Whispers of Winter: A Limited Edition Collection of Winter Romances

by Nicole Morgan

  “Let me at ‘em,” Del said rubbing the stubby hair on Luc’s head.

  Tucking her in next to him, Luc said, “Anyway, Beau left Los Angeles last night so he should be here this evening.”

  Buffy reached under the barbecue pit for some tablecloths and Del said, “Here, let me help you.”

  “Thanks, Del. They’re getting ready to bring the hors d’oeuvres out. Ridge, would you and Luc bring the coolers around and get the drinks and ice into them? I see a couple more cars pulling up. Why is it people always show up early to my parties?”

  Ridge hugged her and Luc said, “That’s easy. You throw the best ones around. Do you still have that Cajun band coming?” He looked toward the barn where they’d set up a temporary stage.

  “Larue’s finest, the Jammin’ Mudbugs. They’ll be here before long.”

  Ridge and Luc proceeded to drag coolers to their strategic positions around the large backyard. “Luc, take that cart around front to my truck and bring one of those big coolers. They’re loaded with ice.”

  Just then, Buffy spotted a very tall man striding around the side of the house carrying a huge cooler. He stood there like it weighed nothing at all. Buffy patted him on one muscular forearm and said, “Goodness, looks like you got recruited before we even got a chance to introduce ourselves.”

  The man grinned, “Yes, Ma’am. You must be Buffy.” He set the cooler down and stuck a hand out. “Gino Manelli.”

  As his hand swallowed hers, Buffy exclaimed, “I recognized you, Gino. I believe my husband must have intended to surprise me.” She shook his hand and said, “Ridge, Gino’s here.”

  Ridge looked up from where he and Luc were arranging the coolers and acted as if Gino was a regular guest in their home. “Hey, Gino, bring that cooler over here, will you?”

  Buffy just shook her head. Men had such strange ways. She watched as Ridge and Luc shook hands with Gino and got back to business.

  She’d make a point of talking to him later. They hadn’t discussed it, but she knew what Ridge was thinking. He’d attended the Raptor’s playoff game, which Gino had almost heroically won to get them into the Super Bowl, but a game ending sack had ended their season.

  Ridge had heard Manelli was retiring and she’d said, “I’d sure like to see him on a few of our covers. He’d be perfect for that video advertising campaign for Icon.”

  She'd been surprised when Ridge told her about Gino's background. “He played for Navy. The reason he got such a late start in his NFL career was that he served four years. He’s received several awards for his charity work during his pro career.”

  Ridge had been referring to their mission at KPI to hire cover models returning home from military service, as well as those in law enforcement or other careers, who exemplified service through charity work in their community. As a side benefit KPI supported some of their projects, like Luc who used his income from his work with the studio to fund his teen center in downtown Larue.

  Knights Production would have just been called the Calloway Agency without that extra mission if she hadn’t met Ridge. With the seemingly monumental task of transforming veterans’ care from a glutted trouble ridden government machine to a successful private enterprise, it had to have been fate that she would meet this brilliant inventor and former military man on a strip bingo stage at a romance writers’ convention—somewhere he would not have been if he hadn’t followed her off the elevator at his hotel in DC. What had almost been a disaster had turned into a miracle in disguise.

  “What’s that smile about, my lovely redhead?” Ridge’s arms wrapped around her, his hands falling across her stomach as he nuzzled her neck. “Marriage is agreeing with us both, I think.” He turned her around and patted her butt.

  “Just thinking what a great idea it was to get you off the market before you became famous,” she said.

  Ridge gave, as usual, a modest laugh. “I’m only famous because I’m married to the most beautiful fashion model ever to hit Paris.”

  He brushed her hair back. “I still can’t quite believe how things happened for us. Have I told you how much I love you today?”

  “What, just today?” Buffy grinned at him.

  His eyes crinkled. “For all the todays, for the rest of my life, Lana Buffy Maisel Calloway Romano.”

  She sighed and closed her eyes. She enjoyed moments like these with her husband. Ridge wasn’t terribly demonstrative in public or especially lighthearted. He had a serious nature, and mission, and a scientific mindset, but that didn’t keep him from showing his feelings in public on occasion. “I’ll never tire of hearing it, Mr. Romano. By the way, thanks for inviting Gino. I’m looking forward to talking to him later. Was that the surprise you told me about?”

  Ridge smiled, “Among other things.”

  Buffy leaned back, narrowing her eyes at him. Well, he could have his secrets; she had some of her own.

  Chapter Four

  Pamela Maisel Calloway called from the porch, “You two quit making moon eyes at each other and help us get the food out. The street’s filling up with cars. Folks’ll be arriving in droves any minute.”

  Buffy heard more voices as several guests came out of the back door carrying some of the trays of food from the kitchen. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that Mom put you all to work.”

  She greeted Victoria, Luc’s mother, and his sister, a very pregnant Samantha Larue. A striking woman with Luc’s eyes and smile, Sam was tall like all the Larue women and still graceful as she came down the steps toward Buffy, holding a bowl of shrimp dip.

  “Sam, how are you?" Buffy asked lifting up on tiptoe to give Samantha a hug. "I know you were hoping to have that baby by now.”

  Samantha leaned down slightly to accept a hug from Buffy. “Oh, you wouldn’t believe how ready. All I hear is how I don’t look over nine months pregnant. I feel two years pregnant. I’ve almost given up on ever seeing my feet again.” Sam had retired from the Navy early in the Spring and come home to open her practice. Neither family nor friends had pressed Sam about the baby’s father since she hadn’t brought it up.

  Buffy grinned and looked down. “Put your mind at ease. I can see them and I’m in awe that you can still wear four inch heels. They are killer!”

  Sam said, “Yeah, well, they’re killin’ me. Probably not my smartest move but I’m sick of being pregnant.” She sighed, “I’m sure you have things to do. Just point me toward the appetizers. That’s what I’m into these days.” She dipped a cracker into the dip. “And where’s Luc—oh, I see him. Don’t you just love my sister-in-law to be?”

  “I do. A lot,” Buffy said. “I’ve even taken some photos of Del, and she’s promised to maybe, possibly, someday… think about—”

  “—thinking about…” Sam said, grinning.

  Buffy nodded. “Yep, considering doing a cover.”

  Sam laughed, “Mm-hmm. Good luck with that. She loves Luc’s covers but she’s a woman who knows her own mind and if she’s hedging that much, it ain’t happenin’.”

  “I can still hope. She's so photogenic.” They watched as Luc looped an arm around Del and looked down at her.

  Sam said, “There they go again. Sheesh, there’s just too much love in the air around here. I think I’ll go find something else to eat and then I’ll have to make another trip to the bathroom.”

  “There’s one down the hall between the bedrooms that’s kind of out of the way,” Buffy said.

  Samantha nodded, “Thanks.” Buffy couldn’t help it. She looked at everyone, even family through her mind’s lens. For a woman almost three weeks overdue, Sam should have moved awkwardly but her athletic build, natural beauty and unpretentious nature made her an ideal candidate for a commercial. Buffy could think of several topics…

  “Where are you going?” a voice called over her shoulder and Buffy turned to find her Aunt Victoria carrying a basket full of fruit and muffins, eyes locked on Sam. “Hello, Buffy.” She hugged Buffy and eyed her daughter suspiciously. Sa
m sighed and rolled her eyes.

  Buffy said, “Hi, Aunt Vic. You can put that basket down on that far table.” Victoria nodded and walked toward the tables Buffy indicated.

  Sam said, “I owe you one. I can’t get two seconds to myself. When you’re the youngest sister of five with a Navy Commander for a mother. . . Well, the horde takes their hovering and coddling seriously. Let me lumber inside somewhere. See you in a bit.”

  She did not lumber away. After watching Sam walk gracefully to the side door beside the wide back porch, Buffy turned and surveyed the backyard. Several of their employees had arrived and chipped in, helping Victoria and Pamela with the food while the men finished stocking the coolers with drinks.

  Ridge walked to her side. “Everything’s set.” He called, “Bars open, everyone. See Zeb, the bartender, for drinks and wine, or grab a cold soft drink from the coolers over there.”

  Buffy said, “Please, help yourself to the hors d’oeuvres. Dinner will be in about an hour.” She looked at Ridge, “How is the hog coming?”

  “He’s about done. The guys are going to pull him off the pit in about thirty minutes.” A local hunter had donated a two-hundred-pound hog and offered to cook it over a pit for the party.

  The crowd soon included models, employees and their spouses or significant others, half the Larues—well not nearly half—an equal number of Calloways and their friends. They expected a few more friends, but the rest of the family—Buffy’s grandparents and the other cousins would probably wait for the family reunion at the Calloway farm on Christmas Day.

  “Buffy.” Her former personal assistant, Madison Hart, spoke from behind her. “I’m trying to get the playlist loaded in your iPod but for some reason it’s not working.”

  Buffy said, “I’ll bet Ridge has been using my iPod with his computer. Come on. I know his password.”

  She followed Madison to her home office and sure enough, the library had been switched to Ridge’s laptop. Within minutes they had Christmas music playing through the speakers outside, giving the outside a festive atmosphere. She noticed through the slats of the office window that Ridge and Luc were lighting torches around the perimeter of the backyard, to keep the mosquitoes at bay.

  Buffy was about to return to the party when she felt Madison’s hand on her arm. She looked at her friend. Her forehead was creased in a frown and she chewed on her pinky fingernail, a gesture Buffy knew well. As her assistant Maddie had been a wiz at projects but tended to stress over some of the small details. Buffy didn’t have to wonder what had Madison worried.

  She said, “Luc said Beau is supposed to be here tonight. Do you want to leave?”

  Madison sighed. She and Beau had been an item before he left for Hollywood. They’d broken up but not because Madison had wanted to. She was still carrying a serious torch for the handsome movie idol.

  “I don't know, Buffy. I keep thinking I'll wake up one day and none of it will matter so much anymore, but it’s still as if it happened yesterday. I’ve wanted to see Beau, to hold him. . ." She closed her eyes. . ."Every day since we broke up. I watch his movies. I record his interviews and hold my breath until I nearly hyperventilate when he comes home, hoping to catch just a glimpse of him.” Her sad eyes met Buffy’s. “But as long as he's been in Hollywood with all those gorgeous movie actresses I've seen with him in the tabloids. . .I doubt he even remembers my name. Boy, am I pathetic or what?”

  “Aw, honey, that’s just how love is sometimes. And you know how tabloids are, you can't pay them any mind. But if that’s how you feel, why not take a chance and tell him? It can’t get any worse, can it?” Buffy asked.

  Madison’s laugh was quick, and was not a sign of happiness. “Right. The perfect way to completely embarrass myself.” She straightened the pens on the desk absently. “The thing is, I should leave because I’m terrified that’s exactly what will happen, but if there’s the slightest chance I could be across the yard from him or in the same room for one night—okay, maybe I will go home.” She shook her head, “I’m sounding pathetic even to myself.”

  Buffy sighed. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. You can’t help the way you feel. But while he’s off living his life—and until he discovers the perfect woman for him is here in Larue—why don’t you let me fix you up with a date? Wait. Didn’t you mention at Thanksgiving someone asked you out?” Buffy remembered the guy's name—Darrell, or Darren—who'd invited Madison to a local club.

  Madison waved her hand. “Oh, him, he just needed a designated driver. And thanks, but you know, I’ve tried to go out. I always feel like—well, what would I do if Beau walked in and I was with someone who didn’t matter to me?”

  “But what if nothing ever happens with Beau, Mad? Will you wait on him forever?”

  Maddie's hands fluttered up as if she didn't know what else to do with them. “I know what you’re thinking. It’s not healthy. I know that, Buffy, but I don’t seem to have a choice. I literally get sick to my stomach when I think about dating someone else.” She threw up her hands. “It’s official, I’m a lost cause. You should just give up on me.” She shrugged. “I’ll stay because I can’t do anything else. If he shows, he may not even recognize me.”

  “Are you coming to Christmas dinner tomorrow? I hope so.”

  Madison’s eyes lit up. “I wouldn’t miss that. The Calloways have made me feel like I belong and I always look forward to spending time with them. Your Grandpa Earl, especially. I asked him to give me a tour of the farm.”

  Buffy said, “Oh, he’ll love that. A pretty young woman to ride around on his new Mule .” They both laughed. “Come on. Let’s see if the band’s shown up yet. When they start just turn the iPod off. And remember, you don’t have to have a date to dance to Cajun music.”

  On the back porch, Buffy saw Gino talking to Samantha. He was a fine-looking man. She guessed his height at six-five and his weight at around two-thirty. If he modeled for the studio, she’d want him to drop a few pounds to get deeper cuts and definition, especially in his abs. Though his abs the last time she’d seen his locker room footage hadn’t been too shabby.

  Chapter Five

  Ridge’s arms came around her and she closed her eyes for a second, savoring it. He leaned down to speak in a low voice. “Should I be jealous. I haven’t seen you look at a man like that since you stalked me.”

  “Stalked is such a strong—”

  “Well, fine then, since you pursued and manipulated me into posing for you, with phrases like ‘pretend it’s a date’. You’d never have succeeded by the way if I hadn’t been in love with you from the moment I first laid eyes on you in that magazine.”

  Buffy smiled at his reference to the famous double covers in which she’d been draped in a gold lame “dress” that clung to her body like liquid shrink wrap in the front and fell away nearly to her crack on the magazine’s back cover. She could imagine Ridge’s expression when he’d seen it, as many times as he recounted the same moment to her, but her fondest thoughts about their beginning was how he’d fallen for her without knowing it was Buffy on that cover.

  Her professional name had always been Lana Maisel. No one called her Lana in the family except her mother and she’d taken her grandmother’s maiden name as her stage name. Ridge had had an enormous crush on Lana and said she’d been vaguely familiar. Talk about mistaken identities, the first time she’d seen Ridge, Buffy had thought she was watching a cover model strip on stage.

  “So you posed for me…”

  “Because something inside me said you were the one for me, no matter what color your hair was or what name you chose.”

  “Oh, Ridge, that’s priceless! I’m the one with the Calloway magic and you don’t remember it quite like I do. You ran like a scared rabbit.”

  He laughed, hugging her tighter. “Your whole family knew before I did that we were meant to be together. That was quite a gathering for lunch you pulled together at the last minute.”

  Buffy said, “I could see you withdrawing e
very time someone made a reference to the possibility of a relationship.”

  Ridge stroked a stray strawberry curl behind her ear. “Your mother’s comment was the one that kicked me into high gear. I think her exact words were, ‘Ridge, if a Calloway tells you you’re the one you may as well pick out the ring and reserve the church’.”

  Buffy laughed. “Close enough. If I hadn’t known from the beginning that it was you, my family’s reaction that day would’ve convinced me.” She’d called the farm when he’d shown up at her house unexpectedly and asked them to put on an emergency family meeting. They’d come through with less than an hour to accomplish it. She’d never forget the reaction by the military members of her family when they’d found out who he was.

  Ridge pulled her into his arms and turned her toward him. “So, tell me darling—”

  Her eyes flared with excitement. “I want that quarterback to sign with us, Ridge. I mean, look at him.” She glanced at Gino. “We haven’t hired any professional athletes yet, but he’s got IT. He’s tall; his skin is smooth and tanned without being parched, even after being in the outdoors for the better part of his adult life. He’s got great hair and a muscular physique, being an athlete at the top of his game. And look—” Ridge followedthe direction of Buffy’s nod toward Sam and Manelli. “Oh, if I just had my camera.”

  He handed her his cell phone. “Here. I know it’s not up to your usual standards…”

  She grabbed it and as Gino smiled down at Sam and took her hand between both of his, snapped a burst of photos. “See how they look together? There’s this connection—it’s obvious he’s asking about the baby. He has this wonderfully sweet expression, a genuineness…”

  “You keep talking like that, sweetheart, and I’m going to have Manelli escorted off the property,” Ridge teased.

  She tilted her head up at him, fluttered her lashes and kissed him on the chin. “My love, you have nothing to fear. We’re surrounded by barely dressed hunks and goddesses every day. We couldn’t do this together if we didn’t understand how perfect we are for each other. You know exactly what I’m talking about.”