by Robyn Neeley
It had been great to see Sara again. Natasha had introduced him as the creator of the doll that Santa had given her yesterday. He’d had a wonderful time singing with them, and he’d even talked to her parents about making a sizable donation to a fund that had been set up to cover her medical expenses.
He took his time, slowing down as to avoid an accident. Huge snowflakes hit the front window as the wind whistled. The bartender at the inn said they were predicting over four feet of snow. Once Drew got back to the cabin, he and Lauren would hunker down until the snowstorm passed.
He could think of worse places to be then trapped in a beautiful, rustic cabin with Lauren. If they had to spend the next two days finding creative ways to pass the time, so be it.
Fifteen minutes later he pulled into the familiar driveway, thankful he arrived before the roads became treacherous.
He shut the engine off, feeling a little bit nervous, but the good kind of nerves when you just know you’re about to finally get what you’ve always wanted. Starting right now, the only thing on his mind was getting back the relationship he should have never let go of in the first place.
He jumped out of the car and trudged up the snowy path. It must be past eight p.m. He hadn’t meant to stay so long, but was now ready to get started on that fire.
“Anyone home?” Shutting the door behind him, he pulled off his gloves.
“In here,” Lauren called out from the living room.
“Hey.” He strolled through the foyer, loosened his scarf, and took off his coat. Lauren was curled up on the couch with her laptop. A glass of red wine sat almost finished on the coffee table next to a nearly empty bottle. “You alone?”
“Yeah, Miles left about thirty minutes ago.” She moved her legs for him to sit down.
He accepted that invitation, took a seat, and maneuvered her legs on top of him. “Nice boots.”
“I’ve been waiting to warm up a little bit more before taking them off. I thought the wine would do the trick.” She picked up her glass and took a long drink.
“So, Olivia and I talked and—”
“You are going to die when you see this.” Lauren sat her wine glass down and spun her laptop around. “Look at all the male dolls that are registered. Isn’t it terrific?”
Why was she changing the subject? Didn’t she want to know that he was now a single man? He peered down at the screen. Wow. She was right. Not only was there a spike in registrations but it looked like several kids were logged in and playing with the interactive games. This was exactly what he’d wanted.
But right now there was something he wanted more. Way more. He pushed the laptop screen down.
“Don’t you want to see who belongs to Anna? I see Sara’s family registered the doll.”
“I already know. Sara told me earlier. It’s Tyler.”
“No way. Best friends and soul mates. What a happy ending,” she said softly.
“The best kind, right?”
She shrugged, and Drew leaned back. Lauren didn’t seem mad, but he could tell something was bothering her.
He eyed her nearly finished wine glass. “Have you eaten? I can order some takeout if you’d like. Maybe Dasher’s Diner delivers.”
Lauren swung her legs off of him, sprung up, and headed to the window. “I don’t think anyone will be on the roads now. It looks pretty bad out there.”
“You’re probably right. I’m glad Miles left when he did.” He walked over to Lauren, and drew her in. Sweeping her bangs off of her forehead, he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “And that we’re finally alone.”
Tilting her chin up, their eyes met for a split second, before he closed his lids and brought his mouth down. There was no way he could hold back his desire to kiss her any longer.
One second later, his lips met unexpected air, and his eyes flew open to see Lauren walking away from him. He watched as she moved back toward the sofa and grabbed her wine glass and bottle. Before he could anticipate her next move, she spun around.
“Drew, what are we doing?”
He smiled, hoping it would diffuse whatever was going on inside that pretty head of hers. “I’m trying unsuccessfully to seduce you.” Walking over, he took the items from her hands, set them down, and brought both of her hands up to his lips, kissing her soft knuckles. “Olivia and I are over.”
She blinked, not saying a word.
“For good.”
“How is she?” Pulling her hands from his grasp, she folded them across her chest.
“Quite well, actually.”
“It couldn’t have been a pleasant conversation.”
“No, but she took it better than I expected.” While he understood it was Lauren’s nature to be empathetic to the pain of others, didn’t she understand what this meant? “Olivia will be fine.” He tried to reach for her hand again, but this time she moved it away. “Lauren, we can be together now.”
“Together … right …” She stared in the direction of the Christmas tree.
Something was wrong. This wasn’t the reaction he had waited all night for. Didn’t she want this as much as he did? She certainly did yesterday in the dressing room, not to mention their close encounter in the hot tub. What had changed? “Lauren, is something the matter?”
“Why didn’t you want to marry me?”
“Lauren …”
“No. Really. I want to know. What was wrong with me that you weren’t ready?”
“Nothing’s wrong with you. It was all me.” He shook his head. “I was being stupid … I don’t know …”
“You don’t know?”
He gazed at her, knowing if they had any chance of making it this time, he needed to be truthful. “I felt rushed.”
“After nine years!” She threw her hands up in the air and then turned her back on him.
“No. That’s not what I meant.” Whatever he said was going to just set her off, but he needed to be completely honest, even if it meant admitting something she might not want to hear. He took a deep breath. “The wedding was rushed, and you can’t deny it. Maybe we shouldn’t have immediately jumped into planning a wedding in three weeks, but enjoyed our engagement.”
She turned, voice shaking. “I thought you wanted to get married immediately.”
“What I wanted was to make you happy. Before I knew what was going on, Tie Your Knot had been hired, and we were off to Hawaii to meet Kate and Miles. I freaked out and should have been honest with you up front. I know that now.”
He shook his head. This was not how their evening alone was supposed to go. Sure, they’d have to talk about the aborted wedding, but he thought they were on the same page when it came to getting back together. What happened to change her mind? “We have a second chance now. I ended things with Olivia …”
Her eyes watered. “Drew, I’m starting to realize Olivia wasn’t the problem.”
“Then what is your problem?” He instantly regretted that sentence as soon as it flew out. “Our problem,” he tried to correct it.
“My problem is who’s to say we should be together? Sure, we could give into our feelings and have an amazing night, but what about tomorrow or the next day, when you have cold feet again?”
Drew shoved his hands in his pockets. What did he need to do to convince her that he’d regretted what he’d done and he’d never hurt her again? “Lauren, I’m not going to have cold feet, second thoughts, or regrets, but obviously you do.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Earlier today when I tried to talk about us, you changed the subject. Not to mention just now when I brought up that Olivia and I were through.” He shook his head. “I might have had cold feet, but you’re the one who called off the wedding. You dumped me.”
“Oh, so now this is all my fault?”
He shrugged his answer as the lights flickered and suddenly the cabin went dark.
“Well, just great,” she muttered. “I’m going to bed.” She attempted to cross the room and hit the end
table. “Ouch! Dammit.”
“You okay?” He could barely make out her silhouette.
“I’m fine.”
Judging by her tone, that clearly wasn’t the case. If she wanted to be alone, he’d help her upstairs. “Maybe there’s a flashlight in this place. I’ll check the kitchen.”
“There’s one in my car,” she said. “In the glove compartment.”
“Don’t go upstairs,” he ordered. “I’ll be right back.”
He grabbed his coat and headed out the door, wanting to hit the rewind button on this evening. Too bad he’d already given his Wishing Tree wish away. It might have come in handy. Hopefully that woman with the matching silver snowflake was having a better night than he was.
He didn’t blame Lauren for having doubts, but she wasn’t giving him a chance. The wet snow smacked his face as he hurried to her car. Clicking the unlock button on the remote he flew open the passenger door and yanked open the glove compartment.
He tossed its contents onto the passenger seat. “Jesus, Lauren. Do you ever clean this out?” He remembered the time he’d gotten pulled over in Lauren’s car for speeding on the 401 Highway. He’d had to search for her registration through a mound of items she’d stuffed in the compartment.
He found the flashlight and flipped on the switch. At least it worked and could guide them to their separate rooms since this night seemed to be a wrap. Maybe she’d be more reasonable in the morning.
He picked up the items on the passenger seat and began to shove them back in. The flashlight shone on what appeared to be a red and white scarf or something wrapped around shoes.
Wait a minute. He reached again for the material, examining both it and the shoes with the flashlight. “Tights and shiny shoes?”
Candy Cane Sparkly Toes. What was Olivia’s costume doing in Lauren’s glove compartment?
Grabbing the items, he slammed the car door and trudged through the snow back to the cabin.
“Lauren,” he yelled, kicked off his boots and returned to the living room. She was bent down, using the fire starter to light the logs.
“Did you find the flashlight?” She grabbed a fire poker. “I thought I’d at least get the fire going.”
“Are these yours?” He held up the stockings and shoes and turned the flashlight on the items that Olivia had on earlier. They had to be Lauren’s. They needed to be Lauren’s.
“Yeah. They were part of my elf costume your brother made me wear last week. I threw them in the glove compartment the night I picked you up at the airport. Olivia borrowed them today.”
“Thank God.” Relief rushed through him, as he squeezed the tights and then set them and the shoes on the coffee table.
“What’s the big deal?”
With one swift motion he pulled her into his arms and cupped her face, this time determined for their lips to lock.
“What are you doing?” She peered up at him. “Shouldn’t we go find the fuse box?”
“Lauren Kincaid, you are the love of my life and my soul mate.”
“Drew,” she whispered, setting down the fire poker. “I didn’t mean to go all crazy tonight, but how are you so sure about us now when we’ve been living on separate continents for over a year?”
He brought her down to the white bear skin rug, encouraged that she wasn’t pulling away this time. The glow from the crackling flames made her even more beautiful. As far as he was concerned, the electricity could stay off for the rest of the night.
Before sitting down beside her, he grabbed the tights and shoes.
“I’ve loved you from the first day we met on Waikiki beach in college. I love how you have always been a pack rat, cannot turn down a piña colada to save your life, and make the best cup of coffee I’ve ever tasted.”
She cocked an amused eyebrow. “That’s what you love about me?”
“I love the woman you are, the amazingly talented professional you’ve become, and your unwavering loyalty to my family’s legacy. I was out of my mind to let you walk away from me last summer. I knew it then, and I know it now.”
“Drew …”
He reached up and placed a finger on her soft lips. “And I love how that even though you know how hard this time of year is for me, you never give up.” His throat tightened. “You saved my dolls, you make me better—you always have. I know now I can’t go on one minute longer living my life without you in it.”
He grabbed the elf costume, grinning. “A young prophet told me rather emphatically recently that my soul mate was named Candy Cane Sparkly Toes. I think I’ve found her.” He paused and knelt down, unzipping her tall boot.
“Candy Cane Sparkly Toes is your soul mate?” She leaned back and straightened her leg, letting him slide the boot off. The irritation on her face from earlier had disappeared. “You’re not seriously going to make me try the shoe on. I can assure you it’s mine.”
He flashed her a devilish grin. “Nah, I just wanted to get you out of these.” After tossing the first boot aside, he immediately went to work removing the other. His hands slid up her jeans, and he scooted closer. “I love you, Lauren. I know how much I hurt you, but I’ll do whatever it takes to prove to you things will be different this time.” Moving her hair to the side, he leaned in and kissed her soft neck.
“Whatever it takes?” She let out a sexy sigh that he interpreted as permission to keep doing what he was doing.
He nodded, unbuttoning the top of her sweater. “This snow storm could last for hours.” His fingers worked their way down, until her black lacy bra peeked out. “I’m fully prepared to keep you warm.”
“Because undressing me is going to keep me warm.” She smiled, flashing her own mischievous grin.
“Body heat,” he whispered before finally taking possession of her lips, deepening the kiss, and laying her down on the fluffy carpet. As the logs cracked and the snow fell outside, Drew set out to prove to Lauren that he’d never disappoint her ever again.
• • •
Lauren flipped over and wrapped an arm around Drew’s middle. His hand covered hers.
“Good morning.” He opened his eyes and grinned.
That was an understatement.
They’d made love in front of the roaring fire and then spent hours in each other’s arms talking, reminiscing, and enjoying the snowfall before heading upstairs to Drew’s bedroom. He promised her things would be different. That he would never keep how he was feeling from her again, and he would never question what they had.
And she believed him. It was becoming more and more evident to her that Drew had done some serious soul searching, but so had she. She was a different person, too. No longer was she afraid to go after what she wanted—and right now that was a future that would end with her becoming Mrs. Drew Cannon.
She ran her hand up and down his bare chest, enjoying every moment of reconnecting with his muscular ridges.
But this reconnection wasn’t just physical. They were and had always been a team. They’d proven it last year when they’d worked together to get Luke and Kate back together, and they did it again this weekend at the festival coming up with a plan to sell the dolls. “I could stay here forever,” she murmured, resting her head on his chest and relishing the fact that after all this time apart, she was finally close enough to feel his beating heart.
“Me, too.” His hands ran up and down her bare back.
“Drew, I’m sorry about last night.”
“You are?” His eyebrows furrowed. “Do you regret what we did? Am I moving too fast?”
“God, no.” She scooted up his body, brushing his lips with hers just to give him a little extra reassurance. “I’m sorry for being irrational when you first got back. I had way too much wine while you were at the inn and very little to eat yesterday. My mind went to a dark place. I was being stupid.”
“I understand.” He stroked her face with the back of his finger. “And you weren’t being stupid. You had every right to be angry and have your doubts, but I hope y
ou know how much I love you.”
“I do. I love you, too, baby.” She reached over for the red and white tights and sparkly shoes that she couldn’t resist bringing upstairs with them last night. “You know, Miles gave me that nickname.”
“What nickname?”
“Candy Cane Sparkly Toes. Elf Candy Cane Sparkly Toes, to be exact.”
“He did? How ironic is that?”
“I guess my best friend helped me find my way back to my Happily Ever After—just like the doll.”
“You’re never going to let me forget that Miles was the inspiration for our Hail Mary idea, are you?”
“Never!” She laughed, laying the tights and shoes on the nightstand. “But I’m glad that inspiration is not currently in the next room.”
“Me, too. Come here.” Drew wrapped his arms around her, both enjoying the silent embrace as they continued to caress each other. The electricity had come back on during the night, and even though the fire had long been snuffed and they’d moved upstairs, his body kept her plenty warm.
Drew finally tilted his head toward the window. “Looks like it’s still snowing.”
That it was. Outside white snowflakes continued to fall, not showing any signs of letting up anytime soon. “Trapped for another day,” she said with more than a hint of flirtation. “Whatever shall we do to pass the time, Mr. Cannon? Scrabble or Monopoly, maybe?”
“Board games, right.” He pulled her in for a long kiss, causing heat to rush through her. “I have something else in mind.” He brought the comforter around them, tucking it in on both sides. “But it’s definitely going to shoot us both straight to the top of the Naughty List. Can you handle that?”
“I think Santa will forgive us this once.” She giggled as the love of her life pulled the cover over her head and proceeded to show her the definitely naughty, but oh, so pleasurable, things he had in mind.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Drew raced down the steps straight for the door. Whoever was responsible for the ridiculous knocking and interrupting his lazy afternoon with his in-bed companion was going to land headfirst into the nearest snowbank.
