Hal tried to make his feet move toward Lucy, but they were mired in place. The icy mud might as well be cement.
She looked beautiful this morning in jeans, cowboy boots, and heavy jacket against the cold. The breeze tossed her dark hair, which she wore short, and sunlight made her green eyes glow.
He should have figured she’d come with Dr. Anna. Lucy was Anna’s shadow now, handing her tools or holding the horses or cows while Anna injected or prodded them. Lucy was good with horses, talking to them gently, stroking a nose or neck to keep them distracted as Dr. Anna worked.
Hal cleared his throat and tried to speak again. “Hey,” was all he managed.
Lucy, who’d simply stared at him while Hal stood poleaxed, answered, “Hey, yourself. What are you doing here?”
Her voice was like music. Hal could listen to it all day.
“I said, what are you doing here?” Lucy repeated the question slowly and carefully, and Hal jumped.
“Oh. Yeah. I’m helping Callie. A lot of volunteers want off for Christmas, and she needs extra hands. I wasn’t doing anything else, so …” Hal shrugged and trailed off before he babbled any more.
“Yeah, well I’m helping out Anna.” Lucy hefted the box under her arm. “And Kyle, really. He worries about her.”
“Natural,” Hal said. “First kid and all.”
Like he’d know anything about that. Hal had no children, no family. He swallowed and pushed the thoughts away.
An awkward silence descended. Hal always liked that he never had to come up with scintillating conversation for Lucy, but at the same time, he couldn’t just stand here staring at her like a fool.
He flashed back to the kiss they’d shared at the grand opening of Drew’s B&B. Lucy’s warm lips on his, her body sweet in his arms. Her breath had touched his cheek, and Hal had grown hot, staying that way for the rest of the day.
Lucy had beat a retreat after that kiss, and they’d been stiff around each other ever since.
“So, um,” Hal began.
“Hal,” Lucy said at the same time. “Oh, sorry. You go ahead.”
“No.” Panic rose in his chest. “You first.”
Both of them closed their mouths. Hal firmed his, letting no uncomfortable speech escape.
Lucy drew a breath. “All right. Ray and Drew are having a Malory Christmas feast at the B&B. Well, family and whatever guests have booked rooms. Grace and Carter will be coming. And me. Why don’t you—?” She broke off and coughed as though her mouth had suddenly gone dry. “Ray would love to see you,” she croaked. “Come join us. You don’t have to bring anything. There will be plenty of food, plus Kyle’s making a vat of chili—”
“Yeah, okay.” Hal flinched inwardly as the words tumbled out of his mouth. Why had he agreed, and so fast?
Lucy flushed, and he couldn’t tell whether she was pleased or dismayed by his answer.
“Well, then.” Lucy switched the toolbox from one arm to the other. “Guess I’ll see you there. I have to …” She motioned past him to the barn’s entrance.
“Sure.” Hal stepped aside, realizing he’d been blocking the way. Anna waited down the shadowy breezeway at the stall with the colicky horse.
“Thanks.” Lucy hurried past him, her warmth brushing him.
Her relief to end the awkward conversation was evident. Easier to be with an animal than talk to a human. Hal had always found that to be true.
Lucy slanted him a smile as she went, one that sent heat straight into his heart. Hal waited until she’d joined Anna, Callie, Ross, and Manny, who were discussing the horse’s symptoms, before he took himself to the mare pens to continue assisting the volunteers.
Hal wasn’t certain what he felt about the upcoming Christmas feast, dread and anticipation whirling back and forth inside him. He only knew that when he was beside Lucy, the whole world suddenly became right.
Karen Marvin spent Christmas morning as she’d done since her last divorce—with a luxurious sleep in, a fresh pot of Puerto Rican coffee she ordered directly from a coffee planter on that island, and her feet up on the couch. She read through the Christmas cards from friends and a few from various ex’s grown children she still kept in touch with. She’d long ago decided their asshole fathers weren’t their fault.
She didn’t mind being alone in her nice house in White Fork, which she’d fixed up exactly as she wanted it. Better a quiet morning to herself than having to face a cheating dickhead across the breakfast table and wonder how to save her marriage.
Being alone was so much less stressful.
But kind of lonely too. Karen had listened to the Campbells talk about their big family Christmas dinner, as well as other clients listing the family members coming to see them or the places they were going to visit family and friends.
Karen hadn’t made plans to spend Christmas with anyone, and a tug of wistfulness nearly spoiled her perfect cup of coffee. Not that she wanted to be in a houseful of Campbells as the brothers threw jokes at each other, the kids ran around screaming, and the wives tried to put their heads together to come up with a guy for Karen. Karen could find her own men, thank you.
She set down her cup and stared out into the yard, frost sparkling on the winter-yellow grass.
“Damn it,” she said, voice ringing. “Don’t be such a stupid wimp.”
Her orange-striped tabby, draped over the end of the sofa, opened one green eye and gazed at Karen inquiringly.
“Not you, sweetie,” Karen told him. “Me. I didn’t make plans because I thought I could make them with Jack, and I know it.”
Instead, Jack had told her he’d be out of town until January. Things to take care of. That might mean anything from a business deal for his lumberyard, to visiting an old or current girlfriend, or bailing a family member out of jail. Jack didn’t talk much about his past or even his present life. He could have a wife and seven kiddies tucked away somewhere for all she knew.
Karen had enough connections that she could easily have him checked out. Every one of his secrets revealed, at least those that were in a record somewhere.
She hadn’t wanted to. Afraid of what she’d find? Probably.
“I’m stupid and getting old.” She’d be forty soon enough.
Karen sighed. No use growing morose over a guy she’d only gone out with a few times. It wasn’t like she was ready to marry him—or anyone for that matter.
She lifted her cup to her lips, found the coffee cold, and grimaced. “Fresh cup. That will do the trick.”
As she headed to the kitchen, the phone in the pocket of her thick plush robe buzzed. Karen fished it out, wondering who the hell would be contacting her on Christmas morning, and then stopped dead. A few droplets of cooled coffee splashed to her pristine wooden floor.
Hey Karen, the text said. Just thinking about you. Merry Christmas.
Jack’s rare texts were always brief and to the point. Karen had learned to savor every word.
She quickly set down the cup and tapped letters for a message back, fingers shaking.
Merry Christmas to you too. See you soon.
After Karen sent the text, she mentally kicked herself. She should have waited, not let him think she was eagerly hovering over her phone for his messages.
Another text popped up almost immediately. Yep.
Then nothing. Karen closed her eyes and hugged the phone to her chest.
When it buzzed again, she nearly dropped it in her anxiousness to read Jack’s next message. She let out a strangled laugh when she saw Drew Paresky-Malory’s name on her screen instead.
Hi, Karen. If you don’t have other plans today, we’d love to see you at the B&B for our Christmas gathering. We never could have done all this without you. About 1 PM?
Karen grew amused at herself for how rapidly she responded. I’d love to. I’ll be there.
She slid her phone into the pocket, hurried to the kitchen to refill her coffee, and hummed as she made new plans for the day.
“Who knew I’d love Christmas in a little town,” Erica, Drew’s daughter, burbled as she peeled potatoes for Drew in the kitchen. Several turkeys and a ham roasted in the kitchen’s large ovens, the aroma of basted meat and stuffing filling the room. “It’s like a postcard around here, one of those old-fashioned ones. We just need snow and people ice-skating on a pond.”
“The ponds around here don’t freeze,” Ray said. He lumbered in to fetch another load of plates to set on the table, brushing a kiss to Drew’s cheek as he passed. “At least not thick enough or long enough to skate on. I do not recommend it.”
“Skating is for ice-rinks in the city,” Erica said with conviction. “No worries I’d try it on a pond.”
Drew only smiled as she sliced the potatoes Erica had peeled. She understood Erica’s wonder at their surroundings, although her daughter always had a sassy way of putting things. A year ago, Drew would never have believed she’d be living in this beautiful place doing this much cooking, from scratch, for a B&B full of guests as well as a big family of her own.
She hadn’t realized people would actually book for Christmas, but they were full. The Bluebonnet Inn was gaining a reputation for a cozy, relaxing-but-elegant vacation spot, in an area filled with fishing, boating, hiking, and horseback riding. A wonderful get-away-from-the-rat-race hideaway.
The guests were joining the Malorys for one big Christmas dinner—that had been Ray’s and Kyle’s idea. Ray had realized he and Drew wouldn’t be able to get away to the Malory ranch with all the guests they needed to attend to, but he’d also not felt right about shutting themselves up in a separate room for a private feast.
Kyle had been all for the combined meal. Much of his eagerness was because of Lucy, Drew understood. The brothers figured Lucy would feel less awkward if she wasn’t the only person in the dining room without a plus-one.
The Malory brothers were tiptoeing around Lucy a bit too much, in Drew’s opinion, but she kept that to herself. They loved their sister and worried about her. Anna had confided in Drew that she’d suggested Lucy invite Hal, but who knew how that would go?
Drew paused a moment to bask in the fullness of her life. Erica had blossomed from a resentful transplanted preteen into a full-fledged Riverbender, active in school life, riding in competitions, becoming fast friends not only with Faith and Dominic, but many others she’d met at school in the past year. She’d be dating soon, Drew thought with a pang.
Drew, who assumed she’d spend the rest of her life alone, had a supporting, caring husband who helped her without criticism and loved her without conditions. Drew caught Ray’s arm as he passed her to get more plates and pulled him down for a lingering kiss.
Her hot cowboy cupped her face, his hand warm. He had such strength and yet he gentled it for her.
“Get a room,” Erica said with a snicker.
Ray and Drew broke apart. Ray’s hot smile made Drew buzz, but he joined in Erica’s mirth.
“We have one,” Ray said. “But we’re a little busy right now.”
“Yeah, we are.” Erica returned to potato peeling with gusto, parings flying across the worktable. “This is going to be some party.”
Ray reluctantly released Drew so she could continue chopping, for the mountain of mashed potatoes she’d make. He lingered in the kitchen, however, as though happy to stay in the cozy space with his new family.
Drew laid her knife aside. “I think this is a good time to give you both your Christmas gift.”
“Ohh.” Erica perked up. “More presents. I like it.”
Ray turned a puzzled gaze to Drew. They’d exchanged gifts earlier this morning, Ray earning squeals from Erica with brand new riding boots, jacket, and hat. The lovely malachite earrings Ray had given Drew dangled from her ears even now.
Drew wiped her hands, folding them to face her husband and daughter, the two people she loved most in the world.
“Next Christmas we’ll have one more at our party,” she said, trying to stem her excitement. “He or she—don’t know yet.”
Both Erica and Ray stared at her, one pair of brown eyes and one green, wondering what she meant.
Then Erica dropped her peeler and threw her fists in the air. “Woo-hoo!” Her yell split the room. “About time! I told you guys I wanted a brother. Though I’ll take a sister too.”
Ray’s face remained frozen as he blinked once, twice. A slow flush rose up his cheeks at the same time a smile lifted his mouth.
“You sure?”
Drew nodded shakily. “Dr. Sue confirmed it at the clinic yesterday.”
“Well, shit.”
Usually Ray kept his language tame around Erica, but the word slipped out. Erica, laughing and dancing around the kitchen, never noticed.
Ray had once expressed the fear that he couldn’t father children. At one time, Christina hadn’t been certain whether her daughter, Emma, belonged to Ray or Grant, and Drew knew Ray had been somewhat crushed to find out he wasn’t Emma’s dad. He and Christina had already broken up and Christina had wanted to be with Grant, but the disappointment had still been a blow.
Drew watched hope and then profound happiness bloom in Ray’s eyes. He closed the distance between him and Drew and crushed her in an embrace.
“Damn, that’s good news.” His warm breath brushed her ear. “Real good news.”
Drew lifted her head. Tears stood in Ray’s eyes, which brought them to Drew’s. She touched his cheek.
“Merry Christmas, Ray.”
Ray’s answering kiss took her breath away. He held her tight, his mouth fierce as he kissed and kissed her. Drew hung on to her cowboy and enjoyed the ride.
Finally, Ray eased the kiss to its end, his eyes sparkling and his smile wide.
Erica danced near them, making hooting noises of joy. Drew held Ray’s hands, so much love in her heart.
Ray dragged in a shaking breath. “I love you, Drew Paresky-Malory. Best. Christmas. Ever.”
Lucy cheered with the rest of the crowd in the B&B’s big front room at Drew’s announcement. She rushed to them, throwing her arms around both her brother and Drew.
“I am so excited for you two!” Lucy crooned.
Ray had wanted this for a long time, Lucy knew. She loved Drew to pieces for making him so happy.
Others surged forward to congratulate Drew, including a few of her friends from Chicago, librarians all, who’d flown down to spend Christmas with Drew and Erica. Lucy eased away from the group, letting them surround Drew and Ray, their exclamations tinged with laughter.
Anna had been correct that Lucy wouldn’t feel left out with all these people here, some single, some couples, one pair of sisters grabbing relaxation time over the holidays. Lucy was glad she’d come now, though there was one large absence. She’d not seen or heard a thing from Hal. When she’d asked Ray, oh so casually, whether Hal would be joining them, Ray had only shrugged and said he didn’t know.
Lucy decided she’d have some dinner, drink a glass of wine, help Drew with whatever she needed, and then say good-bye and go home. Her excuse would be that she had to assist Anna tomorrow. No time off for the vets.
She turned to begin a conversation with one of the Chicago guests when the front door opened, leaking a chill but welcome breeze through the crowded and overheated room.
A low, rumbling voice said, “Hey.”
He directed the word to Ray, who’d come forward to greet him. Hal held a box from Grace’s bakery, which he handed to Ray, but his eyes went to Lucy and remained there.
Lucy, her heart hammering, found herself moving in his direction. She might just stay longer after all.