I nodded, sensing the conversation was not going to go at all like I’d envisioned. I’d pictured Tim elated over the arrest of Curtis, thrilled I wanted to be with him. He’d take me in his arms, kissing me senseless.
One look at the angry set of his jaw confirmed that wasn’t going to happen.
Tim scoffed and started walking again. “That’s rich, Carol. You were willing to sacrifice the chance at real happiness because of something that might never happen? And now that the threat is gone, you’re ready to pick up where we left off?”
When he said it like that, it sounded bad. Made me sound like a twit, which I admittedly had been.
“You don’t get to make decisions for other people, in case you weren’t aware of the fact. You lied to me and now I’m supposed to just forget all about it? That’s not how things work, at least not with me. You wanted time, so now you have all of it in the world you’ll ever need. This conversation is finished.” Tim started walking faster, heading I knew not where.
Momentarily stunned by his words and his anger, I stood rooted to the spot, feet growing cold in the snow. I could let the best thing that ever happened to me walk away, or I could fight for him, for our love.
My dad hadn’t called me tenacious for nothing.
My long legs quickly covered the ground between us. I stepped in front of him, forcing him to stop as I gathered my thoughts.
“I didn’t lie,” I said, grabbing his arm when he turned away from me. “I did need time away from you, Tim. Every moment I spent with you made me fall more in love and it got harder and harder to think about walking away. I was so worried the man intent on doing me harm would eventually find me here and hurt those I care about. The last person in the world I’d want to hurt is you.”
He shook off my hand, crossed his arms over that burly chest, and glared at me. When he didn’t say a word, I rushed ahead.
“This is a long story that I’ll try to condense, but I couldn’t sleep so I got up super early this morning with a strong feeling of unease. When I went into the store, I found Mia McBride asleep in one of the chairs. She’d hid there all night and not told her family. I took her home and as I stood watching her reunite with her father and brother, I realized I can’t control the future and I can’t linger in the past. I need to live in the present and I’m really, really hoping you’re still interested in being part of it. I missed you so much, Tim, and I…” I hesitated to just blurt out my feelings, but today had been a most unusual day. “I love you.”
Despite my imploring looks, his face remained devoid of expression. “Look, I know I messed up. I should have been forthright with you instead of backing away from our relationship. I’m sorry, Tim. I’m truly sorry. But I sent you the text asking if we could talk long before Jason called to tell me about Curtis being arrested.”
The frown he’d worn since I started talking deepened. “Who’s Curtis?”
“The stalker. I dated him when I first moved to New York. He was an intern working for a photographer then. He never knew me as anyone other than Lyra, which is why he hadn’t found me here. But he tried to kill Blake, the detective pretending to be me, after breaking into my apartment. He won’t be bothering anyone for a long, long time.”
His head barely moved up and down in what might have been construed as a nod.
“Tim, I don’t know what else to say to you.” I threw my hands up in the air. “I was an idiot and a control freak and I regret my actions more than you can possibly know. I’m sorry. So very sorry. If you ever find it in your heart to forgive me, you know where to find me. I guess this is goodbye.”
My heart felt like it had been ripped in two and stomped to bits, but I turned away from him and started walking toward the house.
“When are you leaving for New York?” he called after me, his voice sounding rough and pained.
Unwilling to turn around and let Tim see the tears that streamed from my eyes and froze on my cheeks, I kept walking.
“Carol!” he yelled.
I heard the crunch of snow as he hurried to catch up to me. Without thinking, I broke into a run, focused only on reaching my car and going home.
One minute I was running in the snow, the next I was swept into Tim’s arms and held close to his chest.
“Baby, don’t cry,” he whispered, kissing my cold cheeks. “Please don’t cry.”
“I’m not going back to New York,” I said between sniffles.
Tim’s head shot up in surprise. “Say that again.”
I took a calming breath and looked up at him, at the face I so dearly loved. “I’m not going back to New York. I told Jason it was time for Lyra to retire. We’ll discuss the particulars in January. My home is here.” I placed my hand over his heart, hoping he understood I meant not just Christmas Mountain, but with him.
“I love you, Carol. So, so much,” he said and lowered his head to mine.
The sweet kiss he pressed to my lips soon turned into something more. Electric sparks sizzled and popped between us as passion and hunger infused the exchange.
The sound of cheers and clapping finally penetrated the feeling we were the only two humans in the world. My face turned red as we looked over by the barn to see Jack, the ranch hands, Charli, and even the vet watching us.
“It’s about time someone made you fall big time, Tim,” Jack hollered, waving his hat at him.
Tim chuckled and fell back in the snow while I yelled “Timber!”
We might have stayed there, keeping each other warm with tempting kisses if Brutus hadn’t bounded over and demanded attention. We got to our feet and let the dog know he wasn’t being ignored then headed back to the house.
Epilogue
I stood next to Joy off to the side of the stage in the community center on Christmas night, prepared to sing in tribute to Ms. King. All our friends were there with us: Ashley, Morgan, Emma, Faith, and Lexi.
Although she didn’t say anything, I knew Joy was nervous. She was a fabulous piano player, but it wasn’t until her fingers touched the keys that her anxiety fell away.
I was a little nervous, too. I’d peeked out at the audience and saw Tim there with Nancy, Charli, and Jack. Seated next to them was Mia McBride with her father and brother. My heart swelled to see them all there.
When it was our turn to take the stage, I nudged Joy and we walked out. The notes rang out clear and true from the old piano Steve, Joy’s neighbor and current love interest, had repaired. The community center still had a way to go in being restored to its former glory, but I intended to help it get there.
In no time at all, our song was at an end and we bowed, leaving the stage. After the show, I hurried out to find Tim. Mia ran up to me and engulfed me in an enthusiastic hug.
“Thank you for making today wonderful, Carol.”
“It was Santa and his elves,” I teased, returning her hug, then shaking her father’s hand and smiling at her brother.
“We owe you, Miss Bennett,” Mr. McBride said. “Anytime you need anything from us, all you have to do is ask.”
I nodded. “I appreciate that, sir. The only thing I’ll ask right now is that you spend some time becoming a family again.”
He nodded and wrapped an arm around Mia’s shoulder then kissed the top of her head. “We’ll definitely do that.”
Before I could say anything further, I felt a warm presence behind me and turned as Tim wrapped me in his arms. His cowboy hat, held in his left hand, bumped against my back as he gave me a hug.
“You sang like an angel,” he whispered in my ear as he bent his head close to mine. “You look like one, too.”
I’d taken extra care with my appearance, curling my hair, applying makeup, and wearing a sapphire blue dress a designer had created just for me. It always made me feel like a million bucks to wear it and from the appreciative glances Tim cast my way, he liked it, too.
“You don’t look so bad yourself,” I said, leaning back just enough to take in the way his broad shoulders fil
led out his suit jacket, western-cut, of course. “In fact, I think you’re the most handsome cowboy I’ve ever seen and that includes all the ones I’ve watched in all those old John Wayne movies.”
He grinned and my heart tripped in my chest. “How about we go back to your place and watch one of those movies?”
“I’d be up for that,” I said, not caring what we did as long as we were together. He went with me to get my coat and held it while I slipped it on. After I said my goodbyes to my friends and his family, we stepped outside into the crisp December air.
Tim looked down at me with a tender smile. “I’m making a promise to you, my beautiful Christmas Carol.”
“What’s that?” I asked, unable to think of anything that would make me any happier in that moment than being with Tim. His love was all I needed or wanted.
“If I never do anything else for the rest of my life, I’m gonna love you, Carol Bennett, with every bit of my heart. You mean the world to me.”
I reached up and nudged his head toward mine, until our lips were almost touching. “You mean everything to me and then some. Come on, cowboy, let’s go home.”
Only when Tim’s hand firmly clasped mine did we head toward my store, ready to walk into a future together, one filled with hope and so much love.
If you enjoyed spending time with these characters,
I hope you’ll read Lacey’s story in
Christmas Mountain Clean Romance Series Book 8
Pre-order it today!
~*~
Thank you for reading Between Christmas and Romance. I hope you enjoyed meeting Carol and Tim and reading their story. If you have just a moment, would you please leave a review so others might discover this book? I’d so appreciate it!
If you haven’t read them, please check out my other holiday books in the Rodeo Romance, Hardman Holidays, and Friendly Beasts of Faraday series!
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Recipe
Although Aunt Charli would undoubtedly make the entire cake from scratch, here is a quick and easy version of her spice cake. It’s moist, full of flavor, and so good on a cold winter day!
Spice Bundt Cake
Ingredients:
Cake
1 box vanilla cake mix
1 small package instant white chocolate pudding
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup oil
3 eggs
2 tablespoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
2 teaspoons nutmeg
Butter Sauce
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Directions:
Note: If desired, you can purchase a spice cake mix and omit the additional spices.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl, beat eggs until lightly mixed. Add water, vanilla, oil and sour cream and mix on low speed until blended then add cake batter and pudding and mix on medium speed. Add in spices. Beat until combined. The batter will be super thick, so don’t panic.
Scoop it into a greased bundt pan, evening it up as best you can. Bake for approximately one hour or until it starts to pull away from the edges of the pan.
Let cool completely then invert on a cake plate.
To make the sauce, combine butter, cream and sugar in saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring consistently, then reduce and simmer for about 10 minutes or until sauce thickens. Add vanilla, stirring well. Cool slightly then drizzle over cake.
Serve with ice cream or cinnamon-laced whipped cream. Yum!
Author’s Note
Happy holidays, dear reader! I’m so glad you’ve taken this little journey with me to Christmas Mountain. Wouldn’t it be a fun place to visit if it truly existed? I’d love to go there and hang out at Rudolph’s Reads with Carol and maybe spend the day at the ranch or indulge in one of Aunt Charli’s meals.
There are just a few little things I thought I’d share that inspired details in this story.
When I was asked to join this series, the character names were already established. Every time I saw Carol Bennett’s name, it made me giggle and think of Carol Burnett. Maybe that’s why I chose her! And it was easy to have Tim needle her about her name when they first met. The day I was sharing with Captain Cavedweller about her name and how I planned to have him mix it up on purpose, he thought I should give the hero a name she could make fun of, too, and suggested Tim Burke. It was perfect!
The scene where Carol is trying to exercise and rolls over to find a pair of feline eyeballs unsettlingly close to hers happened to me one morning with our loony cat. If you’ve ever tried to do crunches while keeping an attention-hungry cat at bay, you know just what I mean when I had Carol give up exercising and pet her cat instead. Hemi, like our whackadoodle feline, can be a loveable pest at times (okay, most of the time!).
You may have gathered from the story that Carol has a thing for tea. I love tea! It’s so delicious and comforting on a cold winter day and there are so, so many flavors of it to enjoy. One of my favorites for the holiday season is Nutcracker Sweet from Celestial Seasonings.
I grew up near a small town and it was fun to write about the people of Christmas Mountain coming together to give the McBride family a special Christmas. I could easily picture some people I know doing the same thing.
Thank you, again, for reading Between Christmas and Romance.
Wishing you and yours a beautiful holiday season!
Books by Shanna Hatfield
FICTION
HISTORICAL
Baker City Brides
Tad’s Treasure
Crumpets and Cowpies
Thimbles and Thistles
Corsets and Cuffs
Bobbins and Boots
Lightning and Lawmen
Pendleton Petticoats
Dacey
Aundy
Caterina
Ilsa
Marnie
Lacy
Bertie
Millie
Dally
Quinn
Evie
Hardman Holidays
The Christmas Bargain
The Christmas Token
The Christmas Calamity
The Christmas Vow
The Christmas Quandary
The Christmas Confection
The Christmas Melody
Hearts of the War
Garden of Her Heart
Home of Her Heart
Dream of Her Heart
CONTEMPORARY
Learnin’ The Ropes
Love at the 20-Yard Line
QR Code Killer
Rose
Grass Valley Cowboys
The Cowboy’s Christmas Plan
The Cowboy’s Spring Romance
The Cowboy’s Summer Love
The Cowboy’s Autumn Fall
The Cowboy’s New Heart
The Cowboy’s Last Goodbye
Holiday Brides
Valentine Bride
Summer Bride
Easter Bride
Rodeo Romance
The Christmas Cowboy
Wrestlin’ Christmas
Capturing Christmas
Barreling Through Christmas
Chasing Christmas
Racing Christmas
Keeping Christmas
Romance by Chance
Taste of Tara
Saving Mistletoe
Silverton Sweethearts
The Coffee Girl
The Christmas Crusade
Untangling Christmas
Welcome to Romance
Blown Into Romance
Sleigh Bells Ring in Romance
The Women of Tenacity
Prelude
Heart of Clay
Country Boy vs. City Girl
Not His Type
CHILDREN’S BOOKS
Steve the Mule
NONFICTION
A Cowboy Christmas
Farm Girl
Fifty Dates with Captain Cavedweller
Recipes of Love
Savvy Entertaining
Savvy Autumn Entertaining
Savvy Holiday Entertaining
Savvy Spring Entertaining
Savvy Summer Entertaining
Between Christmas and Romance Page 15
