A Temporary Christmas Arrangement

by Christine Rimmer

  * * *

  Linc and the kids arrived right on time the next day. He and Jayden helped carry the food she’d prepared to the Range Rover, and they set off for the house where Harper had grown up.

  A big Colonial on several wooded acres perched atop Rhinehart Hill on the east side of town, the Bravo house was packed with Bravos and extended family. Jayden and Maya happily joined the other kids, of whom there were several now. They all trooped through the house in a pack, with the older ones leading the way, either carrying the little ones or making sure they didn’t wander too far from the group.

  Linc seemed relaxed, Harper thought. She introduced him to her ancient great-uncle Percy and her great-aunt Daffodil. He visited with her brothers and was cordial with her sisters. When Keely and Daniel’s toddler, Marie, climbed up onto the sofa and cuddled up next to him, he moved his arm to the backrest so Marie could more easily lean against him and went right on talking salmon fishing with Harper’s brother Liam.

  “You really like that guy,” Hailey whispered to her when they were alone for a moment in the kitchen, checking on the dinner rolls before the big push to get everything on the tables in the dining room.

  “Not going there,” she whispered under her breath.

  Hailey only laughed. “I notice you’re not even trying to deny that you’re interested.”

  What was the point? Hailey would know she was lying.

  So fine. She really liked him. A lot. He was not only yummy to look at, but he also seemed like a good person, someone who was honestly interested in others, in who they were and what made them tick. Megan had been the same way.

  Harper watched him interacting with her family and wondered about his parents. They must be special, to have raised a son and a daughter like Linc and Megan. Strange that Linc’s parents weren’t here in town for the holidays. Linc had mentioned it was a family tradition to spend Christmas at the Stryker cottage.

  Come to think of it, Linc’s parents hadn’t been here last year, either—well, not that she remembered, anyway. They’d probably dropped in on a day when Harper wasn’t around.

  The big meal went on for over an hour. There was a lot of food and the Bravos felt honor bound to do it justice.

  They always took a break before dessert. Some of them put on their coats and sat out on the wide front porch, some strolled the garden paths in the backyard.

  Harper checked on the kids. They seemed happy. Maya and little Marie were lying on the floor together, both of them staring dreamily up at the ceiling, chewing on teething toys. Liam’s ten-year-old stepson, Ben Killigan, seemed to have taken Jayden under his wing. They sat near Marie and Maya. Ben was building something with wheels and gears from a metal construction set as Jayden peppered him with questions, each one of which Ben patiently answered.

  Harper went looking for Linc—after all, he was her guest. She wanted him to be comfortable, to have a good time.

  She found him out on the back porch with Hailey’s fiancé, Roman. They were deep in conversation, talking real estate. Roman had a project he was developing in Portland. It sounded as though Linc might be considering an investment.

  Did she imagine stepping up next to Linc and having him casually put his arm around her—like he was more than her boss, more than her guest for the afternoon?

  Like she was someone special to him and he wanted her close?

  Yeah, maybe.

  So what? A girl had a right to a little fantasy now and then. Nothing would happen between them. She’d already made way too sure of that.

  Feeling a little sad for no real reason, she went back inside to find her big brother Daniel lurking in the mudroom. He had that look—the one he got when someone in the family needed checking on.

  Daniel took his duties as honorary family dad very seriously. “Hey. There you are. Got a minute?”

  She wanted to be annoyed with him, but Daniel was a sweetheart, so steady and upstanding. It was hard to be mad at him. “Sure. Just don’t make me drink scotch. Please.” Daniel liked to take friends and family into his study at the front of the house and serve them top-shelf single malt to go with his honest concern for their success and well-being. “It’s wasted on me, Daniel.” Like drinking peat moss, she thought but had the grace not to say.

  He grinned at that. “There will be options. This way...”

  In her brother’s study with the door closed, Harper took a seat on the leather sofa and accepted a small glass of local brandy. “Delicious,” she said, after a first careful sip. “And okay. Consider me braced. You may proceed with the interrogation.”

  Daniel chuckled and sipped his scotch. She loved seeing him so happy. In the old days, he used to look like he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. Not anymore, though. He’d raised seven of his siblings to successful adulthood. He loved his wife and his kids—little Marie, and the twins from his first marriage. These days, Daniel smiled a lot more than he used to.

  “I just wanted to catch up with you,” he said mildly. “How’re you doing in the cottage now that Hailey’s moved in with Roman?”

  She answered honestly, “It can get a little lonely, but I’m managing.” And now seemed as good a time as any to share her moving plans with him. “Actually, I’ve been meaning to tell you about what I want to do next year. I’m going to try a move to Seattle, look for something new workwise. Lee-Lee’s on board with it. We’ll miss each other, but it’s time for me to try my wings, I guess you could say.”

  “You hope to find something with a theater company there?”

  “Unlikely. I applied for a paid internship with an architectural firm up there a couple of months ago. It didn’t come through, but it would have given me enough to live on. And that got me thinking that unless I want to move to New York or LA, a life in the theater may not be for me. I would rather stay a little closer to home.”

  “I can’t help liking the idea of you staying nearby...”

  “We’ll see.”

  Daniel had a slow, thoughtful sip of his drink. “Linc Stryker seems like a fine man.”

  Had she known that was coming? Unfortunately, yes. “He really appreciated being invited to dinner. He was going to order takeout. Can you believe it?”

  “Can’t have that. I’m glad you talked him into coming. I spoke to him briefly, gave him my sympathies on the loss of his sister and her husband.”

  She decided to cut to the chase. “He’s paying me a premium rate to help with the kids through the holidays. It’s good for both of us. I save money toward my move, and he can work remotely in the afternoons.”

  “So it’s just a job for you then?”

  “Yes.” Did she say that too strongly? Well, it never hurt to be crystal clear with Daniel. “I love the kids and I like to keep busy, so it’s a win all the way around.”

  “You know I’m here, right?”

  “I do, Daniel. Thank you.”

  “If the cottage is too lonely now—”

  “It’s not. I’m fine. I promise you.”

  He gave her a gentle smile. “I’m making you uncomfortable.”

  “Maybe. A little.”

  He set down his glass. She did the same. They rose simultaneously and shared a quick hug. “I’m proud of you, Harp.”

  She smiled up at him. “It means a lot, to hear you say that. Keep in mind, though, that while I appreciate any advice you give me, I’m going to do things my own way.”

  “I get that.”

  “And I...well, I do really like Linc.”

  “But...?”

  She thought of Linc’s ex-fiancée. A guy didn’t get over a serious relationship in a week, and that was almost how long it had been since Linc’s engagement had ended. “Truthfully, it’s just bad timing, you know?”

  “Because he’s in Portland and you’re moving to Seattle?”

  Sh
e knew she’d said too much already—and yet, she just kept talking. “There’s that, yes. And I work for him.”

  The gleam in her big brother’s eye said it all. “Wouldn’t that be shocking, you and Linc getting together? I mean, falling for the nanny. Who does that?”

  “Omigod. I didn’t even think of you and Keely...” Daniel and Keely had gotten together when Daniel had nanny troubles and Keely stepped in to take care of the twins.

  Daniel nodded. “You never really know how things will work out. Be open to all the possibilities. That’s all I’m saying.”

  Color her blown away. Never would she have imagined that Daniel would encourage her to give Linc Stryker a chance. As a rule, Daniel had the overprotective-big-brother act down pat. “I, um, yeah. Sure. Thanks, Daniel. I’ll do that.”

  * * *

  For the rest of the afternoon and into the early evening, Harper couldn’t stop thinking about what Daniel had said.

  “You want to go straight home?” Linc asked when they were on their way down the hill from Daniel’s house.

  From the back seat, Jayden objected, “Don’t go home, Harper. I need you to tuck me in.”

  Linc sent her a wry glance. “You don’t have to give in to a five-year-old’s demands.”

  “I know. But it is Thanksgiving...” And who was she kidding? She didn’t want to go home yet. She wanted to...be open to all the possibilities. Like her big brother had told her to do.

  Jayden kept pushing. “Harper, please...”

  Linc cut him off in a firm, level voice. “It’s Harper’s decision, Jayden.”

  A silence, then, so sweetly, “Sorry,” from the back seat.

  She and Linc shared another glance—more than friendly. Conspiratorial. Like they had secrets together.

  A memory came to her. Of sitting in the back seat as a child before her parents died. It was dark out, same as now. Her mom sat in the passenger seat, her dad at the wheel. She remembered her parents turning to each other, sharing a glance, their faces in profile. She couldn’t have been more than six or seven, and she had no awareness of who else was in the car at the time. What she did have, right now, was the achingly clear sense that her parents spoke to each other without saying a word.

  In that moment, she’d felt such peace, firmly strapped in the back seat, her parents in front, leading the way, solid with each other, invincible together, keeping her safe...

  Swallowing down the knot of emotion that had lodged in her throat, Harper said, “I think I’ll go to your place first, if that works for you?”

  Linc glanced her way yet again, his eyes warm, the cool, careful distance of yesterday vanished as though it had never been. “Works for me.”

  * * *

  Like night-before-last, Linc stood at the foot of the stairs when she came down from saying good-night to Jayden. He was heartbreaker-handsome in his gray dress pants and a beautiful cream-colored sweater. “Thank you,” he said. “For today. The kids loved it. I did, too.”

  “I’m glad you were there.”

  He glanced away and then back, his expression a little wary, but also determined. “I shouldn’t ask...”

  She couldn’t hide her smile—and she didn’t even try. “Yes, you should.”

  “Stay. Just for a little while...”

  “I’d like that, yes.”

  “I was thinking hot chocolate, for some reason...”

  “I’m in. Let’s see what we have to work with.”

  He followed her to the kitchen, where they found milk, cocoa, sugar and vanilla—but no marshmallows. She made a mental note to add them to her shopping list.

  “Here we go,” she said as she raided the spice rack. “Cinnamon sticks and cayenne.”

  He stood at the end of the counter, looking puzzled. “Cayenne pepper?”

  “Just a pinch or two. It’s my secret ingredient. You’re gonna love it.”

  Ten minutes later, they sat on the sofa in front of the fire.

  “It’s really good,” he said after the first sip.

  “Thanks. I miss the marshmallows, but still. Hot cocoa is a perfect choice on a chilly night—with or without the white fluffy goodness.”

  He watched her so closely, she started to wonder if she had cocoa powder on her nose. But then he said, “It’s another sad milestone, you know? First Thanksgiving without them...”

  “Yeah.” The word escaped her in a near whisper. “The whole first year is rough.”

  “You’re telling me that it gets better?”

  “I know it’s not news, but yeah.” She bent forward to set down her mug. “It does.”

  He put his mug beside hers and then leaned back. “I kind of set myself up for disaster with all this,” he said.

  “Not following. All this?”

  One thick, hard shoulder lifted in a shrug. “Bringing Jayden and Maya here for Christmas at the cottage, but minus anything resembling reasonable preparation. I keep messing up. And then, there you are, saving my ass yet again. Today could have been awful, me and the kids with whatever takeout I could scrounge up...” He turned more fully toward her, bracing an elbow on the back of the sofa.

  She mirrored his pose. “Stop beating yourself up. You’re doing great.”

  He leaned a little closer. That worked for her. He smelled so good, and she couldn’t get enough of the sweet things he said. “I love those dimples you have—” he brushed a touch against one cheek and then the other, causing heat to sear across her skin “—when you smile.” He caught a lock of her hair and rubbed it between his fingers. “So soft...”

  She leaned closer, too, into the moment, into the scent of him—cinnamon and chocolate and man. His mouth was so tempting and full, his eyes darker than before, mysteriously shadowed with tender intent.

  And then he did just what she needed him to do. He leaned that all-important fraction closer and his lips were touching hers, brushing so lightly, tasting of hot cocoa with a hint of cayenne. With a happy sigh, she pressed closer.

  He gathered her in, his mouth opening over hers, his teeth nipping just a little. She gave way to him gladly, letting him in with a small, throaty moan.

  His arms tightened around her. They felt just right, big and strong and encompassing. She surrendered—to his touch, to the feel of his muscled chest against her soft breasts, to the wonder of those lean hands at her back.

  The kiss went deeper. Lost in sweet sensation, she lay back, pulling him down on top of her across the sofa.

  He was heavy and warm. His mouth felt so good pressed to hers. So good and so right.

  Should there be warning bells going off in her head?

  Probably.

  Eighty bucks an hour was nothing to sneeze at. When the kissing was over, she could easily lose a major addition to her relocation fund.

  But somehow, at this moment, a fat paycheck meant nothing.

  The feel of this—his body on top of her, pressing her down, his full lips moving on hers, the taste of him in her mouth...

  This intimacy, this connection with him.

  It was everything, all the things she always tried not to let herself admit she’d been missing.

  She might have, just maybe, started to wonder if there was something somehow lacking in her. Everybody else she knew seemed to be finding the hot magic, coupling up and reveling in it.

  Like dominoes, they fell in an endless chain, to passion and excitement and love ever after—and okay, maybe she was getting a little carried away here. It was only kissing.

  Thoroughly excellent, delicious, fabulous and overwhelming kissing.

  But just kissing, nonetheless.

  Just really good kissing and she wanted more of it.

  Linc’s big body covered hers so perfectly, and his mouth made love to hers and it was fireworks and a brass band, Christmas and New Year’
s and every good thing all wrapped up in his lips on her lips and his body touching hers.

  Until, with no warning, he ripped his mouth from hers.

  “Don’t...” She grabbed for him to keep him there, but he braced his hands on either side of her and pushed himself back even more. Dazed and yearning, she blinked up at him.

  His mouth was swollen from kissing her, his face flushed crimson. His thick hair looked wild, as if he’d been set upon by hurricane-force winds. She must have been clutching fistfuls of it. “I shouldn’t have done that,” he said.

  She felt a hot stab of guilt. Was this about the ex-fiancée, somehow? Did he still love her and consider kissing someone else a betrayal of that love?

  But why? That was over, right? He’d said so. He wasn’t with anyone and neither was she.

  She gaped up at him in complete disbelief. “Um, what just happened?”

  He sat up and raked his fingers through all that scrambled hair, smoothing it down. And then he shook his head at her, his beautiful eyes full of regret. “This is all kinds of wrong. We went over all this the other night. You work for me and here I am, taking advantage of you...”

  Tugging on her silk shirt that had somehow gotten all twisted around in the excitement, she scrambled to a sitting position, too, scooting back from him until her butt hit the sofa arm. “Really, Linc? Harassment? You’re going to go there?”

  He looked very noble, sitting so straight, his square jaw determined, his beautiful sexy mouth set. “It’s a bad idea.”

  She knew exactly what he meant, but she asked, anyway, “What is?”

  “This—us. I can’t believe I just kissed you.”

  A girl could only take so much. She threw up both hands. “No problem,” she replied sweetly. “I quit.”

  Now he looked kind of terrified, and she couldn’t help feeling gratified about that. “Please.” He put up both hands. “Don’t quit, Harper. Don’t do that.”

  Rising, she tucked in her shirt and shoved her wildly tangled hair out of her eyes. It was definitely time to call it a night. “I do not work for Stryker Marine Transport. I’m an independent contractor and you are in no way harassing me. If you were, frankly, you wouldn’t be so concerned about it—but you know what? Enough. Happy Thanksgiving. And good night, Linc.”