Home for the Holidays

by Leanne Banks

  “Yes, it did. Becky mentioned that you were planning to send cookies in for the front office and administrators. That’s really kind of you.”

  Faith blinked. She wondered when Becky had made this kind offer on her behalf. She wondered how many other people Becky may have promised cookies. She smiled gamely. “My pleasure. I’ve forgotten. How many are in the administration office?”

  “Around twelve including the guidance counselor.” Randy cocked his head toward the band. “I like this song. Would you dance with me?”

  Faith blinked again. “I, uh—”

  “Come on,” he said, smiling. “Don’t be shy.”

  Gabriel glanced toward the dance floor and did a double take. Faith was dancing. He felt a gut-tightening possessiveness that was totally inappropriate, yet he couldn’t take his eyes off of her.

  “Oh, sweet!” Becky said as she took a bite of cookie. “Mom’s dancing with the assistant principal. I told him she liked to dance, but would need to be asked.”

  Gabriel glanced down at Faith’s little brown-eyed scheming matchmaker. “You did what?”

  Becky shifted from foot to foot. “Well, I actually mentioned it a few days ago because Mom told me men are like Brussels sprouts. She doesn’t make me eat Brussels sprouts, so I shouldn’t make her date someone she might not want to date.”

  He blinked, trying to digest the comparison. It was unique, but he could see it.

  “Oh, and look there’s the fireman who came by the house. He’s one of the other ones I told about Mom.”

  Gabriel felt a sinking sensation. “Exactly how many men did you tell about your mom?”

  “Only four,” she said and munched a bit more on her cookie. “Well, five if you include Jason’s Sunday school teacher, but he might not be here.”

  Gabriel swallowed a long-suffering sigh. By his calculations, Faith’s dance card was going to be full for the next several numbers. Turning to the culprit responsible, he looked at Becky and shook his head. The little girl meant well, but he sure didn’t like Becky recruiting all this competition. The more he got to know Faith, the more he felt as if he’d discovered the rarest of gems. The more time he spent with her, the more time he wanted to spend with her.

  “So I wonder how many Brussels sprouts you’ll have to eat for this,” Gabriel said to Becky.

  Her eyes widened in horror. “You don’t really think she’ll make me eat Brussels sprouts, do you?” She made a face. “Oh, no. She mentioned liver, too. If I have to eat liver…”

  “You may want to be careful how many more men you recruit to date your mother,” he said.

  She nodded, wearing a slightly sick expression on her face.

  She looked so miserable Gabriel almost regretted mentioning the Brussels sprouts. Almost. He took pity on her and decided to distract her. “You wanna dance?”

  She looked at him uncertainly. “Dance?”

  He nodded. “Would you like to dance? With me?”

  Her smile started small, then grew so that it lit her entire face. She lifted her shoulders. “Yes, I would.”

  Faith’s face began to hurt from smiling so much. She was going to wring her daughter’s neck. Not literally, of course, but she was going to do something. Talking apparently hadn’t worked. She glanced past the shoulder of her son’s Sunday school teacher and caught sight of Gabriel dancing with Becky.

  Her heart just stopped.

  Becky was grinning from ear-to-ear, her eyes sparkling, and Gabriel was gently guiding her in a waltz. The sight of the two of them dancing made a knot form in her throat. She had longed for her children to have a father who loved them and enjoyed them. She had longed for a man who loved her and thought she was special, too.

  She saw Becky and Gabriel laugh together, and at that moment, Faith fell hopelessly in love.

  A slow song eased through the sound system and she stepped back. “Thank you,” she said. “I think I’ll—”

  “May I have this dance?” Gabriel asked from behind her.

  Her heart dipped and she turned around, unable to keep a smile from her face. “You certainly may.”

  He pulled her into his arms and Faith sighed. This was where she wanted to be.

  “I’m warning you, if anyone asks to cut in, I’m going to be rude and say no,” Gabriel murmured against her ear.

  “Good,” she said.

  He chuckled.

  “Easy for you to laugh. I’ve found out I’m baking Christmas cookies for the school administration office, the firemen working on Christmas and my son’s Sunday school class. I’m afraid of what might be coming around the corner.”

  “I think it should slow down now. Becky and I had a little discussion.”

  Faith pulled back slightly so she could look at Gabe’s face. “I saw you dancing with her. That was so…so…” She swallowed over a lump of emotion in her throat. “So wonderful.”

  “I was trying to distract her. She’d just finished telling me about the ‘men are like Brussels sprouts’ discussion. I saw another guy ask you to dance and said I wondered how many Brussels sprouts she was going to have to eat.”

  Faith laughed. “Very good, very good. I’m impressed.”

  “I’m glad to hear that,” he said in a serious tone. “It goes both ways.”

  Faith’s stomach dipped again. Gabriel pulled her closer and she closed her eyes, hoping against hope that her time with this incredible man would last a little longer.

  The following day, in between making batches of cookies, Faith took the children into town with her while she shopped for a new dress. To keep them from growing bored, she allowed Jason to bring a truck and made a game of asking their opinions on the dresses she tried.

  Luck was on her side and she found a beautiful winter-white sheath with simple lines that would last several seasons. Picking up shoes, stockings to match and a few stocking stuffers for her sisters, she headed back home to bake more cookies and tried not to think about how much money she had spent on the outfit.

  As time for dinner grew near, Faith grew more and more jumpy. She told herself to chill, but she hadn’t been on a date since she could remember. And she’d never been to dinner with a man like Gabriel.

  Her fingers shook so badly when she applied her makeup that she allowed Becky to help her apply lipstick.

  “Mom, you look like a movie star,” Becky said in awe.

  “You’re sweet, honey,” she said, laughing nervously.

  “I’m sorry about the cookies,” Becky said.

  “That’s okay. It could have been worse. It could have been Brussels sprouts.”

  Becky winced. “That would have been a lot worse.”

  The doorbell rang and Faith’s stomach knotted. This was crazy. She was an adult, but she hoped she didn’t drop a fork or do anything embarrassing.

  “Hi Gabe!” Jason’s loud welcome could be heard all the way from the foyer.

  “It’s time.” Faith picked up her purse and just as she started to leave her bedroom, Becky threw her arms around her. Surprised, she hugged her daughter in return. “What’s this?”

  “I just wanted to give you a hug.”

  “Well, thank you for giving me one.” She took a steadying breath and walked into the den.

  “Wow, Mom!” Jason said.

  Gabe gave a long, low whistle of appreciation. “You look great.”

  “Thanks. You do, too,” she said, taking in his well-tailored black suit, crisp white shirt and red silk tie. Forget dinner. Gabriel looked good enough to eat.

  “Ready to go?”

  She nodded and he helped her with her coat. Faith relished the way he held the umbrella for her and helped her into his truck. He got in and started the engine and put on a Christmas jazz CD. “I thought we’d check out the competition at one of the restaurants at the Lone Star Country Club. Next time, we’ll try Jocelyne’s.”

  Just the mention of the name of the fine local French restaurant, Jocelyne’s, was enough to catch Faith’s attention
. Two of the other words he’d said in the same sentence, however, made her heart jump. Next time. He’d said next time as if he was thinking about her past tonight.

  They chatted on the way to the renowned country club, which was decorated with thousands of lights. With no hope of snow, the beautiful decorations took a close second in creating a winter wonderland. The valet took Gabe’s truck and they entered the large club. Decorated in blues and ivory, the restaurant evoked an elegant, yet intimate atmosphere.

  Gabe had arranged for a private corner table. His attentiveness soon made Faith forget her self-consciousness and they debated the finer points of the menu. He ordered steak and she ordered seafood with an agreement to share.

  After they fed each other bites of their entrées, Faith ordered a gourmet lime sherbet.

  “No apple pie à la mode,” Faith said and shook her head because she knew that was Gabe’s favorite. “They lose points for that.”

  “Exactly.” The waiter served the light dessert and Gabe immediately picked up the spoon.

  She laughed. “I didn’t know you wanted any, but I’m glad to share.”

  “I’m going to serve you,” he said, sliding the spoon into the frozen treat. He held it in front of her mouth. “Want a bite?”

  She glanced around to see if anyone was watching, but they were safely hidden in a tiny alcove. She opened her mouth and he slid the cold lime dessert into her mouth. She closed her eyes. “That’s good.”

  “Looks like it,” he said, his eyes darkening with arousal. “Another bite?”

  She nodded and opened her mouth. He slid it inside her mouth and she licked the edge of the spoon.

  He made a low sound of approval. She met his gaze and felt an undercurrent of electricity flow between them. A visual collage of all the times he’d kissed her flowed through her mind. Her temperature climbed.

  His gaze holding hers, he offered another spoonful. Transfixed by him, she met his gaze and took the sherbet onto her tongue and swallowed it. She felt hot and the treat felt cool all the way down. She licked her lips and he set down the spoon.

  Reaching toward her, he curled his hand around the back of her neck and French-kissed her. Faith had never felt more sensual.

  “That’s the way I wanted to taste the sherbet,” he murmured. “On you.”

  He kissed her again and Faith felt the familiar buzz of arousal permeate her. Drawing back, he glanced up and motioned for the waiter. “You can put the check on my bill.”

  “Shall I take the sherbet?” the waiter asked.

  Gabe shook his head. “We’re not finished with it.” As soon as the waiter left, he turned to Faith. “I can take you back your house. Or you can come upstairs to my suite. Lady’s choice.”

  Chapter 8

  “I can’t stay the whole night,” she told him after he led her into his hotel suite. But heaven knows, I want to.

  “That’s okay,” he said, shrugging out of his jacket and gesturing toward the comfortable sofa in the lushly decorated living area. He’d already set the dish of gourmet sherbet on an end table. “I just liked the idea of having you all to myself for a few minutes. When do you need to be home?”

  “Cinderella time,” she said, joining him on the sofa. “After twelve o’clock I’ll turn into a pumpkin and have a tough time getting this baby-sitter again.”

  “Duly noted.” He glanced at the sherbet. “Would you like some more dessert?”

  Still aroused from the way he had looked at her throughout the meal, Faith felt a surge of recklessness. “I don’t really want more of the sherbet,” she said. “But I do want more of—” She bit her lip, losing her nerve.

  “Of what?” he prodded.

  She swallowed over her nerves. “Of you,” she confessed in a low voice.

  His eyes flashed with fire and he lowered his head. “I wouldn’t want to be accused of not giving the lady what she wanted.”

  He took her mouth and the room began to spin. Faith felt the strain of her unexpressed feelings. Gabriel had changed her life in ways that had nothing to do with new cars, new computers and new toys, and everything to do with her heart and head. She wanted closer, oh so much closer. So close there was no room between his strength and her.

  Her response to his seductive, mind-bending kiss must have conveyed her need. He groaned. “I know I can’t keep you here all night, but I want to.”

  They had to be so careful at her house because the children could interrupt at any moment. Their passion had bubbled beneath the surface like a pot ready to boil over. Even though she knew she couldn’t stay all night, the opportunity to kiss him and touch him freely was too tempting to resist.

  She suckled his tongue deep into her mouth and swallowed his groan of pleasure. He slid his hands over the sweater dress that clung to her swollen breasts. He touched her nipples, and even through the barrier of her dress, they peaked against his fingertips.

  “I want you naked,” he muttered.

  The heat of his touch raced through her like wildfire and she tugged at his tie and shirt, eager to feel his flesh against her hands. He helped her get rid of his shirt and undershirt so that she could slide her fingers over his muscular chest, enhanced with a soft spray of masculine hair.

  She rubbed her open mouth against his throat and he swore under his breath. “You’re making it hard for me to—” He groaned again. “To show any restraint.”

  “I didn’t order restraint for dessert,” she whispered.

  He went very still then looked into her eyes. “Are you sure?”

  She nodded. She’d never been more sure. “Except I can’t get preg—”

  He covered her lips with his finger. “I’ll take care of you.”

  Following a combination of instinct and desire, she drew his finger into her mouth.

  Gabriel took her hand and drew it to his chest. “Feel what you’re doing to me,” he said, his heart pounding hard against her palm. He drew her palm lower to where he was hard and swollen.

  The intimacy of the gesture turned her inside out again. He took her mouth in an endless French kiss and pulled off her clothes and the rest of his. He fondled her breasts with his fingertips and mouth, making her breathless with need and pleasure. He took her intimately with his mouth, sending her over the edge.

  Pulling a small package containing a condom from his wallet, he opened the packet and put it on, then slid between her legs. “I bought this after the night we made cookies together. I wanted you then and every night since.” He thrust inside her. “You are so beautiful.”

  He made her feel that way by the love words he uttered and his sounds of pleasure. He made her feel like the only woman in the world. He made her feel like his dream woman.

  By the time he took her over the edge with him for the last time, she could almost believe he loved her.

  Like two teenagers who couldn’t get enough of each other, they pushed Faith’s “curfew.” At five minutes before midnight, Gabe pulled in front of her house and escorted her to the door. His arm provided needed support. Her knees were still weak, and she knew she would be sore tomorrow.

  He nuzzled her neck. “I only expected to take you to dinner. I didn’t think you were going to blow me away in bed.”

  She felt her cheeks heat because she knew she had been totally wanton. “We weren’t really in bed much of the time,” she said. “Did you mind?”

  “Hell no,” he said. “I just hate you having to leave afterwards. I want to keep you by my side.”

  His words reassured her. “Me too, but duty calls.”

  He gave her a long, languorous kiss. “I’ll call you tomorrow. Okay?”

  She nodded, wondering how she could feel satisfied, yet still want him so much she burned with it. “Thank you for everything.”

  “Oh no, Faith. Thank you.”

  She watched him leave and sighed, wondering if she would be able to get her head screwed on straight by morning.

  The following morning as she helped the child
ren get ready for church, the phone rang.

  Certain it was Gabriel, Faith picked it up on the first ring, her heart racing. She smiled into the receiver. “Hello?”

  “Good morning, beautiful,” Gabe said, his voice early-morning sexy.

  Her smile grew. “Good morning, handsome.”

  “I have good news and bad news.”

  “Okay,” she said, stepping into a pair of pumps.

  “The good news is I’ll be back by Christmas Eve, but the bad news is I have to take care of a minor crisis at headquarters. That means I have to go home today.”

  Her stomach sank with disappointment. She felt her smile fade. “Oh no.”

  “I know. I was bummed with the news and I would have liked to delegate, but I’m the best one to take care of this. Tell me you’ll miss me.”

  “Of course I will,” she said, wondering if he would miss her.

  “I’ll call you when I can, but it may be a little sketchy because I’ll be in a hurry to get back.”

  Faith fought the childish urge to wail and took a careful breath. She needed to be supportive. Gabriel didn’t need her to act like a clinging wuss. “Be extra careful driving back. The rain has made some of the roads a mess.”

  “I’ll be careful,” he said. “And Faith, I’ll be thinking about you.”

  I hope so, she thought.

  Faith spent every other minute thinking of Gabriel. He didn’t call Sunday or Monday and she reminded herself he’d said he might have a hard time calling. But what if he’d already begun to put her from his mind? What if distance didn’t make his heart fonder? What if it just made his heart more distant? She fought the ugly sense that she had just been a one-night stand for him. A hot night with a sexually deprived single mom. She cringed every time she thought of it and cooked up a storm in anticipation of her sisters’ upcoming visit. She baked enough cookies to feed half the population of Mission Creek.

  She cooked every dish imaginable in preparation for Christmas dinner. She wrapped gifts for her children and sisters. She even wrapped a gift for Gabriel. With Christmas music playing at top volume to drown out her doubts, she baked and wrapped…and baked some more.