A Magical Christmas

Jess slouched in her seat. “I stopped believing in Santa when I was six, Dad. And no one writes letters anymore.”

“So?” Stuck behind a snowplow, he drummed his fingers on the wheel. “Send an email to the North Pole. Message him. Get him on Skype. Do whatever you teens do to communicate these days. The guy needs clues.”

Jess laughed. “Skype with Santa. That sounds like something Kayla would dream up.”

“It does.”

“So you’re basically telling me you don’t know what to buy me.”

“A few hints might be helpful. Do you really think I should buy something for Brenna? I never have before.”

“She’s living in our house. She’s going to be waking up with us on Christmas morning. It’s going to be super awkward if we all have presents and she doesn’t have anything to open.”

He turned left at the sign that said Snow Crystal Resort and Spa. “So maybe she would like to write to Santa, too.”

“He’s going to be a busy guy.” She leaned forward to look at the ski slopes. “The lift is still running. Can I squeeze in one run?”

“You have to do your assignment. What is it?”

“English. We’re studying Romeo and Juliet. Kill me now.”

“If your teachers think you should be studying it, then you should be studying it.” He slowed as he approached a couple pulling two kids on a sledge. “I have no idea what to buy Brenna for Christmas.”

“Do you know she was always given dolls and stuff for Christmas? She hated dolls. We should get her something she’d love. I’ll think of something.” She was out of the car before he could ask any more questions, leaving him to follow.

They walked into the house and were almost flattened by Ash and Luna. “You’d better take these two out for a quick walk.”

“I’m going over to Grandma’s later. They can come. Can I sleep over?”

“Sure.” Tyler saw Brenna’s coat hanging on the hook. “Are you eating with Grandma?”

“Yes, but I’ll grab a snack because I want to get this stupid assignment done before I go.”

He probably should have told her that the assignment wasn’t stupid, but she was already gone, her bag swinging against her hip as she walked into the den, Luna at her heels.

He opened his mouth to remind her that the dogs weren’t supposed to be in the den, and closed it again. With Jess occupied, this would be a good moment to talk to Brenna.

He took the stairs two at a time but heard the sound of the shower running and backed away again.

He was in the kitchen, contemplating the contents of the fridge with something close to gloom when she walked into the room.

Tyler almost swallowed his tongue.

Her dress was black and stretchy. Stretchy enough to sit snug and tight against every curve and dip. It was a dress designed for the woman with the perfect body.

And Brenna had the perfect body.

A body he’d made a point of ignoring until recently.

To make things worse, she’d added black stockings and a pair of shoes with heels that could have doubled as a lethal weapon.

If Jess had walked in dressed like that, he would have grounded her.

He slammed the fridge shut. “You’re planning on going through with it, then?”

“Excuse me?”

“This thing tonight. You’re going through with it.”

“It’s called a date, Tyler. And I’m not only planning on going through with it, I’m planning on enjoying it, too. Is that a problem?”

Yeah, it was a problem. Decking the chief of police was going to come with consequences. “The weather is bad tonight. Not the best night to be on the roads. You should cancel.”

“Because of the weather? Josh grew up here, like you and I. He’s driven in this weather since he got his license. If we stopped for the weather, we’d stop living.”

“It takes extra concentration, that’s all.” And he was willing to bet Josh would be distracted. Who wouldn’t be, with Brenna next to them? “Is that all you’re planning on wearing? You might want to pick something a little warmer.”

“This is the only dress I own, Tyler.”

He wondered how quickly he could get another dress delivered. “You should definitely wear a sweater. You need to cover up.”

“I don’t have a sweater that’s fancy enough.”

“I’ll call Kayla,” he said desperately. “According to Jackson, she brought half of New York City with her when she moved. He’s thinking of giving her a room especially for her clothes.”

“I’ll wear my coat. And Josh’s car will be heated.”

And she’d be in that car. With Josh. With those mile-long legs on display in those mile-high heels.

“You might be better in snow boots.”

“Snow boots?” She looked at him as if he’d gone crazy.

“We had two feet of snow this weekend.”

“But not in the restaurant, I hope.”

“How are you going to get from the car to the restaurant?”

“I don’t know, but I’ve been skiing Devil’s Drop since I was six, so I think I can manage to walk up a path.” Her eyes glinted with anger. “What is wrong with you?”

That was a question he couldn’t answer. “I didn’t have the best day.” But nowhere near as bad as his evening was going to be. “Look, I was hoping we could talk about Jess. She said something today. Has she confided in you? Said something?”

“Confided generally means someone doesn’t want you to disclose information.”

“But this is Jess. If you knew something bad was happening, you’d tell me, right?”

Her eyes skidded from his. “You should be having this conversation with her, not me.”

“I’m having it with you. She’s my daughter, Brenna! She’s vulnerable. If you know something, you should tell me.” He broke off as the door opened and Jess barreled in with two thoroughly overexcited dogs.

“I decided to walk the dogs now instead, so I’m going to Grandma’s and taking my English assignment with me.” Freezing air and snow followed her into the house. “Can you give me a lift, Dad?”

Ash shook himself, sending snow flying, and then caught sight of Brenna and bounded toward her.

“Sit!” Tyler roared, and the dog skidded to a halt and plopped onto the floor with an offended whine.

“We’re on our third lesson with Dana. He’s trying so hard.” Looking proud, Jess toed off her boots and then took her first proper look at Brenna. “Wow, you look amazing. Dad, you need to get changed. Wherever you’re going, if she’s wearing that, you can’t wear jeans.”

Tyler clenched his jaw. “We’re not going anywhere.”

“Brenna’s dressed like that to watch TV?”

“No, Brenna is going out. She has a date with Josh.”

“Josh?” Jess’s jaw dropped. Her expression went from astonished to horrified. “No way! You can’t do that.”

Brenna shifted on those high heels. “Jess—”

“I mean, that isn’t what—I wanted you to—” she shot an agonized look at her father “—why are you just standing there? Say something.”

He didn’t trust himself to say anything civilized so he focused on his daughter. “Let’s go. I’ll give you a lift to Grandma’s.”

“I can walk—”

“No, you can’t. The weather is awful. Have a great evening, Brenna.”

Jess planted her feet, more stubborn than the dogs. “Dad—”

“Move!”

“All right! Sorry for being alive.” Sending him a sullen look, she jammed her feet back into her boots and stomped to the car, a vision of injured innocence.

It was a four-minute drive to his mother’s house, and Jess used every second of those four minutes to tell him where he was going wrong in his life.

“Why are you letting her do this? She likes you, Dad!”

“Sure she does.” Distracted, he drove too close to the side of the road. The snow was piled in deep mounds, and he felt the wheels spin. “That’s why she’s going out with Josh. Makes perfect sense.”

“You are not allowed to do sarcasm. That’s my role. I’m the teenager, you’re the parent.” Jess clenched her fists in exasperation. “You didn’t see her the other night. We were watching you ski. She kept staring at the screen.”

“If you were analyzing skiing then of course she was staring at the screen.”

“That wasn’t what she was doing. She had this look on her face. Sort of faraway. And now she’s going out with Josh! Why are you letting this happen?”

“Last time I looked, I wasn’t in charge of who Brenna dates.” He turned the wheel to the left and steered the car skillfully out of the deeper snow. The surface was slick. Dangerous. “That is a whole lot of snow. We need to get this road cleared again.”

“Stop changing the subject. Brenna isn’t interested in Josh, Dad!”

“Then why is she going out with him? If you’re such an expert, perhaps you can tell me that!”

“I don’t know!” They were both yelling, and it struck him again how similar they were. It was like dealing with himself, and it wasn’t a comfortable situation.

“In my experience a woman doesn’t dress up in heels and a killer dress to date a guy she doesn’t like.”

“That’s the only dress Brenna owns. It’s not like she bought it specially or anything.”

“How do you know that?”

“I was with her when she unpacked, remember? She is a jeans-and-ski-pants person.”

“So why is she going on a suit-and-tie date with Josh if she isn’t interested in him?” He almost laughed at himself. He was so messed up he was asking advice on women from his thirteen-year-old daughter.

Jess stuck her feet on the seat and then caught his eye and put them down again. “Probably because you never asked her out yourself, and she wants to have a life. She doesn’t want to die old and withered without a sex life.”

Tyler almost swerved across the road. “What do you know about—”

“Don’t start, Dad. We are not going to have that conversation.”

“Fine!”

“Fine isn’t an answer.”

He gritted his teeth as she threw his words back at him. “I see her all the time. Every damn day.”

“You said damn. And seeing her around isn’t the same as asking her out on a proper date and giving her a chance to dress up and look cute.”

“Brenna doesn’t need to dress up to look cute. She looks cute in jeans.”

“Listen to yourself. How have you had so much success with girls? I don’t get it.” Jess bashed her head with her fist. “Dad, you need to do something. Go back there now and talk to her before Josh arrives.”

Tyler pulled up outside his mother’s house. “Look, I appreciate your interest in all this, but I can’t have a relationship with Brenna just because you like her.”

“You like her, too. You love her.”

“I love her as a friend.”

“Really? Then why have you been acting weird ever since she moved in? Why are you so angry she’s going on a date with Josh? If you were really just her ‘friend,’ you’d be pleased for her.”

Tyler opened his mouth and closed it again. He stared at the door of his mother’s house, framed by tiny lights and winter greenery.

Christmas.

Family.

Brenna wanted all that, he knew she did.

“We don’t want the same things.”

“How do you know? Did you ever ask her?”

“I’m not good for women.”

“Maybe it depends on the woman. And how you behave is your choice. You two are driving me crazy. ‘For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo.’ Shakespeare had obviously never met you and Brenna.” Jess opened the door and jumped out, dragging her bag with her. “See you tomorrow, Dad. Try not to be a jerk.”

“Wait. Jess, I want to talk to you about—”

“Good night. ‘A thousand times good night.’ That’s Shakespeare, although why Juliet says it a thousand times, I don’t know. Probably because Romeo wasn’t listening the first time. Men should wake up and pay attention.”

The door slammed.

Tyler flinched.

So much for open communication.

Maybe Jess was right. Maybe he should go back and ask Brenna straight out why she was dating the chief of police.

She’d tell him she’d always had feelings for Josh, and that would be the end of it.

He drove back as fast as he dared and pulled up outside Lake House behind Josh’s cruiser.

Relieved Jess wasn’t still sitting next to him, he cursed fluently and then strode into his house.

The sound of laughter told him that whatever her reasons were for dating Josh, she wasn’t under duress.

There hadn’t been a trace of a smile on her face when he’d been talking to her earlier.

Tyler managed what he hoped was an approximation of a civil smile. “Josh! That weather must be keeping you busy.” But not busy enough, he thought savagely, because you’re in my house with your hands on my—

My what?

My woman?

Brenna wasn’t his woman and never would be.

“Nothing we haven’t handled before.” Josh gave him an easy smile, and if he was aware of any tension in the atmosphere then he gave no sign of it. Out of uniform he looked younger, more relaxed.

Tyler guessed most women would find him handsome. He knew plenty who were interested. Including Brenna, it would seem.

He glanced at her but for once found her impossible to read.

Josh was looking at her, too. “You look incredible.”

“Really?” Her face brightened, and Tyler wished he’d been the one to pay her the compliment.

She did look incredible, something he’d been trying really hard not to notice.

“Can I get you that sweater, Bren?”

Josh reached out to help her with her coat. “She won’t need it. Car’s heated, and I have plenty of spare layers in case of emergencies. You might want to wear snow boots to walk to the car, though, Bren. Shame to ruin those pretty shoes. Unless you want me to carry you?”

Tyler seethed. “She’s better off walking. You might slip. And if you have any problems with the roads, you can call me.”

Josh looked at him steadily. “I’m pretty good at walking, and I think I can handle the roads, but thanks for the offer.”

“If it’s too much trouble to bring her home, call and I’ll come and get her. Doesn’t matter how late.”

“When I take a woman on a date, I see her home.”

A red mist formed across Tyler’s vision. “She—”

“Tyler!” Brenna’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “Don’t let us hold you up. I’m sure you have things to do. Have a good evening.”

A good evening? How the hell was he supposed to have a good evening, knowing she was with Josh?

He waited for the door to close and then groped his way to the den and reached for the whiskey bottle.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

“SO WE’VE BEEN seen by at least three of the biggest gossips in the place,” Josh said mildly, “which should ensure your mom knows you’re telling the truth about dating other people.” He broke off as a woman approached their table. “What can I do for you, Mrs. Cook?”

“Sorry to bother you when you’re not on duty, Chief—” she nodded pointedly to Brenna “—I was wondering if you’re going to be running that women’s self-defense class again.”

“You need to speak to Officer Marsh,” Josh said easily. “He keeps a waiting list. He’ll contact you when a new class is planned. Probably in the spring.”

“And you don’t think I’m too old to join?”

“No, ma’am.” Josh gave her a warm smile that had Mrs. Cook beaming in return.

“Well, I’m sorry for disturbing you. You two have a nice evening now. And that dress is just perfect on you, Brenna. You look like a picture.” She walked away, bumped into a table and Brenna grinned.

“Well, Chief. It seems you have yet another admirer. So you don’t drug them or use handcuffs, you just smile at them?”

“If only it were that easy.”

He was so patient, she thought. He had time for everyone. Tyler was unapologetically imperfect whereas Josh was perfect for her in every way, and she was being ridiculous. She was turning into someone who thought the grass was greener on the other side.

If she carried on like this, she was going to die old and withered, regretting all the opportunities she’d missed and the things she hadn’t done.

“Let’s go back to your place and have sex.” She blurted the words out and then gave a squeak of embarrassment. Oh, God, she shouldn’t have said it like that. She should have flirted or at least been more subtle about it. She should have kissed him and let things take their course. When Élise talked about it, she made it sound so normal and natural, but Brenna had never felt less natural in her life.

Josh put his fork down slowly. “Now? Or do you want to wait until after dessert?”

She didn’t know whether to laugh at herself or crawl under the table. “I didn’t mean it to come out like that. I’m sorry—”

“For what?”

“For—oh, I’m so bad at this. Why do I have to be so bad at this? Everyone else finds it so easy, and I want to die on the spot.” Mortified, she covered her face with her hands and then felt strong hands cover hers as Josh drew her fingers away from her eyes.

“If you die on the spot, you’d leave me with a whole lot of paperwork I don’t need right now.”

“You’re mocking me.”

“Honey, I’m not mocking you, and it’s a hell of an offer but I think we probably need to talk about it some more.” He shook his head as their waiter approached. “Not now. Thanks.” He was firm, decisive and their waiter backed away, glancing nervously between the two of them.

Imagining how that conversation would go down in the village store, Brenna felt her face burn up. “Did he hear me? I’m going to have to move back to Europe. I can’t believe I said that. I mean, I’d been thinking about it obviously, and—” She had no idea what to say or do, but Josh was smiling.

“I can’t believe you said that, either. Want to tell me why?”

“I think moving in with Tyler has driven me crazy.”

“You thought it was time to cure yourself of Tyler and that I might be the cure.” The fact that he was so calm and reasonable made it worse.

“I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be. I’m flattered you picked me.”

“I do care about you.”

“I know. I care about you, too, honey, which is why I’m still sitting here. If I weren’t an officer of the law, I might be tempted to handcuff Tyler and leave him attached to a tree until he’s had time to think through what he really wants.” His tone was mild but there was flint in his eyes.

“It’s not his fault.” She put her head in her hands. “What is wrong with me? Other people have emotionless sex all the time.”

“Thanks.”

“Josh, I don’t mean—”

“You can stop explaining. I’ve known you since you were four. There’s only ever been one man for you.”

“And he doesn’t want me. And I have to stop this. I have to move on. I can’t believe we’re talking about this. I never talk about it.” She leaned back in her chair, despairing, her emotions so close to the surface she couldn’t hold them back. “What am I going to do, Josh?” And then she realized it wasn’t fair to ask him, because he was in the same position as her. “I feel so bad, because I know you have feelings for me.”

“But they’re my feelings. I told you that already. Stop worrying about me, stop worrying about Tyler and start thinking about yourself. What do you want?”

She didn’t even know anymore. “I need to be honest, but if I tell Tyler how I feel, he’ll freak.”

“Maybe he wouldn’t. At least you’d know how things are. Isn’t it best to be sure?”

She stared at her wineglass. “I’m scared of ruining everything.”

“Scared?” Josh gave a faint smile. “Brenna Daniels, who once skied off the back of Baker’s Ridge in a white-out? You’re the bravest person I know.”

“I’m not good at speaking up. Generally, I’d rather dig my head in the snow and hope that by the time it has melted, the problem will have gone away.”

“This particular problem has been around for most of your life so I think it’s fair to assume it’s not going anywhere. Let’s get out of here.” Josh gestured to the waiter, and Brenna pulled out her purse.

“I’m paying. First I propositioned you, and then I whined all over you. You shouldn’t have to pay on top of that.”

“Give me a break, Brenna. If I don’t pay, it will be all over town, and Ellen Kelly will never let me in the store again.”

“In that case I’ll give you cash when we’re in the car.”

“Then it will look as if you’re bribing an officer of the law.”

They argued, he paid and then drove her home in silence, through swirling snow and darkness.

When he finally pulled up outside Lake House, he kept the engine running. “I’ll wait until you’re safely inside.”

“I had a really good time. And I’m really sorry about—well, you know. Basically everything.” Feeling really awkward, she picked up her purse. “Do you want to come in for a coffee or something?” Oh, God, why had she said or something? Now it sounded as if she was propositioning him again, but Josh simply smiled.

“I think there’s only so much Tyler can stand in one evening, and we’ve probably already pushed him past his limit.”

Brenna sat, watching the snow drift past the windshield and melt away on the hood. “He doesn’t think of me that way.”

Josh breathed out slowly. “Brenna—” his voice was patient “—why do you think he was so angry when I came to pick you up?”

“He’s protective, I know that.” She stared at the snowladen trees, remembering the fun they’d had playing in the forest. “I’m like his little sister.”

“I have a little sister. I’m protective. Doesn’t mean I want to strangle every guy she brings home.” He turned his head, and his gaze locked on hers. “He cares about you, Bren. That business with Janet freaked him out, and he’s backed off relationships ever since.”

“I know. He was torn up over losing Jess.”

“Which is crazy when you think about it because a man like him shouldn’t have wanted to be saddled with a baby.”

“He’s a wonderful father, and he has always adored her.” She leaped to his defense, and Josh sent her a look of exasperation.

“I’m starting to think I should lock the pair of you up overnight. Then you’d be forced to talk.”

It rose inside her, that dangerous thing called hope. “No!” She tugged off her shoes and pushed her feet into her snow boots. “I’m not going to do that. I’m not going to imagine something that isn’t there and want something I can’t have. I don’t want to live my life that way.”

“Maybe it’s time to tell him how you feel.”

“And then what? He tells me he doesn’t feel the same way and it’s so awkward and embarrassing I have to leave my job? There is nowhere to go after a conversation like that. I wouldn’t be able to look him in the eyes. Good night, Josh.” She was out of the car before he could say anything else, her shoes dangling from her fingers. She jammed her key into the lock, relieved when he drove away but feeling guilty because he was a good friend, and she couldn’t be what he wanted her to be.

Everyone was in love with the wrong person, she thought dully. It was like a stupid movie where the ending was like a giant car crash. The type of movie she hated.

Closing the door, she dropped her shoes on the floor, tugged off her boots and hung up her coat.

Tyler’s jacket hung on the hook next to hers. She ran her hand over it, touched the fabric and then leaned in and buried her face in it.

“You’re late.” His voice came from behind her. “I was worried.”

She jumped and turned, heart pounding, scrabbling for an explanation as to why she’d been nestling in his coat. “I—I lost my balance.” And fell with my nose in your coat.

Oh, crap—

“Right.” He gave her a strange look. “Did you have a good time?” He stood in the doorway of the den, his powerful frame almost filling the space. His jaw was unshaven and his feet were bare. He looked strong, muscular and so handsome, it almost hurt to look at him.