Romancing the Holidays: Twelve Christmas Romances - Benefits Breast Cancer Research

by Crista McHugh

  “Are you sure?” Adam placed a hand on his shoulder and studied him with worry. “You don’t look well.”

  He fell back on the one safety net he had at his disposal—dry humor. “I’m still recovering from your mother’s visit.”

  “That’s why I’m here. I heard she’d come into the office.”

  “And she left, but if you hurry, you might be able to catch her in the garage.”

  Adam released him and took a step back, but then reconsidered. “What happened?”

  He drew in a deep breath. If he wanted to have any hope of winning her back, he needed allies, starting with the man standing before him. “We had a misunderstanding.”

  “About what?”

  Rupert rose to his feet. It was time to be a man, not a coward. And maybe—just maybe—if he could voice his feelings to her son, then he wouldn’t fail the next time he saw her. “I’m in love with your mother.”

  He’d expected his declaration to be met with surprise or outrage. Adam, however, simply nodded. “How long?”

  “Years.”

  “Why now?”

  He’d once read that ninety percent of the things people feared never came to fruition. And fear had been holding him back too long. Now that he knew he wasn’t in danger of being sacked—at least, not by Adam—he lifted his chin and said, “Because I’ve come to the realization that I’m tired of hiding my feelings.”

  Adam paced the room, his chin in his hand, saying nothing.

  Rupert’s confidence waned. Perhaps he had crossed the line. “Mr. Kelly—”

  “Adam.” His employer’s correction was as sharp and firm as any general’s order. “Call me Adam.”

  He hadn’t addressed him as that since Adam had started working at Kelly Properties. Once he’d become Rupert’s boss, he’d turned into “Mr. Kelly.”

  Now he had permission to address him as an equal. Rupert relaxed and allowed a smile of relief to form on his lips. “Adam, then.”

  The other man continued to pace. “If the slamming door I heard was her reaction to your misunderstanding, then you’ve pissed her off.”

  “Regretfully.”

  “But cheer up. I know a thing or two about asking forgiveness from a woman.” Adam stopped and grinned. “After all, it’s how I won Lia back.”

  “I would appreciate any assistance you can give me.” He paused and voiced the one concern he had left. “You wouldn’t be offended if I asked your mother to marry me?”

  Adam blinked several times as though he were coming to terms with the concept before finally shaking his head. “If yesterday was any indication, you two would be very happy together.”

  “And would your brothers feel the same?”

  He appeared to ponder the question, perhaps assessing each of his brothers’ reactions. “If they can see what I’ve seen, then, yes. But before you start worrying about them, you have a more critical issue to tend to.”

  Maureen. “Any idea how I can convince her to forgive me?”

  “It would help if I knew what upset her.”

  The awkward unease he’d dreaded entered the conversation. There had to be a way to handle it discreetly. “She, um, accused me of lacking conviction.”

  “Then you need to figure out a way to tell her what you’ve told me. But first, let me try to prime the pump for you.”

  Rupert arched a brow. “How so?”

  Adam’s grin widened. “Leave Mom to me. By the time you catch up to her, she’ll be ready to hear what you have to say.”

  “Thank you.” Rupert grabbed his coat and started planning the best way to ask for a second chance. The weight of fear had finally been lifted, and his heart felt as light as the falling snow. Now, nothing would hold him back.

  Chapter 13

  Maureen slammed the door of her house behind her and threw her gloves and purse on the sofa in disgust.

  Jasper cowered in the corner, knowing better than to approach her when she was in this foul of a mood.

  I can’t believe I was so stupid, so gullible.

  Rupert’s deception tore at her heart like twisting knife. What made it all the worse was that she’d actually fallen in love with him. Somewhere along the way, he’d stolen her heart.

  And now he’d trampled all over it.

  She wanted to throw something else, but her hands were empty.

  The Judy Garland version of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” playing in the background only added insult to injury. She wanted to be like Tootie in the film, angrily smashing a snowman because she couldn’t have the Christmas she wanted.

  The clock in the kitchen read a little past one in the afternoon. Not too early for a shot of something. She surveyed the liquor cabinet and settled on good old-fashioned single malt whiskey. She’d filled her glass and was raising it to her lips when her phone rang.

  A curse sat poised on the tip of her tongue, but she silenced it by downing the amber liquid. It burned all the way to her empty stomach.

  Her phone kept ringing—annoyingly so. She retrieved it from her purse and checked the number.

  Adam.

  At least it wasn’t Rupert.

  “Yes, dear?” she asked when she answered.

  “I heard you and Bates had a falling-out this morning.”

  Her cheeks burned, and she pressed her free hand to one of them to cool it. How much did Adam know about what happened last night? “I’d hardly call it that,” she replied, her voice tremulous.

  “It doesn’t matter. I had a talk with him, and you don’t have to worry about that happening again.”

  Her breath hitched. “What did you do, Adam?”

  “I took care of things.”

  Fear froze away the embarrassment she’d burned with moments ago. “You didn’t fire him, did you?”

  “He’s been going behind my back on matters for months, and now, he’s upset you—”

  “Adam Michael Kelly, you have no right to fire Rupert. He’s been with us for years, and just because we had a personal disagreement doesn’t change the fact that he is a thoughtful and considerate man whose loyalty to this family goes unquestioned.”

  The doorbell cut her off from the defense of the man she’d been fuming at moments before. She crossed the house to peer out the window and see who it was.

  Instead of the UPS man, it was Rupert standing on her front porch.

  “I’ll talk to you later,” she said. “Right now, I have to clean up your mess.”

  She opened the door to find a penitent-looking man outside.

  “I came to apologize,” Rupert said.

  “Come inside.”

  He shook his head. “Not until I unburden my heart.”

  She crossed her arms against the bitter cold and nodded for him to continue. She’d reinstate him, but first, she wanted to hear what he had to say.

  “You had every right to say what you said earlier today, but I wish to clarify something.” He shuffled his feet, his attention focused on the ground. “I was never lying, and it wasn’t so much that I lacked conviction. I feared the outcome.”

  “Rupert, I know Adam—”

  “No, please, let me finish before I go right back to where I started.” He lifted his face so he was staring directly at hers. “I love you.”

  She tried to trap her gasp of surprise by covering her mouth, but she was too late. He loved her?

  “I have for years, even before I had any right to,” he continued. “And once I did, I told myself I needed to give you space, time to grieve, time to let the loss of your husband dull so you could possibly open your heart to me. I waited patiently, falling even deeper in love with you every moment I was blessed with your company.”

  He took a step toward her. “But as the weeks went by, I worried that you might not ever feel the same about me. I worried that you saw me as nothing more than a friend, that I would overstep my position if I dared to tell you how I felt. But today, I saw the thing I should’ve feared all along.” He took her
hand in his. “Losing you.”

  Tears welled up in her eyes, but unlike yesterday, they had nothing to do with missing her family.

  “I know I can never be the man Michael was. I can never replace him, and in truth, I don’t want to. I witnessed how much you loved him. All I’m asking is that you make a little place in your heart for me.”

  The tears spilled over, robbing her of speech. All she could do was nod.

  “So you will give me another chance?” he asked, his face lighting up with hope.

  She nodded again before kissing him.

  He responded with the same passion as the night before, and her heart overfilled with joy until it spilled over from her eyes and down her cheeks.

  She laughed from the absurdity of it all and ended the kiss sooner than she would’ve liked. But now she finally had the words she couldn’t share before. She wiped her face with the back of her hand. “I love you, too, Rupert.”

  “Then you have made me the happiest man in the world.” He pulled her into his arms and held her as though he would never let her go.

  And for the first time in weeks, she forgot all about her loneliness and grief. Her heart was aglow with love and joy.

  This was going to be a merry Christmas after all.

  Chapter 14

  Adam groaned as the incessant beep of his alarm roused him from sleep. It was Christmas morning. Thirty years ago, he would’ve been up at the crack of dawn, eager to see what Santa had brought him. Today, he fought the urge to crawl back under the covers.

  “Wake up,” Lia whispered in his ear. “Buon Natale.”

  God, he loved when she spoke Italian to him. It aroused him as much as seeing her naked body stretched out beside him. “Merry Christmas, indeed.”

  He was just about to kiss her when his phone rang.

  He cursed when he realized it was Caleb’s ringtone.

  “Highway to the Danger Zone” continued to play until Lia giggled and pushed him away. “I’ll let you talk to your brother.”

  As she stood up, she wobbled and froze, steadying herself on the side of the bed.

  “Are you okay?” he asked, worry replacing the annoyance over the snippet of the song that kept replaying from his phone.

  “Just a little dizzy, that’s all.” Her color returned to normal, and she walked toward the bathroom without any signs of instability.

  Once he knew she was fine, he answered the phone. “What, Caleb?”

  “I got leave,” his brother shouted over the loud noise in the background. “Hopping a flight now. We’ll be there by noon.”

  The rest of the conversation was lost due to the din, but he replied, “Call me when you land.”

  The connection ended, but at least he’d gotten the most important part. The last of his brothers were coming home, and his plan was ready to launch. Thanks to Bates’s help, all of his brothers would be arriving between ten and noon while his mother was at mass. Lia’s mom had even gotten in on the surprise, offering to drive her to the church and keep her away until everyone had arrived.

  He bounded out of bed and dashed to the bathroom to share the good news with Lia.

  She was leaning on the counter, her face pale.

  “Lia?” he asked, his glee fleeing.

  “I decided to check one more time. You know, since I’m still late.” She held up the pregnancy test. “It’s positive.”

  All the blood rushed from his head. Now he was the one looking for something to stabilize himself. “You’re pregnant?”

  She nodded and smiled. “Merry Christmas, mi amore.”

  He wrapped his arms around her and held her close. They were going to have a baby, and he couldn’t have asked for a more perfect gift. “Merry Christmas indeed.”

  Chapter 15

  “Thank you for being so understanding,” Emilia said as Maureen turned onto her street. “I’m so embarrassed that I lost my wallet. I remember it being in my purse when I left the house this morning…”

  “It’s fine.” Maureen gazed out the window at her neighbors’ homes decorated with garlands and lights. It was a scene straight from a Christmas card. The added number of cars parked along the street reminded her that this was a time for families to come together.

  The disappointment that her home was empty this year didn’t hit her like a punch in the gut anymore, but it still ached deep in her chest. Thankfully, they’d be on their way to Adam and Lia’s after this, so she wasn’t spending Christmas alone.

  A smile lingered on her lips as she mentally added one more to the table. Rupert would be there, too.

  Emilia thanked her again as they pulled into the garage. “Do you mind helping me look for it? I have no idea where it might’ve fallen out of my purse.”

  “Of course.” She turned off the car and followed her friend inside. “I’d say we start in the living room.”

  “Surprise!” a chorus of voices shouted the second she walked into it. “Merry Christmas.”

  Her heart jumped into her throat, and she stumbled back. Then, bit by bit, she realized what she was seeing. Her entire family stood there—all seven of her boys with their spouses and children. And at the center of all was Rupert.

  Jasper rushed toward her and pounced. Thankfully, the blow helped her find her voice. “What? How?” she asked in disbelief.

  Rupert stepped forward. “I knew how much you missed them, so Adam talked them all into coming home, even if it was just for a few hours.”

  “It was Bates’s idea,” Adam countered. “I just used my big-brother persuasive powers, and he did the rest.”

  “I just can’t believe…” She looked at each and every face of those she loved. “Thank you all so much!”

  They all gathered around her with hugs and kisses and holiday wishes. She cherished every second of it, especially a chance to spend time with her grandchildren. And as she looked at Jenny and Sarah—both of whom were undeniably pregnant—her heart pounded with joy at the prospect of more to come. Neither Caleb and Alex nor Ethan and Becca were ready to start families like their siblings, but it was just a matter of time. And maybe Adam would get his wish soon, too.

  Soon, the mouthwatering smells of Christmas dinner filled the air, mingling with the sounds of merriment. She’d been longing for a full house again, and she’d gotten her Christmas wish.

  After she’d had a chance to visit with everyone, Rupert pulled her aside and asked if she’d like to join him outside. The air was crisp and cool, but the empty porch was relatively quiet. She drew in a deep breath and released it.

  “This has been the best Christmas present ever, Rupert.” She kissed him and cuddled in the warmth of his arms. “Thank you.”

  “Well, there’s one more present for you.” He held up a small box.

  Her heart pounded as she opened it. Inside was an antique sapphire ring. “Rupert?”

  He dropped to one knee. “Would you do me the honor of marrying me?”

  Everything had happened so quickly, and she waited for that trigger of warning, that little voice that would tell her they were moving too fast.

  But it never came.

  Instead, she beheld the man before her and replied without an ounce of doubt, “I’d be happy to.”

  “Wonderful. Now, if only my knees felt as young as my heart.” He grunted as he rose from the porch, drawing a laugh from her.

  “You’re not that old,” she teased before kissing him.

  “Mom, where are—” Gideon barged in on them, drawing to a sudden stop when he spied them together. His finger pointed to each of them in disbelief. “Wait a minute—you and Bates?”

  “Is there a problem with that?” she challenged.

  He shook his head and grinned. “Nope, not at all.”

  “Good, because I finally convinced your mother to marry me.”

  She playfully elbowed Rupert. “You make it sound like you asked me multiple times.”

  “In my head, I did.” He smiled at her. “Thankfully, you said yes
the first time.”

  “Don’t keep this news to yourself.” Gideon ushered them inside. “Hey everyone, Bates and Mom are getting married.”

  Cheers of congratulations followed for the next ten minutes, but it never surpassed the light that filled her the moment she said yes. By the time the excitement died down, she could pick up the faint strains of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” again, only this time, she didn’t want to throw a tantrum.

  She was having the merriest Christmas she could imagine.

  Find Crista Here:

  For the latest updates, deleted scenes, and answers to any burning questions you have, please check out her webpage, www.CristaMcHugh.com.

  Reader: If you enjoyed this story, please leave a review, no matter how brief, on the site where you bought this book.

  We are attempting to sell thousands of books to benefit CANCER AWARENESS and your review helps more than you can imagine, even if you only review one or two of the books.

  Thank you and Happy Holidays!

  ~The 13 Authors of Romancing the Holidays~

  BOOK 2

  Love at First Snow (Seattle Sockeyes)

  GAME ON IN SEATTLE SERIES #2.5

  By Jami Davenport

  Four years ago, on Christmas Eve, NHL hockey player Blake Daniels lost his entire family in a float plane crash. Every Christmas Eve he mourns his losses by returning to the family vacation home in Sunset Harbor, Washington, his family's destination that fateful night. Only this year he's also mourning the loss of his hockey career and wondering what's left to live for. When he finds a kitten starving and half frozen in a foot of snow, he rushes the tiny thing to the local animal hospital.

  Copyright © 2014 by Cedrona Enterprises

  DEDICATION

  For Jessica and Sue. You’ll always have the wonderful memories. Over time the love of friends and family will help lessen the pain of your loss.