Almost a Christmas Bride

Except, she was Shana Callahan’s daughter, after all. Maybe like mother, like daughter.

He went into the living room and stoked the fire, adding a log, then sat in his chair, leaving the sofa for them. They came running back into the room, Shana scooping her up and whirling her around. It was a homey moment, one played out in houses around the world all the time, but a first for him. They were a family unit, Shana and Emma. Shana would be there day in and day out, taking care of the house, helping with his business, in his line of sight a great deal of the time, and sleeping nearby.

A wife but without the conjugal benefits, he thought.

He’d sort of considered that before, but having her here finally brought it home, the enormity of what he’d offered her—she’d be an almost wife.

And what she considered a negative—their sparring—he enjoyed. A lot. She was usually direct, her honesty startling at times, but he wished he knew why she was edgy around him. He hadn’t noticed her having the same reaction or behaving the same way with anyone else.

“Baby girl, you are wet. You need your diaper changed,” Shana said.

“Diappy.”

“Exactly.” Shana looked at Kincaid. “We should probably go. I’ll change her at home.”

But you just got here. He was caught between relief and disappointment. “Okay.”

They put their jackets on. He followed them out the door and down the steps, waiting as Emma was buckled into her car seat.

“Say bye-bye to Kincaid,” Shana said to her, not shutting the door yet.

“Bye-bye.” She waved. “Kinky! Bye-bye!”

Apparently, she warmed up at the thought of leaving. “Goodbye, Miss Emma. I’ll see you soon.”

Shana shut the door, got in the car and started the engine. She rolled down the window, then she stared out the windshield, as if working up the nerve to say something.

Kincaid crouched and waited.

“Thank you for the job. And I’ll try not to argue with you,” she added with a small smile. “Not sure I can follow through on that one.”

“Baby steps, Shana. Just be honest. That’s all I ask.”

“You, too,” she said.

He tapped the car with his open hand to end the conversation, then stood. He could be honest with her—to a point. They both had reputations to uphold, after all. He intended to do just that. “It’s cold. You should get going.”

“See you Saturday,” she said with a wave, then she was gone.

He watched until her taillights were out of sight. He didn’t think he’d ever forget the look on her face as she’d thanked him. It had humanized her for him in a way that he hadn’t acknowledged about her before. He’d been told she was well liked by many other people, but at times it was as if she’d gone out of her way for him not to like her.

Until now.

He was glad he’d seen it for himself. He saw hope, even that they could become friends through all this.

Time would tell.

Shana carried Emma up the stairs from the salon to her apartment. How tiny the place seemed after seeing Kincaid’s. A few minutes ago, she’d almost told him about her past, but had stopped herself in time and only thanked him. A lot of people knew she’d moved around a lot, but not many other details. She hadn’t wanted rumors to spread, especially since she’d already come back to town as a single mother.

Only her immediate family knew the circumstances—and Aggie. For all that Aggie loved a good bit of gossip, she’d kept Shana’s situation to herself, even quoting her hero, Henry Ford—”‘Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.’”

Shana hoped she could live up to Aggie’s expectations, and wished her parents had been as generous. They’d been much slower to put the past behind.

Maybe she was being too hard on them. Her mother had come a long way in forgiving Shana for leaving and also accepting her back, but Shana sometimes wondered if it was more because of Emma, not her. Her father, always the strong, silent type, still rarely spoke to her. He’d mostly been the reason she’d run away—him and her own rebellious nature.

She wanted forgiveness from her father for that. Since he wasn’t one to share his feelings, she doubted she would ever hear those words from him.

“I love you, peapod,” Shana said to her daughter as she set her down to change her.

Emma hadn’t learned to say I love you, yet. Shana was looking forward to it. She didn’t have any memories of her parents saying those words.

“How about a bath?” Shana asked.

“Bath!”

That was an enthusiastic yes.

After Emma had a splashy swim and two books read, Shana tucked her into her crib, then she fixed a cup of tea and sat down for what felt like the first time all day. Filled boxes were stacked in one corner of the living room, waiting to be taken to Kincaid’s.

She closed her eyes and leaned her head against the sofa, then the phone rang. Her sister.

“Hey, Dix! It’s 6:00 a. m. where you are.”

“How do you do that?” Dixie asked with a laugh. “I always have to look at the clock and count the time difference on my fingers.”

“We all have our talents.”

“I guess we do, math whiz. I got your message, but Joe and I were out of cell phone range. What’s up?”

“I have … interesting news. I got a job. A full-time, permanent position, right here in Chance City.”

“That’s wonderful! What is it?”

“I’ll be working for Kincaid.” Shana waited for her sister’s reaction. Dixie knew how Shana felt about Kincaid.

“Really? Is he hiring a bodyguard, too?”

Shana laughed. She missed her sister so much. If only they could be sitting on the sofa together, talking about this situation over tea. “Very funny, Dix.”

“Well, there is the whole I-can’t-stand-Kincaid thing you’ve had going since the day you met him. You two are like oil and water sometimes.”

“I know, but it’s a chance to make a good life for Emma and me. I can’t turn that down.”

“You really have grown up.”

“I hope so. And some of that credit belongs to you. I couldn’t have made it without you, Dix, and that’s no exaggeration. But as grateful as I am, I can’t continue to clean the salon. I’m not going to have enough time.”

“What all are you going to be doing?”

“Everything. Helping with his business, drumming up design work, taking care of his home.”

“His home?”

“I’m moving in. Emma and I will be living there.”

There was a long stretch of silence. “Live-in? Really, Shana, is that wise?”

“I don’t know yet. I guess I’ll find out. But Dix, it means I can save money. In time I can have the life I’ve wanted for Emma and me.”

“But … living together, Shana?”

“He hired me through At Your Service. It’s all on the up-and-up.” She sounded defensive, even to herself. “Look, I know it seems odd, but I’m getting used to the idea. I think it’ll work out fine.”

“What will Mom and Dad say?”

Shana wished she could say she didn’t care, but it wasn’t true. “They’ll probably be embarrassed or offended. I can’t change that.”

“Well, you’re an adult. You get to make your own decisions. As for the job at the salon, Jade could use the money, I’m sure. She’ll take it on, as well as her receptionist duties.” Dixie yawned, then laughed. “Sorry. We’ve put in long hours this week.”

“You were supposed to be home by now. Eight-thousand miles from here to Tumari is way too far.”

“I know. Oh, I’m so homesick, Shana. I’m aiming for Christmas in Chance City. I won’t care if I ever travel again in my entire life, although I wouldn’t have passed up this opportunity for anything. And Joe’s really shined, you know? But he misses everyone, too.”

They chatted a little longer then said good-night. Shana picked up her tea again and sipped it, although it had cooled. She considered reheating it, but her thoughts wandered instead.

Dixie had been gone for over six months. Had Kincaid gotten over her during that time? Or would having her home stir up old feelings? She understood what he’d seen in Dixie. She was smart and confident and beautiful, not to mention all those curves that men appreciated, whereas Shana was just … ordinary, and too thin, lacking curves. At least that should help in keeping things professional between her and Kincaid. Without physical attraction, it wouldn’t be complicated.

She needed this job, and their relationship, to stay uncomplicated. For her sake, for Emma’s sake, for her chance at a happy life.

Nothing mattered more than that.

Kincaid had just said good-night to Dylan, who’d gone off to bed. They’d stayed up later than usual, Dylan too excited about moving into his own place to settle down, so they’d watched a movie and half of another before he yawned and headed to his room.

Kincaid couldn’t settle down, either. Seeing Shana in his house, in his personal space, had been disconcerting. He’d thought since Dylan had been living there for a couple of months, and Kincaid had gotten accustomed to having someone around, that it wouldn’t be difficult to have Shana and Emma move in.

Wrong. He’d hadn’t foreseen how much time he’d be spending alone with a woman he found attractive, if not exactly the kind of woman he usually went for, the fun-loving, easygoing women he tended to ask out.

And then there was Emma. Not just busy but rambunctious. Curious.

His phone rang. It was late, too late for a casual call.

Then he saw the caller ID.

He leveled out his voice. “Hello, Dixie.”

“You’re moving her in with you?” she almost shouted.

He winced a little. “You wanted me to help her. I’m helping.”

“I did not ask you to move her into your house, Kincaid. I asked you to give her a job.”

“You asked, and I quote, ‘Can you please help her in some way?’”

“As in give her a job.”

“I did that. Several jobs, actually, because I can’t give her enough work for one full-time job, so I needed to improvise. I decided I could use a housekeeper more than anything. She won’t have to pay rent, and she’ll have money left over at the end of the week. Now, what’s your objection?”

“If she finds out I had anything to do with this—”

“I already promised you she wouldn’t. What else?” Because he knew there was more. He was just waiting for her to say it.

“You can’t sleep with her, Kincaid.”

“For the sake of argument, why not?” Because the idea wasn’t as impossible as he’d thought a couple of days ago.

“Because you’re not the marrying kind, and she needs a marrying kind.”

“I think that’s up to her, don’t you? Anyway, that’s not on my agenda. I thought you’d be happy. She’ll be in a safe place with plenty to do, and leisure time, as well. No more commuting to Sacramento. A backyard for Emma. I think I hit the ball out of the park for you.”

“I’ll be keeping close tabs. I’ll call her a lot.”

“I’m sure she’ll like that.” He found himself grinning. Dixie could be almost as stubborn as Shana.

“So, I should just say thank you?”

“That would be nice. I’ve disrupted my life a lot for you.”

“Thank you.”

He laughed. “That didn’t sound too sincere.”

“I’m awaiting the outcome. I do appreciate that you are doing something for her. I’m just worried about exactly what that is.”

“You trust me, or you wouldn’t have asked,” he said, taking the stress level down a few notches. “I’ll do right by your sister.”

“Thank you,” she said, a genuine tone in her voice this time.

“You’re welcome. Feel free to call and check anytime.”

“I will.”

He laughed then they hung up. Having Dixie find out about the live-in situation had been his biggest hurdle, and he’d jumped it.

You can’t sleep with her. It hadn’t been on his mind for the past year, yet suddenly the idea of it was there, circling him, burning the image in his head.

He was counting on the fact she would be difficult to live with, which would keep his libido under control. That, and Emma, who would be around all the time, too.

He should be in for one helluva time.

Chapter Four

Respite, Dixie’s day spa, was like most hair salons or barbershops in small-town America—a place where advice was sought and dispensed, problems debated and solved, and gossip spread, true or speculative. As Kincaid pulled into the parking lot behind the building, Dylan in his truck behind him, he anticipated a small, curious crowd inside. There was no outside access to the apartment, so Kincaid and Dylan had no choice but to enter the female-occupied space. Kincaid and a few other men in town got their hair cut at Respite, but he saw only women today.

“Ladies,” he said. “I’d like you to meet Dylan Vargas. He’s the new upstairs tenant. Be gentle with him, okay?”

“Aw, Kincaid, you’re no fun,” Aggie McCoy said, looking like some kind of alien, with foil sticking out from her head and black dye at her roots. “Dylan, have you met my granddaughter, Posey?”

“No, ma’am, I haven’t.” Dylan nodded to the cute teenager seated in a chair next to her grandmother, having her hair cut and looking embarrassed about the new boy in town seeing her looking less than perfect. Her cheeks flushed pink.

And so it begins, Kincaid thought, stopping short of heaving a sigh. And he’ll have a place of his own. Great….

They’d had the birds-and-bees talk last night. Kincaid had been direct and graphic with the boy, because apparently his father never had been. Dylan was startlingly naive. Kincaid hoped he’d cured him of that. Being armed with information was a whole lot better than ignorance or guesswork.

“Posey’s seventeen,” Kincaid said as he and Dylan climbed the stairs a minute later.

“Got it,” Dylan said.

Kincaid glanced back down and saw all the women watching them. “I think we’d better design a plan to move your entrance to the outside so you don’t have to interrupt the clients in their private domain.”

“Fine by me,” Dylan said, sounding relieved.

The upstairs door was open, so they climbed the child gate and went inside. “We’re here,” Kincaid called out.

Emma came running. Kincaid crouched down in time to catch her as she neared, but she came to a quick stop, keeping her distance.

“Good morning, Miss Emma.”

“No Kinky!”

Dylan laughed. “Kinky? Seriously?”

“Dilly up!” Emma said, raising her arms.

“Dilly? Seriously?” Kincaid said, feeling rebuffed as Dylan lifted her into his arms, looking only slightly uncomfortable at the nickname.

“Dilly, Dilly,” she said, patting his face.

“Where’s Mommy?” Kincaid asked.

Emma pointed. Shana had come up behind him.

“Good morning,” she said. “I’m packed and ready to go, except that I haven’t taken the crib apart. But first, Aggie brought some homemade apple turnovers for all of us.”

She headed to the kitchen, and Kincaid found himself staring at her rear. She was slender but with curves in all the right places. Not that he hadn’t noticed before, but he was finding himself more aware of her than he had been before.

Which probably wasn’t a good thing.

As they dug into the turnovers they talked about the day’s plan of attack. Load her possessions into Kincaid’s truck, unload Dylan’s and haul them upstairs, although he had few possessions. Then they would all head to Kincaid’s to unload Shana’s things and set up the crib.

They traipsed through the salon back and forth, back and forth, until everything was loaded and unloaded. Aggie offered to keep Emma, but Shana thought she should be part of the move. By seeing her crib set up in her new bedroom, she would more readily accept that she would be sleeping there.

“Do you think that’s all it will take?” Kincaid asked as Shana buckled Emma in her car seat to head to his house. “She’ll see her crib and that’s that?”

“I don’t think the house change will be a problem. She’s been babysat by a lot of different people and is used to that. I think the biggest adjustment may come from me not sleeping in the same room with her.”

“She, uh, doesn’t have temper tantrums, does she?” he asked, suddenly wondering what he’d agreed to take on.

“Occasionally.” She shut the car door and faced him. “I know this is going to be a big change for you, too.”

She looked nervous, and he realized he wasn’t the only one worried that they were getting into something neither was ready for. “You already warned me that she’s busy.”

“And noisy. Speak now or forever hold your peace.”

He considered that for a moment. “A deal’s a deal.”

“I’ll try to keep her away from you as much as possible,” she said tightly.

She started to climb into the car, but he stopped her by putting a hand on her arm. The electricity of that one touch made him break contact immediately, and confused him.

“I don’t expect you to keep her locked in her room. Just because I’m paying you a salary doesn’t mean you can’t consider my house your home, Shana. I don’t want you to feel like a visitor. I figure I’ll get married someday and have children. Emma will be good experience for me.”

He’d been trying to make her relax, but her expression indicated he hadn’t succeeded. She frowned in that way she had, where her lips pinched together and her nose wrinkled. He fought the sudden urge to kiss that frown away.

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