Christmas Conspiracy

by Susan Sleeman

  “I think...” she said and fell silent for a moment. “I love you, too. So much.” She freed her hand and gently touched his cheek, sending waves of emotions flooding through him.

  “I was a fool for letting guilt over losing my family ruin my life.” He paused and took her hands again. “I’m convinced God brought you into my life to help me let it go.”

  “Ditto for me.”

  His heart soared. “If we take things one day at a time and don’t worry about anything beyond that, we’ll be fine.”

  Jake got up and drew her to her feet. He settled his arms around her back.

  She stood on tiptoe and wrapped her arms around his neck. She met his gaze, and the love he’d never thought he’d see in a woman’s eyes shone up at him. He didn’t hesitate, but lowered his head and settled his lips on hers. Heat traveled through his body, and he knew deep in his heart that he’d never be cold again.

  * * *

  “Wait, what?” Rachael asked as Jake pulled his truck to the curb. “You said a surprise, and I thought you meant at the firehouse.”

  “You assumed that, and I wasn’t about to correct you so it could be more of a surprise.” He grinned at her. “You’ll want to zip up your coat and put your gloves on.”

  “We’re going outside?”

  He nodded.

  “This is so not fair,” she said, but she was loving every minute of the lighthearted feel between them.

  After they’d kissed—oh, that enchanting, wonderful kiss—he’d grabbed her coat, hurried her into it and then rushed her into his truck. To go to the firehouse, he’d said, but now he’d pulled over on a side street about a mile away.

  He jumped out, then came to open her door. “Are you ready for your surprise?”

  She eagerly nodded, but butterflies filled her stomach. He took her hand and helped her down from the truck. He kept a tight hold and walked her to the corner. The powdery snow swooshed over her feet and glistened in the reflection of colored lights on trees and homes in the area, adding to the stillness and the feeling of mystery he’d created.

  They reached the corner, and he turned her to face him. “Close your eyes, and your surprise will be in front of you before you know it.”

  She clamped her eyes closed, and he took her hands to lead her around the corner.

  He soon came to a stop. “Okay, you can open your eyes.”

  She slowly lifted her lids, and delight captured her when she spotted a horse-drawn carriage parked at the curb. A large chestnut horse pawed his hoofs in the snow as a driver sat behind him on a bright red sleigh with holly painted on the sides. It was decorated with fresh pine boughs and sparkling lights.

  “When you first saw the firehouse, you said the place would be perfect if you could arrive in a sleigh. I wanted the night to be perfect for you, so...” He gestured at the sleigh.

  She stared up at him in wonder. “You remembered.”

  “I remember everything about you.” He moved close and trailed his finger down her face. “And that’s why I couldn’t stay away.”

  Staring up at him, she got lost in his eyes and didn’t want the moment ever to end.

  The driver cleared his throat.

  Jake glanced at him. “Oh, right. Sorry, Stan.” He turned back to Rachael. “Stan and I go way back, and I finally talked him into coming out tonight, but he does have a family to get back to, so...” Jake bowed and held out his arm. “Your carriage awaits, my lady.”

  She was smiling so wide she thought her face might crack, but she couldn’t stop as Jake helped her into the sleigh. He settled next to her, not a hairbreadth between them, and covered their legs with a fuzzy blanket.

  As the sleigh jolted ahead, the scent of pine and horse and Jake’s soap mixed into a memory she would never forget. She laid her head on his shoulder, and they rode to the firehouse in silence, the only sounds her beating heart, the clip-clop of hooves and the swish of snow over the runners.

  When they turned the corner to the firehouse, she sat forward. The driveway and yard were pristine and white. The lights twinkled and glistened on the snow as she’d imagined, but she’d never expected to see the entire FRS team and their families standing outside and waving at them.

  She didn’t think after seeing the sleigh that her heart could be any fuller, but now it overflowed with joy and love and gratitude, everything a Christmas season could bring.

  Stan stopped the sleigh, and Jake helped her down, then introduced people she hadn’t met before. Krista’s grandfather, Otto, was first, his chubby red cheeks glowing with health and vitality.

  “Ach, it’s good to see someone smiling so much,” he said and gave her a quick hug. “It does an old man’s heart good to see such joy.”

  Next Archer stepped forward to introduce his fiancée, Emily, who in turn introduced her aunt Birdie, a woman whose outlandish attire made her look like a throwback to the sixties.

  “Nice to meet you,” Birdie said and settled an arm around Emily’s shoulder.

  “Why are we standing out here in the cold when there’s cocoa and cider waiting for us inside?” Darcie asked and started shooing them all inside.

  When they stepped in, Woof barked and jumped between everyone’s legs, trying to figure out what all the excitement was about.

  Darcie stopped near the kitchen island covered with mugs, empty trays and serving dishes. “Grab a drink, we’ll make our annual toast, then have dinner.”

  “We gather around the tree, and Jake says a few words,” Skyler whispered to Rachael as she tugged her to a stop and faced her. “But this year I plan to upstage him. Seems like he won’t notice, though. He only has eyes for you, and I can see the feeling is mutual.”

  Rachael nodded.

  “I hope there aren’t any bad feelings between us. I know I was hard on you—”

  “I’ve forgotten all about it,” Rachael interrupted. “I want you to do the same. I let guilt ruin several years of my life, so promise me you won’t do the same thing.”

  “Okay, good. Yes, you’ve got my word.”

  Rachael gave Skyler a hug, and she seemed surprised and discomfited by it.

  “Skyler’s not much of a hugger,” Jake said, offering Rachael a steaming cup of hot cocoa with mini marshmallows melting on top. “C’mon. The others are already at the tree.”

  He took her free hand, and they joined the group. Rachael spotted the kindly Otto talking with Pilar, their eyes alight with interest in each other. Rachael didn’t say anything to Jake, but she couldn’t wait to see what developed between the pair.

  “Thank you all for coming tonight,” Jake said.

  “Like we had a choice,” Cash grumbled good-naturedly, and Krista rolled her eyes.

  “Pipe down, dude,” Brady warned. “The longer we talk, the longer it is before we can eat Darcie’s Christmas Eve feast.”

  Archer lifted a brow. “You guys are giving Rachael a bad impression.”

  “Trust me,” Darcie said. “After spending a few days here, she already knows what a bunch of clowns you guys are.”

  The team members laughed good-naturedly, and Rachael joined in, already feeling like part of the family.

  “Before Jake has his say...” Skyler took Logan’s hand, then led him to the front of the group. “We have an announcement to make.”

  Logan wrapped his arm around his wife, his face beaming with happiness.

  She peered up at him. “I’m pregnant, and our child is due in early summer.”

  The room erupted in clapping and shouts of congratulations. When they quieted down, Jake said, “Congratulations, but this is old news to me.”

  “You knew and didn’t tell us?” Morgan cried out.

  “Yes, how could you?” Emily said.

  His fellow teammates descended on hi
m, chastising him for not telling them, either.

  Jake escaped their clutches and little Isabel broke away from Pilar to approach him, a frown on her face.

  “Can we please eat so we can open presents?” she asked, her eyes hopeful.

  “Absolutely, little one.” Jake ruffled her hair and turned to the group. “Isabel wants to eat, so we are adjourned.”

  More chaos filled the space as everyone moved toward the dining room. Rachael enjoyed the laughter, the conversations. It was all perfection that, if not for God’s grace, she would be missing out on right now.

  Jake turned to her and circled his arms around her. “Are you sure you want to become a part of this crazy ready-made family?”

  She smiled up at him, making sure every ounce of love she felt for him was in her gaze. “It’s perfect. Everything is perfect. Especially my Christmas gift.”

  “You mean the sleigh ride? That’s not your gift. I got you something else.”

  She raised her hands around his neck and drew his head closer.

  “Turns out,” she whispered for his ears only, “you’re the only gift I wanted all along.”

  * * * * *

  Don’t miss these other FIRST RESPONDERS stories from Susan Sleeman:

  SILENT NIGHT STANDOFF

  EXPLOSIVE ALLIANCE

  HIGH-CALIBER HOLIDAY

  EMERGENCY RESPONSE

  SILENT SABOTAGE

  Find more great reads at www.LoveInspired.com.

  Keep reading for an excerpt from STALKING SEASON by Sandra Robbins.

  Join Harlequin My Rewards today and earn a FREE ebook!

  Click here to Join Harlequin My Rewards

  http://www.harlequin.com/myrewards.html?mt=loyalty&cmpid=EBOOBPBPA201602010002

  Dear Reader,

  All good things come to an end, they say, and I hope that you have found the First Responders series a good thing. The series certainly has been a good thing in my life. I loved getting to know each of these characters and sharing their struggles with you as they searched for love in their lives, and I am sad to see the series end.

  I am contented that all these special characters have found people to share their lives with, and that they’ve also found peace in their lives. If you’ve ever struggled for peace, I hope these stories have helped you see that God’s peace is right there waiting for you, and you just have to reach out and grab it.

  If you’d like to learn more about my other books, please stop by my website at www.susansleeman.com. I also love hearing from readers, so please contact me via email, susan@susansleeman.com, or on my Facebook page, www.Facebook.com/SusanSleemanBooks, or write to me c/o Love Inspired, HarperCollins, 24th floor, 195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007.

  Blessings,

  Susan Sleeman

  We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense story.

  You enjoy a dash of danger. Love Inspired Suspense stories feature strong heroes and heroines whose faith is central in solving mysteries and saving lives.

  Enjoy six new stories from Love Inspired Suspense every month!

  Connect with us on Harlequin.com for info on our new releases, access to exclusive offers, free online reads and much more!

  Harlequin.com/newsletters

  Facebook.com/HarlequinBooks

  Twitter.com/HarlequinBooks

  HarlequinBlog.com

  Join Harlequin My Rewards & Instantly earn a FREE ebook of your choice.

  Earn points for every Harlequin print and ebook you buy, wherever & whenever you shop.

  Turn your points into FREE BOOKS.

  Don’t miss out. Reward the book lover in you!

  Register Today & Earn a FREE BOOK*

  *New members who join before Dec. 31, 2016 will receive 2000 points redeemable for eligible titles.

  Click here to register

  Or visit us online to register at

  http://www.harlequin.com/myrewards.html?mt=loyalty&cmpid=EBOOBPBPA201602010001

  Stalking Season

  by Sandra Robbins

  ONE

  Cheyenne Cassidy ambled down the aisle of the Smoky Mountain Christmas Store and hummed along with the sound of Bing Crosby crooning “White Christmas” over the store’s intercom. With Christmas only a few weeks away, shoppers were out en masse today, and from what she’d been told by the locals the crowds would only get larger as more visitors came to the mountains in the next few weeks to see the decorations and take in all the Christmas festivities.

  The smells of cinnamon, pine and peppermint drifted in the air from the different areas of the store. Cheyenne stopped and blinked back tears at the reminder of her childhood and how their house had always smelled during the holidays. Her mother loved Christmas and had always been determined that her family would make memories to last a lifetime. Unfortunately these days, she had many memories of happy times, but the people she loved were no longer present to share them with her.

  The world as Cheyenne had known it had come to an abrupt halt six months ago with the deaths of her parents. Alone in the world and with her life in shreds, she’d done the only thing she could think to do—follow the rodeo circuit. Without her parents, though, it also had lost the allure it had once had. Now she was far away from the home she’d always known and starting a new life in a resort town in the Smoky Mountains. She’d wanted to settle somewhere, and the Smoky Mountains seemed the perfect place to do that.

  She sighed and walked down the aisle of a row of tall showcases holding all kinds of stuffed animals and dolls in Christmas outfits. The shelves in the case were packed with toys, and the display reached higher than her head. She stopped to stare at a teddy bear with a red ribbon around its head, and she suddenly stilled as her cell phone chimed that she had an incoming text message. She stared at the unfamiliar number displayed on the screen and frowned as she realized it was a video text.

  With a frown she tapped the screen, and the recording began to play. For a moment all she could do was stand there, her mouth hanging open and her body shaking. Her knees wobbled, and she reached out to grab a shelf to keep from falling. She blinked, in the hope that what she was seeing and hearing wasn’t really there, but she knew that wasn’t the case.

  Her eyes grew wide as the camera zoomed in on a tabletop, where a small, wooden music box sat. The top was lifted, and the tinkling melody of “Jack and Jill,” the nursery rhyme she and her father had sung together so many times, drifted out. The tune wasn’t what caused her breath to hitch in her throat, though. It was the fact that she knew right away that this wasn’t just any music box. It was the one her father had bought for her on her eighth birthday. The one that had disappeared from their house two years ago. The one she’d always known he took.

  But it couldn’t be him. He was dead. The police said so.

  With shaking fingers she stopped the video, but immediately the sound of another incoming text message from the same unknown number chimed. Swallowing the fear that gripped her, Cheyenne opened the text and stared at the words that seemed to wiggle on the screen. I’ve missed you. See you soon.

  A scream rose in her throat, and she clamped her hand over her mouth to keep it from escaping. She didn’t need all the clerks and customers rushing to her side and demanding to know what was the matter. Only a few people in this town knew her story, and she wanted to keep it that way.

  She took a deep breath and removed her hand from her mouth. With her gaze still fixed on the words on the screen, she bit down on her lip. Calm down, she told herself. This isn’t from him. It could be anybody who knew what had happened and was playing a sick joke.

  Suddenly a feeling that she was being watched swept over her. She’d had this happen many times in the past when he was stalking her, but it hadn’t happened since her parents’ deaths. She shook her head
in denial. No, he was dead. He had to be dead. She couldn’t go through this anymore.

  At that moment her phone chimed again, and she looked down at it. Swallowing the fear that rose in her throat, she opened the text. I like that scarf you’re wearing. The blue color brings out the highlights in your hair.

  Her hand began to shake, and panic gripped her heart. With a swift twist of her head she looked around to see if she could detect someone watching her. There was no one, but suddenly she heard footsteps on the other side of the tall display case beside her. The smart thing to do would be to go to the end of the aisle and face whoever was there, but she’d learned two years ago that when it came to him, she wasn’t smart. She was scared, and she had to protect herself.

  She looked up and down the aisle to see if anyone else was nearby, but she seemed to be alone in this part of the store. She turned and hurried in the direction she’d come when entering the store. Before she could reach the exit, her phone rang with an incoming call. Against her better judgment, she connected the call.

  “H-hello.”

  “It’s good to hear your voice, Sunshine.”

  Her skin prickled, and she stood frozen in place, unable to move. The sickening feeling she’d experienced so often in the past spread through her, and she knew with certainty this wasn’t someone just trying to scare her. It really was him. Only he knew that nickname. It was the one he’d given her. Sunshine, because he said she’d lit up his world. For her it had only brought darkness into her life.

  “You’re not dead.” She meant it to be a question, but it came out as a statement.

  “No. Disappointed?”

  “Leave me alone,” she whispered. “I don’t want to do this again.”

  “You have no choice in the matter,” the familiar voice whispered. “Just like I had no say when you decided to break up with me for someone else.”

  Her heart pounded, and she wanted to run, but her body wouldn’t respond. “Why can’t you understand that we were never together?” she pleaded.