12 Gifts for Christmas

by Various

  Panic filled James. “How could she do that? Just up and … go?” “Mebbe because you didn’t want her t’ stay,” Miriam said.

  “But I did. I do,” James said and realized how true it was.

  He wanted Lucy.

  He wanted his son.

  So much that the thought that he might have lost them both was a physical pain. An ache that could very well be with him for the rest of his life.

  “Did you tell her that?”

  “I … well …”

  Miriam gave him a meaningful look and went to answer the telephone. “Eileen? Och, aye … he’ll be as right as rain.” She blinked and listened for a moment. “The inn, you say? Well, I never …”

  The tap on Lucy’s door was quiet but insistent. Lucy cast an anxious glance at the bed but Jamie didn’t stir.

  It was probably the landlady wanting to fuss over them again.

  Except it wasn’t.

  “James.”

  “Come home, Lucy,” he said without preamble. “Please.”

  “Why?” The word was a whisper. Lucy could see the answer in his face but she couldn’t believe it.

  “Because … I want you to stay. You and Jamie.”

  The lump in Lucy’s throat made it hard to speak. “Because he’s your son?”

  “Aye …” James also seemed to be having trouble finding his voice. “And because …”

  He was looking down at her. The way he had when she’d been standing beneath the mistletoe.

  “Because I love you.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  THE Cameron family finally celebrated Christmas several days late, on the day that Douglas Cameron was discharged from the hospital with a clean bill of health and instructions to get on with his life and enjoy it.

  He intended to do just that. Nearly dying had shown him how precious life was. The gift of new love had been there for him for a long time, he’d just been too blind to see it.

  He’d told James he would start working again in the New Year, too. He couldn’t leave it entirely to James to get their new partner up to speed. He smiled. Lucy was going to be a huge asset to the family practice.

  And that scoundrel of a puppy who was rolling on the floor at his feet, shredding a piece of the cardboard box he’d been in beneath the Christmas tree, would be another asset. For the family.

  Ahh … family. Douglas eased back in his favorite chair and ruffled the red-gold curls of the small boy on his knee.

  “What is it you’ve got there, wee Jamie?”

  Jamie held up a small red car. He showed it to his grandfather.

  “Car,” he said clearly.

  The background music of Christmas carols faded away as that single word filled the library.

  Lucy was standing by the window, watching the snow falling. James stood behind her, his arms holding her close against his body.

  They both turned from the pretty, snow-softened garden to look at each other and the glance they shared encompassed the complete understanding they had gained over the past few days.

  Days of talking about so many things. About how Lucy had tried to be a mother to Liv while nursing their mother through her long illness. How Liv had rebelled and become obsessed with finding only pleasure for herself.

  They discovered that their dreams of practicing medicine were the same. Old-fashioned. They wanted a family general practice that was a part of a community’s heartbeat.

  The days might have been filled with talking but the nights had been pure magic as they discovered each other’s bodies and how to express their love through touch.

  And, as they had drawn so close to each other, more magic had been happening around them. A new family was being born as Douglas was able to accept and return the love Miriam had for him.

  And Jamie …

  Jamie had spoken his first word.

  He was giving his grandfather his first smile.

  The moment was precious enough to have Miriam dabbing at her eyes. “Och …” She sighed. “It is a car, Jamie. And that’s your grandpa. Can you say ‘Grandpa’?”

  “Ga,” Jamie said.

  He was clearly pleased with his newfound talent and the effect it was having on his audience. He slid off his grandfather’s lap and smiled at Lucy.

  The same smile she could see on the face of the man in the winged chair. And on the face of the man she loved, who was standing by her side and would be for the rest of his life. He had promised this with all his heart last night when he’d proposed to Lucy and she had joyfully accepted.

  Jamie wasn’t looking at her any longer, though. His gaze was fixed on James as he marched across the library, his arms outstretched to be picked up.

  “Da,” he said.

  “Aye …” James scooped him up with one arm because the other arm was pulling Lucy even closer. “That I am.”

  The lights on the Christmas tree were going all blurry for Lucy and she could hear the faint voices of a choir singing.

  “All is calm … all is bright …”

  Yes, she thought mistily, her heart overflowing with love and hope for the future. It is.

  Wrapped and Ready

  Julie Kenner

  About the Author

  National bestselling author JULIE KENNER’s first book hit the stores in 2000, and she’s been on the go ever since. Julie’s books have been on several bestseller lists, including that of USA TODAY. Julie lives in Georgetown, Texas, with her husband, two daughters and several cats.

  Look for Julie’s new novels in Mills & Boon® Blaze®.

  CHAPTER ONE

  ANNIE Silver smoothed the skirt of her supershort elf costume, wondering if perhaps she should have changed before the annual holiday party for the staff of Carrington’s department store. Except for two other elves and Santa, everyone else wore typical workday attire.

  And although Annie had been perfectly comfortable guiding children to Santa’s lap or working the gift-wrap table, now she felt decidedly out of place.

  She was pondering the possibility of sneaking off to raid the women’s casual wear department when Faith flounced over, looking gorgeous as usual in a loose red dress that cinched at the waist. In one easy movement, she handed Annie a fresh glass of wine and leaned in close. “It’s not easy being green,” she whispered, then burst into peals of laughter.

  “Thanks.” Annie flashed her friend a wry glance. “You’re making me feel so much better. I’m standing out like a sore thumb, and people are staring.”

  “No, Paul’s the sore thumb, since he’s Santa and all in red. You can have a green thumb. Except there aren’t any plants around.”

  Annie couldn’t help it; she laughed. “Whatever. They’re staring.”

  “So what? You look hot. Green, but hot. And isn’t that what you wanted?”

  “I suppose.” As she had every year since high school, she’d signed on as a temporary holiday employee because she absolutely adored everything about the Christmas season. This year, though, she was interested in one particular fringe benefit that came with the job—Brent Carrington. He’d never once noticed Annie. Not through four years of high school, not when she’d worked summers during college in his family’s department store, and certainly never at the annual holiday party. This year, Annie hoped that would change.

  Faith downed the last of her wine, then smirked. “Oh, please. Could you be more nonchalant? You’ve been planning this for months. You want him.” She stepped back, her assessing gaze skimming up Annie’s body. “And I’d say tonight you’ve got the goods to get him.”

  “I hope you’re right,” Annie said, even as her gaze scanned the guests, hoping for a glimpse of the man in question. Come January, Annie was leaving her hometown of Bishop, Ohio, for the Big Apple. But before she left, she intended to give herself the one thing she’d always wanted but couldn’t have—Brent Carrington.

  They may have grown up in the same town, but they had never lived in the same world. That was a simple fact of life. Brent w
as a Carrington—pronounced with nose in the sky and much pomp and circumstance. Annie’s dad drove a truck and her mom waited tables. Their name might be Silver, but their lifestyle sure wasn’t.

  “I can’t believe I’m doing this,” Annie said.

  “I can.” Faith squeezed her hand, and Annie gratefully squeezed back, accepting some of her friend’s innate strength. “You played by the rules your whole life and it didn’t get you anywhere. Good little Annie who nobody even noticed. And now you’ve finally grown up and decided to go after what you want. It worked for that job in New York, and it’ll work for Brent Carrington, too.”

  Annie pulled in a deep breath, hoping Faith was right. She’d always been the good, quiet student. Straight As. Doing exactly what the teacher said. No cutting corners. No taking wild risks. She hadn’t even signed up for a pottery class because she was afraid that the grading was too subjective. And if she got a B—or, heaven forbid, a C—she’d lose her chance at a much-needed scholarship.

  But while she might have been an academic success, in other parts of her life she was a complete failure. Assertiveness had never been her forte, and she’d spent most of her youth on the sidelines. Mentally, she lifted her chin. But that was the old Annie, not the new Annie. The new Annie had been gutsy enough to fly to New York, knock on doors and wait in reception areas to get the interviews she wanted—and the persistence had worked.

  She only hoped her plan to get a single, passion-filled night with the one man she’d ever wanted would work as well.

  A waiter passed by, and Faith grabbed a stuffed mushroom, then gestured across the room with it before popping it in her mouth. “Tha’s him.”

  “What?”

  Faith swallowed. “Over there. By Santa’s village. Brent’s here.”

  Annie sucked in a breath, a warm flush enveloping her entire body just from the thought of seeing Brent again. She was almost afraid to turn and actually look at him for fear she’d melt right into the floor.

  “Go on!” Faith gave her a little push on the shoulder.

  “I don’t think I can.” At the moment, she was having trouble even forcing words past her lips.

  Faith rolled her eyes. “Forget nerves. This is your last chance. Brent’s the only guy I’ve ever known you to be truly hot for. You want this, and you deserve it. A last fling before you fly off into the sunset.” She grinned. “So go get him, girl.”

  Faith was right; she did want this. She wanted Brent. “Wish me luck.”

  “Luck.”

  Trying to keep her breathing under control, she turned until she was facing Santa’s Village. She didn’t see him, and battled a wave of fear that he’d turned and left after Faith had spotted him. “Where is—?”

  And then there he was. The words caught in her throat, and she closed her mouth. He’d moved to a far wall, secluded from most of the revelers, and was leaning casually against it. As she worked up her courage to approach, she let her gaze skim over him, taking in his lean physique and broad shoulders.

  The Carringtons had always been the royalty of Bishop, and Brent’s classic features certainly fit that bill. A perfect jawline, now sporting a five o’clock shadow, and ears she longed to trace with her fingertips. Even his hair was perfect—dark brown and in place, except for one unruly bit that hung over his forehead, as if telling the world that despite his breeding, Brent Carrington had a wild side, too.

  But it was his eyes that had always intrigued her. Deep blue, like the ocean. Eyes that could look into a woman’s heart and tell exactly what she needed. He’d never once turned those eyes on her. Tonight, though, Annie intended to make Brent look at her—and really see her.

  Gathering her courage, she approached, hoping against hope that he would at least remember her. She moved closer, imagining that they’d come to the party together, and that he’d signaled for her to return to his side.

  Stopping in front of him, she looked up, smiling tentatively. “Hi, Brent.” She’d hoped for a husky, sexy voice, but the words came out in a squeak.

  At first, his face registered confusion, and she fought a flash of panic. But then his eyes cleared, and he moved toward her so he was no longer leaning against the wall.

  “Annie Silver,” he said, the corners of his perfect mouth pulling up into a smile. “You look fabulous.”

  “I’m glad you think so,” she said, mentally crossing her fingers. Then, fortified by the several glasses of wine she’d downed over the last two hours, she pressed on. “Because I have a little something in mind for tonight.”

  “Oh?” So far, he hadn’t bolted. Score one for her team. “What’s that?”

  “An early Christmas present to myself, actually.” She sucked in a deep breath. Now or never, she thought, drawing courage from the hint of interest she saw reflected in his eyes. “What I want in my stocking is you.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  “EXCUSE me?” Brent’s body tightened as Annie’s lips curved around the word you. “I’m your present?” That couldn’t be what she meant. Up until now, today simply hadn’t been his lucky day.

  But she was nodding, and damned if his groin wasn’t tightening in response. Which meant that Brent’s day—hell, his entire week—was suddenly looking up.

  “You heard me,” she whispered.

  He’d heard her, all right. Hell, every fiber in his body had heard her—and reacted accordingly. He just hadn’t believed his ears. But if he’d heard right, Annie Silver actually wanted him in her bed. Considering the sultry expression in her pale gray eyes and the flush on her cheeks, he was sure he’d nailed the situation.

  The only question that remained was why? Not that he was stupid enough to put a hold on the situation by asking.

  “I … I’m sorry,” she stammered, and he realized he hadn’t answered aloud. “This was stupid. I should go—”

  “No.” The word burst from him. Reaching out, he grazed his fingers over her bare arm, delighting in the little moan that escaped her lips. “You can’t say something like that to a man, and then leave.”

  “Too impolite?” A smile touched her mouth, and he was glad to see she’d relaxed just a bit. Good. He didn’t know what was going on in her head, but if the evening was going to lead where he hoped, he wanted her relaxed.

  “We all have to live by the rules of polite society.”

  “What if I don’t feel like being polite?” she asked, moving closer still until he could feel her heat.

  “Sweetheart, that’s all right with me.” His body tightened, and his erection pressed painfully against the confines of his slacks. He fought not to grab her around the waist and pull her close. They were somewhat secluded behind Santa’s Village, but they were hardly alone.

  “It is?” Surprise laced her voice, and once again he was struck by the dichotomy between the boldness of her actions and the hesitancy in her eyes.

  “Come on.” More roughly than he intended, he took her hand, leading her toward the elevator. He needed to get away from prying eyes and questioning glances.

  He wanted what she wanted, no question about that. But he didn’t intend to take it until he understood her motives. He didn’t know if that made him chivalrous or self-indulgent, and he didn’t care. Just now, he wanted to get to the bottom of this. Because only then could he lose himself inside of her. And that, frankly, was one damned strong motivating factor.

  She followed in silence until they stopped, waiting for the elevator to appear. “Where are we going?”

  “Someplace quiet.” He had no idea where, though. The store was filled with employees. Not one square inch would provide any privacy.

  “Brent!” His father’s voice underscored the point. “There you are.”

  Trying for nonchalant, his lips curved in greeting. “Father.” He nodded toward Annie. “You remember Annie Silver.”

  “Of course,” he said pleasantly. But the tightness in his father’s face indicated another emotion. Winston Carrington III might be polite, but he was also a
snob.

  “Nice to see you, Mr. Carrington,” Annie said. “And, uh, it was great bumping into you, Brent.” She took a step away, and Brent realized her nerve was fading again. “I … uh … should go find Faith.”

  No way was he letting her get away. In one fluid motion he reached for her elbow, urging her back toward him. “I thought you promised to help me.” He smiled at his father. “The champagne’s running low. I’m going to go see how much we have left.”

  “Excellent.” Winston gave him a hearty slap on the back, even while he frowned in Annie’s direction. “I’ll see you later, son. And tomorrow, I want you managing the toy department.”

  “I know, Father,” he said flatly. The last thing he wanted was to spend his Saturday within fifteen feet of Santa’s Village and all the Christmas hokeyness his father had crammed into the store.

  Then again, Annie would be there, so that would take some of the edge off the punishment. He cast a quick glance her way, taking in the exceedingly short elf costume and green tights. The outfit hugged her curves, leaving nothing to the imagination, while at the same time managing to seem tame. Her hair hung down to her shoulders in a mass of curls that he supposed destroyed the elfin image somewhat. But he was happy for the trade, especially since he intended to lose himself in those soft, brown waves.

  The elevator arrived, and Brent ushered Annie on, then pushed the down button. He’d helped the caterers carry the last case of the champagne up from the basement two hours ago, so he knew no one would disturb them.

  As they entered the darkened room, he turned away from her to lock the door behind him. In that brief moment, she scampered away, ending up underneath the one low window that backed the alley.

  The moonlight filtered in through the wire mesh, setting her skin aglow. Especially in her costume, she looked ethereal, beautiful. He was hard as a rock just from looking at her. Now he wanted to touch her … stroke her soft skin … tease her nipples …