The conglomerate that owned the plant had decided to move the business to Mexico, where the auto parts could be made cheaper. Holly snorted. She hated big businesses with billionaire CEOs that had no idea of the lives they ruined when they tried to add a few more dollars to their coffers. No, scratch that. They knew. They just didn’t care.
Holly had spent many late nights over the last six months trying to figure out a way to save the plant. Without it, the town would die. She’d never considered leaving—well, once, a long time ago. But only because she’d been so in love with a wild-eyed boy who had been her best friend. When she’d decided to stay, he’d left with a kiss that melted her heart and a promise that he’d return for her. She hadn’t forgotten that promise or the boy that had made it. But that had been ten years ago and the pain had faded. She’d moved on with her life, going to college and becoming mayor of Silver Falls. With a population of less than a thousand people, the tiny community was more like a large family where everyone knew everyone either through family connection or friendship. There were no strangers in Silver Falls.
Until now.
From her perch on the ladder tilted precariously against the old-fashioned lamp post, she watched the huge bike slow, its motor thrumming with a power that vibrated inside of her. It came to a stop next to the lamppost. Even though the rider had yet to remove his helmet, the image of whitewashed denim stretched tautly across muscled thighs, scuffed black biker boots and a heavy leather jacket covering massive shoulders, had her womanly parts clenching in female appreciation.
“Hello, Holly Bush.”
Holly shivered—and not from the cold air that carried frozen flakes that hit her face with the sting of tiny missiles. She was pretty much used to that. It was the stranger’s voice, so deep and measured, so…familiar. Only one person had ever used that particular nickname for her. In fact, he’d had dozens of them.
“Nick?” The whisper of his name carried on the wind.
Gloved hands lifted the helmet, revealing mobile lips curved into a familiarly wicked grin, twin dimples carved into lean cheeks, flashing blue eyes and a shock of coal-black hair. “At your service, Holly Dolly. Did you miss me?”
“I…” Suddenly Holly was remembering skipping school and sneaking out of her bedroom window to ride helter-skelter down the country roads, her arms wrapped tightly around Nick’s waist, a grin on her face. No matter how many ‘talks’ she received from her parents, no matter how many times she’d been grounded, all Nick had to do was raise one dark brow—his right one if she remembered correctly—and ask her in that soft, beguiling voice to do something utterly crazy, and she was right behind him. How could she be anything but honest?
“I did.”
“I missed you too, Holly Berry. Why don’t you come down here and let me show you how much?” Nick slid from the motorcycle in one fluid movement, looking better than he had all those years ago. The bad-boy image that he’d worn like a cloak was now even more evident in his maturity. The masculine self-confidence rolled off him as he walked her way. Damn, but his swagger was still the sexiest thing she’d ever seen.
Ignoring the curious stares of holiday shoppers, friends, and business owners that were gawking at the newcomer, Holly found herself disembarking the ladder at his low command. With her eyes glued to him, her foot missed the bottom rung, and she squealed as she flailed for purchase. Suddenly, strong arms surrounded her, drawing her tightly against Nick’s hard frame. The scream died in her throat, and she fought for air as his head descended. Her world narrowed to the arms holding her, the blue eyes shining down into hers and the mobile lips that were suddenly on hers. Although he kissed with much more finesse than he had at seventeen, Holly was immediately transported back to a time when rules were made to be broken and consequences be damned.
Nick’s kiss was even better than she remembered. His mouth didn’t toy with hers. He devoured her lips like a man possessed of a raging hunger. Holly matched his passion with her own, losing herself in the feel of the moment. Being with Nick was like playing with lightning. Exciting and dangerous at the same time.
“Mayor Bryant? Um, excuse me. Mayor Bryant? Holly? Holly!”
With a feeling akin to coming out of a long sleep, Holly blinked as Nick’s head lifted, breaking the intimate contact of their lips. Vaguely, she became aware of someone tugging at her elbow. “Clara? What is it?”
“Well, um, Mayor,” she stressed the word, “you, ah, have some…”
“Ah, crap,” Holly muttered, noting stunned faces in every direction. She stepped out of Nick’s arms. Reluctantly. “It’s okay, folks, I’m not only your mayor, but I’m also a woman.”
A few chuckles, several catcalls, and clapping met her comment. While most of the townsfolk returned to their business, several stayed nearby to see what would happen next. Or, perhaps, to find out the identity of the sexy stranger who had ridden into town on the chrome and black metal monster parked at the curb.
“Clara,” Holly turned to the gray-haired lady who had become more like an aunt than an assistant, “can you get Ben or Larry to finish hanging the wreaths? Tell them we’ll pay overtime for today.”
“Are you sure we have the money?” A concerned smile briefly lit the older woman’s face.
Holly gave her a small nod. “I’m sure.” It made her sad that everyone in the small town was so worried about the budget.
“Okay then. No problem.”
Holly watched as Clara scurried away to do her bidding before turning back to Nick. Her body hummed with new energy as she stared up at him, noting the snowflakes that clung to the glossy strands of his hair and the tips of his incredibly long lashes. He was so beautiful it made her heart ache as it had all those years ago. She tamped down her excitement. “So what brings you back to Silver Falls after all this time?”
His familiar grin faltered, and a frown marred his brow. “Let’s go somewhere more private.”
When he turned towards City Hall, leading her directly to her office, she followed him obediently as she always had. The old building lent itself to Christmas decorations. Evergreen wreaths tied with red velvet bows graced each window and strings of twinkling lights were entwined with evergreen garlands over the entry.
Since the Silver Falls’ police station was housed in City Hall, Nick had seen the inside of the old brick building more times than he cared to remember and he was usually accompanied by the woman following behind him. The woman who had haunted his dreams—waking and asleep—for the past ten years. She’d been the impetus that had driven him to succeed.
“It still looks the same, doesn’t it?” he observed as she stepped around him to open her office door. He also couldn’t help but observe the way her hips swayed from side to side as she walked. Damn, if she wasn’t curvier than she had been in high school. He watched as she removed her short emerald green car coat that matched the deep green of her eyes, revealing, even more curves. She was not fashion’s standard of beauty, but she was exactly what made his body rev faster than his motorcycle on a mountain road.
He sat down quickly before she realized just how much he really had missed her.
“Some things are better left unchanged, Nick,” she answered as she took her place behind the large oak desk.
He had to admit she looked good—downright cute—behind it. She’d always wanted to make a difference in the world, roping him in for more than one environmental cause when they were younger.
“So, why are you here?”
“Direct and to the point, aren’t you, Mayor Holly Bush?”
“I learned a long time ago not to take you at face value, Nick.”
“So, you don’t think I’m back in town to keep my promise?”
“What promise was that? I seem to recall you broke several.” She turned her head to look out the window, and he wondered if it was to keep him from seeing the expression in her eyes. Not that he needed to. He heard the sadness in her voice. He had broken promises to her. One especially.
He’d promised to come back for her.
Now, he had to wonder if it really was too late. As the old saying went—could you ever truly go home again?
“I only broke one promise, Holly.”
Her gaze flew to his, and he saw the flare of awareness in them. Mentally, he hand pumped his fist. He had her attention now. Leaning forward, he found himself prepared to spill his guts right then and right there. “Holly, I…”
Just as he opened his mouth, the office door flew open and in walked Santa. Or a man who bore a striking resemblance. He was fat and round, had a headful of white hair and well-groomed beard of the same color. He was also someone Nick knew only too well. His old high school principal.
“What’s this I hear about you canceling the Breakfast with Santa program this year?”
Holly rose to her feet. “Councilman Jones, this really isn’t the time for this discussion.”
“Of course, it’s the time. Remember all those promises you made before the election?” This was Holly’s first term as mayor of Silver Falls, and the former high school principal had been her only opponent. The previous mayor had retired and Jones, who had served for years on the council, had thought he’d be a shoe in for the job. He’d been a horrible principal and Holly hadn’t been able to stomach the thought of this man in charge of her hometown. Her intuition had been spot on because ever since she’d been elected, he’d thwarted her every effort to entice the factory to stay. “I’ve kept all my promises so far, Samuel.” He hated it when she called him by his first name.
“Now listen here, young lady—”
“Hello, Sam.” Nick stood up and instantly the attention was turned his way. He could tell that Holly was getting hot under the collar and, not that he wouldn’t enjoy seeing this man get his comeuppance, he really wanted Holly all to himself. After all, that was the reason he’d returned to Silver Falls. To finally claim his Holly Bush.
Oh, man, the naughty thoughts that ran through his mind.
“Nick Stephens. What brings you back to town?” Samuel’s lips curled upwards with disdain and his voice intimated that Nick could have fallen off the face of the earth and never been missed.
Nick couldn’t really blame him. He’d given most of the folks in town Sam’s age a reason to look down on him. He’d been a hellion on the back of his bike in those days. Something he readily admitted.
“Just paying a visit to my best girl.”
Sam snorted. “More like your partner in crime.” He cast a disparaging look Holly’s way.
It was true. During their junior and senior year, wherever one found Nick, Holly wasn’t too far behind. Except on date nights. Back then, Nick had enjoyed the company of more, um, mature women. He’d known Holly wasn’t ready for the appetites of a randy teenager, no matter how much he longed to have her. It hadn’t been until the last few months before graduation that he’d gotten the guts to make a move on her. To shove their friendship into high gear. He’d thought himself a very lucky guy when he’d discovered that Holly returned his feelings.
“My past is really none of your business, Samuel.” Holly pointed toward the door. “Now if you don’t mind…”
“But your future is my business. If you cancel this breakfast, it’ll break the heart of every one of those kids. Do you want to be known as Mayor Grinch?”
Holly’s lips tightened at the look of malicious glee on the councilman’s face. The phone call to the library earlier this week had been one of the hardest she’d had to make during her time as mayor. The children in need had already been identified and most were children of factory workers whose futures didn’t look very bright at all.
But she knew there was not an ounce of sincerity in the other man’s question. He could care less about the breakfast or the children. The fact that he got to play Santa made it appear to the public that he actually cared about them and their unfortunate lives. He was playing the odds. If something happened that Holly couldn’t finish her term, like, she was forced out by the angry town folk when the factory closed, he knew that by playing up to the town, he’d be in her seat faster than a cat’s tail moved from beneath a rocking chair.
“I don’t want to cancel it, Samuel, but you know the state of our budget. I tried to work out something with Frank over at The Brand, but his corporate bosses won’t let him waive the rental fee or give us a discount on the breakfasts this year. We can’t afford the rental fee let alone pay for all the food.”
“The event is a town tradition, Holly. The council is not going to like this.”
Holly ignored the urge to grab and twist the chubby finger wagging in front of her nose. What he meant was, he’d make sure they wouldn’t like her for canceling. “I know, Samuel, but it can’t be helped. The money had to be saved for the parade and the tree lighting ceremony next week. It’s the biggest event and it draws the out-of-town crowd the businesses need.”
“How much do you need for this little shindig?” Nick stood slightly behind the councilman, his jaw tightening as he watched the play of emotions on Holly’s face. He knew it was breaking her heart to have to cancel the event for the children. If he remembered correctly, she’d tried to get him to volunteer at the event their junior year in high school. He’d had more interesting things to do, like feeling up Peggy Sue Truman under the bleachers of the gym during the holiday basketball tournament. He’d needed no mistletoe for that girl.
“More than you can afford, I’m sure.” Sam’s beady eyes raked over his worn jeans and equally worn boots. Little did the man know the leather jacket he wore probably cost more than the man made in three months.
Nick allowed a slow grin to curl his lips even though he really wanted to knock the sneer off the older man’s face with his fist. “I broke open my piggy bank before I came.” His gaze turned to Holly, noting her stricken look and the small gleam of hope that shone in her beautiful eyes. “How much, honey?”
“Eight hundred dollars.”
“And the presents?”
“Already covered.”
Nick withdrew his wallet, pulling out one crisp bill after the other and laying them on her desk blotter. He’d liked to have banged them against the desk. “Here’s a thousand. Give the kids something extra and make sure the waitresses get a nice tip.”
“Nick, you can’t…” Holly hesitated. She didn’t want to hurt Nick’s feelings, but she remembered how his bravado sometimes got him into trouble. Like the time he’d bet his mother’s rent money that he could beat Mason Summerfield in a race down Main Street. Of course, Mason’s Yamaha YZF R1 had easily bested Nick’s 2004 Honda.
Holly also remembered how determined Nick had been to build an even better machine after that. She’d spent the rest of that summer vacation scouring various junkyards in the county helping him scavenge for parts. It had been the best summer of her life.
But maybe things had changed for him as they had her. She’d bet her paycheck—if the town could afford to give her one this week—that the bike he’d ridden on today didn’t have a used part on it.
“Oh, but I can, honey,” Nick returned evenly. “Consider it a gift. Tis the season and all.”
A relieved grin lit her face. “I’m not going to argue.”
“This isn’t the end of it, Holly.” Sam turned on his heel and stalked out the door. Holly grimaced as the door slammed shut behind him.
“Nick, that was incredibly generous to try and help me out, but if you really can’t…”
“Don’t worry, Holly Jolly,” Nick replied drolly, “I can still afford rent.”
Holly blushed, aware that he’d known exactly what she’d been thinking. While she’d grown up in the better part of town and her family had had more than enough, Nick and his mother had struggled, living in a trailer park with money his mother earned as a waitress at the local café. Nick, too, had worked after school in an auto body shop for extra money.
She lifted her chin. “I’m not going to apologize for being concerned.”
�
�I wouldn’t want you too, honey.” He reached for her, pulling her against his tall frame, tucking her head against his chest. “You’ve always been there for me. Believe it or not, the fact that you believed in me got me through a lot of tough times.”
Holly listened to the steady beat of Nick’s heart, wondering how she could feel so relaxed when her world was slowly falling apart around her. If the manufacturing plant closed down, the small town of Silver Falls would virtually cease to exist. The weight of finding a way to keep the plant going and the town functioning lay squarely on her shoulders. She wanted to be there for the town the way Nick said she’d been there for him.
But what if she failed?
“Come on.” She pulled back, urging Nick toward the door.
“Where are we going?”
“Well,” Holly grinned, “since you’re feeling so generous, I’m going to let you help get the rest of Main Street decorated.”
Chapter Two
The next day, Holly waited until the two council members left her office before pushing aside her copy of printout she’d been perusing all morning. They’d ambushed her, wanting to know how she was going to keep the doors open to City Hall if the town lost the factory and the generous supply of taxes it provided. She had no doubt they’d been sent by Sam. The council was almost evenly divided in its support between Sam and Holly. Luckily, Holly had three council members on her side, while Sam only had two. She won most votes, but not all of them.
Sighing, she stood, stretching her aching neck and shoulder muscles. She’d been over the budget more times than she could count and could find nothing else to cut. No way to stave off more layoffs. With the impending move of the factory, a lot of the city jobs had already been cut since it wasn’t going to receive the tax money the factory provided. The city depended on that money desperately to help pay employees, fund special projects and events like Breakfast with Santa.
Whispers of Winter: A Limited Edition Collection of Winter Romances Page 127
