Countdown to First Night: Winter's HeartSnowbound at New YearA Kiss at Midnight

by Jillian Hart

  She glanced at her watch as she buttoned her coat. The snow had stopped falling, but the sky remained gray and the air felt cold and damp. It could snow again and probably would.

  In the past she’d thought about leaving her hometown for somewhere warmer, a place where people didn’t know her as Mac Godwin’s daughter. She’d thought about starting over in a town where she would just be the artist in some little house. But she’d stayed in Snow Falls and she’d weathered the storms, the real and the emotional.

  She had friends here. She had roots. In the end, those two things meant more to her than a warmer climate and anonymity. For some crazy reason those thoughts made her mind return to Jake. Did he ever want to leave, to go live in a place where he wasn’t known as one of Colorado’s most eligible bachelors?

  “Hey, where are you going?”

  She turned and saw Cassie, who looked beautiful, as usual. Blonde, elegant and always together, even in jeans and a heavy sweater. Jolie envied Cassie’s ability to throw on anything and look as if she’d spent hours getting ready.

  Jolie shoved her hands in her pockets to warm them. She’d forgotten her gloves in her car still parked at the Ice Castle. “I painted faces, now I think I’ll take a break before I catch the illustration workshop Brody Kincaid is giving.”

  “You promised a child you’d have dinner and go ice skating.”

  Jolie pushed her hands farther into her pockets.

  “I haven’t forgotten. But my toes and hands are freezing. Where are the kids?”

  “Their mom took them. Will you go through the snow maze with me before you leave?” Cassie rummaged in her purse and pulled out a pair of gloves. “I always have a spare.”

  “Who does that?” Jolie took the gloves. “Seriously, Cass, who has extra gloves in their purse? I don’t even have a spare car key.”

  “You should learn to be more prepared.” Cassie held out two tubes of lip balm and two rolls of mints. “You never know what will happen.”

  “I should learn to be more obsessive, you mean?” She took one of the tubes of lip balm. “Thank you, don’t mind if I do.”

  Cassie laughed and hooked her arm through Jolie’s. Together they headed across the square in the direction of the ice maze. Snow started to fall again. People walked in groups, going in and out of shops. First Night was a big event in Snow Falls. It brought more than the normal skiing crowd; it brought people who wanted to be a part of a New Year’s celebration that was meant to be family friendly.

  “You have to go to the ball tonight, Jo.” Cassie still held her arm. They were close to the maze. People were laughing as they came out the exit.

  “Why do I have to go? I have a great book that I’d love to finish. I have a wonderful new coffee blend.”

  “You should get a cat.” Cassie glanced at her. “I mean, if you plan on being the old artist spinster, shouldn’t you have cats?”

  “I’m allergic.”

  “Why don’t you want to go? Are you afraid?”

  “No, I’m not afraid. I don’t want to be a third wheel. I don’t want to be the person without a date so all my friends’ boyfriends and husbands feel as if they have to take a turn dancing with poor lonely Jolie.”

  Cassie’s smile had long since disappeared and they’d stopped walking. Jolie knew she’d messed up. She’d put that serious look in her friend’s eyes.

  “Are you lonely, Jolie?”

  Jolie frowned and closed her eyes. She shouldn’t have said that. “No, Cass, I’m not lonely.” Maybe sometimes. At night when she was sitting alone with a glass of wine and a book about fictional people falling in love, yes, maybe then.

  “There’s no reason for it. You’re beautiful, sweet, talented and going places with your art.”

  “I promise I’m just fine with my life.”

  “There are men who would love to share their lives with you.”

  Jolie smiled at that. “Yes, and I do go on dates. It’s just, you know—” what could she say “—I want something special. I don’t want to settle.”

  “I’ll let it go. I don’t want you to sit in your house alone tonight. Not on New Year’s Eve. Take a chance that love will find you, Jo. Take a chance on a second kiss.”

  She should have known that was where this conversation would end up. Jake Wild. It always ended there.

  “Jo, I saw the look in his eyes when he kissed you.”

  “Right, the look of shock because he realized he’d just kissed Mac Godwin’s daughter?”

  “No, the look of shock because the kiss rocked his world.”

  “We saw two different things, Cass.”

  “I saw reality. You saw what you always believe about yourself. And what you believe isn’t the truth. Being Mac Godwin’s daughter doesn’t mean you aren’t good enough.”

  “Being Mac Godwin’s daughter means that the stolen money will always be between Jake and me. It’s always in my mind, on my conscience.”

  “You paid it back. You didn’t steal that money, but you paid back every dime. You need to let go of the guilt.”

  Jolie looked away from her friend and swiped at tears sneaking down her cheeks. “Let’s not talk about it anymore. Let’s not do the whole New Year’s thing where we examine our lives and pick apart every little thing we think we need to change before the next new year rolls around.”

  “Okay.” Cassie reached for her arm again. “But come to the ball with us. It won’t be the same for me if you’re not there. And you know how selfish I am.”

  “Right.” Jolie laughed and sniffed back tears that caused everything to blur for a second. “You’re the least selfish person I know.”

  “Which is why you won’t be upset when you get home and find a dress hanging in your closet.”

  “A dress?” Jolie glanced toward the maze in time to see Jake walk through the arched entrance with Anna.

  “I used my key and hung it in your closet. Don’t kill me.”

  “I won’t kill you, but really, Cass?”

  “I had to buy it. That red is going to look beautiful with your coloring.”

  The dress from the Wildwood Boutique. “Cass, not that dress. Not the ‘costs more than I make in a month’ dress.”

  Cassie nodded. “Yes, that dress. I got a great deal on it, so don’t argue.”

  “A great deal?”

  “Yes, a discount.”

  “How?”

  Cassie didn’t answer. Instead, she tightened her grip on Jolie’s arm and dragged her toward the maze. The very same maze Jake Wild had entered moments earlier.

  Not that it mattered.

  * * *

  JAKE TRIED TO CALL TANSY just before they went in the maze. The idea of not being at the lodge, not having his hand on the reins, didn’t sit well with him. Not that Tansy couldn’t be trusted to take care of everything. He just liked knowing what was going on.

  She didn’t answer anyway.

  Anna held tight to his hand, a tiny reminder of why he had to take time off, why he had to let go a little. It didn’t mean he wasn’t still in control. He knew every aspect of his business.

  He just needed to relax and focus on the other important things in his life.

  As they walked through the maze, the tall, snow-block walls towering over them, Anna rubbed at her ears. Jake stopped walking and leaned to sign. People rushed past them, talking and laughing. He moved his niece closer to the side.

  “What’s wrong?”

  She clenched her hands at her sides and shook her head.

  “Anna, something is wrong. Tell me.”

  She moved her fingers in hesitant gestures, unsure. “It’s too loud.”

  Of course it was. For years she’d lived in silence. Now there were echoing sounds, probably overwhelming at times. T
he hearing aids weren’t an easy adjustment and with her severe hearing loss, the doctors had explained that they didn’t produce the clearest sounds.

  “Do you want to go back to the lodge?” he signed, still squatted in front of her.

  She shook her head. “Turn them down?”

  He nodded. “Yes, turn them down.”

  They continued, Anna holding tightly to his hand. He could tell when she relaxed. She walked a little quicker and turned to look up at him, smiling. Eventually her hand loosened and then she let go.

  The maze went on forever, splitting, turning back around, dead-ending. Jake stopped once to get his bearings. He pulled out his phone and checked the compass. Anna looked up at him and he signed that he thought they should be close to the middle and the castle.

  Other groups passed them and then came back around, shaking their heads, lost. Anna looked up again and he smiled to let her know that everything would be okay.

  “We’ll find it,” he signed.

  She nodded and he wondered if she looked pale or if it was the dim light inside the maze. He stopped her and knelt to face her.

  “You okay?” he signed.

  She shrugged. Okay, not a good sign, and he had limited experience when it came to kids who weren’t okay. They were learning together, he and Anna.

  “After this we’ll go listen to the lady read the story she wrote.”

  She nodded, but there didn’t appear to be an ounce of excitement in the look.

  “Or we can go home.”

  She nodded. He touched her forehead and it felt cool.

  “We’ll get through the maze and go home.”

  Again she nodded.

  His phone rang, buzzing in his pocket. It was Tansy returning his call. He straightened and stepped aside, pulling his niece with him.

  “You rang?” Tansy sounded as if everything in the world was great.

  “Anna and I are going through the maze. I wanted to check and see how things are at the lodge.”

  “We don’t need you, Jake. Everything is running smoothly. People are starting to arrive for the art exhibits. We have hostesses serving drinks. A few of the artists are wandering around talking to people. It’s all going as planned. Are the two of you having fun?”

  “I think we’re having fun, but maybe too much fun. Or too much ice cream. Anna doesn’t want to hear the author read her book. She wants to come home.”

  “Maybe she’s feeling insecure?”

  Jake rubbed a hand over his eyes. “Of course. I should have thought of that. Anyway, as soon as we figure out how to get out of here, we’ll be heading that way.”

  “If you don’t get back soon, I’ll send out a search party.”

  “I might need it.” He hung up and looked down, hoping Anna would return his smile.

  Anna wasn’t there. She couldn’t have gotten far. She’d been standing right next to him. He came across several groups of people but not one little girl in a red coat. He’d dressed her in red because the nanny said red would be easy to spot.

  So where was she? He remembered her fear when she thought she’d seen her daddy. What if it had been him? What if Jake had blown off her fears and now it was too late?

  “Anna!” He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted. She had just been there. She’d been holding his hand. He shouted again and then remembered he’d given her permission to turn down her hearing aids.

  Someone ran up behind him. He turned, hoping to see his niece. Instead, it was Jolie and Cassie. His gaze immediately went to Jolie.

  “What happened?” she asked with those searching dark eyes.

  “She walked away while I was on the phone.” He started walking and the two of them hurried alongside him. “She turned down her hearing aids, so she can’t hear me calling for her. Crazy. I can’t believe I let her do that.”

  “Jake, we’ll find her.” Cassie reached for his arm.

  “I know, but I also know how afraid she is. Hell, I’m an adult and I’m scared right now.” He pulled the cell phone out of his pocket and called the city police to ask them to watch the exits and to hold on to Anna if they found her.

  “I’m going this way. You two go that way,” Cassie indicated with a nod of her head.

  “Cass...” Jolie started to step toward her friend, but Cassie was already hurrying away. “Hey.”

  Cassie turned to walk backward a few steps. “Jo, it’ll be better if we split up. We’ll find her sooner.”

  Jake took off in the direction opposite the one Cassie had taken. He slowed when he heard Jolie’s footsteps behind him, but he kept moving. He started to yell his niece’s name, but remembered she wouldn’t hear him. But then maybe she would turn her hearing aids back up when she realized she was lost.

  He gave it a shot. “Anna!”

  “We’ll find her, Jake.”

  “It was a stupid mistake, taking that phone call.”

  “You didn’t know she’d walk away.”

  Jolie’s hand somehow managed to be in his as they continued through the maze. He stopped people as they passed, asking if they’d seen a small girl alone. No one had. Either they hadn’t seen her or they hadn’t really been watching for a lone child.

  “Where in the world could she be? She was right there with me and then she was gone.” He shook his head. “I don’t remember looking away for more than a second.”

  “Kids are quick, Jake. She might have seen something interesting and maybe got too far away without realizing.”

  “She’s already afraid that her birth father is here. She thought she saw him earlier.”

  “Was it him?” Her hand tightened on his.

  He’d thought about that a lot. “No. I think she’s afraid of him and she’s always worried he’ll show up.”

  “It’s so much for a child to deal with. She’s lucky to have you. Eventually she’ll realize that you’re the one keeping her safe.” Her voice was soft and she moved closer to his side.

  If things hadn’t been so crazy he would have let himself think a little longer about the woman next to him, the fact that she thought he was the man who kept people safe.

  He’d been taking on the world alone for the past ten years and he’d been doing it without any regrets. Until now, this moment when alone was the last thing he wanted. For the first time someone made him feel stronger just by having her next to him.

  Crazy thoughts, he decided. He had never experienced this kind of fear. He didn’t know how to process this amount of worry. His mind had to be grasping, reaching for something that wasn’t.

  “I didn’t realize when I got custody of Anna how I would feel.”

  Jolie looked up at him. “What do you mean?”

  “This instant need to make her happy, keep her safe.”

  “Like being a dad?” She smiled as she said it.

  “Yeah, exactly. Crazy.”

  “I’m sure she’s easy to love.”

  They kept walking. The farther they went into the maze the more he worried about his niece. He thought about that fearful look on her face earlier. The psychologist he’d taken her to said it was natural for her to be afraid. Her life had been nothing but chaos for the first five years. It would take her time to trust in the stability and constant love he provided.

  He wondered if she would think he’d let her down.

  His phone buzzed again. He answered but kept walking. The city officer identified himself.

  “We have her at the exit, Jake. She found her way out.”

  “Thank God. I’ll be there as soon as I find my way out.” He looked around for a quick way out, even if it meant going through a wall of snow.

  “We’ll be waiting for you.” The officer hung up.

  Jake stopped walking and drew in a d
eep breath.

  “She’s okay?” Jolie asked quietly as she stood there next to him, shivering in her down-filled coat, a stocking cap pulled tight over her dark hair.

  “Yes, they found her. Now we have to find our way out. Once we’re out of here, I’m buying you hot chocolate.”

  “Coffee, please.” She sniffled and her nose was pink.

  “Coffee it is.”

  “At my place. It’s close and Anna probably needs to warm up somewhere that isn’t crowded and chaotic.”

  Her place. He had hold of her hand and they were walking, following others who seemed to know where they were going.

  “That sounds good.”

  He’d completely lost his mind.

  CHAPTER SIX

  JOLIE WATCHED AS JAKE wrapped his arms around Anna and held her close. Cassie had got out first and she’d stayed with the child, knowing she’d feel safer with someone she knew. Now she moved to Jolie’s side and the two watched as Anna and Jake had a long conversation, probably about safety and never doing that to him again.

  Now, how did she get out of the invitation she’d offered? Of course she couldn’t. Anna’s cheeks were red, her eyes still swimming with tears, and her teeth chattered from fear and from cold.

  Jake picked her up. He turned to Jolie and half smiled but clearly worried about his niece. “Is that offer still open?”

  “Of course it is.” Jolie ignored the look Cassie shot her.

  “What offer?” Of course, Cassie had to ask.

  “We’re going to my place for coffee and to get Anna warmed up.”

  “I see.” Cassie’s eyes widened. “Well, okay, I should go home then.”

  “Come with us, Cass.” Jolie reached for her friend.

  Cassie shook her head. “No, thanks, I have so much I need to be doing to get ready for tonight.”

  “You’re ready.”

  “I have to curl my hair.”

  Jake had walked away with his niece. Jolie watched them go, the man in his heavy jacket, the little girl held tight, her arms around his neck. A crazy warmth flowed from Jolie’s head to her toes. She wanted to laugh, and to sing off-key show tunes and dance.