Four Christmas Matchmakers

by Cathy Gillen Thacker

“If you’re up to it?” She smiled. “Yes, Cade, I do. In the meantime—” she looked around “—let’s find your other shirt.”

  “I think it’s still in the kitchen.” He ripped off the tape while she went to look. When she returned, the makeshift ice pack was off.

  He stood.

  Instead of just handing the thermal tee over, she opened up the neck with her hands and motioned for him to bend toward her. He did, and she eased it over his head and neck, which enabled him to put his good arm through the sleeve. Then, with her assistance, he got the other arm through, too. After she helped him get the flannel shirt on over that, her eyes darkened with feminine concern. “Can you button it? We don’t want you getting too cold outside.”

  It would have been irritating as hell to have anyone else fussing over him this way. But not Allison. When she hovered over him, it felt surprisingly good and right.

  Figuring it was time for him to assert his masculinity again, he wrapped his arms around her waist and teased, “Well, we wouldn’t want that.”

  She gazed up and blushed prettily when he pulled her against him. She smelled like vanilla and the spicy cookies they had been baking. “I’m serious, Cade,” she protested.

  He knew she was.

  Which was what made it easy to lower his head and kiss her. Gently at first, then with growing ardor. With a soft, low moan of surrender, she returned his embrace, just as he’d hoped, wreathing her arms about his neck and pressing the soft lusciousness of her breasts against his chest. The ridge of his desire grew, reminding them both where passion like theirs always led. That seemed to serve as some kind of wake-up call. Schooling her not to simply slide back into his life and pick up where they’d left off. She shuddered and moaned again, and then tore her lips from his.

  Breathlessly, she stepped back to glare at him. “Darn it, Cade! You’ve got to stop acting like we are on some sort of extended date...”

  That was her metaphor, not his.

  Grinning at all she hadn’t said, he let her show him the front door, then drawled merrily, “So, I’ll see you-all tomorrow morning, then?”

  Still looking deliciously disheveled, she nodded. And he walked out.

  Chapter Seven

  The next morning, Cade stared at Allison from the other side of the portal. Nine in the morning and she was still in a pair of ice-blue satin pajamas and what looked like a thigh-length cashmere sleep sweater now stained with something wet and brown and icky-looking. In the distance, he could hear yelling and crying, and was that something being thrown? “What happened?”

  Zeus nudged Cade’s thigh, then tossed his head in the direction he wanted Cade to go, while Allison ushered him inside. The fragrance of freshly made waffles and maple syrup woke his senses. “Everyone got up on the wrong side of the bed,” she said, looking even more harried as the noise from the back of the house escalated exponentially.

  Leaving him to follow, she ran in the direction of the melee. “Girls!” she shouted. “Come on now! Calm down!”

  “She stole my breakfast!” Sienna yelled, pointing at Hazel, who was dangling the plate just out of reach.

  “It’s a joke!” Hazel declared.

  “It’s not funny!” Amber said, leaving her untouched meal and getting down on the floor to wrap her arms around Zeus’s neck.

  “Stop fighting. You’re hurting my ears.” Jade stood on tiptoes to reach the platter in the middle of the kitchen island. With a swipe of her arm, she brought it toward her so quickly it almost tumbled off the edge to join the overturned plastic orange juice bottle dripping liquid onto the floor. “I’ll fix you another one.”

  “I don’t want that,” Sienna said with a pout. She pointed at the waffle already smeared with butter, powdered sugar and maple syrup, which Hazel was still holding hostage. “I want that one!”

  “And you shall have it.” Cade swooped in to rescue Sienna’s breakfast. He set it on the place mat in front of her. Only to have her scowl and push it away.

  “Well, now I don’t want it,” she whined.

  Understandably, Allison looked as if she were about to lose her mind. He understood. He’d only been here two minutes and he was ready for the loony bin, too. His heart going out to Allison, he asked, “When did you-all wake up?”

  She slid onto a stool and buried her face in her hands. “Four hours ago,” she admitted miserably.

  He knew how she liked things to be perfect. This was far from that. “Five a.m.?”

  She nodded and peered up at him through her spread fingers. “This is our second breakfast.”

  “The first was cereal and milk!” Jade offered helpfully.

  Allison straightened and drew in a deep breath that lifted the soft swell of her breasts. His body tightened in response, but he forced himself to concentrate on the matter at hand.

  “They were hungry and I thought it might be better to have something hot this time,” she explained. “Although they wanted the cold cereal earlier.”

  “When are Mommy and Daddy going to FaceTime us?” Sienna asked. “You said they would!”

  Which maybe explained the little girl’s bad behavior, Cade thought. She feared it wasn’t going to happen. Again.

  Allison got a roll of paper towels. He held out his hand for a few, and together, they got down to mop up the spilled juice. “Your parents should be calling us anytime now,” Allison said. “At least I hope so.” With a sigh, she looked at Cade. “I tried to explain the time difference between here and Switzerland.”

  He offered his hand and, loving the soft, delicate feel of her palm clasped in his, helped her to her feet.

  “When they’re having breakfast, we’re having dinner,” Hazel said.

  “No! When we’re having breakfast, they’re having dinner,” Amber corrected, still hugging Zeus like a lifeline to sanity.

  Hazel stuck out her tongue. Sienna elbowed her. Jade pushed them both.

  “In the meantime,” Cade said, physically stepping in to stop another melee, “I think we should all sit down and enjoy the wonderful second breakfast Allison made while we wait to talk with your mommy and daddy.” He guided each of the girls into a chair at the breakfast table.

  “What if they don’t call us?” Amber’s lower lip quivered.

  “They will,” he promised. Even if he had to do the dialing himself.

  Allison handed Cade a plate and silverware. She let out a quiet sigh. “Coffee?”

  He wished he could hold her close, smooth the tousled hair away from her face and plant a tender kiss on her temple. Anything to soothe her and make her feel better. But they had an audience, so...best to keep it a lot more casual. He smiled. “Please.”

  “Plain?”

  He wasn’t surprised she remembered—she’d always been good at the details—but he liked it that she had. “You got it.”

  The moment drew out and they exchanged grown-up we’re-in-this-together smiles.

  Noticing, the girls squinted at them. “So what else is on your minds?” Cade asked, able to see from their petulant scowls they had other complaints.

  Sienna kicked the leg of the table. “It’s not fair Mommy and Daddy aren’t here to take us to see Santa ’cause all our friends from school are getting to do stuff like that today.”

  Cade took a bite of waffle. The girls didn’t know what they were missing thus far. It was melt-in-your-mouth delicious.

  He gave Allison an inquiring look. She seemed to be thinking what he was: they would likely go stir-crazy if they remained in the house all day today. “We can do that with you,” he said. “As soon as we find out where he is.”

  Allison looked at her phone. “It looks like he is going to be at the San Angelo mall today.”

  The girls exchanged excited grins. “Can we go?” Amber asked.

  Again, Cade and Allison were of the same mind. “Absolutel
y,” they said.

  * * *

  It took another twenty minutes for everyone to finish eating, and then the girls went upstairs to brush their teeth and get dressed while Cade and Allison handled the dishes. “Any idea why Sarabeth and Shawn haven’t called?” he said, now that the girls were out of earshot.

  “No. I texted them both a reminder and got nothing.”

  Cade frowned. “Maybe they’re just busy.”

  “Maybe. Would you mind finishing up here so I can go up and help the girls with their hair and get dressed, too?”

  “Take your time.”

  Thanks to a quadruplet wardrobe crisis, it was another forty-five minutes before all five females were ready to leave the house. But in his view, it had been worth the wait. The girls all looked cute in holiday sweaters and jeans. And Allison looked absolutely incredible. She smelled like the jasmine-scented shampoo and soap she favored. Her dark hair was a soft, silky cloud about her face and shoulders. Snug-fitting jeans cloaked her fine derriere and legs. The dark green turtleneck sweater brought out the pine green of her long-lashed eyes. And finally, a subtle application of color enhanced the soft lushness of her lips. “Sorry about the wait.” She patted his arm as she passed.

  “Worth it,” he murmured back. So worth it... She tossed him a wry look.

  A few moments later, they gathered up everyone’s coats and put them on, and headed out to Sarabeth’s Suburban.

  “What happens if Mommy and Daddy call when we aren’t home?” Jade asked worriedly.

  Allison opened the passenger door. “I have my cell phone with me, remember?” She helped the girls climb in. “And Cade has his, too. So they will be able to reach us.”

  The girls relaxed. Allison turned on Christmas music, and the thirty-minute drive to the neighboring city was filled with lots of music and exuberant singing.

  The girls grew even more excited as they made their way past the stores to the North Pole village set up in the sunny mall atrium. Elves and Mrs. Claus greeted all the newcomers while parents and children stood in line.

  Fortunately, because it was still early, the lines weren’t too long. “Take a picture and text it to Mommy and Daddy!” Jade said.

  “Good idea.” Cade lined up the girls with their backs to the village and their arms around each other. “Say ‘cheese’!” The girls giggled. He got the shot.

  “And one with Allison, too!” he directed, unable to help but think what a wonderful mother she would make. If only she had still wanted to have kids, that was. Instead, as far as she’d let on, she was now dedicated to remaining single and unencumbered...

  “Want us to take your picture?” Allison asked.

  Cade noted a fortysomething man with a goatee, in a Wranglers MLB cap and flannel shirt and jeans, standing in front of a home goods shop.

  He had a woman around the same age and in similar attire next to him. They were both staring at him. Watching him and Allison and the kids in a way that was making Cade uncomfortable.

  Hoping it wasn’t a disgruntled fan—there were plenty of them since he had pitched the final losing game in the last playoffs—he turned away. That part of his life was over now. It was going to stay over. “Nah. Let’s take some pictures of Santa and Mrs. Claus and the elves instead...”

  The quadruplets cooperated. Soon, it was their turn to talk to Santa. They climbed onto Saint Nick’s lap, two at a time, and whispered what they wanted for Christmas in his ear.

  He told them all he would do his best.

  Finished, they headed out of the village “gate” and stood next to Cade. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the man in the Wranglers MLB cap still staring unhappily at Cade and looking as if he might approach. Determined not to let that happen, he said, “Who wants ice cream?”

  Allison blinked. “Before lunch?”

  He winked, gathering up the girls. “After brunch...”

  “Everything okay?” she asked, as they headed for the food court.

  Cade didn’t want to turn around to check. He would head the guy off if necessary, give him a chance to say his piece, but first he wanted to get Allison and the girls settled. “Yeah.”

  They found a table. Cade took the orders and then headed off to get the treats while Allison stayed behind with the girls. As he’d expected, the man in the ball cap slipped into line behind him. “Lockhart.”

  Here we go...

  Cade turned with the polite grin he reserved for meeting strangers. “How are you?”

  “Not good, after the way you blew the playoffs for the Wranglers.”

  Out of the corner of his eye, Cade saw the woman taking photos...and maybe a video...with her phone. Great. Just what he needed. To be back on social media.

  Not about to give them anything of interest, Cade kept a poker face. “I take it you really wanted to see them make it all the way to the World Series this year?”

  “Damn right I did, and so did all the other fans.”

  Cade nodded. “I think everyone was disappointed.”

  “It was your fault,” the man insisted, beginning to get a little belligerent.

  Cade saw Allison looking alarmed. Luckily, the girls hadn’t noticed yet.

  A mall policeman had, however, and he approached the man in the cap. “Sir? I’d like to speak to you about your vehicle.”

  The angry fan started. “What?”

  “I think there is a problem,” the cop continued. “If you’ll just come with me, I’ll explain...”

  Cade sent the officer a silent look of thanks, then headed back to the table. “They’re out of the kind we want. So how about we all go to the Dairy Barn back in Laramie?”

  * * *

  Because it was lunchtime by the time they arrived, they ended up getting the girls hot dogs, fries and ice cream. When they had finished eating, because it had turned out to be a sunny day, with the temperatures hovering in the low sixties, they headed over to the park. While the girls played on the playground, Cade and Allison watched from a nearby bench. She lifted her chin and locked eyes with him. “You want to tell me what happened back at the mall?”

  Briefly, Cade explained.

  “You know the woman with him was taking pictures of the confrontation.”

  He sighed. “Yeah, I saw.”

  She turned toward him, her bent knee rubbing against his. Her soft lips twisted into a frown. “Does that happen often?”

  He draped his arm along the back of the bench. “Never in Laramie County. Not often in San Angelo. In Dallas...a lot, actually. Although there, I had as many folks telling me that they loved me as I had people telling me they hated the way I played. And then a certain percentage were just starstruck and wanted an autograph or selfie.”

  She released a breath and held his gaze with the kindness and compassion he had come to expect from her. “Is that why you moved back home?” she asked softly.

  Aware he wanted her to be his again, more than ever, he shrugged, looked her in the eye and said, “I moved here because I wanted to have a regular noncelebrity life. Settle down. Get married. And have a family.”

  * * *

  Cade was so sincere and matter-of-fact, Allison felt her jaw drop. “Do the local ladies know that?” she asked.

  Inscrutable emotion came and went in his espresso eyes. “How would I know?”

  She’d always wondered if she had made a mistake, calling it quits with him when she had. Instead of waiting around to see if they could make it work while he got used to life in the big time. But she hadn’t and now there was no way to know what might have happened. “Have you told anyone this?” she demanded, still feeling a little stunned by his declaration. “Like your family, who wouldn’t hesitate to put out the word...?”

  His smile deepened, his voice turning gruffly sexy. “I told you.”

  There had been a time, back when they
’d been dating, when she would have given anything to have him say that to her, but that was then, when she’d still had a romantic bone left in her body.

  Now all she wanted was the kind of lifelong security that came from not depending on anyone but yourself.

  “Miss Allison! Mr. Cade! Look at us!” the girls shouted from atop the climbing fort.

  Relieved by the distraction, Allison waved while Cade called his encouragement.

  Her phone chimed, signaling an incoming message. “Finally,” she said, thinking it was a text from Sarabeth and Shawn. Instead, it was an email from Laurel Grimes at HITN.

  “Everything okay?” Cade asked.

  “The latest challenge. I have to get two holiday trees and decorate them, one for a family, another for myself—as a single woman. Then, by nine a.m. Monday morning, I need to make a short video and write an accompanying blog post, detailing how to do this all yourself.”

  “Doesn’t sound that hard for someone with your talent,” he praised.

  Allison huffed. “Says someone who has never had to design anything while simultaneously babysitting quadruplets all weekend!”

  Cade wrapped his arm around her shoulders and tugged her in close to his side. “Good thing you’ve got me, then, isn’t it?”

  * * *

  Going to the tree lot and picking out two seven-and-a-half-foot trees while simultaneously keeping watch over the quadruplets took up the remainder of the afternoon.

  “Can we get mistletoe?” Jade asked, as they headed for the checkout stand, Cade carrying one tree and a lot worker the other.

  “Mistletoe?” he repeated, as if he couldn’t possibly have heard right.

  What did they know about mistletoe? Allison wondered.

  “It makes grown-ups happy,” Amber explained.

  “We want our mommy and daddy to be happy when they get back from Switzerland,” Sienna added.

  Cade shot Allison a mischievous glance that warmed her from head to toe. “Then mistletoe it is,” he declared, picking up a beribboned strand and placing that on the counter, too.