THE DAYS BEFORE Christmas Eve seemed to hurry by and Carlie did her best to stop thinking about Luke.
Now that her father was doing what the doctor had ordered, he was finally improving, so she ought to be content...except she was madly in love and didn’t know what to do about it.
She even was starting to think Luke cared about her, as well, but it wasn’t that simple. Sure, he was working on not being quite as high-handed, but could she trust that he wouldn’t look at her someday and realize she didn’t compare to Erika?
“Gideon has an apartment above the clinic, but we’re going to look for a house,” Nicole told Carlie on Christmas Eve morning. They were in the Poppy Gold library, drinking tea. “It won’t be easy to find the kind of place we want in Glimmer Creek.”
“What kind of place is that?”
“A good-size home, with enough land for rehabilitating injured wildlife. And raising kids.”
Kids... A pang went through Carlie and she swallowed. “Sounds like you’ve been converted to country living.”
“Totally. But we have things to work out, especially about money. I’m going to sell my condo in Austin and want to use part of the sale to start a computer business here, and put the other part on a house when we get one.”
“That sounds reasonable.”
Nicole nodded. “Yup. Gideon is trying to have a modern attitude, but I can tell it bothers him. We’ll get through it, though. Of course, he’s also getting thrown in at the deep end when it comes to family. My folks are coming for Christmas. They usually spend December in the Bahamas, but they’re arriving early tomorrow morning. I’ll move down to the bedroom on the ground floor and let them use my room. Luke still has to let Guest Reception know they’re coming.”
Carlie wondered if she’d meet the senior Forresters. It might be uncomfortable, given what she’d heard about them. “That’s nice. Are you cooking or attending the Poppy Gold luncheon?”
“Gideon and I are cooking. We’ve come up with a menu that isn’t too challenging. Desserts will be from Sarah’s Sweet Treats, but we’re doing the rest.”
Nicole’s phone chirped with a text message and she looked down at the screen, smiling. “Speaking of which, he wants to meet so we can shop for groceries.”
Carlie sighed as her friend left in a whirl. She didn’t begrudge Nicole her happiness, but it was challenging to smile and pretend she wasn’t distracted by her own love life.
Luke and the girls would be in Glimmer Creek for only another two weeks. That was, if Luke didn’t move to California, which she still couldn’t really believe he planned to do.
Finally, she went back to her desk. She’d considered taking Christmas Eve off, but had been too restless to stay home baking and cooking with her mother.
The rest of the day rushed by, and toward evening, Carlie decided to take a walk through Poppy Gold before leaving.
The air hummed with the energy she always associated with Christmas Eve. Costumed carolers walked the streets and frost was forming early on the grass, with the multicolored lights reflecting off the ice crystals. The only thing that could complete the festive picture would be snow falling in the park, but they’d decided it would be too complicated to bring any of the snowmakers over from the sledding hill.
Detouring to watch the skating rink for a few minutes, she saw Nicole and the twins on the ice, along with Gideon. They were laughing with Luke, who’d obviously just taken a tumble. So, he’d actually gone skating instead of just watching.
They’re happy, she thought as she walked toward the employee parking lot. All of them. Christmas and Poppy Gold had finally woven its spell.
“Carlie, wait up.”
She turned and saw Luke waving as he removed his skates at the edge of the rink. A moment later he sprinted toward her in stocking feet.
“You all seem to be having fun,” she said, trying to sound bright and cheerful, the way a good activities director should sound.
“It’s hard not to have fun here. I, uh... Could we go somewhere and talk?” he asked.
“It’s Christmas Eve, Luke. You need to be with your family.”
A slow smile curved his mouth as he stepped closer. “That’s sort of what I want to talk about.”
Her pulse jumped.
“You see, I’ve got this problem,” he continued. “My family can’t be complete unless you’re part of it.”
* * *
LUKE REACHED OUT and stroked Carlie’s face, feeling like a teenager again, tongue-tied and awkward with a pretty girl, unable to say the things he needed to say the most.
“You warned me away, remember?” she said, her voice trembling.
“Guys say all sorts of stupid things,” he breathed. “Please don’t hold it against me.”
“Luke, stop. Nicole and Gideon are watching. So are the girls.”
“I don’t care. You see, I’m in love with you,” he whispered. “Completely and utterly. Is there any chance you’re willing to take on a ready-made family?”
Her stubborn chin went up. “I’m glad your trip to California has helped you and the twins, but you’re just caught up in the moment. After all, Christmas is a time when all things seem possible.”
“Listen to me. I’m not caught up in a moment or confused by a haze of holiday spirit. You make everything possible, because you’re wonderful and loving and challenge me to be a better person.”
She shook her head. “I can’t compete with your wife’s memory. I wouldn’t even know where to begin.”
“Except this isn’t about Erika. It’s about you trusting me.”
Carlie’s eyes filled with tears, making Luke ache and hope at the same time. “Even if that’s true, it doesn’t mean we’re right for each other.”
“You’re perfect for me. And even if I’m not perfect for you, I’ll do my damnedest to try.”
* * *
CARLIE SWALLOWED.
“Carlie, a million possibilities are waiting for us,” Luke said intently. “Please trust that I know my heart and will never intentionally do something to hurt you. You can trust me. And even if you say no, I’m not leaving. The girls and I are moving to Glimmer Creek and I’ll wear you down eventually, because I love you, heart and soul.”
“What about your business?”
“I’ll get the right equipment to run it from here. Problem solved.”
Carlie felt like a kid again, standing in front of the grandest Christmas tree in the world, with all the sparkling potential it offered.
“But are Annie and Beth ready for a stepmother?” she asked, wanting to believe him more than she’d ever wanted anything. It wasn’t that she wanted Luke to forget Erika. She just wanted to have her own place in his heart.
This was about trust.
Luke gave her another heart-pounding grin. “I already talked to them. We drove down to the valley yesterday and they helped pick this out for you.” He held up a ring between his thumb and forefinger. “It took negotiation—you know how the girls don’t ever like the same things—but then I told them we should think about what you’d prefer.”
The ring was lovely, with diamonds and sapphires. Yet it was what Luke had said that made Carlie melt. I told them we should think about what you’d prefer. It told her more than he knew. Relationships were give and take, with no one person coming first all the time.
He gave her his heart-stopping grin. “Please don’t make me wait any longer—you don’t want the father of your present and future children to get frostbite, do you?”
“Present and future children?” she asked, her throat tight.
“Beth and Annie are already the daughters of your heart and they want little brothers or sisters, which I think is a splendid idea. Say yes, Carlie. Say you love me.”
Carlie desperately tried to hang on to her common sense.
Luke had been trying to show her that he could change. And for all his faults, she couldn’t see him ever being deliberately hurtful. Of course, his stiff-necked pride was a pain, but she’d be able to deal with that...
She shook herself. Could she seriously be considering his proposal?
Yes.
Her smile grew. “Okay, I love you. And yes, I’ll marry you. But don’t think it changes anything. You aren’t getting your way all the time.”
He slid the ring over her finger and gathered her close. “Actually, I’m counting on you to keep me in line,” he murmured against her lips.
Carlie was aware of excited voices nearby, but right now the only thing that mattered was the strength and certainty in Luke’s arms and kiss.
Christmas just kept getting better and better.
* * * * *
Come back to Glimmer Creek with
the next book in Julianna Morris’s
POPPY GOLD STORIES miniseries,
available in August 2017, wherever
Harlequin Superromance books are sold.
Keep reading for an excerpt from TEMPTING THE SHERIFF by Kathy Altman.
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