Jingle Bell Romance

“What makes you think you’re in the way?”

When Nick didn’t answer, Todd abruptly stopped working and waited for Nick to look at him. “Lainie told me what happened to Ian and how things went for your family afterward. That has nothing to do with me, and I’m not one to judge anyway.”

It was one of the nicest things anyone had said to him all week, and Nick smiled. “I appreciate that.”

“From what I see, you’re a decent guy, and having you around makes my wife happy. We’ve got a perfectly good guest room here, and you’re welcome to it as long as you want to stay.”

“Thanks, Todd.”

“Don’t mention it.” Grinning, he picked up his shovel again. “I have to admit, it’s nice having another pair of hands out here. Hannah tries, but after a few minutes, she starts making snow angels and throwing snowballs. Then we end up in a snowball fight, and I’m out here ’til dark.”

So he dropped what he was doing when his daughter wanted to play, then worked longer to get the job done. That was how a father should be, and Nick admired Todd’s devotion to his family. Imagining them playing in the snow brought to mind the Christmas cards that always stacked up on his hall table until he finally tossed them out on New Year’s Day.

Even though the Martins’ humble lifestyle was starkly different from his own, Nick felt himself smiling back. “Sounds like fun.”

“Yeah, it is. I can’t wait until Noah’s older, and all four of us can play.”

“Girls against the guys?”

“Got that right.”

“Just watch out for Lainie,” Nick warned as a silver Mercedes pulled into the cleared half of the driveway. “She plays dirty.”

The car glided to a stop, and when the driver’s door opened, Nick was stunned to see Holiday Harbor’s favorite toy store owner stepping out. Assessing their progress, she smiled over at them. “Good work.”

“Thanks,” Todd said, strolling over to greet her. “I figure we’ll be done right about the time the next storm comes through.”

She laughed, and the bright sound struck Nick as a perfect accompaniment to the Christmas music on the radio. “Isn’t that always the way?”

“Seems to be.” Seeming to remember he had company, Todd added, “Where are my manners? Julia Stanton, this is Lainie’s brother, Nick McHenry.”

“We met in town yesterday,” she said politely.

Usually adept at reading between the lines, Nick couldn’t get a handle on how she felt about their unusual encounter. While she gave the appearance of being open and friendly, she actually kept her emotions well masked. Must be all that diplomatic training, he decided. She could probably turn that stunning movie-star charisma of hers on and off at will. “Nice to see you again.”

“And you, as well.” Opening the passenger door of her car, she pulled out a bag imprinted with Toyland in the same gold script lettering he’d noticed at the shop. “The girls have things under control at the shop, so I’m on a delivery run.”

Nick let out a low whistle. “That’s what I call service.”

“When you have young children, it’s hard to keep their gifts a surprise,” she explained in an ultrapatient tone she probably used with troublesome customers in her store. Not rude, exactly, but it lacked the warmth she’d shown his brother-in-law.

“That’s the truth.” Taking the bag, Todd added, “I’ll hide them in my workshop. Hannah’s not allowed in there, so they’ll be safe.”

Nick didn’t understand why they were going to so much trouble to keep the presents a secret. Maybe it was something you didn’t understand until you joined the parent club. Then again, Julia didn’t have children, but she seemed to buy into it completely. So maybe, he admitted with a mental sigh, it was just him.

“I’m ready for a break,” Todd continued. “I’ll stash these and meet you inside.”

Julia checked her slender gold wristwatch. “I really should get back.”

“We’ve got hot cocoa,” he pressed, adding a pleading look. “If Lainie and Hannah find out I let you leave without saying hello, I’ll never hear the end of it.”

“All right, then,” she relented with a smile. “I’d hate to get you in trouble.”

He grinned before heading toward his work shed in the backyard. That left Nick on his own with Julia, which was awkward. He hadn’t planned on seeing her again, so he hadn’t bothered to apologize for his poor behavior yesterday. Another strike against him. Considering his dismal track record with women, he really should be used to it by now.

Hoping to smooth things over, he motioned her ahead of him the way he had the first time they met. “Ladies first.”

Instead of sailing past him as he’d expected, she studied him for a long, uncomfortable moment. “You’re a perplexing man.”

Sensing he’d made some progress with her, he grinned back. “I’ve been called worse.”

To his immense relief, she laughed. Shaking her head, she added, “I can only imagine.”

When she turned up the snow-covered walkway, her foot slipped, and she nearly went down on the gravel. Nick reached out to catch her, and by some bizarre happening she ended up in his arms.

Holding her lightly, he gazed down into those sparkling blue eyes. Wearing her ivory coat and framed by the white snow, she reminded him of the Victorian angel ornament that had reigned over the top of his mother’s Christmas tree since he was a little boy. Elegant and beautiful, with the wispy look of something that might vanish into thin air if he closed his eyes.

Part of him longed to maintain that hold, to keep her close and enjoy the scent of magnolias that followed her everywhere. Instead, he did the gentlemanly thing and released her.

“It’s a little slippery,” he managed to say as he took her arm and guided her to a clear section of the path. “Watch your step.”

She rewarded him with a queenly smile. “I will. Thank you.”

While he stood there watching her go up the path, he noticed the very distinctive way she moved. With the grace of a ballerina, she seemed to float over the snow, barely touching the ground before going up the steps. Nick had dated plenty of models and dancers, but he’d never met a woman who walked the way Julia did.

People didn’t usually snare his attention this quickly, but she’d managed it somehow. It was a good thing he was headed back to Richmond tomorrow, or he might have given in to his curiosity and done something stupid like ask her to dinner.

Right, he thought with a grimace, as if there was any chance of her saying yes, whether he stayed in town or not. Men had probably taken her to Paris for dinner and a ride on the Seine. There was no way a guy like him could compete with that, even if he wanted to. Which he didn’t.

Unfortunately, a tiny, annoying part of him disagreed, and he was wrestling it back into submission when Todd jogged up and stopped beside him. “Coming?”

“In a minute.”

Todd gave him a curious look but shrugged and followed Julia into the house. Standing there with snow falling all around him, Nick took a deep, chilly breath of air. He’d never met a woman who rattled him as thoroughly as Julia Stanton did. Whether that was good or bad, he couldn’t say.

But it was definitely interesting.

* * *

When Nick came through the door into the cozy kitchen, Julia watched as his niece attacked him like a frenzied cub.

“We’re doing the tree today!” she shouted with obvious joy. “That means you can help us.”

“I don’t know about all that,” he hedged, hanging his coat on the rack near the door. “I’m not much use in the decorating department.”

“Oh, it’s easy,” Todd assured him between sips of cocoa. “Just do what the girls tell you, and you’ll be fine.”

Taking a steaming reindeer mug from Lainie, Nick chuckled. “This might come as a shock, but I’m not in the habit of taking orders from anyone.”

He sat down, and instantly Hannah was in his lap. Having seen him at his prickly worst, Julia thought it was adorable how his niece had taken to her brusque uncle.

“What do you do at your house for Christmas, Uncle Nick?” Hannah asked.

“I pretty much hang a wreath on the door and call it done. I don’t have kids, so it’s not a big deal.”

“Julia doesn’t have kids, either,” Lainie pointed out. “And she does a fabulous job with her decorations.”

“She sure does.” He flashed her an approving grin that actually made her blush. To hide her reaction, she lifted her Frosty the Snowman mug for a sip of cocoa.

“You need somewhere to put your angel,” Hannah informed him in a very grown-up voice. “Ours came from Eye-land.”

“Ireland,” her mother corrected her. “Gramma brought it back from one of her trips to Waterford.”

Hannah looked up at Nick with wide eyes. “Did she bring you one, too?”

Nick traded an uncomfortable look with Lainie but finally nodded. “It’s different from yours, but it’s really pretty. I keep it on a shelf in my living room, and whenever I look at it, it reminds me of Gramma.”

The kitchen went silent, and Julia could hear the quiet ticking of the mantel clock in the next room. A quick glance at Lainie told Julia her friend wasn’t accustomed to her tightly controlled brother opening up that way. Then again, you’d need a heart of stone to resist Hannah Martin’s innocent charm.

“That’s nice,” she rattled on, “but we put ours on the tree. Daddy usually lifts me up to set her on, but since you’re here you could do it.”

Clearly worn down, Nick gave in with a chuckle. “Sure, munchkin. I’ll give you a hand.”

“Yay!” Now she turned pleading eyes on Julia. “Can you help us? You’re so good with ribbons and stuff.”

This time, she didn’t check her watch. It simply wasn’t in her to disappoint any child, but especially not this one. A few months ago, she’d hesitantly entered the Safe Harbor Church for the first time and searched for a place to sit in the crowded chapel. Lainie Martin had spotted her and slid down to make room for the new girl in town.

That simple, friendly gesture marked the beginning of a solid friendship Julia had come to treasure, and she was touched that they’d include her in one of their family traditions. “I’d love to, Hannah. Thank you for asking.”

After hugging Nick and then Julia, she scampered away with her parents to start gathering up the ornaments.

“She’s such a doll,” Julia said as she took a seat across the table from Nick. “You must love her to pieces.”

“It’s hard not to.”

The wistfulness in his tone alerted her that something was bothering him. While she suspected what it might be, she thought it might help him to voice it out loud—with a little nudging from her along the way. “It’s nice to be with family this time of year, isn’t it?”

“Yeah.” Looking down at his hands, he wove his fingers together before adding, “I’ve missed a lot the past few years.”

“You’re here now.”

When he lifted his eyes to hers, the misery in them made her want to give him a hug. She still thought it would help him to talk out what he was feeling, but she couldn’t bring herself to press on still-aching wounds. Old hurts were the worst, she knew, and some never healed. She had no idea what had estranged him from his family, but for Nick’s sake, she decided it was best to change the subject. “When did you last go sledding?”

Her question had the desired effect, and his expression brightened as he laughed. “Ten years ago, maybe more.”

“If this snow keeps up, we’ll be able to do something about that. There’s a great hill at the edge of town.”

“Spinnaker Hill, out near the old saw mill,” he filled in. “Cooper Landry and I used to ice down a track and race the other guys after school.”

“That’s right. Bree told me you and Cooper were friends growing up.” Julia had a hard time imagining this hard-driving man hanging out with Holiday Harbor’s easygoing mayor for more than five minutes, but odder things had happened.

“Best friends,” Nick confirmed. “He was why I sent Bree to do those stories over the summer. The original article was Cooper’s idea. It started as a puff piece to lure in some tourists and ended up exposing some honest-to-goodness corporate fraud.”

“A juicy story like that must be good for your magazine.”

He flashed her another version of that nearly irresistible grin. “We won a few awards for bold journalism, if that’s what you mean. Readers love that kind of stuff, ’cause it reminds them of what could happen in their own backyards.”

“And that sells subscriptions.”

His grin faded considerably. “Not as many as I’d like, and building up subscriptions is a constant headache. To be honest, I’m jealous of Bree, getting to sniff out a story and set it up for people to read. Designing layouts and keeping up with invoices aren’t nearly as much fun as writing.”

“I know what you mean,” Julia sympathized. “I love stocking and arranging the store and working with customers. When it comes to the bookwork, though, it’s like torture.”

“I’m curious about something.” She motioned for him to continue, and he asked, “Of all the things you could do, why a toy store?”

No one but her parents had ever asked her that, mostly because few people knew where she was and what she was currently doing. Now that she thought about it, maybe that was one reason the locals had been so slow to warm up to her. They simply didn’t understand why she was there in the first place.

To Nick, she said, “I earned a degree in Business and International Relations by taking classes wherever my parents were living at the time. I’ve always enjoyed collecting toys, so when I decided to move here, opening a toy store seemed like a good way to blend my hobby with my education.”

“It can’t be easy in this economy.”

“Neither is running an online magazine,” she pointed out, “but like you, I do my best to offer people something unique they can’t get anywhere else.”

She appreciated that he didn’t question why on earth someone from such a wealthy background was working at all. That was something she’d rather not discuss with anyone if she could possibly help it.

“Sounds like we’ve got something in common after all,” he commented lightly.

“What’s that?”

“We’re both masochists who’d rather work 24/7 and be in charge of our own business than put in forty hours a week for someone else.”

Julia didn’t think of it that way. Her mother had set aside her own dreams to marry the love of her life and accompany him around the world. While she seemed content with her choice, Julia treasured her hard-won independence and would never sacrifice it again.

Caught up in her thoughts, she’d missed what Nick was saying. Embarrassment warmed her cheeks, and she smiled. “I’m sorry. What were you saying?”

“I was saying I can’t believe you like to sled.”

“And snowmobile and ski. I took some snowboarding lessons in Gstaad last winter, but it’s harder than it looks.”

Too late, she realized he might interpret that as bragging. Because of the exotic life she’d led, people often jumped to conclusions about her, and she’d learned to keep her adventures under wraps. Fortunately, he seemed to take it in stride. “The Swiss Alps, huh? Didn’t peg you for a snow bunny.”

“What? You thought I was the kind of girl who dresses the part and then holes up in the lodge with a warm drink, watching everyone else have all the fun?”

After a few moments, he grinned. “Guess so.”

“The media only sees what I want them to see,” she informed him coolly. “That means there’s a lot about me you don’t know.”

“Is that right?” The teasing glint left his eyes, and as he leaned forward, they simmered with an enticing combination of challenge and fascination. “You mean, like why a classy, sophisticated woman like you is hiding out in a backwoods place like this?”

“I’m not hiding.” When he tilted his head in a chiding gesture, she hedged. “Not exactly. I just wanted a fresh start, and this seemed like a good place to do it.”

He smirked. “Nice try, cupcake, but I’m not buying it.”

Somehow, they’d slid into dangerous territory, and she instinctively pulled away from the edge. Painful as the lessons were, Julia had learned a lot from the scam artist who’d gone to great trouble to win her affection, only to reveal his motives had nothing to do with love. She’d made the mistake of trusting him too fully, and it had cost her more than she was willing to risk ever again.

The man sitting across the table, with his dark good looks and complex personality, intrigued her in much the same way. It was a screaming red flag for her. In her memory, she heard her father’s common-sense advice.

You never know what a man’s thinking, Julia. His actions speak the truth, even if he’s lying through his teeth.

Recognizing the male interest in Nick’s eyes, she resisted the impulse to duck her head and murmur something demure. All her life she’d done the proper thing, and it had brought her more heartache than she cared to recall. Moving here had enabled her to start becoming her own person, far from the refined stage she’d played on for so many years.

This time, she held her head high and met his smoldering gaze with a fearless one of her own. “This may come as a surprise to you, but I don’t really care what you believe.”

Before she could say anything more, her phone pinged with a text all in capital letters. SOS—COMPUTER CRASHED.

Grateful for an excuse to leave the too-intriguing journalist behind, she made her apologies to the Martins and drove back to Toyland.

* * *

When Julia’s assistant called her away, Nick fought the urge to walk her out. This wasn’t his house, he reasoned, so it wasn’t his place to do it anyway. Instead, he nodded goodbye and pretended to be engrossed in the knotted lights Todd had just handed him.

The truth was, her blatant rejection still stung.

One minute they were bantering back and forth, and the next she morphed into the Ice Queen. Maybe being called a snow bunny annoyed her, he thought, taking the lights into the living room where Lainie and Hannah were unloading ornaments from a box.

One thing he knew for certain: it didn’t matter if she liked him or despised him. Tomorrow morning, he’d be leaving Holiday Harbor—and its puzzling new resident—and heading back to warm, sunny Richmond. He’d been so cold the past few days, it would probably take him a week to completely thaw out.

“Brrr,” Todd commented, echoing Nick’s thoughts while unloading an armload of wood. “The temperature’s really dropping out there.”

As he tossed logs onto the fire, Noah bounced in a swing that hung from the door frame, gurgling his baby opinion. With Christmas carols playing on the stereo and Hannah chirping about the history of this ornament and that one, the Martins’ modest living room hummed like a restless beehive.

As if on cue, Lainie came over to sit on the threadbare arm of Nick’s chair. “Nice, huh?”

“Sure, if you like that gooey family thing.”

Laughing, she gave him a playful smack on the shoulder. “If you hate it so much, why don’t you hide up in the guest room?”

“It’s warmer down here,” he retorted.

“Oh, come on. This has to be better than an empty condo with a wreath on the door.”

“Sure,” he grumbled, “’til you have to clean it all up.”

“That’s my big brother, always finding the clouds,” she said matter-of-factly. “You’re s-o-o serious about everything, I don’t know how you stand it.”

He couldn’t, Nick nearly blurted but managed to stop himself. After their earlier tiff about Ian, he didn’t want to bring up the past again. Lainie was three years younger than him but had grown up considerably since becoming a mom. At her prodding, Nick had endured some long, painful talks this week, and they’d begun rebuilding the once-close relationship he’d destroyed when he all but disappeared from her life. He figured the best way to keep that going was to leave the past buried and move on.

Lainie picked up a needle and started threading it through fresh popcorn. It smelled too good to resist, and Nick snuck a few pieces when she wasn’t looking. Her nonstop chattering about people around town alerted Nick that something was on her mind, and he grinned. Some things never changed. “What is it, Lain?”

Keeping her eyes on what she was doing, she said, “We’ll be going to a special service tonight. You’re welcome to come with us if you want.”

Nick hadn’t voluntarily attended church since he was eight. With the exception of Lainie and Todd’s wedding, he hadn’t seen the inside of one in more than ten years. And even if he was suffering from an attack of remorse and mistakenly entered a sanctuary, it certainly wouldn’t be his father’s.

He gave his sister a chiding look which she didn’t notice because she refused to meet his gaze. To avoid upsetting Hannah, he softly said, “You know me better than that.”

Her careless shrug did nothing to hide her disappointment. “I thought it was worth a try. People change.”

“Not me,” he assured her as gently as he could. “I made that decision a long time ago for lots of reasons. It’s the way I’ve chosen to live my life, and I’m good with it.”

Letting the popcorn strand fall into the bowl, she looked at him with pleading eyes. “I don’t understand why you insist on doing everything the hardest way possible. Todd and I get so much from our faith and that really helps when things get tough. Like when he lost his teaching job here, and Hannah was so sick. It was the worst time to have another baby, and when we found out about Noah, it felt like a disaster. God led us through all that. Todd found an even better position in Oakbridge, and we’ve never been happier.”

When she finally paused for a breath, Nick couldn’t help smiling up at her. She was so sweet, crediting God for something she and Todd had accomplished through determination and hard work. Taking her hand, he said, “I’m glad to hear that, but it doesn’t work that way for everyone. Some of us are outside the circle, and there’s nothing we can do about it.”

“That’s not true,” she whispered intently, squeezing his hand between both of hers. “I know it’s not. God hasn’t forgotten about you, Nick. You just have to open up and let Him back into your life.”

She couldn’t be more wrong, but he didn’t want to debate religion with her while her husband and daughter were arranging figurines of Jesus and the wise men in the manger on a nearby table.

So, out of respect for his sister and her happy family, Nick swallowed his pride and kept his mouth shut.

* * *

Early Monday morning, Nick found himself back at Toyland, drinking the best coffee he’d had in days while Julia laid out the unexpected offer she’d hinted at on the phone last night. He couldn’t believe his ears.

“An exclusive?” he echoed, getting a nod in reply. Sitting by the lobby fireplace in a burgundy velvet wing chair, he was surrounded by more Christmas trappings than he’d ever seen in his life. It was enough to make him wonder if he was losing his grip on reality. “I thought you wanted to keep your new life here a secret.”

“Oh, that couldn’t last.” Flicking her hand in a queenly gesture, she set off a string of silver jingle bells divided by what he assumed were tiny sapphires. Lots of them. “Some reporter or another will track me down eventually. This way, I control the situation.”

“And the message,” he added, to show he understood. “In case you haven’t figured it out already, I’m not used to taking orders. What makes you think I’ll play along?”

Leaning forward, she pinned him with a knowing look. “Yesterday, you told me you miss getting the scoop and writing your own stories. I’m giving you one, right here, right now. Take it or leave it.”

Ordinarily he wasn’t a fan of ultimatums, but he was tempted beyond belief. Nick didn’t doubt for a second that if he didn’t grab this opportunity, another journalist would. Julia’s story had flash and grit, two things people loved to read about. The businessman in him immediately went into promotional gear, considering the impact something like this might have. New Kaleidoscope readers could sample this rich-and-famous storyline, then purchase a limited subscription to read the ending. If things worked out, they’d like what they saw and buy a full subscription. Since he’d be doing the work, there’d be no freelance writer to pay so everything that came in would be pure profit. Unlike most business arrangements he made, there was no downside for him.