“Well, I guess you’ll have to try and kiss me again to find out.”
12
Brett didn’t need any more encouragement. He leaned forward and kissed her tenderly on the lips. She moved closer and wrapped her arms around his neck, letting her fingers twine in his hair. It was the most perfect embrace and Brett wanted it to last forever. But, he had so much more planned and couldn’t wait to see Kelsey’s face when she saw what he’d spent the past few hours arranging.
He pulled away but took her hands in his as he did so. “There’s something I have to show you,” he said.
Her eyes widened, but she took a step back, and waited while he locked up the car. “This is all very exciting,” she said. “I’ve never been that good at surprises. I was always the kid who snuck into every nook and cranny in the house trying to find our gifts, you know.”
“I do, you told me,” he reminded her. “And your parents took to hiding them with friends and relatives so you didn’t spoil the surprise for Gabe.”
“They did,” she said with a grin. “Poor Gabe. I was just too impatient.”
Brett took her by the hand and led her out across the high school grounds, along a narrow lantern-lit path. He could feel the warmth of her body against his hip and couldn’t help thinking that having her at his side felt so very right. It was as if he was finally whole.
“So, where are you taking me?” she asked, turning up her lovely face to look at him.
“Well, I don’t know if you’ve ever been able to attend before, but the school has a bit of a winter pageant. They run all kinds of activities, and have a fair, and…” he tailed off as they turned the corner of a large hedge to reveal an outdoor roller skating rink. All around it was decorated with lanterns and sparkling fairy lights, with huge decorated trees set around the rink at perfectly equal intervals.
“A winter wonderland,” Kelsey finished for him, her eyes and mouth wide with amazement. “But, how did you get permission for us to be here after it closed?”
“I have a friend at the school, he agreed to leave the lights and things on for us after they closed at five for Christmas Eve,” Brett admitted. “Wait just a minute.”
He ran over to a small wooden shack, and using the key his friend had given him, opened it up and made his way to the control panel. Finding the switches he wanted, he flicked them and hurried back outside to see Kelsey’s reaction as the night air was filled with the sound of Christmas songs.
“Oh my! You even gave me snow,” she cried, as she moved onto the roller skating rink and held out her arms, turning her face up to the sky as the snow machine rained down it’s flakes on her bare skin.
He joined her, picking up a couple of pairs of skates from the rack. “Shall we?” he asked offering them to her.
She took the smaller pair from him and laughed. “I haven’t been on roller skates since I was a kid,” she said looking a little apprehensive. “But, why not?”
He led her to a bench by the side of the rink, and they put on their skates. He stood up first, offering Kelsey his hand. She grimaced and let him pull her up. She wobbled a little, then got her balance. “Let’s go,” she said bravely.
They moved slowly around the rink while Kelsey got the feel of it. “You’re really good,” she said admiringly.
“I used to play hockey, both on blades and on wheels,” he admitted, taking the opportunity to show off a little, tearing off at speed and doing a couple of flashy turns.
When he returned to her side she was clapping, her face alight. “I’m impressed,” she said. “Now, I feel like I’m going to fall with every step. Do you have any tips for getting past that?”
Patiently, Brett taught her how to move her body, so that every movement flowed from the next. She took a few tumbles, but always came up laughing. When she finally felt confident to go it alone, she took a turn around the rink. She had picked up a lot, and fast, Brett marveled. She looked great out there. He picked up speed to join her in the middle of the rink and they skated hand in hand, swaying to the music, enjoying the snowfall.
Brett stopped dead in the center of the rink. Kelsey took a few steps further before she could come to a halt. “What’s wrong?” she asked, turning back to face him.
“Nothing,” he said. “I just wanted to stamp this moment in my memory forever.”
“Like my Christmases with my family in Stanbury?” Her eyes sparkled up at him.
He nodded and took her hands. “I love you, Kelsey Patrick. I love your passion for cold, wet, ice. I love the way you take care of your patients, even when it’s long past the end of your shift. I love that you are always there for everyone when they’re having a tough time. I love that you always know the perfect gift to get everyone. But, most importantly, I love that you are here with me, right now.”
It felt so good to finally tell her, especially as she wasn’t turning away or looking as though she was scared of his impassioned outburst. She just held his gaze and soaked up every word. A snowflake fell onto her nose, and he wiped it away with his finger.
She grinned. “I didn’t realize it until I thought it was too late, but I love you, too,” she admitted shuffling further forward so she could snuggle up against his chest. “I love that you remember every word of my crazy stories. I love that you dropped everything to bring Mrs. Russo here tonight and that I can always count on you. I love that you have done all of this, for me, so I don’t feel so homesick.” She looked around at the roller-skating rink, the trees and the lights. “This is like a snow globe itself, and I’ve kind of always loved them, too. I guess I’m only surprised that Mrs. Claus turned out to be a guy.”
Brett laughed and hugged her tightly. Everything about this night had gone better than he could ever have hoped, and now he was holding the woman he loved in his arms. He never wanted to let her go, because she loved him back and together they would make each other so happy. He was sure of it.
Reluctantly they pulled apart began to skate around again. Brett taught Kelsey to do some turns and she proved to be a fast learner. She set off on her own, at pace, and executed a turn perfectly, and was about to throw her arms up in the air to celebrate when she lost her balance and collapsed onto the wooden floor. “Are you alright?” he called, skating to her side swiftly.
“Yes, but ouch,” she admitted as he helped her to her feet. “I think I’m done for the day, but can we come again?”
“I don’t see why not,” he agreed, putting an arm around her waist and guiding her slowly to the edge of the rink.
“This is the most perfect night of my life,” Kelsey whispered as they stepped off the rink.
Brett pulled her close and kissed her again. Her lips were so soft, so inviting and she was so perfect in every way. It felt almost unreal to be here with her, holding her close against his body, knowing that she loved him as he loved her. “I’m so glad you liked it,” he whispered back. “But, I’ve got a few more surprises in store for you.”
13
Given how perfect this moment was, Kelsey couldn’t imagine that there was anything Brett could do that would ever match it. But, she let him unlace her skates, turn off the music, the lights and the snow machine and they made their way back, blowing out the little candles in each of the lanterns as they made their way back along the path.
“We can pick up your car later,” he said, opening the passenger side door for her to get into his rented Lexus.
She got in and immediately fell in love with the luxurious car. The seats were the softest leather she’d ever felt, and they seemed to fit around her body perfectly, holding her in absolute comfort. “This is nice,” she said as he got in beside her.
“I’ve got to give it back after Christmas,” he said regretfully. “I get my old jalopy back when it’s fixed.”
“You could always upgrade,” she said cheekily. This car suited him, and she knew he rarely spent money on himself. She was pretty sure he was on a good salary and could easily afford a luxury vehicle i
f he wanted one.
“I guess I could. Would you like it if I did?” he asked.
“It shouldn’t matter whether I do or I don’t. Brett, you deserve to have nice things. You are a great guy. You can spend your money whatever way you like.”
“I guess it always seemed a little extravagant.”
“So be extravagant. Buy yourself a Christmas gift.”
He grinned, and Kelsey was sure that he would be at the dealership striking a bargain as soon as it opened after the festive break. She was glad. It was about time he did something nice for himself rather than always worrying about everyone else.
“So, where are we going now?” she asked him. “You can’t possibly top that.” She nodded back towards the school as they pulled out of the gates.
“Just you wait and see,” he said with a grin.
He drove effortlessly along the streets. Kelsey opened the window wide and stuck her head out of the window. “Maybe you could get a convertible,” she mused.
He laughed. “I’m not sure I’m that kind of a guy.”
“Everyone’s that kind of guy and you live in South Florida, for Pete’s sake. A convertible is surely the only option?”
“I’ll think about it,” he said.
They eased along the roads, and Kelsey was sure he was taking her to his place. She suddenly realized that she’d never been there before. Brett often came to her apartment, or they ate out, but he’d always sworn that his bachelor pad was too scruffy for female visitors and had kept her and Annie away.
He drove down a narrow and rutted track, towards the beach. “You live by the shore?” she asked, incredulously.
“Yeah,” he agreed. “Right on the beach.”
“We’re down near Willy’s BBQ place aren’t we? There’s only one house down there. You always told us your house was a mess, but if your house is the one down there, then it is most definitely not a mess.”
“Busted,” he admitted, raising his hands from the wheel momentarily in a gesture of surrender.
“So, you’re not just doing okay, you’re kind of super rich?” she queried. She didn’t care one way or another. Brett would be Brett however much money he had. He’d always be kind and generous and sweet, but it was a little disconcerting. Kelsey’s family weren’t well off. They’d scrimped and saved for everything. She just wasn’t used to having many luxuries.
“My dad inherited a lot of money from his dad. I inherited it when he passed away. It’s really not a big deal,” he said breezily.
Kelsey sensed he wanted to change the subject, but if they were going to be a couple, there had to be honesty and openness from the start. “So why did you keep it secret?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess I’ve not always been sure whether people like me, or what I can do for them,” he said. “When I moved to the Keys, it was a chance to start again with nobody knowing too much.”
“But, you couldn’t bear the thought of slumming it in a normal condo?” she asked. “Had to have a beach house?” she teased.
“I just fell in love with it,” he said simply.
“And you had to have it, because you always get what you fall in love with?”
“Something like that,” he said grinning back at her.
He brought the car to a halt and hurried to open her door. Putting his arm around her shoulder, they almost ran along the little footpath that led onto the beach. The house was magnificent. It had a huge raised deck, facing out to the water, and behind it was a perfect old Victorian house with big windows and elegant architecture that took Kelsey back to a different age.
The place suited Brett in every way. He was an old-fashioned gentleman, and he fit perfectly with his old-fashioned house. Lanterns hung from the balustrade around the decking, and were affixed between the doors and windows, making the little house a beacon of light, even though no internal lights were on. A sleigh and reindeer perched on the roof. Kelsey laughed.
“You’ve been rubbing off on me,” Brett admitted. “You wait until you see the tree in the living room.” His eyes were full of boyish delight as he took her hand and led her inside.
Suddenly, the lights came on all at once, and a large number of voices yelled out “Merry Christmas, Kelsey!”
Kelsey could hardly believe her eyes. Annie was there, with Duncan which was wonderful enough, but the faces that she was most happy to see were those of her Mom and Pop, and her brother and his family. She rushed into her Mom’s arms, sobbing. “I don’t understand?” she repeated over and over. “How are you here? You’re in Vermont. I’m dreaming. I must be dreaming.”
It took thirty minutes for her to trust what she was seeing, and to be able to converse like a normal, rational human being. “Sweetie,” Mom said pushing Kelsey’s bangs back off her face. “Brett’s rather an unusual man, isn’t he?”
“Oh, he’s definitely that,” she agreed. She’d always known Brett was one of a kind, but tonight he was proving just how much. “Tell me again how he got you here. I can’t remember anything anyone said to me since we got back here. I thought I was hallucinating because I was so tired.”
“Well, he called me and said he was worried that you were unhappy, that you were missing all of us dreadfully, and that he wanted to do something special for you,” Gabe said, speaking slowly.
Kelsey slapped him. “I haven’t lost my mind,” she reminded him. “And there’s no need to speak to me as if I can’t understand English.”
“Well, I couldn’t have my baby sister all miserable on Christmas, so when he said he’d arrange for a private jet if we could get to the airport in an hour, he’d fly us here to be with you.”
“Gabe wanted the flight in the jet,” Allison said with a grin. “He makes out he’s so altruistic, but it was all about him.” Gabe shook his head in mock disappointment at his wife.
“Why didn’t you say you were going to be all alone?” Pop asked. “We never would have gone to Gabe’s if we’d known. We’d have been happy to come to you.”
“I’m working all through,” Kelsey said. “I didn’t want to drag you here and then not spend any time with you. And, I thought that Annie, and Brett would be around. But things changed, and then they weren’t going to be around.” She turned to Annie. “Why are you around? You’re supposed to be at Duck Key.”
“We got cold feet about making things official with parents,” Annie said with a grin, nuzzling up closer to Duncan, who wrapped his arms around her tightly.
“I thought Annie wanted it, she thought I did. When we actually talked about it we realized we just want to be us for a while,” Duncan admitted.
“And, as for you, you sneaky…” Kelsey tailed off as she turned to Brett. His eyes were full of love, and he held his arms open. She melted into them.
“I’d do anything to make you happy,” he said simply. “Even be your Mrs. Claus. Just for once I thought you should get the gift you wanted most of all since you always make sure all of us get our heart’s desires. Merry Christmas, Kelsey.”
“Merry Christmas, Brett,” she replied and kissed him long and deep, only breaking apart when the raucous applause from her family and best friends became too deafening. “I love you all, too,” she said with a sarcastic smile and snuggled back into the arms of her love.
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And now turn the page to read a preview of A Christmas to Remember from the Hero Hearts Series by Hayley.
Preview - A Christmas to Remember
A Hero Hearts Christmas Story
Hayley Wescott
1
“And you won’t believe the weather here. It’s seventy-two today.”
“You’re kidding. I’m sitting here wrapped in a sweater by the fire and the meteorologist on channel five is calling for flurries tonight by seven.”
April Summers grinned at her sister’s words. The wind from her open car window was whipping her dirty blonde hair around he
r face, but she couldn’t care less. She was driving with the window down during the last week of November. She could hardly believe it.
“So let me guess,” came her sister’s voice again. “You’re off to the beach again?”
April flushed a little at the teasing, but it wasn’t enough to squish her elation. “Why wouldn’t I be? When have I ever been able to say that I got to go to the beach the Sunday after Thanksgiving?”
“Most of us are putting up our Christmas trees and getting the snow tires put on our cars, but you know that,” said her sister. “Must be nice not having those things to worry about anymore.”
“You know, you could have come with me, Becky,” April said with another grin. “My place has a whole other bedroom that is basically storage still.”
April couldn’t take her eyes off the scenery. Branson, Missouri had been beautiful, sure, but Georgia was a completely different kind of beautiful. The costal area was a special kind of lovely.
Yes, she’d missed the change of the seasons that year, when all the green of the trees gave way to golds, ambers and rosy shades. She missed the wide expanses of lakes that she and her family would visit in the warmer months. She even missed the low rolling hills and wide expanse of sky above.
Savannah, Georgia, on the other hand, was everything April had expected from a southern town. Everyone was so friendly, and there was hardly a day where someone didn’t stop and greet her on the street. Most of the buildings in town had wide front porches that looked perfect for spending a lazy afternoon drinking sweet tea, and the enormous tree branches that seemed to tangle together overhead were draped with Spanish moss that waved gently in the breeze coming in off the Atlantic Ocean.
While she didn’t live right in the middle of Savannah, she was only a short drive from the city center, and she spent almost every weekend since moving there exploring the sights.
A Snow Globe Christmas (Ornamental Match Maker Book 5) Page 8