Unforgettable Christmas Dreams: Gifts of Joy

by Rebecca York

  Hooded by long, dark lashes, his hazel eyes scorched her with their unusual fire. A bone-melting smile slowly stretched his lips as he fingered the stubble on his cheek. “Keep going. It’s working.”

  “Hey, I’m not hitting on you. Just saving your hide.”

  “Maybe I should do the same for your sweet dog to understand.” He raised his fingers and caressed her cheek. She lurched back and Bernie barked. “You’re supposed to accept it, like I did. For Bernie’s sake. Easy, gentle, so nice.” The tips of his fingers skated over her chin, her cheek, the corner of her lips.

  “Huh...” She swallowed her moan and cleared her throat.

  The dog groaned softly and lay down.

  Stella nodded, approving. “Bernie understands. Aidan nice.”

  About time. His gentle caress was way too exciting.

  Melody slowly eased her hand away from his and safely retreated to the middle of the sofa. “You don’t have to worry now. Bernie is accepting you.”

  “Great. I feel so relieved now.” His tone dripping with sarcasm, he crossed his arms on his chest. “But your dog learning to behave is no reason for you to leave a child alone in a house. If CPS heard about it, you could be in trouble.”

  She froze. “You can’t be serious. You can’t threaten me with calling child protective services.”

  Chapter Three

  Aidan wasn’t going to let her off the hook. He wanted straight answers to his questions. “How long have you been leaving her alone? Alone with her dog? For any period of time?”

  Melody lifted eyes full of despair, begging him to understand. “Only three weeks.”

  “Tell me what happened a few weeks ago to trigger that situation.”

  A frown gathered on her forehead and she fidgeted, her gaze shifting from him to her daughter and the dog, as if she were concocting some believable tale in her mind.

  Damn it, he couldn’t help her if he didn’t know her story. Why couldn’t she trust him?

  “Melody, who’s been taking care of Stella since her birth?”

  “Nana Licia,” a little voice answered.

  Maybe he’d get more answers by chatting with Stella. “Who?”

  “My neighbor, Alicia Loren, who lives in the first-floor apartment. She kind of adopted me when she moved into this duplex. She’s the one who drove me to the hospital to deliver and helped me after my baby was born. Later she became Stella’s surrogate grandmother. She refused to accept a salary, saying she was a nana, not a nanny. She’d spend her day with my daughter, take her to the park, cook for us, feed her, put her to bed when I was on call at night.”

  “What a wonderful woman. Where is she now?”

  “At the hospital. Actually, in rehab now. Four weeks ago, she fell and broke her hip. I had to put Stella in daycare. The closest one in the area that I can afford opens at eight o’clock. That’s why I was late in the morning. And they close at three. So I had to rush out to pick her up.”

  His heart filled with compassion. “None of your colleagues offered to help?”

  She shrugged. “I never told anyone I was raising my child on my own. It was nobody’s business.”

  “But you need help.”

  “No, I don’t need anyone’s help. People offer to help, befriend you, and then take advantage of you or hurt you. I’m doing great on my own as long as I have a good job.”

  It was a question of trust for her—or lack of it. Someone must have hurt her badly. Stella’s father, probably. And Aidan had poured fuel on the fire, aggravating her difficult situation with reprimands and nasty comments, and refusing to give her an increase she certainly deserved through her excellent performance. But she was often tardy...because the daycare opened at eight.

  Guilt jabbed him. “Melody, what did you do with Stella the few days you arrived early at the hospital?”

  “I gave her and Bernie a prep talk and left them together.”

  “All day?”

  “No, until lunchtime.” These were the days she’d disappeared at lunchtime.

  “Five hours.”

  “Stop,” she hissed between gritted teeth. “What else could I do? I couldn’t risk losing my job.” The reminder of his threat stabbed him right in the chest.

  Oh God, she’d left her daughter on her own for so many hours to satisfy her boss and arrive on time. In a way, he was responsible for her reckless decision. He had to help her.

  “I’m sorry you had to go through this. I’ll find a solution. I promise.”

  “You don’t ha—”

  “Oh yes I do. Give me until tomorrow. And please don’t leave her alone until then.”

  Looking unconvinced, she nodded with a weak smile. Would she ever trust him?

  “Thank you for your understanding.” She stood, throwing a quick look at the door.

  He took the hint. It was time to leave.

  How could he make up for the stress he’d loaded onto her? How could he show her he sincerely regretted his harsh treatment?

  “Can I take you to dinner? With Stella and Bernie,” he added quickly.

  “We’d love to go out with you, but not today. I have things to do. Tomorrow, maybe.”

  “All right. Bye, then. Bye, Stella. Bye, Bernie.”

  “Bye, nice Aidan,” Stella said with an adorable grin.

  Bernie growled softly, and Aidan exhaled in relief. He left, settled in his car, and started driving away, his mind focused on Melody’s issues. Tonight, he’d browse online, locate a few decent daycare centers, and study their websites. In the morning, he had no scheduled surgery. He’d use a couple of hours to visit and assess the places. Of course, he’d pay the fees until he could give her the needed raise.

  His heart lighter at the thought he’d keep Stella safe from now on, he reviewed his conversation with Melody, and suddenly frowned. She hadn’t answered when he’d asked her not to leave Stella alone until he solved the problem.

  Damn it, would she leave her again tonight?

  Doubt and concern twitching his insides, he made a U-turn and returned to her street. Just in time to see her exiting the duplex. Alone and...

  What the hell was that?

  She was wearing a very short black dress with a white French apron on it. A waitress uniform.

  Suddenly furious, he sped toward her and stepped on the brakes right in front of her. The tires screeched on the pavement and a startled Melody jumped back.

  He dashed out of his SUV. “Where the hell are you going?”

  “Good Lord, what are you doing here again? Can’t you leave me in peace?”

  “Not when you leave the kid alone.” He won’t let her brush him off so easily.

  “Can’t you get it through your thick skull that I’m stuck? I have to do what I’m doing.”

  He felt like shaking her and grabbed her shoulders, holding her at arm’s length. “Where are you going now in that...that...”

  His gaze roamed over her sleek long legs, the tight blouse enhancing her chest, the long curls cascading on her shoulders. Whiffs of her flowery perfume assaulted him, snapping him to attention. She was adorable, way too attractive. He could imagine a room full of lecherous guys ogling her, their bodies tingling with desire. Just like his.

  A heavy sigh escaped her. “Aidan, please let me go. I can’t afford to be late when I need the money. I need it badly.”

  “Why, Melody?” He cupped her face between his hands, imploring her to clarify the perplexing situation. “Why would you work in a cheap place—you, the perfect, well-regarded nurse?”

  “It’s not cheap. I swear it’s a decent place. Quite elegant and respectable. Come and see.”

  “Why d’you need more money?”

  “Oh, God.” She threw her head back. “Because Nana Licia’s insurance doesn’t cover all the bills. She still has to pay the deductible and the co-pay. This woman has done so much for us, I need to help her now.”

  “Ah.” His breath caught in his chest, making it ache, and he dropped his hands aw
ay from her. Why was it that every time he’d accused her of wrongdoing, he was the one feeling guilty? “You’re working to pay her medical expenses?”

  “Yes. She doesn’t have anything left in her account. And I’ll never let her die because she can’t pay her bills.”

  “No hospital lets a patient die because she can’t pay. She can apply for welfare and Medicaid.”

  “She won’t accept those. Listen, it’s a long story and I don’t have time to explain her reasons.”

  “Okay, I’ll follow you to the restaurant and then I’ll go back to your place and stay with Stella until you return.”

  “No way. We don’t want another barking scene. Stella is sleeping. I don’t know how Bernie would react to someone barging on them at night. “

  “Trust me, I don’t want it either. I’ll wait in the car. Far enough from the house for Bernie not to smell my unwanted presence.”

  The stiffness of her stance relaxed and she offered him a soft smile. “You don’t need to do that.”

  Aidan looked at her silently and then shook his head and stomped to his car. He started the engine and followed her.

  The Greek restaurant where Melody waitressed welcomed him with its cheerful decoration, paintings of Greek islands on the walls, white tables and wicker chairs, and blue tablecloths adorned with vases filled with yellow daisies. A mouthwatering smell of garlic and spices emanated from the kitchen. Two young beauties in long black dresses welcomed the elegant patrons.

  Impressed, Aidan let the hostess seat him at a small table against the wall and explained he was in a rush. Actually, on a mission to inspect rather than enjoy and linger over the food. “Right away, sir.”

  Melody arrived with a tablet. “What would you like to drink?”

  He grinned at her serious tone. “A cola. No alcohol when I have some serious watching to do later. Can I put in the order right away?”

  “Of course.”

  He asked for a gyro hamburger, thinking it would be the fastest food to serve and eat.

  Melody entered his order. “Any dessert, while you’re at it?”

  “No, thank you.” He watched her stride away, her hips swaying and her heels clicking on the tile floor. A lovely figure. Instead of smiling, he twitched his lips. Too charming, too enticing.

  After she brought his meal, he ate quickly and left a twenty-dollar tip, wondering how she’d react. She pocketed it and laughed.

  Pictures of her living room popped into his mind, the beige velvet sofa marked with dirty paws at the edge and spotted with the food Stella probably liked, the oak cocktail table crisscrossed with Bernie’s nail marks and stained with the girl’s red and blue markers, and the blue carpet that looked gray in the middle and black at the corners. He thought of his brand-new furniture and felt embarrassed.

  Melody needed every penny she could get.

  “Are you getting good tips?”

  “I got fifty dollars from a guy who wanted to meet me later. I told him I’d have to bring my kids along.” She chuckled. “His jaw sagged, and he said he didn’t have time to wait and left.”

  “Good. See you later at your house.”

  At least she knew how to handle jerks who stepped out of line.

  ***

  Melody returned around eleven fifteen and noticed Aidan’s SUV stationed across the street, about two hundred feet away from her duplex. A good vantage point. As soon as she entered her garage, he climbed out and hurried toward her. She waited for him in the driveway.

  “You still here?”

  Ignoring her comment, he asked, “How was your evening?”

  “Busy.”

  “Great. Does that mean good tips?”

  Taken aback by his question, she gasped. “Yes, and I need every penny.”

  He nodded. “Everything was quiet here.”

  “I’m sure. Stella and Bernie should be asleep. Would you like to come in?”

  “For a few minutes. I have something to tell you.”

  “Another threat?”

  “Not at all.”

  “All right. Come upstairs.” She scaled the steps slowly, bracing herself for any scolding words. When she entered her apartment, she turned toward him. “First let me check on Stella.” She opened her daughter’s bedroom door and signaled to Aidan to have a look.

  Stella slept on her stomach, facing her dog, with her little fingers buried in his fur. Without so much as a shiver, so as not to disturb the small hand resting on his head, Bernie lifted one eyelid and stared at Aidan for a few seconds, and then resumed his slumber.

  “What a precious sight,” Aidan murmured. “He’s seriously guarding her, day and night.”

  Pleased he’d finally seen her point, she nodded and shut the door. “And I think you passed the test. Bernie trusts you as a safe friend now.”

  Aidan chuckled. “I trust him too. With Stella and with my hide.” He returned to the living room and settled on a chair, waiting for her to join him.

  “Would you like a drink?”

  “No, thank you. It’s kind of late and we’re both working tomorrow.”

  Melody dropped on the sofa.

  “Listen, I did some research while waiting in the car. I found a daycare that looks great, Kids with Us. You can drop Stella as early as seven a.m. and pick her up as late as seven p.m. They provide lunch and have the children nap at noon. We can check out the place tomorrow at lunchtime.”

  “Oh, I know about Kids with Us. I visited them once. Unfortunately, they’re way too expensive.”

  “You won’t have to pay for it.”

  “What d’you mean?” She tilted her head, eyes narrowing.

  He held her gaze. “I deprived you of your annual increase. I’ll pay for it.”

  “No way. She’s my daughter.” She bounced up from her seat, facing him, scowling.

  He sighed and lifted a pacifying hand. “You’ll be able to pay and you can even reimburse me once you receive your increase, which will happen after you arrive on time for a whole month straight.” He stood too, shaking his head. “But we can’t let Stella remain in a risky situation. If there’s an electrical fire, Bernie can’t call 9-1-1. He can’t save her. He can only bark and get desperate.”

  “Oh...oh no. Oh dear. God forbid. I can’t even think about that.” She cringed, belatedly worried she’d exposed her daughter to terrible dangers. “Thank God nothing of the sort has occurred. I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if anything happened to Stella because of my bad decisions.”

  His gaze roamed over her face, kind and understanding. “I want to make sure your daughter is safe.”

  “Thank you, Aidan, for going out of your way to help.” Even in high-heeled pumps, she had to tiptoe to reach his cheek for a quick peck.

  His arms wrapped around her waist and he brushed her lips with a soft kiss. So sweet, so tempting.

  Apparently, he was attracted to her. Not only acting out of the goodness of his heart to help a nurse in distress, or out of duty to keep a little girl safe.

  She entwined her fingers behind his nape, losing her gaze in his. He captured her lips, licked, and teased. His tongue invaded her mouth, tasted and played until she melted against him and moaned. He released her mouth and trailed kissed on her cheeks. “Trust me, Melody, please.”

  “I do.” He was the kindest man who’d crossed her path. And his kiss spoke volumes about appeal, desire, and passion.

  But he’d hurt her earlier, and might hurt her again. She shouldn’t trust him implicitly. She shouldn’t trust any man, according to her daughter’s dear Nana Licia.

  Chapter Four

  In the morning, Aidan stopped early at the nurses’ station and sent every staff member on a task away from their favorite gathering point. By the time Melody arrived, fifteen minutes late as usual, no one was there to notice and roll their eyes.

  With a hurried, “’Morning,” she glanced around, exhaled with relief, then clocked in and rushed to care for her patients.

  Satis
fied that he’d avoided the morning gossip, Aidan started his rounds. At lunchtime, he left a message with reception to call him in case of emergency and drove to the daycare. To be on the safe side, he paid for two months after registering Stella, and listed both Melody and himself as responsible guardians allowed to pick up the little girl.

  For a change, the hospital didn’t call him. He used his free time to run a few errands and buy items he’d never thought he would need—a child car seat, a pink teddy bear, and a large bone and frisbee for his new buddy. The afternoon was relatively quiet at the hospital. Melody left as soon as the evening shift personnel arrived, and he didn’t linger either.

  Imagining a totally different reception from the barking scene of the previous day, Aidan whistled on his way to her house. He parked in the driveway, climbed the stairs two at a time, and knocked. A strong bark followed by soft growls answered before Melody opened up.

  “Hi.” Her wide-open eyes and puzzled expression didn’t bother him. “What brings you by?”

  “I want to improve my relationship with my new friends. Hey, pumpkin,” he called to Stella, who was sitting on the worn carpet, combing a stoic Bernie. “I have something for you.” He dug the teddy out of a plastic bag and held it out to her.

  “For me?” she squealed, and grabbed the stuffed animal. “He’s so beautiful and so soft.” She pressed her new toy to her chest, rubbing her cheek against the silky fur, and then lifted a shy glance at Aidan. “Thank you, Aidan. You so nice.” She opened her arms.

  His heart fluttered with a new emotion. He crouched at her level and hugged her.

  Bernie growled softly, his guardian instincts confused, his head flitting from Aidan and Stella to Melody, seeking reassurance about the man holding his little mistress.

  Aidan straightened up. “I have something for Bernie too.”

  “What? What?” Stella asked.

  Aidan showed them a big, shiny bone. Bernie jumped to his feet and sniffed. “Come, Bernie. For you.” He showed him the bone and the big dog approached carefully, staring at the tempting item in Aidan’s hand. Suddenly he opened a big mouth, licked the bone, and gripped it between his teeth, tugging. Aidan let him have it. Bernie spun and returned to his favorite place next to Stella.