Bah, Humbug! (A Romantic Comedy Christmas Novella)

by Heather Horrocks

  “Is the other brother as handsome as these two?”

  As she spoke, Keefe and Kyle re-entered the room, carrying a tray with four glasses full of, she assumed, eggnog.

  “Oh, Kenneth is definitely the cutest of the three. And much easier to get along with than Kyle.”

  Kyle caught Lexi’s eye and smiled. “But I’m better at holding an interesting conversation. Kenneth has literally bored people to death before with his financial wizardry.”

  The doorbell rang.

  “That must be Dad and Kenneth,” Keefe said. “I’ll get it.”

  In just a moment, two more handsome warriors entered the room, one young and incredibly good-looking, the older man rugged and striking. It was obvious the boys got at least part of their good looks from their father.

  When Kenneth was introduced to Lexi, he held her hand for a long moment. “I am incredibly pleased to meet you.”

  Chapter Nine

  Kyle watched his brother hanging onto Lexi’s hand, and thought, uh-oh, it’s happening again. Every time he found a good-looking woman who seemed to be interested in him, Kenneth stepped in and walked away with the woman. Even his one and only ex-fiancé had dated Kenneth a few times after their breakup.

  But, then, Lexi was hardly his woman.

  And now that Kenneth was here, Kyle wouldn’t need to worry about his attention being taken up by this good-looking fun-to-be-around neighbor any more. Kenneth would no doubt monopolize her time.

  Alyssa stepped up and linked her arm through Kyle’s, and whispered in his ear. “It appears Kenneth finds your neighbor attractive.”

  “He finds every woman attractive.”

  “Yes, but this one is different, isn’t she?”

  Kyle looked into Alyssa’s eyes. “What do you mean?”

  She smiled and patted his arm with her other hand. “My dear brother-in-law, you haven’t gotten it, have you? You need to get to know this woman better.”

  “I’ll leave that up to Kenneth.”

  “Yeah, well, that’s how you’ve always left it, isn’t it? Don’t you think it’s about time you go for what you want, and not let Kenneth just take over out of default?”

  “There’s nothing to take over. Lexi is just an overzealous neighbor.”

  “Sure, she is.” Alyssa nodded but the look on her face showed plainly that she didn’t believe a word of it.

  He didn’t try to convince her again.

  His father came over for a bear hug, and wrapped Kyle in his arms. “Good to see you again, Son.”

  “Glad you could make it, Dad.”

  His father pulled back and the sparkle was back in his faded blue eyes. “Oh, I wouldn’t have missed this party for the world.” He’d never quite lost that hint of Irish lilt in his voice, and the sound of it warmed Kyle.

  When Kenneth finally released Lexi’s hand, Kyle introduced her to his father.

  “I am doubly glad to be meeting you, young lady.” His father awkwardly touched her arm.

  She smiled at his father, a sparkle in her eyes. “I am so glad to meet all of the handsome warriors in one room.”

  There was silence for a moment, and Lexi looked around as if to see if she’d said something wrong.

  After the briefest pause, his father smiled. “That would be the honest truth. Now I don’t suppose these sons of mine have told you I’m the most handsome of the lot, have they? And that I’m the most eligible bachelor of all?”

  Kenneth laughed. “Dad, you are totally full of blarney this fine evening.”

  “Perhaps. And perhaps I speak only the truth.”

  A relieved look on her face, Lexi turned to Kyle. “I need to bring over the food from my ovens.”

  Before he could open his mouth to offer assistance, Kenneth said, “I’ll help.”

  “Thanks,” she said and looked at the rest of them. “I’ll be right back.”

  “I’ll come, too,” Kyle said.

  “We’ll be fine,” Kenneth said. “You just sit here and visit with the family.”

  Kenneth put his hand on Lexi’s back as they left the house. Kenneth was always much too forward. His father should have taught him better than that. Then Kyle wouldn’t be feeling this incredible sense of loss. He couldn’t explain it. His brother was simply helping his neighbor carry food over from her house. But apparently his feelings went deeper than those for just a neighbor. He had to admit that Lexi had become a very good friend in only a few days. And he might like to take it further, but he wasn’t inclined to dally with someone who lived right next door. He wasn’t the settling down kind. After all, he was thirty years old and hadn’t done so yet.

  Keefe put a hand on his shoulder. “You know, Bro, it’s interesting to see you and Lexi together in the same room.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “You watch her like Dad used to watch Mama.”

  “No way.” But he recalled having had nearly the same thought at her house the other night. It just made it more real to have someone else notice it.

  “Denial won’t do you any good. Besides, she’s pretty. She’s talented. She’s famous. Heaven knows you need a famous girl to keep your big head in check.” Keefe chuckled. “Don’t worry. A few minutes with Kenneth will do her good. After she listens to him babble on about his investments for awhile, she’ll realize that you’re more than just a pretty face. The comparison will show you in a good light.”

  “She’s just a neighbor.” But he knew even as he said the words that they were a lie.

  “Yeah, right. A neighbor who got you to invite your family home and decorate your house. She plays you.”

  Keefe was right. And so was Alyssa. It was time to beat Kenneth at his silly games. Kyle stood. “I’ll go help carry the food over.”

  Keefe chuckled. “You do that.”

  * * *

  Lexi watched Kyle’s family eat her food and felt a deep sense of contentment and satisfaction. She loved dinner parties, and hosted them regularly. But this was the first one in a long time for a family---and, what’s more, Kyle’s family felt like family. They were warm and big and bumbling and loud. She and Trista and Steven fit right in, as though they belonged.

  It had seemed like the ultimate challenge to help this holiday-challenged, Bah-Humbug!-type of man open up to the warmth of Christmas, but he’d responded wonderfully and easily, with just the slightest hint of fake blackmail on her part. She suspected that it wasn’t so much her doing, as the fact that he must be ready to heal. Alyssa had said as much to her about her husband.

  Kyle’s father Kelly turned toward her. “This is one of the three best dinners of my whole life, young lady.”

  “Don’t feel bad, Lexi,” Kyle leaned toward her and said, “Mama’s manicotti and eggplant parmigiana are the only things that beat you out.”

  Kenneth raised his glass of sparkling cider. “I hear you’re the reason our scrooge of a brother invited us home for the holidays. You are a miracle worker in many areas, it seems.”

  “Thank you. Though it has truly been my pleasure. Thank you for sharing your family hospitality with me and my children. And now,” she pushed back from the chair, “it’s time for pies.”

  While an appreciative murmur worked its way around the table, Kyle jumped up so quickly he nearly knocked his chair over. “I’ll help.” Kenneth smiled at her, relaxed back into his seat, and winked at her. Was she missing something?

  They were quiet as they walked across the lawn, dodging the ornaments they’d placed there--was it really only yesterday?--and she wondered if his thoughts were as dangerous as her own. The warmth and coziness of the holidays, of fitting in with a family again, was a temptation almost more than she could resist. But she’d made that particular mistake once before. She couldn’t make it twice.

  But when he reached over and took her hand, she laced her fingers through his without a thought, as naturally as though she’d always known him, always cared.
And when he let loose of her hand so she could find her keys and open the door, she was acutely aware of the loss.

  As they stepped into her kitchen, he said, “You did a very nice thing tonight. Dinner was delicious. Why you’d go out of your way to feed so many strangers is beyond me. You truly do have the spirit of Christmas in your heart.”

  “You’re making fun of me again, aren’t you?” But he didn’t sound mocking. He was looking at her as if he wanted to touch her again. And, heaven knows, she wanted him to.

  And when he did reach for her hand again, taking it in his two, warmth spiraled up her arm.

  “I may make fun of a lot of people, but I will never mock you for doing what you do best. You have brought a happiness into my house that hasn’t been there before. You got my family laughing, and they haven’t laughed together at Christmas time for a long time. Kenneth is right--you have created a miracle here.”

  His fingers drew circles in her palm and it was hard to catch her breath to say, “It has been a wonderful party. But that’s because of your family.”

  He leaned in closer. “I think some of it has to do with a certain very nice, very talented, very pretty lady with a generous heart.”

  She looked into his eyes and couldn’t say a thing. She, who made her living talking into the camera, couldn’t think of a thing to say.

  Slowly, he moved in a little closer. Was he going to kiss her?

  Conflicting emotions warred within her. She wanted to kiss him but, oh, what that would do to complicate her life.

  But she found herself leaning closer. She looked up into his eyes.

  Only inches away, he seemed to catch himself, pulling back awkwardly.

  Disappointed, she wondered why he’d stopped.

  And she realized with dismay that she--the woman determined she was never going to get involved with a man again, who had made a perfect adjustment with her kids after her divorce and was not going to change their lives--was falling for this man. This handsome warrior.

  It wasn’t just her kids falling under the spell of a famous author. She was doing it, too.

  She was in big trouble.

  Her first impulse was to flee, to let him handle his own family. But she couldn’t. She’d promised him she’d help. She was trapped by her own powers of persuasion and her feeling of responsibility. If she hadn’t convinced him to invite his family, she wouldn’t have to be over there entertaining them, tonight and tomorrow and the next day.

  She wouldn’t go back on her word. But she could pull back emotionally. Physically. She took a step back shakily.

  “Are you all right?” His own voice wasn’t so steady, either. So he hadn’t been as unaffected as he was trying to appear by that near kiss.

  “I’m fine.” She forced a smile. She couldn’t get involved with Kyle Miller. She just couldn’t. What’s more, she wouldn’t.

  As they carried the pies back across the lawn, her mind raced. It was seven now. She’d make her excuses in another thirty minutes, after the pies. Tomorrow was Christmas Eve with his family, then Christmas Day. Kyle’s family would be on their way back to their own homes by the twenty-sixth.

  And by that same evening, she’d be back in her own home, safe and secure and single. Like a mantra, she repeated the words in her mind.

  Safe and secure and single--oh, so safely single.

  Chapter Ten

  THE DAY AND NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

  Jared had known all along that it was...

  With a sigh, Kyle stared at the screen in front of him. He hadn’t had a single thought of how to end this sentence--or the book. He’d never experienced such a crippling case of writer’s block before. Maybe he was a four-book wonder, and the fifth was never going to happen. In fifty years, people would be asking him, white-haired and hobbling along on his cane, when the next book would be done. And he might still not have an answer for them.

  A door creaked behind him and he jumped in his seat. He’d been so deep in the scene that the interruption sent his heart racing. He looked up, frown in place, ready to tell the kids to go back out.

  But when the door swung open and it was Lexi peeking inside his study, he struggled to keep his frown in place. “I’m working in here.”

  “Don’t you need a ‘Famous Author Overworking’ sign or something?”

  He leaned back in his chair and tapped his fingers on the edge of the keyboard. He noticed she was keeping a lot of distance between them, ever since they’d nearly kissed last night. “Oh, like you’ve never overworked in your career. People who have television shows work normal hours, do they?”

  “I put in a lot of hours. And I also know when to quit working and start playing.”

  “Well, I don’t have time to play. I have a scene I must get done. And, when that one’s done, I have another one waiting to take its place. I don’t know when I’m going to get this book done.”

  “You’ll get your book done. I know you will. You’ve completed all of the others, and you’ll complete this one, as well. But maybe if you play for a couple of days, you’ll be more creative afterward. I bet the words will just flow from you onto the paper.” Lexi smiled. “I just want to let you know that we’re outside having a blast, and you’re welcome to join us. I happen to know you excel at this particular activity.”

  He sighed. “I’d really like to, Lexi. I would. It’s just that if I don’t get this book done by the deadline, I’m going to have a problem with my editor.”

  Lexi shrugged her shoulders. “Okay. See you later.”

  Just then, Lexi’s kids burst through the door.

  “Are you ever coming out here?” Trista asked in an exasperated tone.

  “Be right there, sweetie,” Lexi said, and turned back to him with another smile. “See you around. May I suggest that next time you don’t schedule your deadlines so close to Christmas.”

  As if he had a choice over his deadlines.

  She laughed and went outside with Steven, and shut the door behind her.

  Trista remained behind, staring at his messy office. “So this is where you write about Jared, huh?”

  “Yup.”

  “Cool.”

  She started to leave the room, but he called her back. “Would you answer a question?”

  “Sure.”

  “Does your mother always do such fancy dinner parties?”

  She shrugged. “For holidays, sure.”

  “Is there anything she cannot do?”

  “That’s easy.” Trista laughed. “She absolutely positively cannot make fudge. She ruins it every time.”

  “Well, that’s a comfort.” He grinned. “Even I can make fudge.”

  After she left, Kyle sat in his now lonely office. Before, he’d been so deep in his book that he’d been oblivious to the world. Now he became aware of the life around him, as if Lexi brought this perspective to him. He could smell the wonderful scent of cinnamon wafting past his nose. He could hear the happy yells from outside.

  He had never had a deadline so close to Christmas. Was that his problem? The whole Christmas thing from his past was here to block him?

  And was it his own doing? With surprise, he realized it was. When his agent called, he’d been too darned proud to ask for more time, much less complain about less. He wasn’t honest about his own needs--with others or with himself.

  With a sigh, he turned back to his keyboard. Before he started typing, he glanced out the window.

  His father, brothers, sister-in-law, niece and nephew, Lexi and her kids were all rolling snow into balls. There were already five snowmen started on his front lawn, scattered among the lighted reindeer.

  When he realized she wanted him to make a snowman, he chuckled. Lexi saw him looking and motioned to him through the window. He wanted to go outside and join in the fun. But he had to be responsible. He had to finish this book.

  He turned back to the screen and stared at it for a long moment. What was the use? He w
as typing--but he wasn’t accomplishing anything. He just kept retyping the same scene, over and over, trying to make it work. Maybe she was right. Maybe a break would do him good.

  He needed a break.

  He’d do it. With one more glance outside at the enticing scene before him, he grabbed his winter gear. Bundling up, he opened the door and stepped outside to play.

  * * *

  As Kyle stepped outside, Lexi hid a smile at the look on his face. It was obvious he was torn. He must never let himself relax and enjoy life. Well, it was about time he tried it.

  Steven and Justin rolled a huge snowball around the yard, laughing as they narrowly missed the reindeer. Trista and Jill were patting down their completed snowman, filling in bumpy spots with more snow and making their snowman perfect.

  Keefe threw a snowball at Kyle and hit him squarely in the chest. “Welcome to the world of fun, Bro.”

  As Lexi rolled her large snowball, as it grew, she glanced at Kyle. He was watching her and smiled when he caught her eye. He held up the tiny snowball he’d patted together. She mouthed way to go.

  When she figured her snowman’s mid section was big enough, she hefted it, dropping it onto the bottom. “There,” she said loudly. “I’m done.”

  “Ah, come on, Lexi.” Kenneth put his hand on his hips. “I’m surprised a famous decorator like yourself doesn’t know snowmen have heads.”

  “Unlike some real men I know,” Alyssa tossed out.

  Lexi laughed and glanced at Kyle again to make sure he was listening. He was. “Unfortunately there’s a real nut case who’s been going around the neighborhood taking the heads off snowmen. I’m not going to risk that. So mine is done as it is. Sleepy Hollow and the Headless Snowmen.”

  Quickly, Kyle covered his smile with a frown. “I heard it was justifiable snowman homicide.”

  Kenneth just shook his head. “It doesn’t look right. But if that’s the way you like your men, then you’d better stick with old Kyle here. He’s the only one who’d lose his head if it wasn’t attached.”

  A snowball slapped Kenneth in the back of the head. Laughing, he raised his index finger and said to Lexi, “Excuse me. I have something I need to take care of.”

  Then he was off at a run, scooping up snow and retaliating. Soon he and Kyle and Kenneth were all three exchanging zingers. The kids immediately joined in. Alyssa and Lexi worked their way to the relative safety of the porch.