He nodded.
“Before my first daddy died on the mountain, he would take me snowshoeing with a bunch of his friends on Christmas day before dinner. They also used to do it before I was born. And sometimes my mom would go, too.”
Zoe had met their mom, Hannah, when she dropped off a pan of lasagna last week. She seemed like a lovely woman with an almost-one-year-old baby boy in addition to Kendall and Austin. Hannah had seemed as devoted to Sean as her children were.
“That sounds like a wonderful tradition.” It reaffirmed what Zoe had seen at the hospital, how much Sean was a part of the community here in Hood Hamlet. He not only attracted friends, but also knew how to keep them. She’d tried, but hadn’t been able to sustain relationships that way.
“It’s my favorite tradition,” Sean admitted.
“What about opening presents from Santa?” Austin asked.
“Much better than presents,” Sean answered.
Zoe remembered all the bouquets from women in the hospital. He’d admitted to only dating casually. Maybe Sean didn’t sustain all relationships. Only friendships.
“Everyone waited six years until Aunt Carly came back to Hood Hamlet last Christmas to go snowshoeing again,” Kendall added.
“We got to go with them,” Austin said. “They gave us snowshoes. We had hot chocolate and cookies, too. It was awesome.”
“Sounds like a wonderful tradition,” Zoe said.
Kendall nodded. “I can’t wait to go again.”
As Austin stared at Sean’s legs, the smile on the boy’s face turned upside down. “Are you going to be better by Christmas?”
“No, little dude.” Sean messed up Austin’s mop of blond hair. “I’m going to have to sit this year out.”
“But you have to be there.” Austin stuck his jaw out. “Please.”
“Oh, please, Sean.” Kendall’s eyes gleamed. “It won’t be the same if you’re not there. And Denali, too.”
Zoe’s heart ached for all of them. She fought the urge to reach out to Sean.
He gripped the walker. “If there was any way, you know I would be there.”
“Maybe we can figure out something,” Zoe offered.
“Yes!” the kids said in unison.
As they gave each other high fives, Sean motioned to his legs.
Zoe shrugged. “Christmas is still a couple weeks away.”
“My mom says Christmas is a time of magic and miracles, especially on the mountain,” Kendall said.
Zoe smiled at her. “Your mom is right.”
Sean shook his head. At least he didn’t say bah humbug.
“Ho, ho, ho,” a male voice bellowed from the front door. “Christmas tree delivery for Mr. Hughes.”
Jake, Tim and Paul entered wearing Santa hats and carrying in the Christmas tree. Carly followed with an old-fashioned red cap with white lace, the kind Mrs. Claus might wear, on her head.
Austin squealed with laughter. Kendall giggled.
The scent of pine filled the air. Denali ran to sniff the tree.
Sean whistled. “That is a big tree.”
“Size matters, Hughes,” Bill joked.
“Want to put my tree up next to yours?” Sean asked.
“I’ve seen your tree, Paulson,” Tim said. “Better cut your losses now.”
“I still can’t believe you got that tree in the truck,” Carly said. “Is it going to fit in here?”
Jake held the end with the tree stand attached. “Have a little faith in the magic of Christmas, beautiful.”
“The tree looked so small compared to the others towering around it.” When Zoe had seen how big it was in comparison to the truck, her heart had dropped to her feet. “But it will fit.”
Please. She prayed for a little Christmas magic. Let the tree fit.
Tim and Bill righted the tree while Jake held the stand.
“It fits,” Bill announced.
Zoe breathed a sigh of relief. “Told you so.”
“You did.” Sean smiled. “But I think we’re going to need a lot more lights and ornaments than I have.”
Carly leaned against her husband Jake and smiled. “It’s lovely as it is.”
“Beautiful,” Kendall agreed.
“Perfect.” Sean looked at Zoe, a smile still on his face. “You did good, babe.”
She glowed at his praise.
This might not be her home, but this would be the only Christmas she ever spent in Hood Hamlet with Sean. Zoe was going to make it a Christmas to remember. She wanted to make sure Sean never forgot it.
Or her.
CHAPTER EIGHT
THE NEXT day ZOE crawled under the branches of the Christmas tree to check the water level in the tree stand. Almost empty. She tipped the pitcher awkwardly to refill it. “I never had to do this at my mother’s. I can’t believe how much water this tree needs.”
“Cut trees drink a lot at first.” Sean sat with his legs on the ottoman and a MacBook Pro on his lap. He’d been working a little each day in addition to his physical therapy and workout sessions in his garage gym. “But in a couple of weeks, it won’t need much at all.”
She wiggled out on her stomach and sat back on her heels to grin at him. “Sounds like you. Lots of care to start, and now look at you.”
“Gee thanks,” he said dryly. “I always wanted to be compared to a Christmas tree.”
“Hey, I love this tree.” Realizing what she’d just said, she blushed. “Because it’s fresh. I mean…its size. Er, shape. The way it smells.”
“It’s a great tree,” Sean said, rescuing her from embarrassment. “Better than the small one I had last year. It’s only going to be tall trees from now on.”
He meant next year, in the future.
Zoe’s stomach clenched. She’d never given much thought to the future. That had always bothered her family, but now she couldn’t stop the questions swirling in her mind.
Where would she be in twelve months? What would she be doing? Who would she be with?
She rose and returned the water pitcher to the kitchen. “Well, you wouldn’t want Bill to have the biggest tree, would you?”
Sean laughed. “Are you ready to decorate?”
“Let’s wait until you’re on crutches and can help.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I want to wait.” Her gaze drifted from the tree to him. “The only trees I’ve decorated were little dinky tabletop jobs, and I had to do it myself. I want this tree to be different.”
“Your family never had a big tree?”
The trees in the governor’s mansion were always huge, but… “My mom likes themed trees so every year she hires a decorator.”
“That must cost a pretty penny.”
Nodding, Zoe thought about the different trees through the years. The bird one with turtle doves, French hens, calling birds and partridges had been her favorite. “My mother loves showing off her Christmas tree. No expense is spared.”
“Everybody has their own priorities.”
“Her trees are always gorgeous, but it’s not much fun watching the decorator’s crew put on the ornaments instead of getting to do it ourselves.”
“You never got to decorate your family’s tree?”
“Never,” Zoe admitted. “Sad, isn’t it?”
She tried to sound lighthearted, but failed.
“Let’s wait then so we can decorate the tree together,” Sean said. “We need to get more stuff anyway. Why don’t you see what decorations are in the container so we know what to buy?”
Zoe carried the large green-and-red container that Hank had brought in this morning from the entryway to the great room. She placed it near the tree. “At least you have some things.”
“Most were given to me, including the box,” Sean admitted. “Christmas decorations aren’t something guys put a lot of thought into. At least this guy.”
“I’ll Be Home For Christmas” played on the radio. As Zoe hummed along, she removed the lid from the container
. She really did feel at home here with Sean.
A green-and-red tree skirt sat on top. Each triangular piece was made from a different fabric pattern. Stripes, plaids, gingham. Nothing too feminine, yet the feel wasn’t too masculine, either. Perfect for a family.
Zoe’s insides twisted. “This is nice.”
“Aunt Vera made it for me,” he said. “There are matching stockings.”
Zoe placed the tree skirt on the container’s lid. “The stockings are right here.”
She held three quilted stockings in the air to see how they would hang. They were pieced together with the same fabrics used on the tree skirt. Sean’s name was embroidered on the white cuff of one of the stockings. A smaller stocking had Denali’s name stitched on it. “Who’s the blank stocking for?”
Sean rolled his eyes. “It’s Aunt Vera’s not-so-subtle hint I should settle down.”
“You weren’t kidding when you said they were on your back about getting married.”
“Nope. I should have never adopted a dog or built this house. Both gave my family the wrong idea.”
“A four-bedroom house isn’t your typical bachelor pad. It might give women the wrong idea, too.”
“I’m upfront with the women I date. They know I don’t have that kind of time to put into a relationship.”
“That must go over well,” she teased, but a part of her knew how those women must feel. His words reminded Zoe of her family. Work had always taken priority for them. And that had left her feeling like an outsider and alone.
“Not always, but they need to understand I have a lot going on. Normally, that is. When I’m not injured.”
Zoe glanced at the tree and thought of how things would be in a couple weeks. Sean would probably be in the office every day and working out when he wasn’t. A big change from now. “Maybe if you meet the right woman someday, you’ll want to make time for a relationship.”
“Maybe.” His tone suggested that was unlikely. “In the meantime, you can use the stocking.”
She flushed. His Aunt Vera had made the blank stocking for his future wife, not his pretend girlfriend.
“I don’t need a stocking.” Zoe carefully placed the stockings on top of the tree skirt. “I haven’t had one in years.”
“You have to have one here.”
“Why is that?”
“Stockings, especially handmade ones, are a Hughes family tradition,” he explained. “Besides, if you don’t have a stocking where will Santa put your presents?”
Zoe imagined her name embroidered on the blank stocking. She pushed the thought from her mind. “Don’t you mean my lump of coal?”
“Nah, you’ve been a very good girl.” He raised a brow. “But we still have a little time until Christmas Eve. If you want some help doing something naughty, I’m happy to oblige.”
His words loosened the tight feeling in her chest. She wished he could oblige her.
No, Zoe reminded herself, she didn’t.
She pulled out a box of a single strand of lights. “White lights?”
“I bought those myself,” he said. “I grew up with multicolored lights, but the white ones look like stars to me.”
Her heart melted. “I can’t believe your friends think you’re the Grinch.”
“I don’t mind. I have an image to uphold.” Sean struck a pose. “Gruff loner with a dog.”
“Don’t you mean overprotective mother hen?” she teased.
“I’ll ignore that.”
She pulled out a box filled with a dozen colored balls. Next came three silver stocking holders that spelled JOY, no doubt gifts based on the number. Finally she removed a large shoebox. “What’s in here?”
“All the ornaments my cousins’ kids and friends’ kids have made me over the years.”
Zoe opened the lid to find everything from paper ornaments scribbled with crayons to painted wood ones. “These are adorable. Maybe we could invite all your cousins’ kids over to make more ornaments for the tree.”
“If you do that, everyone is going to want to come.”
“The more the merrier. We could make it a tree-trimming party.” Excitement rippled through her. “I’ve always wanted to string popcorn and cranberries and make a garland.”
Sean didn’t say anything.
And then Zoe remembered with a pang. “You don’t like family get-togethers.”
“I didn’t like family get-togethers when my family was breathing down my neck telling me to settle down,” he admitted. “Now that I have you, it’s not a problem.”
“But…”
He smiled at her. “You said you wanted this tree to be different. Let’s have a party.”
Zoe jumped up, ran to the couch and sat next to him. “We’ll need to call an event planner right away. Is there someone you normally use?”
“Event planner? Honey, this is a tree-trimming party in Hood Hamlet, not a wedding in… Where did you say you were from?”
Oops. No way could she tell him her hometown. “I most recently lived in L.A. I’ll just call a caterer instead.”
“Uh-uh. Try a potluck.”
“Really?” she asked.
He nodded. “My family likes to cook. They expect to be asked to bring food to a party. Especially a family gathering.”
She’d never been to a potluck in her life. “Well, I don’t want to step on any of the Hughes’s toes.”
“One phone call to my mother, and your work will be done.”
Zoe smiled uncertainly. Organizing a family gathering was not at all the sort of thing her mother would enjoy.
Sean eyed her. “What kind of parties are you used to, Zoe?”
“Not that different from yours,” she hedged. “It’s just we don’t have an event planner in the family.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“Your mother,” Zoe explained. Now that she thought about it, about being surrounded by family, even borrowed family, for the holidays, her spirits soared.
He studied her. “Happy?”
“Very.” She hugged him. “Thank you.”
His arms circled around her. “You’re welcome.”
It was just a hug, a gesture between friends, but his warmth and closeness sent her pulse racing. She didn’t want to let go. Sean didn’t seem in any hurry to end their hug, either.
Zoe looked up at him, her face mere inches away.
He gazed down at her, his eyes full of desire.
She swallowed and glanced at his lips. It would be so easy to kiss him. All she had to do was lift her chin and move her head…
“Naughty?” he inquired huskily, his pupils dilated. “Or nice?”
Her heart leapt. Zoe struggled to breathe.
Naughty.
But if she kissed Sean and things went sour, she risked ruining everything she’d been working so hard to do and be. She wouldn’t be able to stay here and care for him. She wouldn’t be able to show her mother she’d learned to be responsible.
That wouldn’t be nice at all.
Keep it light, Zoe told herself.
“I think we’d better both be good,” she said. “I don’t want either of us to wake up with…”
“Coal in our stockings?”
Zoe shook her head. “Regrets.”
No regrets this morning. Last night on the couch with Zoe had been another story, but he’d gone along with Zoe’s wishes again.
Sean made his way out of the orthopedic surgeon’s office on crutches. He respected Zoe’s decision to keep things all business while he was laid up. But his sutures had been removed. He no longer needed the air cast on his ankle or the stupid walker.
He was feeling stronger, more himself, more confident.
Sean didn’t want to drive Zoe away, but it was time to test the limits.
“Let’s grab some lunch.” He wanted her to see him as a man, not a patient. “Then swing by my office.”
The look of concern he’d gotten to know so well over the past two weeks filled Zoe’s eyes. “
Are you sure you’re up for all that? You’re taking some awfully big steps right now.”
“I’ll take smaller ones.” Just like the small steps he wanted to take with her. Sean breathed in the crisp, cold air. “I’m up for it.”
Zoe unlocked and opened the passenger door of his truck for him. “As long as you don’t overdo it.”
Sean slid in and stuck the crutches behind him. “Me, overdo it?”
“Overdo is your middle name.”
He wouldn’t mind being over her. Doing her, either. The little fantasy made him smirk. “I can’t keep sitting around and doing nothing. It’s totally against my nature.”
“I know.” She walked around the back of the truck and climbed into the driver’s seat. “Why do you think I have to watch you practically 24/7?”
“My devastatingly good looks and charm?”
She turned the key in the ignition. The engine roared to life. “Sorry, but as your caretaker I’m immune to those things.”
Zoe hadn’t seemed so last night. In fact, she’d looked almost feverish when she gazed into his eyes. Just thinking about it raised his temperature. “Better be careful, oh caretaker of mine, I’m always up for a challenge.”
Zoe sat at a small table across from Sean at a quaint little café. Celtic harp music played from hidden speakers. A server, clad in black, removed their plates and silverware.
It was the kind of place she liked to eat at, good atmosphere, delicious food, but hadn’t had the chance to since striking out on her own with a monthly allowance to budget.
She raised her glass of strawberry lemonade and smiled. “Here’s to you getting such a positive report from your doctor.”
Sean lifted his glass of soda and clinked it against hers. “And getting rid of the stupid walker.”
Zoe took a sip. “I’m happy your recovery is going so well.”
“I’m getting better.”
“You are.” The realization made her happy, but a little sad that her usefulness and time with Sean had a definite end now. With his legs under the table and his crutches propped against the wall, he didn’t look injured or like her patient at all. He looked whole and virile and tempting. Uh-oh. “Thanks for suggesting we stop for lunch.”
“You’re welcome.” Sean slid cash into the leather folder and handed her one of the chocolate mints wrapped in green foil. “It’s about time we had a first date.”
Christmas Magic on the Mountain Page 12
