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LEE SAT AT THE KITCHEN table nursing a mug of coffee between his hands. Marcie intended the brew to be for Claire, but she needed sleep more than caffeine right now. He desperately needed time to get his head on straight. It’d taken all the willpower he could muster not to crawl into bed with her and wrap his arms around her until she fell asleep.
That would’ve been incredibly stupid.
He still didn’t know how Claire felt about him, but there wasn’t any doubt in his mind.
All those messages, all the back and forth with her, they couldn’t lie. Claire might have been able to conceal her identity but she couldn’t hide her soul from him. The real flesh and blood Claire was as beautiful, if not more so, than her virtual self.
He loved the feel of her body against his. He loved the inner vulnerability she tried so hard to disguise, but it took another lonely person to recognize it in another. Lee yearned to be the man for her, the one to make her happy.
Lee breathed in a wisp of vapor that rose off the black surface of his drink. If only there weren’t a wasteland of lies between them. That would change tomorrow and Lee only hoped it wouldn’t destroy any chance he had with Claire.
In the meantime, there was a couch with his name on it.
His phone beeped insistently as Lee opened his eyes and groped for the OK button.
Six o’clock in the morning.
If he guessed right, he’d catch Claire trying to get out of the house without him. After last night, the cat and mouse game had lost its charm. The only time he’d actually seen Claire was when she’d been stinking drunk. He wanted her unimpaired. They had a lot of things to talk about, the least of which being their future. Lee rolled back over onto his back and let the silence of the house become his focus. The muffled but familiar sound of two champagne glasses clinking drew his attention to Claire’s phone sitting on a table beside the front door. He grinned. Claire played Champagne Nights and she’d gotten a game notification.
His patience was rewarded. He heard the muffled beep of Claire’s alarm clock. Lee didn’t budge. The shower came on a few minutes later and he made his move. He knew the spray of water masked the sound of him sneaking into the bathroom. Lee could hear Claire softly humming to herself and he found himself hating the dark brown shower curtain pulled across the tub. He’d thought up several ways of going about this and stopped to evaluate what would be the best way to proceed.
“Good morning, Claire.”
The shrill shriek and the clatter of a plastic bottle ricocheting about the bottom of the tub brought a grin to Lee’s face. Sure, he’d pay for it later, but it’d been worth it. He wasn’t above being juvenile from time to time.
“I’m in the shower!” Claire yelled.
“I know,” Lee answered.
The water ran in silence for a few more moments.
“What do you want?” Claire asked.
“To talk.”
“I’m in the shower,” she said again.
“We could talk it over in there.”
“No!”
Lee thought about the best way to say what he had to say next.
“Look, Claire, I’ve already figured out Claire Violet is a sham. You don’t work for a bank, you’re a reporter for the local paper.”
Only the sound of running water answered him.
Lee took a breath and continued. “I don’t care, because I haven’t been truthful either. I don’t work for the FBI. My name is Lee Craig. I own a video game company. I’m a terribly boring man, and I’m sick of letting these lies coming between us.”
More water.
This wasn’t working like he’d hoped.
Lee pushed on, trying to explain, words spilling unrehearsed from his mouth. “Claire, my father was a workaholic. He was never around for me and my mom. By the time he had his stroke, it was too late. I try not to be like him, but I had to get our latest game out before Christmas. It ate me alive, and everyone else on my staff, but we got it out in time... at the cost of me ignoring you.”
Lee sighed. It sounded like he congratulated himself instead of what he’d intended, and she already knew a little about his rotten excuse for a dad.
“I know it’s a poor excuse, but, when I got your last message, I thought I’d ruined any chance I had with you, so I determined to at least have you tell me to my face what a horrible person I am. So I tracked you down to here before I guess I passed out in the diner. I never guessed I’d wake up in your home.”
Lee cursed under his breath. Now he was reciting current events.
Apologize, you stupid idiot.
“I just want to say I’m sorry, Claire. I’m sorry I’ve made you feel terrible. I’m sorry I worried you. If you give me a ride back up to the diner, I’ll get out of your life, if that’s what you want. I hope it isn’t.”
Lee released the edge of the sink which he realized he’d had a death grip on, and turned to the door with a sigh as the water continued unabated.
It was over, and it was the worst he’d ever felt in his life.
“Lee.”
He stopped at the sound of the curtain sliding on its rail. Lee didn’t dare to look back.
“Can we start over? My name is Claire. Claire Wilson.”
“Lee. Lee Craig.”
“Lee, you’re in my bathroom.”
“I’ll go make breakfast.”
And spend a few quality moments with your phone.
*****
BREAKFAST WASN’T MUCH; some cereal, frozen orange juice from a can, and almost burned toast. Claire smiled at Lee’s evident pride at managing a meal. He was completely overdressed though, in a suit and tie. However, she didn’t mind his appreciative glances at her, even in the simple blouse and slacks she’d put aside for the day. Claire found out she liked his attention. She’d never had a man look at her like Lee did.
“Aren’t you a bit...fancy for a place like Mercy Ridge?” she asked.
“It was the only clean thing I had left in my bag,” he said with a shrug. “I keep it handy in case I need to jet off somewhere on short notice, but the bag’s only good for about two days before I need to find a laundromat or go shopping.”
“I do own a washing machine and dryer.”
“I didn’t want to assume.”
“I said make yourself at home in the note I left.”
Lee grinned sheepishly and Claire rolled her eyes at him.
Good Lord, he’s adorable when he does that.
“I’ll drop you off at the diner so you can get your car.”
Lee paused with a piece of toast halfway to his mouth.
“So you can get it back here, assuming it hasn’t been towed,” Claire quickly added, relieved when the troubled look in Lee’s eyes went away.
Lee’s rental remained parked where he’d left it. Claire pulled her car into the parking lot of the Memories Diner.
“Here we are,” she announced.
“What time are you off work?” Lee asked, grasping the door handle.
“Six o’clock. Why?”
Lee was suddenly close, very close, and Claire stared into those chocolate brown eyes. She froze like an animal in the middle of the road. Lee smelled like sandalwood. When had he put cologne on? His breath tickled her cheek.
“Here’s something until then.”
His lips met hers and it was as though she’d stuck her finger in a light socket. A searing bolt of awareness raced through her body. Her toes did curl in her pumps. All she could manage was to grab a hold of his arms as her emotions blasted off like a rocket. Claire’s eyes fluttered.
She’d read romance novels with kisses that took the heroine’s breath away. She’d always made fun of the swooning ladies, but she wouldn’t any more. With one kiss Lee had ruined her for any other man.
Claire stared unseeing out the windshield. She vaguely heard the passenger door open and then slam. After what seemed like minutes, Claire came back down to earth and drove away without looking, afraid Lee would vanish like a dream, her heart still hammering in her chest.
*****
TRUTH BE TOLD, LEE felt pretty full of himself. Things were back on track. There could be no way Claire didn’t feel that kiss. Her lips were amazing, even if they were only responding to him. Lee shuddered at what she could do when she took control. A man would die for a woman like her. And no man, other than him, would have her.
Lee fished for his car keys in his pocket and noticed Sami beaming at him through the window. He flashed her a cocky grin and got into his car. He wasn’t familiar with the town, but he had quite a few errands that needed to be done, starting with a coat. Most of his business trips took him to warmer climes so his bag didn’t take into account the nippier times of Washington weather. Fortunately, clothing wasn’t a major problem and he soon walked back to his car wearing more appropriate clothes for the weather with a few extra changes in bags.
He still had most of the morning to kill. Lee found a picnic table beside a feed and seed store where he could make a phone call. It took a few moments to connect.
“Lee? Is something wrong?” Alison’s voice came through his receiver with a bit more static than he’d expected but international calls were always dicey.
“Everything’s fine. I was wondering if I could impose on your holiday for a bit of quick programming. You do have your laptop with you?”
Alison laughed.
“Is the Pope Catholic? That’s a silly question. Sure, I can do something quick for you this evening. We’re kind of waiting to get into the torture museum at the moment.”
“The what? I thought you two were going to spend Christmas?”
“Yeah. We are.”
Lee heard Gwen’s voice in the background and Alison identify him before she yelled “Merry Christmas” at him.
“Tell her I said Merry Drawn and Quartered to her too.”
Alison laughed and Lee explained what he needed her to do.
Finding a florist and some nice chocolate, turned out to be the easy part of what Lee figured would be difficult. Finding a good bottle of wine not in a box or with a price greater than ten dollars, proved to be the challenge. Lee still had no idea what he’d do for dinner, but something would surely come to him.
He’d noticed the flyer for the Christmas parade while the florist took his order. December eighteenth—today. What the heck. He’d time to kill. His father should be rolling in his grave right now. Christmas had never been a big part of his childhood. Sure, he’d always gotten a present or two, but Lee always knew it’d been more for “fitting in” and presentation, more than any real meaning to the holiday. It’d been a time to show off to business partners in the hopes of additional work being heaped on his father, who seemed to enjoy it, or at least the money at any rate. Any excitement he’d had about the holiday as a kid had been crushed under his father’s avarice.
“Oh, and, hey, don’t let anybody know about these roses,” Lee told the florist.
“Mister, the moment these are delivered, you’ll be lucky if the whole town don’t know.” The girl behind the counter grinned. “The rumor mill here is nothin’ if not dang good at what it does.”
Lee smiled and glanced out the window at the crowds starting to gather along the main street. There was a festive atmosphere in the air that he’d never experienced before and it touched a small part of the kid still within him.
“Here’s your receipt. If you’re gonna catch the parade, you might wanna go ahead and get a good spot. Everybody for miles around turns out for it.”
“Thanks. How come you’re not out there?”
“Low woman on the totem pole.” The girl smiled. “Someone has to keep the doors open. Who knows? Someone might want to buy flowers during the parade.” The tone in her voice let him know what she thought about the chances of that happening.
Lee caught sight of Claire on the street. She had her back to him, but he’d recognize her clothes and hair anywhere. He watched her wrap her arms around herself as a strong errant gust of wind whipped through the crowd, sending more than one cowboy hat sailing. Lee guessed Claire had other things on her mind than dressing for the weather this morning. Fortunately, he was available to come to her rescue.
“We’ll make sure she gets her flowers,” the girl called out behind him as Lee went out into the rapidly cooling air.
Lee had to admit the weather couldn’t be more perfect for a Christmas parade. There was a chill bite to the air signaling the end of fall and the first chill announcement of the upcoming winter. Fun to be out in as long as you were dressed for it and Claire most assuredly wasn’t.
*****
“COLD?”
Claire jumped at the low voice behind her. Even with the bustle of the crowd, the deep voice touched her in ways she’d rather not show. The scent of sandalwood brought back memories of their kiss in her car this morning.
She found herself wrapped up in a coat with a strong firm body pressed up against her back, the body heat and closeness more than welcome.
“Lee,” she breathed.
“Miss me?”
“You know this is going to get all over town?” Claire asked.
“Do you care?”
Lee’s arms tightened around her.
“No,” Claire said with a pleased sigh.
“Good.”
The discordant clash of cymbals, bleats of brass instruments, and boom of drums up the street, heralded the start of the parade.
“What’re you doing out here without a coat?”
“My job. Somebody has to cover the parade. It’s a big deal here, but, hey, thanks for the warm-up.”
“More later,” Lee growled in a tone so low Claire felt it in her stomach.
“The parade is starting,” Claire said, trying to get her mind on something else.
The Mercy Ridge Boy Scout troop hoisted a banner emblazoned with “Welcome to the Mercy Ridge Annual Christmas Parade” as a marching band broke out into a rendition of Hark the Herald Angels Sing.
Lee’s breath tickled her ear as the red- and gold-clad percussion section marched by, the vibrations of the heavy drums masking the pounding of her own heart. Next came a small caravan of pickup trucks carrying the Wheat Queen and her teenaged and kid Wheat Princesses. Lee looked puzzled as they threw a few quarters in their direction. Claire had to explain how it was a local beauty contest and the throwing of the coins represented the hope for prosperity. It was a very old tradition, but traditions were important to Mercy Ridge.
“Aren’t they pretty, though?” Claire asked.
“They don’t even hold a candle to you.”
“Flatterer,” Claire said with a smile.
A procession of horses from the Rodeo Association came next, this time with a County Rodeo Princess and a Bull-Riding Champion. A gaggle of clowns with push brooms followed them. Lee wisely didn’t ask her what they were there for.
“Have you ever been on a horse, Lee?” she asked.
“Does a merry-go-round count?”
“You’re a funny guy. I’ll kill you last.”
The deep laugh behind her made her insides turn to jelly.
A loud backfire drowned out anything Lee might have said as an old 1940s pickup followed the Wheat Queen. The library had decorated it in the theme of A Christmas Carol. Ms. Appleton, the librarian, looked especially uncomfortable in her old Scrooge costume even if the young kids representing the various ghosts couldn’t restrain their enthusiasm. They threw little baggies of chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil. Claire wanted one, but Lee had her trapped against him, which she considered an acceptable trade-off.
Lee laughed as one of the baggies bounced off a kid’s outstretched hand and a dog snagged it up from the pavement before he could get it. The crowd watched the dog prance away, head held high and tail wagging.
An old farmer chuckled. “Merry Christmas, doggie.”
The local distillery float followed by the church nativity float came next, a combination that Lee found far funnier than anyone else there.
The deep throttling rumble of a large diesel engine, drew Claire’s attention.
“Oh, this is my favorite part!” she exclaimed.
Lee seemed fascinated by the large combine as it slowly moved down main street, an older man and Sami dressed as Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus leaning out of either side of the cab and tossing handfuls of candy canes into the appreciative crowd.
Claire clapped her hands underneath the coat and laughed at the kids who rushed forward and scrambled to get one of the pieces of candy. And, like that, the little parade ended.
Claire stood still as the jovial crowd slowly broke up. She wasn’t in any rush to leave the warmth of Lee’s coat.
“You sure do like Christmas,” Lee said.
“Not as much as I used to.”
Lee must have caught the turn toward sadness in her voice.
“Why not?” he asked. “You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.”
Claire shook her head. There’d been too many secrets between them already. Lee deserved to know.
“My mother died almost at Christmas four years ago. I mean, it wasn’t unexpected, she’d been sick for a long time, but it still didn’t make things any easier on me. We used to go all out for the holiday: decorations, a big meal, the whole thing, each year bigger than the last. It was kind of a crazy tradition we had. I’ve missed having someone to share Christmas with.”
“Well, you know, I really don’t have anywhere to be...”
Claire weakly smiled.
“That’s really sweet of you, Lee, but I imagine you’ve got a company to get back to.”
Lee laughed.
“Nope. I kicked them all out, with pay, until the new year and I locked the door behind me. They busted their butts getting our game out in time, so they’re getting a much-deserved Christmas bonus.”
“You’d do that for me, wouldn’t you?”
“What? Bust your butt?”
“No. You’d stay, wouldn’t you?”
“You could bet on it.”
Claire looked around and sniffled loudly when she knew nobody was still around.
“Uh-uh. No crying,” Lee said gently. “Listen, Claire, I thought I was crazy running out here like I did. It could turn out to be the smartest thing I ever did.”
“Lee—”
“Claire, please tell me you feel something—anything—for me.”
“You know I do.”
She sniffled loudly again, blinking back the tears threatening to come.
“I’m just scared.”
“Of what?”
“I don’t know!” she cried in frustration. “I’m just...scared.”
“I’ll let you in on a little secret. Sometimes you just have to jump and hope. And I’d say we’ve got a little Christmas magic on our side. So, what do you say? Do you want to see where all this goes? I know I do.”
Claire wiggled around inside the coat to look Lee in the eyes.
“If you fall, I’ll catch you,” he said.
“I’m going to hold you to that.”
The parade ended sooner than Claire wanted and, as much as she’d enjoy staying pressed up against Lee all day, she had a job to do. They reluctantly parted.
––––––––
MARCIE WATCHED CLAIRE practically float through the front doors to the Crier office. A levitation feat that ended abruptly as Claire caught sight at the dozen roses in an elegant vase on her desk. Marcie watched her co-worker’s mouth open and close in surprise, words failing to come out.
“What?” Claire finally managed to croak.
Marcie smirked.
“Well, you obviously haven’t sent him running for the hills yet,” she said.
Claire plopped down into her chair.
“They’re beautiful,” she breathed.
“Call me crazy, girl, but I think you’ve knocked the poor boy heads over heels for you.”
“Marcie... do you think I should ask him to go on the sleigh rides at the Saddle Up?”
“I’d get mad if you didn’t.”
“But you wanted me to spend—“
“Uh-uh,” Marcie warned but laughed nevertheless. “Don’t you even try. You are not going to stand him up for me. I’ll live, but you have to find out if he has an older brother.”
“I’m pretty sure he doesn’t, but it’s a deal.”
––––––––
THE EVENING OF THE sleigh rides promised the perfect weather, a brisk chill, not too cold but one that encouraged cuddling and the sharing of blankets. Fresh snow coated the ground giving everything a clean appearance. Claire was thrilled she and Lee would be sharing a sleigh with her friend Tatem and a man who the handywoman introduced as Heath Brighton. The two exchanged knowing grins as they sized up each other’s date.
A man and his young daughter jostled them as they filled up the last spots in the sleigh.
“Everybody ready?” Belle, the sleigh driver asked.
“We’re ready, Belle,” the man who had joined them at the last moment called out.
Claire watched Belle turn around in her seat, dawning surprise and pleasure stealing across her windblown face.
Well, well, it looks like this is going to be a cozy ride.
“Looks like this is gonna be a triple date then?” Tatem called out with a laugh, mirroring Claire’s thoughts.
“If none of you mind?” The man asked.
“Hey, the more the merrier I always say,” Lee chipped in.
They fell into conversation. The man, Gavin, and his daughter, Gabby, were here to join Belle’s burgeoning horse therapy school. Claire watched in amusement as Belle fought the desire to turn around and her need to keep her eyes on the trail. If she was a betting woman, Claire would’ve put money on Belle’s face being red from far more than the cold.
Claire’s own amusement was interrupted by Lee taking her hand under the heavy wool blanket draped across them. It would be embarrassing to admit how she reacted to his mere touch if she didn’t crave it so much. It was a simple gesture, but one that held such deep meaning for her. It had only been three days since Lee had blown into town and her life. Now, she couldn’t imagine her hollow existence before. He would leave at some point, he had to. He didn’t belong here like she did.
Silence fell upon the sleigh as each couple seemed wrapped in their own thoughts. Claire’s melancholy pondering was interrupted by the muffled sound of champagne glasses clinking from inside her purse. She wasn’t about to interrupt what might be her last time with this wonderful man who’d been more than she’d ever hoped for.
“Do you want to get that?” Lee asked.
“It’s just my stupid game.”
“Are you sure? Games can be an important part of some of our lives...”
“Fine. If you insist.”
Claire’s annoyance and her own jumbled thoughts went blank as she fished out the phone and pressed the game button.
ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: ENGAGEMENT RING
A sparkly cartoon diamond ring appeared on her screen underneath the reward notice. Before she could say anything more words appeared.
MARRY ME, CLAIRE.
Claire felt her hands shake and she wanted to speak but couldn’t. Instead, she gulped air.
“What? Is something wrong?” Tatem took her phone and glanced at the screen, her hand instinctively going to her now-open mouth.
Claire only dimly felt the cold metal ring encircle her finger but she completely felt Lee’s hand holding hers and his warm eyes staring into hers, his lips touching hers and the fire igniting inside her own heart.
“So what do you say?” Lee asked.
“What else can I say? Yes! Oh my God, yes!”
Six Months Later
Alison and Gwen oohed and cooed at Claire’s bulging belly through the screen on Lee’s tablet. The two of them had been nothing but excitement when Lee told them he would be naming their daughter Alison Gwendolyn Collins and they’d kind of be her aunts. It’d taken everything Lee could muster to convince them not to buy plane tickets and jet up to Mercy Ridge to celebrate.
“If you two are done ogling my wife’s stomach?”
“We’re not ogling, you dirty old man,” Alison said with a laugh.
“Old? I’m only five years older than you two... and that’s boss dirty old man to you.”
“So when should we be expecting you back here?” Gwen asked.
“I’ll be flying back on Sunday so I’ll see you all in the office on Monday morning. I want to see what progress you’re making on Princess Cowgirl.
“You’ll get it,” Alison promised. “Wait until you see Gwen in the game as a ninja princess.”
“And Alison as a robot girl,” Gwen added. “I gave her all the good lines. Gwen-sama is the strong silent type.”
“I have no idea what any of you are talking about,” Claire said.
“Are you coming down with Lee?” Alison asked.
“I wish I could, but I’ve got to get things in order at the paper and make sure Marcie and Jennifer can hold down the fort before baby time. You’ll see me soon enough.”
“Okay, ladies, back to work,” Lee interrupted.
“All right. Take care, Claire.” Gwen and Alison said together and the video call ended.
“They mean well,” Lee said.
“Oh, they’re fine. They’re an adorable couple.”
“You don’t have to work with them,” Lee said with a laugh, “but, no, they’re all right as long as you can keep them reigned in. You have no idea what it cost me to interrupt them on their holiday in London to program that bit to deploy to your phone. It took me forever to find a case of watermelon soda and I still owe them some gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches.”
“It sounds like they’ve got your number.” Claire smiled.
“Speaking of having my number...” Lee said and pulled her into his lap, his hand automatically cradling her stomach. “I’m going to miss you.”
“You know you don’t have to stay here with me. You could just fly up on the weekends.”
“My company can run itself, maybe even better if I’m not there. I want to be here for the baby... and you.”
Claire leaned her head against his and softly smiled.
“Tatem will be here on Monday to start work on the nursery. I wanted to make sure she finishes it before she’s in my situation.”
Lee kissed her.
“And do you mind your situation?” He asked.
“Never. Next to you, it’s the best Christmas present ever.”