by Kim Loraine
I cock my eyebrow. “Santa?”
Her cheeks turn pink. “My dad took over for Bill last year. He even bought a sleigh.”
“You’d really do all this for us?”
“I’d do anything for…for your family.” She locks eyes with me, her dark emerald irises sending waves of undiminished love through me. God, I still love her. I never stopped. “I’m not doing it alone. You’ve got something to do too.”
“What is that?”
“Call in your band. Talk to your agent. Get them out here for a concert. In one night, if Easton Harrison and his band are playing at the farm, you’ll get enough donations to save it.”
She’s right, but I don’t want to ask Easton to do this. He and Ireland have a newborn and he promised her no more touring for a while. “I don’t know…”
Her frustrated sigh hits me hard. “Langley, what are friends for? I know you must be close to Easton if you left everything you had here to be in his band.” She doesn’t say the one thing I’m thinking. If I left everything…her.
“Noelle, when I left—”
She holds up a hand. “That was a long time ago.”
“It still hurts. Not having you with me.”
Expression guarded, she tears her gaze away from me and I can see the pain is still there in her just as much as it is me. “I don’t want to talk about it. You made your choice.”
“It was the wrong choice.”
She sucks in a sharp breath. “I…”
“I’m back for more than my family, Noelle.”
I nearly groan when she takes her lower lip between her teeth. “You are?”
Leaning forward, I attempt to close the distance between us, desperate to see what her lips taste like. “I am.”
Her back straightens and she takes a step away from the counter, putting distance between us. The door jingles and a small, curvy woman walks in with snow in her hair and red cheeks. “Sorry, sorry! Tully had a meltdown as I dropped him off for daycare. Oh!” She stops in her tracks and I grin. “Langley Holt. I never thought I’d see your face in front of me again.”
“Mary Eriksen, how are you?”
“It’s Mary Prince now. I married Tommy.”
My eyebrows rise at the thought of those two together. “Really?”
“Yeah, he wore me down after a while. Smartest thing he ever did.” Then she looks from me to Noelle and back, understanding dawning in her features. “Oh, did I interrupt something?”
“Yes,” I say.
“No,” Noelle mutters at the same time.
“Hmm. Okay. Well it smells like there are cinnamon buns I need to frost. Good to see you, Langley. How long are you in town?”
I shrug. “A while.”
“Good. Don’t be a stranger.”
Mary bustles around the counter and back to the kitchen, leaving Noelle and I alone again, but our moment is lost and I know now isn’t the time to try and recapture it. “I’ll leave you to it,” I say, but grab a napkin and pull a pen from the little jar filled with them next to the register. Scribbling my phone number on the white paper napkin, I grin. “We’ll have to meet up and talk details. Can you get away for dinner tonight?”
Noelle toys with her honey-blonde hair. I love how long she’s let it grow, and the loose braid she’s got over one shoulder makes me want to free the locks and see if her hair is still as soft as I remember. “I can probably manage that. I’ll let you know.”
I hand her my plate, nothing left of the cinnamon bun except a few crumbs. “Thanks for letting me taste your buns.” I go for humor rather than serious talk, hoping I’ll be able to leave her on a happy note.
She chuckles and pulls the plate toward her. “Oh, wait! The gingerbread.” Then she heads back to the kitchen again, giving me a view of her perfect ass. When she returns she’s got a white box in her hands. “I added two pecan rolls. I know your dad loves them.”
“Thanks,” I say, my throat suddenly tight. I’m not sure how I can make this work, but I’m not leaving this town until Noelle is mine again. I turn away from her and head for the door, but I can’t help looking back over my shoulder at the one who got away. “Noelle?”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t forget to call. Or I’ll just show up at closing time and kidnap you.”
“I won’t.” Then she pulls her phone out of her pocket and I watch as she adds my number to her contact list. My phone buzzes in my coat, bringing a grin to my lips.
The cold air hits me in the face, snow swirling around me as I make my way to the truck. I need a minute to process everything that just happened. I’d known seeing her was a possibility. But what I hadn’t planned on was how strong those old feelings would be. I hadn’t planned on still being in love with her.
Pulling out my phone, I open the text message she sent me.
Dinner at six. Meet me under the mistletoe.
Langley
East, I need a favor. A huge one.
I stare down at the unsent text message to my friend and think hard about what Noelle said. These guys are my closest friends. I know I’d drop everything if one of them was in trouble and needed my help. Why is this so hard for me? Maybe it has to do with all the trouble Easton had during Ireland’s pregnancy. With the tough time they went through.
Closing my eyes, I take a long breath and tell myself it’s okay to ask for help. I push Send and watch the message go from delivered to read. My phone rings immediately.
“Hey, East,” I say, trying to keep my voice light.
“What’s going on, man?”
He’s concerned, that much is clear. I’m not the guy who needs my friends to bail me out of bad situations. That’s Damon. “You know how I said I needed to come home and help my folks?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, it’s a lot worse than my dad being sick.” I relay my family’s situation and propose the idea of a concert.
“I can’t speak the rest of the guys, but I'll be there."
“Are you sure? I know things were rough for a while because you were gone so much.”
"Ireland will understand. This is about family, and she knows you're part of my family."
Emotion clogs my throat as his words sink in. I don't have a brother, but if I did, I would want Easton to be him. "Thanks, man. That means a lot."
“I’ll call the guys just text me the details. We can be there in a few days."
I thank him and hang up, hope building in my chest. This is going to work.
Turing the key in the truck, the engine rumbles to life and Easton’s latest hit fills the cab from the radio. I smile, remembering when he wrote that song for his wife. Whiskey Sour went on to be his biggest hit. I back out of the parking space and start shopping for everything I need to make Christmas happen for my parents. Dad might be struggling, but that doesn’t mean they don’t deserve to enjoy the holidays.
By the time I get home, we’ve got two inches of snow coating the ground and our trees. It’s picture perfect and exactly what I need this place to look like in order to make it the winter wonderland it used to be.
I walk inside and find my dad sitting in front of the TV watching reruns of The Office. Mom is sitting at the kitchen table staring down at a pile of bills. Fuck. I should be taking care of this for them. I slide the box of cookies and pecan rolls across the table and catch my mom’s attention.
“What’s this?” she asks.
“I stopped by the bakery.”
Her mouth opens in a little O of surprise. “You saw Noelle?”
I nod. “You didn’t tell me she works there.”
“She owns the place.”
“I didn’t realize.”
“After culinary school she came back and bought it.”
Pride swells in my chest. That’s my girl. Driven. Determined. “We’re going out tonight.”
“Are you?” Her smile can’t be contained. “You know, I always thought she was your forever.”
“Yeah…me too.”
I run my hand over my jaw and sigh. “I just have to make her see it.”
“You will. You’re just like your dad.”
I sit down next to her and take her hand. “Speaking of Dad. I need you to let me help with the bills. We don’t have to tell him, but I’m going to pay them.”
She shakes her head. “He won’t like that.”
“I don’t care. You’re drowning and I’m here with a life preserver. Let me help you.”
Tears come to her eyes and she squeezes my hand. “I’m not ready to lose him. But I feel like he’s drifting away because of the stroke.”
“I know.” I take the pile of bills and open the box of cookies. “Noelle sent fresh gingerbread Santas for you, and some pecan rolls for Dad. Go sit with him and take your mind off all the stress. I’ll get these taken care of.”
With a shuddering breath, she swipes at the tears in her eyes before nodding. “It means a lot that you’re here. I’m sorry we waited so long to call.”
“I’m not leaving until we have this under control.”
“We can’t ask you to do that.”
“Tough. I’m staying. Now where’s the key to the shed? I have to get this place ready for Christmas.”
“What are you talking about?”
I glance around the house. “We’re bringing back Christmas this year. Noelle and I are organizing an event at the farm. I’m not letting this place go without a fight.”
She stands and walks to the small telephone table in the corner. Opening a drawer, she pulls out the key and tosses it to me. “I’m proud of you. Whatever the outcome.”
Pocketing the key, I get up and pull my mom into a big hug. Then I shrug into my coat and pull on my boots before heading outside to begin the task of stringing lights. I have a lot of work to get done before my date with Noelle.
The memory of her lush curves and full lips keeps me warm as I work, and by the time the sun starts to sink below the tree line, I’m ready to taste more than her baked goods.
Noelle
I’m nervous. My palms are sweaty and my heart is racing at the thought of seeing Langley again. He is the one guy I’ve never been able to forget, and now I have the chance to tell him. I’m standing under the cover of the town gazebo. It’s smack dab it the center of the main promenade—as the Chamber of Commerce calls it—and the whole thing looks like something out of a Christmas card. White twinkle lights decorate interior, casting a warm glow on the fresh garland winding around the posts. There’s red ribbon and holly woven through the branches as well. But the thing that seals the holiday feel is the snow. Softly falling, quiet and peaceful, snowflakes dance from the sky to the ground, catching the light and making me smile.
This is my favorite time of year, but it’s even better because Langley is back.
I check my phone, worry creeping in as the time passes and he doesn’t show. Maybe I was too eager. Maybe this isn’t more than me helping his family farm. But it felt like more back in my shop. Our flirty banter, the connection between us when we touched. I would’ve kissed him right then and there if I hadn’t seen Mary coming toward the door.
“You lied to me,” Langley says, his voice catching me off guard as he calls out from behind me.
I turn and my heart skips a beat at the sight of him. He trimmed his beard, his hair is combed and tidy, and the black pea coat he’s wearing does amazing things for the man’s already broad shoulders. “No I didn’t.”
“You said you’d meet me under the mistletoe. There’s no mistletoe over there.”
I look up and see he’s right. A distinct lack of the kissing plant. “That’s because it’s here, in the middle of the gazebo.”
“Then you’d better move a few feet to your left.”
My belly flips at the gruff tone of his voice. “Why?”
“Because I’ve been thinking about kissing you all fucking day.”
I take two steps, then a few more, and he’s on me. His palm cups the back of my head while his other arm wraps around my waist. His lips are warm and insistent, passionate and pleading all at the same time. In this kiss, I’m sure of one thing. He wants me just as much as I’ve always wanted him. I melt into his embrace, my knees going weak at the low moan in his throat.
“Do you have any idea how many dreams I’ve had of doing this very thing to you?” he breathes against my lips.
Butterflies flutter in my stomach. “I’ve missed you so much.”
“Me too, baby. I never should’ve let you go.”
“I’ve never been anyone else’s. You’re the only man who has my heart.”
He slides his hand up my back and pulls me close. “I know this is crazy, but I’ve never gotten over you. I’ve got a notebook filled with songs about you. After Easton found Ireland, I knew I’d made the worst decision of my life when I left you. Hell, I went out and bought a fucking engagement ring and tucked it in my guitar case. I promised myself if I ever got the chance, I’d marry you.”
My heart lurches at the word marry. But if he knew all this time that he wanted me, why did he leave me without contact for so long. “Why didn’t you come back for me?”
Backing away, he drags a hand through his hair and sighs. “You deserve better than a touring musician for a husband. I’m rarely home. Always on the road or in the studio with Easton. I know you want a family, stability, a man who’ll come home to you every night. That’s not what my life has been.”
“So that’s why you left?”
He nods.
“You shouldn’t have made that decision for me.” My throat is tight with emotion as we finally rehash everything that caused our break-up.
“I thought it was best for both of us at the time.” A heavy sigh falls from him. “I couldn’t have been more wrong.”
“You broke my heart. How can I trust you won’t do that again?”
“All I can offer you is a promise. I’ll never leave again. I’ll never sacrifice what we have because I’m afraid of not being enough for you.”
His eyes are tight with pain and worry as though he fears any moment I’m going to shoot him down. So I do what I can to ease him. I step forward, take his face in my hands, and press a kiss to his mouth.
“I don’t know how, but we’re going to make this work, Langley Holt, but I’m never letting you make a decision like that for us again.”
Jaw tight, he stares into my eyes and nods. “The only decision I want to make is when to marry you.”
“After we save the farm.” Excitement builds in my chest. “Ask me then.”
He kisses me again, and I let the feel of his body next to mine take away any doubts I might have had. Langley is my forever. I could’ve spent my life without him, but I’d have always felt like I was missing something.
“Speaking of the farm,” I say as he pulls away. “How does Saturday work?”
He cocks an eyebrow. “This Saturday? As in, a few days from now?”
I nod. “The Chamber is already working on everything. Stacy has started a Save Holt’s Tree Farm event on social media, and there’s a donations page too.”
“Dad’s going to hate that.”
“Probably, but it’s things like this that bring a community together.”
His fingers trail over my face. “It’s people like you who make a community good.” Then he presses his forehead to mine. “I’m still so in love with you.”
“I’m in love with you too.”
We laugh together, a shared happiness, a lifted weight, a repaired wound. Then the air between us grows heavy with something more insistent. Desire takes hold as his gaze burns into mine, and I know there’s no way we’re going to dinner.
“Are you hungry?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “Not for food.”
“Thank God.”
Langley
Noelle might want to wait for my proposal until after we take care of my family’s farm, but I’m going to make her mine in every other way tonight. She takes my hand and tugs me acro
ss the street and toward her bakery.
“Where are you taking me?” I ask.
Her soft giggle has my dick hardening in my pants. I want her on a bed, spread open and ready for me to fill with my length. And hell, if I’m being honest, I want to fill her with my baby and start our family right the fuck now.
“I have an apartment above the shop.” She pulls keys out of her purse and opens the bakery door. “Unless you’d rather take me to your parents’ house?”
“Fuck, no. We’re going to be too loud for that.”
Her cheeks turn pink and she locks the door behind us before she takes my hand again and leads me through the kitchen to a set of stairs in the back. We enter a small, cozy apartment, decked out in Christmas lights, garland, and even a small tree tucked in the corner. “You always loved Christmas,” I say.
“Because the guy I loved had a Christmas tree farm. It was meant to be.”
I close the door and press her against the wood, not taking time to warm things up further between us. I’m on fire for this woman and I have to have her…right now. We tear at each other’s clothes, dropping pieces to the floor as she takes charge and pulls us in the direction of what I can only assume is her bedroom. My shirt is gone, jeans falling around my ankles, and my cock is hard as a fucking rock. I need inside her.
Her bra is a scrap of lace so thin I can see her dusky pink nipples through the fabric. Kneeling, I remove my jeans completely and shove my boxer briefs down my hips, freeing my aching length. Her eyes widen, then she smiles. “It’s been a long time,” she murmurs.
“When was the last time?”
“Right before you left. I couldn’t bring myself to be with anyone else.”
Fuck, that nearly does me in. “I’ve been with other women,” I say, guilt coursing through me. “I was trying to forget you. It didn’t work. Neither did trying to drink you away.”
Her fingers slide through my hair and I focus on her beautiful eyes. “It’s okay. I understand.”