The Christmas Bliss Romance Collection

by Jennifer Youngblood

  He wove his way through the crowd of people toward the center area and tree. His eye caught on the white lights of the tree at the same time he heard singing from the choir. He stood, watching the performance as he waited for Ava to arrive. Ten minutes later, she still wasn’t here. He pulled out his phone to see if she’d sent him a text. Nothing. Apprehension snaked down his spine. Was Ava standing him up? He’d thought of little else other than Ava since last night, looking forward to the moment when they’d meet. He sent her a text.

  Hey, I’m at the festival by the tree. Are you still coming? I hope everything is okay.

  It was a clear night, but bone cold. Maybe this wasn’t such a great idea, after all. Ava probably hated the cold. Last night, she seemed to have had a great time. He saw the longing on her face when he ended the kiss prematurely, felt her excitement over meeting him tonight. Or, maybe not. Was it possible that he’d misread the signs?

  Even beneath his gloves, Beckett’s fingers felt stiff from the cold. He shoved them in his coat pockets, his good mood dissolving. Coming to the festival alone was no fun. He’d hang out another fifteen minutes or so and call it a night. Disappointment cut through him like a dull knife, causing his insides to ache. His relationship with Ava had ended as quickly as it began. He was surprised by the feeling of loss that engulfed him.

  A second later, adrenaline spiked through Beckett when he spotted Ava coming toward him, looking festive in a crimson coat, her blonde hair flowing gold tresses over her shoulders. When she saw him, an unencumbered smile curved her lips, revealing adorable dimples. That one simple expression smoothed his ruffled feathers, and everything was good again.

  He closed the distance between them, pulling her into a tight hug, inhaling the berry scent of her shampoo. “Hey, you look fantastic.”

  “Thanks,” she murmured appreciatively. “I’m so sorry I’m late. My client meeting went over. Rugs that have been on backorder for three months finally arrived. What was supposed to be a burnt rust turned out to be cranberry.” She grimaced. “My client was not happy, especially considering she’s throwing a Christmas party tomorrow night, and the rugs were going in her living room.”

  “What did you do?”

  “I went to a local rug shop and rounded up a couple of replacement rugs. We’re shipping the other ones back for a full refund.” She waved a hand. “Anyway, it took longer than I thought to get here with traffic.” She wrinkled her nose. “Parking is crazy here.”

  He laughed, feeling deliriously happy. “Yes, it is. I was worried, so I texted you to make sure you were okay.”

  Her eyes rounded. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t even realize.”

  “No worries.”

  She glanced around. “This looks fantastic. I’ve heard about it for years, but never had the chance to come.”

  He liked the idea of introducing her to something new. “Until now,” he said significantly, his eyes holding hers.

  Her light eyes sparkled. “Yes, until now.”

  He reached for her hand and squeezed it, appreciating how small her hand felt in his. “What do you want to do first?”

  She looked at the choir. “Let’s listen to a few more songs.” She tipped her head. “Do you mind?”

  “Not at all. When we’re done with this, I’ll show you the booths. Are you hungry?”

  A full smile broke over her face. “Starved.”

  “Good. Me too. We’ll grab a snack here, and then go to dinner.” He pumped his eyebrows. “After we visit the booths, I’ve got a surprise for you.”

  She laughed. “I thought the festival was the surprise.”

  “Part one.”

  “Hmm.” She pursed her lips, giving him an admiring look. “One thing I’m learning about you is that you keep me on my toes.”

  “Absolutely,” he responded heartily.

  She removed her hand and threaded her arm through his, leaning in close. “We’ll help each other stay warm.”

  That’s all the prodding Beckett needed to pull his arm away from hers and, instead, slide it around her shoulders, drawing her close. “How’s that?”

  “Much better,” she said as she reached up and linked her gloved fingers through his.

  There was so much Beckett wanted to know about Ava’s life and past. He wanted to get to know every detail about Ava: how she chose her career, her hobbies, and favorite foods. Now wasn’t the time to bombard her with questions. It was enough to just have her here with him.

  As the choir sang Joy to the World, Beckett had the feeling that, for the first time in a long time, he was experiencing joy. Before his mind was even conscious of what was happening, his heart offered a prayer of gratitude for this moment, being with such an exquisite woman who seemed to like him as much as he did her. Yes, it was a joyful night. Hopefully, a sign of many more to come.

  Chapter 6

  “Are we going ice skating?” A surprised laugh rose in Ava’s throat as she turned to Beckett. After listening to the choir sing, they toured the booths, purchasing hot chocolate and a loaf of some of the most delicious bread Ava had ever eaten. Then, Beckett told her it was time for the second part of the date. She never expected him to lead her to an outdoor ice skating rink.

  A wide smile stretched like warm taffy over his lips. “Yep,” he said proudly, his dark eyes lit with adventure. “Now comes the all-important question.”

  “Oh, yeah. What’s that?”

  “Can you skate?”

  “Pshh,” she uttered dryly, waving a hand. “Can I skate? Of course, I can skate.” She paused, giving him a sheepish look. “A little,” she admitted. “Truthfully, I’m not that great at it.” She figured she’d might as well come clean now. In a few minutes, Beckett would see how terrible she was. She’d only been skating twice in her lifetime—when she was a teenager—and those were miserable failures. Still, with Beckett at her side, she was willing to give it a shot. Her brows drew together. “I didn’t realize this rink was here.”

  “It’s a new addition to the festival,” Beckett explained. His dark eyes radiated confidence. “Don’t worry. I’ll stay right by your side, and I will be there to catch you if you fall.”

  “Famous last words,” she chuckled. “I’ll fall and take you with me. We’ll both need knee replacements by the end of the night.”

  “Nah, we can do it. You’ll see.”

  After they’d gotten their skates and put their things in a locker, they walked across the rubber mat leading to the ice. Ava’s stomach squeezed as she tightened her grip on Beckett’s arm. “This could end badly,” she muttered.

  “You’ll be okay,” Beckett countered. “Trust me.”

  Trust me. It was astounding how those two little words settled so comfortably into her heart. She did trust Beckett, more than he realized. He was so handsome in his manly, rugged way. It wasn’t just Beckett’s looks and charisma that drew her in, however. It was his strong, noble character that had caught her grandfather’s attention and then, in turn, made her take note of him. Gradually, the admiration turned to infatuation. Now, that she’d met Beckett, she realized that her feelings for him were developing at warp speed. He was everything she’d ever hoped and infinitely more. She smiled to herself as she glanced at the determined set of Beckett’s jaw as he led her out onto the ice. He was so capable and determined.

  They skated a couple of feet forward. Then it happened! Panic raced through Ava as her feet slid out from under her. Her arms flailed as she tried to catch her balance. Beckett caught her around the waist, righting her, before she toppled backwards.

  She turned to face him, clutching his coat, her feet going back and forth across the ice in a frantic attempt to gain traction.

  “Take it easy,” he said calmly. She felt his warm breath on her face as his eyes locked with hers. “I’ve got ya. Now, I’m going to turn you around and skate behind you, holding your waist.”

  She hiccuped a laugh. “All right.” She swallowed, steeling her resolve as he turned her ar
ound.

  “Lead with the right foot,” he said in her ear. “Smooth, easy strokes.”

  How in the world was she supposed to concentrate on skating when he was this close? All she could think about was the tickle of his breath against her ear, his strong arms around her waist.

  He uttered a low chuckle. “No panicking. Let the skates guide you. The blades will cut into the ice, holding you up.”

  “That’s easy for you to say,” she countered. She forced her mind away from the powerful attraction she had to Beckett and looked at the ice before them. Kids were skating effortlessly as easy as walking. She could do this! She took in a breath. “All right.” She went forward, repeating Beckett’s instructions in her mind. Smooth, easy strokes. Let the blades cut into the ice. A couple minutes later, exultation swept through her. She was skating! The ice felt smooth, her skates moving swiftly through it. She concentrated on the steady motion, grateful Beckett was behind her, holding her waist.

  When they’d made a full circle around the rink, Beckett moved to her side and took her hand. She felt a twinge of alarm, realizing his arms weren’t around her anymore. She squeezed his hand for all it was worth.

  He laughed. “You’ve got a grip like the jaws of life.”

  She lifted her chin. “Yeah, because you’re my lifeline.”

  “All right. You’re getting the hang of it.”

  After the third time around the rink, Ava was starting to feel better about the situation. The movement of skating was more liberating than she could’ve imagined. The cold kissed her nose and cheeks, making her feel exquisitely alive. She glanced at Beckett, who flashed her a pleased smile. “You’re doing it.”

  “Thanks to your help.”

  “Would you like to try it alone?”

  “No!” she sputtered at the same instant he released her hand. Her heart did a few flips as she continued. She leaned too far forward and almost fell, but managed to stand up straight. Everything clicked, and she was sailing!

  She might’ve been okay, had the kid not stopped three feet in front of her. Her eyes widened as she tried to move around him to avoid plowing him over. Right before she hit the boy, Beckett grabbed her waist as they both toppled to the ground. Ava sat up in a daze.

  Beckett got to his feet and helped her up. “You okay?”

  “Yes.” Amazingly, she was perfectly fine. Her jeans were slightly wet, but that was all. “Are you okay?”

  “Yep. I’m great.” He made a face. “I guess I shouldn’t have promised that we wouldn’t fall, huh?”

  She smiled. “You didn’t. Only that you’d be there to catch me if I fell.”

  He pulled a face. “I somewhat caught you, or you caught me. I’m not sure which.” His eyes lit with amusement.

  “Yeah, me neither. I warned you that I’d fall and take you with me,” she teased.

  “I’ll take a fall with you anytime,” he declared.

  They stood, facing one another, Beckett’s arms around her waist. Despite the cold, Ava’s heart beamed sunshine as she studied his handsome face, his brow touched with the wisdom of one who’d suffered much and survived to tell the tale. He was strong-minded and steadfast. This, combined with his depth of compassion and understanding of the complexities of life, made him irresistible. Awareness rippled through her as she looked at his firm lips, longing to kiss him again. His eyes darkened with intensity. “Ava, I think I’m falling for you,” he whispered before his warm lips came down on hers. The kiss sang through her veins as their lips moved together slowly, deliberately. The only thing that made them pull apart were the wolf calls from a group of teenage boys.

  Beckett rested his forehead against hers. “I guess we’re causing a spectacle.”

  “Yeah.” She wrinkled her nose. “We seem to be making a habit of kissing in front of an audience.”

  He laughed, taking her hand. “Are you up for a few more times around the rink, then we’ll get something to eat?”

  “Yep, as long as you don’t let go of my hand.”

  He winked. “No danger of that happening, Ava …” He cocked his head, grinning. “You know? I don’t even know your full name.”

  “Lawrence.”

  “Ava Lawrence,” he mused. “I like it.”

  “Good,” she giggled, feeling as buoyant as a balloon. “All right. Let’s do this,” she said with gusto.

  He gave her a quizzical look, the corners of his lips turning down.

  “What?” Her heart lurched. What had she done wrong?

  “You didn’t ask my last name.”

  Heat seeped into her face when she caught the tinge of hurt in his voice. “Oh, yeah. What is it?” Crap! She wasn’t supposed to know his last name. She should’ve thought to ask.

  “My last name’s Bradshaw.”

  She forced a smile to cover the tension. “It’s a good, solid sounding name. You have the alliteration thing going … Beckett Bradshaw.” Her voice sounded overly cheerful in her ears, a dead giveaway that she was overcompensating. Soon, Beckett would realize that she knew everything about him.

  Thankfully, he relaxed. “Yeah, if you think my first and last name has the alliteration thing going, wait till you hear my middle name.”

  “Oh, yeah?”

  “Beckett Bud Bradshaw,” he said straight-faced.

  She burst out laughing. “No, your mother wouldn’t do that to you. Harmony seems like too reasonable of a woman for that.”

  A smile played on his lips. “Nah, she didn’t. My real middle name’s Christopher.”

  “Beckett Christopher Bradshaw.” She knew that was correct, having seen it a few times. “I like it,” she said emphatically.

  He motioned with his head. “Shall we?”

  “As long as you keep holding on to me.”

  He gave her a meaningful look. “Don’t worry. I’ll never let you go.”

  Warmth glowed through her as she flashed a giant smile. Oh, how she loved the sound of that. “Just so you know, I’m falling for you too, Beckett Christopher Bradshaw.”

  * * *

  The next morning, Ava awoke to a blissful haze. Her date with Beckett the night before had been perfect. After ice skating, Beckett walked her to her car where they drove to get his truck. Ava then followed him to an Indian restaurant. They talked for a couple hours about their growing-up years. Ava told about her life in Biloxi, Mississippi, leaving out the bad parts of her childhood. She shared about her mother, how they used to bake together, and how her mother loved to sing and dance. Beckett spoke of what it was like to grow up in Park City with his brothers. “I’m the mixed-up middle child,” he’d said with a laugh. His eyes glowed with pride as he spoke of Jazzie, how she was an honor student and played the clarinet in band.

  The conversation had flowed easily. Before long, it was time to go. Beckett walked her out to her BMW. To their delight, the dark parking lot was empty except for the two of them. Beckett took full advantage of the situation giving her a long, hard kiss that sent her soaring to the stars. In fact, she was still dancing on air this morning. Just thinking about that kiss sent tingles through to her toes.

  Ava threw back the covers and got out of bed. Tonight, she was going to Beckett’s place where he was making her dinner. Sadly, the following day, he’d begin to work a forty-eight-hour shift. She’d teased him that she didn’t know how she was going to entertain herself in his absence. There was an element of truth to her words. Now that Beckett was officially in her life, she didn’t want to lose him. Her stomach tightened. If her grandfather was alive, she’d insist that they go back and redo everything. Beckett seemed content with his life. The battle for that contentment had been hard fought. Ava didn’t want to turn everything upside down. The more she got to know Beckett, the more she feared his reaction when everything took place.

  On her night stand was a framed picture of her grandparents. She picked it up, touching her grandfather’s face. “I fear we made a mistake.” A lump formed in her throat. “We wanted to do t
he right thing, something good that would repay the good that was done to us, but I don’t know that we have.”

  She jumped when her phone rang. Hastily, she put down the picture as she grabbed the phone. It was Houston calling. “Hello?”

  Houston launched into the conversation without preamble. “I’m calling to let you know that I will be contacting Beckett Bradshaw in the next couple of days.”

  “No!” she exploded, clutching the phone. “You can’t.”

  “I don’t understand. That has been the plan all along. Is everything all right?”

  “Yeah.” She rubbed a hand across her forehead. Houston probably thought she was losing it. “It’s just that … well … I hate to spring this on Beckett right now,” she squeaked.

  Houston let out a surprised chuckle. “There’s no keeping a lid on this, Ava. Ted and Libby are chomping at the bit, demanding that I disclose the terms of the living trust. Time is of the essence here. The sooner I talk to Beckett, the better.”

  She needed more time with Beckett, precious time with him before everything changed. “Can you wait until after Christmas?”

  “No, I’m afraid that’s not possible.”

  Her mind whirled. “Okay, then give me a few more days.”

  “Why?”

  A nervous laugh escaped her throat. “Please, Houston. Just a few more days.”

  Concern sounded in the older man’s voice. “Ava, what’s going on?”

  Another call beeped in. Ava pulled the phone away from her ear and saw it was Beckett. “Uh, Houston. I’ve gotta let you go.”

  “This is important,” he countered.

  “We’ll talk soon,” she clipped, as she ended his call and switched over to Beckett. “Hello?” Her greeting sounded breathy and rushed.

  “Good morning,” Beckett said warmly, the timbre of his deep voice easing her nerves.

  A large smile spread over her face. “Good morning.”

  “I miss you already.”

  “I miss you too.”

  “Too bad you have to work today.”