and special. And each time she was with him she took a step closer to the cliff called “falling in love.” It was a very dangerous place to go.
But she didn’t think she could turn back now. Linc was too tightly intertwined with her life and Evan’s. Each day he wrapped another layer of himself around her heart. His kindness, his consideration, his affection for her son, his fierce need to protect those he cared about… She was coming to understand that it derived from a well of love, and not a need to control as she’d first thought.
But there was a fine line between those two things, wasn’t there? Or was it her fear talking? The rafters above creaked. Time to get out of here and back to work. Questions about Linc would have to wait.
*
Gemma shoved her hands into her pockets as she crossed the courthouse square Friday evening. The past week had been hectic, but exhilarating. The lights had gone up on the buildings, the street drapes installed, garlands hung along the wrought iron fence surrounding the courthouse park. The Dover bank had donated a giant tree for the square, their way of compensating for the mess Leon had created, and local church members had come together to decorate it. The tree and
the brightly lit gazebo nearby were the crowning glory of the park. Santa had a special tent covering his throne, surrounded by fake packages and a few plastic reindeer.
Tonight was the grand lighting, and she’d promised to watch with Evan and Francie. The temperatures had fallen, making it perfect for visitors to watch the lights and stroll through town. She dodged a couple standing in the middle of the walkway as she headed to the far end of the park, every nerve in her body alive and rejoicing. Her campaign had succeeded. Dover’s downtown streets were teeming with visitors. She sent up a prayer of thanks and one for the upcoming weekends. She’d come to love the small town, and her desire to succeed now went beyond wanting to do a good job. She wanted to be a part of their growth.
“When are the lights supposed to come on?”
The couple Gemma walked by were glancing around the darkened town. Only the usual streetlights illuminated the square. Gemma slowed and smiled. “In about ten minutes. Welcome to Dover. We’re so glad you’re visiting.”
The woman smiled. “Are you the mayor?”
Gemma chuckled. “No. I’m with the Chamber of Commerce.” She answered a few more questions before hurrying on. She wanted to be with Evan when the lights came on. She’d done all she could at this point. Linc had assigned one of his best men, Ike Walker, to take control of the actual throwing of the switch. He’d been invaluable in getting everything coordinated and connected so the whole downtown would burst into light at the moment the switch was thrown. All that was left for her to do was stand back and wait, and pray that everything went according to plan.
Spotting her son near the west side of the park, she waved, only to halt midmotion. Francie was there, but so was Linc. Her mood hitched up a couple more notches and her pulse skipped. She’d been so busy this week she hadn’t actually talked to him in a few days. Her every minute had been taken up with organizing decorations, creating new designs on the fly and keeping her sanity. The events weren’t complicated, but keeping everything on track was.
“Hey, Mom. When will the lights go on?” Evan bounced up and down, unable to contain his excitement.
“Soon.” She glanced at Linc. There was an appreciative glint in his dark eyes that even the dim light couldn’t hide. She took up a position beside Francie and behind her son. Linc stood behind her, so close she could feel the warmth of his body and a whiff of his woodsy aftershave. She resisted the urge to lean back against him.
Standing with the Montgomerys gave her a warm, inclusive feeling, as if she were really part of the family. For a brief second she allowed herself to imagine sharing the family dinners, watching the guys play ball in the yard, slipping an arm around Linc’s waist. Heat infused her neck. She must be more tired than she’d thought.
She dipped her head to speak to Evan when “Joy to the World” suddenly blared from the speakers and the switch was thrown, bathing Dover in a flood of lights from all directions. Pressing her fingertips to her lips, she blinked away tears. It was more beautiful than she’d envisioned. The entire square was aglow, from the drapes over the streets and the store facades to the decorations in the park. The historic gazebo, Dover’s cherished landmark, sparkled with twinkling lights.
“Whoa. Mom, it’s awesome.”
Applause and cheers erupted as the visitors delighted in the joyful transformation.
Francie clapped in Gemma’s direction. “Well done. I knew you were the right person for this job.”
Evan revolved slowly, taking in the lights on all sides of the square. “Can we walk around now and look at the store windows?”
“Of course.” A rush of relief coursed through her, leaving her drained and feeling several years younger.
Francie and Evan started off. Linc stepped to her side. “Beautiful.”
“What?” She looked at him, her heart skipping at the intimate smile on his face. Was he talking about the Christmas lights or something more personal?
“The town looks beautiful.”
“Are you saying you were wrong?”
“Never. But I will admit to having a lack of imagination.”
“Sounds like an apology to me.”
Linc chuckled under his breath and fell into step beside her. He nodded toward the nativity as they passed by. “I’m glad you decided to put this back up.”
“I took a closer look and discovered all it really needed was a little love. Baby Jesus had a broken section, but then I thought about the reason He came in the first place, and it didn’t seem so unattractive then.”
Gemma liked having Linc beside her as they strolled along the sidewalk. She had to work hard to remember to take notes of small things that needed to be addressed for the next day, and not concentrate solely on the tall, vibrant man at her side who made her feel warm, protected and very feminine.
By the time they’d circled the square, stopped for a cup of hot chocolate and examined all the decorated lampposts, Evan was growing tired and so was she. Tomorrow would be a full day of activities and she needed to be rested.
Francie took Evan home and Gemma expected Linc to go with them, but he lingered.
“Care for one more stroll through the park? I’m not ready to leave yet.”
The crowds had thinned and only a few visitors filled the sidewalks. Gemma liked the idea of walking through the lights slowly. The crowds were a huge blessing, but made it difficult to fully appreciate the decorations. They’d dodged and weaved people every step of the way. Walking through the Christmas glory with Linc was an opportunity she didn’t want to pass up. “All right.”
Linc rested his hand on her lower back, steering her toward Church Street. But instead of crossing to the stores, he exited through the gates and stopped at the white carriage parked at the curb.
“How about we ride while we look? Enjoy a different view.”
She’d made all the arrangements for this service, but it had never occurred to her to take advantage of it. Now she wanted nothing more than to sit with Linc in the charming carriage and ride through the shower of lights. She nodded, then took the hand he offered to help her into the carriage. He chose the backseat and spread the small blanket there across her lap. He spoke to the driver, then settled back.
They rode in silence for a few minutes before Linc took her hand in his. “You did a great job, Gemma. I never expected it to be so amazing.”
“You didn’t think I could pull it off?”
“I never doubted that.” He made an expansive gesture with his hand. “But I wasn’t prepared for the scope of this thing.”
“You hung the lights. That should have given you some idea.”
“It should have. But I was too focused on putting them exactly where your little chart said. And from that I couldn’t tell what it was going to look like.”
“You don’t like following other people’s plans. It messes with your control issues.”
He shrugged. “Someone has to be in charge. Most people leave important things out, then it gets all screwed up. But you thought of everything. You are an amazing woman.”
Gemma’s heart pounded and a warm flush heated her skin. She looked into his eyes and saw affection. Did he see the same in hers? She’d been steadily losing her heart to him, in spite of her determination not to. “Does that mean you no longer think I’m ruining Dover’s holiday?”
Linc rubbed his thumb across the back of her hand. “No. Not anymore. I’ve had a change of heart.”
“Really? Why?”
He squeezed her hand a little tighter. “I’ve had a few setbacks at work that made me realize bringing more people into town could help all the business owners, not only the ones on the square.”
“I hope it’s nothing serious, at work, I mean.”
“I’ll handle it.”
Gemma shivered at the look in his eyes. He was more troubled than he was letting on. Thinking she was chilled, he scooted closer and put an arm around her shoulder. She told herself to pull away, but she liked the feel of him close to her
. He was warm and protective and too attractive for a weak woman like her to resist.
He tilted her chin upward, his blue gaze fixed on her mouth. Her lips parted and she leaned toward him. Her mind told her to stop this from happening, but her heart had other ideas. She’d wondered too long about his kiss.
His lips were cool, tender, and she melted against him, floating on the sweet sensation of his touch. He explored her mouth slowly, tenderly, yet with restrained passion. From deep inside, long-ignored emotion stirred, slipping past the thick wall she’d constructed around her heart. Feelings of belonging and connection. Things she’d searched for all her life, only to find betrayal instead. And pain.
She pushed away.
The surprise and confusion in Linc’s eyes made her want to cry. She couldn’t risk it. She called to the carriage driver to stop. Tossing the blanket aside, she stepped onto the sidewalk. Linc jumped down behind her, spinning her around to face him.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I’ve wanted to do that for a long time, Gemma. You know I’m attracted to you. I think you feel it, too.”
Gemma shoved her hands into the pockets of her sweater, kept her eyes on the ground, afraid to trust her voice. Every nerve in her body was alive and vibrating.
“I would never hurt you, Gemma.”
His soft, tender words only fueled the fears raging inside. “That’s what Evan’s father said, too.”
Memories churned the deep fear to life, constricting her airway. She backed up, pivoted and ran to her car. She didn’t doubt Linc meant what he’d said. He wouldn’t hurt her intentionally. He would protect her the way he did his family, but she wasn’t ready to trust anyone with her heart yet. Not until she could overcome the fear of the past and the man who had caused it. And that might be never.
*
The house was silent when Linc returned home after the lighting ceremony. He smiled when he saw a foil-covered plate in the middle of the table. Mom had baked cookies again.
Pulling the foil off, he found fresh sugar cookies with colored sprinkles on top. His second-favorite kind. His mom usually started baking Christmas cookies right after Thanksgiving and didn’t stop until Christmas Eve. He always loved the way the house smelled during the holidays. At least she was keeping that tradition alive. Linc opened the fridge and poured a glass of tea, then snagged a handful of cookies and headed to the family room. Settled in the leather recliner, he reached for the remote, then changed his mind. His thoughts were too muddled to focus on the television.
Her Christmas Hero (Home To Dover 6) Page 13