A Christmas Collection: Four Sweet Holiday Romances

by Victorine E. Lieske

  “Well, how about another fake date? It would help keep my mother off my back.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “We’ll see.”

  Chapter 6

  Jennifer watched Shane turn and walk toward her house, her head reeling. What had he meant by that? We’ll see? And then it struck her. Maybe he was in a relationship, and all this time she’d just assumed he was single. Holy cow! She felt awful. She ran to catch up to him. “Shane, wait. I’m sorry.”

  “Sorry for what?” He didn’t look at her. Just kept walking toward her porch.

  “Sorry for assuming you weren’t dating anyone.” She grabbed his arm. “Come on, slow down.”

  “It’s cold out here.” He said the words, but then he slowed, anyway. She walked up the steps with him.

  “Who is she?”

  He turned to her. “I’m not dating anyone.” And with that, he walked into her house, leaving her on the porch and wondering what he’d meant.

  She rushed inside to see her mother with her hands on Shane’s cheeks. “Dear me. You poor boy. You’re freezing. Come in and sit at the table.”

  “Thank you, Mary.”

  Jennifer itched to ask him if he had been joking around with her, but there was no way she wanted her mother in the middle of the conversation, so she pressed her lips together and sat down beside Shane. Her mother forked a couple of waffles onto their plates, then sat down at the table, even though there wasn’t a plate in front of her.

  Jennifer cut into her food with a fork. Her mother leaned forward. “So, are you two dating now?”

  “Mom,” she warned.

  “That’s not a bad question. Is that a bad question?” Mary turned to Shane. “You’d think I asked if you hooked up or something.”

  Jennifer’s face burned. “Mom!”

  “Well, I didn’t. I just want to know if you’re seeing each other. Is that so bad? A mother wanting to know whom her daughter is dating?”

  Shane reached over and put his hand on top of Jennifer’s. “We had a wonderful date last night, and today, Jennifer asked me out again.” He smiled, although it didn’t reach his eyes.

  Her mother didn’t notice. “Oh,” she said, clutching at her necklace. “Well, that’s lovely.” She stood and pushed her chair in. “I should let you two eat and talk. I’m sure you have lots to say.” She hurried out of the room.

  Shane pulled his hand back and Jennifer fanned her face. “Sorry,” she said. “Could that have been any more embarrassing? I can’t believe her sometimes. You’d think she had no social graces.”

  “It’s fine.”

  She squinted at him, wanting to ask about their awkward conversation, but decided to ignore it. “So, what do you do around here for fun?”

  He chuckled. “Fun?”

  “You know,” she said, grinning at him. “The thing you do when you’re not working or bored.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  She scoffed. “Then I’ll have to show you what fun is.”

  He raised an eyebrow like he enjoyed the challenge. “Really?”

  “Tonight. I’m taking you out to have fun. They still have that ice rink downtown, right?”

  Shane made a face. “Oh, no. You can’t do that to me.”

  “What?” She poked him in the side. “Not afraid of a little ice, are you?”

  “Only when I fall and break through it.”

  “It’s not a real pond. You can’t break through, you wimp.”

  “A wimp?” She could tell he was trying to hide a smile. “How about, a realist?”

  “Come on. Skate with me.” She peeked to make sure her mother couldn’t hear. “We have to do something on our fake date.”

  He sobered up. “Okay. Skating it is.” He pushed his plate away. “This was a fantastic breakfast. Please tell your mother thank you. I’d better be heading home now.”

  “I will.” Jennifer walked him to the door and watched as he trekked across the snow, her heart pounding in her ears. Shane was acting a little strange, and she vowed to get him to open up to her about it.

  Jennifer pressed the doorbell, her nerves in a jangle. She held a plate of banana bread her mother insisted she take to Shane’s house. Her mother didn’t think it was enough for them to go out tonight. So, she’d sent her over with the treat. Would this humiliation ever end?

  Shane opened the door. “I should have guessed it was you.” He smiled.

  “I’m sorry. My mother wouldn’t take no for an answer.” She held out the plate of banana bread. “She insisted I bring this over.”

  He chuckled and opened the door wider. “Come on in. If you go home now, I have a feeling you’ll show up in ten minutes with something else.”

  “Correct.” She gave him a thank you smile. “You’ve saved me from further shame.”

  He rubbed the back of his neck. “Well, since you’re here, maybe you could save me from my own shame.” He pointed to the rolls of wrapping paper and the mess that looked like he was trying to wrap a package.

  Jennifer grinned. “No problem. I’m a master wrapper. You’ve asked the right person.”

  “Thank goodness, because I was about to give up and just shove it in a garbage sack.”

  “No way. We will not give up. Let’s get this thing done.” She sat down and crossed her legs. “Give me the scissors and we’ll get started.”

  Shane joined her on the floor. As she sliced through the paper, he grew silent. She nudged him. “What are you thinking?”

  “Sorry. I’m probably not going to be great company today. Mom’s not having a good day. She doesn’t know who I am today. She keeps telling me to get out of the house.”

  “Oh, no.” Jennifer squeezed his hand, unsure of what else she could do. She had no idea what that would be like, but it must be awful. “I’m so sorry.”

  He took her hand, enveloping it with both of his. “You’re sweet to care.”

  “Your mom was always good to me growing up. She was kind. Remember that time I scraped my knee and my mom wasn’t home? Your mother calmed me down and put a Band-Aid on it. She wiped away my tears and told me a Popsicle would cure any ailment.”

  He laughed. “She was right, though, wasn’t she?”

  Jennifer grinned. “Definitely.” After a moment, she sobered. “What are you going to do about your mother?”

  Shane sighed. “I don’t know. I don’t want to move her out of her home, but she gets so agitated that it scares me. And sometimes it’s more than I or the nurse can handle.”

  “There’s a really good facility in Harrison, and it’s only thirty minutes away.” Jennifer bit her lip. “I know it feels like you’re betraying her, but she might need more care than you can give her.”

  Shane swallowed, his jaw muscles working. “I guess I can look into it.”

  “I’ll go with you, to visit the facility, if you want.”

  He squeezed her hand again. “Thanks. That would mean a lot to me.”

  Chapter 7

  Shane tightened the shoelaces on his skates, sure this would not end well. “I can’t believe you convinced me to do this. It’s been way too long since I’ve been skating.”

  Jennifer beamed. “It will be a blast. And Mother’s so happy we’re out on another date. You’ve made her the happiest.”

  “Well, at least she’s happy. Who cares if I totally embarrass myself?”

  She laughed and lightly slapped him on the shoulder. “You’ll be fine. Come on, look at all the twelve-year-olds busting it up on the ice.”

  “That’s what I’m afraid of. Being bested by a bunch of kids.”

  She tugged on his hand and he stood up. “Don’t be such a baby.”

  “All right,” he said, laughing. “I’m a man. I’ll show you how macho I am.” He stepped out onto the ice and slipped a little. “See? Manly men aren’t afraid to fall.”

  She raised one eyebrow. “Really?”

  “Watch this now.” He shoved off the wall and bent his knees,
trying to skate toward the middle. Unfortunately, a kid whizzed by him, and he lost his balance, falling on his butt.

  Jennifer giggled and held out a hand. “Okay, that’s enough macho for now. Hold my hand and I’ll help you stay upright.”

  Shane took her hand and immediately regretted it. The feel of her skin on his was amazing. But he couldn’t let go, not while she was helping him. So, he kept ahold of her and tried to ignore the butterflies in his gut going crazy.

  “Remember when that ice storm came through during Christmas break that one year?” Jennifer smiled, her cheeks pink with the cold.

  He nodded. “Yeah. We spent hours pretending we were skating on that big ice patch in the street.”

  “I think your mother had to drag us back inside so we could get warmed up.”

  “She bribed us with hot chocolate.”

  Her eyes lit up. “Yeah, with those tiny marshmallows. That was the best.”

  He almost lost his balance again, but Jennifer steadied him. He looked at her. “Thanks.”

  “You’re getting the hang of it. Just don’t look down at your feet so much.”

  They skated for another hour, and just as Shane was feeling confident, it was time to leave. He put his boots back on while Jennifer talked about how much she missed the times they would make snow angels.

  “What’s stopping you?” he said as they walked toward the car.

  “Stopping me?”

  “From making more snow angels?”

  Jennifer laughed so hard, it sounded like it came from her toes. “Seriously?”

  He pointed to someone’s lawn, the blanket of snow undisturbed. “I’m serious. Right here. I dare you.”

  She peered up and down the street, like she was a criminal, about to steal a cache of diamonds. “All right. But you have to do it, too.”

  He chuckled and nodded. “Challenge accepted.”

  Jennifer plopped down in the snow and laid back, then she raised her arms up and down and moved her legs. Shane took a step down the sidewalk and did the same. The cold snow froze his neck, but he couldn’t stop laughing as he created a snow angel on some random person’s lawn.

  After he stood, he helped her up. Her hands were freezing, and he held onto them. “Where are your gloves? You’re going to get frostbite.”

  Her cheeks colored. “I always forget them. I think they’re in my room.”

  He pulled his gloves from his pockets and slid them on her hands. “There. A little big on you, but at least you won’t freeze.”

  She peered up at him, her gaze intense for a moment. “Thanks.”

  He looked down into her eyes, falling into the blue depths. She was beautiful. Everything he’d ever wanted. And she was here, with him. Her lips parted slightly and he couldn’t tear his gaze away from them.

  Before he could think about it, his lips were on hers. While her hands were freezing, her lips were delightfully warm, and he pulled her closer to him as she responded to the kiss. He’d dreamt about kissing her his whole life, and now, as it was happening, he couldn’t help but think of how more amazing it was than even in his wildest dreams. Her lips tasted sweet, her warmth enveloping him.

  Jennifer had always been what he wanted. At least, until that day when he’d overheard her talking to her friends. Her words from that day echoed in his head, after one of the popular kids asked her about him. Oh, him? He’s nobody.

  He pulled back from her, remembering the sting and heartache he’d felt. She’d blown off their friendship like it hadn’t mattered at all. She’d wanted to be popular. And she got her wish.

  Jennifer smiled up at him, and he realized what a mistake it had been to kiss her. She wasn’t what he’d thought she was growing up. She was a fake. And he needed to remember that.

  He backed away from her. “Sorry. I didn’t…we shouldn’t.” No more words would come out and he turned from her, unable to form a complete sentence.

  She tugged on his arm, her eyebrows pulled together. “What do you mean?”

  She didn’t know he’d overheard her. She didn’t understand, and he couldn’t open up that past wound and tell her. So, he lied. “You’re going back to New York. I’m staying here. It’s not fair for me to start something we can’t possibly sustain.”

  “Oh.” Jennifer blinked a few times, then she nodded. “I understand.”

  “Good. Because I don’t want to hurt you.” Those words were true.

  “No, I get it.” She smiled, although it seemed forced. “I’m leaving in a week. I can see how you wouldn’t want to have a long-distance relationship.”

  She was agreeing with him, saying it was okay not to get closer, and Shane should have felt relief, but instead, something inside him felt hollow. He nodded. “Good. I’m glad we are on the same page.”

  “Yeah.” She rubbed her hands together. “Me, too.”

  Shane took Jennifer home and readied for bed, the hollow feeling never leaving.

  Chapter 8

  Jennifer lay on her bed staring at her ceiling. Shane had kissed her, and it had been amazing. She’d never felt such attraction before. Such a thrill when a man pressed his lips to her. They still tingled and she reached up to touch them.

  But he’d pulled away, physically, and she saw him pull away emotionally. He didn’t want to get too close to her. Didn’t want to start a relationship with someone who was leaving town. She bit her bottom lip. It had hurt, she had to admit. But another part of her had been screaming at her. Tell him you’d stay.

  The thought made her tingle with anticipation, and freak out with the implications. She’d known Shane forever, but only recently had she started to feel something for him. They’d been connecting. But did that mean she was ready to move back to her hometown?

  It didn’t seem like a very rational decision. However, at the same time, she really liked Shane. And what did she have in New York? A stupid job where she was lower on the totem pole than the receptionist? She had hoped to work her way up, but even after five years, she was still the girl who ran to get coffee orders, or the one they sent to pick up the dry cleaning. She was worth more than that.

  But could she quit and come back home? The thought made her balk. She didn’t want to be that girl. The one who went away to achieve her dreams, but then failed and came back with her tail between her legs. Plus, Mark was still here, and she really didn’t want to run into him.

  On the other hand…Jennifer couldn’t stop thinking about how sweet Shane had been yesterday. How he’d gone skating with her, even though he could barely keep standing. How he’d made snow angels with her. How his arms felt wrapped around her.

  She missed that. Missed the way it felt to have a man smile at her. Missed the hand-holding and the stolen kisses.

  She sighed and shoved her pillow over her head. She was so stupid. Why couldn’t she keep her head on straight when it came to men? She was forever making poor decisions and winding up getting hurt. She couldn’t lose her head over Shane. It just wasn’t smart.

  After she showered, she grabbed an apple and walked into the living room. Her mother’s Christmas tree stood in front of the windows. Icicle lights hung outside. She slid onto the couch and watched the gas fireplace as the flames licked at the fake wood inside.

  This was how she felt. Fake. Her life was for show, and nothing more. She had a useless, dead-end job. Sure, she lived in New York, but she rarely did anything to enjoy the city. She had no close friends. Had nothing to come home to.

  Her phone made a noise and she picked it up, looking at the screen. Shane sent a text message.

  How are you today?

  She smiled as she texted him back. I’m fine. You?

  He answered right away. A little sore from all the falling down yesterday.

  Jennifer laughed. You were such a good sport.

  There was a pause before he answered her back. Did you mean it when you said you would go with me to the facility in Harrison?

  Of course, I meant it. When do you want
to leave?

  She waited a second before his text came through. Ten minutes?

  Her heartbeat picked up speed as she answered. You got it.

  Jennifer ran upstairs to run a brush through her hair. After last night, she didn’t want to get too excited about being with Shane, but yet, she couldn’t help but notice how her skin tingled when he was around. And how she hadn’t felt like this in years.

  By the time he knocked on her door, she had worked herself up into a ball of nerves. She opened the door and he stood there, his dark hair slightly ruffled as if he had been running his hand through it. She wanted to reach up and smooth it down, but refrained. “Hey,” she said as she slipped her coat on and stepped outside.

  “Thanks for coming with me.” He looked down at the porch. “I didn’t want to go alone.”

  She looped her hand in the crook of his arm. “It will be okay. Let’s go check it out.”

  On the way to Harrison, Jennifer tried to keep the conversation light and upbeat. She didn’t want Shane getting depressed. She clicked on the radio and turned it to the Christmas music station, then started singing along when her favorite, “Jingle Bells,” came on.

  Shane looked at her sideways. “I didn’t know you sang.”

  She laughed. “Well, I don’t know if I’d call it singing. It’s more like me trying to keep a tune.”

  “You sound good. Keep singing.”

  She tried to, but as he stared at her, she started laughing. “Only if you join me. I feel too self-conscious otherwise.”

  “All right.”

  They sang along to the Christmas songs on the radio the rest of the way to Harrison. When Shane arrived at The Shady Pine, Jennifer was happy they were both in a good mood. Shane looked at the brick building and took in a deep breath. She reached over and squeezed his hand. “Don’t worry. Let’s go inside and look around.”

  “Thanks.”

  Jennifer walked with him into the building. A woman approached them right away, graying hair pulled back, and a smile on her face. “What can I do for you?”