Luciana sat on the edge of the chair and traded her fashion boots for the sturdy, warm ones. Then she donned the parka over her coat and pulled down the hoodie over her knit cap. “Okay, I’m ready.”
Jack drove north, toward the outskirts of town, and they didn’t say much, appreciating the comfortable silence between them, and the night views of houses decorated with garlands of Christmas lights. Thirty minutes later, Jack turned right on a side road and then passed through the open gates to a long driveway.
“Where are we?” Luciana asked.
“At the Mount Hudson Ski Resort.”
“It looks different.” Last time, they’d arrived during daylight.
“It’s another entrance.”
Jack pulled up beside a large barn-like structure and switched off the engine. He turned to Luciana. “I need you to close your eyes before we go in.” His enthusiasm was child-like, and she smiled.
“Will you make sure I don’t trip? I don’t want to fall on the snow.”
“Of course.” Jack exited and came around the front of the car, then opened the passenger door for her. “Okay, close your eyes and no peeking.” He took her by the arm.
Luciana scrunched her eyes closed and concentrated on her steps beside Jack. A door opened ahead and when they passed inside, the temperature rose a little. From the strong scents and unmistakable sounds of animals breathing and moving around, the place had to be a horse barn. Why had Jack taken her there?
“Do I smell horses? Can I open my eyes yet?”
“Almost,” Jack replied. They stopped and his hands came to rest on her shoulders. “Okay. Now.”
She blinked until the view before her was clear. A black and red covered sleigh stood in front of them, with lanterns hanging from the sides, and a man holding on to the reins of a brown horse at the front.
Luciana gasped. “A sleigh? A horse-drawn sleigh in the snow?”
Jack’s expression fell. “Do you not like it?”
She turned to him with a wide smile. “Are you kidding? I love it!”
His shoulders relaxed and he took her hand to help her up. “We’re going for a ride. As long as the snow stays light, we’ll be okay.”
The man handed the reins to Jack and, after an introduction to Luciana and a few last-minute instructions, he opened the wide barn doors and the sleigh slid outside.
“You look like you’ve done this before,” Luciana said to Jack. He held himself confidently, at ease with the horse and the sleigh.
“We used to go for sleigh rides during Christmas break as a family when I was younger, but it’s been a while,” Jack said.
His jaw tensed for a moment and Luciana held back a comment. From what he’d told her, she knew his father had been gone for some time, but memories triggered pain on occasions.
Luciana sat back and tightened the scarf around her neck.
Jack passed the reins to one hand and pulled a blanket over her shoulders with his other one. “There’s also a lap blanket right here with heated bricks under it.”
She bent down and grabbed the heavy blanket and the banked warmth soon reached her feet and legs. “Now I understand what the heated bricks are for.”
Jack glanced at her. “It feels great, doesn’t it?”
After a gradual ascent through a country road in the woods, they arrived at a clearing overlooking the town of Hudson Springs. The lights from the buildings and from the Christmas decorations twinkled in the distance, unclear and misty through the light snow. Around them, the night air smelled crisp and sharp, tinged with the vibrancy of fresh pine needles.
And the snow still fell.
Luciana sighed. “This is so wonderful,” she said to Jack. “Thank you.”
Jack turned to her. His eyes caught the pale light of the lanterns hanging from the sleigh, and his smile warmed his features. “You’re welcome. The first snowfall is always magic.”
She nodded. “It is. Very different from seeing the ground covered with it.”
“I almost forgot.” Jack bent and retrieved something from in between the wrapped bricks. “Special DiLorenzo recipe.” He handed her a stainless steel mug. “This one’s for you.” He bent again. “And this one’s for me.”
“Hot chocolate?” Luciana asked with a smile. She held it between both hands, enjoying the warmth through her knit gloves. Slowly, she twisted the lid to expose the spout.
“Careful, it might still be hot,” Jack warned. “Not just any hot chocolate. This is the recipe my Nonno developed. High fat, high calories, very rich taste.”
Luciana sipped. It was beyond rich. Creamy, smooth, and not overly sweet. “This is perfect.” She tasted it again. “It’s not the same recipe you have at the café, is it?”
“We save this one for special occasions.”
Did he mean to say this was such an occasion?
The blanket behind her back fell off and Jack pulled it back up. “You’re probably frozen by now.”
“Not as much as I’d expected,” Luciana replied. “Why don’t you get under the blanket with me?”
Even in the low light, Jack’s surprised expression was clear. A slow smile grew and he tilted his head.
Her cheeks heated when she realized what she’d said. “Oh goodness.” She covered her mouth with her gloved hand. “That was so not what I meant.”
“Relax, Luciana.” He put down his mug, then scooted closer to her. With his other hand, he lifted the corner of the blanket, until they were both covered. Luciana tightened the fabric on her side, and before she gave it much thought, she pressed next to him. Immediately, Jack’s arm went around her shoulder and he brought her closer to his side.
He took a deep breath. “This is much better. Thanks for suggesting it,” he added in a light teasing tone.
Under the canopy of the sleigh, wrapped in blankets and with the heated bricks, and the delicious hot chocolate still in her hand, Luciana could only but agree with Jack. The warmth of his body next to hers brought a sense of contentment beyond her physical comfort at the moment. Her heart swelled with feelings she’d been putting off for a long time. She found Jack’s hand, then squeezed his fingers.
She knew the moment something shifted between them. An energy pulsed, strong and undeniable. Jack’s other hand dropped to her waist, and he turned her to face him, closing the distance even more. Their breaths mingled for a short moment, until their lips met.
His kiss was tentative at first, probing, pulling away, going back.
Cold skin. Warm lips. Fire and ice.
Luciana lost her patience. She put down her mug and wound her arms around Jack’s neck, deepening the kiss. The rich taste of chocolate reached her mouth, and a wave of warmth spread through her.
Jack moaned.
Everything around them became secondary. Just the feel of his lips, the warm skin at the back of his neck, his taste, his scent.
Maybe it lasted for a few minutes, or maybe for just an eternal moment. In time, they slowed down to only little kisses, still clinging to each other.
“Luciana.” Jack’s voice was low, almost ragged, the emotion exposed.
What could she say? What could she possibly say that would make justice to what had just happened between them?
Luciana dropped her arms from around his neck and held on to his hands. “I’m leaving soon.” Deep breath. “I only have five days, Jack.” She glanced away.
How could she have kissed him with such wild abandon when they had such little time?
* * *
Jack rolled the car into the garage and turned off the engine. He sat there, thinking about the evening. Thinking about Luciana and the amazing kiss they’d shared. He hadn’t planned for it and, judging by Luciana’s response, she’d been surprised as well. But, wow… Such passion. How was he supposed to forget it and keep going as before?
They didn’t talk much on the drive back. Luciana had tried to keep things light, but there was still too much tension, an energy between them that was har
d to ignore. And like she’d said, she was leaving soon.
The extended forecast called for heavier snow the day after Christmas. If it kept up, would she be able to leave on time? And if she didn’t, what would that mean for them?
Jack exited the car, put on his insulated boots, and picked up the snow shovel. If he got a head start clearing tonight, it would be easier in the morning. He had other people who depended on him to clean their driveways and sidewalks as well, and little time to do it.
By the time he came in the house from the garage, Mom waited at the table with a cup of hot chocolate.
She handed him a mug. “How did it go?”
He sat down and took a sip, buying some time. “Good. It went pretty well.” Jack nodded and sipped again.
What could he say? That he’d broken the promise he’d made himself after the Madison fiasco? To keep away from women? And now he’d gone and kissed Luciana. Not a little peck. A real kiss; one that shook him to his core.
Mom eyed him sideways, almost like she could read his mind, which he didn’t doubt she could at times.
“Is it her first snow fall?” mom asked.
Jack smiled a little. “Yes, it is. You should have seen her face.” He wouldn’t be forgetting Luciana’s expression any time soon.
“Did you tell her about the weather forecast? It calls for heavy snow on the 26th.”
“I didn’t get the chance to bring it up.” He’d been busy kissing her instead of warning her about the weather. “I’ll talk to her.”
Mom nodded. “All right. Let’s wait and see how the weather is. Maybe it won’t be as bad as we think.” She stood and took her cup to the sink. “Good night.”
Jack made his way to bed a few minutes later. Through the open slats in the blinds of his bedroom window, the snow fell in solid flakes. When he checked the weather app again, the snow storm rolling in on Monday now covered most of the area, expected to move on by the weekend. For sure, the airports would close, and they wouldn’t be the only ones.
One thing at a time. First, he needed a few hours of sleep. Then, he’d get up earlier to make extra dough in preparation to bake more bread for those in need. He might as well attach the plow to his truck since the shovel wouldn’t be enough to do the work.
He rolled to his back and took a deep breath. What would bring sleep faster—thoughts of Luciana, or pushing her out of his mind?
When the alarm on the cell phone rang three hours later, Jack reached for it, and turned it off. He sat up in bed and scrubbed a hand through his face. A long breath escaped his mouth, more like a weary sigh for another night with not enough sleep. His shoulders slumped at the view outside his window—the snow still fell like before. It would be a long day.
Jack turned the phone in his hand, half-expecting, half-hoping for a text from Luciana, but there was nothing. How much work did she have today and tomorrow morning? She’d mentioned she was only working the morning of Christmas Eve, but if the snow continued maybe he could convince her to come to them earlier.
The concern for Luciana raised in his heart. How was she really doing about being away from her family at Christmas time? They’d had the chance for plenty of conversation by now and Jack knew how close her family was. He’d heard of the holidays spent with cousins and grandparents, how fun and special those days were. She’d taken this trip on purpose, to get away and spare her feelings, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t regret it when the time came and she discovered how different his family was.
What could he do to help her deal with all that? And how would she react if the snow storm closed down the airport?
His stomach churned, heavy with guilt. The prospect of spending more time with her excited him, but she might not feel the same way.
Chapter Ten
Saturday, December 23rd
Luciana arrived at the Café DiLorenzo just before noon and stomped her boots on the rug by the door. She brushed her coat, shaking off as much of the snow as possible before entering. Maybe she should have listened to Mr. Wynthrop at the museum. Instead of the usual seven minutes, it took her over twenty to walk the one and a half blocks between the two buildings. The most labored walk of her life. Who knew walking in the snow could be so hard? She’d returned the oversized coat and heavy boots Jack had lent her the night before, and what she wore was sadly inappropriate. Underestimating the short distance in heavy snow conditions hadn’t been a smart idea. She trembled, as the cold in her feet seeped and spread through the rest of her body.
After the sleigh ride and the kiss she’d shared with Jack, Luciana hadn’t been thinking straight, and asking pertinent questions about the forecast didn’t even cross her mind. She’d tossed and turned all night, unable to set her body to rest, unwilling to get her mind on something else. Instead, she relived those moments with Jack, over and over again, until she fell into a fitful sleep in the early morning only to wake up a few hours later.
Paola DiLorenzo met her at the door. “Luciana, what are you doing out in this weather? Did you walk here?”
Luciana let the coat fall off her shoulders and Jack’s mom caught it.
“I had a break for lunch,” Luciana replied. Her teeth chattered and she closed her mouth firmly. She pulled off her cap and gloves, but didn’t move. The snow on her boots was melting rapidly, and she didn’t want to track the water puddle on the wood floor. She winced. “I’m getting the floor all wet, Mrs. DiLorenzo.” Her chin quivered in between words.
“Please, call me Paola. And don’t worry about the floor.”
Luciana slid her feet out of the utterly useless fashion boots and Paola picked them up, carrying them in her other hand.
“Come with me,” Paola said. “We need to get you changed from those wet clothes into something warm.”
Luciana didn’t argue, unable to think past the feeling of pins and needles in her feet as the heat warmed her blood. She absently noticed that the café was empty and Jack wasn’t around. Where was he?
Somehow, she found the strength to follow Paola to the back of the café and up the stairs that connected to the house.
Paola opened the door to a bedroom and Luciana sat on the edge of the bed. After a few minutes, Paola returned with a stack of clothes.
“There are towels in the bathroom closet. Come to the living room when you’re ready. I’ll put your clothes in the dryer.”
Jack’s Nonna already sat by the fireplace when Luciana entered the living room some time later. The clickety-clack of the metal needles as the old woman knit was a soothing, relaxing sound. Luciana had taken a quick shower and changed into the lounge clothes, including a thick pair of socks and a well-loved chunky cardigan.
Nonna paused and raised her head. “You feeling warm now?”
Luciana’s cheeks heated, embarrassment coursing through her. She nodded. “I’m feeling better. Thank you.” She shouldn’t have walked in the snow without being better prepared.
Paola returned with a cup in hand. “This will perk you up, Luciana.”
Luciana took the cup, the chocolate scent already familiar to her. She chose the overstuffed chair closer to the fire, and tucked her legs to the side. Outside the windows, the snow fell in white droves, not intensely yet, but showing no signs of slowing down. She sipped, mesmerized at the scene.
“Did you have nice time with Jack last night?”Nonna asked.
Luciana choked and a blush warmed her cheeks. She put down the cup and wiped the hot chocolate from her mouth. “Jack was great. I mean, we had a great time.” If the best kiss of her life could be described as great. “The sleigh ride was very nice,” she added, trying to push away the memories of Jack’s lips on her.
The old lady smiled, as if she knew what had happened between Jack an Luciana. Maybe Nonna could see it on Luciana’s expression.
“Where is Jack, by the way?” Luciana asked. “I didn’t see him at the café.”
Just then, Paola reentered the living room. “Jack has been delivering bread and
cleaning driveways since early this morning.”
“It hasn’t stopped snowing. How can he get anything done?” With so much snow coming down, Luciana wondered how he got it done.
“He has a shovel for hard to reach places, but also a snowblower and a plow attachment on his truck.” Paola proceeded to explain the various ways to clean out the snow.
“Wouldn’t be easier to remove the snow after it’s done snowing?”
“He’ll have to do that too, but the snow is softer before it freezes.” Paola left the room and returned a few minutes later with a plate carrying a sandwich and a variety of small pastries which she set on the coffee table. “It’s nice to see the color back in your cheeks. You looked so pale when you walked in.”
“I should have bought a bigger coat and snow boots. Maybe Jack can give me a ride back to the museum?”
Paola looked up. “Why are you going back to the museum?”
“I’m supposed to work today and tomorrow morning,” Luciana told them.
Paola shook her head. “I doubt they’ll keep the museum open, especially with Christmas coming and the weather like this.”
“More snow is coming,” Jack’s grandma said.
“Mamma is right. The forecast calls for snow until Christmas morning, partly cloudy on Tuesday, and then more snow coming on Wednesday afternoon.”
Luciana looked between them. “But that’s when I’m leaving. On Wednesday night. How bad will it get?”
“According to the forecast there might be some road closures, but we’ll have to see how it turns out,” Paola replied.
Luciana’s phone rang with an incoming call with the museum’s phone number. “Excuse me. I need to take this.”
She walked toward the foyer and answered the phone. “This is Luciana.”
“Luciana, this is Augustus Wynthrop. Mr. Garrison called and given the current weather conditions, we decided to close the museum until after Christmas.”
Keep Me At Christmas (Romano Family Book 4) Page 9