A Diamond For Christmas

Shannon cast a quick glance at Finley, who was being carried by her dad. Her eyes had grown huge. Her mouth was a little O, as if she were totally surprised or totally horrified. When she threw arms around Rory and buried her face against his neck, Shannon guessed she was horrified.

Rory held her tightly. “Finley, honey, we’ve been over this already. I told you the store would be decorated for the holiday. I told you there would be Christmas songs.”

Finley only snuggled in closer.

After the lovely weekend that had caused her to begin to bond with a man and child she couldn’t have, Shannon had promised herself she would keep her distance. No more private conversations with Rory. No more helping to discipline Finley.

But a frightened child had to be an exception to her rule. She grabbed Rory’s hand and led him in the direction of the elevators.

“Come on,” she said, ignoring the thump, thump, thump of her heart from the feeling of Rory’s hand tucked inside of hers. “Before you know it we’ll be in my office where, I swear, there isn’t as much as a poinsettia.”

Pushing through the crowd, Shannon got them to the elevator and immediately dropped Rory’s hand. She pressed the button for the third floor. The door closed, blocking out most of the sights and scents of Christmas, but “Jingle Bells” still piped into the little box.

Finley huddled against Rory. She wasn’t upset or panicky. Just huddled. Once they got into the undecorated administrative offices she would be fine.

Shannon faced Rory. “Even though we lost the weekend, we can get down to work right away. There are four administrative departments. Buyers, human resources, accounting and advertising. If you take one day with each department, that will give you a full day on Friday to walk the store and some time for questions and explanations.”

“Sounds good.”

The elevator reached the second floor. “Jingle Bells” became “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.” Finley looked to be getting antsy, so Shannon kept talking. “I only have four departments because I combined a lot of things for efficiency.”

“That makes sense—if you’ve combined the right departments.”

“MIS with accounting. Public relations with advertising.”

He shrugged. “Should work.”

The elevator pinged. Shannon sucked in a breath. Though they were entering the housewares department, it was as decorated with shiny red, green and blue ornaments as every other floor in the store. And the Christmas music? Well, that was piped everywhere, except into the administrative offices. So “Rudolph” still echoed around them.

She hurriedly ushered Rory around the tables of sheets and towels, past the shelves of small appliances, past the rows of dishes, glasses and stemware.

When they finally reached the swinging door into the administrative offices, she pushed it open with a sigh of relief. The second it swung closed behind them, “Rudolph” became a soft hum. As they hurried down the hall, even the hum echoed away.

At the end of the long, thin corridor, she opened the door that led to her office suite. Wendy was already seated at her desk.

“Good morning, Ms. Raleigh.”

Shannon shrugged out of her coat. “No need to be formal for Mr. Wallace’s sake. We spent the weekend together.”

Wendy’s eyes widened. “The whole weekend?”

Rory slid Finley to the floor and helped her out of her little pink jacket. “Couldn’t get to my car until today.”

“It was a mess,” Wendy agreed, scrambling to take Finley’s coat and Rory’s topcoat and hang them on the coat tree. “So what are you planning for today?”

“Since we’re late, I’m only introducing Rory to the staff this morning. Then he can pick a department to spend time with this afternoon.”

Wendy said, “Sounds good to me,” but her gaze fell on Finley.

Rory put his hands on his daughter’s shoulders. “She’ll just come with us.”

Since she’d promised herself she would distance herself from Rory and Finley, Shannon didn’t argue that Finley would be bored. Instead, she set her briefcase on her desk then led the Wallaces into the hall again.

“Accounting is in the suite closest to the door. Buyers are in the next suite. Advertising and PR are in the third suite and the human resources department is on the fifth floor. They need extra space for testing and continuing education so they have half the floor. The cafeteria has the other.” She met Rory’s gaze. “So where to first?”

With a quick glance down at Finley, he said, “Let’s just stay behind the door for as long as we can.”

Understanding that he didn’t want to take Finley out into the decorations and music until he had to, Shannon said, “How about buyers then?”

“Sounds great.”

She led Rory and Finley to the first door and opened it onto a narrow office with a row of desks that led to an executive office in the back. Papers were everywhere. Invoices, catalogues, samples.

Shannon faced him. “I’m sure you’re not surprised that we’re finalizing our spring merchandise.”

He laughed. “Not in the least.”

She stopped at the first desk. “Lisa, Robbie, Jennifer, Bill…” All four employees glanced up at her. “This is Rory Wallace. He’s our first prospective buyer.”

Everyone perked up. Superenthusiastic hellos greeted Rory. He stifled a laugh. Everybody was clearly trying to give a good first impression.

He met Missy McConnell, the head buyer, then Shannon herded him and Finley out of that office and into accounting. Five desks had been crammed into the narrow space and everyone sat staring at a computer screen.

Having already established a drill, Shannon simply introduced people as she walked by their desks. Though this group looked a little more wary than the enthusiastic buyers, Rory nodded and smiled.

In department three, advertising and PR, copy layout littered a big table in the center of a much wider main room. Employees sat at drafting table desks. The department head, John Wilder, was just a tad too happy for Rory’s tastes. Finley wasn’t thrilled with him, either.

“So are you going to sit on Santa’s lap?”

Finley’s little mouth tuned down into her perfect U frown. “No.”

“Ah. Too old for that now, huh?”

“No, I don’t believe he exists.”

John laughed, but Finley tugged on Rory’s hand. “I don’t like it here.”

Rory covered for her with a little laugh. “We’ve been meeting people since we arrived. She’s probably ready for a break.”

Shannon moved them toward the door. “That’s a great idea.” In the hall, she stooped in front of Finley. “How about if we go up to the cafeteria and have a soda?”

Her little mouth pulled down even farther. “I want to go home.”

Shannon shot a glance up at Rory, and he crouched beside Finley. Putting his hands on her shoulders, he said, “I told you this would be boring and you said you didn’t care as long as we went to the beach afterward.”

Her bottom lip puffed out. “I know.”

“So you’ve got to keep up your end of the bargain.”

Her lip quivered. “I don’t have anything to do while you talk.”

“Things will slow down this afternoon and we’ll stay in one department. We’ll find you a chair and you can sit and play on your computer.”

“It’s noisy when you talk.”

“It is,” Shannon agreed suddenly. “And lots of those offices don’t have room for an extra chair.”

Rory glanced up at her, mortified that she was agreeing with Finley, ruining his defense.

“So why don’t we set you up in my office? Wendy will be right outside the door, if you need anything. And I have a TV in case your computer games get boring.”

“If you have Wi-Fi, I can watch TV on my computer.”

Shannon laughed. “My screen’s bigger.”

Finley laughed, too.

Rory peeked over at Shannon again. Her abilities with Finley were amazing. She’d said she’d babysat some of her friends’ kids, but she seemed so much smarter than a part-time, fill-in caregiver.

Unless he was just lacking?

Ah, hell. Who was he kidding? Ever since Finley entered this new diva phase, he’d been behind the eight ball, playing catch up rather than proactively parenting. Shannon, an objective person, knew exactly what to do because she saw things more clearly than he did.

They walked Finley back to the office at the end of the hall. Wendy looked up as they entered. “That was fast.”

Shannon said, “We took a quick introduction tour and Finley got bored. So, we’ve decided to let her watch TV in my office while we go up to human resources.”

Wendy rose. “That’s a great idea. I also think we have some cola in your refrigerator…maybe even some candy.”

“No candy before lunch,” Rory said.

Shannon smiled. “I should think not. We’ve got a great cafeteria upstairs.” She caught Finley’s gaze. “They make the best French fries. Give us an hour to talk with the people in human resources and I’ll race you upstairs. Winner gets a milk shake.”

Finley gasped with excitement. Wendy laughed and took her hand. “You two go on. Finley and I will channel surf until we find some cartoons.”

When they were in the hall, Rory ran his hand along the back of his neck. “Thanks.”

Shannon began walking up the hall. “For what?”

He hurried to catch up with her. “For being so good with Finley.”

“Finley is a very easy child to love.”

That made him laugh, but Shannon didn’t join him. “You’re serious.”

For that she stopped. “Yes. Why are you surprised?”

He pointed at his chest. “I love her because she’s mine. But this diva phase has even me backing off sometimes.”

“That’s because you take everything too personally.”

“She is my daughter.”

“Right.”

“You know, we’ve got five whole days of entertaining her.”

“I know.”

“And Finley’s not going to settle into your office for an entire week and just play baby angel.”

That time she did laugh.

“So what do you say we form an alliance?”

She peeked at him. “An alliance?”

“A partnership. My side of the bargain is that I need help. Your side is to provide that help. It’s win-win.”

She laughed again.

And something soft and warm floated through Rory. He hadn’t exactly forgotten what it felt like to be in the company of a woman, but he had forgotten some things. Like how everything around them always smelled pretty. Or how their laughs were usually musical.

“I love it when you laugh.”

Shannon took a step back, and though she’d pulled away before, avoided him before, this morning it gave him an odd feeling in the pit of his stomach. She had a real problem with him complimenting her.

After nearly three days together he should be at least allowed to compliment something neutral like her laugh.

“Why does that make you mad?”

She started walking again. “It doesn’t make me mad.”

“It makes you something because you stopped laughing. Pulled away.” He paused, watching her race away from him. “Now you’re all but running away.”

“We have work to do.”

“And we also spent the weekend together. We can’t spend the week behaving like strangers.”

“Not strangers, just people working out a business deal.”

Catching up to her, he said, “Ah, so this is your business face.”

She motioned a circle in front of the bright red jacket of her suit. “This is the whole business demeanor.” Then she sighed. “Look, I’m seriously trying to sell you my store. It would help if you’d forget that I love to sled-ride. And that I can’t cook. And I haven’t even started decorating for Christmas yet.”

He studied her pretty blue eyes, which were shiny with what he could only guess was fear that something personal might cause him to walk away from their negotiations. His voice was soft, careful, when he said, “Why would that help? People who like each other usually make better deals.”

She looked away. “Friendships can also backfire.”

Ah. “Did you have a friendship backfire?”

“No, I’m just saying—”

“And I’m just saying relax. We like each other—” For once he didn’t try to deny it. All weekend long he’d been coming to know her, getting to like her. Being trapped in her little house with a strong desire to kiss her hadn’t been good. But in a store filled with people and with a business deal to discuss she had nothing to fear.

Or was that he had nothing to fear?

No matter. They were both safe.

“We got to be friends over the weekend. I’ve even asked for help with Finley. Surely, I should be allowed to say you have a pretty laugh.”

She stiffened. Then, as if realizing she was making too much out of nothing, she drew in a breath. “Yes. Of course, I’m sorry.”

“No need to be sorry. Just relax.”

She smiled. “Okay.”

“Okay.”

They spent an hour in human resources and returned to her office to pick up Finley for lunch. In the huge, bustling cafeteria they drank milk shakes and ate French fries. But Finley tossed her head back and covered her ears when “Here Comes Santa Claus” replaced the more sedate Christmas song that had been playing.

“You know what puzzles me?” Shannon said, tugging one of Finley’s hands away from her ears. “How can you watch cartoons?”

Finley’s eyes narrowed.

Shannon picked up a French fry. “I mean, they’re not any more real than Santa. Yet you like cartoons. Wendy told me you did.”

Finley’s mouth scrunched up.

Shannon dipped her fry in ketchup. “So why don’t you start thinking of Santa the same way you do a cartoon character?”

Finley glanced at Rory and he laughed. “It sounds perfectly logical to me.”

Finley raised her gaze to the ceiling as if she could see the music.

“Listen to the words and pretend Santa is a cartoon character.”

Finley’s face contorted with little-girl concentration, then she smiled. “It’s funny.”

“Of course, it is. That’s why people like to listen. It makes them laugh.”

As if to prove that, Finley giggled.

Rory laughed, too. But when he realized he was laughing and Finley was laughing because Shannon had turned Finley’s hatred of Christmas songs into acceptance, his laughter stopped.

This woman was really special.

Really special.

She wasn’t just pretty or sexy or even really smart. She was attuned to life. People. It was as if she saw things other people missed and knew how to use that information to make everybody feel wanted, needed…happy.

He said nothing as they returned to her office and deposited Finley with Wendy. But when they entered the office for the buyers that afternoon, he noticed something that he probably could have noticed that morning if he’d been clued in to look for it. These people loved her.

“So what are you going to do, Shannon, if the store sells?”

That question came from Julie Hughes, a woman in her twenties who gazed at Shannon with stars in her eyes, as if she were the epitome of everything Julie wanted to be when she got a little older.

“I’m not sure.” Shannon smiled, casually leaned her hip on the corner of Julie’s desk, clearly comfortable with her staff. “This is only Mr. Wallace’s first day here. He may look around and decide he doesn’t want to buy us.”

“He’d be crazy,” Fred Cummings said, leaning back in his chair. “We make a ton of money.” He pointed at Shannon. “Due in no small part to changes this woman made after her dad let go of the reins.”

Shannon laughed. “I did a few things. They’ve only been up and running a few months.”

Fred said, “Right.”

But Rory got the message. Fred wouldn’t push anymore because he wouldn’t insult the last company president, Shannon’s dad, in front of Shannon. But it was clear things hadn’t always gone so smoothly at Raleigh’s Department Store.

Heading back to the administrative officer, he said, “This is some place.”

Though she’d downplayed her efforts in front of her staff, in the hall, away from anyone who could see, her face blossomed with pride. “Thank you.”

“But I do have one really big question.”

“Fire away. There’s no question too sacred.”

“Why are you selling Raleigh’s? It’s clear you love this store. You’re also very good at what you do. Why would you want to give it up?”

“My parents need the money from the sale to fund their retirement.”

“Right. I get that. But you love it.” He paused, then asked the question that had been bothering him for the past few hours. “Why don’t you buy it?”

She stopped. Faced him. “I tried. I couldn’t get financing.”

“Oh. Did you try finding a partner?”

“Are you offering?”

He winced. “My family doesn’t partner. We either buy outright or nothing at all.”

“I didn’t think so.”

But Rory wasn’t so easily put off. “You said I’m the first person you approached. Surely there are others, investors who might consider a partnership—”

She laughed slightly. “Rory. Are you trying to talk me out of selling to you?”

“No. It’s just that it’s obvious to me that you’re going to miss the store.” He paused. When she didn’t reply, he said, “There’s more to this story. I need to hear it.”

For a few seconds it looked like she wouldn’t reply. Finally she said, “I’ve actually only been working at the store a year. My husband had unceremoniously dumped me and I was devastated. So I came home. I expected to sleep away the next few months, but my dad wouldn’t let me.” She smiled, as if remembering. “Anyway, he got me working in the store, and when he retired a few months ago, he made me company president. Nobody expected that I’d blossom the way I did. I like the work enough that I could have stayed here the rest of my life.” She shrugged. “But my parents need the money, so I have to move on. But, on the bright side, at least now I know what I want to do with my life.”

“Run another store?”

“Maybe. Or maybe just head up the buyers.” She smiled. “Or the advertising department, public relations…”

He laughed. “You won’t be happy unless you can have your finger in every pot.”

But even as he laughed, an uncomfortable lump formed in his stomach. “I feel like I’m taking away your dream.”

She shook her head. “Running my parents’ store is not my dream. It’s just a really great job.”

“So what is your dream?”

She started walking again, but he’d seen the sadness that shadowed her face.

If he wasn’t taking away her dream by buying the store, something was up with her. He considered that maybe she couldn’t handle another change in her life only one year after her divorce. But she was a strong, competent woman. He believed her when she said she was over her ex and the accompanying sadness from her divorce.

So what was it?

Why did he know, deep in his gut, that something serious haunted her and somehow, some way, he contributed to it?

He caught her arm and stopped her.

When he didn’t say anything, she said, “Question?”

He stared into her pretty blue eyes. All the physical reactions he’d held at bay all weekend came flooding back. Only now they were combined with emotions. He cared about her. He cared about her a lot. He didn’t want to take away her dreams. He liked her.

The urge to kiss her itched through him again and he was growing tired of fighting it. Tired of fighting the first good thing that had happened to him in two long years.

When his head lowed toward hers, he didn’t try to stop himself. For the first time since his divorce, he wasn’t just physically attracted to a woman. He liked her.

Their lips met tentatively, just a quick brush. But response shivered through him. Attraction. Arousal. Wonderful forgotten sensations that he’d avoided, ignored or smothered over the past two years.

He deepened the kiss, pressing his mouth against hers and though he felt her hesitate, she pressed back.

She liked him.

Just when he would have deepen the kiss, made it a real kiss, she pulled away.

Smoothing her hand along her cascade of dark curls, she turned and started up the hall again. “We should get back to Finley.”

CHAPTER SIX

AT SIX O’CLOCK that night Rory and Finley stepped into a very comfortable hotel room. A double bed sat in the middle of the room, and, as he’d requested when he made his reservation, a cot for Finley sat beside the bed. As he tossed their suitcases into the closet and slid his briefcase onto the desk, the feelings from the kiss he’d shared with Shannon that afternoon still vibrated through him. Unfortunately, all those wonderful sensations were mitigated by the awkwardness afterward. Worse, he couldn’t stop thinking about Shannon herself. Her future. What would she do without the store?

He might not be taking away her “dream” but he was taking away her job. And maybe her home. With only one department store in her small city, there was no other store in town for her to manage. She’d definitely have to move away.

They’d been so busy all afternoon that she’d easily avoided talking abut her life and that kiss. But he had to talk to her again. He couldn’t sit here in a hotel all night and wonder. Plus, he’d finally figured out she probably didn’t want to talk about her decisions in the hallway of an office where she could be overheard.

Finley shrugged out of her jacket, but he pushed it up her arms again.

“Hey!”

He stooped down in front of her. “I have a favor to ask.”

She blinked.

“You know how Shannon took us in this weekend?”

She nodded.

“Well, she did us a favor.”

She tilted her head in question. “Uh-huh.”

“So now we have to return the favor.”

“We do?”

“Yes.” He pulled in a breath. It wasn’t a fabulous plan, but it was the only plan he could come up with, so he was running with it. “Shannon was supposed to decorate her house for Christmas over the weekend.”

Finley’s eyes grew round and large. She wasn’t a dummy. She knew what was coming.

He sucked it up and just told her straight out. “But because we were in her home, she didn’t decorate. She entertained us. So since we owe her for taking us in, I was thinking we should go to her house and help her do the work she would have done had we not needed her help.”

He’d couched his request in such a way Finley would see how much they were in Shannon’s debt. Still, she frowned. “I don’t want to.”

“I don’t doubt that. But didn’t she give you a way to think about Christmas today that made it seem easy for you?”

“Yeah.”

“So, she’s done us more than one favor and now we’re going to repay her. That’s the way life works.”

Her lower lip jutted out.

He rose anyway. “Suck it up, kid. We owe her. We’re doing this. And no hissy fits or diva behavior. You might not like Christmas but Shannon does and I won’t spoil this for her. So we’re going.”

She sighed heavily but didn’t argue.

He found a phone book and ordered Chinese food before shepherding Finley back to the car. They stopped for the takeout food, and were on Shannon’s front porch within the hour.

She answered their knock quickly, as if she’d been standing right by the door. When she saw them, a smile of pleasure blossomed on her pretty face, making Rory realize he’d made the right choice. “Hey.”

He held up the Chinese food. “I brought a peace offering.”

She motioned for them to step inside. “Peace offering?”

He handed her the bags of food, and wrestled out of his topcoat. “We wasted your entire weekend. So we decided to help you decorate.”

Her gaze flew to Finley. “Really?”

“Yes.” He glanced down at his daughter. “Right?”

Finley sighed. “Right.”

Shannon led them into the kitchen. “Well, thank you very much. I can use the help.” Depositing the food on the center island, she added, “Would you rather eat first and decorate second, or eat as we decorate?”

“How about eat as we decorate?” He slid his gaze to Finley, hoping Shannon would get the message that if Finley was busy eating then she wouldn’t actually have to decorate. An easy way to avoid trouble.