Deck the Halls

by Heather MacAllister

  “This is beautiful, Holly. I hope it brings you every success.” Adam waited for an acknowledgment and some comment on her future plans.

  The harpists finished their piece on a rippling chord. As they changed their music, Adam heard Holly’s slow even breathing. She was asleep.

  Chuckling to himself, Adam retrieved her purse from the floor, turned her in his arms, picked her up and carried her out the door to the corridor outside the kitchen. Swiftly ducking into a meeting room, Adam gently set Holly on a mound of leftover silk and closed the door.

  He shrugged out of his tuxedo jacket and laid it over her. With luck, she could sleep undisturbed for a few minutes. All the extra chairs, tablecloths and crockery were stored in here. With hors d’oeuvres just now being served, this stuff shouldn’t be needed for about half an hour.

  Adam watched Holly sleep. She was noticeably thinner and must have been completely exhausted to collapse during her big evening. He shook his head, smiling wryly. He didn’t dare let her sleep through the whole thing.

  The unflattering fluorescent light and stark white material leeched color from Holly’s already pallid skin. She still looked beautiful to Adam. Beautiful and independent. Strong and stubborn.

  He’d noticed his polar bears, too, and strongly suspected that was Bianca, the polar-bear rug, making another appearance, this time on a plastic foam ice floe.

  So Holly felt something for him, right? But was it enough?

  The harp music had stopped and Adam listened to the sounds from the ballroom. Within moments, a string quartet began playing, the music muted by the walls.

  Adam reached out and ran a finger over Holly’s cheek. There were men who would be noble in situations like this. He didn’t plan to be one of them.

  Time for Sleeping Beauty to awaken. Adam bent over her and kissed her lightly. No response. At least she hadn’t bolted upright and crashed into his head.

  He settled next to her, gathering her into his arms. For several minutes he was content just to hold her, savoring their first peaceful moment alone in almost a month.

  They should have been on a beach tonight, their bodies caressed by warm sea breezes and pillowed by sand. Adam closed his eyes for a moment, almost able to smell the salty tang of the ocean.

  Eyes still closed, he began a gentle trail of kisses from Holly’s temple down the side of her neck, where her pulse beat slowly and steadily.

  Holly was zonked.

  Sighing heavily, Adam jiggled her slightly. “Holly?”

  Someone shattered her lovely dream. “Go away.”

  Adam tugged at his jacket. “If I did that, you’d never forgive me.”

  “I will, I promise.” Holly drifted back onto her cloud and waited for the lovely sensations to begin again. But now the cloud was cold and wet.

  “Hey!” She wiped her forehead. It hadn’t been raining in her dream.

  Holly opened her eyes. Adam stood over her tilting a pitcher of ice water.

  “Stop, you’ll ruin the silk.” Holly struggled to sit up. Adam knelt and gently wiped her face with some of the napkins piled in the room.

  “Did I fall asleep?” Holly took a napkin from Adam and finished drying off.

  “Yes,” Adam affirmed, smiling affectionately. “Feel better?”

  “Kind of groggy.” She looked at him in alarm. “How long did I sleep?”

  “Twenty minutes or so.” Adam sat next to her. “Don’t worry, I wouldn’t let you miss your big night.”

  “Oh, Adam.” Holly’s shoulders sagged. “Why do you put up with me?”

  He gazed at her steadily before clasping her shoulders and drawing her toward him. “Because, Holly, I love you.”

  “You do?” She looked up and found the love radiating from his eyes. “I thought you were mad at me.”

  “I was—am.” He gave her a rueful smile. “But as I discovered in the last two weeks, it is very possible to love someone and feel like strangling her at the same time.”

  “I always feel that way about my sisters.”

  “I do not think of you as my sister!”

  Holly smiled and settled back onto the silk. “Prove it.” A split second later, Adam covered her mouth with his. If she thought she could say something like that and get away with it just because they were in a not-so-private room surrounded by hundreds of people, any one of whom could, and probably would, burst in on them . . . well, Ms. Hall was about to learn a thing or two about men who had been deprived of their weekend in the sun.

  Adam kissed her for all the days he’d spent working himself into a stupor at the law firm, trying to forget her. Then he kissed her for the days they’d been apart, the hours of their lost weekend and the exasperating trouble Holly had been. Then he kissed her for the heck of it.

  In the back of his mind, Adam was aware that unleashing the emotional torrent raging inside him was not a good idea. He began to pull back before his voice of reason drowned completely.

  Holly’s already had. The rising tide of passion swept her away. As Adam pulled back, Holly moved forward, nudging him backward until he was enveloped in masses of white silk.

  He could stay like this forever, Adam thought, breathing in the unique scent Holly wore. The string quartet’s music serenaded them, changing from fast-paced Vivaldi to a slower lusher sound.

  Their kisses changed, too, from frantic caresses to deeply sensual ones.

  Adam buried his face in the side of Holly’s neck, his hands stroking the shoulders left bare by the cut of her dress. He wanted her so much he ached. Wrapping his arms around her in a tight embrace he tried to calm his breathing.

  “Ouch.”

  Adam released her instantly. “Did I hurt you?” he managed to ask, his voice hoarse.

  Holly propped herself on her elbows above him. “Mama’s necklace,” she gasped, looking down at her neck.

  Adam’s gaze followed hers, fastening on the deep red marks made by the stones as they pressed into her soft flesh.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered, raising his head and gently kissing the worst of the marks.

  Holly sighed and rolled away from him. “It’s just as well, don’t you think?” She smiled sheepishly.

  “Ask me again in a few minutes.” Adam lay on the silk, his eyes closed.

  Holly got to her feet, ineffectively brushing at the wrinkles in her dress. In a few minutes, Adam stood beside her, shrugging on his coat.

  “I told you once that I loved you, but you didn’t believe me.” Holly tried to keep the hurt out of her voice.

  Adam gave her a wicked grin. “I know exactly which parts of you love me. I’m holding out for all of you.” Puzzled, Holly watched him straighten his tie and cummerbund. “What do you mean?”

  “How many brothers and sisters do I have?”

  Holly blinked.

  “What’s my favorite food? Where’s my home?”

  “Boston,” Holly answered quickly.

  “That’s where my family lives—do I live there? What’s my address?”

  “I don’t have it. You live in Dallas now.”

  Adam nodded. “I’ll concede that. What are my favorite sports? Where did I go to school? What’s my favorite color?”

  “Blue,” Holly guessed, desperately.

  A smile lit Adam’s face, making her feel worse. “How did you know?”

  “All men like blue,” she mumbled.

  Adam sighed. “What are my plans for the future?”

  Holly glared at him. “All right, you made your point.”

  “Did I?” he asked, quietly.

  “I’m free all day tomorrow. Want to find out?” Holly held out her hand and Adam took it, lacing his fingers through hers.

  They stood, smiling at each other, until the rumble of dish-l
aden carts reminded them where they were.

  “Dinner,” they both said at the same time and laughed. Adam opened the door, beckoned to her and they escaped down the hall away from the kitchen.

  “Where have you been?” Laurel whispered when Adam and Holly slipped into their places at the table reserved for them.

  “Checking on this and that. You know Holly.” Adam’s smile included everyone around him—especially Laurel.

  “Welcome, friends and patrons of the arts.” Mrs. Fitzhugh began to speak from the head table. Laurel narrowed her eyes suspiciously at Holly before turning to listen.

  Mrs. Fitzhugh informed them that this Winter Ball was the most successful ever. “And I understand that as of this moment, several diamonds have not yet been discovered. Waiters will be circulating with bags of ice. Ten dollars might buy you quite a rock. Be assured, the diamond you find may be exchanged for the real thing.”

  “Whose idea was that?” Adam asked.

  “Honey,” drawled the voice on his left, “don’t you know that diamonds are a girl’s best friend?” Laurel gave him an outrageous wink.

  Mrs. Fitzhugh continued, “Among the many who made this evening possible, none worked harder than Holly Hall of Deck the Halls, who stepped in at the last minute to create this winter wonderland. Thank you, Holly!”

  The applause was thunderous. Holly rose to acknowledge it, grasping Adam’s hand tightly. Instead of quieting, the noise swelled in a crescendo as the ball committee stood, followed by everyone at the tables.

  As she soaked in the sweet sound of the applause, Holly knew she would never forget this moment. It had taken more than five years of scrambling to reach the top and now she intended to stay there.

  Adam tightened the pressure on her hand so much that she glanced at him in surprise. He nodded slightly toward her sisters.

  Belatedly, Holly gestured toward them and applauded. Ivy, wearing a tight smile, inclined her head. Laurel threw kisses to the crowd.

  Holly floated through the rest of the evening. She sparkled, she bubbled and she worked the crowd like a pro. Throughout the night, Adam was at her side. She held his hand or his arm, her eyes seeking his every few minutes.

  At last, it was over.

  “Holly, you saved the ball for us. We won’t forget it.”

  Holly smiled at the venerable society matron. “Just think of Deck the Halls the next time you entertain.”

  “I will, dear. Martha’s and Claudia’s tedious rivalry has done some good, after all.”

  As the hotel workers moved in to clear the room, Holly and Adam stood arm in arm. “It is great, isn’t it?”

  Adam laughed. “Haven’t you had enough compliments for one evening?”

  “Never. I hate to undo all that work, but I’m paying a crew double and it’s time they earned it.” She looked at Adam. “I’m going to change into some jeans and pack up the rented stuff. Want to stay and help?”

  Laurel and Ivy had already changed and begun dragging boxes into the room. “Hey, Cinderella, it struck midnight,” Laurel said.

  “More like 1 a.m.” Adam removed his jacket and tie. “Holly, it looks like a bunch of Mrs. Bloom’s bears have disappeared.” Ivy had a worried frown on her face.

  “Yeah, pretty light-fingered for a well-heeled crowd.” Laurel stood, hands on her hips, and surveyed the room. “I’m going to check in the kitchen and make sure the caterers know not to throw anything away until we look through it first. Maybe I’ll find some of the bears in the trash.”

  “Not to mention leftovers,” Holly murmured to Adam. “Ivy, keep a count of the missing bears and I’ll add it to my expense sheet.”

  “What about all these trees and lights?” Adam asked.

  “The work crew will dismantle those. Why don’t you get Bianca? I think we used a hanging bag to transport her.” Holly grabbed her jeans and headed for the restroom.

  “Holly!” Mrs. Fitzhugh and her committee were adding up receipts from the diamond ice and Gus’s photography. “We’re just getting a preliminary tally, but the ball has been a tremendous success.”

  “Oh.” Holly set her jeans on a table and dug in her purse. “You’ll want this then.” She handed Mrs. Fitzhugh an envelope. “It’s just an estimate right now, but it will help you figure your profit.”

  “Goodness.” Mrs. Fitzhugh glanced at the long list and initialed it. “We’ll send you a formal letter for tax purposes, of course,” she said, handing the paper back to Holly.

  “Don’t you need these numbers? I have to warn you, some of the table decorations seem to have walked off and the rental company will have to be paid for those.”

  Mrs. Fitzhugh nodded absently and went back to tallying the cash.

  “Mrs. Fitzhugh? It’s very late, so I’ll leave this with you to look over and we can discuss the expenses tomorrow or Monday. I have some statements here.” Holly reached into the envelope and handed them to Mrs. Fitzhugh.

  “What are these?” Mrs. Fitzhugh looked at Holly blankly.

  Maybe she was tired. Holly certainly was. “These are invoices from the rental company, some fabric mills, the amusement park for the snow-making machine out front and the work crews, who are dismantling the sets.” Holly waved a hand around the room. Adam was a few feet away and came to stand beside her.

  “They’re your responsibility, Holly.” Mrs. Fitzhugh handed her back the invoices. “I thought you understood.”

  “You’d rather I pay them and you’ll reimburse me.” Holly nodded, wondering how she’d manage that. She’d just have to figure everything up and submit her bill pronto.

  But Mrs. Fitzhugh shook her head. “There is no question of reimbursement. You agreed to donate your services.”

  “And I did. These are my out-of-pocket expenses. I didn’t charge you for my time.” Holly’s eyes flicked to the piles of cash the women were counting. Cash they wouldn’t have if she and Laurel hadn’t come up with the photos, the diamond ice and the wishing pond in the Ice Palace.

  “I should hope not. We’re a charity organization, dear. We raise money. Everything is donated, otherwise we wouldn’t have such successful fund-raisers.”

  “It is understood that all fund-raising events generate expenses, Mrs. Fitzhugh,” Adam said in his lawyer voice, and Holly laid a warning hand on his arm.

  “Reasonable expenses.”

  “I had less than three weeks, Mrs. Fitzhugh.” This couldn’t be happening! “If more time had been available, I might have found companies willing to donate materials and labor.” Holly swallowed as five stony society faces glared at her. “Under the circumstances, you should expect some extra expense this year.”

  “We certainly didn’t give you carte blanche to spend all the profits!” Mrs. Fitzhugh’s hoarse voice began to carry.

  Holly’s temper rose, along with her panic. “If I hadn’t stepped in, you wouldn’t have had a ball!”

  “While we are certainly grateful, you must understand how it is if you want to continue to work at this level of society. You gain the exposure and write your expenses off to advertising or charity or something. We’ve never had to pay for anything but the room and a minimal amount for food.” Mrs. Fitzhugh shook her head. “I was afraid of this when I agreed to work with an amateur.”

  A cold feeling settled in the pit of Holly’s stomach. “I am a professional.”

  “Mr. Kelly would have understood.” The others murmured and nodded.

  “Mr. Kelly backed out,” Adam inserted, but Holly gripped his arm.

  “I apologize for the misunderstanding, Mrs. Fitzhugh.” Holly’s tight smile included the crones seated around her. “And I look forward to working with you all in the future.”

  Chapter Ten

  “DON’T BE A FOOL, Holly!” Adam paced in front of the wing chair where Holly
sat, tightly curled up. He’d been saying the same thing, or a variation of it, all night long.

  “Stop badgering me.” The dull resignation in Holly’s voice alarmed Adam more than if she’d snapped at him.

  “Let me help you. Legally, you’re in a strong position to—”

  “No.”

  Adam rubbed the back of his neck as he glared at Holly. Impossible woman. Sighing audibly, he paced to the front window and drew back the curtains. A pinkish-gray dawn greeted him. “How much did you spend?” he asked, without turning around.

  “Everything.”

  The breath hissed between his teeth as Adam let the curtains fall back into place. “Look.” He crossed the room swiftly and knelt in front of her. “You’re playing right into Mrs. Fitzhugh’s hands.” His lips tightened. “These women all compete with each other. She wants this ball to raise the most money, and anything she has to spend takes away from the profits.”

  Holly turned her eyes to him. His once immaculately crisp shirt was a network of wrinkles. She reached out a finger and ran it over his stubble-shaded jaw. “That’s a sexy look for you.”

  “Holly.” Adam pulled her hand away and held it between both of his. “Mrs. Fitzhugh is treating you as a social equal.”

  “And I’m just the hired help?”

  Adam spoke very gently. “In essence, yes. She wouldn’t have tried this with anyone else.”

  “I’ll make it back.” The fire was missing from her voice.

  “How many jobs is it going to take before you do? Wait a couple of hours and call the Fitzhugh woman and insist that she reimburse you.” Adam could see Holly had no intention of following his advice. “Better yet, I’ll do it—as your lawyer.”

  “No.” Holly tugged her hand away. “If I do that, no one will ever hire me again. I’ll be blackballed.”

  “Hardly. You’re a terrific bargain.” Adam got to his feet and looked down at her. “You’re supposed to be running a business. Now act like it. That is, assuming you have a business left.”

  Holly huddled in the chair. “I built it once. I can do it again.”