Lucy McConnell's Snow Valley Box Set

by Lucy McConnell

  Paisley stretched out on her back with her knees up over the arm rest of the bench and her legs dangling. Sure she’d had a great time, but she was so miserable. She stared up at the cloudless night sky and thought she might just kill Amber.

  Ripping off her gloves, she fumbled for her phone, turned it on, ignored the messages, and dialed.

  “I give up,” she said when Amber answered.

  “Paisley?” Amber kept her voice low. Either Paisley had woken her up or Journey slept close by.

  “Yeah, it’s me. I quit the bet.”

  “Why?”

  Paisley threw her arm over her eyes. “You don’t want to know.”

  “Where are you?” Amber asked.

  “Right now, I’m lying on a bench at the carnival trying not to throw up.”

  Amber snickered.

  “I’m serious. The only thing this bet has gotten me is a new fear of crickets, a ding in my chocolate addiction, a sick stomach, a nephew who thinks I’m pregnant, and a booth operator who might sue me for a head injury.”

  Amber had a hard time breathing through her laughter. “Stop. You’ve got to stop.”

  Paisley could picture her dabbing at the corner of her eyes, her shoulders shaking as she tried not to wake the baby. Paisley let her have her giggle fit before saying. “So, you’re going to be a wonderful, kind, sister-in-law and let me off the hook, right? I won’t even ask for a Christmas present this year.”

  “Um, that would be a negatory. You’ve got until midnight, soldier.”

  “You’re mean.”

  “You’ll thank me later.”

  “Yeah, I probably won’t.”

  “You love me,” Amber said instead of goodbye and Paisley didn’t try to argue.

  She shoved her phone back in her pocket and replaced her gloves. The cold started to seep in. Paisley took the change in temperature as a good sign and sat up. The world stayed put, instead of spinning in all directions, and she thought she might be able to stand, but stayed in her seat. Her enthusiasm drained, Paisley waited for Peake and Clay with her head hung low. If she survived the night, she’d never say “yes” again.

  A few minutes later, Clay slid into the seat next to her, Peake sleeping like an angel in his arms. His heavy lashes rested on his cheeks. Oh, some girl would fall head-over-heels for those lashes one day and never look back.

  Paisley shook her head. “How did this happen?” she asked softly.

  Clay shifted Peake’s foot so it wasn’t digging into his side. “One minute he’s bounding into the swings over there, and the next his head is bobbing. I had to grab onto his seat and keep him talking till the ride stopped and then he just conked out.”

  Paisley patted Peake’s back. “I feel young when I can wear him out because more often than not, it’s the other way around.”

  She and Clay exchanged a look full of contentment.

  “I can’t imagine anyone wearing you out. You go non-stop.” Clay put his free arm across the back of the bench, inviting Paisley to snuggle closer.

  She took the invitation. Being with him like this was natural and easy. She had to wonder if she would have done the same thing if not for Amber’s double-dog dare. Probably not. Guilt nagged. There was no rule against Paisley telling Clay about the bet and she felt he should know the truth.

  “There’s something I should tell you.” She sat up straight. “This-” she made a circle with her finger indicating the carnival and herself, “isn’t me.”

  Clay’s eyebrows came together. Paisley pushed on. “I made a bet with Amber that for one day I had to say yes to everything.” She played with her scarf. “Normally, I would watch other people play the games while I kept track of tickets. I don’t eat churros or pickles or other fried foods and I would never even consider trying crickets – chocolate or otherwise.”

  Clay’s hand found her shoulder and eased her back into the seat. “Why would you make a bet like that?”

  Paisley continued to twist her scarf around her hands. “The people in my life are so enthusiastic about, well, about life. They aren’t boring or predictable. I wanted to try it out. You know, see what I was missing.”

  Clay glanced down at her fidgeting hands. “What about me, was I part of the bet, too?”

  “No. It was a coincidence we ended up here together.”

  “A happy coincidence or just a coincidence?”

  Paisley hadn’t considered the question. “I’d have to say a happy one. You made the night much more enjoyable – and slightly more embarrassing.”

  Clay pointed to himself, “Me? Embarrassing? You’re the one spitting things and turning green.”

  Paisley elbowed him lightly in the gut. “Yes, but I had to do it all in front of you.”

  Clay used the arm resting behind her to gather her close. Peake occupied Clay’s left side, counting sugar plums, oblivious to the energy encircling their bench. Paisley rested her hand on Clay’s chest, just like she had at the cookie party. This time, there was no part of her desiring to keep him away.

  “So ...”

  Clay’s lazy smile made Paisley’s heart skip a beat.

  “If I asked to kiss you, you’d have to say yes?”

  Paisley gasped as a shot of panic raced through her veins. Before she could even think about Clay leaving after Christmas or the way her heart could become collateral damage, she said, “Technically, you wouldn’t have to ask.”

  “I just want to make sure I have it all straight – technically,” he said before his lips found hers.

  Paisley melted against him. She couldn’t help herself; kissing Clay was like sitting next to a warm fire and riding the Scrambler all at the same time. His tenderness had her trembling inside her thermal-insulated coat.

  When they broke apart, Paisley didn’t dare open her eyes. She’d been here before. Well, not here on this bench, but in the moment after a first kiss, when she hoped this guy might be more than just another guy. Last time she was here, she opened her eyes to a self-satisfied look staring back at her. She didn’t want to spoil the perfect feeling, this in between moment full of happy possibilities.

  Clay brushed his cheek against hers. “Pais?” he whispered near her ear.

  “Hmmmm?”

  “I have a problem.”

  Paisley pulled back and opened her eyes to find Clay’s shining. He didn’t look like a man with a problem, he looked like a man who was happy and content.

  “I don’t know if you kissed me because you wanted to, or if you kissed me to beat Amber at her game.” He brushed her hair over her shoulder.

  What an impossible situation – all because of that stupid double-dog dare. Paisley’s shoulders dropped. “I don’t think it will help much if I told you it was both?”

  He shook his head. “Nope. You’re still under the influence of the bet.”

  Paisley bit her lip. “What do you suggest?”

  “I think I should find you first thing in the morning and kiss you again. Then, I’d know for sure.”

  Paisley grinned. He wasn’t stealing kisses and running away. “That could work.”

  Clay stood up and offered his hand. “All right. Let’s get going.”

  “Where?” Paisley took his hand and once she was steady on her feet, he didn’t let go.

  “It’s like my mom used to say on Christmas Eve: The sooner we get to sleep the sooner we can wake up.”

  Paisley laughed as he hurried them through the thinning crowds; the in-between, happy feeling carrying her along.

  Chapter 8

  THE MEMORY OF CLAY’S KISS stopped her halfway through brushing her teeth just to grin at herself in the mirror. Paisley put on her pajamas and climbed into bed. She replayed the night, well not the cricket part, over and over again.

  When the clock struck midnight, a spell broke and all the things Paisley had been able to forget while wrapped up in Clay, came flooding back. The intensity of her feelings for Clay overwhelmed her. The kiss was incredible and she was falling
for Clay like a ten-pound lure dropped into a three-foot stream.

  She buried her head beneath the pillow and opened her mouth in a silent scream. Gasping for air, she threw the pillow off her face and onto the floor. She couldn’t fall in love with Clay. What would they do when he left, see each other on weekends? Visit during the holidays? Spend hours on the phone wishing they weren’t so far apart? There was no telling how long a relationship built on cell phone coverage could last. Besides, long-distance relationships didn’t often end in a marriage and a couple of beautiful children. They broke off. Broken hurt.

  Snagging the pillow and giving it a good hard fluff, Paisley settled back under the thick blankets. Even now, hours later, Clay’s kiss still tingled against her lips. A few more kisses from Clay and she’d completely lose her mind.

  Losing her mind was unacceptable.

  If she let loose, the whole world would erupt into chaos. Okay, maybe not the whole world, she was too practical to be that dramatic, but her corner of the world would become unfamiliar and ... and ... scary.

  Nope, she needed to brush off the kiss and move on. The only problem, okay the biggest problem, was that Clay would be there in less than eight hours expecting a repeat performance. Oh, how Paisley wanted to participate. Since the first moment she laid eyes on the real Clay at the bonfire, she’d wanted to wrap her arms around his neck, bury her fingers into his curly locks, and never let go. Hugging the pillow close, she finally fell into a deep sleep.

  In the bright light of day, the confusion holding Paisley captive after midnight faded like a bad dream. She stepped into the shower knowing full well she was too smart to fall for another guy who would pull a disappearing act. She simply wouldn’t allow it.

  Her new resolve didn’t mean she had to swear off Clay. They could have a good time while he was in town. As long as she knew what they shared was going to end, and he was aware the arrangement was temporary, there wasn’t any harm in sharing time – and lip-tingling kisses – while he was here. She’d just have to keep a firm hold on her emotions. No falling in love!

  Her plan was a good one. However, she did see a hole. A hole that set her all a flutter. Her inhibitions evaporated when Clay was around. She trusted him enough to say what she was feeling, tease, and laugh – even at herself. She wasn’t afraid to do something stupid – like try to eat a cricket. With him around, she felt brave. He brought out a part of her personality she’d hesitated to explore. Granted, it wasn’t the smartest side of her. Clay helped her find a level of reckless abandon that made life interesting.

  Paisley slipped into a skirt and button up blouse borrowed from Amber, looking forward to Clay picking her up for church. She went to the kitchen to grab a bowl of cereal when there was a knock at the door. Smoothing her hair with her hand, Paisley hurried to answer it.

  Sawyer, dressed in a suit and tie bustled in. “Man, it is cold out there this morning.” He shook like a dog, throwing snowflakes at all angles. “Mornin’.”

  “Good morning.” Paisley stifled her irritation at having her brother show up uninvited when Clay would be there any minute. She grabbed a bowl and spoon. “What’s up?”

  “Journey and Peake are still out so Amber’s sleeping in. They’re going to stay home. Journey’s not supposed to go out yet, so I came by myself.”

  Paisley added milk to her bowl and took a bite.

  Sawyer checked his phone. “We have to leave in ten minutes.”

  Paisley shook her head, her mouth full of wheat. She finished chewing and said, “Thanks for thinking of me, but I have a ride.”

  Sawyer sat down at her bar and threw back a handful of dry cereal. “Clay called. He said he had a conference call and asked if I could drive you.”

  Paisley focused on her cereal, which now looked as appetizing as a basket of crickets. “Oh.” He didn’t even have the decency to call her cell. Instead he called her big brother to give her a ride. That’s not humiliating.

  “Five minutes,” he said as she hurried from the room.

  Paisley grabbed her sensible church shoes and her purse.

  “You ready?” Sawyer called from the front room.

  “Yeah.” Paisley slipped into her coat and followed him out to the parking lot. She got in his car, still warm from the ride over, and stared out the window as they made their way through town. She’d officially been brushed off – without even a phone call. She rubbed her temples.

  “You tired? You’re awfully quiet,” Sawyer asked.

  “I’m fine.”

  “We’re jamming tomorrow night if you want to come over.”

  “No, thank you.” Paisley didn’t offer an excuse. Though Sawyer didn’t take offense to her cold shoulder, he also didn’t ask for an explanation. He just shrugged and turned up the music.

  That was one advantage to having Sawyer around, he was such a guy (although he wasn’t the guy Paisley wanted to ride to church with), he wouldn’t pry into her personal life.

  She spent the remainder of the ride berating herself for giving Clay an inch, because he’d gone and taken a mile and she hadn’t even seen it coming. She kept her cool until Sawyer pulled into the church parking lot.

  Storming through the double doors, Paisley spotted her parents sitting in their usual pew and made her way over. The church was filled with locals and out-of-towners. Her parents always made an effort to arrive early in order to get their regular seat. With the number of tourists in town, it was a good thing; seats filled up fast.

  Besides the unfamiliar faces, a few long-lost friends came home for the holidays. Kazlyn was hard to miss sitting next to the tallest man in the congregation. Paisley felt a pang as she realized how far they’d drifted apart. But she was happy for Kazlyn – bringing a guy home was a big step.

  Paisley’s mom gave her a look for cutting it close, but didn’t have time to ask any questions as Pastor John was already at the pulpit. He introduced his nephew, who was a pastor in training. Paisley lifted her eyes off the hymnal long enough to note the man didn’t resemble a pastor much before dropping them again.

  Paisley adjusted her skirt and glared at her hands. Her chest ached, reminding her of when Brent left. One day she was flying high on what she thought was love, and the next she came crashing down as his shiny blue pick-up truck hauled tail out of town without so much as a, “See you next year.” Brent played her – hard, and she walked right into his game, innocent of the rules. His abrupt and cold departure left her angry, hurt, and a whole lot wiser.

  Wiser? Ha!

  She yanked on her shirt cuffs, determined to pay more attention to the sermon than she did to Clay. Sure, she coped – or shut off as Clay would say – but it was the only way she knew how to get through the day. She had to keep it together through church and the invariable socializing after. Then Sawyer could drive her home and she could disappear into a cheesy Christmas movie and a bucket of popcorn.

  She pulled her phone from her purse, ignored her mother’s scowl, and checked her missed calls list. Crap. Alfred’s number was listed several times over the last two days. She fidgeted in her chair, not unaware of the people around her scooting away so she wouldn’t bug them. She was antsy to get outside and check her messages.

  When the sermon was over, she excused herself, climbed over Sawyer’s long legs, and darted for the ladies’ room to check her voicemail. Alfred hadn’t left a message, which frustrated her to no end considering the number of times she’d tried to call him in the last week. The least he could have done was leave her some sort of affirmation the quartet would be there on Christmas. Instead, she was left wondering. Wondering left a pile of rocks in her stomach. She stuffed her phone in her purse and ran out just as several teenage girls ducked into the restroom.

  She found Sawyer across the room and motioned for him to meet her outside.

  “Where are you off to in such a hurry?” Dad snagged her waist in one of his vice-grip, one-armed hugs and Paisley struggled to breathe. He let go just as fast as he’d grabb
ed on. Dad wasn’t much for public displays of affection.

  “I’ve got a phone call to make for work.”

  “Are you coming for dinner? Your mom made rolls.”

  Paisley pressed her hand against her stomach. After all the fried food she’d eaten last night, the last thing she needed was a pot roast and homemade rolls. Besides, her parents would want to discuss the band and Clay. She needed to put some distance between them.

  “Maybe next week. I’m under the gun.” She pecked a kiss on his cheek before darting off to meet Sawyer in the parking lot.

  She had just walked through her front door when her phone rang. Paisley scrambled to get it out of her purse, praying it was Alfred. She’d finally be able to confirm the band and put the cherry on top of the Christmas Ball arrangements. It was.

  “Alfred! So good to hear from you.”

  “Thanks, Ms. Hackett.”

  “How are things going?”

  “Not so great.” He paused to pull the phone away and cough. “I’m sorry to tell you, but half the group has strep.”

  Paisley felt the floor give way and she grabbed onto the edge of her counter. “Oh no.”

  “Jared’s face has swollen and he’s in the hospital. He’ll be lucky to make it home for Christmas, let alone play. I’m sorry, but we’ll have to cancel.”

  Paisley used her free hand to rub her temple. “It’s kind of late notice.”

  “I tried to call your cell last night, but it went straight to voicemail.”

  Paisley gritted her teeth. One more reason she should have stayed put in her role as the responsible one instead of frolicking around the carnival like a child. “The ball is less than a week away.”

  “I understand and I’ll be happy to refund your deposit. I am sorry.”

  Tipping her head up, Paisley begged the heavens for a Christmas miracle. “It’s not your fault they’re sick. I hope they get better soon.”

  “Thank you. I’ll put the check in the mail in the morning.”