Keep Me At Christmas (Romano Family Book 4)

by Lucinda Whitney

  Luciana slipped her hands in his pockets while she waited for him. “Thank you. The inn is so close, I should probably say no. But the thought of walking back in this cold…” She grimaced.

  Once they arrived at the inn, Jack walked Luciana to the front door.

  “Thank you for the tour and dinner and everything else.”

  His soft smile made an appearance. “I had a lot of fun.”

  “I did too,” she said. It had been a surprising evening, and she had truly enjoyed his company.

  She leaned in and kissed his cheek and Jack’s arms came around her for a moment. Luciana closed her eyes, taking in the warmth of his body, the weight of his hands on her arms, his masculine scent. The small hairs at the back of her neck stood on end, and heat radiated from her middle.

  Jack pulled back a little and met her eyes. “Will you come for dinner tomorrow after work? I’ll pick you up.”

  She nodded. “I will, thank you.”

  “And the parade? Full disclosure—Mom and Nonna will be there, and other family members. Probably lots of them.”

  “I don’t have a problem with that. I’m more worried about you getting sick of me.” She softened her words with a teasing smile.

  “Not possible,” Jack whispered in her ear, then brushed a kiss of her cheek.

  Luciana touched the spot on her skin and smiled.

  Halfway to his truck, he turned back to her. “Have you ever been skiing?”

  “Never,” she said, with a half-amused frown.

  “You just got yourself plans for Sunday. We’ll talk about it tomorrow.”

  Luciana waved as Jack pulled away from the curb. It would take a while to fall asleep tonight.

  Chapter Seven

  Sunday, December 17th

  Luciana and Jack were on their way to the ski resort, which was located forty-five minutes away from Hudson Springs, to the northeast. She’d spent Saturday evening at the DiLorenzo’s for dinner and Jack had convinced her to go skiing.

  Jack picked her up after breakfast this morning and took her to his home to get ski clothes he’d borrowed for her to wear. According to him, they’d be renting the skis, boots, and helmets at the resort.

  She was looking forward to the trip—more excited about spending time with Jack and less about the skiing part. She was also glad she didn’t have to work on Sunday and grateful Jack had offered to drive her to see something other than Hudson Springs, as charming as the small town was.

  As they made the gradual ascent toward Mount Hudson, the blanket of snow on the ground grew from a light dusting to a few solid centimeters, covering all the surfaces with a white powder that shimmered in the pallid sun.

  She looked out the window, fascinated at the view. “It’s so pretty.”

  “Have you never seen snow before?” Jack asked.

  “Not in real life. The ski resort in Portugal is several hours away from Lisbon, and I haven’t had the chance to travel there before.”

  “We might get some snow fall before you leave.”

  Luciana looked at Jack. “I hope it does. I’d love to see it.”

  On the side of the road, a large sign announced Mount Hudson Ski Resort. Base: 1,148 ft; summit, 2100 ft.

  “What does that mean?” Luciana asked.

  Jack glanced at it. “It’s the altitude at the base of the mountain and at the highest peak.”

  She pulled out her phone and calculated the numbers to the metric system. “Between three hundred fifty and six hundred forty meters. Not very high.” Maybe skiing wouldn’t be so bad after all. “The highest mountain in Portugal is just under two thousand meters.”

  “This one here is nothing like the mountains in Utah or Colorado, but we get enough snow for winter sports. It’s a popular destination this time of year and lots of skiers end up in town for the festival too.”

  “Are the skiers the ones wearing the bright jackets and paper tags on their zippers?”

  “Yes, those are the skiers. The paper tags are called ski passes or lift tickets,” Jack said. “The ticket gives us access to the mountain and ski areas.”

  Luciana glanced at the clothes she wore, the black pants and pink jacket, all insulated and water proof, plus the layers of underthings she also had on. Jack had also procured gloves and a helmet with a sun visor.

  After a few minutes, a large building made of logs came into view. Other smaller buildings in the same rustic style stood to both sides, like a village, forming a striking view against the white of the snow.

  “We’re here,” Jack said. He pulled into a parking spot and they exited the truck.

  The brightness from the sunlight bouncing on the snow surprised Luciana and she shielded her eyes as she looked around. Families with children, groups of young people, and older people of all ages milled around in the area.

  “It’s a lot more crowded than I thought,” she said to Jack.

  “A lot of people take advantage of the weekend. Plus, school’s out for winter break and this is a resort with terrain for beginners, which makes it really popular for families.”

  She followed Jack to the main building where they purchased lift tickets, then went out the back door to the rental barn for boots, skis, and poles. Much to her relief, Jack had made arrangements for a thirty-minute beginner’s lesson that went over basic procedures and safety measures. Jack stood to the side while she and five children of various ages listened to the instructor.

  At the end of the lesson, the children scattered to their waiting families and she watched them as they skied away confidently.

  Jack approached her. “What do you think? Are you up for trying one of the short trails?”

  Luciana hung on to the ski poles and concentrated into staying upright. “How did those kids manage to make it look so easy?” she said to Jack.

  He chuckled. “I bet this was not their first time. The resort has special programs for school children.”

  At Jack’s suggestion and under his nearby presence, they made their way to the ski lifts, which looked more like suspended swing chairs.

  She hesitated.

  “Grab your poles in your left hand and guide yourself to the seat with your right,” Jack said.

  Luciana nodded and followed him as they positioned themselves next in the queue. When they sat down, the chair rocked and she grabbed the side with her free hand, gritting her teeth.

  Jack pulled down the safety guard in front of them and smiled at her. “There. That wasn’t so hard, was it?”

  She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. “Ask me later.”

  Jack touched her arm. “Are you afraid of heights?”

  “I might be.” Luciana opened her eyes and looked at him, softening her expression into a tentative smile.

  He frowned, worry in his face. “Why didn’t you tell me? We didn’t have to do this.”

  “I didn’t know.” She shrugged apologetically. “I’ve never been on one of these before.”

  “Just look straight ahead and appreciate the view,” Jack said. We’re almost there.”

  As the chair lift ascended along the side of the mountain, the view broadened over the trees. Luciana adjusted her goggles and took a deep breath. She focused on ignoring the sensation of floating in the air and the knowledge of the lack of net to catch her if something went wrong, relaxing instead and looking over the snow-capped trees.

  The feelings came one after the other. First serenity; then peace, however brief it was. This was the kind of experience she’d take away with her, sitting above the ground next to Jack. He told her childhood experiences of skiing with his family, amusement in his voice.

  When they approached the ground, Jack lifted the bar. “Get ready to exit.”

  He touched his feet to the ground and stood effortlessly, walking away from the chair. Luciana waited for the chair to stop before she placed her feet down on solid dirt, then rose as she’d seen Jack do. Only the chair didn’t stop. It kept going before lurching around the bend and h
itting Luciana in the back of her legs.

  She went face first on the ground, getting the air knocked out of her lungs. Someone yelled her name. A strong hand pulled her arm by the elbow and dragged her across the snow, which filled the inside of her jacket with slush and snow. Really cold slush.

  After a long minute, someone turned her over from her belly onto her back and brushed the snow off the visor.

  “Luciana,” Jack said. “Are you okay?”

  His words sounded muffled to her ears and she lifted her hands to grab the sides of the helmet.

  “Easy there,” he said.

  “Did the chair hit her in the head?” A man asked.

  It had happened too fast, but she was sure she’d been hit in the back on her knees. “Knees,” she said. “In the knees.”

  Jack and the other man talked and a moment later Jack’s hands came around her neck. She became aware of someone else removing the helmet from her head, sliding it off slowly. Once free from the restricting piece of equipment, Luciana blinked and sat up.

  “How are you feeling?” Jack asked. “Does anything hurt?”

  “Other than my pride, you mean?” She smiled and moved to stand from the ground.

  Jack caught her hand and helped her the rest of the way until she felt steady on her feet. “What happened?” he asked.

  “I thought the chair would stop when I stood up and I didn’t move out of the way fast enough.”

  “I’m sorry,” Jack said. “I thought you noticed the lifts don’t stop.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” she said to him. “I’m fine.” The embarrassment was definitely larger than her injuries.

  A man handed her helmet to Jack and he thanked him. Luciana had hoped nobody had noticed her fall, but judging from the crowd that had started dispersing from around them, there had been plenty of witnesses to her humiliation.

  Her cheeks heated and she turned around, shaking the snow off her pants and jacket. Every time she moved, the snow melted, and she winced at the cold and wet next to her skin.

  She took the helmet from Jack and put it on, then pulled the visor up and held on to the poles. “Is this the only way down?”

  He nodded. “Let’s take the flatter run and you can set the pace.”

  Luciana placed the poles in the ground and stood in position, trying to recollect all the information she’d gained recently, and failing to remember any of it. After a long moment, she took a breath and gave herself a small push.

  Jack went on ahead and showed her the easiest way, and she was passed even by young children, adding to her mortification. The back of her legs still hurt from the impact of the chair, and her underwear shirt was now all wet, spreading the cold to her chest. With the effort of keeping upright and following Jack, Luciana started sweating. He stopped frequently to wait for her and encourage her to keep going and she admired his patience with her.

  By the time they arrived near the main lodge, Luciana’s body was shaking from the descent and from the cold in her body. She dropped the poles down and worked on getting the boots out from the skis.

  After removing his skis, Jack approached. “Here, let me help you.”

  She thanked him and then crossed her arms over her chest, her teeth chattering beyond her control. Luciana set her jaw firmly to stop it.

  When he stood, he paused to watch her. “Are you okay? You’re shaking.”

  She smiled tightly. “I’m wet. Snow got inside my jacket.” As if the fall hadn’t been enough.

  Jack grabbed her skis. “Come on. Let’s return the rentals so we can get you out of those wet clothes.”

  Twenty minutes later, Luciana sat in front of a fire in the mezzanine level of the lodge’s main hall. Jack bought her a sweatshirt with the resort’s logo and a plaid blanket and, after she changed, he took her to a relatively secluded corner, setting her up with a mug of hot chocolate.

  Curled up in a plush chair under warm flannel, Luciana was finally warm.

  “How are you feeling?” Jack asked.

  “Much better. Thank you,” she replied.

  “Ready to hit the slopes?” he asked with a teasing smile.

  Luciana chuckled. “Maybe sometime, but definitely not today.” She took a sip, then wrapped both her hands around the mug. “Thanks for the sweatshirt and the blanket, and for being so patient with me.”

  “You’re welcome. Staying wet until we got home wasn’t a good idea.”

  Other people might have not worried about her being wet. Jack was a considerate man, and he put other’s needs ahead of his own without any hesitation. The emotion swelled in her chest, gratitude and appreciation for the friendship they’d formed in such a short amount of time.

  What about the attraction? Was it one-sided on her part? Had she imagined the way he looked at her sometimes, the tingles than run hot in close proximity of each other?

  This wasn’t what she’d come for on this trip. Finding a connection with a man was the last thing she’d expected, especially at this point in her life. The irony wasn’t lost in her—she’d left Portugal to escape the wedding preparations of her Romano cousins, hoping to forget her lonely status, only to stumble into a man she hadn’t planned to find.

  Ironic didn’t begin to cover it.

  What would happen when she left after Christmas?

  Chapter Eight

  Wednesday, December 20th

  Luciana grabbed a pencil and twisted her hair into a messy bun. One more week before she left. With Christmas Eve on Sunday and Christmas Day on Monday, she only had five more days of work, and they would go by fast. They always did. At least, all the projects were coming along on time, thanks to a meticulous schedule and Oliver’s assistance.

  Across the room, her phone vibrated on the desktop. She turned to the sound, hope surging inside her. Placing the sweater she was working on to the side, Luciana walked over and swiped at the screen.

  Are you coming for lunch?

  A text from Jack, as she’d wished.

  If I cut my lunch hour in half and eat while I write my reports, I’ll have more free time later, she typed.

  Luciana bit her lip, hoping Jack caught her meaning.

  Do you have plans for later?

  Not yet, she replied.

  Luciana, will you come over for dinner tonight?

  I’d love too. Thank you.

  Looking forward to seeing you, he said.

  After Friday night, when Jack had brought her to his home for a late dinner following their time at the festival, Luciana had spent dinners with the DiLorenzos every evening. Jack’s mother and grandmother had invited her on Saturday, and Jack had brought her over on Sunday after their trip to the ski resort, and the invitations kept coming this week as well. The DiLorenzo hospitality helped Luciana feel at home, distracting her from missing her family, especially as Christmas got closer.

  A small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. She couldn’t help it. Spending the evening in Jack’s company was definitely worth cutting her lunch time short. Half an hour later, one of Jack’s young cousins delivered a sandwich and a pastry in a paper bag. Luciana put it in the lunch room’s small refrigerator, and sent Jack a message.

  Thank you for lunch. I’ll have you know, I was about ready to call in.

  Just thought I’d save you some time, he answered.

  You always think of everything.

  His reply didn’t come right away. She was about to put the phone away, when a new message popped up.

  Maybe because I’m always thinking of you.

  Luciana’s heart jumped when she read the words. They’d been flirting lightly since last Friday, but not this overtly.

  What could she say to him? She struggled to come up with an appropriate reply. Why was she so competent in everything except when it came to dealing with men? Was there even an emoji that said I-hear-you-but-I-don’t-know-what-to-say-yet?

  Before the pause got too awkward, Luciana pressed the winky face and sent it. Not exactly wh
at she wanted to say, but better than leaving his message unacknowledged. She slipped the phone in her pocket, but the distraction proved to be too great. A few minutes later, Luciana walked to the small office and placed the phone inside her purse so she could focus on her work for the rest of the afternoon.

  Oliver worked beside her in the exhibit room as they placed several parts of the collection in their final spots.

  “My cousin Lily would like to meet you before you leave,” Oliver said.

  Luciana raised an eyebrow. “About the exhibit?” Why would a local resident want to meet her?

  Oliver held the sweater in place while Luciana arranged it on the male mannequin. “She’s in the knitting business too. Lily owns the local yarn store,” he said.

  Luciana paused. “How come I didn’t know there’s a yarn store in Hudson Springs?” She hadn’t had a lot of time to explore the town, but she had walked to and from the downtown area a few times by now.

  “It’s three blocks east from the town square. You probably didn’t go in that direction yet.”

  She hadn’t.

  He paused before they moved to the child-size mannequin. “Can I take you by to meet Lily after work?”

  Luciana smiled. “Sure, I’d love to meet your cousin. Besides, yarn stores are my weakness. How could I pass that up?” She usually made the time to visit the local yarn stores in the cities where she worked. It had become a tradition of sorts.

  Twelve minutes after leaving the museum with Oliver, Luciana stopped in front of the two-story building with a covered porch. The sign read The Knotty Knitters. A smile rose on her lips.

  She gestured toward it. “That’s clever and funny,” she said to Oliver.

  He nodded, smiling wide. “Lily has a peculiar sense of humor.”

  The store had big windows decorated with a Christmas theme, and a red door with glass insets and a bell that jingled when they entered. Luciana stopped a few paces in. The brick walls were filled with rows and rows of wooden cubbies containing balls and skeins of yarn in all colors and textures, with a much better selection than she’d anticipated in a small town.