“You’re right. Why would I care when I’m no longer going back there again? If you’re going to dump me, do it quick.”
“Is that what you want?” He shifted his weight on the bed and leaned toward her. “Because if you are truly commitment phobic, then I’ve been wasting my time.”
“I thought you were different.” She, too, felt numb, knowing that the pain would be all the more excruciating once he walked out the door. “I thought perhaps we could take our time, and you would know me and like what you find out. I want what all those couples in Sapphire Falls have—a life partner. But now, I’ve blown it, because you know how pathetic I am.”
He tugged her into his arms and held her. “I don’t see a pathetic woman here. I see a vibrant woman who has all these passions and dreams. So you barked up the wrong tree a bunch of times. So have I. I prefer to think of all those mistakes you made as saving yourself for me.”
“I saved myself for you?” A spark of hope coursed through her veins. “You don’t mind that I had all those broken relationships?”
“Not at all, because if you hadn’t broken up with any of them, you would, God forbid, be married to one of them, and then where would I be?” His kissed her cheek and rocked her in his arms.
Just when she thought she was out of tears, a new avalanche dribbled from her eyes. “Oh, Troy. That’s the most romantic thing anyone’s ever said to me.”
“Do you remember what Dr. T said to you at the beginning? That you hadn’t found the right guy?”
“Yes.” She snuggled against him and the weight of all her worries lifted from her shoulders. “Are you saying you’re the right man?”
“I believe I am.” Tilting her face up to his, he showered her with a look so full of love and devotion that she felt like pinching herself to see if she was dreaming.
Only she wasn’t dreaming, and he was real. He was the one worth waiting for, or the one she had to kiss a lot of frogs to get to.
“I know you are.” She touched his face, stroking the scruff of his five o’clock shadow. “I’ll be looking at you fifty years from now, and I will thank my lucky stars every day I’m with you that things didn’t work out with anyone else.”
“And I’m going to remember every difficult hoop you made me jump through to get to you, and cherish you all the more, because you were so freaking hard to get.” He touched his forehead against hers.
“I’m yours now.” She grinned at him, then pursed her lips for a kiss. Before it got too heavy and deep, she backed off and whispered into his lips. “I love you, Troy Caine.”
“You know I love you, Candi Myers, even more now that I know you’re Vibrant.”
“Why’s that?” She wasn’t insecure or worried—just curious.
“Vibrant let me know her real feelings. She wasn’t perfect, but she was so real. She put it all out there, and she was willing to take advice and change.”
“Should I be jealous?”
“Not at all, but I’m wondering if I should be jealous of Dr. T for giving you such life changing advice.”
“Maybe. I definitely have a crush on him.”
She giggled when he rolled his eyes, and then he laughed, and she pulled him on top of her. He smothered her chuckles with his kisses, and she made a vow never to write Dr. T again.
Chapter Eighteen
The Herschfield House was brightly lit with colorful lights, and jolly wreaths hung on every door. A tall tree stood in the parlor, and surprise gifts were in place for every partier who had completed their scavenger hunt checklist—showing they’d visited the sponsoring merchants.
In the ballroom, the band was warming up, and the delicious scents of cinnamon, spice, and peppermint wafted from the refreshment tables.
Hailey Bennett paced around the entire mansion. If she were a nail biter, her fingertips would be bleeding. She was the Director of Business Development and Tourism and the Gala Ball was the crowning event of the season. Unfortunately, Troy Caine, her main attraction, was missing.
Hundreds of single women had sent in Dear Santa letters, and some of them had promised to be present in person to get their answers. Everything would have been perfect if Troy Caine hadn’t taken off on a spur of the moment trip to San Francisco with Candi Myers.
Once again, the Sapphire Falls magic had waved its wand, claiming two more lovestruck victims.
Hailey stared at the empty Santa’s throne and rearranged the candy canes taped to the latticework on the alcove around it. Each had a note from a lovelorn woman looking for advice. But now, there would be no answers from the hunky Santa man she’d bet the town’s Christmas advertising dollars on.
“Still no Troy?” Her sister-in-law, Lauren Bennett, sauntered by, wearing a sapphire blue sequined dress that could have come straight off a runway at a fashion show.
“I can’t wait around forever.” Hailey stomped her foot. “I’m going to have to find a substitute.”
“But who’s as sensitive and wise as Troy?” Lauren twisted her thin lips to the side and rolled her eyes.
“Can’t Travis do it?”
Travis was Lauren’s husband, and he matched the profile of dark hair, blue eyes, and killer smile.
“Travis? No way. Travis isn’t the kind to give advice.” Lauren retorted.
“Don’t look at me,” TJ Bennett, the mayor, said. “I’ve got my duties already.”
“What about Tucker?” Lauren pointed at another one of the Bennett brothers. “He’s got that look. Large, dark hair, blue eyes, and killer smile.”
“So does every other guy here,” Delaney, Tucker’s wife, said. “Including the Spencer brothers, and need I remind you, your husband, Ty.”
“Uh oh, what are you girls up to?” Adrianne Riley walked by, wearing a sleek forest green evening gown. “My husband doesn’t fit the type.”
Her husband, Mason, was a lean, beanpole of a guy, a little geeky, but a brilliant scientist.
“Looking for a substitute Santa.” Hailey clenched her jaw, feeling the blood pressure in her veins skyrocket. “We’ve got all those Troy Caine groupies ready to break the door down and no Troy.”
“Don’t look at my husband.” Adrianne laughed. “He might give them a mathematical formula to solve.”
“Besides, he has dark eyes, not blue.” Lauren pointed out. “I say we draft Tucker. He’s always wanted a wife and family ever since he was a little kid. He should be able to give these women advice.”
“Tucker?” Hailey felt like climbing a tree. “He’d have every woman baking cobblers. That won’t work. We’re talking major league commitment-phobes that these women are dealing with, and Troy Caine was perfect. That man dated outside of town and never committed.”
“How do you explain him running after Candi to California?” Adrianne asked. “He’s as done as a Thanksgiving turkey in a fifty-five gallon drum smoker.”
TJ looked at his watch and grunted. “We might as well open the doors. Everything except for Troy is in place and ready. You all did a great job, and I’m proud of the way our town pulled together to have this party. Let’s enjoy the ball and maybe no one will notice the missing Santa.”
The front door opened with a blast of cold air, and a white-bearded man dressed in a Santa suit bounded in. “Ho, ho, ho!”
“Troy, you’re back.” Hailey grabbed his shoulders and steered him to the throne. “I was going crazy here. You could have texted me.”
“Ho, ho, ho, and a Merry Christmas to you.” The Santa plopped himself on the throne. “I’m ready for the lap dancing to begin.”
“Not sure Candi’s going to like this,” Lauren commented wryly. “But, your life, not mine.”
TJ marched to the front door. He spoke to the waiting crowd. “Welcome to our first annual Christmas Gala Ball. Come in, come in, and let us celebrate together. May your Christmas be both merry and sapphire blue.”
* * *
Troy and Candi rushed through the airport in Omaha along with Candi’s mother. Honey me
t them at the curbside, and they loaded their luggage into the back of her and Max’s SUV.
“I’m going to be so late for the Gala Ball, it won’t be funny.” Troy got in the SUV and took his phone off airplane mode. “Crap. Hailey’s been texting me like crazy.”
“You have nothing to worry about,” Honey said. “Max is taking care of everything.”
“He’s going to be Dear Santa?” Candi’s eyes widened. “Now I’m going to have to ask him something.”
“Thought you weren’t going to get advice from anyone anymore,” Troy said, reminding Candi of her vow.
“Max isn’t Dr. T.” She rolled her eyes and poked his abdominals. “I don’t see why you’re so jealous of Dr T. It’s not as if he gave such great advice.”
Ouch. Troy swallowed a snarky remark on how she was the one who’d taken his advice wrongly.
Honey hooked a glance at them over her shoulder as she got onto the interstate. “Oh, come on, Candi. You were so into Dr. T, I swore you were in love with him—writing him at all hours of the night.”
“I was not.” Candi crossed her arms. “Mom, tell Honey to stop teasing me.”
“I’m not saying a word.” Their mother sat in the passenger seat and looked out the window. “Except now that two of my daughters are moving to Sapphire Falls, I’m going to be all alone back in the big city.”
“We’ll come visit,” Honey promised.
“No, you won’t,” their mother said. “Just like Ginger and Amber went off to New York City to live with your dad, they got so busy they hardly ever come home.”
Troy tuned out the guilt trip Candi’s mother poured on her daughters. He’d only met Mrs. Shirley Myers the day before, but he already got the feeling they weren’t close. For one thing, how could Candi’s mother not know about all the dastardly things Boris had done to her?
After Boris was kicked out, he’d spent the rest of the night helping Candi pack her personal items. Max had arranged for one of his employees in the city to ship all her things to Sapphire Falls. He had also called up a lawyer friend to look into the contract Boris had signed on behalf of Candi to see what she could do about getting her out of the deal and getting her money back.
Things were working out, but Troy wasn’t sure whether to let Candi know he was Dr. T or not. She swung between appreciating his advice, to being upset when he’d told her she’d been stupid.
Maybe it would be better to let Dr. T fade to the background. He browsed to the relationship forum and sent a note to the moderator, letting him know they needed to find another relationship expert.
He was done giving advice. He’d gotten his forever-woman, and only he had to know that she was his final prize and reward for all the free counseling he’d done for others. From now on, Candi was his first and only priority.
He tucked his phone into his pocket and pulled her close to him.
She stared at her phone. “I can’t believe this. Dr. T is quitting.”
“You don’t need him anymore,” he reminded her gently.
“I know, but I feel sorry for all the people who were dependent on him. He just dropped them flat.”
“I suppose someone else will step up,” he said, feeling a twinge of guilt. Maybe he’d been too hasty to resign his post.
“On second thought, I think they’re better off,” Candi said. “Dr. T was kind of mealy-mouthed.”
“What?” He dropped her hand. “I thought Dr. T was very sincere and clear on what he advised.”
“Not really. He was always trying to be nice and sparing the feelings of the people writing him. He should have been more direct and to the point,” Candi pronounced, putting her phone away. “Then maybe I wouldn’t have misinterpreted what he said.”
Mealy-mouthed! Troy shook his head. It didn’t matter though. His advice had landed him Candi Myers, and if he had to be mealy-mouthed to get it, he’d do it all over again.
Chapter Nineteen
Honey didn’t have time for pre-wedding jitters. She had a house full of guests, her divorced parents weren’t speaking to each other, and her two East Coast sisters, Amber and Ginger, had gone to the Gala Ball without them.
“Let’s not worry about them,” Candi said, pulling on a slinky red tango dress. “I’m just glad Max is doing the Santa gig.”
“He claims it’s his bachelor’s party. Having women on his lap all evening.” Honey shimmied into a golden gown edged with silvery lace. “At least you’ll have Troy to dance with all night.”
“I’ll let you borrow him.”
“Right. I’m so happy for you two,” Honey said, truly glad that Candi had finally snagged someone worthwhile. “You must admit that Dr. T gave excellent advice. Max and I were following the forum the entire time.”
“You two set us up, didn’t you? From the very first mistletoe heist.” Candi slipped on her red hot stilettos. She and Troy were going to lead off the ballroom dancing with a spicy hot tango.
“Guilty as charged.” Honey gave her sister a hug. “I’m so happy you have your forever-man.”
“Another Dr. T-ism.” Candi laughed. “I’m going to miss writing to him.”
“You’ve got your man now. No chatting up anyone else.” Honey glanced in the mirror at the two of them. “Let’s go see what Ginger and Amber are up to.”
“Probably hanging all over the guys,” Candi said. She touched up her makeup and spritzed perfume over her pulse points.
“They’d better keep their hands off Max.” Honey’s stomach cringed, thinking of all the women lined up at the Dear Santa throne. “I ought to dance with all the guys tonight. Let’s see how he likes that.”
“You should.” Candi chuckled. “It’s your last night as a bachelorette.”
After finishing their makeup, the two sisters took selfies, and then Troy drove them to the Gala Ball.
* * *
“We have to find the skeleton key first,” Troy said to Honey and Candi, as he led them into the Herschfield House. His job was to get Honey up the back stairway and away from Santa’s Throne where Max was having his bachelor party with the Dear Santa guests.
“I thought we should christen the dance floor,” Candi said, tottering up the stairs with him.
“I need to have a word with Dear Santa.” Honey huffed, fanning herself. “Did you see the line?”
“Humor me, ladies,” he said. “The skeleton key is up here somewhere.”
“Shouldn’t it be in the basement where all the Halloween stuff is?” Candi asked.
“Nope. Where do skeletons hang out?” He wiggled his eyebrows.
“Oh, no, I think I know where this is going.” Honey put her arm on Candi. “Sapphire Falls tradition has it that there’s hanky-panky going on in them dark corners, as in closets up here.”
“Lame, real lame.” Candi raised an eyebrow. “You’re trying to get me and Honey into a closet?”
“Why not? We could have a threesome.” Troy ducked as both Candi and Honey pretended to hit him.
He swung around the landing and reached one of the upper bedrooms where Honey’s friends and their two other sisters were waiting.
“You’re not seriously going to do us both.” Candi dug in her heels as Troy placed his hand on the antique brass doorknob.
“Watch me.” He looped his arm around Honey and kissed her cheek, then opened the door.
“Surprise!”
The women of Sapphire Falls, young and old, jumped up as confetti fluttered over them. Honey and Candi’s other sisters and mother, as well as Max’s sisters were also present.
“What’s going on?” Honey asked, her eyes wide. “It’s not my birthday.”
“It’s your bachelorette party!” Hailey Bennett announced. “Why are you standing there? Come on in!”
She pulled Honey and Candi into the room, then glared at Troy. “If you’re here, then who’s at the Dear Santa throne?”
“The real deal from the North Pole, of course.”
“Oh no, don’t tell me.
Max?”
“Dear Max.” Troy laughed as he ducked from the upstairs bedroom. “Have fun, ladies.”
* * *
After showering Honey with presents, sweets, and love, Candi was ready to be the belle of the ball with her new man, Troy Caine. The hour was getting late, and many a man knocked on the bedroom door and asked for their wife or girlfriend.
Honey thanked everyone for their love and dismissed the party. “Everyone, let’s go downstairs and party with the guys!”
Candi took her two New York sisters by the hand. “Who wants to tango with some red hot farm boys?”
“They know how to tango?” Ginger raised an eyebrow. “I thought all they did here was square dance.”
“Or two step,” Amber added.
“They do that too, but Sapphire Falls is a hotbed for ballroom dancing. Who would have known?” Candi led the way down the stairs.
When they got to the ballroom, the band was singing “Here Comes the Sun,” and people were foxtrotting to the happy tune.
Troy was by Candi’s side as soon as she entered the ballroom.
“How’s my beautiful babe?” He gave her a look that burned through her stretchy red dress. “I held the band off the tango until you got here.”
A squeal of women’s voices raised, and they both looked at the Santa throne, as Max bade farewell to the woman on his lap. He then stood, tore off his beard, and threw his hat.
“Dear Santa’s taking a break.” He announced, his eyes locked onto Honey who stood straight and tall in her iridescent golden gown.
“We didn’t get our turn,” the women waiting in line protested.
“Then grab this.” Max opened a bag and threw a shower of boxer shorts into the air. “Ho, ho, ho.”
Everyone was too busy trying to catch the flying boxers, and Max was able to escape. He rushed to Honey’s side right as the sultry strains of the tango music pulled them to the dance floor.
Candi smiled at her sister as Max took her in his arms and together, they walked across the floor, cheek to cheek.
Troy took control of Candi’s body, dragging her on her toes toward him. Face to face, they glided across the room, urged on by the beat. She strutted, toes pointed as he whipped her around and dipped her low, his hand firmly caressing her back.
Sapphire Falls: Going Toe to Mistletoe (A Christmas Romance) (Kindle Worlds Novella) Page 12
