“I’m sure we could do better than that. My Aunt Kerri has a bunch of horses. But we have to wait until the spring time.”
Ben interrupted at that point, not wanting Robyn to making promises to his daughter. “How about that pizza,” he said, trying to distract her.
Aidyn was distracted, but not by the pizza. “Why don’t you have any Christmas decorations like your store does?” she asked. “The elves are so cool.”
Ben looked at Robyn wondering the same thing.
“I’ve been too busy,” she said, blushing as though she were admitting to high crimes and misdemeanors.
Ben clapped his hands, ready to get to work. “Where should we set the tree,” he asked before his rude daughter could continue with her game of a thousand questions.
With a grateful smile, Robyn led them to a window. “Grandma always put it here.” She gave Ben a weak smile and he saw the sadness of loss flicker in her eyes. This holiday would be a difficult one for her.
He raised his enthusiasm for the job. He wanted his daughter to have an enjoyable holiday, and now he wanted the same for Robyn. “Then that’s where it should go.”
“Look at all this stuff,” Aidyn exclaimed as Robyn showed them to their rooms. The hallway had boxes from one end to the other.
“I know, right. My grandma really liked Christmas.” Robyn opened a large box. Inside lay a nutcracker as tall as Aidyn.
“Cool!” Aidyn said.
They continued past the boxes to the rooms. “This is the master bedroom,” Robyn explained. “I thought about moving in here, but I’m staying in my old room down the hall. Your room has some of my grandma’s things that I wasn’t ready to part with. I hope it isn’t too old-fashioned for you.”
Ben heard the sadness in her voice and he took her hand. “It’s fine, Robyn. This must be hard for you.”
She nodded.
“The room is great. I can see why you weren’t ready to change it up.” He released her hand to walk around the four-poster bed, piled high with quilts. Two antique dressers stood against the wall. Robyn opened the door to an empty walk-in closet. “I did give the clothing away so there’s room for your things.” She left the door open and opened another one along the same wall. “The bedroom is a bit old-fashioned but look at this bath.”
“Nice.” The bathroom had all modern fixtures to include an over-sized tub enclosed in tile. “That tub’s big enough for two,” he blurted out. When Robyn blushed, he realized how that sounded. He hadn’t meant…not that he wouldn’t mind sharing it with her. An image of Robyn surrounded by bubbles sent a flush of arousal straight through him. He gave her a speculative glance but she had turned away to speak with Aidyn. He needed to get his mind off Robyn naked…and fast.
Ben slid past them to part the drapes and check out the view. Behind the curtains, a set of sliding doors led to a covered patio with a hot tub. The sun was going down but the cop in him assessed the scene for security reasons, or so he tried telling himself. In reality, he couldn’t stop thinking about Robyn in that hot tub, maybe even sharing this room with him—and sharing the bed.
“Is something out there?” Robyn asked. He heard the worry in her voice as she came up behind him to look. Forced out of dream mode, he scanned the snow behind the house for signs of an intruder before answering. Why wouldn’t she be concerned with all the rumors of thefts sweeping through town? She stood next to him to peer out the patio door, so close he could feel the warmth of her as she brushed up against him. Her presence was intoxicating, but one wrong move and he’d have to find another place to stay. He should’ve found an old lady to spend the weekend with, not someone he wanted to fuck. He stopped the thought even as it formed. Don’t even go there, Romeo. Robyn’s been great and she deserves better.
“Nothing’s out there. Don’t worry.” He gave her a reassuring smile, resisting an urge to touch the side of her face and run his fingers in her hair. “Bad habit, checking out my surroundings.”
She physically relaxed and her eyes softened into a mesmerizing blue. Her face was lifted toward him, her mouth slightly open as though expecting…
Before he could make a complete fool of himself, he stepped back. She wasn’t expecting a damn thing except for him to behave. If only her eyes weren’t so…trusting. If only her body wasn’t so…tempting. He was a cop, but he was also a man. What the hell was the matter with him? He would not survive a weekend under the same roof as this woman. He cursed Marilee as if his attraction to Robyn was all her fault. Women weren’t the only ones with reputations to protect. He was the deputy sheriff of Hopeful and it was imperative to keep his good name intact. Even if he wasn’t in law enforcement, he had a young daughter to consider.
“Where’s Aidyn?” he asked. Robyn seemed to jump and he knew he’d been too gruff. He was walking a tight-wire here and he’d have to be more careful.
“I’m in here, Dad.”
Ben crossed the hall to what must be Aidyn’s room to stay in. A set of bunkbeds were set against the wall and his daughter sat proudly on top, playing with a plastic horse and galloping it across a plaid quilt. He picked her up off the bed and carried her to the living room, plastic horse and all. Robyn trailed along behind them. “Okay,” he said. “Let’s get this show on the road. Why don’t you show Ms. Robyn how to cook the pizza while I set up the tree?”
“You know how to cook a pizza?” Robyn asked with surprise.
“Of course. You take off the plastic wrap and you set the oven to 400 degrees. Then you cook it till it’s done.” She puffed out her chest, proud of her cooking skills. “I know how to make the ice cream too.”
Once the ladies were busy working together in the kitchen, Ben was able to concentrate. Not on the tree, but on what being in Robyn’s house meant to him. She’d been his first schoolboy crush, but he’d never had a shot at her. And now…he looked around the room. Everything was picture postcard perfect. Probably why she never married. Unreasonable expectations, just like Joyce? Thinking of his ex-wife left a bad taste in his mouth. This time he really did concentrate on the tree, straightening and tightening it in the stand.
“While I watch the pizza, do you want to get that big nutcracker and put it on the fireplace, Aidyn?” Robyn asked. “It isn’t very heavy and he can guard the place while we work on decorating the tree.”
“Sure.”
Ben was done with the tree so he helped her lift it out of the box. He grinned as Aidyn clutched the nutcracker in her arms to lift it off the floor and duck-walk it through the living room. She resembled an elf hard at work in her forest green pants tucked into brown snow boots.
Robyn walked over to touch his arm and they shared a smile at the sight. “That used to be my job,” she said. “My grandparents encouraged traditions, and even our smallest family rituals gave me a sense of belonging and continuity. Such a silly emotion, but seeing Aidyn carry that ridiculous ornament brings back so many good memories from my childhood.”
“I need to work on that with Aidyn. I expect she’s collected more bad ones than good.”
Robyn squeezed his hand and he found more comfort in the warmth of her fingers on his than in any words she could possibly say.
With the lone nutcracker safely guarding the house, Ben untangled lights and strung them on the tree until Robyn brought him dinner. With the sights and sounds of Christmas filling the air, and the sweet smell of apples drifting from the kitchen, his spirits rose. He could do this and when they returned home, he and Aidyn could start some family traditions of their own.
Robyn handed him a cup of mulled cider to drink, their hands touching in the exchange. Maybe he could do this…if only Robyn didn’t look so damn…tasty. He wouldn’t mind starting a few traditions with his temporary landlady. Night had fallen without his noticing, and Robyn and Aidyn were chattering away like old friends as he ate. He sat in a large recliner and observed them together. Robyn with a wide-eyed, attentive gaze on his daughter’s face as Aidyn told a funny story about her
school friends. After eating, he drowsed a bit as their friendly conversation turned to sewing and hand-me-downs. The shrill ring of his cell phone jerked him awake.
“Ben Dawson,” he said into the phone as he sat up. He walked to the kitchen, listening to the Sheriff as he went, ignoring the woman and the girl watching him with worried looks. Another break-in and the Sheriff wanted him on the scene ASAP. Aidyn had a place to stay in town when he got called out like this. He couldn’t ask Robyn to babysit. That would be too much.
He traced his steps back to the living room. “Aidyn, get your things. You need to go to Monica’s house.”
“But, why? I like it here.”
“They called me in to work and you always stay with Monica when they call.”
“Do I have to?”
Robyn stood. “Aidyn can stay with me. I’ll watch her.”
“That’s not what you signed up for.”
“It’s fine. She’s great company and we can finish decorating the tree.” She turned and crouched down by the girl. “Do you want to help me?”
“Can I put on the candy canes?”
“Of course.”
Ben frowned. “I don’t like the idea of you and Aidyn being out here alone.”
“I’ve lived out here most of my life. And I’m perfectly capable of looking after a child.”
“That’s not what I meant.” He took her arm and pulled her toward the kitchen, away from little ears listening in. “Do you have a weapon in the house? Do you know how to defend this place if someone tries to get in?”
She understood his concern. “I keep a shotgun and a revolver in my bedroom closet, locked in my grandpa’s gun safe—in case of emergency only. I keep them for the same reason I keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and a carbon monoxide detector in the garage. I don’t enjoy hunting like my uncles do, but I am qualified as a sharp-shooter. No one will harm your daughter.”
He gave her a playful touch under the chin, lightening the mood. “I knew I liked you for a reason.”
“Really, we’ll be fine. I saw you check the doors and windows. You just go on and do your job. I’ll take good care of Aidyn.” She put a hand to his back and pushed him in the direction of his coat. “The sooner you get out of the here, the sooner you can get back.”
They stopped at the door and Aidyn came running to give him a hug.
“Nine o’clock bedtime. No later. Okay, Pumpkin.”
“Okay, Daddy,” Aidyn said with an exaggerated shift of her shoulders.
Robyn had one arm protectively around his daughter and he wanted to do anything else besides leave. He was stalling, not wanting to leave the peaceful scene behind, when Robyn did something totally unexpected. She stood on her tiptoes and, with one hand on his shoulder for support, she gave him a light peck on the cheek. “Go get ‘em, Slugger,” she said, giving him a push toward the door.
Chapter Ten
She kissed the deputy. What was she thinking? He was her houseguest for crying out loud. If she couldn’t control herself around a good-looking man, she’d better give up her Airbnb gig before it even got started. She giggled to herself as she closed the door behind him. His look of astonishment had made it worthwhile. That’s what he gets for having a job where he played the big, brave hero…and for being sexy as all get out. Robyn was the least impulsive person on the planet, but that was one impulse she hadn’t been able to resist.
She found an excuse for her irresponsible behavior, still kicking herself for kissing him, and in front of his kid no less. He had a dangerous job; that’s why she’d done it. She was afraid for his safety. What if he left one night and never made it home? She cringed at the thought. When Marilee helped her make that stupid wish, she should have stipulated she wanted a hero who was alive and breathing. A dead hero didn’t count. This was Hopeful though and Ben would be perfectly safe. Wouldn’t he?
Even though Jingle Bell Rock played on the music channel and Aidyn was humming as she pulled ornaments one by one from a plastic bin to set them on the coffee table, the house seemed oddly quiet and empty with Ben gone. As if all the energy had departed with him.
“Can we hang them on the tree?” Aidyn asked cheerily. The young girl’s spirit raised her own. Aidyn was used to her dad taking off in the middle of the night. If the little girl could deal with it, so could she.
“Let’s do it,” Robyn answered, perking back up. After turning up the volume on the TV, she got out the stepladder to decorate the tree. Her favorite ornaments were the colorful balls handcrafted by relatives over the years; some of them older than Robyn. Maybe next year, she would start some holiday traditions of her own. For now, she was sticking to the tried and true. As she hung a red cardinal on the top branches, she wondered what Grandma would think of Ben.
As she stepped off the stool, she had to remind herself Ben and Aidyn wouldn’t be here for Christmas. No matter, though. They could still have a good time. She headed to the table for another ornament and asked Aidyn, “Would you like to make a decoration for your own tree?”
“We never have Christmas trees at our house. Mommy said it was too much work.” Aidyn held a translucent golden ball up to the light and examined an image of a reindeer hand-painted on the outside. “Daddy promised he’d get one this year but I don’t think he will.”
“If you make an ornament, he’ll have to get you a tree to put it on.”
Aidyn carried the golden ball to the Christmas tree and found a limb to hang it on. “If I make an ornament, I can put it on your tree,” she said.
Her voice carried a hopeful tone which made Robyn a bit sad. She had to correct any wrong ideas before they became sure things in Aidyn’s head. “I don’t think you’ll be here for Christmas. Your furnace will be fixed by then.”
“We could come visit and I could put cookies out for Santa, even though I know he’s not real.” She placed a finger to her lips as if warning Robyn not to give it away.
Robyn placed a hand on Aidyn’s soft hair, brushing the fine strands smooth. “I’d like that. But I’m sure your dad has other ideas.” She needed a distraction. “Would you like to help me with something?” she asked. “I’m donating a quilt to a charity auction, and I need help deciding which one.” She went to a large hutch in the corner of the living room and opened it to reveal a stash of quilts.
“That’s a lot of blankets,” Aidyn exclaimed.
“Some of them are really old. From when my grandma was little.” She’d already narrowed her choice to three simple designs which weren’t vintage but would be suitable for donation. She let Aidyn pick one of the three and Robyn set it aside. “Good choice,” she said.
When she put the other two away, she saw the Christmas quilt her grandma finished not long before she died. She pulled it out and ran a hand over the folded fabric.
“Is that one for charity too?”
“No. This is a special quilt Grandma made for me.” She unfolded it, hold it up for Aidyn to see.
Aidyn reached her small hand to the large block in the center. “That’s our well,” she said, touching the applique. “The same as the one in town. Santa is flying his reindeer over Hopeful.” She moved her hand to follow the path of the sleigh.
With the full moon in the background, the design was exquisite and the quilt was one of Robyn’s favorites. “Yep. That’s our wishing well. Grandma made it to remind me that wishes do come true.” The memory of her grandmother brought a tear to Robyn’s eye, but she quickly brushed it away before Aidyn noticed. She smiled despite her sadness and draped the quilt on the back of the loveseat in the living room, running her hand along the border of mistletoe. A quilt made for kissing under. Robyn imagined slipping under the mistletoe quilt with Ben. Now that would be one hot wish come true! She wanted to linger over the image and the sensations it produced, but she had other responsibilities and forced herself back to the real world.
“You know, if your dad does want to come over for Christmas that would be okay with me.” Guilt sent o
f flush of heat to her face. Would she use the man’s daughter to spend time with him? “But he probably has other plans,” she added. “You wait here. I’ll get us a snack.” She hurried off to the kitchen, trying to shed herself of any idea Ben might want to hang around for Christmas. This was simply a place for him to stay for a few days. That was all. According to his daughter, he liked to move around while Robyn was as settled as a person could get. Nothing permanent could ever happen between two such wildly different people. She sighed. If Marilee were here, she’d make some wise-ass comment about the sheets coming between them. If only Robyn could be so lucky.
As she made a batch of popcorn, she returned again and again to the idea of Ben hot and sweaty and under her sheets. She ran her wrists under the cold water of the sink, allowing her naughty daydreams to disappear before returning to the living room. Aidyn had several ornaments on the tree, but she looked sleepy.
“Sweetie, how about you brush your teeth and get ready for bed.”
Aidyn yawned and did as Robyn requested. They read a book together for a few minutes and then the little girl fell quickly to sleep. Robyn sat on the bed and brushed Aidyn’s bangs gently to the side, feeling as though she’d fallen into someone else’s life. Her own was one of discipline and schedules and routines. It didn’t involve inviting strangers into her home. Marilee’s plan had backfired and made her realize the Airbnb idea would never work. Unless there was more to Marilee’s plan than she had admitted and temporary lodgings had nothing to do with it.
She returned to the living room to look at the ornaments and boxes spread out across the floor. It especially didn’t involve little girls and desirable, charming men who didn’t belong to her. She would open her home and her heart only to be left behind when they moved on. She rubbed her forehead. Time for a glass of wine.
Re-energized and focused on the task at hand, she made quick work of finishing the tree and setting out a few of her favorite items on the side tables. She even went so far as draping greenery over the staircase before stopping for the night. She glanced at her watch. Nearly midnight and Ben was still out. What if something happened to him?
Country Wishes Page 43
