The Love List (5 page)

"Do you have any other presents you're hiding
in your room?" Fran asked him.

"Mom…what the? The present in my room…where
is it?" Grey began.

Fran tilted her wrist to get a better view of
her watch.

"Don't worry, I've got it. Time for the
hayride. Coats on, kids. Where's Jenna?" She asked then turned on
her heel to find her younger daughter.

John came around the corner with their coats
slung over his arm and before any further discussion about Grey's
present for Carrie, they were caught up in the tide of
activities.

"Here you go. Have fun," he said, depositing
the coats over Grey's arm.

It wasn't until they were snugly settled into
the hay in the back of Barney's wagon that they had a chance to
talk.

"So you didn't take that present?" Grey
asked, pulling Carrie closer.

She shook her head. "I thought you hid it to
keep me from shaking the box."

"Funny. I'll get it from Mom when we get
back," he said, lost in thought for a moment.

He shrugged and settled back against the side
of the wagon and looked up. The midnight blue of the sky showcased
the glittering stars on the clear, frosty evening making them
appear more brilliant than usual.
Or is love causing each star
to smile right at me?

This year, Barney drove the tractor that
pulled the wagon so Gavin and April could cuddle up in the hay like
the three other couples along for the ride. They were huddled
together, a wool blanket warming them from waist to feet. Gavin
took his eyes from his bride for a moment to connect with Grey. He
nodded at his mentor and smiled. Grey returned the grin.
They
fit together so perfectly. Will we look like that, too?

Gavin leaned over April, his head spoiling
the view of her pretty face. Grey chuckled, causing Carrie to turn
her gaze to him.
Outdoor make-out session.
Grey took her
chin in his gloved hand and pulled her face close enough for a
kiss. The warmth of her lips egged him on and he angled his head to
deepen the kiss. Carrie's mitten hugged his shoulder as his hand
searched for her breast. Obstructed by her thick jacket, he gave up
but continued kissing her which warmed him to his toes.

Carrie burrowed her head into his shoulder
and pulled their wool blanket up, tucking it around their waists
and hips.

"Brrrrrrrrrrrr. It's cold." Carrie rubbed her
mittened hands together.

"Gets colder here than the City. You get used
to it." Grey folded his arm around her shoulders.

"Can't imagine getting used to this."

"This used to be light jacket weather for me
when I lived here. January is worse."

Carrie gave a short laugh. "How soon do we
get to go inside?"

Grey sat up, craning his neck to see where
they were. "We're on the way back now. Look at the stars, we never
get such a clear view in New York."

Carrie tipped her head way back. "It is
beautiful. Sort of like the planetarium…but real."

Within ten minutes, Barney had pulled up in
front of the old Victorian and stopped. Grey and Carrie hopped down
from the wagon, thanked him and brushed the hay off their
clothes.

"Football?" Grey asked Gavin.

"When?"

"Four"

"You're on."

Stiff from the cold, they walked slowly back
to the house, stopping for a quick goodbye wave as the wagon pulled
away.

"Football?" Carrie asked, slipping her hand
in Grey's.

"A few old friends, Colin, my dad, Bill, Earl
and Gavin, too, come by for a touch football game on Christmas
Day."

Grey glanced at the front windows of the
house and noticed Jenna peeking around the curtain on a tall window
in the living room. Shortly after she disappeared from the frosted
glass, the front door opened.

"Am I glad to get inside," Carrie said as
warm air enveloped her. Grey stomped his feet to jump-start his
circulation and chase the chill from his bones.

"They're here! We can start. Come on
everybody!" Jenna called out through cupped hands.

Grey hung their coats in the front closet.
John entered the living room carrying a big tray balancing six mugs
of hot chocolate.

Grey handed one to Carrie, then took one for
himself. Carrie wrapped her fingers around the warm mug before
drinking. Grey did the same.

"Cold hands, warm heart," he whispered to
her.

"Present exchange!" Colin called out as the
rest of the mugs were claimed.

Grey glanced at the generous pile of gifts
under the Christmas tree and spied his private present for Carrie
on the top.

"There's been a small mistake here," he said,
bending down to retrieve the elegantly wrapped package.

Colin' eyes glistened with mischief as he
watched his brother.

"This isn't supposed to be here," Grey said,
closing his fingers around the special gift.

Colin snatched the beautiful present from
Grey's grasp and moved back.

"Ho ho ho, Grey! What's this?" Colin put his
ear to the box and shook it.

"It's a private gift, for Carrie," Grey
confessed, his mouth drawing into a tight line.

"Oohh, big brother! A naughty gift for a
naughty girl?" Colin teased.

"Give me that, Colin," Grey lunged at his
brother but Colin was too quick for him.

"Must be a
very
naughty gift…open it!
Open it now, Carrie!" Colin danced around the room, staying one
step ahead of Grey.

Carrie's face flushed pink. Grey sensed his
anger mixed with embarrassment brought heat and color up his neck
into his cheeks.

"Colin! Dammit! Give it to me!"

"From Victoria's Secret?"

Everyone else stood by quietly. Some
fidgeted, some shifted nervously. Jenna gave a giggle; Fran lowered
her eyes. But no one made a move to help Grey. Finally John spoke
up.

"Colin!"

"Come on, Dad. Just a little fun…"

Grey continued to chase Colin around the
living room, but the younger man managed to elude his brother.

"What dirty little surprise do you have in
store for your future bride?"

"Colin, quick! Give it to me. I'll open it,
that'll get him!" Carrie snickered, motioning with her hands for
the package.

Grey stopped dead in his tracks. Did his ears
deceive him…was Carrie joining with Colin to humiliate him? His
mouth dropped open slightly as he stared at her. All eyes rested on
Carrie. Colin turned, a look of disbelief on his face. Then an evil
grin spread across it as his gaze seesawed back and forth between
Grey and Carrie. She grinned at Colin but the smile did not make it
to her eyes.

Colin tossed the package to Carrie. She
snatched it from the air and pulled it to her chest then scooted
over to Grey. His gaze settled on her serious expression as she
handed the package to him. He smiled in relief and put his arm
around her.
How could I have doubted her?

Carrie stepped forward and paused. Small
sighs of relief uttered by Barbara, Bill and Earl subsided before
she spoke.

"I love being part of this family. I think
you are all amazing. But I have to speak up. This was…was
appalling. First," she turned to face her future mother-in-law,
"this package was in our room, not under the tree. Fran, did you go
in our room and get it?"

Fran nodded.

"You never should have entered our room when
we weren't there and taken it without Grey's permission. Grey had
no intention of putting this under the tree. You put it there,
which set this whole thing up."

Carrie turned to face Colin.

"Colin, you should be ashamed of yourself.
Why would you want to upset your brother like that? Your behavior
was so disrespectful…I've lost respect for you, too."

Color stained Colin's cheeks as his gaze fell
to the floor.

"Listen, everyone. I know Grey has been a
bachelor a long time. You're all used to having him at your beck
and call. And family does have some rights. Soon he'll be a married
man and we will be a separate family from this one. You must
respect that…and our privacy. That room is our room when we're
here…a private place. If that privacy is not respected…"

Grey stepped forward next to Carrie to finish
her sentence. He put his hand on her shoulder and she stopped
talking, resting her gaze on his face.

"If that privacy is not respected we may have
to stay elsewhere when we come to visit. Carrie is right. I'm
getting married and you'll have to adjust…and treat me differently
from now on."

Fran's face was flushed. She stopped
fidgeting and looked directly at Grey then Carrie before she
spoke.

"I'm sorry, Grey…and Carrie. You're right. I
shouldn't have gone in there when you were out. I turned to look
and saw a box with a ribbon on the dresser and I thought…well, I
guess I didn't think. That is your private place and I will not go
in there uninvited again. I apologize."

Grey walked to his mother and gave her a kiss
on the cheek and shot a warning look at Colin, who was about to
speak. Colin remained quiet as Grey returned to Carrie and took her
hand. Everyone watched them in silence. Grey rotated his wrist a
bit and glanced at his watch.

"It's nine o'clock. We've had a long day.
Goodnight."

"But what about our Christmas Eve present
exchange?" Jenna wailed.

"Carrie and I are going to have a private
present exchange. You all go ahead. We'll see you in the
morning."

Tucking the package safely under his arm,
Grey moved toward the stairs with Carrie in tow. No one spoke while
they climbed the stairs, went into their room and shut the
door.

Chapter Four

Carrie backed up against the closed door and
looked at Grey who walked to the small desk and put the
controversial gift down.

"You thought I was going to open it and
embarrass you, didn't you?"

A bit of color stained his cheeks.

"Well…I…you…okay I admit I was…uh…
stumped."

"You must have faith. Husbands and wives
stand by each other. I would
never
join in any plan to
humiliate you."

"We're not husband and wife yet."

"We're living like we are," she moved toward
him and he met her in the middle of the room, in front of the small
fireplace.

"I wish we were married already," he said,
reaching for her hand.

Carrie laughed. "Weddings take time. Tell me
you won't misjudge me again."

"I won't…I'll try not to. You're…you're
better than I deserve."

"Shhh! Not true. We're on the same team."

"Okay co-captain, let's exchange our stuff,"
he said, leaning over to open the flue in the chimney.

"Next item on the love list. Trust your lover
will not publicly humiliate you and is on your side."

"Good. Write that down!" Grey lit a rolled up
newspaper and stuck it up the flue.

Carrie strode over to the dresser, scribbled
it down on a scrap of paper and tucked the paper into her
wallet.

"Where were we?" Grey stooped down, using
rolled up newspaper to light scrunched up paper under the kindling
and log in the small fireplace.

"When did you lay a fire here?"

"While you were in the kitchen."

The paper went up in a blaze, igniting the
kindling quickly. Grey reached out and snatched the fleece blanket
folded at the foot of the bed. He spread it out on the floor.
Carrie sat cross-legged. Grey ducked down on the side of the bed,
picking up something hidden on the bottom shelf of the nightstand
next to the bed. When he stood up he had a split of champagne and
two glasses in his hand.

Carrie clapped her hands together. She joined
her palms in front of her face and smiled.

"Your favorite brand, Piper Heidsieck." He
said.

"You got that when you went to the liquor
store today?"

"You guessed it."

He popped the cork, filled her flute and
handed it to her before pouring his own. Grey put his glass down on
the hearth before he retrieved the now sorry-looking package for
Carrie. She pushed to her feet and went to the dresser, fumbling
around in the top drawer before drawing out two small packages
gaily wrapped.

Carrie returned to her seat and placed the
small packages on the floor in front of her. She held up her hand,
palm out toward Grey before he could speak.

"Question! Was it okay to speak up like that
to your family? Are they going to be mad?"

He chuckled. "We're a pretty outspoken bunch.
Haven't you noticed?"

"I thought so, but still, I'm new and…"she
gave a nervous laugh.

"You were fine. I'm proud of you."

Carrie shot a shy grin at him and handed him
her two presents. "Merry Christmas, Grey."

He opened the thin package first, uncovering
a beautiful, wallet-sized picture of Carrie in a sexy pose. She
wore a low-cut teal blue dress with plenty of cleavage showing and
a saucy expression on her face.

"In case you forget what I look like on a
business trip or…or…"

He leaned over and kissed her. "I'll never
forget, still…it's great to have this picture. You look so hot. Who
took it?"

"A female friend, if that's what you're
wondering."

"Know me pretty well, don't you?" His hazel
eyes connected with hers for a moment while his hand grasped the
other small package waiting for him on the blanket.

He ripped off the paper and opened the box to
reveal a small exotically-shaped bottle.

"Hmmm, massage oil?" He asked, peering
closely at the small dark label with white writing.

"Chocolate-flavored."

"For me to use on you or…"

"Both. Chocolate, our favorite flavor."

She shot a naughty grin at him and he
laughed.

"To be tested tonight, I hope?" He raised his
eyebrows as he ran his thumb over the smooth surface of the
bottle.

"If you wish," she replied, peeking at him
from under her lashes.