He rubbed the fingers of his empty hand together to rid them of the itch to feel Darcy’s soft waves.
“It’s okay. Sadly, Rebecca is not the nurturing type either. She’s in charge of half-a-dozen social organizations— from saving the wild boars in the back woods of Oconee County to saving the restrictions on their Atlanta country club. I feel sorry for the kids, actually.”
“That’s why you said last night you’re not your sister-in-law by a long shot.”
She nodded, picking up her coffee cup, taking a sip, and stared out the window.
Dylan knew she didn’t see the village of Black Moose. The streets were deserted except for an occasional local resident rushing to a car from one of the businesses surrounding the common park. The wind picked up the dry snow that had fallen overnight and swirled it into the air. The flakes glistened in the bright sunlight. Darcy wasn’t focused on any of the village’s charm. She was hundreds of miles away, and maybe years in the past.
“I wish I could give those kids one Christmas to remember,” she said softly. Her long fingers wound into her red locks and twirled the strand. “One with meaning.”
Her frown pulled at his heart. He wondered if she was recalling a special holiday, or a lack of one. That saddened him, thinking the latter might be true. His parents always made a huge deal out of holidays, just like Bob and Elizabeth. Although his parents had a zany hodgepodge eye for decorating.
“Making this Christmas special for Katy and Jillian is exactly what has me worried. I totally screwed up Thanksgiving and as for Halloween—we won’t talk about that fiasco.” He took a gulp of his coffee and sat the mug down with a clunk. “I haven’t had a Christmas tree since I lived with my mom and dad. I have no idea about decorating, making cookies or fixing a feast.”
Her green eyes slanted toward him. “Let me help you.”
He smiled and pushed his empty bowl to the side. “I couldn’t ask you to do that.”
“Why the hell not?” She placed her cup to the side, slid her bowl next to his, and shifted forward on her captain chair. “I’m a workaholic trying to fend off a serious boredom bug. I’ll go nuts on this mountain by tomorrow with nothing to do. I love to decorate. You know I can cook and bake. I don’t have my credentials with me, but I’m sure you’ll accept Tom’s word. Come on,” she pleaded. “What else am I going to do for the next week?
“You came here to spend time with Tom?”
“And I will, when he’s not working. You know the hours he keeps. What am I supposed to do? I’m not going to go to the restaurant with him. And, as enchanting and well stocked the general store is, I’m not that big on shopping.”
“There are other stores. Wendy’s Christmas Village.”
“I am not that big on shopping,” she said one word at a time, repeating her opinion on shopping. “By the way, is every store in this town named after their owner?”
“Well, Harry’s auto shop is actually owned by Butch Conner now. Harry passed away last March, but Butch kept the name because old Harry had boxes and boxes of unused invoices and Butch thought it’d be a waste to just throw them out. I guess Harry got them at a real good price.” He chuckled and Darcy followed suit. He was glad to see the sparkle back in her beautiful eyes. “Oh, you could ski. Our slopes are amazing.”
“I’m from the south. The idea of strapping wooden planks to my feet and free falling down a mountainside scares the bejeesus out of me. No thank you.”
“You could catch up on your reading.” He sat forward.
She leaned toward him. “I’ll get eye strain.”
The adorable way she crossed her eyes caused a hearty burst of laughter to escape him. He glanced around the room and saw they had the full attention of all the other patrons. He waited until everyone went back to minding their own business before saying, “There are a thousand other things you could do and a lot of interesting places to visit.”
Her gaze narrowed into green slits. “Why don’t you want me to help you?”
Noting Armell and Linda, her waitress, watched them with interest, he said quietly, “I didn’t say that.”
“It sounds like you don’t. Is the idea of spending time me so unappealing?” She traced her finger down the side of her face to her chin and ended the move at the center of her plump, very wine-colored lips.
Dylan felt the rush of heat to his cock. Standing up to pay the check wouldn’t be an option for a few minutes. The woman knew how to win an argument.
Out of propriety, he turned his thoughts back to Jillian and Katy and his desire to make Christmas special for them. “Okay. On one condition.”
Darcy arched her perfect right brow in mistrust. “What?”
“You let me teach you to ski.”
She sat back, shaking her head. “As we say in the South, my mama did not raise no fool. That is not a good idea.”
Oh, he loved a game of dicker. “That’s the deal. I’ll let you help me decorate the house. You can bake cookies for us. You can even help me make Christmas dinner, if you also join us, but I get to take you skiing.” He grinned.
She gasped. “Why do you want to make a fool out of me?”
“I don’t know.” He shrugged. “Fun.”
She slumped back in her chair and gave him a wary look. “Fun, huh?”
“Yeah. Fun.”
It took everything in him to hold back his chuckle. Darcy was visibly troubled at the prospect of swooshing down a mountain side. He’d let her squirm for a while before he’d leave her off the hook. She was so damn cute herself.
“Skiing.” She snatched her napkin from her lap, tossed the crumpled wad on the table between them like a gauntlet and said, “Well, I never backed away from a challenge in all of my twenty-seven years, and I’m not going to start now.”
“Wow. You’re twenty-seven.”
She sat straighter. “Yeah, why? Do I look… How old do you think I am?”
“At least twenty—”
“Spill it.”
“Five. I was going to say five.” He raised his hand. “Honest. I was an Eagle Scout. So we’re going skiing?”
“Yes, but I’ll have to go shopping and buy some warmer clothes, I’m afraid. This leather coat is warm enough in South Carolina but here, not so much.” She mocked a shiver, because Armell’s Country Kitchen was quite cozy with a fire crackling in the stone hearth. Darcy snatched her bag from the seat of the empty chair between them. “When do you want to start decorating?”
“I was actually going to dig some things out of the attic this afternoon. I’m not sure what or where Elizabeth has the stuff stored.” He pulled back his thermo-shirt sleeve and blinked. Somehow two hours had gone by. “Damn.”
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s nearly two. The girls will be home in an hour and a half.” His chair legs scraped the plank floors as he pushed back from the table. “And I have to go to work at the ski lodge at seven. I’m off tomorrow. Can we start tomorrow morning? I’d really like to surprise the girls when they get home from school.” Dylan flipped the check over and fished in his back jean pocket for his wallet.
“You know, if you want to make this Christmas special, you could buy your own decorations. If you use your brother’s and sister-in-law’s stuff and decorate the way they always do, it could make thee girls think of their parents’ absence more.”
He shook his index finger at her. “You’re right. I never thought of that. Let’s head down to Wendy’s Christmas Barn and whatever she doesn’t have, I’ll check for at the Whoseher’s General Store. My truck is parked out front of there anyway.” He rose, slid his arms into the sleeves of his coveralls and shrugged on the heavy garment. “I’ll pay the check and we’ll take off.”
Darcy stood and grabbed her jacket from the back of the chair. “If you’ll excuse me, just a moment. I’m going to freshen up and call Tom. I want to let him know you’re going to drop me off. He must be wondering what the heck I’m doing.” She dug her cell phone from her purse
and held it up. “I’ll be right back.”
“Take your time.” Dylan watched the sway of Darcy’s hips in her form-fitting jeans as she walked away. She glanced over her shoulder and caught him enjoying himself and winked openly. Thank goodness he had his extra heavy coveralls on. His off stride would be contributed to them and not the making of a good hard-on.
Christmas. He sighed. The coming holiday looked much brighter than it did yesterday. If he hadn’t stopped last night for that drink with Tom, the holiday would still look bleak. Thank goodness he had.
An hour later, Dylan pulled up to Tom’s house. The old farmhouse his friend had remodeled sat a few hundred yards down the road beyond the Grist Mill. If Tom had been in the dining room of the restaurant, no doubt he saw them pass by.
However, Tom was not on his mind. Darcy was. In the past ten minutes, the cab of his truck got very warm, and the heater wasn’t running. He didn’t want to leave her.
He hadn’t laughed this much in a very long time and he felt like the happiest guy on the mountain.
He shifted the SUV into park.
“Thank you for driving me here,” she said, smiling at him and wringing her gloved hands together. “I’m sure Tom appreciates it too.”
“Not a problem. Thank you for helping me choose decorations.” He hitched a thumb toward the back seat piled high with packages. “So what are you going to do this afternoon?” He asked, unwilling to let her go just yet.
“I don’t know. Make some notes concerning my restaurant. Check my car and if it’s thawed, take a drive. See some of the interesting places I’ve heard about. Or I might just stay in, fix something for dinner, take a hot bath and then, maybe, read a book.”
“You’re going to relax?”
“Well, when in Rome.”
They gazes locked.
Erotic impulses danced their way down Darcy’s spine. She could sit there forever taking in every inch of Dylan’s maleness. Damn the cold biting at her toes. To hell with the fact he had to get home in time for the girls to come off the bus.
The girls.
She wasn’t going to be the reason two little girls were left out in the cold. He had to go. “I better let you go. Thank you so much for showing me around town, and for lunch.”
“It was my pleasure. I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning after the girls get on the school bus—around eighty-thirty. Is that okay?”
“Sounds good.” She lifted her purse onto her lap. “I guess I’ll see you then.”
“Yeah.”
She twisted to undo her seat belt and that’s when it happened.
The contact of Dylan’s calloused hand cupping her face sent Darcy’s pulse racing. He drew closer, his gaze crossing her face. She saw his long, dark lashes lower before her own eyes drifted closed. His mouth covered hers with the slightest brush, testing her lack of resistance. Again, his sweet lips swept hers, teasing them with his tongue. The affirmation of the physical desire they felt for each other manifested in their kiss and the next and the next.
His hand wound into her hair and held her in place.
Pushing against the floorboard, she lifted up from her seat, struggling to get closer to him. Her purse thudded against the floor. She ran her hands through his soft hair and over his wide shoulders, longing to feel the clean, strong lines of his body without the obstruction of his bulky coveralls.
The cab of the vehicle grew warmer and warmer as each passing second saw them touching one another. And tasting. The savory mixture of him uniting with her was wonderful.
Dylan shifted over the console to get even closer to her and set the vehicle’s horn blaring. They jumped apart by mere inches, still grasping each other. Realizing what had happened, they burst into laughter. The rise and fall of his chest matched hers as their foreheads joined.
“I’ve wanted to do that since the moment I saw you last night when you walked into the Grist Mill.”
His words had her dancing inside. Zipper teeth bit into her palms as she gripped his coveralls at the V opening. “You did? You didn’t even know me,” she said breathlessly.
“It didn’t matter.” His eyes shifted to the digital dashboard clock. “Damn. I wish I could stay, but I really have to go. The bus will be at the house in fifteen minutes.”
“I know.” She heard her body scream, “No. Don’t let him stop.” She had to let him go. He had responsibilities.
He kissed her again and then his tongue crossed his lips. “You taste so good.”
“It’s my grape lip balm.” Darcy smiled against his lips.
“I’m sure it’s the combo.” He kissed her once more and licked his lips again.
She pushed him back, knowing if he didn’t stop kissing her, her willpower would break and he’d be late getting home in time for the girls arrival.
He moaned.
“I know, but you must go,” she purred. “And we’ll see each other tomorrow.”
“I’ll walk you to the door.”
“No. Go. I’m okay.” Before he could grab her again for another quick kiss, she opened the door and jumped outside. She grabbed her purse, slammed the door and then retrieved her shopping bag which contained Tom’s plaid long johns from the back seat.
As he pulled away, she waved good bye. When Dylan’s truck rounded the corner and disappeared from sight, she tucked her arms closer to her body, already missing his warmth. She stamped her cold feet while making her way up the sidewalk and onto the front porch. She did need to go shopping for warmer boots and coat. In her present apparel, tomorrow she’d be a frozen Popsicle helping Dylan decorate the outside of his brother’s house. Which might not be a bad idea. He could warm her up afterwards.
A steamy shower scene played out in her mind as she unlocked the front door and then jumped, dropping her package. Tom stood in the foyer waiting and from the amused twinkle in his blue eyes she knew something humorous was on his mind.
“What are you doing here?” She removed her gloves and tucked them into coat pocket before unbuttoning and shrugging out of it.
“I decided to take the night off since I have a guest and she knows no one else in town. But, I saw you already made a friend.”
She stuffed her coat on the peg rack next to Tom’s oversized parka and rubbed the chill from her arms. “Were you spying on me?”
“Nuh. I heard the horn blare and looked out my living window. Imagine what I saw.” His grin broke. “Oh, right. You don’t have to imagine. You were there. In Dylan’s truck. In a lip lock.”
“Oh shut up.” Darcy unzipped her boots and stepped out of them. Heat flared in her cheeks as she brushed by him and headed down the hallway. Tom was right on her heels. Her behavior was too fat a catfish to let go and not throw into the deep fryer.
“Where are you going?” His voice boomed in the confines of the hall.
“I’m frozen. I need a cup of tea,” she replied over her shoulder. “You want one?”
“You didn’t look…”
Just inside the state-of-art country kitchen, she spun around on her stocking heel and stuck a finger in Tom’s face. “If you know what’s good for you, you won’t go there. Target practice was part of my kindergarten curriculum.” She aimed her finger south of his belt.
“Can I say I told you so?”
Tom was fighting another grin.
“No.” She mentally stamped her foot.
“Okay.” He stepped beside her, leaned down and whispered. “But I did.”
If she didn’t love the big brute so much, she’d strangle him with her scarf. Instead she wound her scarf around her own neck.
Tom had headed right to the stove and retrieved the tea kettle and Darcy scooted onto one of the four bar stools situated around the kitchen’s island. “I’ll admit Dylan is a very handsome guy.”
“And good company too.” He smiled over his shoulder as water swished into the kettle from the tap.
“Yes. Yes.” She raised her hands in the air. “He’s great company. I had fun.”
The striker clicked and the gas stove flared to life.
“Imagine that. Darcy Witherspoon had fun outside of a kitchen.” Tom drew two heavy mugs from a cupboard and then spooned tea into a tea ball. “I’m glad you had a good time and I’m glad you met Dylan on your own. I had no idea I how was going to get the two of you together. I guess fate is alive and doing its job.”
“Do you really believe in fate?”
“I believe some things happen for a reason. Good things.”
Tom stood silent, looking out the window.
“What is going on with you? You’re wearing the sappiest look I’ve ever seen,” Darcy said.
“I’ve been seeing someone,” Tom replied. “In fact, it’s pretty serious.”
“You never said a word.” Darcy scooted forward to the edge of her seat, curling her toes over the stool’s bottom rung. She knew the delight she felt in her eyes didn’t hold a candle to the fervor in Tom’s. “Who is this woman who has captured your heart?” she asked in the most romantic Elizabethan tone she could muster with a southern accent.
“Her name is Allison Moyer.”
“The librarian?”
Tom’s eyes widened. “You’ve met her today?”
“No. Dylan mentioned her name when I asked if he ever had a showing for his work. He said Allison displayed a few in the library.” She propped her elbows on the counter and settled her chin on her them. “So tell me all about her. How did you meet? What is she like? I want to know everything. How serious is this relationship?”
“Very serious. That’s one of the reasons I wanted you come visit over the holiday— besides getting you away from your troubles and wanting you to meet Dylan, of course.” He poured her tea and slid the steaming brew across the granite countertop. “I want to ask Allison to marry me on Christmas Day.
Darcy trapped her hands around the cup. “Oh my, that’s serious. Are you sure?”
“I’ve never been surer about anything in my whole life. Will you go shopping with me tonight and help me decide on a ring? You have such great taste.”
“I’d be happy to.” Happiness swelled inside of Darcy and she dashed around the counter to hug her friend. Tom had traveled all over the world. He studied in Italy, France and Germany during his early twenties. Now, at thirty, he found someone to love, here in this small village, on top of this huge mountain. Maybe fate did exist.
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