The Christmas Bliss Romance Collection

by Jennifer Youngblood

  “Nothing worse than usual,” Beverly said smoothly, linking her arm through Charles’s and planting a kiss on his lips. “How was work today, darling?”

  “Nonstop.” Charles seemed to turn into a teddy bear before their very eyes as he flashed a doting smile at Beverly. “But I’m home now for the holidays. You look beautiful.”

  “Thank you,” Beverly beamed.

  A rush of emotion went through Haven. This is what she wanted—to have a long, abiding relationship. She wanted to one day have a family with children of her own. Sure, she loved her students, but it wasn’t the same as having her own.

  Charles brought his hands together, eyes twinkling. “So, are y’all ready for some Christmas karaoke?” He looked at Haven. “You’re a brave girl, joining this motley crew for karaoke.”

  Haven’s eyes widened, apprehension snaking down her spine.

  Wyatt laughed as he slipped an arm around her waist. “Don’t worry. We’ll only require you to sing one solo.”

  Her stomach tightened. “What?”

  “Just teasing,” he winked. “We’ll take it easy on you.”

  Relief washed through Haven as she laughed. The feeling of mirth vanished faster than a candle flame in a blizzard when she saw the watchful look of suspicion on Aubrey’s face. I’ll expose you for what you truly are, Aubrey’s eyes seemed to be saying. Haven smiled, trying to soften the animosity, but it only made things worse. Aubrey’s look turned venomous and then she broke eye contact as if dismissing Haven altogether.

  Haven went hot all over, then icy cold. She got the feeling that Aubrey was a formidable opponent, the kind of person you didn’t want to tick off. She’d unwittingly made an enemy out of Aubrey, not because of anything she’d done but because of Brynn’s reputation. No telling what Aubrey had read online about Brynn. Chances were, it was all true. Why in the heck had Haven ever thought she wanted to be Brynn? Right now, more than anything, she wished she could just be herself. If Aubrey knew who Haven really was, she wouldn’t have an axe to grind. The two of them might have even been friends. How could she blame Aubrey for wanting to protect her brother?

  Haven took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. She’d made her bed and now she had to lie in it. Brynn’s sins were now hers. She couldn’t help but think she was getting just what she deserved for her treachery. Still, it didn’t make it any easier to swallow.

  A little while later, Haven stood in front of the mirror in her guest room, holding up a sweater and blouse. Should she dress up or go casual? If it were up to her, Haven preferred casual. However, the Davenports seemed so grand and larger-than-life that she didn’t want to go too casual and look out-of-place. Her phone rang. She retrieved it from her bed, her heart nearly stopping when she realized it was Demi. Her throat tightened as she swallowed, wondering if she should answer it. Had her mother heard about the treasure? It was only a matter of time before the media went nuts with the story. While Haven was trying to decide if she should answer, the call went to voicemail. Her heart in her throat, she put the phone to her ear and listened.

  “Hello, darling,” her mother cooed. “I’m so sorry I got held up in Athens. It couldn’t be helped.” Short pause. “It’s so beautiful here,” she gushed. “I wish you could see it. Anyway, I’m sorry about Christmas. We’ll have to plan a time to get together after the first of the year.” She made a kissing sound into the phone. “Ciao.”

  A heady relief swept over Haven as she laughed and plopped down on the bed. The relief was followed by a sharp jab of anger. It boggled her mind that her mother could dismiss her so easily, conveniently sidestepping the detail about inviting Haven to New York for Christmas. Haven rubbed a hand across her forehead, sighing heavily. So far so good, as far as the treasure story. Her time was running out. Haven could feel it.

  She looked at the sweater and blouse, splayed across the bed. Finally, she picked the sweater. She wanted to blend in, but she needed to do it her way. She’d wear some jewelry and a pair of slacks to dress up the sweater. That would have to do.

  13

  Wyatt and Ellie stood on the platform in the media room, their backs to the screen that took up the entire wall. Wyatt had done the karaoke rendition a hundred times before, but tonight he was nervous. He clenched his fist. No, not nervous, excited. He looked out at the group of people, his eye resting on the object of his excitement—Brynn. She looked gorgeous in a cream sweater which offset her dark, lustrous hair. When she felt his gaze, she flashed a sunny smile, warming his insides.

  Brynn seemed to be faring well with his family. She’d held her own with Aubrey, which was no easy task. He frowned, thinking of his older sister. She was a pain in the neck, so rigid and judgmental. He felt someone watching him and looked to where Kat was sitting. When she realized she’d caught his eye, she flashed a hopeful smile. He offered a polite smile and broke the connection. Wyatt laughed inwardly, thinking of how worried he’d been about coming home for Christmas, knowing he had to face Kat. He’d been devastated when he learned of Kat’s betrayal. Until he met Brynn, he’d been smitten with Kat. She was his greatest weakness. A part of him feared that he might not have the strength to resist Kat’s wiles if he came home alone, which is why he originally wanted to bring Brynn. That, and appeasing his mom and dad.

  Seeing Kat now, Wyatt realized how lacking she was in comparison to Brynn. Sure, Kat was as beautiful as ever with her polished, blonde hair and stylish clothes showcasing her willowy figure, but she couldn’t hold a candle to Brynn. Not only was Brynn incredibly beautiful, she was also warm and compassionate. The most important part—Brynn made Wyatt want to be a better person. The time they’d spent together the past few days had been some of the greatest of Wyatt’s life. He never wanted to be apart from Brynn again. He jerked in surprise, realizing the significance of his thoughts. He looked at Brynn, an intimate connection passing between them as she grinned. Warmth flowed over him and with that warmth came the knowledge that Brynn was the one … his Haven. She held up two thumbs as if to say, You’ve got this.

  He laughed, anticipation racing through his veins. He glanced sideways at Ellie who was donning her ugly Christmas sweater. She wiggled her eyebrows, an impish grin tipping her lips, making her look like a teenager. “You ready, big brother?” she taunted.

  “Yes ma’am,” he drawled.

  “Oh, you forgot your antlers.” She rushed to the front row of chairs and grabbed them off a seat.

  He groaned. “Not those. I thought you were gonna forget about those this year.”

  “Never.” She let out an airy laugh, tossing her hair as she handed them to him. “I wear the sweater and you wear the antlers. That’s the deal.”

  He let out a dramatic sigh. “All right. If I must, I must.” He placed the antlers on his head, evoking laughter from the people sitting in the theatre chairs, waiting for the show to begin.

  His dad gave him a nod. “You ready?”

  “Here are the microphones,” his mom said, handing them to Wyatt and Ellie.

  “Ready!” Wyatt said as his dad pressed the button on the remote. The familiar introductory jingle of Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer came through the speakers. The words would be displayed on the screen behind them, but Wyatt and Ellie knew every lyric by heart. They started dancing goofily, evoking rounds of laughter. Wyatt looked at Brynn who was sporting a smile the size of Texas. Then, he and Ellie started singing, hamming it up for the audience.

  * * *

  Brynn’s heart felt light enough to fly as she clapped along with the audience. It was fun watching Wyatt and Ellie perform. That they looked utterly ridiculous only added to the experience. She appreciated how Wyatt could laugh at himself. Also, she was touched by how close Wyatt and Ellie were. Near the end of the song, Connor and Noah jumped up on the platform and danced beside Wyatt and Ellie. Wyatt gave Noah the antlers. Connor turned his back to the audience and began shaking his behind.

  “Connor,” Aubrey gasped loudly, her face draining.
She looked like she might jump up and pull him off the stage, but Christopher caught her arm and whispered something in her ear, causing her to settle down. Haven saw the look of pride on Charles and Beverly’s faces as they watched their children and grandchildren. A lump formed in Haven’s throat. To be part of a family during Christmas was priceless, maybe even worth the trouble that would soon follow.

  Haven looked surreptitiously at Neal and Lois Schneider, Kat’s parents. She could tell that Charles and Beverly were close friends with the couple. The Schneiders seemed pleasant, but a little uptight. Haven didn’t have to look at Kat to know she was staring. She could feel Kat’s envious eyes on her. It was obvious that Kat was still interested in Wyatt. Kat was gorgeous, the kind of girl who looked like she’d be best friends with Brynn. Kat seemed to have it all together. Like the others in this room, Kat exuded confidence. It was hard not to feel inferior. Haven had to keep reminding herself that Wyatt wanted her. Haven was relieved when she saw how quickly Wyatt dismissed Kat’s eye contact. He’d turned his attention to Haven, showering her with affectionate looks.

  When the song ended, Wyatt jogged up to sit beside her. He slid his arm around her shoulders and kissed her cheek. Tingles circled down her spine, and her cells swirled to life being so close to Wyatt. “Your turn next,” he whispered.

  Her heart clutched as she angled to face him. “No way am I getting up there!”

  He laughed, amusement dancing in his eyes.

  “Time for Silver Bells,” Ellie announced. “All the women come down.” She looked at Haven. “Including you, Brynn.”

  Haven sat there, glued to her seat. Her mind gave the signal to move, but she was frozen.

  “Go on,” Wyatt urged, giving her back a gentle nudge.

  Somehow, Haven managed to get to her feet. Her legs felt like limp noodles as she walked down to the platform. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Lois and Kat coming down too. This could get interesting. To her dismay, Kat stood right beside her. “You look petrified, like you’re going to puke,” she uttered in a low tone, giving Haven a smug look.

  That’s all it took to quell her nerves. Haven straightened to her full height, ignoring the comment. She’d sing her heart out, just to spite the conniving diva. The irony was, Haven actually had a good singing voice. The speech therapist she’d seen as a kid used singing as a technique to help Haven overcome her stuttering. Ever since, Haven had loved to sing. She had no problem belting it out in the shower. It was fear of performing in front of people that caused her to clam up.

  The music to the song came over the speakers. It went through Haven’s mind that they should turn around and face the screen so they could read the words. Then she saw the screen on the back, right side of the wall. It was about a hundredth the size of the big screen, but large enough to easily read the words.

  She sang quietly at first. Then when Kat’s overpowering voice circled around her like a megaphone, she increased her volume. As the song progressed, the words flowed naturally out of her mouth. Beverly, who was standing on the other side of Haven, glanced her direction, as if she were surprised. When the song ended, Beverly turned to her. “You have a beautiful voice.”

  Haven’s heart swelled, and she smiled brightly. “Thank you. You also have a beautiful voice.” It was true. Beverly sang like an angel.

  Beverly flashed an appreciative smile. “Thank you,” she said warmly. She tipped her head. “Would you mind singing Silent Night with me when we put the star on the tree?”

  No! She didn’t want to sing a duet and bring more attention to herself. It had been hard enough to sing with the group. Still, how could she refuse Beverly who looked at her with glowing, expectant eyes. “Sure,” she heard herself say.

  “Fantastic.” Beverly touched Haven’s arm, her smile radiating warmth that flowed into her heart.

  As Haven went back to her seat, her mind picked up three things simultaneously—the pride shining on Wyatt’s face as his gaze lingered on her, the rigid look of suspicion in Aubrey’s eyes, and the hot jealousy in Kat’s eyes. With some effort, Haven dismissed Aubrey and Kat and put her entire focus on Wyatt. A blanket of warmth surrounded her, and she felt like she could bask all night long in the comfort of Wyatt’s affection.

  Conner and Noah were up next, singing Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. When they’d finished, Beverly took the stage. She was dressed festively in a red sweater and matching wool slacks. Haven was glad she decided on the sweater. Beverly’s blue eyes, so like Wyatt’s, danced with anticipation. “We’ll now adjourn to the family room for our Christmas Star Ceremony.”

  As people stood, Haven turned to Wyatt. “What is that?”

  “You’ll see,” he said evasively.

  She laughed. “Keeping me in the dark again, huh?”

  He leaned in and brushed her ear with his lips, sending tantalizing ripples through her. “I wouldn’t mind getting you in the dark,” he said in a low, husky tone, “so I can kiss you again.”

  The promise in his voice simmered desire in her stomach. “I’d like that,” she murmured, surprised at herself for being so bold.

  Wyatt pulled back, his magnetic eyes caressing hers. “It’s a date.” He took her hands and helped her to her feet. “Come on. You’re gonna love this.”

  I love you. She blinked, processing the thought that had flitted through her mind. The rational side of her chimed in first. Her relationship with Wyatt was new, too new to classify as love. Still, she felt what she felt. There was no other name with which to describe it. She felt deliriously happy as they walked side-by-side.

  “Look at the lovebirds,” Ellie cooed, a gigantic smile filling her face.

  Wyatt laughed. “It is what it is, sis.” He pulled Haven closer and planted a kiss on her lips. Heat wafted through Haven, partly due to attraction and partly due to embarrassment over the public display of affection. Wyatt pulled back, amusement dancing in his light eyes, as if he sensed her discomfort.

  “Gross!” Connor halted in his tracks, stuck a finger in his throat, and bent over like he was puking.

  “You won’t think it’s gross in a few years, little man,” Wyatt said.

  “Please, don’t rush things,” Christopher lamented from behind them. “I’m having a hard enough time as it is keeping up with the stages.”

  Haven assumed they were headed for the large living room on the main floor. She was surprised when they turned another direction, going into a cozy, mid-sized room decorated in rich, warm tones of reds, browns, oranges, and pops of green. A black lacquer, baby grand piano took up one corner of the room. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves were directly behind the piano. Haven’s gaze traveled to the other side of the room. A fire crackled in the fireplace and stockings hung on the mantle. Off to the side was a Christmas tree that rose almost to the ceiling. Like the grand tree in the main area, it was decorated to the nines. However, this one had a homier, more whimsical feel. The lights were multi-colored, and a toy train circled the bottom of the tree trunk. Most of the ornaments were homemade and strands of popcorn were draped like garland. Tears misted Haven’s eyes as she blinked a few times. This was her idea of perfection. She wanted to inspect the ornaments on the tree, see which ones Wyatt had made. She thought of her students and how they’d spent an entire day making ornaments for the tree in her classroom. This tree reminded her a little of the one in her classroom, except it was much more beautiful. Plaid, red and green ribbon wound throughout, and there were clusters of red berries tucked in the branches.

  Haven and Wyatt sat down on one of the sofas. It was so plump and soft Haven felt like she was sinking into a cloud. Wyatt scooted her close, sliding an arm around her shoulders. Haven looked over at the adjacent sofa and was momentarily caught off guard by the hateful expression on Kat’s face. Her jealousy seemed out of place in this tranquil space. Haven resented the intrusion into the harmony. Kat’s jealousy was getting old. Had she not cheated on Wyatt, the two of them might still be together. A chill raised goose
bumps on Haven’s arms. Maybe she was terrible for thinking this, but she was glad Kat cheated on Wyatt. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be here experiencing this magical time with a tremendous man who was turning out to be the greatest blessing in her life.

  Even though Haven made a point of looking another direction, she could feel Kat’s eyes burning into her. Finally, she’d had enough. Haven looked Kat in the eye, arching an eyebrow. She maintained eye contact until Kat looked away. A thrill of triumph shot through Haven. One thing she knew for certain, if she ever hoped to have a place in Wyatt’s family, she’d have to develop a backbone. While the Schneiders weren’t family, per se, they were close enough to the Davenports to join them for an intimate Christmas celebration. That meant they would, by default, be part of Haven’s future life. Well, assuming Wyatt wanted her once he learned the truth. Haven brushed aside the miserable possibility that he might not. Wyatt would forgive her, wouldn’t he? What the two of them shared didn’t come along every day. This was a once in a lifetime thing. Surely, he wouldn’t get caught up on the actuality of her name. Half the time, he called her Haven anyway.

  A hush came over the group when Beverly stepped into the center of the room holding a large, exquisitely crafted star made of crystal. The star seemed like it would be more fitting for the grand tree rather than this one. Haven got the impression something significant was about to take place—something that went beyond merely placing a star on the top of a tree. The expectant expression on Wyatt’s handsome face confirmed her suspicion.

  “Charles and I appreciate all of you coming here tonight,” Beverly began. “As you know, this star and its meaning have great importance to us.” She smiled tenderly at Charles. “I know you’ve heard the story many times, but Charles and I like repeating it.” She paused, looking at Charles who arose from his seat and strode to her side. Beverly handed him the star.