All I Want for Christmas

by Emery, Lynn

  ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS

  LYNN EMERY

  All names, characters, stories, and incidents featured in this novel are imaginary. They are not inspired by any individual person, incidents or events known or unknown to the author. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is coincidental..

  Copyright 2012 Margaret Emery Hubbard

  Smashwords Edition

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  Chapter 1

  Controlled chaos surrounded Nedra in the convention hall turned mega dining room. Under most circumstances she would be horrified as she loved order and hated surprises, but instead she felt satisfaction. Dozens of volunteers sat around six of the large, round tables. Nedra was pleased with their attitude. There was not a trouble maker in the bunch, if she didn’t count Mr. Earl, who grumbled about everything. There were still two hours to go until the doors opened to the hundreds of people expected for the community Thanksgiving dinner. Most of the volunteers preparing the food had taken a short break to hear one last organizational speech.

  As Nedra scanned the crowd, an unfamiliar face made her pause. Actually, it was his body that she noticed. Tall and muscular, the newcomer wore black pants and a white shirt, just like the others, but he was also wearing a black vest over the top, which made him look like a waiter from a very upscale restaurant. Nedra, who made it her business to become familiar with all of the volunteers, was certain she would have remembered that face – and body. The booming voice of her boss tugged her attention away from the man.

  “Hello there. Good to see you. Hi, Paul and Clare. Good to see you.” Constable Rodney ‘Rod’ Davidson beamed as he shook hands and slapped shoulders in good humor.

  As the executive director of Holiday Hospitality, the constable worked the crowd and greeted a group of prominent people who helped out every year. He would be giving a motivational speech to everyone and Nedra was quite happy to let him take the spotlight. As second in command, standing on the sidelines smiling and nodding suited her just fine. That way she could blend in and slip out to the kitchen area where the other volunteers were keeping things moving.

  Constable Davidson, or ‘Big Chief’ as he was affectionately called, cleared his throat dramatically and drew up to his full five foot ten inches. “Good morning and happy Thanksgiving. I’m truly grateful that so many of you willingly sacrificed time with your loved ones this holiday. What better way to show love and thanks for all we have by giving to those who have not. Twenty years ago, when our annual Baton Rouge Holiday Hospitality Dinner started, just a couple dozen folks showed up. Our event has grown tremendously because of wonderful people like you. Now we feed hundreds, physically and spiritually. Working together, we’ve shared a lot of love.

  “This year is going to be better than ever. I speak for the entire planning board when I say a truly heartfelt thanks to all. Now I know you’re eager to get to work and my second in command, Ms. Nedra Wallace, is probably looking at the clock, willing me to wrap up this speech.” Constable Davidson paused with a smile and waited for the laughter to die away. “So we’ll end with a brief prayer from Father Braddock of St. James Cathedral.”

  Nedra paused for a second when she heard her name and blushed as several city dignitaries smiled at her. Still, she continued down the hall that led to the kitchen area. A tall, thin man moved through the crowd and fell in step beside her. Dwayne Grover was one of the mayor’s top two assistants and had his finger on the pulse of the entire parish; something he repeatedly told Nedra or any other woman he thought might be impressed. Dwayne wore a snappy, charcoal-gray suit and spit-shined, matching leather shoes. Nedra was not surprised that he had managed to wriggle out of breaking a sweat as a volunteer.

  “He does love an audience, huh?” Dwayne said.

  “Hmm.” Nedra knew something was coming, and he wouldn’t need much encouragement to dish.

  She was right on target. Dwayne glanced around to make sure they were alone before speaking. “I heard Rod is seriously considering a run for the Louisiana Senate next year.”

  “Oh, did you?” Nedra kept her voice and expression neutral.

  “You’re doing a good job acting like you don’t know. C’mon, you’re probably printing up campaign posters as we speak.” Dwayne chuckled.

  “City employees aren’t allowed to take part in political campaigns as I’m sure you know,” she replied mildly.

  Dwayne snorted. “Yeah, like top staff don’t know how to get around that nuisance rule.”

  Nedra ignored his obvious attempt to spark a reaction. She veered off to her right and into a large room filled with huge aluminum pots of food. Men and women wearing aprons and hair nets bustled around, making sure the meal was warming.

  “Before you ask, we’ve got it all under control. The turkeys and dressing are across the way,” said Alice Faye, without breaking her rhythm of stirring what was cooking and adjusting pot lids. In charge of the kitchen detail, she usually worked in the food service division at Louisiana State University, where she managed two large student cafeterias.

  “Thanks, Alice. You’re an angel in an apron,” said Nedra. She grinned at her and winked. “I’d hug you, but I want you to keep working.”

  “We rockin’ and rollin’ up in here,” a man chimed in.

  “Yeah, Nedra, Alice Faye cracks the whip as hard as you do,” another man wisecracked.

  “You guys make it easy,” Nedra replied.

  Dwayne gave them the thumbs up. “Yeah, you folks are doing great. Keep it up.”

  Nedra resisted the urge to roll her eyes or make a sarcastic remark. Dwayne had his uses, much as she hated to admit it. His political and social connections had helped the committee to attract high-profile national sponsors this year. His ability to network was part of the reason he had landed so close to the mayor president of East Baton Rouge Parish. So, Nedra didn’t object when Dwayne followed her down the hall to her next stop.

  The smell of roasted, smoked meat floated past as they moved. One half of the next room was taken up by a long counter space, perfect for large chafing dishes. Nedra nodded as Dwayne kept talking. He only paused when she approached a couple of volunteers to gain updates. Then Nedra went back down another hall where two level, wheeled carts were lined up.

  “Everything seems to be set up just fine,” she said. “We’ll have fifteen people in a line, loading plates and placing them on the cart. The volunteer servers will then take the carts and place the food on tables. Another set of people will pour ice tea and water for our guests.” Nedra took a deep breath and fanned her face. “So far, so good.”

  “You’re doing a phenomenal job,” Dwayne said, moving a bit too close.

  “Thanks,” Nedra replied, placing some distance between them. She pretended to double-check the carts in the hallway for sturdiness.

  Dwayne adjusted his tie as he spotted some reporters and videographers from two local television stations. “Everybody knows you’re the real brains,” he said to Nedra. “Rod is just a figurehead sucking up all the glory. He wangled his way into the honorary title of executive director and official host to get free media face
time. The mayor shouldn’t have let him get away with that one. Elections are won on feel-good crap like this.”

  “We’d like to think this ‘feel-good crap’ is truly meaningful,” Nedra shot back in irritation.

  “You know what I mean,” Dwayne replied, turning back to her as the journalists headed off in a different direction. “Listen, why don’t we get together after you’re through here?”

  “Hey, sorry to interrupt, but…” said Alice Faye, suddenly appearing and placing a hand on Nedra’s arm.

  She spun to face the older woman in gratitude for the interruption. “No, no. What do you need? We’ve got a whole bunch of priorities here.”

  Alice Faye shot a quick glance at Dwayne and a light flipped on in her wise, brown eyes. She gave a sharp nod and looked back at Nedra. “For sure. Less than two hours ‘til show time.”

  “Right, right, I’ll catch you later, Nedra,” said Dwayne, scurrying off. He had spotted the mayor, surrounded by reporters, heading towards another section of the large, L-shaped kitchen.

  “Thank you, I...” Her voice trailed off as the tall, handsome stranger from earlier popped into view a few feet away.

  “No problem. Oh, he’s the reason I stopped you,” explained Alice, waving the man over. “Hey, come over here, son. Yeah, you!”

  Mister tall, dark and delicious strolled over. Nedra thought his wide grin turned up the heat better than any of the commercial stoves. He had a long-legged stride that made him move like a dancer and his slender, neat mustache changed her mind about disliking facial hair on a man. His long dreadlocks were pulled back into a hair net, which was required when working in the food prep area.

  Nedra’s first impression had been correct: the man had a lithe, strong body that filled out his shirt, vest and pants quite nicely; just enough to inspire a quick fantasy in any female hungry for a man. Like Nedra! She shook her head to regain control of herself and was pleased to find him looking at her shoulder-length hair in appreciation.

  “Carlos, this is the HBIC – head babe in charge,” announced Alice Faye, chuckling at her own joke. “Nedra is chief of operations for our holiday dinner. Nedra, Carlos Jacobs stepped up to volunteer at the last minute. Just in time because Mrs. Stevens had to bow out. Her arthritis kicked up.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Nedra blurted out, taking a step closer to accept the man’s extended hand. She blinked at the warmth as his fingers wrapped around hers.

  “Good meeting you as well. You run quite an event here. Well done.” Carlos dipped his head, as though bestowing approval reserved for only a lucky few.

  Nedra smiled back at him. Her surroundings faded as though someone had hit the mute button and she was lost for a minute.

  Alice Faye cleared her throat loudly, and Nedra snapped back to the real world. She blinked a few times and then blushed with chagrin. “Thanks, but we’re a team,” she said. “With fabulous people like Alice Faye, my job is super easy.” Nedra tried not to feel as big a fool as she probably looked.

  Alice Faye glanced from Nedra to Carlos and then backed away. “I just realized I have to find Bill and make sure all of the containers of dressing arrived. Oh, and the guys were late bringing those big cans of green peas, so I’m going to make sure they’re in the pots and heating up.”

  Nedra panicked, not wanting to make an even bigger fool of herself. After all, she had a bad track record. She always fell hard for tall, dark strangers with sexy lips and eyes smoky with promised passion. Carlos Jacobs fitted that description perfectly. Her last three romantic disasters flashed before her eyes. “Wait for me! I could help,” she suggested.

  Alice Faye turned to her. “No, give Carlos the quick and dirty version of the orientation. You’ve got time. He’s already been a huge help. Carlos made a chart of the food assembly line.” She then gave Nedra a wink that seemed to say, “Go get him, girl.”

  Is every older female in my life a matchmaker now? Nedra suppressed a groan, recovered herself, and faced Mr. Invitation to Get in Big Trouble. She stiffened her spine against Carlos’ obvious appeal and squelched her tendency to fantasize about Happily Ever After. In the past she had been knocked back to reality too many times.

  “So, Carlos...” Nedra stumbled on the first down.

  The man grabbed the ball and was back in charge. “I’ve heard a little about Holiday Hospitality, but to be honest I haven’t done volunteer work since college at Tulane.”

  Good looking and college educated. Nedra ticked off two boxes on the ‘must have’ list inside her head. She let a little starch out of her spine. “Let’s go to my temporary office, aka the broom closet.”

  His rich laughter caused more heads to turn their way. “A great executive can lead from anywhere and still get results.”

  Nedra walked beside him, feeling a glow from that liquid gold voice. “Are you bucking for a new employee bonus?”

  Carlos laughed again. “I’m willing to earn one, for sure.”

  “Oh, my,” Nedra whispered, taking a deep breath at the sensual reference in his words. Somehow she managed not to melt into a puddle, but kept walking until they reached her temporary command center. Carlos’ powerful smile made his full lips even more delectable up close and Nedra felt a power surge of attraction. She swung her office door wide open and pointed to a chair beside the small table that served as her desk.

  Carlos glanced at his wristwatch. “We could do this another time if you’re pressed. I won’t need the full history to be a waiter.”

  Nedra tried not to drop to her knees and beg him to stick around. “Everything seems under control; besides it won’t take long. Here’s a brochure you can read later, in case you want to volunteer again.”

  “Sounds good, so tell me more,” replied Carlos, folding the paper and sticking it into the inside pocket of his vest. Sitting down in the chair, he leaned back.

  “It’s not complicated really,” said Nedra. “Holiday Hospitality was started twenty years ago by my boss’ predecessor, Constable Theo Grady. He was a sweet, giving man who is greatly missed. Anyway, Mr. T. organized the first dinner.”

  Carlos grinned. “They actually called him that?”

  “Yeah, Constable Grady got a kick out of the nickname. He’d even do his own imitation of the famous Mr. T.” Nedra laughed. Who could have guessed that I’d be enjoying my volunteer efforts this much?

  “Wish I’d met him. He sounds like a fun guy,” Carlos said.

  “He was. Mr. T. wanted to serve folks who couldn’t afford the traditional, fancy Christmas dinner, but he didn’t require that people be poor or homeless. A lot of lonely folks with no family spend the holidays alone, especially the elderly, so we don’t have any income requirements or question who shows up. This is a true community outreach for everyone.”

  “Holiday hospitality in its truest form,” said Carlos with a nod. “Poor people don’t feel singled out either, for once.”

  “You get the concept. Even better, people with money who would otherwise be lonely get to share a warm, welcoming dinner. The idea was so popular that the following year, Mr. T. added Thanksgiving. I volunteered to be operations chief for the 2012 Thanksgiving dinner. At Christmas I’ll just be a server, like you.”

  “What, no cooking?” Carlos’s rich voice teased her.

  “Oh, I can whip up some good food. I mean...” Nedra backed away from what could be interpreted as a come on.

  “I enjoy cooking a bit myself, not that I’m an expert by any means. But I’m willing to learn.” Carlos leaned forward.

  Now Nedra had no doubts at all. Carlos had deftly and gracefully indicated his interest. He wasn’t pushy or conceited like Dwayne, who assumed most women would leap at the chance to bask in his glory. Instead, Carlos had a classy way of extending an invitation to take things to the next level.

  “An eager student is half the battle,” Nedra said.

  “I’m aways open to new things,” Carlos replied, and leaned back again. “Like volunteer work.”

/>   Nedra regained control of her breathing in order to speak. “I’ll make a note of that. Ahem, anyway, back to the history lesson. Both dinners are so large that there are two separate committees. And that’s it. Short and sweet.”

  “I appreciate the perspective; makes my participation more meaningful.” Carlos flashed that glorious smile once more.

  “Well, um, we try to make Holiday Hospitality rewarding for everyone, and that includes the volunteers,” Nedra replied, standing. She teetered for a second on her three-inch heel pumps.

  Carlos stood and placed a large hand under her elbow. His touch sent cold chills and a flush of warmth all over her body. This man could be contributing to global warming with the heat he can turn up. While Nedra worked on recovering from the flash fire of lust, he worked against her by stepping closer.

  “Careful. We need capable leadership,” Carlos said, as he steadied her. His face came closer.

  “I should change into the ballet flats I brought with me. So much for looking cute,” replied Nedra. She gazed into his hot chocolate-brown eyes and sighed. Is it magic or did I intentionally tilt my head in preparation to taste those delicious-looking lips?

  “Is this your office number written on the brochure?” Carlos asked.

  “That’s my cell number, just in case the volunteers have an emergency during a dinner. I usually only give it to the section leaders,” Nedra murmured, captured by the full curve of his lips.

  “May I keep it, even though I’m not a section leader?”

  “Sure, since you’re so new at this,” Nedra answered promptly, and then cleared her throat.

  “Hey, Nedra, Rod is asking about...”

  Dwayne seemed to materialize out of nowhere. He stopped talking, stared at Nedra and then glanced down to where Carlos was still holding her arm. “They need all volunteer servers out front,” he added.