The Christmas Bliss Romance Collection

by Jennifer Youngblood

  “Shh!” Ellie warned, glancing back over her shoulder.

  As quietly as he could, Wyatt went up the steps. Each labored step sounded like an axe cracking through wood in his ears. He exhaled in relief when he put down the heavy box. He flexed his arms, grateful for the release.

  Time seemed to be suspended as Ellie looked at Wyatt and Brynn. Then, she pressed the doorbell, and they sprinted off the porch. They made it to the edge of the yard when they heard a gunshot.

  “Stop where you are!” a man ordered. “One more move, and I’ll pump you so full of lead you’ll be using your heads for pencils.”

  Wyatt froze when he heard the cocking sound of a gun. Crap! He looked at Brynn and Ellie. Both were wide-eyed.

  “Hands up. Turn around.”

  Slowly, they complied. A laugh gurgled in Wyatt’s throat as they faced the guy with the gun. He was a little younger than Wyatt with closely cropped, brown hair. He was dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt, a savage expression on his face. “I knew I’d catch you eventually.”

  “There must be some mistake,” Wyatt said. Was the guy going to shoot them, for leaving a box of Christmas gifts on his front porch? This was insane! He glanced at Brynn and Ellie. Both were petrified, their faces as pale as sand.

  “No mistake,” the guy countered, his eyes narrowing. “You’re the ones who’ve been stealing packages from the front porches. Well, you won’t get away with it this time. I’m calling the cops.”

  Great! First the treasure, now this. Wyatt could only imagine what the headlines would read. Charles Davenport, II, Finds Treasure and Steals Boxes from Porches. “No, we weren’t stealing anything,” Wyatt countered, keeping his voice even. “We left you something—a gift—on your front porch.”

  Hesitation crept into the guy’s eyes. “You’re lying.”

  “I’m telling the truth.” He locked gazes with the guy. “If you don’t believe me, check it out. I can name the contents.” Good thing Marguerite told him the contents of their box. “There’s a ham, boxes of chocolate, a fruit basket, nuts, blankets, and scarves. There will be one wrapped box, and an envelope.”

  Keeping the gun trained on them, the guy backed up the steps and moved over to the box. He tore the brown wrapping and opened it, peering inside. “Just because you guessed the contents, doesn’t mean you weren’t trying to steal it,” he said stubbornly.

  Wyatt’s patience was growing thin. “Come on, man. Look at us. Do we look like thieves? I carried that box across the field.” He looked down at his muddy feet.

  “He’s telling the truth,” Brynn said. “We were trying to deliver the box anonymously.”

  The guy frowned, lowering his gun slightly. “Why?”

  “It’s something our family does every year,” Ellie explained. “We find people who are in need and try to help them.” Her voice hardened. “You should be thanking us, instead of holding us at gunpoint.”

  He lowered the gun. “I’m sorry. We’ve had several packages stolen since Thanksgiving. When I saw you running, I assumed …” He propped the gun against the rocking chair on the porch. “I’m sorry,” he said again, flashing a contrite smile. “I feel like such a louse. Please, come in. I know my grandmother would love to meet you.” He motioned at the box. “It was so nice of you to think of us.”

  Wyatt held up a hand. “Thanks, but we need to be getting back.”

  “At least tell me your names.”

  Wyatt would’ve declined the request, reiterating that they preferred to remain anonymous, but Ellie spoke up. “I’m Ellie Davenport.” She motioned. “This is my brother Charlie and his fiancée Brynn.”

  The guy’s jaw went slack. “The Davenports? As in The Charles Davenport who owns Frontline Medical Supply?”

  “Yep, that’s us,” Ellie said.

  “I interned at Frontline Medical Supply.” He sucked in a quick breath, shaking his head. “I didn’t realize that Mr. Davenport even knew who I was.”

  “Evidently, he knew you and knew you needed a helping hand,” Ellie said. “What’s your name?”

  He pushed a hand through his hair. “Luke Calloway.”

  “Nice to meet you Luke,” Ellie responded in a friendly tone.

  Wyatt looked at Ellie, wondering why she was being so conversational. Then it hit him! She was interested in Luke.

  “Please, come in,” Luke urged. “My grandmother would love to meet you. I’m excited to show her the gifts.”

  “All right. You talked us into it,” Ellie said, as she bolted forward like a racehorse through the gate.

  “Ellie, wait,” Wyatt said, but his words fell on deaf ears. He looked at Brynn who wore an amused smile.

  “I think Ellie likes him,” she whispered.

  “That’s the understatement of the century,” he muttered. “You’d think she’d have more sense than to just run into the house of a stranger, who was pointing a gun at us a few moments ago.” He reached for Brynn’s hand as they walked toward the house. When they reached the porch, Ellie was already inside. Wyatt rolled his eyes as he and Brynn went in behind her. He noticed that Luke had left the gun outside. Thankfully!

  * * *

  As Brynn and Wyatt stepped into the home, Brynn looked around. The home’s modest décor was a stark contrast to the grandeur of the Davenport’s home. There was a small foyer leading to the family room. Ellie was already sitting on a loveseat. An older woman sat in a forest green recliner, a pink afghan spread over her legs. Her silver hair was all one length and cropped just below her ears. She wore glasses with raised, binocular-like circles in the center of each lens.

  Luke reached for a remote and turned off the TV. Then he went to the adjoining kitchen and brought back a chair. “Come in and have a seat,” he said, placing the chair between Ellie and the older woman. A second later, he sat down in it.

  Wyatt looked down at his muddy shoes. “I hate to track on the floor.”

  “No worries,” Luke said with a casual wave of his hand, “it happens all the time.”

  Wyatt and Brynn wiped off their feet as best as they could on the doormat, closing the front door behind them. They walked over and sat down on the worn, tweed couch. They sank so deeply that Haven had the eerie feeling it was trying to swallow them whole.

  Luke motioned to the woman. “This is my grandmother Jules.”

  The woman smiled. “Hello.”

  Sympathy tugged at Haven when she realized that the woman wasn’t focusing on them. Rather, she was looking past them. She was blind, or partially blind. Haven guessed the telescopic circles helped magnify things to aid her sight.

  “Grand has macular degeneration,” Luke explained.

  “I’m sorry,” Wyatt said sincerely.

  Luke swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down. “Thank you.”

  “It comes with age, I suppose,” Grand said pleasantly. “So, tell me about yourselves. I can make out your shapes, but I don’t recognize your voices.”

  “They’ve brought us some gifts, Grand. They’re the Davenports.” His eyes lingered on Ellie as a look passed between them. Haven bit back a smile. Ellie seemed as smitten with Luke as she was with Wyatt. Love at first sight. Who was she to judge?

  Jules’s expression remained blank, her aged hands threading absently through the afghan.

  “Remember the company where I did my internship? Frontline Medical Supply?”

  Grand smiled. “Oh, yes. I remember.” She looked toward Haven, Wyatt, and Ellie. “That was very kind of you.” Her face shone with excitement, reminding Haven of a kid on Christmas Eve. “What did you bring us?”

  Haven suppressed a shiver. There was a fire burning in the fireplace, but the room still felt drafty, even with a coat on. She felt for Luke and his grandmother, wondering what their story was. She got the feeling it was just the two of them. Luke seemed well-spoken. He’d done an internship, meaning he’d gotten an education. A small tree stood in the far corner with a few strands of thin garland and a handful of plastic
, ball ornaments. There was no tree skirt and no presents.

  Wyatt glanced at her. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m good,” she answered with a reassuring smile.

  Luke went to the door, picked up the box, and carried it back into the living room. Wyatt moved to stand. “Don’t worry, I’ve got it,” Luke said. He placed it on the floor. “Would you mind helping me remove the items?” he asked Ellie

  A smile ruffled her lips. “Sure.” Ellie got down on her knees beside the box and began removing the contents. As she did so, Luke called them out to Jules. “A ham, chocolate …” When all the unwrapped items were removed, Ellie pulled out the wrapped box. It was covered in red and gold striped paper, a gold bow tied around it. Anticipation sounded in Ellie’s voice as she handed the box to Luke. “You should open it.”

  “All right.” He looked at Haven and Wyatt. “It was really kind of you to do this for me and Grand.”

  “Yes, it was,” Jules said.

  “Actually, it was my dad who chose you,” Ellie explained. She offered a gentle smile. “See, he did know who you were, after all.”

  Luke’s eyes misted as he nodded. “Thanks,” he croaked, swallowing to hide the emotion. He tugged on the bow to untie it before ripping off the paper.

  Haven leaned forward, excitement creeping over her. She had a sneaking suspicion about what was in the box. Sure enough, Luke pulled out a star made of cut glass. He held it up, examining it. “It’s beautiful.” He handed it to Jules. She stared intently through her glasses, particularly the telescopic lenses. “It’s a star.”

  “Yes, for the tree,” Ellie exclaimed.

  “Thank you.” Luke laughed. “Although, I think it might be a little large for our tree.” He looked at the tiny tree, which looked pitiful compared to the intricate star.

  “It’s okay,” Ellie assured him. “You can place it in the center of your kitchen table instead.”

  Luke nodded.

  Ellie reached in the box and pulled out an envelope. “Don’t forget this.”

  Luke opened the envelope.

  “It’s a poem about the star,” Ellie said.

  He unfolded the paper and began reading silently. “It’s beautiful,” he said softly.

  “What does it say?” Jules asked.

  Before he could read it, Ellie interrupted him. “Wait a minute.” She reached in the box. “There’s another envelope here.” She handed it to Luke.

  “Okay.” Luke used the side of his finger as a letter opener as he ran it under the top of the envelope. He pulled out the contents. His eyes widened the second before they filled with tears. “It’s a check for thirty-five thousand dollars.” He coughed, then laughed. His hand went to his mouth as he shook his head in disbelief. He looked down. “There’s a note. It says: For the macular degeneration surgery.”

  “What?” Jules exhaled in surprise, tears glistening in her eyes.

  “This is wonderful,” Luke choked, pinching the corners of his eyes. When he gained control of his emotions, he looked at Haven, Wyatt, and Ellie like they were angels. “I don’t know how we can ever thank you.”

  Tears brimmed in Haven’s eyes. This is what Christmas was about—giving and caring. She looked at Wyatt who also had tears in his eyes.

  “No thanks necessary,” Wyatt said gruffly.

  Luke sprang from his seat and threw his arms around Jules. Both wept like babies, their shoulders shaking. “We can get your surgery.” He turned to face them, mopping his eyes. “I’m sorry.” He let out a half-sniff, half-laugh, wiping his hands on his jeans. “The doctors are confident they can repair Grand’s eyes, but because of her age, the insurance refused to pay for the surgery.” Luke looked up at the ceiling, biting down on his lip to stay the emotion. “This is the greatest gift anyone has ever given us. Thank you.” Luke’s lower lip quivered. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

  Haven felt a burst of joy as her eyes met Wyatt’s. “Thank you for letting me be a part of this,” she breathed.

  A warm, wide smile appeared on his face. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. You belong here with us … with me,” he finished softly.

  “Yes, I do,” she said simply, snuggling into him.

  17

  Later that night, Haven and Wyatt sat out on the back deck, huddled under a blanket, as they faced the glow of the warm fire crackling in the pit. The fruity smell of burning wood tingled Haven’s senses. “That was amazing today,” she said, her breath turning to mist in the frosty air. “Your family made such a difference in Luke and Jules’s life.”

  Wyatt stroked her hair. “I can’t take credit for it. It was all Mom and Dad.” His voice had the lazy, contented sound of mellow relaxation.

  She angled to face him. “Your family is so different from what I expected.”

  Wyatt grinned lopsidedly, making him look boyishly adorable. “How so?”

  She laughed softly, turning again to face the fire. As she collected her thoughts, she allowed her eyes to get lost in the continuous motion of the orange and blue flames. The wood cracked, sending embers shooting into the air amidst the smoke, causing her to jump.

  Wyatt chuckled, tightening his protective hold on her. “You were saying about my family?” he prompted.

  She pursed her lips. “Well, for starters, I didn’t expect them to be filthy rich.” She held up a finger, smiling. “Although, I did get suspicious when we stopped at the cottage supposedly owned by family friends.”

  “Does my family’s wealth bother you?”

  The question was asked lightly enough, but she caught the serious undertone. “At first, yes,” she admitted.

  He sighed. “Yeah, I could tell, especially when you first saw the house.” He tensed. “What about now?”

  “Now, I feel differently.” She turned to him. “Your family is amazing.”

  He smiled in appreciation. “We’re okay,” he drawled.

  “I’m serious. Typically, wealthy people don’t take time to look outside themselves. Why is your family so different?”

  He let out a long sigh. “Remember the man my dad spoke of last night during The Christmas Star Ceremony? His late friend, Maxwell Hamilton?”

  “Yes.”

  “He’s the one who changed the course of our family.” Wyatt’s voice grew nostalgic as Haven settled against him, ready to hear a story. “My dad grew up poor, on the wrong side of the tracks. My mom came from a middle-class family.” He chuckled. “As you can imagine, my mom’s family didn’t approve of my dad. They forbid my mom from ever seeing him again.”

  Haven’s eyes rounded. “That’s terrible. What did they do?”

  “They sneaked around and dated each other for a couple years. When my mom turned eighteen, they eloped. My dad set out to prove his in-laws wrong. He was determined to make something of himself. When my parents first started making money, they lost themselves for a while—started having marital problems. Then, my dad met Maxwell Hamilton at a business seminar. Eventually, Dad confided in Maxwell who urged him to start attending church with his family. Then, Maxwell encouraged Dad to look outside himself and focus on other people.” A grin tugged at his lips. “That started the famous Ding Dong Ditch and a course correction for our family. We’ve always given anonymously.” He paused. “Of course, the record’s now broken.”

  Gratitude welled in her chest. “I’m glad we got to meet Luke and Jules.”

  “Me too.” Wyatt turned to face her. The reflection of the flames emphasized his strong, clean jawline. Haven’s stomach did a little flip. Yes, he was so incredibly handsome she could hardly form a clear thought when he flashed one of his dazzling smiles in her direction. But what she felt for Wyatt was more than attraction. He was good and kind. She felt alive when she was with him. They had a bond Haven had not had with anyone except for her dad. A fierce longing built inside her. She wished her dad could meet Wyatt and his family. Tears rose in her eyes.

  “What is it?” He touched her cheek.

&nbs
p; She smiled. “I was just thinking how I wish you could meet my dad. He would’ve loved you.”

  “I wish I could’ve met him too.” Wyatt touched the tear on her cheek, his fingers lingering near her skin.

  A thought occurred to Haven, bringing with it a burst of inner light. All these years, she’d felt inferior to Brynn because of her stuttering issue. When her mother chose Brynn, Haven resented it. Now, however, she was coming to learn that the stuttering was a blessing in disguise. Being raised by her dad was one of the greatest privileges of her life. It made her want to seek for goodness, as well as appreciating the goodness in others. Had Haven been raised by her mom, odds were, she would’ve turned out selfish and worldly like Brynn. Haven might have missed the opportunity to meet Wyatt. Or worse, she would’ve failed to recognize his value and might have tossed him aside as Brynn had done.

  “A penny for your thoughts,” Wyatt said, gazing into her eyes as his finger trailed down a lock of her hair.

  “I was thinking how blessed I am to be here with you.”

  His lips curved into a smile. “Ditto,” he said, his lips taking hers in a breathless kiss that left them both warm, despite the cold.

  * * *

  Haven’s nerves were skipping like a crazed tap-dancer as she studied her reflection in the mirror. She looked stunning in Brynn’s red dress. She’d put her makeup on a touch heavier to give herself a more dramatic look, adding red lipstick for the final touch. Dangling, diamond, teardrop earrings caught the light from overhead, sparkling as she moved.

  All day long, excitement over the Christmas Eve Party simmered in the air. A barrage of event trucks came and went, carrying armies of workers who buzzed around setting everything up. As promised, Haven did an assessment of Beverly and Ellie’s dresses, pretending to know something about design. Of course, it wasn’t hard to give the okay because both dresses were spectacular. Ellie was fluttering about like a butterfly, all smiles. Haven suspected her buoyant mood had something to do with Luke coming to the party tonight.