Enigma, Maine, Bundle 1

by Iris Abbott

  “Yes, please come with us, Mr. Steve. It’ll be fun!” The little boy’s face was shining brightly in anticipation of a much-wanted holiday treat.

  Steve swallowed the lump in his throat. He would have loved to go to something as festive and yet as simple as a Christmas tree lighting when he was Jacob’s age. It hadn’t happened, however.

  Foster families, at least the ones he’d been associated with never bothered with anything like that. He grew up with just the basics. He was shuffled from one home to the next because everybody wanted to adopt a baby or toddler. Nobody wanted a child that was orphaned at the ripe old age of ten.

  Jacob seemed to want him there even if Hannah was on the fence. There was no way he was going to disappoint that little boy. “I would love to go with the two of you to see the Christmas tree. We better order and eat soon, because we don’t want to get stuck way in the back!”

  “I guess not,” Hannah agreed. She opened the children’s menu and shared it with Jacob. “What do you want to eat, sweetie?”

  “Just fries,” he gave her a questioning look. “Is that okay, Mom?”

  “Sure,” she closed the menu and handed it to Steve. “I’ll take a bowl of vegetable soup. That shouldn’t take too long.”

  Steve agreed, and when the waitress came back a couple of minutes later, he ordered two bowls of vegetable soup and a large order of fries. The food was dished up relatively quickly, and the three ate in silence.

  Steve didn’t really know what to say. He imagined Hannah felt the same. Jacob’s mind was probably occupied with cheerful thoughts of Christmas and huge trees full of colorful lights.

  ****

  “I can’t see,” Jacob whined. “I don’t want to miss anything.”

  They rushed through dinner as fast as possible, but the square was still full when they arrived. “I’m sorry Jacob. I don’t think we can get any closer.” Hannah let out a sigh.

  Here she stood, shivering in the cold barely able to feel her toes and for what? Jacob couldn’t even see the tree. She hugged herself trying to stay warm. Maybe she should suggest they leave. All the other children in the back of the square comfortably rested on strong male shoulders. Jacob was too heavy for her. She wouldn’t be able to hold him for long. It was just one more thing for her to feel bad about.

  “Hey, buddy,” Steve spoke up. “I’ve got a strong set of shoulders here.” He bent down and turned his back to Jacob. “Hop on. I bet you’ll be able to see for miles.”

  The thrilled Jacob, who had taken to Steve faster than anyone he’d ever met, didn’t even look to her for an okay. He clambered right onto Steve’s shoulders and wrapped his arms around the man’s neck. He giggled when Steve stood. “Mom!” he cried in an excited voice. “I can see the whole town from up here!”

  Hannah moved closer to Steve so that she could touch Jacob’s leg. “I bet you can. Steve’s pretty tall huh?”

  “Yep,” Jacob chuckled. “I can see the tree, Mommy! There’s a big star on top. It’s going to be soooo pretty.”

  He wiggled so much, Hannah was afraid he might fall. She moved closer to Steve’s side, just in case.

  “Not the prettiest thing in the square,” Steve whispered only loud enough for her to hear.

  Warmth flooded her body, and Hannah blushed. “T-thanks,” she stammered.

  The mayor stepped up to the podium and wished everyone a Merry Christmas. He lifted a hand and as if by magic the tree and all the surrounding decorations came to life. Strands of red, blue, orange, and green lights surrounded the huge blue spruce. In the place of honor on top was a huge crystal star that glowed.

  Hannah sucked in a deep breath. The tree was breathtaking as was the rest of the town square. It was definitely worth a wait in the cold.

  Thick boughs of fir garlands and freshly made wreaths decorated the town square’s large white gazebo and all the streetlights. A group of talented carolers sang ‘Deck the Halls’ from their perch inside the wooden structure. Hannah couldn’t help but sing along. The impromptu outing turned into a great evening.

  She knew Jacob was having a good time too. That was obvious from the frequent bursts of laughter that came from him while he was still perched on Steve’s shoulders. That thought sent her brain into overdrive. She imagined other parts of Steve’s anatomy. She hadn’t had lustful thoughts about a man since her husband died. The night was full of revelations.

  The carolers finished their song, and Steve turned to her. “It’s been a long day. You ready to walk back to our vehicles?”

  “Good idea,” she muttered. “We all have early days tomorrow. Thank you for coming with us. Jacob wouldn’t have had nearly as much fun without you.”

  Steve accepted her thanks with a warm smile. “I enjoyed it. Thanks for inviting me.”

  The twinkle in his eyes told her he knew she hadn’t really expected him to accept, but she was wholeheartedly grateful he did.

  She glanced up at Jacob. Her son’s mouth stretched open for a huge yawn. “I think Jacob’s falling asleep. You can put him down if you want. There’s no need to carry him all the way back to the parking lot.”

  Steve shrugged his shoulders and started walking. “I’m up to the challenge,” he promised. “The parking lot is only about four blocks away. I’ve got a hold of his legs, and he’s hanging on pretty tight. I don’t think he’s going to fall if that’s what you’re worried about.”

  “No, I just don’t want him to be a burden.” She kept pace with Steve’s full strides as they closed the distance between them and their waiting automobiles. She suddenly realized he was no longer beside her. He stopped dead in the middle of the walkway, and groups of people milled around him and Jacob. Hannah fought against the flow of foot traffic to rejoin Steve and her son.

  “I hope I haven’t done anything to give you the impression that I consider either you or Jacob a burden.” He resumed walking. “I enjoyed tonight and the chance to spend time with both of you. I hope we can do it again soon. I haven’t had much occasion in my life to partake of all the festivities usually associated with Christmas. It was awesome to see things through the unjaded eyes of an enthusiastic child.”

  Hannah didn’t respond. His heartwrenching words left her to ponder what kind of childhood the man suffered through while growing up. She remained silent until they reached the café’s parking lot. She directed him to her midsize crossover. She opened the backseat where Jacob’s booster seat waited.

  Steve lifted Jacob down, and Hannah wasn’t surprised to see that the little boy could barely keep his eyes open. He blinked a few times and yawned again. Hannah stepped aside and let Steve place Jacob in the booster seat. When he moved back, she leaned in and fastened the seatbelt. Once he was secure, she closed the door to block out the cold air and turned to face Steve.

  “I enjoyed this evening. Thank you for dinner and for sharing the tree lighting with us. We had a great time, and I’m glad you were able to share it with us.”

  Steve leaned in and brushed his lips across Hannah’s which parted in anticipation. “You’re welcome,” he said after he pulled away. “I had a great time too. See you tomorrow.”

  Her stomach fluttered. Her heart raced. Every nerve in her body tingled with excitement.

  He put his hands in his jacket pocket and jogged off to his truck. Hannah watched him go. It took several seconds for Hannah to realize she was still standing in the freezing cold. She got into her car, started the engine, and turned the heater on full blast.

  Hannah had a feeling she was not going to get the good night’s sleep she desperately needed. But it wasn’t going to be visions of sugarplums dancing in her head that kept her awake. Instead, it was going to be chocolate-colored eyes with a sexy gleam sure to tempt any woman even one as chaste as Hannah.

  FOUR

  Hannah kept a tight hold on Jacob’s hand while they moved through the crowds of holiday shoppers. Her other hand was full of gift bags. She avoided the long drive to the mall in the next town ove
r and shopped at locally owned small businesses around Enigma’s town square instead. The expedition searching for Christmas presents for Amber, and several of Hannah’s coworkers was a huge success.

  They were headed back to the car when Jacob broke loose from her hold and skipped ahead. “Mr. Steve, Mr. Steve,” he joyously chorused as he ran to meet his new friend.

  Her son was busy chatting away with Steve by the time Hannah was able to catch up to them. She gave Steve a shy smile. The air ambulance wasn’t called out the last couple of days. Hannah worked in the emergency room, and she guessed that Steve spent his time inspecting and maintaining the helicopter. They ate lunch together yesterday, but they hadn’t been alone at the table and conversation never strayed from a very formal and polite mode.

  “Hey,” she greeted him with a half-smile. She was nervous and hoped it wasn’t obvious. Hanna didn’t want Steve to know how much he affected her. Her nipples pebbled, and her sex clenched just from the sound of his voice. Warmth pooled in her midsection. The intensity was strong enough to frighten her.

  “Hannah,” he nodded. “It’s nice to see you and Jacob out and about, enjoying the holiday season.”

  She held up the bags. “Yes. We got most of our shopping done. I am not one of those who rushes around on Christmas Eve. I much prefer to sit at home in front of the fire with Jacob, waiting for him to fall asleep so Santa can visit.”

  Steve made a funny face. She couldn’t interpret. “Got any more plans for this fine Saturday afternoon?” he finally asked after several awkward moments of silence.

  “Not really….” Hannah started to explain they hadn’t made further plans, but Jacob interrupted.

  “Look! Ice skaters!” The little boy jumped up and down with his hands held together in a pleading pose. “Please, Mom! I’ve never been ice skating before. Can we try it, pretty please?”

  Hannah faltered. “I don’t know, sweetie.” She ruffled his hair. “I’m not the most coordinated person, and I think you may have been cursed with my clumsiness. Neither one of us wants any broken bones during the Christmas holidays, now do we?”

  Jacob’s bottom lip stuck out a little, but true to form he didn’t whine or cry. “It looks like fun, and there’s a bunch of kids my age out there.” That was all he said.

  Steve tapped Hannah on the shoulder. “I played ice hockey growing up. I haven’t had a chance to skate in a few years, but I was quite good at it. I might be rusty, but I’m very athletic, and I have a great sense of balance. I’m sure it’s like riding a bike and will come back to me.”

  Jacob’s face lit up much like it had when they were at the Christmas tree lighting ceremony. “Mom, Steve can skate around the rink with me!”

  Hannah bit her lip. She could tell that Jacob was already bonding with Steve. She wasn’t surprised.

  Her son just turned two when his father died, and he couldn’t remember Jake at all. Amber was single, so he didn’t have an uncle to look up to either. It was pretty obvious her son was starved for male attention. Most of his friends had father figures in their lives. Jacob saw the activities they got to do together and was old enough to know he was missing out.

  What did surprise her was how well Steve took to Jacob. Not that they were dating or anything, but she always thought most men if and when she put herself back out there would be turned off by the idea of a single parent. After all, between her challenging job as a flight nurse and her demanding obligation to Jacob as his only living parent her life was packed full.

  Steve, however, understood and accepted the demands of her job. She had no idea he would relate so well to Jacob. So far, though, he was doing an admirable job. It made the simmering warmth that pooled in her belly spread outward. It also gave her hope that maybe she could love again!

  Hannah looked from Steve to Jacob. “The car is right around the corner. Let’s drop the bags off and go skating!”

  They walked with Jacob in the middle. He talked a mile a minute, telling Steve about the Christmas presents they bought while they shopped.”

  “So what about you,” Steve asked? “What do you want for Christmas?”

  Hannah held her breath and strained to listen to every syllable that came out of Jacob’s mouth. Was she finally going to learn what he’d asked for from Santa?

  “I only want one thing this Christmas, and I’ve already let Santa know about it. He’ll know what to do.”

  If only she knew what to do! Hannah was disappointed that he didn’t spill the beans to Steve. She still had no idea what to get her son for Christmas.

  “Well, here we are,” she said when they walked up to her car. “Let me put these in the cargo area, and we’ll go back to the ice rink. No need to drive and fight for another parking spot.”

  “I can help with that,” Steve replied. “I came to the square to try out the coffee shop and decided to work off the calories from my mocha by walking around the square and looking in the Christmas decorations. I’m next to the ice rink. When we’re done skating, we’ll pile into my truck, and I’ll drive the two of you back here.”

  Jacob jumped up and down! “I can’t wait! Let’s go!” he squealed. Her son entwined the fingers of one hand with Steve and the other with her. He ran, pulling them toward the other side of the square and the waiting oval of ice.

  His joy was infectious. Hannah couldn’t help but laugh out loud as her usually quiet son aimlessly chatted while he pulled them across the square packed with holiday shoppers. She couldn’t remember the last time she saw Jacob this happy. Any misgivings she had about Steve quickly melted away.

  ****

  Hannah sat on the bench and rubbed her gloved hands together. She couldn’t help but laugh at Steve and Jacob as they slowly made their way around the ice. True to his words, Steve took to the ice and skates as if he’d never been off. He did a couple of slow but steady spins around the rink to get his bearings. Then he returned to the bench where Jacob and Hannah sat, watching him in awe.

  “Okay,” he held his hand out to Jacob. “Are you ready?” he wanted to know?

  Jacob was all smiles. He grabbed the hand Steve offered him and took a cautious step to the edge of the ice. Right before they joined the other skaters, he turned to Hannah and sent her a wave and a kiss. “Keep watching, Mom! I want to make sure you see when I get it right!”

  Hannah watched for about thirty minutes. Jacob was shaky at first as he glided around the rink with Steve’s support. Soon enough, Steve let go and followed behind, urging Jacob on.

  At first, Jacob wobbled, flinging his arms around wildly. He even fell on his behind a couple of times. He got that determined look Hannah was familiar with and tried again. Now he glided around the rink, still a little shaky, but he didn’t need Steve’s support. He hadn’t fallen down their last couple of trips around the ice.

  Hannah clapped her hands and waved when they skated by her bench. A small sigh left her parted lips. She wasn’t content to sit on the sidelines. She wanted to be out there with Jacob and Steve too. She went to the makeshift rental counter and got a pair of ice skates in her size. She returned to her bench and laced up the skates.

  Hannah gave the outdoor rink a dubious glance. At least an inside rink would have a rail around the edges to cling to. Here she was on her own. She stood up and waited until she found her balance. Hannah took a small step forward and held out her arms to help her stay upright. She took another step. Finally, she reached the edge just as Steve and Jacob skated back around.

  “Jacob,” Steve warned, “make sure you give your mom plenty of space. Remember how strange it felt when you first stepped onto the ice. Don’t crowd her and make her nervous.”

  Jacob smiled big at her and Steve. “A couple of my friends from school are here. I want to skate with them.” He looked up at Hannah. “Is that okay, Mommy?”

  Hannah was too busy trying not to fall flat on her butt to give Jacob her undivided attention anyway. “Go ahead, sweetie. Just don’t leave the ice. If your friends
finish skating before we leave or you get tired come and find Steve and me okay.”

  “Okay,” he gave her a great big smile that lightened Hannah’s heart and pushed off toward a couple of boys Hannah vaguely recognized. She jumped and almost lost the battle with her balance when two strong arms encircle her from behind.

  Warm breath tickled her ear, and Steve’s deep and sexy voice sent tingles down her spine. “Don’t worry. I’ve got you,” he promised. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

  “I’m counting on that.”

  He tightened his hold. “Loosen up your muscles,” he instructed. “Concentrate on staying upright, and I’ll push you around the ice until you get a feel for it.”

  Hannah nodded and tried to relax, but it was hard to do with Steve so close. Her nipples puckered, and she knew it wasn’t from the winter weather. She was attracted to Steve and having his body pressed into the back of hers was making her react in ways she hadn’t in years. Surely the heat coming off of them was hot enough to melt the ice.

  “I’m ready,” she managed to get out in a husky voice she hardly recognized.

  ****

  Steve chuckled, but he was smart enough not to make any comments. Instead, he tightened his hands on her waist and moved, sliding one foot in front of the other. This was the closest he’d come to holding Hannah in his arms. It felt good like she belonged.

  He knew she felt the strong chemistry between them too. Her voice was almost unrecognizable when she spoke before. Also, he could feel the tiny shivers that shook her body when they touched. Yep, she wanted him just as much as he wanted her.

  He let go of her waist with one hand and spun her around so that they were facing each other. “I feel the desire throbbing between us. The question is, what are we gonna do about it?” He wrapped his arms around her back to hold her steady and pulled her as close as he could. He slowly lowered his head until their lips touched. “Last chance,” he whispered.