A Home for Christmas

by Deborah Grace Staley

  She stepped out of the dressing room to stand in front of a full-length, triple mirror. Janice was stunned. Definitely naughty.

  She hardly recognized the siren staring back at her in the mirror. The dress and even the slip on shoes with four-inch skinny heels were a perfect fit. She'd never owned anything so decadent in her life. On giving her reflection a closer look, she noticed that her black panties showed through the material. She turned and walked over to the display of underwear on the other side of the room to see if there was something the color of the dress.

  The jingling bell at the front of the shop signaled the arrival of another customer.

  “Come on in,” Candi called from the back. “I'm neutralizing a perm. Be with you in a minute.”

  “No problem, Candi. I know how to find what I . . . want.”

  Before Janice could react to the sound of his voice, she was standing face to face with Blake.

  Chapter 9

  “Janice.”

  “Blake,” they said in unison.

  “Wow. You look . . . amazing.”

  She dropped the panties she'd been holding and pulled the neckline of the dress together. “Oh, I was just, um, you know… Candi insisted I try this on. I'll just,” she sidestepped her way to the dressing room, “just change.”

  “No. Wait.”

  Blake blocked her path.

  “No, really. I should be getting back to the office.” Any excuse to get out of such an embarrassing situation. To be found trying on provocative dresses in Candi's Naughty Boutique in the middle of a workday. What must he think when she wasn't sure what she thought? But when he touched her face with the back of his hand, all thoughts of embarrassment short-circuited.

  Last night, she'd walked out on him. Their conversation had taken a turn she hadn't expected. Had become too deep. Too personal. It had also brought to light differences she couldn't overlook. But now, in this moment, the attraction between them sizzled. With him standing a breath away devouring her with his eyes, Janice was rocked with desire for him despite her misgivings. She leaned into his touch and braced her hands against his chest.

  Blake plunged his hand into her hair and circled her waist with his arm, and then his lips were hot and hungry on hers, leaving her weak and wanting more. Much more. He broke the kiss suddenly, skidding his lips across her cheek to her ear.

  “Janice. I'm sorry.” He grasped her arms and pulled away a little.

  She blinked. “Sorry?” The starched cotton material of his Oxford-style shirt felt rough against her palms.

  “Yes.” He looked over his shoulder. “We're not exactly in a private place here. It's just, I wanted to kiss you so badly. Seeing you here, looking so beautiful and sexy, I couldn't help myself. Can you forgive me?”

  Janice leaned into him again. Blake groaned. “Only if you stop apologizing,” she said. “After last night, after the way we left things . . . ”

  He smoothed a hand down her hair and pressed his forehead to hers. “I know.”

  She focused on the buttons of his shirt. “I wasn't sure you'd want to see me again. Not everyone is willing to deal with the demands on a doctor's time. When I make plans, I never know—”

  “Now, stop right there. What you do is important. Any man that can't see that is just plain stupid.”

  “But you won't get to pick and choose what's important. Can you handle that? Giving someone else that much control?”

  “Would you give me that chance?”

  Janice had to look away from the intensity and passion filling his eyes. There it was again. Hope. It flooded her heart like a long overdue soaking rain on dry, parched land.

  “There's more.” Blake tipped her face up with a finger beneath her chin. “Don't pull away. Don't. Tell me what you want.”

  Janice shook her head and took a step back, out of his arms. “I can't.”

  “Can't or won't?”

  “Does it matter?”

  “Hell, yes it matters!”

  For every step of retreat she took, he advanced. “I can't give you what you want, Blake.”

  He propped his hands on his hips in a defensive stance. “What is it you think I want?”

  “A wife. Children to fill your big, old house.”

  “Okay, yes. I admit it. I want those things, but not now. Not right this second. I mean, I think I should have a girlfriend and then a fiancée.”

  Janice tugged at the dress's plunging neckline, her arms wrapped around her midsection. “I can never be those things for you, Blake. I can never give you what you need. I can't be there for you the way you need me to. My job must come first. So, why bother with any of this? It'll just lead to one or both of us getting hurt.”

  “Listen to yourself. You're making excuses to keep me at a distance. Again.”

  Janice took another step back. “You don't know anything about me.”

  “I think I do. You're from this dysfunctional family that's taught you love equals disappointment and hurt.” He took another step toward her, and another, until her back met the wall. “Well, I'm not afraid. It might not be easy, but I'm not afraid to take a chance at proving you wrong. Proving that some people come into your life and stay. I'm won't bug out when you need me most. I'll be right here.”

  “That's impossible, Blake. We live in different worlds.”

  “We don't have to.”

  Janice stepped around him. “Coming to Angel Ridge was a mistake. I should have stuck to my plans and gone skiing.”

  “That's your parents talking.”

  Janice spun to face him. “What?”

  “Isn't that what they would do? Leave you alone? Take a trip? Run away from you when you need them the most?”

  It was her turn to advance on him. “Don't do that. Don't presume to analyze my family and me, because you can't begin to understand. You had it all. A traditional upbringing in a huge, loving family, with all of them still close by.”

  He surprised her by framing her face with his hands. “You're right. I can't understand how someone could know you and not want to love and cherish you.”

  “Hey, how are you doing in he—Blake Ferguson! You know men aren't allowed in here unchaperoned. I'm so sorry, Doc.”

  One second he was holding her, and the next he was holding air as Janice disappeared into the dressing room. Blake turned to Candi and said, “Anybody ever tell you that you have rotten timing?”

  “What are you doing in here, Blake?”

  “I came in to get some perfume.” He raked a hand through his hair, shaken by what was happening between him and Janice. At some point, she'd not only gotten under his skin, but into his heart.

  “Well, what do ya know? I'm havin' a run on the stuff today. You'd think I was having a sale.”

  Blake barely noticed that she'd spoken as he walked out of Candi's Naughty Boutique and into the front room. How could this be happening? He knew where he stood with Janice. To have a relationship with her, he'd have to give up his dream of a traditional family. Maybe even move to the city. He couldn't be sure he was willing to do that, but he knew he cared about her. He propped both hands against the counter, hung his head, and pulled in a ragged breath while conflicting emotions ripped him apart.

  He pulled out his wallet and threw several bills down on the counter. “I need some flowers delivered to Susan Houston.” His cell phone rang, and he stepped out onto the sidewalk to take the call.

  “What about the perfume?” Candi called after him.

  “Not today. Yeah,” he barked into the phone.

  “Take my head off, why don't you?”

  “What do you want, Dixie?”

  “I need you to watch the diner for me.”

  “You know, I have other things to do besides jump when you say—”

  “Look, Blake Ferguson. My best friend is dying, her husband is in the city with her finding out exactly how much longer she has, and her son is sick. That leaves me to get him to the doctor, so just get over yourself and haul your
ass down here.”

  He held the phone away from his ear as Dixie slammed the receiver home. Blake holstered the cell and turned to go back into Heart's Desire. Janice was just coming out of the side room. They met at the counter.

  Candi ignored Blake and spoke to Janice. “So, can I box up that dress and send it over to Doc Prescott's?”

  “No. I'll just take the perfume.”

  “But—”

  “I'm sorry, Candi, but I'm really in a hurry.”

  Seemed the plan was for her to ignore him, too. “Janice, I just spoke with Dixie. Little Sammy Houston is—”

  “I know. I just got a call from Mable.”

  She handed Candi some cash, thanked her, and bypassed him on the way to the door. She left without looking back.

  As he watched her walk away, something snapped inside him. Determination straightened his back. He'd backed down too many times in his life. Some things were worth fighting for. He didn't know how it would turn out, but he knew in his gut, if he didn't give it shot, he'd live with the regret.

  “Candi, I need another arrangement of flowers. And can you box up that dress Janice was trying on?”

  “Now you're talking. What about the accessories?”

  “Those too.”

  “What do you want the card to say?”

  “No card. I'll deliver the message myself.”

  “How are you doing, Sammy?” Janice asked.

  “Not so good.”

  The adorable little red-haired boy looked up at her with huge green eyes. She brushed her hand across his hot forehead.

  “Where's the doc?” he asked.

  “Sammy, Doc Prescott went into town with your Mommy, remember?” Dixie said. “This is his niece. She's a doctor, too. She's going to have a look at you instead.”

  He shifted his wide-eyed focus back to Janice. “A lady doc?”

  Janice smiled. “Yes.”

  “Wow . . . I never seen a lady doc before. You sure are purdier than old Doc Prescott.”

  “Sammy,” Dixie scolded.

  “Well she is, and she smells nicer, too.”

  “Thank you, Sammy. Do you mind if I take your temperature?”

  “Nope.” He opened his mouth and stuck out his tongue.

  “How about if I just stick this funny looking thing in your ear?”

  “Will it hurt?”

  “No, not at all.”

  “Okay.”

  Janice inserted the thermometer in boy's ear and took the reading. “All done.” She made a notation in his file. Mable hovered nearby to make sure she did it correctly. Janice shook her head.

  “How long have you been feeling bad, Sammy?”

  The little boy shrugged.

  “I let him stay out of school today. He was spendin' the day with my mother because he didn't feel well when he got up this morning. She keeps some of my nieces and nephews from time to time, so one more's usually no bother. Anyway,” Dixie continued, “she called me at the diner. Said he'd been throwin' up all morning.”

  Janice made another note.

  “Oh,” Sammy groaned. Just the thought of the morning he'd had seemed to make him go green.

  Janice rubbed his stomach in what she hoped was a soothing motion. “Okay. Mable, could you get us—”

  The nurse handed her a stainless steel, kidney-shaped pan. “Thank you. What did you eat this morning?”

  “Pancakes.”

  “Anything else?”

  “I had a big glass of milk. Oh . . . ” he closed his eyes and moaned.

  “I'm sorry, sweetie. We won't think about that. So, you go to school?”

  The boy took a breath and said, “Yep. I go to Kindygotten. But I didn't go today. Dixie said I didn't have to 'cause I was feelin' poorly.”

  She smiled and smoothed his unruly curls. “That's a very good thing. Has anyone else at your school been sick?”

  The little boy shrugged. “Tommy Thompson puked all over the bathroom last week. It was gross.”

  She nodded, then looked at Dixie. “It's probably just a virus or the stomach flu. There's not much you can do for it other than let it run its course. It'll probably last twenty-four to forty-eight hours. I can give him something for the vomiting. It will help him rest and keep some fluids down. It's very important that he not become dehydrated.”

  Dixie nodded.

  To Sammy, Janice said, “I can give you something to make your stomach feel better. There's two ways to take it. The choice is yours.”

  Sammy nodded, a serious expression in those huge green eyes.

  “I can give you a shot.”

  He screwed up his face to show his displeasure.

  “Or I can give you something called a suppository.” She explained how that worked.

  That garnered a more serious look of displeasure. “Shot,” he said.

  She patted his hand. “You're a brave little boy.”

  The nurse prepared the syringe. Dixie held the little boy's hand.

  “You get all the ice cream you want when this is over, sport.”

  Janice administered the injection, then handed the tray back to Mable.

  “You did that real easy, Doc. I hardly even noticed.”

  “Thank you.” She pulled a blanket up and tucked it under Sammy's chin. “Can you stay here and try to rest while I speak with Dixie?”

  Sammy nodded.

  She smoothed his curls off his forehead. “If you need anything, Miss Mable will be right here, okay?”

  “Okay.”

  The nurse smiled and sat next to the bed where the little boy lay.

  Janice and Dixie stepped out into the hallway and shut the door to the examination room. “The shot should make Sammy feel better right away. It will also make him very drowsy. I can give you some suppositories to use when it wears off if he starts feeling sick again. If he doesn't want to use them, just give me a call and I'll be happy to come out and give him another injection. There's no need to bring him back in.”

  Boy, was she really getting into this small town swing of things. Already volunteering to make house calls.

  Dixie ran a hand through her short-spiked hair. “Thanks, Doc. I really appreciate it.”

  Janice laid a hand on her arm. “Dixie, these types of things are very contagious. You should make arrangements to have him stay somewhere other than with Susan. An illness of this nature would be very hard on her.”

  “Of course. She's gonna have a fit. She'll want to take care of him herself, but I'll handle it. I may need restraints. Can you help me with that?”

  Janice laughed. “We'll see what Mable can scare up.” She noticed the dark smudges under Dixie's eyes. “How are you doing?”

  “Me? I'm right as rain.”

  “How are you sleeping?”

  “Oh, you know. Sleep's over-rated.”

  Janice crossed her arms and affected her best don't mess with me doctor's voice. “I know you're very involved with your friend's family. If you don't take care of yourself, you're going to be the one lying on that examination table.”

  “I'm fine.”

  “Is there anything I can do for you? There are medications that can help you rest. Help soothe your nerves.”

  Dixie cocked a hand on her hip. Janice didn't think she'd ever seen red pants with jingle bells trimming the pockets. “You treat upset with pills, and don't get me wrong, that's well and fine. But my recipe for just about anything is a nice chocolate cake.”

  Janice laughed.

  Dixie squeezed her hand. “If there's ever a point when chocolate stops helping, then I'll come see you. Promise.”

  “Anytime.”

  “Now, about you and my brother—”

  “I'll just have Mable get those meds together.”

  “Hang on, Doc. I got something to say and you're gonna hear it.”

  Janice took a deep breath. She'd heard about enough today from Blake about whatever this was between the two of them. As far as she could tell, they were at an impasse.


  “He'd never admit it, but my brother's been pretty unlucky in love. Fact is, he's been burned so many times, I thought he'd given up. Then you came to town, and I'm noticin' that he has that look in his eyes again. I don't mind tellin' you that it's been a very long time since I've seen him act this way over a woman.”

  “Dixie—”

  She held up a hand. “Now, let me finish. Please. I'm not one to meddle, but Blake's special to me. In my humble, biased opinion, you couldn't do any better than him. Still, I get this sense that you're in some weird place where you're not sure which direction your life is headed, and while that's your business, I just don't want to see my brother get hurt.”

  Janice crossed her arms. “For the record, I told your brother he didn't want to get involved with me. He doesn't seem inclined to take my advice.”

  Dixie nodded. She had a resigned look on her face. “So, I'm a day late and a dollar short.”

  “I don't know what you mean,” Janice said.

  Dixie began pacing. The bells jingled with the movement. “This is my fault. I told him to go for it. That he shouldn't waste any time if he wanted to pursue something with you. I just had no idea he'd fall this hard and this fast.” She shook her head.

  Janice didn't catch half of what she said. “Dixie, what are you talking about?”

  “Okay. A different angle. I need to approach this from a different angle.”

  Now she was mumbling. “What?”

  “Okay, I get that you're attracted to Blake.”

  That was to the point. “Excuse me?”

  “Come on, Janice. Do we have to be so formal? I mean, this is my brother we're talking about. What I'm trying to get at is this. What would it take for you to give him a chance?”

  “We really shouldn't be having this conversation.”

  “Well, I'm not givin' you a choice. As I said, I'm very protective of Blake. So, what would it take?”

  “A change of address to start. I'm only here for a visit. I haven't agreed to move yet.” Janice wished she could snatch the words out of the air, but it was too late.

  Dixie pounced. “Yet. You haven't agreed to move yet. So you're saying you might. That's good enough.”

  “There's more, Dixie. Much more.”

  Dixie held up her hand. “Blake should be able to take it from here with a little coaching.”