Winter Wishes

by Fern Michaels

“So Haven is just a stepping stone?”

  He’d been restless since Lydia’s death, but over the past year or so, he’d come to terms with the fact he’d have to settle down at some point and start setting roots for his life. Buying a house alone just didn’t have much appeal, though.

  Once he found the town he wanted to stay in for good, he’d rent until the right house came along. He clearly didn’t need anything too large since it was just him and he didn’t plan on marrying again. A dog, though. He definitely needed a dog wherever he ended up.

  Knox turned onto a side street and nodded. “Pretty much. I was given a job opportunity in Atlanta, though I’m not real sure I want to live in the city. But it’s a solid opportunity and hard to pass up.”

  “What’s the job?”

  “Nothing as rewarding as nursing.”

  He pulled into the parking lot and Ruby let out a gasp. “I’ve been wanting to eat here, but never had a reason to come.”

  Knox found a parking spot and killed the engine before turning to face her. “Then I’m glad we have the chance to try this together. I’ve heard how amazing it is.”

  He hopped out of the truck and circled the hood to get her door. Of course she had already opened it and was in the process of getting out when he caught her by the elbow and helped her down. He didn’t step back and her flush body against his had him reevaluating that whole speech about “friends only.”

  Ruby felt too good, too right. That was insane, wasn’t it? They’d just reconnected after six years and he didn’t know her. His body betrayed him as he heated up from her touch. Apparently his hormones didn’t care how well he knew her.

  “Apparently your past dates weren’t gentlemen.”

  Ruby’s eyes held his as a smile flashed across her face. “Not many of them.”

  “That’s a shame.” He looped her arm through his and led her toward the festive entrance. “Let me make this clear. I’ll get all the doors and I plan on pulling your seat out. When we get back to your place, I’ll walk you to your door.”

  Ruby reached up and placed her hand on his over her arm. “And I’m just Southern enough that I’m going to let you—and enjoy every minute of it.”

  Her megawatt smile was like a punch of lust to his gut—not the first he’d had since she opened her door. There was such a natural beauty about her that was refreshing. He wasn’t looking for anything more than a date, but having a little bit of history with Ruby made this evening a little less stressful. She already knew his backstory, so he didn’t have to go into the reasons for not looking for happily ever after. It just wasn’t in the cards for him.

  They headed into the two-story restaurant, which had been completely decked out for the holidays. Bright twinkling lights wrapped around fresh greenery draped over each doorway and along the banister leading upstairs. Two tall nutcrackers flanked the entrance to the main dining area, and the tables that he could see all had a variety of green and gold centerpieces.

  “This is beautiful,” Ruby murmured as she glanced around the area.

  Knox couldn’t help but instantly think she fit right in here. With her long black hair curled down her back, her green dress that matched her eyes, and the sweet elegance about her, she was truly breathtaking.

  Dinner. That’s all this was. There was no reason for him to get swept into any sort of fantasy. This was simply a relaxing evening out.

  Only, he wasn’t so relaxed. Not when his body was strung so tight and their date had only just begun.

  Chapter Two

  “There was no way I could’ve eaten dessert.”

  “Good thing, since the kitchen caught fire while we were there. Being evacuated does put a damper on finishing your dessert.” Knox placed his hand on the small of Ruby’s back as he led her to her front door. “Sorry, that wasn’t a good joke.”

  “At least the fire department was able to put it out and keep it contained to just a small area in the kitchen.” She pulled her keys from her purse and stepped up onto the porch. “I’m telling you, blind dates are disastrous for me.”

  “I don’t think the fire was your doing,” he laughed.

  She turned, the lights from either side of the door illuminating her beautifully. “Do you want to come in for a bit?” she asked. “I feel like we still need dessert. We could make up a batch of those Christmas cookies you mentioned.”

  Knox wasn’t ready to call it a night. They’d had a good time, even with being rushed from the restaurant. They didn’t have one lull in the conversation and she looked him in the eye when he spoke. That act was so telling about a person. Most people listened just so they could chime in, but Ruby was listening because she was honestly interested.

  He wasn’t looking forward to heading home to his rental town house where he’d be alone and have to sit in the silence and think. There were too many decisions to make for his future and he didn’t want to make them tonight. Ruby wouldn’t have invited him in if she didn’t want him to stay for a bit.

  “I can’t remember the last time I had homemade cookies,” he told her.

  Ruby’s smile widened and there went that punch of attraction again. Did she even have a clue the impact she had? He wasn’t looking to be impacted by another woman. He’d had his shot at love and he’d taken it. His life now was his own. He didn’t believe he didn’t deserve happiness, but he was also realistic in that love only happened once in a lifetime.... He just wished his would’ve lasted a bit longer.

  People didn’t get second chances, not with something as enchanted as love.

  “Come on in,” Ruby stated as she slid her key into the lock. “Do you like icing? Sprinkles? Sugar crystals?”

  She led him into the foyer and he helped her with her coat. After hanging hers by the door, he removed his black leather jacket and hung it next to hers. There was something so intimate about their coats hanging side by side, like it was the most natural thing to do after an evening out.

  “On the rare occasion I get homemade cookies, I tend to inhale about five as soon as they come out of the oven, burn the roof of my mouth, and swallow it all down with a large glass of milk. No time for all the decorating.”

  Ruby crossed her arms over her chest as her eyes raked over him. “You eat five cookies in one sitting and still look like that? If I ate five cookies, I’d bust my zipper.”

  An image of her sans dress assaulted him and he wasn’t too eager to diminish the thought. He’d been attracted to women over the past few years, but he’d not had a pull like this. Maybe it was because there was already a history. Yes, that had to be why. Knox refused to believe there was this strong of a need for her for any other reason.

  Ruby stepped into the living room and toed off her heels. Throwing a glance and a grin over her shoulder, she said, “Follow me.”

  Did she even realize she was taunting him? Those bare feet and the sway of her hips had him gladly obeying her command. Maybe cookies weren’t the best idea. Outside on her porch the idea had all seemed so innocent. Now that they were behind closed doors, he was having a difficult time recalling that promise he’d made earlier of just wanting a friend.

  The large island in the center of the kitchen had bar seating, but he wasn’t going to be sitting this one out. He planned on helping where he could and making this date a continuation of fun.

  Knox remained by the island as Ruby pulled an apron off the hook by the refrigerator and tied it around her waist and neck. This was all becoming so domestic and he had to mentally prepare himself to do this. He’d done domestic for a short time before his wife fell ill. He wasn’t looking to do it again . . . at least not long term.

  When Ruby turned her attention back to him, she cocked her head to the side. “Relax. It’s just cookies. I promise I’m not making you do anything outside the friend zone.”

  “Did I have a look of panic on my face?”

  Ruby smiled and flattened her palms on the island. “More like you were considering making a run for it.”

>   Clearly he’d have to work on his game face because if she thought he was attracted, who knew what would happen. She was blunt and honest, usually values he appreciated in people. But he didn’t want her calling him on anything he prided on keeping hidden.

  “How good are you at baking?” she asked. “Because I was going to let you mix everything while I got busy with the icing.”

  He figured keeping this island between them was the smart move, but his mother didn’t raise him to sit back and let someone wait on him. He’d been taught at an early age to help in the kitchen and he’d promised Ruby a nice evening . . . that included dessert.

  “I’ll help,” he told her as he circled the island and started rolling up his sleeves. “Tell me what to do.”

  “Really?”

  Her shocked tone caught him off guard. “Did you think I wouldn’t help?”

  With a shrug, she went to get him an apron. “I figured you’d rather sit and talk. But I’m grateful.”

  He eyed the red and white polka dot apron with ruffles around the hemline. “I will sit and talk if you make me wear that. There is a point where I draw the line.”

  “Suit yourself,” she told him as she hung it back on the hook. “But don’t get upset when you get cookie dough and food coloring all over that nice shirt.”

  “I’ll take my chances and hold on to my man card.”

  Her bright, wide eyes sparkled as she continued to smile at him. There was something so comfortable about Ruby, something so . . . right. Was that the second time he’d used that word to describe her? Fine, she was right for someone, but not him. There was no way the first date he got set up on would somehow change his entire world. He wasn’t a pessimist, but he was realistic, and that’s just not how life worked.

  Ruby would make a perfect friend for him while he was staying in Haven.

  That’s right. Friend. Nothing more. No more watching those swaying hips or admiring the way her toes were polished a festive shade of red. Nope. None of that.

  She pulled out all of the ingredients and some mixing bowls. Once she had everything spread across the island, she pulled a recipe card from a drawer.

  “This was my mother’s recipe,” she told him. “Why don’t you follow this and I’ll start working on the icing?”

  He glanced down to the yellow-edged card with elegant penmanship. “I don’t want to mess up your mother’s recipe.”

  “You won’t,” she assured him. “Just read, measure, and mix. Nothing to be afraid of.”

  Knox started putting the ingredients in the bowl while Ruby worked beside him on the long island. She hummed a tune he didn’t recognize as she stirred her icing mixture.

  “Do you make these often?” he asked.

  “I’ve actually only made this recipe once since she’s been gone. They were a disaster and wouldn’t even have served as a good hockey puck.”

  Well, he figured he couldn’t do much worse. He’d piloted planes for the US government; how hard could this be? It was sugar, flour, eggs . . . nothing to be afraid of.

  “Want to turn on some Christmas music?” he asked.

  “I’m not much of a festive person,” she replied, with a lift of one slender shoulder. “But I’m sure I can come up with some music.”

  Her open floor plan allowed him to watch her as she crossed to her television and pull up some music . . . not Christmas. She had one tiny tree in the corner, no lights, no ornaments, no presents beneath. There were no lights outside, either. If he didn’t know the date, he’d never know it was Christmastime by the looks of the inside of her house.

  All the telltale signs of grief. This wasn’t just some Scrooge-persona he was witnessing. Ruby wouldn’t be that type of person. He figured she’d be the one who shopped early, had presents for her friends beneath the tree, baked cookies for families on her street. She probably had some special ornaments and random knickknacks in storage that belonged to her grandmother or someone special in her life. Yet she had nothing at all out on display.

  When some trendy rock song filled the room, she came back to the island and proceeded to pull out another mixing bowl and food coloring.

  “You lost someone recently, didn’t you?” he asked.

  Those expressive green eyes shot to him. Knox offered a smile to soften the blow of his abrupt question. He hadn’t meant to come across as harsh. He was still adjusting to civilian life, but he had to do better to remember where he was.

  “My father,” she finally replied. “He passed last Christmas Eve, so this year is rough. I mean, I’ve had a year to deal with the loss, but I guess you can’t fully prepare for something like this. Time moves on and drags you with it.”

  That last sentence summed up how he’d felt for so long. Over the past couple of years, though, he’d attempted to take that control back and not let life control him.

  All that grief was no doubt another reason why Ruby was taking on so many hours at work. Still, that didn’t mean she needed to shut down. He of all people knew when you lost someone, you couldn’t just check out . . . no matter how much you wanted to. What better way to prove you were alive than to get back out among the living? Staying home alone, being shut in with your inner demons, was a combination that would eventually lead to self-destruction.

  “You do actually own Christmas decorations, right?” He wiped his hands on the towel on the counter and turned to face her. “You just didn’t want to get them all out?”

  She squirted a few droplets of red into the white icing and stirred without looking up at him. “I didn’t see any reason to. I don’t have any family here, so nobody will be coming by. And at this point it’s two weeks away, so why go to all the trouble now?”

  “I’ll do it.”

  Where had that come from? He always thought before he spoke . . . apparently not the case around Ruby, who had somehow hypnotized him. Maybe it was that steel strength she tried to wrap her vulnerability in, or perhaps it was the dress—he didn’t know. But he did know he wanted to make her Christmas a little brighter. Isn’t that what any friend would do?

  “Don’t be silly,” she replied with a gentle smile. “You don’t have to do anything.”

  “I want to.” And he realized just how much he wanted to now that the idea had taken root. “Tell me where the stuff is and I’ll start while you finish here. My part is already done.”

  Ruby pursed her lips as if torn between arguing and giving in. Finally, she nodded her head. “Let me get the totes.”

  While she was gone, Knox went into the living room and figured out how to change the music channel. Finally, some classical Christmas music filled the room. There was about to be a Christmas overload here. He knew exactly how he’d felt that first Christmas after Lydia had passed. He’d already joined the Navy, but that still didn’t fill the void. Holidays were rough, especially that initial one. He was about to show her that the holidays could still be joyful and that was the best way to honor your loved ones.

  Ruby came up from the basement with a tote and set it in the middle of the kitchen floor. “There’s one.”

  When she turned to go back for more, he crossed the space. “I’ll go.”

  “It’s no problem for me to get them. I’m the one who has done it every year and carts it all back down.”

  He placed a hand on her shoulder, instantly realizing that touching her only added to his already growing attraction. “It’s also no problem for me to get them,” he countered. “I’ll do this; you get those cookies in the oven so I can eat my promised five.”

  Ruby rolled her eyes and shook her head. “You’re only here for the cookies, aren’t you?”

  Unable to help himself, he smoothed her hair over her shoulder and kept his gaze on hers. “I’m here for the cookies and the company.”

  Her expressive eyes widened, then darted to his mouth. Knox may have thrown out the word friend, but he hadn’t wanted to kiss any of his friends like this before. And he hadn’t been sure, but now he was positive the
attraction was definitely two sided.

  This was dangerous territory. He wasn’t looking for anything and he wasn’t staying in Haven. Friends . . . the theme word of the evening was slowly getting pushed to the back of his mind and his hormones had taken over.

  The timer on the oven beeped, indicating it was warm enough. He’d attest to that.

  “I’ll get everything,” he told her as he took a step back and dropped his hand from her hair.

  Ruby licked her lips. “Um . . . okay. There are four more totes and they’re marked Christmas. I’ll warn you, they are pretty big and one is heavy.”

  He shot her a wink. “I think I can handle it.”

  Knox bounded down the steps and attempted to get his head on straight. He wasn’t here for anything other than company and helping her have one nice evening where she didn’t dwell on her loss. Surely to goodness he could resist temptation . . . couldn’t he?

  Chapter Three

  The moment he was out of sight, Ruby placed her palms flat on the island and exhaled. She was pretty sure she hadn’t breathed at all from the second he’d touched her, then glanced to her lips, then stepped back as if he’d been just as turned on as she had been.

  That man had the most potent stare, almost as if he could see into her soul. The last thing she needed was for this attraction to blossom into something. She’d seen exactly how much he’d loved his wife. Ruby had never seen anything like it before or since, other than her own parents. Those two instances had been true love.

  Knox said nothing as he carried four oversized totes in only two trips.

  “Show-off,” she joked as she slid one pan of cookies in the oven. Though the display of his sheer strength wasn’t helping to squelch her ever-growing desire.

  Knox chuckled as he took everything into the living room and began surveying the contents of each tote. “I’m not showing off, just making fewer trips so we can get this place whipped into shape,” he explained.

  Ruby snorted her denial as she continued making dough cutouts of reindeer. She watched him across the way as he pulled out red iridescent beads, candlesticks, ceramic snowmen. This was all very foreign to her, having a man in her living room while she baked in the kitchen. The fact he had volunteered to do her decorating spoke volumes about his character.