Tidings of Love

by Alicia Hunter Pace

  “And what would make it better? I bought it when we were in New York to play the Rangers.” He took the box from her. “Mikhail said it was a good place to buy a ring.”

  “But that was weeks ago.”

  Nickolai nodded. “It was hard to wait. But I hoped. I wanted to see you reach into the cup and take it out.”

  And he opened the box and presented the ring for her inspection. “Is nice, no?”

  She was stunned—not that he had bought her an engagement ring. Marriage had been a foregone conclusion since they’d reconciled. No, it was the size of the ring that astounded her.

  “Is nice, yes.” She ran her finger over the stone. It was as big as a postage stamp. “But, Nickolai … ”

  “I know. It was expensive. But see?” He removed the ring from the box. “They told me all about it. Is platinum and the diamond is blue and very high quality. Rare, like my Noel. I chose well?” He was nearly as proud of himself as he’d been when the Sound won the championship.

  “Oh, yes. You chose very well. I’m just so surprised.”

  “That I wouldn’t think it was foolish to buy a ring such as this? You can’t put a price on things that nurture the spirit.” He slipped the ring on her finger.

  “I love it. But you nourish my spirit. I don’t need a ring like this—or any ring for that matter.”

  “No, lyubimaya moya. You misunderstand. It nourishes my spirit for you to have such a ring.” He smiled. “Besides, I thought it would be useful for you to have a diamond big enough for me to skate on.”

  And she laughed as he closed in for a kiss. The kiss had to be brief because it was almost time for the party. And that was okay because there would be plenty of time for kisses tonight, tomorrow, and all the tomorrows of their lives.

  For now, they stood arm in arm and watched their guests come down the hill.

  Jackson Beauford whispered in Emory’s ear and then offered his arm to Noel’s grandmother. Deborah Verden chatted with Emory as they followed, and Noel hoped her mother wasn’t preaching on the evils of altering a historic property.

  Nickolai’s favorite Cracker Barrel waitress, Dede, had come and brought her grandson, who looked awed at the sight of Gabe Beauford and Nickolai’s teammates. Constance had immediately bonded with Julie, Gwen and Dirk’s little girl. They started down the hill hand in hand but stopped abruptly, dropped to the ground, and rolled the rest of the way. Paige looked horrified and started to run after them, but Webb caught her arm, shook his head, and, finally, they laughed together.

  And there were so many more. Along with Neyland, Abby, Christian, and Sammy, it seemed almost everyone from Beauford had come—Noel’s customers, the shop owners, schoolchildren, and the retired men Nickolai had gotten in the habit of having coffee with at The Café Down On The Corner.

  “Doesn’t it give you a good feeling that everyone came to celebrate with you today?” Noel smiled at her fiancé.

  “Da.” Nickolai said. “Yes. It feels like home.”

  About the Author

  Alicia Hunter Pace is the psuedonym for the writing team, Jean Hovey and Stephanie Jones. They live in North Alabama and share a love of old houses, football, and writing stories with a happily ever after.

  Find Alicia Hunter Pace at:

  Their website www.aliciahunterpace.com

  On Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Alicia-Hunter-Pace/176839952372867

  On Twitter @AliciaHPace

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  Her Secret Santa

  Monica Tillery

  For my fabulous friend, Leslie Kaiser.

  You are one of a kind, and such an inspiration to me and everyone around you.

  Acknowledgments

  As always, nothing in my writing career would be possible without the support of others, especially my wonderful husband, Dave. Without your steadfast belief in me, I doubt I would have had the motivation to actually finish writing these stories, much less the confidence to submit them. You are awesome, and I love you.

  Thank you to my wonderful friends, Amy Valentine and Nitza Campos, who are always willing to read manuscripts and provide feedback in the most gentle and helpful way.

  I’d especially like to thank Tara Gelsomino. Working with you on this story has been a wonderful experience, and I have learned so much. You are an incredible editor, and I can’t wait to do it again.

  Chapter One

  Rebecca Sinclair shrugged out of her lab coat and rolled her shoulders, working out the tension of a long day spent hunched over a microscope. She poked her head out the mailroom door and looked around the corner. Seeing nobody coming or going, she sneaked over to her coworker Stephanie’s mail cubby and placed a brightly wrapped gift inside. She was Stephanie’s Secret Santa, and now the first gift was successfully delivered.

  Her covert mission complete, Rebecca checked her mailbox before leaving for the day, and found a small gift of her own. She opened the package, careful not to tear the beautiful paper, and gasped. Secret Santa gifts from coworkers were supposed to be fun or thoughtful little trinkets to celebrate the season. Whoever had drawn her name for Secret Santa was off to a great start. The beautiful bracelet she had unwrapped was exquisite, much too nice. Its baby blue beads matched her dress and caught the light when she twisted her wrist, lifting her spirits. Rebecca’s week had been long and frustrating, and Friday couldn’t have come soon enough. A pint of ice cream and a marathon of romantic comedy DVDs waited for her at home, unless Ben was free to hang out. Just thinking about leaving Morgan Confectioners and her impossible workload behind for the weekend lightened her mood and put a little skip in her step. Rebecca started texting her best friend Ben as she made her way towards his office in the legal department.

  As she rounded the corner out of the research and development labs, an alluring scent of citrus and something spicy wound its way into her consciousness and she looked up from her phone. Her text was forgotten as she stared into the clear green eyes and impossibly handsome face of Richard Morgan, the company’s CEO and the subject of Rebecca’s wildly inappropriate crush.

  “Oh, Mr. Morgan. I didn’t realize that you’d be on site today.” Rebecca stammered. A blush warmed her cheeks as she stood in front of him, wondering what to do with her hands.

  “I was down the hall in legal for a meeting and just thought I’d pop over to see my favorite division. It’s not a formal visit.” His easy smile practically liquefied Rebecca’s bones. Surely, he was aware of the effect he had on women.

  “I just locked up the lab for the weekend, but I’d be happy to take you back in if there’s anything you’d like to see.” Her work had been impossible all week, one failed trial after another, but Rebecca warmed to the idea of heading back to her workspace if it meant she’d be alone with the delectable Richard Morgan. His office at Morgan Enterprises’s headquarters was in Philadelphia while hers was in the confections division at Allentown, but his hands-on management approach dictated that he make the hour-long drive several times a month. She wasn’t accustomed to spending unscheduled time with him alone, however, and the prospect both thrilled and terrified her.

  “Miss Sinclair, I wouldn’t dream of making you stay late on a Friday. I’ll just wander back to Jeff’s office and see what he can show me. You have a wonderful weekend.”

  Jeff was her department head, and he had been none too pleased with her lack of progress lately. Her only hope was that he had either already left for the weekend or had bigger news to share with Mr. Morgan. Right now it would be in her best interest to lay low and try to stay off his radar.

  Rebecca had developed the formula for the company’s biggest selling product, an effervescent champagne-flavored lollipop, and it was a disappointment to everyone that she hadn’t managed to come up with anything else that had the same appeal. Nothing she had developed since then had made it to the production line, a
nd her frustration was mounting. Her anxiety levels were becoming a distraction at work. Her department head’s impatience was no secret, and it didn’t help Rebecca’s process to have him breathing down her neck. While it would be heavenly to spend time alone with Richard Morgan in the lab, Rebecca had to admit that she was relieved to be dismissed. He was out of her league, and the last thing she needed was more stress.

  “You too, Mr. Morgan. Just let me know if you ever want to discuss candy. You know where to find me.” She gave him a jaunty little wave and headed out of the office. A cool whoosh of air greeted her as she left the quiet, sterile halls of her own department and walked the short distance through the complex to the legal offices to meet Ben.

  Rebecca leaned on his doorframe and watched as he shut down his computer. Just the sight of him eased the stress out of her shoulders—wonderful, dependable Ben. Ben, who had been by her side since they met when they lived next door to one another during graduate school at Princeton. Ben, who had seen her through her turbulent early twenties, countless breakups, and professional ups and downs. Ben, whose smile gave her a little jolt when he looked up. Where did that come from?

  “Hey, are you about ready to go?” She walked in and watched as he packed his bag and tidied up his desk. He had always been so much neater than her. The only thing keeping Rebecca’s workspace free from clutter was the sterile lab’s strict cleanliness standards.

  “Yep. I had a meeting run a bit later than expected, but now I’m good to go.” He slung his bag over his shoulder and made his way around the desk to Rebecca. He dropped a chaste peck on her cheek, and she inhaled his warm, familiar scent, ignoring the tiny shiver that skittered down her back. The stress and frustration of the workday faded as she allowed herself to relax and look forward to the weekend.

  “Was your meeting with my secret boyfriend?” She asked.

  Ben laughed indulgently and guided her out of his office and into the hallway. “Yes, Richard Morgan was here. How did you guess?”

  “I ran into him as I was leaving the lab. I tried to lure him back to my office, but he was going in to see Jeff.” She sighed dramatically, and Ben rolled his eyes playfully.

  “You wouldn’t know what to do with him if you got him alone,” he teased.

  She punched him on the shoulder. “Hey! I’m sure I could think of a few things. He’s so dreamy. You never know, maybe he’s The One.”

  “I’m pretty sure he’s engaged,” Ben said, dryly.

  “Keep your reality out of my fantasies. Just let me have a moment to imagine the possibilities.”

  “Yeah, we all know how dreamy the amazing Mr. Morgan is,” Ben joked. “Can we please just leave? I think a happy hour is in order after the week we’ve had.”

  “Are you buying?” She bumped her hip against his and fluttered her eyelashes.

  Ben smiled down at her, his eyes crinkling at the corners, and placed a hand on the small of her back. He guided her through the doors leading out of Morgan Confectioners’ offices towards his waiting car. “Of course. First round is always on me. I want to go home and change, and then I want to park myself in a booth with a cold beer.”

  “Lead the way, Mr. Redding.”

  Chapter Two

  Ben stood in the lobby of their apartment building, humming along with the instrumental Christmas music that was pumped through the room’s speakers as he waited for Rebecca. He could picture her in the bedroom of her fifth floor apartment, five floors below his own, trying on and discarding accessories instead of realizing that she already looked perfect. Throughout their entire friendship, she had always kept him waiting, and he had never minded. Families and couples bustled in and out of the building; each time the door opened, a cold gust of air would whoosh into the building. Snow drifted softly through the air just outside the window, and foot traffic was picking up as the workday ended. It seemed that every person who passed was weighted down with shopping bags or stacks of festively wrapped gifts.

  The elevators opened, and Rebecca came out with the crowd of residents. She caught his eyes and a smile lit up her face, giving his heart a squeeze at the sight of her. She wore a matching violet coat and hat, and bundled up for the snowy weather outside, she looked adorable. Ben strode towards her and met her halfway, careful to appear casual.

  “Sorry it took me so long to get ready. I couldn’t find my scarf.” She apologized.

  “No worries. You look great.” Ben offered his arm and she took it with a gloved hand. She squeezed his bicep as cool air hit their faces, and he looked down at her. She was beautiful, positively radiant.

  They headed out of the building, both gasping as the cold air hit their faces, and walked the short distance to their favorite neighborhood bar, O’Reilly’s. Snowflakes melted on Rebecca’s hair and on the tips of her eyelashes as they shed their coats and settled into the warmth of a booth. Ben ordered a pitcher of beer for them and allowed himself a long look at Rebecca while she busied herself with taking off her gloves and scarf. Flushed from the cold, she looked vibrant and alive…and absolutely gorgeous. Her clear, cornflower blue eyes met his and she smiled, her full lips distracting him for a moment. She ran a hand through her long auburn hair and cringed.

  “Yuck. How could so much snow get in my hair in such a short walk? I must look like a drowned rat.” She ran her fingers through her hair, combing it.

  “Don’t be silly. You look beautiful, as usual.” Ben said softly. “Ah, thank you,” he said to the waitress who brought their drinks. He gave her a bright smile, glad for the distraction.

  Rebecca took the glass he offered and enjoyed a long pull from her beer. “God, I needed that. This has been the week from hell.”

  “Do you want to talk about it or shall we try to take your mind off your candy conundrums?”

  “Please, no more talk about candy. I’ll take anything, even the Eagles.” She joked. He was a diehard Philadelphia Eagles fan, and she had always hated football.

  “Oh, I wouldn’t do that to you. You’ve suffered enough.” He could think of several ways to comfort Rebecca, but for now, he settled for alcohol and light conversation.

  “Speaking of the Eagles, I have a little something for you.” She fished an envelope out of her handbag and passed it to him.

  He pulled out a pair of tickets to an upcoming Eagles game. “Wow, thanks! I didn’t think I’d get to go to a game this season.”

  “You’re welcome. I hope you can get away. Jeff was selling them, so I grabbed them for you. Thought it might be nice to get you a little something, since you legal eagles don’t do Secret Santa in your department. Maybe you could stay with your parents or get a hotel in Philly?”

  “Oh sure, I’ll bet I can get my dad to go with me if they’re in town. This is really cool, Becks. Thanks.”

  “I’ll drive out there with you if want. We could make a weekend of it if you don’t want to go alone.”

  He decided right then that his father wouldn’t be available for the game. Just imagining spending a few hours on the road with Rebecca made his heart pump harder. Surely, she’d go to the game too. And it would be cold, so she’d have to snuggle up to him for warmth. “Sounds like it’s a date.”

  “So, what was Mr. Morgan doing in your office today?” She changed the subject, temporarily derailing his fantasy.

  Ben laughed. Richard Morgan fascinated the women in the office, and Rebecca wasn’t immune. Hell, he could see it himself. He was a good-looking man, personable, powerful. “It was just a routine meeting with all of legal. I barely spoke to him.”

  She feigned a swoon. “He’s just so gorgeous. I don’t know how you stand taking meetings with him so often.”

  “Somehow I manage,” Ben deadpanned. The truth was that Richard Morgan was one in a long line of foolish crushes. Rebecca had a depressing habit of pining after unattainable or inappropriate men, always hoping to find “The One.” Throughout their friendship, he had stood aside while she dated many different guys, and it never got ea
sier. He was only able to manage because nothing ever lasted longer than a few dates. The thought of her having a serious relationship with another man turned his stomach.

  Luckily, Rebecca never picked anyone who she could actually have a satisfying relationship with. By the time he’d met her, she’d long outgrown her awkward high school science nerd phase, but according to her, the improvements came after a heartbreaking adolescence. Once, after pulling an all-nighter together, she’d shared a horrifying story from high school. She’d been elated to be asked out by a popular guy that she tutored in science, only to find out that it was all a joke. He’d lost a bet with his buddies and had asked her out on a dare. What followed was the most humiliating night of her life, and as far as Ben was concerned, was the beginning of her refusal to allow herself anything real for fear that it would be taken from her. She never talked about that incident again, but he could see the effects manifesting in her life, in everything from the guys she chose to the opportunities she let slip by at work.

  “So are you bringing a date to the Christmas party?” Morgan Confectioners threw an elaborate holiday party for employees each year. In the three years that Ben and Rebecca had both been working for them, they had always attended the party together, but he knew better than to assume.

  “Nope. You?”

  “Well, Heidi Klum isn’t returning my calls, so I guess I’m going stag again.”

  She grinned. “Good, because I don’t think I could face standing awkwardly by the dessert table alone.”

  “You won’t have to.” Ben assured her, relieved and happy to be her date, even if he was just a trusty standby. “I’m prepared to make the supreme sacrifice of eating my weight in chocolate truffles. Because that’s just the kind of friend I am.” Rebecca laughed, and he felt stupidly pleased that he could make her crack up. She’d been way too serious lately, stressed about Jeff riding her at work. He clapped his hands together and looked around the bar, his gaze settling on a man alone at one end of the counter. “All right, so what’s that guy’s story?”