A Christmas Getaway
Page 7
Mom told me what happened last year, and I want to say how sorry I am, and I wanted to thank you for giving my mom a little more information about my dad. We both know we will never know what really happened. But I’m proud that my father saved lives. That’s why he did what he did, and I’m sure why you do what you do.
Thank you for your service.
I hope someday we meet again.
Noah
Talk about tugging at his heartstrings. The kid had an old soul and a mature heart. He carefully folded it and put it back in the envelope. He fluffed up his pillow and re-read Olivia’s note.
Dear Ryder,
Words cannot express my gratitude, so I won’t even try. Please know that I understand and yes, different time, different place.
Bu, my grandmother said there is a reason for everything and maybe the reason we met for this brief moment in time was to help each other.
You’re a good man.
Your friend,
Olivia
Short and to the point. He loved that about Olivia.
He pulled back the covers and slipped from the bed. They would be checking out today and heading for Virginia. If nothing else, he needed to at least give them a proper goodbye. Maybe exchange phone numbers. He certainly would like to see Noah again. Maybe take him fishing or something.
And hell, who was he kidding. He not only wanted to see her again but also to take her on a proper date.
If she was willing.
And the only way to find out was to ask her. He glanced at his watch. Eight in the morning. Hopefully they hadn’t planned on hitting the road early, or he’d be bribing every employee of that resort for her address.
Olivia carried her last suitcase down the stairs. The last two days had been quiet without Ryder.
Too quiet.
When they weren’t skiing, they were playing video games and doing their best to enjoy the rest of their vacation. It wasn’t so much that Ryder made it better, but he added an element that had been missing in her life.
She set the suitcase down by the front door when she heard the sputtering of an engine.
Ryder’s SUV pulled into the spot next to hers.
Her heart fluttered, and a smile tugged at her lips. She didn’t care if all he came back for was something he might have left behind.
It would be nice to see him.
She snagged her wrap and stepped outside, wanting just a minute alone.
“Hey,” he said, stuffing his hands in his pockets. He wore a pair of jeans that hung low on his waist and a long-sleeved shirt. The temperatures had risen well into the fifties, melting some of the massive amounts of snow that had fallen.
The morning sun warmed her face.
Ryder warmed her.
“What brings you by?”
“I wanted to see you before you went home.” He closed the gap, taking the porch steps two at a time until he was standing only a foot away. “I didn’t like how I left.”
She pointed to the melting snowman. “That was really sweet, and the present was over the top, but thank you. I truly appreciate it.”
“I thought maybe you’d try to give it back.”
“I did think about it. It’s too much, but I think I understand why you did it.” She wanted to reach out and touch the side of his freshly shaven face. She hadn’t seen him without stubble or a short beard, and she really liked how his skin looked soft and how it brought out the blue of his eyes.
“Where’s Noah?”
“In the shower. He’ll be done soon, I’m sure.” A thick lump fell from her throat to her stomach.
He came because of Noah and not her, something she understood and was grateful for because Noah would really like to say goodbye.
But she’d be lying to herself if it didn’t sting that this wasn’t even the least bit about her.
“Would you like to come in and wait for him?”
“Not just yet.” He inched closer.
She swallowed.
“This might be crazy, and my emotions are still a little all over the place, but I can’t get you out of my mind. I only left because I thought it would be wrong to share the holidays, or maybe too weird, and perhaps it was best that this year I did that. But maybe right now, is our another time, another place and I don’t want to fuck up an opportunity to get to know you better.” His hands looped around her waist.
She shivered, but it was a warm sensation that trickled across her skin. “I’ve got a career and a son. I don’t have a lot of time.”
“And I’m still a SEAL and maybe you don’t want to date another military—”
She pressed her finger over his full lips. “It’s not that. I wouldn’t want to change anything about you, and I know what your job comes with.”
“Then what’s holding you back?”
She rested her hands on his shoulders, tilting her head. “Nothing. Absolutely nothing.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “Does this mean I can kiss you again?”
“I’d say that would be quite appropriate right now.” She licked her lips in anticipation. His mouth covered hers with a gentleness that only old-time lovers could possibly share. She knew her heart would be at risk. But life was filled with risks and choices, and some were worth taking a chance on.
Like Ryder.
“Yes!” Noah exclaimed from somewhere behind her. “Gross, but it’s about time.”
“I guess he approves,” Olivia said, dropping her hand to Ryder’s chest.
“I can’t make you any promises.”
“I don’t expect any.” She took him by the hand. “Except maybe a promise to help me load my car. My body is covered in bruises, and my muscles burn like I jumped right into the fire.”
“I can do that.” He leaned in, pressing his lips against her cheek. “If you promise to let me kiss some of the bruises and massage some of your sore muscles.”
“I might like that,” she said, shutting the door. “Now if you could only drive us home.”
“Actually, I flew up, so all I have to do is return the rental, and I’m all yours.”
“You’re going to drive home with us?” Noah asked from his perch on the sofa.
“If there is room, then I guess that’s the plan.” Ryder draped his arm over her shoulder.
“Awesome!” Noah said. “This turned out to be the best Christmas getaway ever!”
Epilogue
One year later…
“Where are your bags!?”
Ryder stepped through the front door of Noah and Olivia’s home.
Noah shut the door and raised his hands toward the ceiling. “You’re late.” In the last year, he’d grown at least two inches, if not more. His voice had started to change, and it wouldn’t be too long before it was time to teach the boy how to shave.
Ryder wanted that honor.
And he wanted it full-time. He didn’t want to miss a second of watching this boy grow to a man.
“Mom has been running around like a crazy lady,” Noah said, shaking his head. “If you’re not ready to leave in like eight minutes, she’s going to flip.”
“Relax. Bags are in the truck. We’ve got plenty of time to get to the airport.” Only it was Ryder who needed to take a chill. He stuffed his hand into his pocket, half expecting the ring to be missing. That kind of shit always happened to him. “Where’s your mom?”
“Upstairs stuffing another pair of boots in her suitcase.”
“Of course she is.” Ryder put his hand on Noah’s shoulder, guiding him toward the family room. “I need to chat with you for a minute, man to man.”
“That sounds serious.”
“It is.” Ryder sat on the edge of the sofa, his hands folded in his lap. He waited for Noah to pick his seat, which happened to be right next to him. “You know I love you and your mom, right?”
Noah raised his hand, slapping his forehead. “We’re not going to have that talk are we?”
Ryder arched a brow. “I don’t know. What do t
hink this is about?”
“You moving in here or something.”
Ryder let out a nervous laugh. “It’s a little more serious than that, but I need to know you’re okay with it.”
“Okay with what?” Noah asked with big grin. “Are you going to get all mushy and give my mom a ring.”
Ryder nodded as he pulled out the modest engagement ring. It was a simple silver band with a half carat diamond in a low six-prong setting. “I want to marry her, and I want to be your step-father, if you’ll both have me.”
Noah raised his fist for a solid pound. “I’m on board with that. I’m tired of having to wait to use the bathroom until after you’ve snuck out of the house.”
“Excuse me?” Ryder coughed, nearly dropping the ring on the floor.
Noah rolled his eyes. “I’m not stupid.”
“Nope. You’re not. So what do you say? I was thinking I’d ask your mom to marry me once we got to the cabin.”
“Ask me now and I’ll say yes,” Olivia’s voice boomed across the room.
Ryder jerked up-right. This time the ring slipped through his fingers and rolled under the sofa. “Shit,” he mumbled.
“I’ll get it.” Noah dropped to the floor, reaching his hand under the coach.
“That’s not how I thought this would go.”
“It’s fitting for how we met, since that trip wasn’t what either one of us expected.” Olivia glided across the room like a princess. Her smile wide and her eyes were filled with happiness.
He only hoped he could continue to make her, and her son happy. The last year had been filled with long walks and late night talks. Every morning when he woke, he thought of Olivia and Noah. He hadn’t forgotten about his late wife, or his own son. Their deaths still, and would always be, right at the surface. Olivia understood and was always willing to listen.
As he did when it came to her late husband.
They shared a common pain. It had brought them together.
But it wasn’t the glue that held them.
“I love you,” he said, taking her into his arms. “Will you marry me?”
“I’ve got the ring!” Noah popped up from the floor. “I’ll go get my bag and put it in the truck. I don’t want to be around to witness the sloppy kiss.”
“Kid. You’re going to have to get used that.” Ryder took the ring and slid in on Olivia’s finger. He smiled proudly, kissing her hand.
“I’m out of here.” Noah raced toward the door.
Ryder cupped Olivia’s face. “I’m so glad that resort screwed up the reservations last year.”
“Me too. But let’s hope they don’t do it again this year.” Her face turned serious as her gaze dropped to the floor.
“What’s wrong?” He tilted her chin.
“Nothing. But I do need to tell you something.”
“I’m not sure I like the sound of that,” he said. His heart hammering in his chest.
“We talked about getting married a couple of times, so this didn’t really come as a shock, though I love you even more for asking Noah.”
“Do I need to sit down? Because this doesn’t feel like a yes.”
“Oh. It’s a yes. I love you and I want to marry you. But there’s one thing we’ve never really discussed and that’s having another child.” She bit down on her fingernail. “Do you want to have more children?”
He hated it when she did that. Batting her hand away, the word child bounced around in his head. It wasn’t like either of them were all that old. They certainly could have a baby if they wanted to.
A baby.
“Call me crazy, but I’d like to have a kid with you.”
“Thank God.” She patted his chest. “Because I’m due the end of June.”
“Due?” His heart dropped to his gut before flying up to his brain, making him woozy.
“I really think you should sit down.” She helped ease him back to the sofa.
He ran a hand over his face. “You’re pregnant? But we…we…holy shit. A baby? Really?”
“Yep. I was going to wait to tell you until we got to Vermont, but this seemed like a good enough time.” She held out her hand and stared at her ring. “This is a perfect fit.”
“We’re a perfect fit,” he whispered, scooping her up on his lap. His life had taken a one-hundred and eighty degree turn the second she walked into the cabin.
A Christmas getaway that had given him a second chance.
Thank you for taking the time to read A Christmas Getaway. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Please feel free to leave an HONEST review on Amazon and/or Goodreads
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About the Author
Welcome to my World! I'm a USA Today Bestseller of Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance, and Paranormal Romance.
I first started writing while carting my kids to one hockey rink after the other, averaging 170 games per year between 3 kids in 2 countries and 5 states. My first book, IN TWO WEEKS was originally published in 2007. In 2010 I helped form a publishing company (Cool Gus Publishing) with NY Times Bestselling Author Bob Mayer where I ran the technical side of the business through 2016.
I'm currently enjoying the next phase of my life...the empty NESTER! My husband and I spend our winters in Jupiter, Florida and our summers in Rochester, NY. We have three amazing children who have all gone off to carve out their places in the world, while I continue to craft stories that I hope will make you readers feel good and put a smile on your face.
Sign up for my Newsletter (https://dl.bookfunnel.com/6atcf7g1be) where I often give away free books before publication.
Join my private Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/191706547909047/) where she posts exclusive excerpts and discuss all things murder and love!
Never miss a new release. Follow me on Amazon:amazon.com/author/jentalty
And on Bookbub: bookbub.com/authors/jen-talty
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