Like it? She loved it. And...well, maybe him as well.
She wasn’t sure. Her feelings were still all over the place and she didn’t want to assign a name to something so wonderful and happy. There was also the complication of Kenny not wanting to get involved with her. But all that was for later.
He stood and held out both his hands. “Come on. Let’s take the tour. Then we’ll get the tree set up. If you’re nice to me, I’ll help with the lights.” He glanced at Bailey. “I thought we could order in pizza. You won’t want to cook tonight.”
“Thank you,” she said. Simple words that didn’t come close to expressing her gratitude for all he’d done for her.
She put her hand in his and he squeezed her fingers. Chloe danced on his other side.
“I want to see,” she squealed. “I want to see everything.”
CHAPTER NINE
BAILEY HELD HER hands palm-up. “I honestly don’t know how this happened,” she told Isabel. “It’s not like he asked me. It was just sort of expected.”
Isabel laughed. “As long as you’re going.”
“I don’t have anything to wear.” Dinner with Kenny’s business partners was one thing, but the Score Christmas party was something else. For starters, several clients had been invited. She didn’t know what to say to a man who owned a company that rented out private jets to rich people. Or a couple that owned a worldwide rum brand.
But Kenny had mentioned the party a couple of times and she’d finally realized that she was his date. Not that they were dating. Or kissing. There hadn’t been a single kiss since that one. This despite the fact that she saw Kenny nearly every day. She tried to tell herself the man had extraordinary control, only she was afraid the truth was much less flattering. He really was just friends with her.
Either way, she was going to the Score Christmas party, which was going to be an elegant affair up at the resort. Dellina had dropped hints about the decorations for the ballroom and what the guests would be eating. The invitation had stated black tie very clearly. And as Bailey didn’t own a tux, she was forced to find a dress.
Which was where her visit to Isabel’s store had come in.
“I have you covered,” Isabel promised.
Bailey nodded, trying to telling herself everything would work out. Only she didn’t see how she could afford a nice dress, along with the accessories. It wasn’t like she was buying something for work, where she could justify the cost knowing she would wear it weekly for the next two years.
Isabel went into the back room of her store, then returned with a long dress. Bailey felt her breath catch as she stared at the stunning gown.
It was simple—a black lining with gold beading. The neck was round and not too low, the cap sleeves added interest at the shoulder.
Isabel handed her the dress and pushed her toward the changing rooms. “Try it on.”
Bailey did as she requested. She noticed there was no price tag, which made her nervous. But she stepped into the dress and pulled it up. The long zipper closed more easily than she expected. As she was on the bridal side of the store, there were no mirrors in the dressing room, so she had to go out to see how she looked.
Isabel smiled when she saw her. “I knew it. Try on these.”
“These” were a pair of simple black pumps with killer four-inch heels. Bailey managed to step into them and stand without hurting herself. She stepped up to the bridal mirror and glanced at her reflection.
“Wow.”
“I know, right?” Isabel stepped up behind her. “The fit is incredible. You look like a movie star.”
Bailey thought maybe her friend was exaggerating, but she would accept the compliment. The gold beading added a warmth to her skin that made it glow. The color was perfect with her red hair. The dress itself hugged her curves, but in the best way possible. She looked like a redheaded Kim Kardashian.
“I love it,” she admitted. “But how much is it?”
Isabel wrinkled her nose. “Don’t get mad, but it’s not one of mine. It’s a rental. I found the site online and had them overnight the dress to me.” She handed Bailey the invoice. “Considering the retail value of the dress, it’s a bargain.”
Bailey had to agree. She could rent the dress for the week for less than a hundred dollars. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. The shoes are Taryn’s. She also sent over a bag and some jewelry.” Isabel grinned. “Because she loves you.”
“I love her back.” Bailey glanced at the high heels. “I should have recognized them as being from her collection.”
She stepped down and they opened the box that had arrived from Taryn that morning. Inside was a Judith Lieber black-and-gold clutch and a pair of diamond-stud earrings.
“I don’t want to know what those cost,” Isabel murmured.
“Me, either.” Bailey told herself she wasn’t going to cry. “When did she get back from her trip?”
“Yesterday.”
And Taryn had done this for her today. “I’m going to have to give her a kidney or something to say thank you.”
Isabel hugged her. “It will make her happy to see you looking like a princess.”
“I think I’d rather be a sex goddess.”
“That, too.”
* * *
BAILEY DIDN’T KNOW where to look first. The ballroom had been decorated in white. White trees, white twinkle lights, white flowers on white tablecloths. There were perfect red accents—a red ribbon running down the center of each table. A single red rose at every other place setting. Formally dressed serving staff circulated with glasses of champagne. She was out of her element, but prepared to have the time of her life.
Having an incredibly handsome man at her side certainly helped, she thought. Kenny had shown up on time, looking movie-star gorgeous in a tailored tux. But what really got her heart beating fast was the look on his face when he saw her. The moment of appreciation and raw desire had gone a long way in upping her confidence quotient.
Now, as they circulated through the party, he kept his hand on the small of her back. When they stopped to talk to clients, he kept his hand possessively on her hip. She told herself not to read too much into his actions, but she couldn’t help the little ripples of excitement that zipped through her.
The guy who owned the jet company turned out to be pretty nice. His wife, a stay-at-home mom, used her phone to show off pictures of their kids.
“I see Taryn,” Bailey told Kenny a few minutes later. “I need to talk to her for a second.”
“Don’t go far.”
“I won’t.” Later there was supposed to be dancing. Bailey hoped Kenny planned to dance the night away with her. Who wouldn’t want that in her future?
She excused herself and crossed the room toward her friend. Taryn had on a black, strapless, fitted evening gown that sparkled and dazzled nearly as much as the woman herself. Her hair was long and straight, her makeup dramatic. Large diamonds gleamed from her ears and around her wrists. She looked exotic, wanton and powerful.
Bailey gave herself a second to admire the view, then approached her friend. Taryn saw her and hurried over.
“You look fantastic,” Taryn said. “My God, every guy in the place is going to want to haul you off and have his way with you.”
“Oh, please,” Bailey said. “As if. You look amazing.”
Taryn dismissed the compliment with a flick of her wrist. “This old thing? We just got back two days ago. I didn’t have time to shop. Not that anyone here has seen the dress, but still.”
Bailey laughed. Obviously her month away hadn’t changed Taryn at all. It was good to know that some things were consistent. “Thank you for my accessories.” She held up the bag and pointed to the earrings. “You’re very sweet to me.”
“Don’t say that out loud,” Taryn told her, glancing around as she spoke. “You think I want people to know I’m nice?”
Bailey grinned. “Sorry. I won’t say anything. How are you? How was your t
rip?”
“Wonderful. Romantic. Angel is a god—not that I want him to know.” She took Bailey by the arm and led her to an alcove in the corner. “I need to talk to you.”
Gone was the teasing and sassy attitude. Taryn’s eyes were wide and filled with an emotion Bailey didn’t recognize. On anyone else she would have said it was fear.
“What’s wrong?”
Taryn drew in a breath. “I think, I mean I’m pretty sure...” She swallowed. “I’m pregnant.”
Bailey laughed. “That’s wonderful. You scared me. Aren’t you happy?”
“Happy? No. Terrified. I’m not like you. I’m not sweet or giving or huggy. I want to be a good mom, but what if I screw up? What if my kid doesn’t like me?” Tears filled her eyes. “You don’t understand. I had horrible parents. I don’t know how to do this.”
Bailey wrapped her arms around her friend. “You’ll be fine. Trust me. You have everything you need inside of you. You’re warm and caring. I’m wearing the shoes that prove it. You know how to love. That’s all children want. To be loved. You’ll provide a stable home and lots of attention. It’s going to be fine.”
Taryn stepped back. “I’m not convinced. Can you teach me how to be more like you?”
Bailey held in more laughter. “Sure. We can start right away so you’re ready.”
“Okay. Thank you. I’m not going to tell anyone else until I’m in my fourth month. Just to be sure everything is okay. But I wanted to tell you.” She sniffed. “Do you think they make couture maternity clothes?”
Bailey laughed. “I’m sure of it.”
* * *
PART OF GROWING up with a parent in the State Department and living overseas meant learning to adjust to different cultures and traditions. Kenny had gotten good at adapting when necessary. It was a skill that had served him well on the football field and in life. But no matter how he smiled and talked with his business partners, his friends and clients, he couldn’t shake the sensation of something not being right.
Maybe it was the tux. He would rather be in jeans. Maybe it was the party itself—too many people having too much fun. Only he liked parties and he enjoyed the holidays and hell, wearing a tux now and then wasn’t a big deal. So why did he keep feeling as if his collar was too tight and that he should be scanning the room for exits?
The most obvious reason was standing about two feet away, laughing at something Jack had said. In a word—Bailey. She looked stunning in her black-and-gold evening gown. Sexy and beautiful and more temptation than any man should have to resist.
The problem wasn’t that he wanted her. He could accept the longing, the heated blood, the need to pull her into a dark corner and kiss her until neither of them could breathe. That was fine. Desire was easy. Familiar. Comfortable. No, what had him unable to relax was more complicated and a lot more terrifying.
It was that he liked her. He liked hanging out with her. He liked listening to her talk and the sound of her laughter. He liked how she painted a room and baked cookies and took care of her daughter. He liked how he felt when he was around her. He liked that she made him feel protective. He wanted to take care of her, to be with her. He wanted to be a part of her and her daughter’s lives, and that was where it all went sideways for him.
The battle of what he wanted and what he knew was safe wasn’t easy. Telling himself that she wasn’t his ex didn’t help the situation. Because in the end, he could still lose her. That was bad enough, but to also lose Chloe—he didn’t think he could survive the loss of both of them.
Still, when she walked up to him, he couldn’t help leading her onto the dance floor.
She fit into his arms perfectly. With her heels, she was taller than usual, so her body nestled against his. Her smile called to him, as did her beautiful eyes. How was he supposed to resist her? How was he supposed to save himself?
After the holidays, he told himself. Then he would back off. Because while there was some danger, it wasn’t as if he was in love with her. Not yet, at least.
* * *
“WHAT DO YOU THINK?” Bailey asked as she walked around the dining room table. It was old—probably from the 1920s. A beautiful dark wood with just enough carving to make it interesting. There were six matching chairs, also in good condition. The cushions needed recovering but she knew how to do that. The best part of the set was the buffet. There was a big scratch on one side, which was probably the reason the set hadn’t sold yet. But in Bailey’s dining room, the buffet would slide into an alcove. With only six inches of clearance on either side, no one would see the scratch.
Chloe studied the pieces. “It’s really nice, Mom. I like the way it shines. Could I help pick out the fabric for the chairs?”
“Of course. We’ll get new cushions and then cover them ourselves.”
“You’re going to teach me how?”
She pulled her daughter close. “I will. It’s going to be a great weekend project.”
Her old table still worked, but it was lost in their new dining room. Plus, she’d always wanted a buffet. She already had a pretty vase she could set on it.
She knew the four-hundred-dollar price tag was a bargain. This set was made of solid wood. It would last another couple hundred years. There had been a sign out front offering delivery in town for only twenty-five dollars. She had the money from what she’d saved on the move.
Chloe squeezed her hand. “It’s okay, Mom. We have a nice house now.”
Bailey smiled at her daughter. “You’re right. The new house deserves a beautiful dining room. Let’s get it.”
They went and found the lady managing the sale. She put a Sold tag on the furniture and arranged for delivery. Bailey and Chloe wandered around a little more.
The old farmhouse was filled with plenty of furniture, along with dishes, paintings and other household goods. Bailey lingered over a box of old records. Kenny liked oldies, she thought. And she’d yet to find a Christmas present for him. What did you get the man who not only had everything, but also had the ability to buy it again and again?
She flipped through the albums, not sure what he liked. She saw an album by the Doors. There was something scribbled on the front of it. She pulled out the album and carried it to the window.
“Really?” Bailey asked in a whisper as she studied what turned out to be a signature. She was pretty sure it was Jim Morrison. Was he the lead singer of the Doors? Hadn’t he died young or something?
Her working knowledge of music from the 1960s was sketchy at best, but as the album was priced at five dollars, she was willing to take a chance. She could call Gideon, the owner of Fool’s Gold’s radio stations and an oldies fan himself, and ask him if this was something Kenny would like.
“Mom, look!”
Chloe held up an old-fashioned Christmas ornament. It was of a football player. He was holding the ball in his arms.
“It reminds me of Kenny,” her daughter said. “Let’s get it for the tree.”
“Sure,” Bailey said automatically, doing her best to remain calm on the outside. But on the inside, alarms went off. Because until this very second, she’d only been worried about her own heart, when it came to Kenny. She hadn’t thought that Chloe could be falling for him, as well.
Panic set in, and with it a fierce need to protect her daughter. Because Kenny had made it clear he wasn’t interested in forever and anything less would devastate Chloe. She’d already lost her father—she didn’t need the pain of losing someone else nearly as wonderful.
“Mom?”
Bailey forced a smile. “It’s adorable and yes, we need it on our tree.”
How to fix this, she wondered. A problem she would wrestle with when she got home, she promised herself. Because she had to keep Chloe safe.
They paid for the dining set, the album and the ornament, then they started toward her car. She’d just reached it when her cell phone rang. She glanced at the screen and saw Kenny’s name. For a second, she thought about not answering, but that w
as neither helpful nor mature.
“Hi,” she said, telling herself to ignore the now-familiar quivering that accompanied either seeing him in person her hearing his voice.
“Bailey, I don’t know what to say. They’re gone.”
His voice was thick with tension and disbelief. The quivering disappeared and worry took its place.
“What’s gone? What’s going on?”
“The toys. I emptied the barrels this morning and drove out to load them in the trailer. The lock is broken and the trailer’s empty. All the toys are gone.”
CHAPTER TEN
IT DIDN’T TAKE long for word to spread and people to start showing up at the empty trailer. A couple of women Kenny didn’t know stood talking on their cell phones. A few of Bailey’s friends he recognized but couldn’t name were standing together looking stunned.
Kenny stayed by his SUV. He could see inside the large empty space. There was nothing left. Not even part of a carton or some torn packaging. Whoever had taken the toys had done a thorough job.
He knew this kind of thing happened all the time. People stole from food banks and took deliveries off neighbors’ porches. But he hadn’t realized it could happen here. In Fool’s Gold. Things were supposed to be better here. There wasn’t a lot of crime. From what he’d heard, people barely locked their doors at night. It was that kind of place.
Only not anymore. And if someone could steal toys meant for disadvantaged children, then other bad things could happen. People could get sick and die. Pets could be lost. And green-eyed redheads could decide they didn’t want to have anything to do with him. Bailey could walk away and take Chloe with her, and he would be left with nothing. His heart stolen, just like the toys.
Mayor Marsha arrived in a small red car. She got out and walked over to him.
“It has to be someone from out of town,” she said by way of greeting. “I refuse to believe that a person I know would do this to the Sprouts. Those girls are going to be heartbroken.”
Something he hadn’t thought of, he realized. What would Chloe and her friends think when they found out what had happened? They’d worked hard on their project. They’d decorated the bins and had spent time asking for donations.
Yours for Christmas Page 9
