by Leslie Kelly
“And now,” he said, carefully unfolding the paper, “you have your snowflake.”
As he flattened the paper out, Lily saw he had created a beautiful, lacy snowflake. The younger children exclaimed their delight, and began snatching sheets of paper and started folding them.
Aiden was infinitely patient as he showed each child in turn how to fold the paper, and where to cut to create the best patterns. As Lily watched, her heart swelled with affection for this man who could be so tough, and yet so tender.
“That’s quite a man you have there,” Inge said softly, as she stood beside Lily. “I’d say he’s a keeper.”
Lily nodded. He was a keeper. She’d suspected as much from the beginning, but now she knew it was the truth. Only he’d never be hers to keep. They wanted different things, and as much as she might want Aiden, she wasn’t what he needed. As if sensing her emotions were close to the surface, Inge turned to the men.
“Why don’t you bring the tree onto the porch, and set it in the stand. We’ll let it dry off and open a bit before we bring it into the parlor.”
* * *
“CAN I HELP?” Lily asked, feeling as if she should be doing something.
Josh raised his head and looked at her. “Do you have any traditions? Now we have Aiden’s tradition of paper snowflakes added to our day. What about you?”
Aiden’s eyes met hers, his hands pausing in their work.
Lily flushed. “Well, to be honest, we didn’t do much to celebrate Christmas when I was little.” Seeing their puzzled faces, she hastened to explain. “My mother was very sick, and my father spent most of his time taking care of her.”
Josh appeared bewildered. “But didn’t you have any traditions?”
“Josh—” Inge began to silence the child, but Lily stopped her.
“No, it’s okay. One year, I spent Christmas with my grandparents, and there was something they liked to do that I guess could be called a tradition,” she offered. She looked at Aiden and saw something in his eyes that might have been a combination of compassion and pride, and something else that she didn’t dare name, but which gave her courage. She glanced back at the children and smiled. “We made a batch of magic oats for Santa’s reindeer before we put together a plate of cookies for Santa.”
“Everyone puts out cookies for Santa,” Josh scoffed.
“Josh, hush,” scolded Emma. To Lily, she said, “Making magic oats sounds great. That’s something we’ve never done.”
“You could help us,” Sophie added. “It will be our new tradition. And maybe you and Aiden will feel like you’re at home for Christmas, and not with strangers.”
Lily wanted to give the girl a hug. Sophie didn’t realize that this was quickly becoming the most memorable Christmas Lily had ever had. She gave the little girl a wide smile.
“We can make the magic oats after you’ve finished making snowflakes,” she promised. “And you know what? I already don’t think of you as strangers.” Her voice broke a little bit, and she cleared her throat, hoping nobody noticed.
This was the kind of family that she had longed for as a little girl; the kind of Christmas that she had dreamed of. This is what Aiden was promising to give to the woman who could commit to a life with him. But the thought of giving herself over to someone so completely made her breathless and panicky.
As if sensing her inner agitation, Inge put an arm around her shoulders and squeezed. “This Christmas,” she announced, “Aiden and Lily are part of our family.”
“Thank you,” Lily murmured. “You don’t know how much that means to me.”
Inge seemed touched, and a little embarrassed. “Well, I mean every word of it. Of course,” she warned, “being part of the Buchwald family means you also get to share in the preparation of dinner, as well as the baskets we bring to the church for charity. And then there’s the tree to decorate and games to play, before we can even think about Santa. Are you ready?”
Lily smiled and her gaze shifted to Aiden. “Yes, I think I am.”
7
BY THE TIME the children were nestled, all snug in their beds, it was nearly ten o’clock. Little Sarah was so sleepy that her father had to carry her up the stairs, while Seth lifted Josh onto his shoulders, much to the little boy’s delight.
“They’re excited and overtired,” observed Inge, “but they’ll be asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillow. Happens every year.”
“You have a wonderful family,” Lily said, setting her mug of hot chocolate down on the coffee table.
They’d had a long and busy day, and while there was a part of Lily that was reluctant to see it end, there was another part of her that couldn’t wait to be alone with Aiden. She needed to know if she was only imagining the closeness and sense of intimacy that had been building between them all day. She wasn’t so naive as to believe that just because they had slept together, they would stay together. But did she want them to stay together? Before she’d met Aiden, she couldn’t imagine herself even wanting something permanent. But right now...she wasn’t sure. All she was sure of was that she needed to feel his arms around her, to be reassured that last night hadn’t been a dream. She’d been aware of Aiden watching her when he thought she wasn’t looking, until she felt as if her stretched nerves would snap. What was he thinking? How did he feel about her? She had to know.
Even the church service, as lovely as it had been, had only served to increase her growing sexual frustration. She had sat next to Aiden, his hard thigh pressed against hers, his fingers just brushing her own. She could smell him—an intoxicating blend of clean soap and musky male that made it nearly impossible to think about anything except sex. They’d driven to the church in Peter’s four-wheel drive, but Lily had been forced to sit on Aiden’s lap. His hand had slid inside her jacket to rest on her hip, and she’d been all too aware of the effect she was having on him.
Now they sat together in the living room, the tree freshly decorated, while a fire snapped and crackled in the fireplace. Aiden had spoken with Ann several more times during the day, and she’d told them it would take at least another day to get through the backlog. They wouldn’t be getting home in time for Christmas.
Aiden occupied one side of the sofa, and Lily was curled up beside him, her stockinged feet tucked beneath her. She allowed herself to lean against his hard shoulder, without actually snuggling.
“Well,” Inge said, as she rose to her feet with a sly smile, “I think it’s time we went to bed, but you kids stay up for as long as you like. We’ll see you in the morning.”
“Oh, please,” Lily protested to Inge’s retreating back. “Don’t go on our account. In fact, we’re heading upstairs ourselves.”
But Inge had disappeared, and as Peter rose to his feet to follow her, he shrugged and smiled. “There’s no use arguing with the woman. She always gets her way, I can promise you that. Good night.”
Garth threw another log onto the fire. “Dad’s right,” he said, and stretched dramatically. “There’s no point in arguing with my mother. But the fact is, I’m bushed. See you in the morning.”
Lily found herself alone with Aiden. “Okay, why do I have the distinct feeling this was all planned?”
Aiden rose to his feet and crossed the room to where a laptop sat on a side table. “Because it was. Although, in my own defense, I never asked them to leave. I simply told them there was something I wanted to give you tonight, after the kids were in bed.”
“What is it?” Lily asked, uncurling herself and sitting up straight. Anxiety washed over her. “I hope you didn’t get me a gift, because I don’t have anything to give you in return.”
Ai
den grinned at her. “Yeah, you do.”
Carrying the laptop over to the sofa, he switched it on and began working the keyboard. “I hope you don’t mind, but I wanted to give you a Christmas with you father.”
“Skype,” Lily breathed, watching the picture come up on the screen. She had used Skype before, but only with friends, never with her father. She didn’t even know he owned a computer. Reaching out blindly, she gripped Aiden’s knee. He shifted closer. “I’m right here.”
As he finished setting up the connection, her father’s face suddenly appeared on the small screen.
“Dad,” Lily exclaimed. “Can you hear me?”
Her father appeared older than she remembered, but the expression of sadness that seemed as much a part of him as his green work shirts was absent. He actually looked...happy.
“Hello, Lily Bell,” he said, and smiled.
Lily Bell. She’d almost forgotten the childhood nickname that he used to call her.
“Hey, Dad, you look good.”
“So do you. Thin, but good. Are you okay?”
She nodded. “Yes, I’m fine. I’m sorry I can’t be there.” She swallowed hard, his warm expression dredging up old emotions, so that she suddenly feared she might cry. “I miss you, Dad.”
“I miss you, too, Lily Bell. Who is that with you?”
“Hello, sir,” Aiden said. “We spoke earlier. I’m Chief Cross. I traveled with Lily from Africa. She saved my life in the jungle.”
Lily gave him a halfhearted shove. “I did not. You would have recovered without me.”
“I’m glad you’re with her, son,” her father said. “I hate to think of my Lily spending Christmas alone.” He paused. “She’s spent too many holidays alone.”
“Dad, don’t.” Lily didn’t want to bring up the past, didn’t want Aiden or any of the Buchwalds feeling sorry for her.
“It’s okay, sir,” Aiden was saying. “I intend for her not to spend any more holidays alone if I can help it.”
Lily stared at him, astonished, but he simply arched an eyebrow at her, as if daring her to contradict him. She glanced away, focusing instead on the laptop, aware that her heart was beating fast. Her father was talking to someone offscreen, and Lily realized she recognized his surroundings and it wasn’t his home.
“Dad, are you at the diner?” She couldn’t keep the disbelief out of her voice.
He had the grace to look sheepish. “They’re having a little Christmas Eve gathering, and I figured it would be nice not to spend the night by myself.”
Lily gaped at him. “Dad, that’s wonderful! I’m so glad you’re not at the house, alone.”
“There’s actually someone I wanted you to meet while you were home, Lily, but now is as good a time as any.” He looked away from the camera and gestured to someone that Lily couldn’t see. In the next instant, a woman’s face appeared. She was an attractive older woman, and Lily recognized her as a waitress at the diner. “This is Pamela. We’ve been dating for about a year now.”
For a moment, Lily was too stunned to speak. Her father—dating? But suddenly, it all made sense. All the meals he ate at the diner; why he was never at home when she called. She wouldn’t be surprised if he was actually living with Pamela.
“It’s great to meet you,” she said now. “I hope I’ll be able to get home in the next day or so, and you and I can meet in person.”
“I’d like that,” Pamela said.
They chatted for a few more minutes before wishing each other Merry Christmas, and then they ended the connection. For a moment, Lily just sat there, trying to take it all in. Her father, it seemed, had finally moved on. He appeared to be happy, and the knowledge made her happy, too. More than that, she felt hopeful, both for her father and for herself—if he could give his heart again, then maybe she could, too. Slowly, she became aware that Aiden was gently rubbing her back.
“So that was my dad,” she said, still in disbelief. “Or at least someone who looked a lot like him.”
“Nice guy.”
“Yeah. He sure seemed happy.”
“So now you can relax and enjoy Christmas. Your dad is okay, and you don’t have to feel guilty about not being home with him.”
She stared at him. “How did you know?”
“Know what?” He gave her a wide-eyed look of innocence.
“How I was feeling? About Christmas? About being home?”
Aiden closed the laptop and turned toward her on the sofa, covering her hands with his own. “Listen, I realize I freaked you out with my talk about a long-term relationship. But I meant what I said. I want to give us a shot at something real. Because what we have is pretty amazing.”
Lily stared down at their hands without answering. What they had was amazing, but there was still a part of her that went into full panic mode at the thought of committing herself to just one person.
“Lily,” he said earnestly, dipping his head to look directly into her eyes. “I get that I’m putting a lot of pressure on you, and I’m sorry. But I wanted you to know that for me, this is serious. But I’m willing to give you all the time you need to get used to the idea, okay?”
His eyes were bluer than she had ever seen them. “Really?”
“Really.” He gave her a lopsided grin. “All relationships start somewhere. We’ll just take it a day at a time. And if I have to come up to Crescent City every weekend to convince you of my feelings, I’ll do it.”
Lily returned his smile. “Or I could find a job in your area, once your mission in Africa is over.”
“Yeah,” he said softly. “That would work, too.”
Before she could protest, he leaned forward and pressed a kiss against her mouth, and Lily felt her body respond to the implicit promise in that kiss. Too soon, he pulled away so that he could gaze directly into her eyes.
“I’ve been dying to kiss you. It’s been the only thing on my mind all day. How about we call it a night and go to bed?”
Lily’s first impulse was to grab his hand and drag him upstairs, but still she hesitated. “Don’t you want to Skype with your family?”
“No, it’s okay, I talked with them earlier. Maybe we can set something up for tomorrow, after the kids have opened their presents. They’re dying to meet you.”
She looked at him suspiciously. “They are? Why?”
“I told them that you cared for me in Africa.”
Not just in Africa. She cared for him now. More than she wanted to admit, even to herself. What had started out as simple attraction had slowly become so much more. She’d had the chance to get to know Aiden Cross, and everything about the man appealed to her.
“I did,” she murmured. “I do.”
Standing, he tugged her to her feet and headed for the staircase, pulling her behind him. Lily gave an uncertain laugh, even as anticipation surged through her. She let him pull her up the stairs and along the corridor to their room. As soon as he closed the door, he turned and hauled her into his arms. Tipping her face up, he kissed her deeply, and so sweetly that something within Lily shifted and broke loose in her chest.
“Lily Munroe,” he said, all humor gone. “I’ve been wanting to get you alone all day.”
Lily searched his eyes, feeling a little weak at the expression she saw reflected there. “I woke up and you weren’t there. I wondered—” She broke off.
He cupped her face, a warm smile curving his mouth. “What did you wonder, sweetheart?”
“If maybe you regre
tted what happened last night.”
Aiden laughed softly. “Oh, baby, you have no idea how much I wanted last night to happen. I wanted you the first time I saw you in Entebbe.”
“I’m sorry I led you to believe I was interested in your friend.” She flushed. “I’m ashamed to admit that I was just trying to get a reaction out of you.”
He bent his head to hers. “Let’s forget all that. We’re here now, and that’s all that matters. It’s Christmas Eve, and I can’t imagine anyone I’d rather share the holiday with.”
“Oh, Aiden...”
Releasing her, he crossed the room to where he’d left his backpack on one of the chairs. Someone had lit a fire in the fireplace and left a plate of cookies on the small table by the chairs. Opening the backpack, Aiden pulled out a small bag. “In fact, I have something for you.”
Lily frowned. “For me?”
He smiled and caught her hand, pulling her toward him. Lowering himself into the empty chair, he pulled her down onto his lap. She leaned against him and watched as he opened the bag and withdrew a small packet, wrapped in tissue paper.
“I found this in Entebbe. I haven’t had a chance to wrap it,” he apologized, “but when I saw this, I knew you had to have it.”
Mystified, Lily took the packet from him. Closing her fingers around it, she looked at him. “I don’t have anything for you.”
Pulling her face down, Aiden pressed a warm kiss against her mouth. “You’ve already given me more than I ever dreamed of. Go ahead. Open it.”
Carefully, Lily unfolded the delicate tissue and stared at what lay inside. It was beautiful pendant necklace, an intricately wrought, multifingered silver star that might have been a snowflake. Speechless, she lifted the necklace in her fingers.
“It’s the most beautiful thing anyone has ever given me,” she said, her voice breaking a little.
