Escaping Christmas

by Lisa DeVore

  Alex’s mind flipped back in time to her picture on the porch. “I have a question for you, Salina. Have you been to my little log cabin?”

  “If you’re insinuating I took the pictures, I wouldn’t lower myself to peeking through windows.”

  Was she lying? “I’m not going to lower myself to continue this conversation.” She pushed the off button on the phone and sank down on the couch.

  “What was that all about?”

  “Just Owen’s wife. She knows he was here and she wasn’t pleased.” The words ran through her mind, I’ll ruin you. Was it a coincidence? Did Salina leave the picture to scare her away from Owen? Well, she was wasting her time. Alex had no interest in him.

  “Lexie, did you hear me?”

  “What?” He startled her back to the present.

  “I said you’re white as a ghost. Did she threaten you?”

  “No,” she lied. “She’s just angry. I set her straight. I don’t want to spend another minute worrying about Owen’s relationship with his wife.”

  “You’re really okay?” His eyes narrowed and searched hers.

  “I’m fine.” She forced a smile.

  “Okay, so how about we work on your Scrooge-like tendencies? Follow me, my beautiful elf.”

  “It’s getting late. Let’s save it for tomorrow.”

  “Are you backing out?” She knew he wouldn’t let it go.

  “No. I’m just tired.” She wasn’t ready for Christmas lights and holiday cheer. Christmas past was coming back to haunt her.

  Chapter Fourteen

  A snowy two weeks went by before she had the nerve to tackle the Christmas decorations. She spent the time struggling with the images in her mind. When she was writing, she believed in a future with Zach. But, when she wasn’t in her world of fantasy she doubted it would work. She had too much baggage. He deserved better. To his credit, he allowed her the space she needed.

  They rummaged through the boxes for an hour, then decorated every inch of the cabin with lights, garland, a Christmas village for the mantel, a Christmas quilt, and candles for the window. Of course, nothing would light up, but it was still festive. She smiled at the results, even though her heart was tearing in two.

  “Now, all we need is that tree,” he remarked, turning to her when she didn’t answer. “You’re very quiet.”

  The box of ornaments sat in the corner. She dreaded the tree. That’s the one thing about that night that stood out in her mind. The twinkling of the lights had mocked her despair.

  He broke the silence when she made no attempt to speak. “It hasn’t snowed for a few hours. I think it’s past us now.”

  Alex faced the window, her shoulders drooped with realization. He was going to suggest going for a tree. She couldn’t do this.

  He came up behind her, holding her close as she stared out the window. “What’s on your mind?”

  “I can’t do this, Zach. You need to go home, and I need to remember why I came here.” She wasn’t ready for a relationship with Zach Camden or anyone else. This was going way too fast for her. She had to sort through the pieces of her life. Owen was getting divorced. He was telling the truth. Part of her was doing cartwheels over the news and she had to figure out why. Going to the original game plan was a necessity. Write the book, work through her feelings, and move on. Nothing else mattered…nothing else could matter. She got sidetracked with Zach and it wasn’t fair to anyone.

  “You’re overthinking, Lexie. Face your fears.”

  “Zach, I wasn’t planning on all this. I have to finish this book. My intention was to purge the past, not complicate my life with more feelings I don’t understand.”

  “You really want me to leave? I thought we were going to see where this was going.”

  The confusion in his eyes was unmistakable. “I’m so sorry, but now isn’t the time. I don’t know if it ever will be for me. I realized that when you mentioned the tree. This isn’t me. You deserve someone who doesn’t wince when the word Christmas comes into the conversation. I’m living in the past and I can’t seem to stop.”

  “Let me help you. Don’t run from this.”

  She nervously shoved her hands into her sweatshirt pockets. Alex was sure she was letting a great guy walk out the door, but it had to be. How could she move on with someone else when she couldn’t get free from the past?

  Alex took a deep breath. “You can’t help me. I have to do this myself.” She couldn’t look him in the eye. She didn’t want to face what he was thinking.

  “Right. I’ll grab the shovel and start digging out.”

  The clipped tone brought her eyes to his. “Zach, please don’t hate me. Don’t be mad.”

  “Does it matter? It was nice meeting you. I’ll be out of your way in no time.”

  She didn’t trust the words to cross her lips. A tear slipped down her cheek. She swiped at it as he walked through the kitchen door, never looking back.

  He exited out the back door and it slammed shut. She jumped at the noise. It wasn’t long before the sound of the snowmobile faded into the distance. He was gone. She sat on the couch and looked around at the decorations they had placed around the room. How couldn’t she hate Christmas? It had been filled with disappointment and heartache since she was a little girl. She never got the gift she wanted….a happily-ever-after.

  ****

  Zach turned the key, revving the engine before throwing the snowmobile in gear. He raced through the trees and cut every corner too short. How could she not see he was the right man for her? Let her go back to that fake world she lived in if that’s what she wanted. He stopped in front of his log house…two stories with glass everywhere and ample decks to enjoy the view of the mountains in the summertime. He wanted to share this with her. He cut the engine and headed inside to change. He decided to go to the lodge and see if Mike needed help getting things up and running.

  Zach dialed, making every effort to keep her image out of his mind. Gratefully, Mike answered on the third ring. “Hey, it’s Zach. Everything going okay?”

  “We’re getting ready to start the lifts again. The wind has died down and everyone’s anxious to get out on the slopes. Reservations are up. I think the storm was a good thing to get everyone in the mood.”

  “That’s great. I’ll be over within the hour and give you a hand.”

  “Thanks. I thought you weren’t coming back until after Christmas?”

  “Plans changed.” Zach hadn’t meant to be short with Mike, but the anger was pumping through his veins.

  “By the way, you’ve had a couple of calls from a guy named Owen. Does that ring a bell?”

  “Yeah, actually, it rings a gong. Did he say what he wanted?”

  “No, said he needed to talk to you and you only. Sounded like an ass to me, but if he’s one of your friends I apologize.”

  “Not hardly. You got him pegged. You have his number handy?”

  Mike rattled off the number and Zach ended the call with the promise to head over to the resort soon. He stared at the piece of paper. Should he call him? Did he have a right to call? Against his better judgment, he dialed.

  “Hello.”

  “I have a few messages from you, Banks. What do you want?” Manners were out the window.

  “Who is this?”

  “You know damned well who it is…Zach Camden.”

  “Right. I’m sorry. I wanted an honest conversation between the two of us, so maybe we could come to an understanding.”

  “Oh yeah?”

  “I love Alexandra. I made a horrible mistake when I married my co-star. I believe I may have gotten so caught up in Alexandra’s storyline I fooled myself. I intend on winning her back. We have history, common backgrounds, and common interests…we’re perfectly suited. We were Hollywood royalty at one time.”

  “That’s very nice for you.” Zach balled his hand into a fist. “But, what Lexie needs is a man who loves her, not her occupation, her history, or the image. You showed your true colors,
Banks. Good luck getting her back, because I’m going to fight you all the way. And, by the way, Lexie and I have a bit of history now too.” Let him think what he wanted, but he sincerely hoped Banks believed he made Lexie his in every way. He wanted him to believe they had more than a couple of weeks locked up in a cabin together. Zach didn’t bother with a “goodbye” as he clicked the end button.

  How was he going to win against an actor who could make her believe anything? That was his job. He was a professional liar.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Alex threw another log on the fire. It was so lonely without him. Nightfall would soon be here and the darkness didn’t frighten her at all when he was here, but now…

  She had asked him to leave and she knew pride would keep him away. Alex went into the kitchen and fixed a cup of hot cocoa, the instant kind. Nothing like what Mrs. Baker made…another memory brought to the surface. She sighed and took her cup into the living room and settled on the couch for a long night. She sat with only her thoughts to keep her company.

  Did she really still love Owen? Her heart leaped with joy when she heard he ended his marriage. She was ashamed of herself. There were children involved. But, she had to ask herself why the joy? Then there was Zach. She’d been miserable since he left. He made her blood boil, but was it just lust? If she had slept with him would she still feel the same way? She believed it went beyond that. He made her laugh, feel hopeful, and worthy. How did Owen make her feel? Like second best. She hadn’t been good enough, but with Zach…she never felt less than perfect.

  She longed to hear his voice. What had she done? She was torn. The rational side of her believed it best to do what she came here to do, finish her book and let go of the past. But what if Zach was her chance at real love, the kind of love she wrote about? Should she turn her back because he wasn’t in the plan?

  The phone rang from the living room. She ran for it, hoping…praying…it was Zach. “Hello,” she answered frantically.

  “Alex, I’m so glad I reached you.”

  “Lindsay, what’s wrong? You sound upset.”

  “Something is wrong with your dad. Your mom called and asked if I could get in touch with you. She’d like you to return to New York. She sounded horrible. I’ve made arrangements for you to fly direct. I have transportation on the way to pick you up.”

  Her agent never sounded out of control. This must be serious. Guilt washed over her at the unanswered calls from her mother. She was sure her mother was calling to tell her something about the background check, real or fiction. She had shut off her phone. Only now, while she was by herself hoping Zach would call, had she turned it on. “How will they find me? I’m in the middle of nowhere.”

  “The driver is familiar with the area and the cabins. He’ll be there shortly.”

  “Lindsay, how serious is his condition?”

  “I don’t know, Alex, but she sounded frantic to have you home.”

  “Okay, thanks. I’ll talk to you soon.”

  Alex’s hands trembled. She and her parents didn’t get along, but she didn’t wish something like this to happen. She rushed to the bedroom and filled her carry on. She’d be back. She clamped down on her lower lip, biting back a sob. The idea of leaving this cabin…it was like leaving a part of her. She ran her hands over her face to rid herself of the tears. What was she crying about?

  Alex knew exactly what she was crying about and it was time she faced it. She made a mistake asking him to leave. She was miserable. She had no time to look for a phone number for Zach. A note would have to do. She scribbled quickly. A sense of calm washed over her. He would know where she was if he came back.

  Zach,

  My dad is sick. I had to rush back to New York, but I’ll be back in time for Christmas.

  Lexie

  Where should she put it where he would see it? She decided on the kitchen table, in plain view. In that moment she realized she had real feelings for Zach Camden. She wished she had a chance to tell him before she left.

  The horn honking snapped her attention to the front of the cabin. She didn’t want to leave. She would be back, she promised. This Christmas would be different…somehow, it would be different.

  ****

  Zach argued with himself all morning. Should he wait a couple of days before heading up to see her? He couldn’t stay away. He needed to be sure she was okay and safe. She was such a city girl. Even though the electric had been restored, he had to know she wasn’t freezing to death. The ride up the mountain seemed to take forever. The anticipation killed him as the minutes ticked away.

  He knocked on the front door, but there was no answer. He jiggled the knob and it was unlocked. That was odd. Panic rose and the adrenaline coursed through his veins. Something was wrong. He pushed the door open slowly and peered in. Nothing looked amiss, so he entered, shutting the door behind him.

  “Lexie,” he called. Silence. The fear for her well-being heightened. He rushed to her bedroom. Some of her things were gone. He checked the desk. Her laptop was still where she left it. He moved on to the kitchen, praying he would find her there. The room was empty, but he saw the note immediately and relief washed over him. He read it once…and then twice…and a third time. Something was wrong with her dad? He would have gone with her. A sudden thought punched him in the stomach. Was Owen Banks going to be there too? He was friends with her mother. What did it matter? He had no control over what happened next. It had to be a good sign she thought to leave him a note. He read the note a fourth time.

  He grabbed the cell from his pocket and dialed. Running a hand through his hair, he waited.

  “Allen Agency,” the female answered.

  “Is Mr. Allen available? This is Zach Camden.”

  “One moment, please.” He paced.

  “Zach, I’m sorry I haven’t called, but there isn’t anything new to report.”

  “I have something for you. She’s headed for New York City.”

  There was a short silence before the reply. “Could you be more specific? That’s a lot of ground to cover.”

  “She left a note. You should have known she was gone. I hired you to watch her.” He was beyond angry. “Her dad is sick. I don’t know, check the hospitals. You have all the information I could get.” Zach stopped at the window and peered out. “When you find her, don’t let her out of your sight. Got it?”

  “I’m on it.”

  Disgusted, Zach locked the door behind him. What was he paying him for? If you wanted something done right, you’d have to do it yourself.

  ****

  Alex was lucky to have a direct flight to New York. Her plane arrived on time, but that did nothing to calm her fear. The passengers in front of her gathered their belongings from the overhead compartments. Each second increased her anxiety. She walked through the gate and that worry turned to fury in a heartbeat. There to greet her…her mother and Owen, both with smiles on their faces. To her right were photographers recording her every move. Her mother kissed her on the cheek and whispered, “Don’t make a scene, dear. You have your career and our family name to consider.”

  Owen stepped up next, but his wasn’t a peck on the cheek, but a full out kiss on the lips. She stiffened at the contact and if she wouldn’t have been in such shock she would have slapped him in the face. Furious didn’t even begin to describe the emotions she was going through. What was he doing here?

  He took the carry on from her and slung it over his shoulder, grabbing her hand. Photographers were following them, screaming questions. “Miss Storm, does this mean you’ve reunited with Owen Banks?” The questions were coming from every direction. “When will you announce your engagement?”

  “Soon,” Owen answered. “We’ll make a statement soon.”

  Her mother, on the opposite side of her, replied, “Keep quiet, Alexandra, and smile. This is for the best, you’ll see.”

  Alex shot her mother a look of disbelief. She’d been tricked. Nothing was wrong with her father. Her own mother bet
rayed her, fooled her into believing her dad was sick. The photographers were in her face. She couldn’t imagine how many images they had gotten.

  They arrived at the awaiting limo and Owen stood to the side while Alex got in first, followed by her mother. The driver shut the door behind them and that’s when Alex let lose. “What the hell is going on here?”

  “Alexandra, your language,” her mother chastised.

  “Well, you’ve certainly made a quick recovery, Mother. Lindsay said you were in a panic. You look remarkably in control. How dare you trick me into coming here?” She unleashed the pent up anger on her. “You’ll be lucky if I ever speak to you again.”

  Alex heard her mother’s gasp, but turned to Owen. “And you! If you ever try to kiss me like that or lay a hand on me I will make you wish you were never born. Do you understand?”

  “Alexandra, calm down.” He attempted to soothe her.

  “Somebody better start talking and telling me why you pulled me away under false pretenses. And wait until I get my hands on Lindsay!”

  “Lindsay doesn’t know we planned this,” Owen conceded.

  “What exactly is your plan, Owen?” Alex shot at him.

  “To marry you, Alexandra.”

  “Are you insane?” The level of her voice matched her temper.

  “You wouldn’t listen. I filed for divorce. I made a terrible mistake. You and I belong together. We’re Hollywood royalty, Alexandra. Lindsay has arranged a couple of appearances here in New York. I thought it would be a great place to announce our engagement. The coverage will be amazing. Think of your book sales and the movie.”

  Everything was about how things looked. “I’m not making any appearances with you and I swear if you say one thing about an engagement I will humiliate you in a way you won’t be able to show your face again. Is that clear?”

  “Alexandra, stop it!” Her mother shouted.

  Alex turned her wrath on her mother. “How dare you! All you’ve ever cared about is if I was making you and father look good. You never cared about me. I’m a puppet in your show, but no more.”