by Terri Reed
She glanced back one more time, nodded. “See you around, Ben.”
Ben didn’t miss that she’d chosen the words he’d used to say goodbye to his viewing public. The only problem was, he never meant to go back to that job, other than for brief visits. He prayed as he watched her leave. Please, God, if it’s Your will, let her come back to me—for good.
But she’d said she needed time, so he’d give her time.
He managed five days.
“Back the truck here.” He motioned with his hands toward the driveway leading to her garage apartment. “Easy.”
In front of him, Caden mimicked, “Easy.”
Ben laughed out loud. “Okay, bud, you ready to go get her? It’s all or nothing now.”
Caden nodded. “Go get ’er. Get Maria.”
Ben rang the doorbell at Maria’s apartment as the truck backed into her driveway with a piercing beep. Sigh. No such thing as a surprise with something this big. But maybe…
She opened the door, her curly hair tucked up into a knot with a pencil stuck through it, little pieces springing free to bounce around her face.
Suddenly tongue-tied, Ben stared. She looked as beautiful—more beautiful—in her jeans and T-shirt with her hair all scrunchy than she did in her glamorous clothes at the resort. He was so toast. Caden said, “We brought you a present. It’s pretty.”
Her eyes darted to Ben’s. He shrugged and tilted his head toward the driveway down below, where the Christmas tree was being carefully taken down from the flatbed truck. “I couldn’t help but notice you didn’t have one.”
A smile started in the corners of her mouth. “That’s not strictly true, but I’ve been told that I could use an upgrade.”
He called down, “Bring her on up, boys.”
“It’s too much, Ben.”
“But you like it?” Did his insecurity show in his voice? Because he could feel his every emotion hanging by a thread here.
The guys manhandled the tree into position in Maria’s small sitting room. It touched the ceiling, but he thought it went with her eclectic mix of antiques and flea market finds.
“Wow.” She circled the tree, touching the precious crystals. “It’s gorgeous.”
“There’s a special one, Maria, a really special one. Right, Dad?” Caden danced on his toes by the tree.
Ben picked Caden up. “That’s right, Caden. There’s a special ornament for Maria.”
Maria saw it then. Tucked amid all the glitter and shine, was one very glittery, very shiny ornament—a circle of platinum tied with a black ribbon to a branch. “Oh.”
Ben slid the ring off the branch and said, “I know this has been an unorthodox courtship, but Capo and I have talked about it. We would really like it if you would do us the honor of joining our family.”
He dropped to one knee and beside him Caden did the same. Maria’s throat threatened to close up on her. Ben held the diamond ring in his palm and said, “Maria Fuentes, I love you. Please, marry me?”
She shook her head, her heart pounding. She wanted the dream life that he was holding out to her, wanted it more than she’d ever imagined she could. But— “We can’t get married, Ben. You don’t even know me.”
“I know the important stuff.”
She paced away from him, saw her badge sitting on the kitchen counter and spun around. “My job takes me away from home at weird hours of the day and night. Sometimes I get consumed by it.”
“We have a nanny. And part of what I love about you is that you are willing to work for justice. You’re strong and independent. Tough.”
She didn’t feel tough. She felt like butter melting into a mushy puddle. The diamond glimmered in the ring Ben held. “All I know how to be is a scientist and a cop. I don’t know anything about being a mom or a wife.”
“Don’t you love us?” Caden blurted.
“Oh, baby.” The tears started. “Of course I love you.”
Ben’s deep voice was rough with emotion as he stood to look in her eyes. She didn’t have any doubt that she could see his heart in his eyes. “What about Caden’s dad? Do you love him, too?”
She bit her lip. And taking a deep breath, nodded. “I do, Ben, so much.”
Ben pulled Caden to his feet and handed him his backpack full of cars, sending him to the kitchen table to play. In seconds, he had her in his arms, her face pressed against his chest, right against his heart.
“Sweetheart, there’s no scientific formula for marriage, but I have a hypothesis I’d like to try out.”
She tilted her face to look at him, gave a shaky grin. “What’s that?”
“Love plus marriage equals a happy, chaotic life, filled with joy and laughter, a few tears and lots of good memories.”
Maria drew her brows together as if deep in thought. “It’s an interesting theory. I think it will take years of testing to come to a plausible conclusion. Do you think you’re up for that, Mr. Storm?”
Ben slid the ring onto Maria’s finger and, pulling her close against his chest, dropped his forehead close to hers. “I do.”
EPILOGUE
Maria dug her toes in a little deeper, letting the silky sand slide over her feet. The Gulf of Mexico was almost smooth today, a rare green-flag day. She drifted close to sleep, listening to Caden’s squeals of laughter as Ben chased him through the slow rolling surf.
They’d come back to stay at the Emerald Island resort, renting a plain old condo this time. Their stay in the penthouse seemed like a long-ago dream, though in reality it had only been a few months.
A whirlwind Christmas courtship had turned into a New Year’s wedding for friends and family. And for someone who had been so unsure of herself in this arena, Maria found herself newly enchanted every day with her husband and son.
Cold water dripped onto her sun-warmed stomach. She squealed and ripped off her sunglasses, pointing at Ben, who held a dripping Caden over her. “Oh—you are in so much trouble. I promise, I will get you back.”
“Like you promised you’d get even with the guys at the precinct for setting you up on the date weekend with me?” He dropped onto the towel beside her while Caden dug his dump truck into the sand.
She chuckled. “It’s almost better not to do anything. They’re scared every time they open their lockers. And forget coming into my lab.” She stretched in satisfaction. “It’s much quieter in there these days.”
Ben spread his fingers across her stomach. “How’s peanut?”
“Hungry, as usual. I’m not even showing yet and I’m eating twice my body weight. This should be fun.” She looked over to see Caden carefully constructing something out of sand. “Hey, Capo, whatcha working on?”
Their five-year-old didn’t even look up. “It’s a fingerprint fuming chamber.”
Ben raised one eyebrow at Maria.
“Hey, you’re the one who told me to show him the lab.”
Caden plowed over the square he’d just built. “Oh no, it just got hit by a tornado. It was an EF-5, Dad.”
Maria struggled not to smile as Ben choked out his response. “Impressive.”
A little while later, as they packed up their things and headed back to the condo, Ben put his arm around Maria. “I think, from all evidence, you definitely believe in love. What do you think? Come up with any conclusions about that hypothesis yet?”
She snorted. “Pshh—love. It’s chemistry. Pheromones and dopamine. PEA. Adrenaline.” She glanced at him under her lashes to see his reaction. His mouth dropped open.
Then he smiled and said, “Yep. And then there’s the HEA.”
She made a face. “What are you talking about?”
He pulled her close for a kiss. Her knees went weak. That silly chemistry.
Ben whispered in her ear. “And they lived Happily Ever After.”
Dear Reader,
From the first day Maria walked onto a crime scene, I knew she was a character to be reckoned with. She would need a very special hero because Maria didn’t really
believe in love—at least not for her.
It took some meddlesome coworkers and the love of a very special child to bring Ben and Maria together under the Christmas tree.
I pray that your Christmas season is blessed with love and laughter. And that, like Maria, you have found that God’s love isn’t really scientific or rational, but that it’s His gift to you, all the same.
Please visit my Web site at:
www.stephanienewtonbooks.com
for more information, or e-mail me at
[email protected].
I love hearing from readers!
Merry Christmas,
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Maria thinks she’s got life figured out, but a surprise by her coworkers sends her reeling. Describe a time when you were surprised by life and had to scramble to figure out your next step.
How do you handle life’s surprises—the good ones or bad ones?
Maria blamed Ben for her losing the scholarship that would’ve sent her to college. How does she later take responsibility?
Ben had to make a difficult choice, but chose to put his child in front of his career. How did his faith make it easier to make that choice?
Maria sees Ben’s tattered Bible and thinks that he must be all right. What do you think? Is a man’s dedication to studying the Bible an indicator of what kind of man he is?
Ben learns that he can open his heart to love. What does Maria learn at the end of the book that makes it possible for her to have a future with Ben?
ISBN: 978-1-4268-7543-4
HOLIDAY HAVOC
Copyright © 2010 by Harlequin Books S.A.
The publisher acknowledges the copyright holders of the individual works as follows:
YULETIDE SANCTUARY
Copyright © 2010 by Terri Reed
CHRISTMAS TARGET
Copyright © 2010 by Stephanie Newton
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the editorial office, Steeple Hill Books, 233 Broadway, New York, NY 10279 U.S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
This edition published by arrangement with Steeple Hill Books.
® and TM are trademarks of Steeple Hill Books, used under license. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and in other countries.
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