Things would be different between Haven and Wyatt today. They were officially a couple. Haven was looking forward to meeting Wyatt’s family, but she was nervous too. Her heart skipped a beat as she thought of something. They would meet her as Brynn, not Haven. What would Wyatt’s family think of her when they learned the truth? What would Wyatt think of her? A part of her wanted to come clean now, but that would be like shooting herself in the foot. No, she must wait until after Christmas to drop the bomb. Wyatt deserved to have a nice, stress-free Christmas. Haven wanted that too. At this point, the damage was already done. Repairing it could wait, couldn’t it? Sure. She wasn’t sure, so she silenced the voice in her head.
Her stomach growled as she threw back the covers. She and Wyatt planned to eat breakfast at the inn before getting on the road. In less than five hours, she’d meet Wyatt’s family. Butterflies thrummed in her stomach as she went to her suitcase to choose something suitable to wear. A moment later, Wyatt came out of the bathroom. Her breath skittered when she saw him. His dark-blonde hair was wet and matted to his head, emphasizing the masculinity of his face.
“Good morning,” he said airily, striding to her side where he gave her a peck on the lips.
“Sorry,” she apologized. “I have morning breath.”
He laughed. “No worries.” His lips trailed to her earlobe. He planted a light kiss on the tender skin behind her ear causing delicious shivers. Wyatt’s skin was soft and damp from the shower. She breathed in his fresh, clean scent.
He stepped back. His gaze moved over her slow and appreciative as she self-consciously pulled at her t-shirt. She glanced down at her pajama pants, thinking how awful she must look. Her hand smoothed down her hair. “I’m...” sorry, she was about to say, but the word got lost in her throat as she swallowed.
“I was just thinking how incredible you look, even first thing in the morning.”
She smiled in surprise, delight bursting over her as she chuckled. “You are charming.”
“Nah,” he drawled. “Just speaking the truth.”
“You’re super generous,” she chimed. “But I love hearing it.” She picked up her clothes, cradling them in her arms. “On that note, I should get cleaned up.” She felt light enough to fly as she practically skipped over the thick, shag carpet to get to the bathroom.
As she and Wyatt descended the stairs, Haven caught the scrumptious scent of bacon in the air, mingled with coffee. Her stomach rumbled. She looked at Wyatt to see if he’d heard it.
He laughed. “Whatcha got in there? A cougar?”
Her cheeks went hot as she touched her stomach. “Yeah, it sounds like it,” she winced.
Easy conversation and silverware pinging plates filled the air as they stepped into the dining room. In the thin light of morning, the room was still magnificent but it didn’t hold the same mystique as it had the night before. She and Wyatt filled their plates and had just sat down at a table when Lillian entered. She was clutching her cane, her movements labored. “Good morning,” Haven said as she stood. Wyatt, also, got to his feet.
“Good morning. Please, don’t get up on my account.” Lillian pulled out the empty chair beside Haven and sat down heavily. The movement reminded Haven of a sack of potatoes falling to the floor.
“Can I make you a plate?” Haven asked.
Lillian smiled good-naturedly. “Thank you, dear, but I’ve already eaten.” She motioned. “Please, sit down and eat before your food gets cold.”
She and Wyatt complied. Haven placed a forkful of scrambled eggs in her mouth. They were fluffy and tasty.
“Are you off to Atlanta soon?”
“Yes,” Wyatt answered, picking up his glass and taking a swig of orange juice.
Lillian nodded.
“How about you?” Haven asked. “Are you staying here another night?”
“No, I’m headed back to my home in Connecticut.”
“Will you be spending Christmas with family?” Haven asked.
An expression of sadness came over Lillian. “No, my parents and siblings have all passed on. Howard and I weren’t able to have any children.”
Haven’s chest tightened. For a second, she felt like she was looking at a reflection of herself in the mirror—decades from now. Would she end up alone too? A shudder slithered down her spine as she brushed aside the fear. She was with Wyatt. Hopefully, things between them would work out. Hopefully, he’d understand why she lied to him. She’d been abandoned and so dang desperate to not spend Christmas alone. Haven felt for Lillian. “I’m sorry,” she said softly, wishing there was something she could do to help.
Lillian smiled. “Thank you, but I’m fine. I’m getting together with some close friends.”
“Oh, good.” A swift relief swept over Haven.
Lillian pulled at her blouse, shifting in her seat. “I’m glad I caught you.” She touched her hair. “There’s something—a favor—I wanted to ask of you.”
“Of course.” Haven looked at Wyatt. When she saw the wariness in his expression she instantly regretted committing before knowing what Lillian would ask.
“The last time Howard and I came here, it was in the summer. We picnicked beside one of our favorite streams.” She touched her left hand. “My fingers were swollen, so I took off my ring and placed it on the picnic blanket. I forgot about it and shook off the blanket and packed up our things. I didn’t realize what I’d done until several hours later. Howard and I were already headed back to Connecticut.” A pained expression crumpled her face. “We were about to turn around and go back for it when Howard started having chest pains. We went to the nearest ER instead. Howard was admitted to the hospital and died that night.” Lillian blinked a few times like she was trying to stay the tears.
A pang shot through Haven. “I’m so sorry.” She glanced at Wyatt and was touched by the compassion in his eyes.
“I’ve been trying to find my ring for the past several years. I’d hoped to go and look for it on this trip—” she looked regretfully at her leg “—but my knee has been acting up.”
Wyatt shifted into doctor mode. “What’s wrong with your knee?”
“Rheumatoid arthritis,” she lamented.
“What’s being done to treat it?” Wyatt asked.
“I take anti-inflammatory medication.” She cringed. “Unfortunately, it’s not helping at this moment.”
“Have you considered going to see a Sports Medicine Doctor? Deep tissue laser therapy would help.”
“Wyatt’s a doctor,” Haven explained.
“I wish you lived in NYC. I could treat you.”
A matronly smile curved Lillian’s lips. “That’s very kind of you.”
“I just wish there was something I could do to help,” Wyatt added.
“Thank you. I appreciate the gesture.” Lillian motioned to their plates. “Please, don’t let me keep you from eating.”
Haven took a bite of sausage, trying to be accommodating.
“There is something you could do to help.” She hesitated, picking at her blouse. “I was planning on going out to the stream and searching for my ring.” Lillian gave them a beseeching look. “Is there any way you could go for me?”
Haven swallowed in surprise. She looked at Wyatt, whose eyes had widened.
“The stream isn’t far from here. I have a metal detector.” Her voice trembled with emotion. “It would mean the world to me.”
Haven didn’t have the heart to tell Lillian that after all these years, it was doubtful the ring was still there. Surely someone had to have found it by now. As she looked at Lillian’s pleading expression, her heart tugged. If it were up to Haven, she’d go. Yes, it was probably a futile gesture, but if it meant so much to Lillian … She turned to Wyatt. “What do you think? Could we spare some time?”
He stroked his chin, looking thoughtful. “Sure.”
A joyous smile spilled over Lillian’s face as she clasped her hands. “Thank you so much. I was hoping you’d say yes.” She reached in h
er pocket and pulled out a piece of folded paper.
“What is this?” Haven asked when Lillian handed it to her.
“A map of the location.” She chuckled. “My mind’s not what it used to be. I drew this a few years back so I wouldn’t forget. The stream is not in a marked area, such as a park. It’s a little spot off the side of a winding road. Don’t worry,” she assured them, “it’ll be easy to find it with the map. My number is at the bottom. Would you mind calling me and letting me know if you find it?”
“Sure,” Haven said, wondering what she and Wyatt were getting into. Lillian seemed like a nice lady, but was she all there? The map … a metal detector … trying to find a ring that was lost a decade ago. It was all strange. Then again, it was another adventure. First there was the caroling, then the inn. Who knew what was around the next bend.
“We had our picnic by the large oak tree, near the spot where the stream widens.”
“Okay,” Haven said. She looked down at the map with Lillian’s number at the bottom. “We’ll call you and let you know how it goes.”
Lillian’s eyes shimmered with excitement. “Splendid.”
“Where’s the metal detector?” Wyatt asked.
“Sam’s holding it for me behind the front desk.”
Haven assumed Sam was the man who’d checked them in the day before. It would be easy enough to speak to him as they checked out of the inn. “How far away is the stream?”
“About eight miles from here,” Lillian answered. “You’re such a wonderful couple. It’s no coincidence that our paths have crossed. Thank you.” She looked down at her watch. “It’s time for me to go. I look forward to hearing how it goes,” she said jubilantly as she scooted back her chair and stood. “Good bye.” She met their gazes. “I’m sure we’ll meet again. God willing.”
They watched as she slowly shuffled out of the room. It hurt to see her limp. When she was gone, Haven turned to Wyatt. “What do you make of that?”
He made a face. “Sounds like a wild goose chase to me.” He cut off a piece of sausage and placed it in his mouth. “I’m game if you are,” he said a moment later.
She shrugged. “What have we got to lose? At the very least we’ll have done something nice for another person.”
“Yep, that’s the way I see it.” He gave her a wicked grin. “Plus, I’ll get you all to myself in a secluded place.”
Warmth simmered in her stomach as she laughed. “Yeah, but it’s doubtful the scenery will look like much this time of year.” She glanced out the window at the snow flurries in the gray-cast sky.
His eyes deepened with intensity as they locked with hers. “Oh, I dunno about that. From where I’m sitting, the scenery is perfect,” he murmured.
The commotion in the room came to a halt as everything but Wyatt faded into the background. Haven smiled thinking how she’d go to the end of the earth and back if it meant being with Wyatt Black. “All right. The die is cast. We’ll get the metal detector and go searching for the ring.” She stopped. “We forgot to ask Lillian what the ring looks like.”
He chuckled. “Well, it can’t be that hard to find with a metal detector. Either the ring’s there or it isn’t.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” She took a bite of toast, hoping the ring was there. It would be a wonderful gift for Lillian to get it back. And, it would be nice to have the privilege of returning it to her—one more memory they could add to this spontaneous, wonderful trip.
9
Wyatt looked down at the map and then at the partially frozen stream in front of them. When he and Brynn struck out on this madcap scavenger hunt, Wyatt wondered if Lillian’s hand-drawn map would even lead anywhere. Surprisingly, the directions were clear and concise. He looked at Brynn. She pulled her coat tighter around her thin frame and shivered. Wyatt also suppressed a shiver. It was frigid enough to make an Eskimo cold. He grinned, thinking how his face would probably freeze this way. “Well, you wanted an old-fashioned Christmas. We may not be looking for Christmas trees, but our hands and feet are certainly turning to blocks of ice.”
Warm laughter bubbled from Haven making Wyatt feel like he’d been graced with a ray of sunlight. He pointed to the large oak tree. “That has to be the one Lillian mentioned.”
“Yes, the stream widens, just as she said.”
Wyatt surveyed the primitive landscape. The brown leaves on the ground were encrusted with a thick layer of snow. “I can’t imagine Lillian coming out here on her own.”
“Me either. No way could she have made it.”
He steeled his shoulders, folding the map and placing it in his pocket. “All right. Let’s do this thing so we can get back in the SUV where it’s warm.”
“Good idea,” Brynn agreed, through chattering teeth. “Otherwise we’ll turn into Popsicles.”
Wyatt turned on the metal detector and spanned it across the ground. Brynn stepped up beside him, both sets of eyes combing the area.
“It’s a good thing we have the metal detector. Otherwise, we’d never find anything underneath the leaves and snow,” Brynn said.
“You’re right.” He drew in a measured breath. “I’m sure the ring is long gone.”
“I know. Poor Lillian.”
“Poor us,” Wyatt sniffed. “We’re the foolish saps out in the cold, searching for a ring lost years ago.”
Brynn chuckled. “Well, look at the bright side. We will have done our good deed for the Christmas holidays. Lillian seems like a nice person. I’m glad we can help her.”
“Yeah, she seems nice … but a little off.”
“I agree. There’s something strange about this whole situation.” She laughed. “Did you ever think when we left New York that we’d be tromping through the frozen wilderness and searching for some poor woman’s ring using a metal detector?”
“Oh, don’t forget our freak show room.”
“Come on,” she chuckled, “you know you wanna redecorate your place the same way.”
He snorted. “Not hardly.” The metal detector wasn’t picking up a thing. Wyatt figured they’d give it another five minutes and call it good. He kept going around the perimeter of the tree. When he got to the back section, near the stream, the thing went wild. Wyatt’s curiosity piqued. “All right. We’ve got something.”
“Yeah, from the sound of it, we’ve found a whole truckload of rings.”
Wyatt squatted down and brushed away the leaves. He placed the detector over the ground where it buzzed loudly. “X marks the spot,” he joked. He looked around, searching for a stick to use for digging. Brynn seemed to read his mind as she walked a few paces and grabbed one. “Here,” she said, handing it to him.
“Thank you, kind ma’am,” he quipped.
“Do you think it’s Lillian’s ring?” Brynn asked doubtfully.
“Nope. I don’t. It’s probably a metal can.” He began digging. Two inches deep, he felt something hard. “There’s something here,” he announced.
Brynn crouched next to him.
“Careful,” he warned. “I don’t want you toppling backwards into the stream.”
“You just don’t want to fish me out,” she teased.
“Yes,” he said with a deadpan expression, “for my sake and yours.”
She shoved him lightly, causing him to lose his balance. Wyatt fell sideways. “Hey,” he protested, catching himself with his hand. “Don’t push me in.”
“Sorry,” she said sheepishly.
Wyatt righted himself and continued digging. Growing impatient he removed his gloves and handed them to Brynn. “Will you hold these?”
She looked mortified. “Your hands will freeze.”
“Nah. I’ll be all right. I’m a Southern boy, remember? I live for playing in the cold, wet dirt.”
“O—kay,” she laughed. “Never knew any of that had to do with being Southern, but if you say so.”
Rather than squatting, he knelt.
“Ah, you’re getting serious now,” Brynn chuckled.
“The faster we find out what’s under here, the sooner we can leave.” Wyatt used his hands to push aside the dirt. The cold seeped into his fingers, making them ache. A few minutes later, he’d uncovered a metal box about a foot long and six inches wide. He pulled it out.
Brynn’s eyes rounded. “That looks like an expensive box.”
Wyatt examined the heavy-duty, metal box. Brynn was right. It did look expensive. The latch was tarnished silver. He flipped it and opened the box.
Brynn gasped and Wyatt did a double take. The box was filled with jewelry. Several strands of black and white pearls, sapphire and ruby earrings. A handful of diamond necklaces and bracelets.
“Do you think they’re real?” Brynn whispered in awe.
“I’m no jewelry expert, but they look real to me.” This was crazy! They’d come here to help a lady find her ring and found this instead.
“Do you think Lillian sent us here to find this?” Brynn asked in a low tone.
“I don’t know.” He spotted something at the bottom of the box. It was a folded sheet of paper.
Wyatt and Brynn got to their feet. Wyatt pulled out the paper and opened it.
If found, please call 212-555-4678.
Brynn’s perplexed expression mirrored Wyatt’s own feelings.
“Should we call the number?” Brynn asked wide-eyed. Concern seeped into her eyes, turning them so dark they were nearly black. “Do you think the jewelry is stolen? Maybe we should take it to the police. We don’t want to get involved in something criminal.”
“Good point,” Wyatt mused, trying to decide the best course of action. He thought of something else. The map Lillian had given them! “Here, hold this.” He handed Brynn the box and reached in his pocket. He unfolded the map and compared it to the note from the box. His pulse increased. “It’s the same handwriting.”
The Christmas Bliss Romance Collection Page 8
