Two Dads for Christmas

by Kate Richards

  How could a transfer to a frosty hell be a good career move, much less a gift? Why didn’t they just fire him instead of sending him to the back of beyond?

  Chapter Two

  “This is excellent.” Kathryn Castillo transferred Madelyn to her other arm and dropped a kiss on the red-gold curls that matched the shade of her own long braid. Already, only the day after Thanksgiving, she had the little one wrapped in Santa and Christmas tree-print footie pajamas. A good match with the carols that had begun playing in the public areas the moment the restaurant cleared the buffets of their Thanksgiving feast. “Although the planning goes on all year, our set decorator’s sudden decision to elope with a man she met last week…. Well, let’s just say the Castillo men’s friendship with a certain Madame Eve, combined with their romantic hearts has put me in a difficult position.” She beamed at Lauren and the two men who towered at her sides. “Thank you for volunteering to pick up the slack.”

  Zachary muttered from her left, “Volunteered? Shanghaied.” Lauren peeped up at him. His flannel shirt tucked into his jeans and sleeves rolled to his elbows marked him as a local, or at least an Alaskan. Despite their upcoming tour of the property, he wore little more than he would indoors. Like her.

  “Did you say something, Zach?” Kathryn narrowed her eyes and Lauren stifled a giggle.

  “No, ma’am.” He flicked his green gaze to the side. Strong women in her family. Loving, too, but few would cross or, as her mother called it, sass them. Not even a man half-a-foot taller than her, with the broad shoulders and muscular forearms of one who cut a lot of wood for the family hearth every year. His neatly trimmed beard matched the russet of his short ponytail. If anyone in her town had looked like him, she’d have been less happy to leave. Or less likely to make her big mistake.

  A grunt from her right drew her attention. The third member of the decorating committee had left no doubt of his unhappiness about the situation. She’d passed Uncle Nick’s office earlier that day when a bark of disbelief slowed her steps. When she spotted the lean, muscular silhouette in a tailored business suit, it stopped her steps entirely. Mocha-skinned, sophisticated types like the man she’d seen were nonexistent in her world. And when he spun away from her uncle after being reassured that this temporary posting would not interfere with his position in development after the holidays, his indigo eyes burned right through her. By the time she managed to draw another breath, he’d disappeared down the hallway and the hotel manager watched her with one brow quirked.

  “Did you need something, Lauren?” Her uncle had hid his amusement with a cough, but heat still filled her cheeks. “Maybe an introduction to our new transfer from the Caribbean division?”

  “No, Uncle Nick…I’m good.”

  “Just Nick. You make me feel old.” The laugh tumbled out then, a deep-bellied chuckle that shook his shoulders and followed her all the way to the elevator. Mr. Tall, Dark, and Overdressed had disappeared.

  And she hadn’t seen him again until that moment. Now a puffy hooded orange parka fell to his knees over gray waterproof pants tucked into bulky boots. All shining with newness that led her to believe he’d done a little shopping on his Anchorage layover. Poor guy. She didn’t suppose he had any suitable clothes, coming from a sunny island paradise. For a second, she tried to imagine getting up every morning, dressing in shorts and a bikini top, and heading to the beach. Then someone opened the front door and a blast of winter air pulled her out of the fantasy. It might be warm for late November, but it was still Alaska.

  “Okay, everyone. Let’s go.” Kathryn paraded toward the open portal, pausing to hand her daughter to an attractive young woman in a dark skirt and blazer at the concierge desk. “I won’t leave her with you long, this time. Nick will come get her in a few minutes. We’re hoping to have a nanny by New Year’s.”

  The woman cuddled the baby close. “No problem, Kathryn. Miss Madelyn and I get along fine, don’t we, precious?”

  The baby got the same reaction from every staff member. No infant was ever more loved than the newest Castillo. Lauren swiped a tear from her cheek and followed her aunt and the guys out into the sunshine.

  Zach slowed and waited for the shapely blonde to catch up. The saving grace after he was tricked into working at the lodge over the holidays, she was everything he looked for in a woman…if he wanted a woman. Her short jacket did nothing to hide the attractive roundness of her hips and her hair fell in shaggy layers to the middle of her back, the sun catching all the shades from honey to platinum blonde. Her bangs brushed arrow-straight brows over the biggest sky blue eyes he’d ever seen. And her sweet expression promised a character to match.

  On the other hand, the dark-skinned man stumbled down the path in brand new boots and enough cold weather gear for an Arctic expedition instead of a trip around the hotel grounds on a sunny day of at least thirty-five degrees. And his voice—deep and musical, with an accent reminiscent of warm islands far away. A young executive on the rise, to hear Nick tell it, with a keen business sense and an intensity that charged the air around him, he represented everything Zach wanted…in a man.

  Maybe working with the two of them would help clarify his own desires. A man or a woman? For sure, he sought a partner, not a lifetime of dating tourists and strangers passing through. But would it be a he or a she? He also wanted a family. Damn.

  Kathryn lifted her arm and waved. “As you can see, the lighting is being handled by our electrician and some of the other maintenance men.”

  Zach turned along with the rest of the group to take in the sight of a crew of men scrambling over scaffolding erected on the facade of the immense log structure.

  She added, “We will have the official lighting one week from today, and everything else has to be ready as well.”

  Jorell pulled a tablet from inside his jacket and tapped on the screen. “So I assume once the official ceremony has taken place, I can get back to my regular job?” At his sarcastic tone, Zach winced, but Kathryn didn’t miss a beat.

  “No, afraid you’re stuck with us until New Year’s. In addition to overseeing the setup, you three are the official ambassadors, responsible for many aspects of our activities. We have sleigh rides, caroling, wassail parties…you should find the information in the package left in your rooms.”

  Perfect. Zach wasn’t too happy either. His parents had accepted the job offer in his name while he enjoyed Andie’s golden roast turkey and creamy mashed potatoes. By the time he’d finished the last bite of pecan pie, his holiday season had been signed over to the Castillo Lodge. Just the job for a fishing guide—decorating trees and escorting tourists who sang holiday songs over the open snow. Still…the other man’s tone annoyed him. Jorell had taken on the assignment of his own free will, hadn’t he? An up-and-coming executive must have his choice of placements. Unless he was being punished for something? It wouldn’t be the first time a corporation sent an employee to Alaska when they wanted him off the radar for a while.

  A faint wash of pity made him say, “It won’t be too bad, Jorell. I have a regular job to get back to, too.”

  “Yeah? What? Polar bear hunting?” Jorell shivered, although his Patagonia ensemble covered him from head to foot, the ridiculous orange hood drawn so tight only the middle of his face, his full lips and eyes showed. Judging by the bulk, he wore several layers underneath.

  Any empathy fled. “Sorry, man. No. I’m a fishing guide.”

  “Whatever, I am Carib—the Northwest development manager. And I’m supposed to find locations in this frozen wasteland where people—for reasons I cannot imagine—would like to spend their vacations and business conventions. Not serve eggnog to holiday revelers.”

  “And with that attitude, you will never succeed in your endeavor.” The deep tone from behind them cut through Jorell’s complaint.

  Zach spun, to find a coatless Nick Castillo, holding his daughter, wrapped in a blanket, on the wide porch.

  “You have been given the opportunity to work wit
h my wife on a project very important to this company. I expect you to treat it as such and learn the reasons people come to our frozen wasteland.”

  Before the gaping man could respond, Nick continued, “I am concerned about your attitude. Before you move on to your new job, I expect a full report from you that reflects an understanding of our expansion goals in the area.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  As the door clicked closed behind the manager, they stared after him until Kathryn cleared her throat. “Moving right along, then.” She led them down a wide gravel path lined with stately evergreens. A glance up revealed the lights already strung through their branches. What a display it must be when they’re all lit. “This is the way to the barns. We offer, in addition to the sleigh rides, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, dogsled rides…everything our guests expect to find on a trip to Castle Lodge. While these go on all through the winter months, during the holiday season we like to add some special details. Zach, you will be involved in the final coordination for the outdoor areas. ” As they strolled around the site, she described the activities in detail, concluding with introducing him to the grizzled barn manager, Rory, and left Zach to familiarize himself with the duties of an outdoor holiday director. Rory wandered back into the warm building while Zach paused in the doorway.

  The rest proceeded back to the house, since most of Jorell and Lauren’s responsibilities would be indoors. Lucky, too, since Jorell’s teeth chattered so hard, they sounded like skeletons at Halloween. And when Lauren leaned close to him to exchange some kind of comment causing Jorell to throw back his head and laugh, the wind whipped her shiny blonde hair around, promising a cold afternoon.

  Zach didn’t mind the weather. He’d been a little afraid he’d be stuck inside for the next month, trimming trees and handing out cookies to old lady tourists come to huddle by the fire and claim they had the Alaskan experience. So why did it bother him so much to see Jorell and Lauren disappear inside with Kathryn?

  “Hey, new guy, you coming?” Rory’s voice echoed from deep inside the tall log structure. “We need to go over the interactive maps of the trails around the property.”

  The sun hid behind a heavy, dark cloud bank, taking all the shine out of the day, and he shrugged. What difference did it make if they had a great time together, while he was relegated to the stables for the season?

  “Right behind you.” In a few short weeks, he’d be home, spending the rest of the winter repairing gear and preparing for the busy fishing season to come. Mooning over the handsome man and pretty girl would get him nowhere. Except even more confused.

  Chapter Three

  Lauren paced through the lodge, examining the decorations and the catering stations set up for the holiday extravaganza. Tables and chairs were scattered around the twenty-five foot tree twinkling with thousands of colorful lights and draped with wide mesh garland and more ornaments than she could count. Culinary delights of every kind, an eggnog fountain, and a red velvet throne for Santa—to be played by an actor each evening and Nick on Christmas Eve. He’d need a lot of padding to add a jolly belly to his trim form, but he had the laugh down. Festivities of all kinds would continue, culminating in a New Year’s Eve party feted throughout the state and beyond.

  But for Lauren and her team, the celebration represented a final exam. Each had been busy with his or her own responsibilities, but every evening they ate dinner together, sharing the day’s successes and failures, laughing and growing to be close friends. Even Jorell managed to unclench a little and see the humor in a Caribbean man being the chief judge for an ice sculpture contest. He couldn’t wait for it to begin—so he could see what an ice sculpture, other than for the centerpiece of a wedding table display, looked like. She couldn’t wait herself—he’d be amazed.

  They’d spent more and more of their free time together, leaving the dining room when it closed to hang out in the big lobby seating areas or the lounge. Once Zach has lured them to his room to show off the prizewinning fish on his guide service website and they’d ended up lying side by side on the big bed in the dark, staying that way until morning. But nothing happened and nobody needed to know that.

  “A hand?” Andie paraded through the ballroom, carrying an array of pastries in Christmas fantasy shapes. The short, sturdy woman’s knees wobbled under the weight of so many delicious treats.

  “Right away.” Lauren grasped one end of the tray and, between them, they shifted it onto the main dessert table. The scent of chocolate and sweet spices hovered around them and she took an appreciative sniff. “I can’t believe it’s almost time.” She bit her lip and surveyed the room. “Is it okay—do you think we did a good job?” The platter of frosted sugar cookies drew her attention and, with a guilty glance around, Lauren stuffed one in her mouth, groaning around the buttery crispness. None of the fancier goodies tempted her as much as the simple delights.

  The chef smoothed her white jacket and turned in a slow circle. “Good? I thought previous years were spectacular, but this—this is an extravaganza. Where did you find all that extra garland you draped everywhere? Must be miles of it.”

  “Isn’t it great? Zach dug out a wooden sleigh that must be a hundred-years old from a room way at the back of the barn, and he came across a mountain of boxes. The Nativity scene came from there, too, the one on the great room mantel. Whoever put the pieces away wrapped each one so carefully they all survived storage.

  “I think they must have been used a long time ago, but they still look pretty good, don’t you think? Zach was so excited about finding them and we didn’t want to hurt his feelings.”

  “No, no. Of course not,” Andie murmured.

  “So we spent one whole night, just the three of us, sorting through everything. And the antiques we found! Did you see the glass balls Jorell hung over the reception desk? Zach thinks they might be very valuable, but we begged and Kathryn let us use them anyway, and Jorell said….” She paused at Andie’s expression. “What?”

  “Nothing, not a thing.” But her twinkling eyes and twitching lips gave way to giggles. “I’m sorry. Zach says, Jorell thinks…. Lauren, I think you’re smitten.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t have some puppy dog crush on one of the guys. I like them both the same.”

  Andie nodded, the snowman-patterned kerchief confining her bobbing dark curls. “Exactly. You like them both the same.”

  “Sshh, don’t say anything. Here they come.”

  The pair wandered in, each carrying a load of pine boughs—Jorell holding them away from his charcoal cashmere sweater and gray wool slacks. “Here, Lauren?” he asked, standing by the hearth big enough to roast an ox.

  “Sure, that’s fine, thanks.” They piled the branches and approached her, dropping kisses on her cheeks.

  “Now what?”

  She laughed and handed them each a sugar cookie decorated to look like a polar bear. “Stop fooling around—you have your lists. Now scoot, we don’t have much time.” She and Andie watched them walk out, heads close together in conversation, fine backsides side by side.

  Andie sighed. “What a view. If I didn’t have Rex and Paul, I’d sure make a run at them.”

  Lauren sighed, too. “That view is the problem. I think they like each other better than me.”

  “I didn’t see them getting a kiss from each other.”

  “Zach is clowning around and Jorell is starting to act like him. Neither one has tried to get me alone or asked me out or anything. And the electricity between them sizzles.”

  “I’d say it sizzles between the three of you, and I should know.”

  Lauren scooped up an armload of empty boxes and shrugged. “I’d give a lot to have what you have. But what are the odds of it happening twice? In the same place? It’s like lightning striking. Paul and Rex are one—two?—of a kind. You’re the luckiest woman in the world. And I’m doomed to a lonely spinsterhood.” Or maybe not quite so lonely, but am I in any position to—

>   Nick’s deep chuckle came from the kitchen door behind them. They turned to face where he stood with his arm around Kathryn, who held the cooing Madelyn in her arms. Lauren’s eyes filled with tears. Everywhere she looked, perfect families taunted her with their happiness. She bit into a frosted moose, soothed by its sweetness.

  “We’re just here for the cookies. Since I owe Aunt Ina two round trips to Anchorage for giving Andie the recipe.” Kathryn selected a walrus and bit the head off. “Oh, man, and worth every bit of it.”

  Andie giggled. “When Kathryn was pregnant, she ate these by the dozen.”

  “I craved them.” Kathryn handed their daughter to her father and hugged Lauren tight. “You did such a fantastic job. I’ve never seen the lodge look more beautiful.” She stared at Lauren in shock. “Are you crying?”

  Lauren swiped the tears away and laughed. “Maybe a little emotional. It does look nice, doesn’t it?”

  But her aunt cupped her chin and tilted it up. “Look at those shadows under your eyes. You must be exhausted. Why, I heard from Rory that you three spent the night before last in the stables dragging out all those old things, and never even slept. We have a couple of hours before things kick in and I want you to go to your room and take a bubble bath, and a nap, and make yourself beautiful. You and your team are the stars, you know.” She spun her around and gave her a little shove. “Now. And no backtalk.”

  Lauren hadn’t even opened her mouth. Between the just-under-the-surface emotions and growing nausea, she didn’t have the strength to argue. She would go have a rest and then try to find something in her pathetic wardrobe suitable for the gala evening. And if she could, she’d flee for home right afterward, even though she’d promised to work the whole season. But watching Zach and Jorell fall in love was ripping out the remains of her heart.

  She clasped her hand to her belly at a flutter and smothered a gasp. The first one. Hello, little game changer.