Holiday Heat: The Men of Starlight Bend

by Ashley Jennifer

  The past came rushing back to mix with the present, and a small sob choked the back of her throat.

  He had gotten her a carousel. More importantly, she etched out a memory that could be brought back, dusted off, and meant to make her feel better in a moment where not all was rosy. She closed her eyes. The drive by that carnival that fateful night was no longer painful. It was a distant part of her past.

  This carousel. This moment. It was everything.

  “Do you like it?”

  His deep, rich voice tempted shudders from her body. She turned to gaze at him. “I love it,” she whispered. “How did you know?”

  He shrugged. He looked both polished and sexy, dressed in a snug black jacket, snowy white shirt, and black pants. His eye patch only emphasized the virile strength and grace of his body. “I wanted to give you this. Give you something. Will you tell me why you wanted a carousel so badly?”

  She dragged in a breath. “I was with my foster mom one day when we passed a carnival. There was a carousel right by the gate. I could spot the children screaming, laughing, and riding the horses. They looked so happy, and the horses looked...magical. As if they could carry me away from my problems just for a little while. I begged to go, but we never had any money for silly things. I was usually good about it, I understood, but this time, my heart broke… just a little. I cried that night. Promised myself one day, I’d ride a carousel and be happy.”

  He tugged her into his arms, wrapping her in tight against his chest. She sunk into his delicious warmth and strength, her soul calmed. “You deserve a million carousels,” he said gruffly. “You deserve everything. I just don’t know if I can give it to you, Josephine.”

  “You’re not coming to the carnival. Are you?”

  “No,” he said in that quiet voice of his. The voice he shared only with her. The one that showed his vulnerably. The one that broke her heart into tiny pieces.

  She stayed in his arms for a while, trying to fight through the pain and sadness. He’d given her the carousel, which meant the world to her.

  But it wasn’t him. She wanted him to stand next to her while they faced the world together.

  “I’m sorry,” he said. “This has nothing to do with you. How I feel about you.”

  Finally, she pulled away, gazing up at him. “I’m sorry too.” The sound of tires hit the air, and she glanced toward the first cars beginning to arrive. “You better go, then. Everyone will be arriving soon. “

  He nodded, but misery gleamed in his eye and carved out the features of his face. Still, he turned and began to walk away.

  “Noah?”

  “Yeah?”

  “I love you.” She let the words carry in the winter breeze, to his ears, and settle. Forcing a smile, she headed toward her first guests.

  ~~*~~

  Noah watched Josephine from the window as she greeted each guest as if they were the most important person on the planet.

  She was amazing. The crowds kept coming and she was right in the forefront to welcome all of the kids, kneeling down to talk, or pick up one of the smaller children for a cuddle. She always held out her hand to the parents. Or the ones she knew better, she greeted with a warm embrace. She walked the carnival to check on her wards, making sure everything went smoothly, finally stopping to nibble on a hot dog and some fried dough when a woman with bright red hair snagged her hand and made her sit down.

  Noah wondered if that might be her friend, Megan. Josephine had wanted so desperately for him to meet her. Of course, he refused.

  Sammy whined softly, paws propped up on the sill, staring out at the fun.

  “Sorry, boy. We’re better off in here.”

  “No. You choose to be in here.”

  Irritation flowed through him. He refused to turn around. “I don’t need another pep talk, Charles. I gave her the carnival she asked for. I got her the carousel. I even fell in love with her. Staying inside is best for the both of us.”

  “No, sir. It’s only best for you.”

  “You’re fired, Charles.”

  “You’ve said that before.” A snort echoed behind him. “Madame Joey doesn’t want material things. And she didn’t want the carousel for the children. She wanted it so she could ride it with you. Make a special memory with you.”

  Pain hummed low in his gut. The idea of hurting her was killing him. He knew she understood his trepidation, but would she…

  I love you....

  Somehow, some way, she loved him. Even with all the crap. Even with his face. She loved him and he loved her, but the difference was, she showed him by giving him a memory. The thing that mattered the most to her. He just got a carousel with his money.

  “I don’t want to hurt her,” he ground out.

  “You already did. She asked you to go to the carnival with her. As her date. If you love her, you’ll step out that damn door.”

  Sammy barked.

  Noah buried his damaged face in his hands.

  I love you...

  “If you don’t, you may lose her forever. Go ask her to ride the carousel, Sir. Go be happy. The last thing those people saw was an angry man who turned into their Grinch. Now go out there and be you. Give them the real you.”

  Silence fell.

  Noah watched as a young boy flanked by his mother and father appeared before Josephine. He had dirty blonde hair with a cowlick. He was achingly thin and frail looking, but his profile showed a joyous smile. The boy launched into her arms and Josephine hugged him tight, as the Ferris wheel spun and the carousel whirled, and a dusting of snowflakes wrapped them in winter beauty.

  Owen Salt.

  Josephine was a woman who loved deeply and deserved his all. Not half a man who was afraid to live. He may have a damaged face, but his heart was whole, beating inside his chest. It was time to begin healing his heart.

  Noah pushed himself from the window. “Let’s go, Sammy.”

  The lab jumped up and followed him out the door. With each crunch of snow under his boot, Noah fought off nausea. His biggest fear was that Owen Salt would scream in horror when he saw his face, and then people would run away and he’d confirm all of his darkest fears. That he was indeed, a monster. But he kept walking to stand beside the woman he loved. The one woman who saw beyond the scars, if she saw them at all.

  Her eyes widened. Then a slow smile curved her lips. “Excuse me,” she said, standing up. She reached out her hand to him. He took it. Immediately, the touch of her warm skin comforted him. “Owen, Mr. and Mrs. Salt, I’d like you to meet someone very special to me. He was the one who made this entire carnival possible. This is Noah Elliott.”

  He braced himself for the quick jerk of a head, or horror reflected in their eyes. Instead, he was greeted with warm smiles and steady gazes. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Elliott. I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done,” Mrs. Salt said. “You’ve given our son his miracle.”

  Mr. Salt blinked hard, looking down at his son. The little boy looked just like his father, in younger form. “It means a lot to us. To the community, too.”

  “You’re welcome, but it was really Josephine who spearheaded the entire project. She’s an amazing woman.”

  Her cheeks turned rosy. Owen regarded him with a curious gaze, taking in his face with great detail. Thank God, the boy didn’t cry, instead he tugged at Noah’s pant leg. Noah sunk down to his knees to be on eye level. “Are you having a good time, Owen?”

  The boy gave a toothy grin. “This is the best carnival in the world. When I put the star on the tree, I didn’t think I’d really get my wish. Mom always says to keep wishing because you always have to keep believing.”

  “Your mom is really smart.”

  The little boy reached out and touched Noah’s damaged face. Noah didn’t wince because the boy showed curiosity, not fear.

  “What happened to your face?”

  “I got caught in a fire,” he said calmly, realizing this was normal conversation.

  Owen’
s eyes widened. “Did it hurt?”

  “Yeah. A lot. But I got through it. Just like you’re going to continue to fight and get through you stuff.”

  “Is that your dog?”

  Noah’s lips twitched. He’d forgotten the attention span of a six-year-old was wicked fast. “Yes, that’s Sammy. I heard you like labs.”

  “I do! I have one at home named Hershey! Can I pet Sammy?”

  “Sure.” He whistled Sammy over, who immediately sat in front of Owen and allowed himself to be petted and adored. “Do you still want to save dogs and have a rescue farm when you get older?”

  “Yep. I’m gonna buy a big huge farm, and save tons of animals who are sick and make them feel happy again.”

  “Do you think maybe I can help you with that? I have some great ideas for a rescue shelter for sick animals. And I’ve got a lot of land and contacts. You could name the farm, Owen’s Place.”

  “Awesome! Hey, can I ride the scrambler now?”

  Noah laughed and stood back up. “Absolutely.” Mrs. Salt was pulled away by her son and both were swallowed up in the bright lights and laughing crowds. “He’s a wonderful child,” Noah said to the father.

  “He is.” The man shifted his feet. “I know what it must have cost for you to throw this carnival for the town.”

  “Oh, the money wasn’t a problem.”

  “No. I mean the cost to you personally,” Mr. Salt said as he shifted nervously from one foot to the other. “To do something for Starlight Bend after what you went through.”

  Noah tried not to stiffen at reminders of the past. Thankfully, Josephine held his hand a tad tighter in support.

  “Most of the people in town knew what you did for those boys was heroic. But after the press and the chaos, we never got an opportunity to reach out and make it right. I hope you’ll let us do that, Mr. Elliott.” With a nod, he reached out and shook his hand. “Hope to see you in town some day. And if you ever do come to town, please stop by and see Owen. It would mean the world to him. Thanks again.”

  Noah didn’t have a chance to digest the man’s words. He was quickly caught up in a line of people wanting to reach out and say hello; to thank him; to chat; to shake his hand. Within the next few hours, he was caught up in the familiarity of the town he’d once loved, and the people who’d made him want to stay. Not a single person winced at the scars on his face. They did look. But no one screamed at what he thought had made him a monster. The ice in his chest loosened cube by cube, until his breath reached deeper, and his insides rested.

  Finally, he looked at the woman he’d fallen in love with. With a bow, he offered her his hand.

  “Josephine, would you ride the carousel with me?”

  She broke into a dazzling smile. “Oh, my, God, yes!”

  He escorted her onto the carousel and lifted her up on a bright yellow horse. He chose the black one beside her, and they rode around and around, holding hands and laughing as small children do on a carousel.

  When the ride ended, he said the only words left to say. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too.”

  “I’m going to buy this carousel for your wedding present.”

  She laughed with delight and leaned over. “I’d rather you give Charles a hefty raise.”

  Noah grinned. “Done.”

  Then he kissed her.

  Epilogue

  Owen Salt watched the man and woman kiss on the carousel. His parents told him it wasn’t polite to make faces, but kissing? Gross!

  He wasn’t going to kiss anyone, especially a girl. At least, Mr. Elliott and Ms. Whitman looked happy. And Mr. Elliott was super nice. He even looked even cooler than Batman. He wore a real eye patch, wanted to help him save the animals, and even survived a fire like a superhero.

  He was glad Mr. Elliott was with Ms. Whitman. He’d only met Ms. Whitman a few times, but she was always nice and looked so pretty, and smiled at him. She didn’t treat him like a sick kid either. She talked to him about cool things, like Marvel comics and Mario Brothers on 3DS. Important stuff.

  Owen glanced at his mom, who was smiling and looked happy, too, instead of being worried all the time. He knew she was real tired and worried about him, which made him sad. But tonight, she’d eaten cotton candy with him, and laughed on the scrambler, and didn’t warn him about sugar or spinning too much. Plus, all his friends were here, Derek, and Kayla, and Logan, and Adam. He was super lucky to get his wish, and get to share it with his best friends.

  It was the best night of his life.

  As the Ferris Wheel reached the top, his mom gave a girly scream, which made him laugh, and when he looked out over Starlight Bend, a strange feeling of peace settled over him. He just knew everything was going to be okay. He was going to beat leukemia, open a rescue place, and see the world one day. Of course, if he told his mom or dad, they would get that look in their eyes, and Mom would cry, so he kept the knowledge to himself.

  The snow fell, and the lights glittered, and the world looked beautiful from up high.

  Yeah. This was the best night of his life.

  And he’d never forget it.

  About the Author

  Jennifer Probst wrote her first book at twelve years old. She bound it in a folder, read it to her classmates, and hasn’t stopped writing since. She took a short hiatus to get married, get pregnant, buy a house, get pregnant again, pursue a master’s in English Literature, and rescue two shelter dogs. Now she is writing again.

  She makes her home in Upstate New York with the whole crew. Her sons keep her active, stressed, joyous, and sad her house will never be truly clean.

  She is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of sexy and erotic contemporary romance. She was thrilled her book, The Marriage Bargain, was ranked #6 on Amazon’s Best Books for 2012, and spent 26 weeks on the New York Times. Her work has been translated in over a dozen countries, sold over a million copies, and was dubbed a “romance phenom” by Kirkus Reviews.

  She loves hearing from readers. Visit her website for updates on new releases and her street team at www.jenniferprobst.com.

  Sign up for her newsletter at www.jenniferprobst.com/newsletter for a chance to win a gift card each month and receive exclusive material and giveaways.

  Also by Jennifer Probst

  The Billionaire Builders Series

  Everywhere and Every Way

  The Searching for Series

  Searching for Someday

  Searching for Perfect

  Searching for Beautiful

  Searching for Always

  Searching for You

  Searching for Disaster

  The Marriage to a Billionaire Series

  The Marriage Bargain

  The Marriage Trap

  The Marriage Mistake

  The Marriage Merger

  The Book of Spells

  The Steele Brothers Series

  Play Me

  Dare Me

  Catch Me

  Beg Me

  Sex on the Beach Series

  Chasing Me

  Beyond Me

  The Hot in the Hamptons Series

  Summer Sins

  Dark Blessings Series

  Dante’s Fire

  The Executive Series

  Executive Seduction

  Other Sexy Contemporaries

  The Holiday Hoax

  All the Way

  Stories for the Whole Family

  Buffy and the Carrot

  A Life Worth Living

 

 

 
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