Sweet Tidings

by Jean C. Gordon

  “Wow, I’ve always wanted to be a prop.”

  “This is serious,” Eric said in a too-stern voice he regretted as soon as his words were out.

  “I know, Dad.” Chris patted his shoulder. “I’ve never seen you so serious about a woman that you don’t just let whatever roll off you.”

  “Yeah, I’m so serious, it scares me.”

  Chris snorted.

  “You wait until it hits you.” Jeff waved his finger at him.

  Chris sobered. “I know. I’m afraid I’m halfway there.”

  “What else?” Jeff asked.

  “I meet Amanda instead of you.”

  “And?” Jeff prompted.

  “That’s all you need to know.”

  Because I don’t know for sure where I’m going from there.

  Amanda tapped the metal pie pan against her leg and rubbed her arm. It was 6:05. Where was Sonja? She didn’t mind helping her out with the pan she needed because she’d broken one of her glass pie pans. But it was getting chilly with no coat, just her teal cashmere sweater dress and gray leggings. And frankly she wanted to get home, practice what she was going to say to Eric tomorrow when she could get him alone and call it a day so tomorrow would come before she lost her nerve.

  She made one more round of the tree, noticing how the new lights brightened it—thankful that they’d arrived as expected—and stopped at her wish ornament she’d picked up at Coastal Creations last minute. It was a tradition for townspeople to hang ornaments on the municipal tree Christmas Eve morning or afternoon and make a wish. She had, and when she’d connected the plug lighting the tree, she’d felt a lightness in her chest. It could have been the awe of the decorated tree lit, but she was holding onto the belief that it signaled the granting of her wish.

  Her gaze dropped to the ornament below hers. It looked like it must be one painted at Coastal Creations. Scalloped bands of red and green ran around the top and bottom of the bulb. In between bold black letter said, “BES & AJS” with a smaller, finer “Forever?” written below. Amanda’s stomach flip-flopped. AJS were her initials. But she didn’t know anyone with the initials BES. And the AJS could be someone else. Or she could have a secret admirer. She laughed. One admirer was more than she could handle.

  “Like it?”

  Eric! She took another look at the ornament before turning. His initials were ES. She didn’t know his middle name. Her heart ignited as she faced him, but the spark fizzled when she saw Maya next to him. Amanda couldn’t help it. She dropped her gaze to the young woman’s left hand. No ring. Before her tightly strung emotions could process that, a motion to Maya’s left drew her focus there. To Chris, who had Maya’s hand firmly in his.

  “I know my work is spectacular, but I didn’t expect it to leave you speechless.”

  While his acting skill allowed him to pull off his comment in a teasing tone, his eyes were a study in uncertainty. Knowing she’d caused that uncertainty pinched her chest.

  “Here.” He tossed car keys to Chris, who glanced back and forth between her and Eric.

  “Don’t worry,” she said. “I’ll get him back for Christmas.”

  Chris raised an eyebrow in a fashion so like his father that she had to smile. He and Maya left hand-in-hand. She was going to have to ask about them. But more important things first.

  She titled her head as if seriously studying his artwork. “You obviously put a lot of work into your ornament. I assume I’m AJS. You could be ES, but what’s the B for? And why the question mark?”

  Eric’s chest puffed as if a weight had been lifted, and she couldn’t help reveling in the thought she had that power.

  “Burton. As in Burton Cummings, lead singer of the Guess Who. Mom was a huge fan. I’m your man if you need a tutorial on their lyrics or ever need a partner for Guess Who trivia. In fact, I’m not bad at 70s rock trivia in general. Mom had second thoughts on her name choice when she heard people at daycare calling me Burtie. From then on, I was Eric. I legally changed my name to Eric Burton Slade when I started acting.

  “I didn’t know any of that.”

  “Not many people do, but I want you to know everything about me.”

  “And that partner stuff is especially interesting, but it’s not trivia partnering I’m particularly interested in.” Her words lifted the pounds of fear and uncertainty, her guilt about hurting him, and the baggage of her past and blew them away as if they were nothing. She shook with the giddiness of freedom from them.

  “Here.” Eric fumbled in his leather jacket pocket for something, then helped her on with it.

  She snuggled into the soft lining, closing her eyes, and breathing in the scent of winter air and Eric. When she opened her eyes, he was on one knee holding an open ring box. “The ring in the picture,” she whispered.

  “Maya was helping me shop. I didn’t want to mess up. Get the wrong style. Wrong size. Something too ostentatious so you’d think I was trying to buy your love.”

  “Oh, Eric.” Tears clogged her throat. “I wouldn’t let you explain. I hurt you. Let you think I didn’t know, love the real you.” She went down on her knees in front of him. “I love the real Eric Slade, the fake boyfriend Eric Slade, the actor Eric Slade, and any others hiding in there.” She poked his chest.

  “And I understand why you shut me out,” he said

  Her eyes shined like beacons to him. Silently welcoming him into her heart.

  “But can we talk about sorrys and all that stuff later? I’m getting so off script I’m in danger of losing it.”

  She sat back on her heels and gazed with love at the most wonderful, fascinating, loving, and confounding man she’d ever met. Her man.

  “That look isn’t helping.” He swallowed. “Amanda Jade Strickland, I love you more than I fear I will ever be able to show you. Will you marry me?”

  She held her hand out for him, her fingers ice cold. “Yes Burton Eric Slade, I love you as I’ve loved and will love no other. Yes, I’ll marry you.” He touched her hand and her fingers warmed as he slipped on the ring. Amanda stretched out her arm. “It’s beautiful.”

  He stood and gave her a hand up. “You’re beautiful. Merry Christmas.”

  “Merry Christmas.” She lifted her face to him, and her gut wrenched. “I don’t have a Christmas gift for you.”

  “You just gave me the best Christmas gift a man could ask for.” He crushed her to him and sweetened that gift with the most searing kiss either of them could imagine.

  Epilogue

  New Year’s Eve 7:55 pm

  Amanda sat in the sitting room off the B&B’s ballroom trying not to chip off the lovely rose manicure Indigo Bay Nails and More had squeezed her in for this afternoon. Both her mother and Sonja had initially thought a one-week engagement was crazy. But she and Eric couldn’t wait.

  Not after talking for much of the night Christmas Eve and after Christmas dinner with her mother and Chris and Maya at Jeff and Sonja’s. They’d settled most everything from what to name the cats to where they’d live—her cottage, for now. Everything but who loved who more. They were leaving that a draw.

  She and Mom and Sonja had pulled off the wedding planning with the help of her other Indigo Bay friends and Eric’s “connections.” Sonja’s small New Year’s Eve party for her guests had been transformed into a wedding reception New Year’s Eve open house with word-of-mouth invitations.

  Amanda stood—not for the first time—smoothed the skirt of her gala gown, checked her reflection in the wall mirror, and adjusted the holly and mistletoe crown Sonja had cleverly fashioned for her in lieu of a veil.

  “Wedding day jitters?” her mother asked. “If you have any doubts…”

  “No doubts.” The harpist, a friend of Eric’s, started the wedding march, ending the conversation. Amanda picked up her bouquet of lava burst orchids. Eric again. She looped her arm through her mother’s and followed her attendants, Sonja, her daughter Lauren, and Maya to the ballroom entryway.

  Sonja had added a fe
w touches to the gala decorations and, rather than rows of chairs, round and larger rectangular tables had been arranged on either side of an aisle. They all looked full, but Amanda didn’t register any of the people who sat in them. She had eyes only for Eric, standing on the bandstand with the pastor of her and Mom’s church and Jeff, his best man. When her attendants cleared and he could see her, his eyes widened and softened with love. Her knees went weak.

  “Buck up, soldier,” her mother said. “We’re on.”

  Somehow she and Mom made it to the bandstand and up the steps.

  “Who gives this woman in marriage?” the pastor asked.

  “I do,” her mother responded and released her hand to Eric.

  When he took it, they smiled as one.

  “Dearly beloved …” the pastor began, “…Amanda Jade Strickland, do you take Eric Burton Slade …”

  She said her vows, tears streaming down her face by the time she finished with “I do.”

  Eric began his, projecting his voice as if he wanted the whole world to hear.

  “In sickness and health, till death do you part?” The officiant looked at Eric.

  Tears dampened her eye lashes. Eric had asked her if they could include that part of the traditional wedding vows, as if he needed to make one final affirmation to her of his love.

  “I do!” he boomed.

  “Then I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

  And kiss her, he did until a couple whistles and cat calls brought Amanda from the fog, and she ended the kiss.

  He offered his arm and pulled her tight to his side. “I suppose we have to stay here for a while,” he whispered.

  “Behave,” she whispered back.

  “If I do, will I finally get that private showing you’ve been teasing me with?”

  His gaze ran up and down her, causing a tingle that made her glad for his solid form beside her and strong arm to lean on.

  “Oh babe, will you …”

  Ready for another fun Indigo Bay Christmas Romance? Neither Gina Andrews nor Noel Hamilton is looking for love. But this holiday season, could love be looking for them? Click here to read Sweet Noel now and find out.

  Did You Miss One?

  If you’re ready to spend more time in Indigo Bay, we have stories for you to read! All of the stories are standalone and can be read in any order.

  INDIGO BAY CHRISTMAS ROMANCES

  Sweet Tidings by Jean C. Gordon

  Sweet Noel by Jeanette Lewis

  Sweet Joymaker by Jean Oram

  Sweet Yuletide by Melissa McClone

  Sweet Mistletoe by Elizabeth Bromke

  Sweet Carol by Shanae Johnson

  * * *

  INDIGO BAY SECOND CHANCE ROMANCES

  Sweet Troublemaker by Jean Oram

  Sweet Do-Over by Melissa McClone

  Sweet Horizons by Jean C. Gordon

  Sweet Whispers by Jeanette Lewis

  Sweet Complications by Stacy Claflin

  Sweet Adventure by Tamie Dearen

  * * *

  INDIGO BAY SWEET ROMANCE SERIES

  Sweet Saturday by Pamela Kelley

  Sweet Beginnings by Melissa McClone

  Sweet Starlight by Kay Correll

  Sweet Forgiveness by Jean Oram

  Sweet Reunion by Stacy Claflin

  Sweet Entanglement by Jean C. Gordon

  Sweet Dreams by Stacy Claflin

  Sweet Matchmaker by Jean Oram

  Sweet Sunrise by Kay Correll

  Sweet Illusions by Jeanette Lewis

  Sweet Regrets by Jennifer Peel

  Sweet Rendezvous by Danelle Stewart

  * * *

  HOLIDAY SHORT READS

  Sweet Holiday Surprise by Jean Oram

  Sweet Holiday Memories by Kay Correll

  Sweet Holiday Wishes by Melissa McClone

  Sweet Holiday Traditions by Danielle Stewart

  * * *

  Missing some books from your collection?

  Find out more about Indigo Bay at

  www.sweetreadbooks.com/indigo-bay

  About the Author

  For USA Today Bestselling author Jean C. Gordon, writing is a natural extension of her love of reading. From that day in first grade when she realized t-h-e was the word the, she’s been reading everything she can put her hands on. Jean and her college-sweetheart husband share a 175-year-old farmhouse in Upstate New York with their daughter and her family. Their son lives nearby. Connect with Jean on Facebook, as @JeanCGordon on Twitter, or on JeanCGordon.com.

  ALSO BY JEAN C. GORDON

  Thank you for reading my story. I hope you enjoyed it and all the other Indigo Bay stories you’ve read. Don’t miss out on any of my new releases. Sign up for my READERS GROUP NEWSLETTER to receive news about me, promotions, and giveaways. And I always appreciate when my readers take the time to leave an honest review of my books.

  LOVE CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY STORIES?

  Check out all of Jean’s

  HERE

  * * *

  THE NO BRIDES CLUB

  Six friends make a pact not to let love get in the way of their careers, and the No Brides Club is born. But could meeting the right man at the wrong time cause them to break their vows to each other?

  No Time for Love by Raine English

  No Time for Lullabies by Sydney Logan

  No Time for Promises by Lindsay Detwiler

  No Time for Temptation by Monique McDonell

  No Time for Apologies by Jean C. Gordon

  No Time for Surprises by Karen McCullough

  No Time for Goodbyes by Christina Butrum

  No Time for Romance by Raine English

  No Time for Detours by Jean C. Gordon

  No Time for Lates by Becky Muth

  No Time for Trouble by Monique McDonell

  No Time for Regrets by Karen McCullough

  No Time for Intrigue by Raine English

  No Time for Adventure by Jean C. Gordon

  No Time for Tears by Monique McDonell

  * * *

  TEAM MACACHEK

  Fall in love with the strong women and fearless men of the motocross circuit

  Mending the Motocross Champion

  (Meet teenage Jesse and Lauren)

  Holiday Escape

  A Team Macachek Christmas

  (Prequel to Sweet Entanglement)

  Christmas Pizza to the Rescue

  A Team Macachek Christmas Anthology

  (All three holiday novellas: Holiday Escape, A Team Macachek Christmas and Christmas Pizza to the Rescue)

  * * *

  UPSTATE NY...WHERE LOVE IS A LITTLE SWEETER

  Bachelor Father

  Love Undercover

  Mandy and the Mayor

  Candy Kisses

  Mara’s Move

  * * *

  LOVE INSPIRED

  FRESH-START FAMILIES

  Reuniting His Family

  A Mom for His Daughter

  THE DONNELLY BROTHERS

  Hometown boys make good…and find love

  Winning the Teacher's Heart

  Holiday Homecoming

  The Bachelor’s Sweetheart

  * * *

  ANTHOLOGIES

  THE MATCHMAKERS

  A Match Made in Williamstown