Home For the Holidays

by Lisa Plumley

  Everyone she recognized—and a few people she didn’t—had something to say. Something that sounded a lot like, “I love your…whatever. I just realized it today. I love it!” Followed by a guffaw and a quick scamper away. It was really weird.

  “Rachel! Over here!” someone called.

  Steeling herself for another bizarre encounter, Rachel turned. Angela and Kayla waved her over from their parade-watching position near The Wright Stuff. The store’s window glowed with twice the quantity of holiday lights and Christmas cheer as any other on the block. Rachel hurried toward it.

  “The strangest thing is happening,” she said after she’d hugged Angela and Kayla hello. “Everyone keeps saying—”

  “Rachel!” Jimmy Gurche, at the parade with his wife and kids, offered her a grin and a double-finger-gun salute. “I love your scarf! I just realized it today. I love, love, love it!”

  His wife frowned. She swatted him, offering Rachel a contrite look. Doubled over with laugher, Jimmy vanished.

  “They keep saying that. Did you hear that? ‘I love your whatever. Love, love, love it!’ It’s driving me crazy!”

  “I heard it.” Angela’s mouth quirked. “I hate to be the one to tell you, Rachel, but…you’re really part of Kismet now.”

  “Huh?”

  “You’re part of the community. Kismet has embraced you.” Her friend, bundled in a parka, offered a semiapologetic look. “People feel free to give you a hard time, poke a little fun—”

  “Poke a little fun? At my clothes?” That’s what everyone had mostly singled out, after all. In disbelief, Rachel glanced down at her outfit. “That absolutely can’t be true. My clothes are fantastic. I might not have embraced elastic waistbands and comfortable shoes, but I’m still—”

  “It’s not your clothes. It’s your party.”

  “My party?”

  “It’s…what happened at your L.A. Christmas party.”

  Angela closed her mouth on another smile, clearly unwilling to say more. Baffled, Rachel glanced around as a holiday fanfare trumpeted the start of the parade from one block away.

  “What do you mean, what happened at my party?” Everyone had seemed to be having fun. “Jimmy Gurche wasn’t even there.”

  “Yes, but Kismet is a small town, remember?” Angela said. “Your party was a big deal. Everyone’s heard about it by now.”

  “Bobby Pendelton said you danced on a table,” Kayla piped up. “How did you keep from falling off? I tried dancing on the cafeteria table, but the teacher said I’d fall off. I said, ‘Nuh-uh, because Rachel didn’t,’ but she just laughed.”

  Uh-oh. Feeling her last bite of caramel corn turn tasteless in her mouth, Rachel stared at them both. Then it hit her.

  I love this guy! came flooding back to her, punctuated by the sounds of ska Christmas music and hooting backup dancers. You hear that? I’m in love with Reno Wright! I just realized it today and I want everyone to know it. I love, love, love him!

  She’d told the whole world she loved Reno.

  No wonder everyone thought she was a laugh riot.

  Glancing around at the milling parade-goers, Rachel wanted to dig a hole in the nearest snowbank and crawl in. She’d never felt more exposed. Except maybe the first time she’d tried on a pair of skinny jeans after years of wearing low-rise bootcuts.

  Well, maybe she could still salvage the situation.

  “You have got to be kidding me,” she said, affecting her best air of indifference. “Everyone took that seriously?”

  “You mean your love declaration?” Wearing an inscrutable expression, Angela nodded. “Yes, everyone did. Including Reno.”

  Whoops. Angela had her there.

  “And me.” Her friend gave her a solemn look. “You’re not in L.A. anymore. People around here mean what they say.”

  “Um…”

  “Just like I mean it when I say thanks for patching things up between my parents. They tore up their divorce papers and moved back in together a few days ago. I don’t know what you did for them, but they seem to have a new appreciation for each other. They’re really happy now.”

  Encouraged, Rachel glanced up. “I’m glad. I just did what comes naturally—made sure everything was perfectly coordinated.”

  All the Wrights had needed was a chance to feel heard—and a chance to remember the good things they’d shared during their marriage. Angela and Reno, as very involved onlookers, probably hadn’t been able to help with that quite as much as they’d wanted to. When it came down to it, Judy had just wanted to feel special. Tom had just wanted to feel appreciated. Now they did.

  And they also had some ultraflattering, feel-good outfits to go with their newfound sensitivity toward each other, too. Plus some actual holiday gifts, not blank checks, to share.

  “And just like I mean it,” Angela continued steadfastly, breaking into Rachel’s remembrance of her time with the Wrights, “when I say that if you really don’t love Reno—”

  “Rachel loves Uncle Reno?” Kayla interrupted. “Really?”

  “—then you’d better make that clear to him right now. Because I’ve never seen my brother look happier. Not even when he got drafted into the NFL, then went to the Super Bowl.”

  “I knew it! I knew it!” Kayla whooped, dancing around.

  “So if you break his heart, you’ll have me to answer to.”

  Rachel scoffed as the parade began. “Come on, Angela. You’re about as fierce as a basketful of kittens.”

  Her friend only pursed her lips. “I have untapped reserves of ferocity. Especially when someone I love is at risk.”

  “Okay.” Rachel gave a titter, suddenly believing it. “Make that ‘as fierce as a crateful of PMSing ninjas.’”

  Angela nodded. “That’s right. Look, here comes the parade!”

  But Kayla still wasn’t finished. “Didn’t I tell you, Mom?” The little girl nudged Angela, crowing with evident glee as she continued dancing in her snow boots. “Uncle Reno loves Rachel, too! That’s why he’s been doing pushups when he thinks I’m not looking. That’s why his hair looks especially shiny these days.”

  Reno had been doing pushups? To impress her?

  Gee, that was kind of endearing, Rachel mused. Silly, when Reno had a totally hard-bodied physique to begin with, but sweet all the same. On the other hand…

  “So everyone in town knows about me and Reno?” she asked.

  Angela’s expression turned enigmatic. “Almost everyone.”

  But Rachel didn’t have time to wonder what all the mystery was about. She was too busy imagining the spread of gossip via the same local grapevine that—if given the chance—would plaster the news of her L.A. job meltdown all over town. Worried, she said, “I don’t usually lower my guard like that. But something about Kismet just makes me feel all”—careless! her brain volunteered—“trusting.” Mimi would have boggled to hear her admit such a thing. “As if nothing bad can happen here.”

  She made a face, realizing the improbability of that even as she admitted it.

  “It’ll be all right. Kismet has that effect on people sometimes.” With her usual warmth and steadiness, Angela patted her shoulder. “Don’t worry. Everyone around here loves their gossip, but they’ll move on to something else soon enough.”

  Rachel bit her lip. “I hope you’re right.”

  Otherwise she didn’t know how she’d forgive herself for having yet another lapse of judgment and blurting out the truth about her feelings for Reno. Especially after the Tyson and Alayna debacle and all the disastrous developments that had followed. Losing her clients. Her friends. Her house. Her car and phones. Her trust in the people she’d thought she’d known—people whom she’d truly believed cared about her as a person.

  Now she could see how wrong she’d been about them.

  About herself.

  Everything could change in an instant, Rachel knew. But now, just when she’d been getting her mojo back, feeling her good judgment and faith in human nature res
tored…

  “I am right,” Angela assured her. “If you’re lucky, Judge Boswell will get tipsy again and drive the Kismet Historical Society float straight into the marina.”

  “That would be distracting.”

  “It happens three years out of five,” Angela assured her.

  Feeling a little better, Rachel nodded. But then…

  “Hey, Rachel!” came a boisterous male voice. “I’d love—”

  “Okay, that’s it.” Maybe everyone in Podunk trusted in their fellow man’s fundamental kindness—or in the diversionary value of serial drunken float navigating—but Rachel was different. “Knock it off, pal. It’s not funny anymore.”

  She wheeled around…and Reno was there.

  He looked handsome. He looked smitten. He looked—it occurred to her—very much like everything she’d ever wanted in a man and hadn’t believed truly existed. Apparently it did. Here in Kismet, in the last place she’d ever have thought to look.

  “I’d love,” Reno finished with a grin as he moved through the crowd and wrapped his arms familiarly around her hips, “to officially welcome you to the Christmas parade. You game?”

  Judging by his tone, he’d received his share of ribbing from the folks in Kismet today, too. It appeared he didn’t care.

  “Me?” She didn’t know what he had in mind, but her gullible, hopeful heart soared all the same. She barely managed to keep her cool. “You know me. I’m always up for anything.”

  “Good. So am I.”

  Just like that, Reno lowered his gaze to her lips. Before Rachel could do so much as catch her breath, he followed with his mouth, losing them both in a kiss that left her woozy. And hot. And kind of unsteady. And hot. And…whew! Was it December or what? It felt pretty hot out here. Rachel fanned herself.

  Boy, Reno really knew how to greet a girl. Apparently when he knocked down a few barriers, they stayed down. Whatever had been keeping him at arm’s length from her seemed totally gone.

  He lifted his head, looking dazed. “Mmm. Sweet.”

  Merrily, Rachel nodded. “You betcha.”

  “Sticky.”

  She smirked. “Just try to get away.”

  “Caramel corn-y.”

  “Oh.” He actually made her blush. Rachel felt her cheeks heat, and knew that Reno Wright packed an amazing amount of charm if he could make a woman who’d once worn a backless gown to a straitlaced country club fund-raiser feel exposed and giddy. “Yeah. It looked good. I couldn’t resist.”

  “There’s a lot of that going around.” His smile could have made solid stone turn gooey. “I can’t resist you either.”

  Another kiss, this one gentler and even more dizzying, lasting long enough that the Christmas parade enveloped them as it marched past with all its riotous music and colors, parade watchers cheering as floats passed and Shriners threw candy.

  “Wow.” Rachel smiled. “That was—”

  “Unforgettable.” Reno cupped her face in his hand and gazed at her for a long while, oblivious to the Christmas music, shouted greetings, and boisterous passersby all around them.

  Just like that, Rachel didn’t care about the gossip, the teasing, or the very real possibility that she might have to ride in Reno’s pickup truck again. Maybe on a regular basis.

  This was it. She was falling. Falling—

  “You know,” she said with all the nonchalance she could muster, “I think I might stay in Kismet for a while. Work on a new project I’ve got going.” Her designs were progressing well, but she wasn’t ready to share them yet. Not even with Reno. “Given time, I think I could come up with something great.” Her heart pounded at the gravity of her admission, but she managed to go on. Bravely, she said, “I’m pretty proud of what I’ve done so far. In fact, this coat I’m wearing is kind of a sample—”

  Incredibly, Reno’s gaze wandered over her shoulder.

  Rachel frowned. She couldn’t believe he was tuning her out now—now when she was baring her innermost dreams to him.

  “—and it’s kind of edible,” she said, testing him, “if you put enough ketchup on it first. Although—”

  “Mmm.” Clearly distracted, Reno shifted his feet.

  “—the wool might stick in your teeth, and the buttons are kind of crunchy. But that’s the price you pay for high fashion.”

  “Right.” Reno edged behind the nearest lighted tree, taking her with him. His gaze darted sideways. “Mmm-hmmm.”

  Rachel frowned. What was the matter with him?

  Thoroughly exasperated, she poked him. “Hey! I just told you I might be staying here in Kismet for a while to start up a new venture. Don’t you have any reaction to that?”

  “Uh…”

  “Don’t you have anything else to say?”

  “Uh…”

  Great. She’d finally fallen for a man—for real this time, she felt sure—and he turned out to be phobic over the idea of her hanging around for a while.

  Deeply disappointed, Rachel tapped her toe, waiting for an explanation. She wanted to think the best of Reno, she really did. Which was probably why she barely blinked when he suddenly grabbed her arm and hustled her sideways.

  “Let’s watch the parade from over here. The view’s better.”

  “But—wait!” Wheeling her arm, Rachel glanced back to see a big blond man approach Angela and Kayla. He looked familiar. Nate maybe? “I promised Kayla I’d watch the parade with her!”

  “She’ll understand.” Determinedly, Reno kept moving.

  “Hang on. Where are we going?” Rachel tripped as they hurried between clumps of people. Incongruously jolly Christmas music accompanied every step. Reno’s broad back and shoulders filled her vision as he towed her farther away from The Wright Stuff. “I was fine over there. And what about my announcement? Don’t you have anything to say about my announcement?”

  He stopped suddenly. “That you’re staying in town?”

  With her teeth chattering, Rachel stared at him, feeling annoyed. “Yes. That I might be staying in town.”

  “I say I’m screwed.” For an instant, Reno appeared absolutely miserable. Then he took her hand. “Come on.”

  Chapter Thirty-One

  I’d say I’m screwed.

  Reno knew it was the wrong thing to say the minute the words left his mouth. But by then it was too late—too late to take it back and too late to pretend he didn’t mean it.

  Mostly because it was true. He was screwed.

  Being in the same town with Rachel Porter during the holidays was one thing. Living there with her 24/7 was another. Reno could scarcely rationalize what he was doing to Nate to begin with. Now he was supposed to be okay with pushing it past Christmas? With seeing Rachel behind Nate’s back indefinitely?

  He wasn’t okay with that. No man with a conscience would have been, and Reno definitely had a conscience. He was supposed to be keeping an eye on his best friend’s dream girl. Finding out how to make her want to date Nate. So far, he’d done exactly…none of that. Unless you counted savoring her naked body just before kissing her all over as keeping an eye on her.

  Reno didn’t. Despite how much he’d enjoyed it.

  He didn’t understand what was wrong with him. One minute he was his usual dependable self. The next he was kissing Rachel like there was no tomorrow—right on the sidewalk in full view of everyone! Everyone including Nate, whom Reno had spotted lumbering cheerfully in their direction a few minutes later, carrying a fistful of candy canes and one of those ELF CROSSING! signs the holiday craft fair vendors sold.

  Reno had no explanation for any of it. He’d just seen Rachel standing there and…whoosh. His heart had made the decision for him. The next thing he knew, she’d been in his arms, as if no one else existed except her.

  He should have left right then.

  He should have shoved Rachel at Nate, made the damned introductions, and been done with the whole thing. Instead he’d bolted with Rachel at his side, and although they’d made it safely away before Nate
had spotted him and Rachel together, Reno knew he’d taken a stupid and unnecessary chance. Was still taking stupid and unnecessary chances…all for the sake of one more minute with the woman beside him. Rachel, who currently stared in anticipation at the darkened Kismet municipal Christmas tree as the annual countdown commenced.

  “Four,” thundered the mayor over his loudspeaker. Hundreds of other voices joined in. “Three. Two. One. Merry Christmas!”

  The huge fir tree in the town square blazed forth, lit in multicolored lights, thirty feet high and decorated from tip to trunk. Beside Reno, Rachel gasped. She squeezed his arm, staring wide-eyed at the glittering, flashing town Christmas tree.

  “It’s just like when I was a little girl! It’s beautiful!”

  The awe on her face—the sheer enjoyment in her expression—held Reno spellbound. At her side, he felt ten feet tall. Not because he’d protected her, saved her, or rescued her cat from a storm drain. Just because he’d helped bring that sense of wonder to her face. He was hopeless. No wonder he’d been acting like an idiot for the past…well, every day since he’d met her.

  He cleared his throat and shifted his feet, on the lookout for Nate. “It’s probably not much next to the L.A. tree.”

  She shook her head. “You don’t understand. I’d forgotten all about this.” She caught his hand, their gloved fingers touching. “I’d forgotten the part of me that likes this.”

  Rachel gazed fully at him, and for an instant, Reno couldn’t even continue monitoring the crowd for signs of Nate. He was pretty sure he’d found a spot for Rachel and him on the far side of the town square, away from the usual position Nate and Angela occupied to watch the tree lighting with Kayla every year, but he…he couldn’t remember anything except his sheer gladness at being with Rachel. Here, just like this.

  “And you gave it back to me,” she said. “Thanks.”

  She leaned sideways and kissed him, the fingers of her other gloved hand turning his cheek to face her, holding him in place, her breath warming his skin as her lips gently met his.