A Christmas Homecoming (7 page)

Nicole frowned. “Hmm. That doesn’t sound good.”

“It’s not. For some reason, Stephen doesn’t like that I do things for his family outside of what he considers my job description. I don’t know why it bothers him so much, but he made it abundantly clear he wants me to stop.”

“It sounds like he’s being protective of you. He cares. It’s actually kind of sweet. Like your knight in shining armor.”

Bailey stilled. Could Nicole be right? He was kind to her, but she doubted very much his motivation was overprotectiveness.

“What are you going to do?”

Bailey shrugged. “If I still have a job, I’ll keep doing what I always do. I like being employed, and Mona has taught me a lot. I don’t mind helping her with things that are not directly related to the company. The Belafontes need all the help they can get right now.” That being said, she needed to step up her job search just in case. And she probably needed a nap before she went off on anyone else.

“Okay, then. The guys were talking earlier before you got here, and we made plans to go to Bachelor this afternoon. You up for it? Since we’ve finished eating, we thought now would be a good time to head up there.”

Absolutely not.
Bailey pushed her glasses higher on her nose. “What about cleanup?”

“The guys and Sarah are putting the food away right now. Mark and I can do the dishes later. He said he’d come back and help.”

“Okay.” Bailey twisted the knob and pulled the door open. She stifled a yawn. After working in the kitchen half the day, all she wanted to do was put her feet up. But inner tubing sounded like fun, and she didn’t want to disappoint her friends.

A short while later, they piled into Mark’s car and headed up the mountain. The parking lot was nearly full, but they managed to find a spot. The five of them got out of the black sub-compact and trekked through the lot.

Bailey turned to look behind her for cars as they crossed the lane and gasped. Her legs turned to jelly. Was that the same silver car that had been behind her a few days ago? She tried to get a glimpse of the driver, but couldn’t even tell if it was a man or a woman.

“You coming, Bailey?” Nicole asked from a few steps ahead of her.

“Ah.” She turned to them, then back toward the car, which pulled into a spot. “Right behind you.” She double-timed it. No way did she want to be left alone.

“Miss Davis! Bailey!” A familiar young voice called.

Bailey stifled a groan. The conversation with the girl’s uncle still fresh in her mind, she turned and looked for the voice’s owner, Lacy Belafonte. About ten cars away Lacy jumped up and down, waving.

Bailey’s heart warmed to the sweet girl who rarely let her excitement show.

Nicole whispered in her ear. “You don’t have to deal with that family anymore today if you smile, wave, and keep walking.”

“Easy for you to say, you’re only Lacy’s teacher. I live with her grandmother. Besides, she’s a sweet girl. It will only take a minute to say hi. You and Sarah can go ahead. I’ll catch up.”

“What about Stephen?” she whispered too loudly.

Mark chuckled and placed a kiss on Nicole’s forehead. “Stay and lend moral support. Besides, there’s safety in numbers. Spencer and I will buy tickets for the inner tube tow.”

Bailey pressed her lips together. Mark was a cop and was always touting safety in numbers—as if it even applied in this situation. Lacy wasn’t a threat. Bailey gulped when she spotted Stephen and the frown that tugged at his mouth. On second thought she could use moral support. Time to get this over with. She pulled Nicole and Sarah along with her toward Lacy, Stephen, and John. The two brothers looked nothing alike. Stephen had thick, dark hair with deep blue eyes, and a medium build, where John’s hair was wavy. His eyes were light blue, and he was built like a linebacker.

Stephen rested a hand on his niece’s shoulder, and the group walked toward them.

Bailey spoke out of the side of her mouth, never taking her gaze off Stephen. “Coming here was a bad idea.”

“Oh, stop. You know how I love spinning and whirling down the slope. It’s more fun than . . . anything. Besides, it’s too late to run away now.” Nicole nudged her shoulder. “Next time follow my advice and simply wave.”

Bailey stuck her tongue out at her friend.

Lacy and her brother Collin snickered.

“Hi, kids.” Nicole greeted them as if they were at school. “Did you have a nice meal?”

“The best.” Stephen’s gentle voice caressed Bailey’s wounded heart. Her gaze flew to his and locked. His look of remorse astonished and confused her. “I’m surprised to see you here.”

“Nicole has a thing for inner tubes flying out of control at breakneck speed.”

Her friend gently nudged her toward the lodge. “Yep. I’m a daredevil, all right. See you Monday, Lacy.” She looped an arm through Sarah’s, pivoted, and started walking. “You coming, Bailey?” She raised a brow.

Bailey glanced toward Nicole then back at the family she’d grown to love—well, grown to love almost all of them. Stephen and his mother were another matter. “Have fun, kids.” She waved to the men and carefully jogged after Nicole. “You didn’t have to rush off.”

“I didn’t rush off, exactly. I said hi. I thought if I walked away it’d give you the excuse you needed to escape. Besides, the guys are waiting, and I want to get in line.” She shot her a wide grin. “You have no idea how much I love this.”

“Hmm. Actually, I think I might.” Nicole pulled her toward the lodge at a fast clip until they met the men, who were standing in line. Nicole snuggled against Mark, leaving Bailey and Sarah with Spencer.

“How’d you get talked into this, Spence?” Bailey asked.

He shot her an annoyed glance. “Do you realize you’re the only person who gets away with calling me that?”

Sarah chuckled.

Bailey shook her head. “I had no idea. You don’t like being called Spence?” She faced the stocky man who she’d met only last month. “Would you rather I call you Spencer?”

He grinned. “Nope. But I get to come up with a nickname for you. I’m thinking Bay.”

She wrinkled her nose.

“What? You don’t like that?”

“I’m not a body of water, and I prefer my actual name.”

“Sorry, fair is fair. How about Bails?”

“No way. If you must use a nickname, Bay is fine. . . Spence.” She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. “But don’t expect me to reply.”

Spencer chuckled as he connected a blue inner tube to the towrope and eased onto it. Sarah claimed a red one.

Bailey plopped onto a yellow inner tube and rode it to the top. Bailey’s friend claimed to love inner tubing, but she knew the truth of the matter was Nicole didn’t want to exclude her by skiing. Bailey was terrified of skiing. They had probably planned to ski until she’d shown up. She shivered. The idea of careening down the side of a mountain on two skinny stick-like things, along with hundreds of other people, sent chills of terror through her.

She disconnected from the tow and stood in the line for the closest run. Nicole turned and mouthed, “He’s cute” as she pointed to Stephen who walked nearby.

Bailey’s eyes widened, and she mouthed back, “Stop.” What had gotten into her normally reserved friend? Bailey settled onto her inner tube as Nicole screamed down the run. Bailey pushed off. Wind stung her face, and her eyes watered. She hit a bump and caught air, landed with a quick thud, and kept going to the bottom. Laughing, she rolled off and dragged the tube back to the line.

Stephen stood in front of her. He turned, presumably looking for his family. “Hello again.”

“Hi, yourself.” Her stomach knotted. Would he cause a scene now that the kids weren’t with him? The man was as unpredictable as the inner tube run.

“I saw you with a guy earlier. Is he your boyfriend?”

“He’s a friend of a friend.” She couldn’t decipher the look on his face. Surprise? No, a frown . . . or did he grin? Was he pleased she didn’t have a boyfriend? What a confusing man. Good thing his opinion didn’t matter.

She pressed her lips together. Who was she kidding? She cared way more than she should. His opinion mattered to her—and that wasn’t good. She couldn’t help noticing his good looks and how much he cared for his family. But there was something about Stephen that made him mysterious too.

Lacy ran up to them. “This is so much fun. You and Uncle Stephen should go down together. He’s the best.” She looked at her uncle with adoring eyes.

It appeared Stephen had made a good impression on his niece.

“Let’s go, squirt,” John tugged on Lacy’s braid. “We can race down to the bottom.”

Stephen’s deep bass voice grabbed her attention again. “My brother is as big a kid as my niece and nephew. He’ll be out here with them until they close the run. You want to get a cup of coffee or hot chocolate later? My treat.”

“Why?” She’d expected him to at least wait until Monday to fire her.

“I want to apologize for my phone call earlier.”

“Oh?” She studied his face more closely.

Regret filled his eyes. “Yes. I should never have called you. I was frustrated with my family and took it out on you. I’m very sorry and wish to make it up to you, at least in a small way.”

“What’d you have in mind?”

“Coffee?”

Indecision gripped her. She wanted to say yes, but it wasn’t wise to spend any more time with him than necessary. He was, after all, a Belafonte. Then again if the situation were reversed, she’d want him to say yes. “Okay. Let’s meet at the lodge in an hour.”

“Thanks!” A smile lit his face. “I’ll see you later.”

A tingle of excitement rose. She had a coffee date.
Ack.
It wasn’t a date—just coffee, even if she wished it were more there was no way he’d ever think of her like that.

Chapter Five

Stephen stood at the top of the inner tube run. Childlike giddiness raced through him, but he was ready for a break. He checked the time—last run. He pushed off and zoomed down the run. Snowflakes blinded him and hit his face like a million tiny pinpricks. He finally came to a stop at the bottom where his niece and nephew waited. “I’m going to meet someone for coffee. The two of you need to stay with Uncle John.”

“Who are you meeting?” Lacy asked.

He tapped her nose. “Bailey, if you must know.”

Her eyes gleamed approval. “She’s really nice.”

“So you’ve said. Call or text if you need me.”

She nodded then dragged her brother off toward John. She turned and waved. A big smile lit her face.

Stephen spotted Bailey outside the store near the inner tube park talking with her friends. Good. He had hoped to find her, since he’d made a change in plans. He tromped across compacted snow then sidled up behind her and waited for her to stop talking. Her alto voice held a warmth he hadn’t noticed before.

“Nicole, I’m heading to the lodge to warm up with coffee. I’ll catch up with everyone later.” Bailey yanked off her gloves and stuffed them into her jacket pocket.

Nicole flicked a glance his way with a raised brow. “Okay. Where’s Spencer?”

“He spotted friends and took off with them. He said to call when we’re ready to leave.”

“Will do.” Nicole rested a hand on Bailey’s arm and lowered her voice so Stephen could barely hear her words. “You okay?”

“Of course. Have fun!” She whirled around and ran smack into him then stumbled backward. Stephen grasped Bailey’s shoulders to steady her.

“Sor—Stephen.” She stepped back. “I thought we were meeting in the lodge.” Her eyes lit, bringing out flecks of gold in the hazel. She looked puzzled.

“I thought of a better idea I hope you’ll like.” He shivered and rubbed his hands together. “I’m more than ready to warm up.”

“Me too.” A snowflake landed on the tip of her nose and didn’t melt.

She must be freezing.

“My gloves are completely soaked, and my hands are like ice.” She plowed through the snow beside him. “Do you mind if I ask you a question?”

He raised an eyebrow. “Go ahead.”

“What’s wrong with me going a little above and beyond for your family? They’ve been through a lot in the past couple of months. I could have said no if I’d wanted to.”

He tilted his head. “Really? I’m not so sure. Saying no to my family seems to be difficult for you.” He sighed. He’d wanted to apologize, not cause more strife between them.

“You don’t know me, Stephen. Perhaps I
was
looking forward to the meal, but I also enjoyed spending time with my friends, so it all worked out. And for the record, I like my job—at least I do most of the time. Am I asked to do some odd things for Mona? On occasion. But I’m her assistant. As such, I pick up the slack. Lots of assistants do odd jobs for their bosses. This isn’t as big of a deal as you seem to think.”

“Not during the holidays. Cooking a holiday meal goes well beyond picking up the slack. And I doubt most bosses would even ask. But I get your reason for doing it. Thank you for caring so much.”

“You’re welcome.” Relief covered her face. “But I think next year I’ll leave the cooking to you so you can show off some of those French cooking skills you learned.” She shot him a cheeky grin.