A Home for Christmas (16 page)

The strong aroma of perm solution wrinkled her nose. A door to the right had a sign over it that read
Naughty
. The doorway across from it,
Nice
.

A petite woman in four-inch heels hurried toward her, drying her hands on a white towel. She had olive coloring and straight, waist-length, jet-black hair and the most amazing eyes. Violet.

“Hi. I'm Candi. Candi Heart.”

Her accent was decidedly slow and southern. Janice shook the woman's hand. “Candi Heart?”

“What can I say? My mother had a sense of humor.”

“Janice Thornton.”

“Welcome to Heart's Desire.”

The woman's outfit was as unusual as her name. She wore a one-piece, red mini-dress with white fur at the neckline and wrists. On closer observation, Janice noticed that the tall heels were actually black ankle boots. Dark hose and a wide black belt completed the look. The only thing missing was a Santa hat.

“So, what can I do for you?”

“I'm looking for a Christmas gift for my mother.”

“What'd you have in mind?”

“I'm not sure. Maybe perfume.”

“Okay, since it's for your mother, you should definitely see what I have in the Nice Boutique.” Janice followed Candi down the hall. She tipped her head toward the Naughty Boutique. “Everything in there's designed to drive a man wild. Not an image most folks want when shopping for their parents.”

Janice laughed. “My parents are rarely in the same room.”

“Not even for Christmas?”

“No.”

“Divorced?”

“No, just not your typical family.”

“That's too bad.” She moved behind a display case that had several perfume selections sitting on top. “So, tell me about your mom.”

“Mother is very sophisticated. A snob, if you will. She drips designer everything.”

The lovely woman nodded. “How about this?”

Janice smelled the perfume Candi handed her. Soft, clean, subtle, floral. Very classy. “
Mmm
. What is that? Rose?”

“It's rose with a hint of lavender.”

“It's lovely. The bottle is exquisite.” The container was an intricately cut, blue crystal atomizer.

“I make all of the scents myself. The bottles are antique.”

“I'll take it. Thank you. It's perfect.” Her mother might actually like it. She enjoyed the unusual.

“Wonderful. Now what can we do for you?”

“Me? Oh, I'm not shopping for myself.”

“All the more reason to indulge.” Candi set the perfume in a velvet-lined silver foil box, then pulled out a festive gift bag filled with tissue. “Do you have a dress for the dance?”

Janice frowned. “Dance?”

“Of course. The Snow Ball is this Saturday. Why, everyone will be there.”

“I'm new in town. I hadn't heard.”

“It's the social event of the holiday season. They hold it down at First Presbyterian's fellowship hall since the Baptists won't allow dancin' in theirs.” She took Janice's hand and led her out of the Nice Boutique. “You're in luck. I have just the dress for you.”

They would have continued into the “Naughty Boutique,” but Janice put on the brakes. “Oh, no. I mean, I appreciate your assistance, but I'm sure I won't be attending.”

“You're Doc Prescott's niece, right?”

“Yes. How did you know?”

“Dixie Ferguson was in this morning. She tells me you've been seein' her brother, Blake.”

Janice was shocked. She was not at all accustomed to everyone knowing her business. “Well, I wouldn't say that.”

“If he hasn't gotten around to asking you, I'm sure he will. And even if he doesn't, your uncle will expect you to go with him and Miss Estelee.”

“I don't know.”

“Just have a look. No harm in that.”

Janice passed through the purple beads separating them from the Naughty Boutique. Inside, there was everything imaginable. Perfumes. Lingerie. All types of seductive clothing. A display of massage oils and, Janice frowned just before her eyes widened, edible underwear. Candi just smiled.

“A little something for everyone. Here it is.”

She pulled a dress from the rack that was, in a word, incredible. The softest cinnamon-colored sweater material fell in folds to the floor. It was a wrap-style dress, but all around the hem and up the front and neck, the material gathered to form a gentle, feminine ruffle. But why was it in the Naughty Boutique? It didn't loot at all naughty.

Janice held the long sleeve up to her cheek and sighed. “Is this cashmere?”

“The finest.”

“It's beautiful.”

“Try it on.”

“Oh, I couldn't.”

“It won't hurt anything to try it on, now. Oh—” Something at her belt began beeping. “That's my perm. I need to rinse her. Be right back.” She handed Janice the dress. “Try it on, honey. There's matchin' shoes on top of that rack.”

Janice bit her lip. She held the dress up to herself and looked in the full-length mirror. The material was so soft. She couldn't help wonder what it would feel like next to her skin. Oh, why not. She had nothing else to do. Like Candi said, no harm in trying it on. She stepped into the dressing room and pulled the curtain.

Wearing nothing but her bra and panties, Janice eased her arms into the dress. The material flowed over her like a second skin, hugging her figure, molding to every dip and curve. She wrapped the belt and secured it at her waist. The neckline plunged below her bra, leaving it visible. She tried to adjust it, but the dress had a mind of its own. She chewed on her lower lip then thought, what the heck. She wriggled out of the bra.

She stepped out of the dressing room to stand in front of a full-length, triple mirror. Janice was stunned. Definitely naughty.

She hardly recognized the siren staring back at her in the mirror. The dress and even the slip on shoes with four-inch skinny heels were a perfect fit. She'd never owned anything so decadent in her life. On giving her reflection a closer look, she noticed that her black panties showed through the material. She turned and walked over to the display of underwear on the other side of the room to see if there was something the color of the dress.

The jingling bell at the front of the shop signaled the arrival of another customer.

“Come on in,” Candi called from the back. “I'm neutralizing a perm. Be with you in a minute.”

“No problem, Candi. I know how to find what I . . . want.”

Before Janice could react to the sound of his voice, she was standing face to face with Blake.

Chapter 9

“Janice.”

“Blake,” they said in unison.

“Wow. You look . . . amazing.”

She dropped the panties she'd been holding and pulled the neckline of the dress together. “Oh, I was just,
um
, you know… Candi insisted I try this on. I'll just,” she sidestepped her way to the dressing room, “just change.”

“No. Wait.”

Blake blocked her path.

“No, really. I should be getting back to the office.” Any excuse to get out of such an embarrassing situation. To be found trying on provocative dresses in Candi's Naughty Boutique in the middle of a workday. What must he think when she wasn't sure what she thought? But when he touched her face with the back of his hand, all thoughts of embarrassment short-circuited.

Last night, she'd walked out on him. Their conversation had taken a turn she hadn't expected. Had become too deep. Too personal. It had also brought to light differences she couldn't overlook. But now, in this moment, the attraction between them sizzled. With him standing a breath away devouring her with his eyes, Janice was rocked with desire for him despite her misgivings. She leaned into his touch and braced her hands against his chest.

Blake plunged his hand into her hair and circled her waist with his arm, and then his lips were hot and hungry on hers, leaving her weak and wanting more. Much more. He broke the kiss suddenly, skidding his lips across her cheek to her ear.

“Janice. I'm sorry.” He grasped her arms and pulled away a little.

She blinked. “Sorry?” The starched cotton material of his Oxford-style shirt felt rough against her palms.

“Yes.” He looked over his shoulder. “We're not exactly in a private place here. It's just, I wanted to kiss you so badly. Seeing you here, looking so beautiful and sexy, I couldn't help myself. Can you forgive me?”

Janice leaned into him again. Blake groaned. “Only if you stop apologizing,” she said. “After last night, after the way we left things . . . ”

He smoothed a hand down her hair and pressed his forehead to hers. “I know.”

She focused on the buttons of his shirt. “I wasn't sure you'd want to see me again. Not everyone is willing to deal with the demands on a doctor's time. When I make plans, I never know—”

“Now, stop right there. What you do is important. Any man that can't see that is just plain stupid.”

“But you won't get to pick and choose what's important. Can you handle that? Giving someone else that much control?”

“Would you give me that chance?”

Janice had to look away from the intensity and passion filling his eyes. There it was again. Hope. It flooded her heart like a long overdue soaking rain on dry, parched land.

“There's more.” Blake tipped her face up with a finger beneath her chin. “Don't pull away. Don't. Tell me what you want.”

Janice shook her head and took a step back, out of his arms. “I can't.”

“Can't or won't?”

“Does it matter?”

“Hell, yes it matters!”

For every step of retreat she took, he advanced. “I can't give you what you want, Blake.”

He propped his hands on his hips in a defensive stance. “What is it you think I want?”

“A wife. Children to fill your big, old house.”

“Okay, yes. I admit it. I want those things, but not now. Not right this second. I mean, I think I should have a girlfriend and then a fiancée.”

Janice tugged at the dress's plunging neckline, her arms wrapped around her midsection. “I can never be those things for you, Blake. I can never give you what you need. I can't be there for you the way you need me to. My job must come first. So, why bother with any of this? It'll just lead to one or both of us getting hurt.”

“Listen to yourself. You're making excuses to keep me at a distance. Again.”

Janice took another step back. “You don't know anything about me.”

“I think I do. You're from this dysfunctional family that's taught you love equals disappointment and hurt.” He took another step toward her, and another, until her back met the wall. “Well, I'm not afraid. It might not be easy, but I'm not afraid to take a chance at proving you wrong. Proving that some people come into your life and stay. I'm won't bug out when you need me most. I'll be right here.”

“That's impossible, Blake. We live in different worlds.”

“We don't have to.”

Janice stepped around him. “Coming to Angel Ridge was a mistake. I should have stuck to my plans and gone skiing.”

“That's your parents talking.”

Janice spun to face him. “What?”

“Isn't that what they would do? Leave you alone? Take a trip? Run away from you when you need them the most?”

It was her turn to advance on him. “Don't do that. Don't presume to analyze my family and me, because you can't begin to understand. You had it all. A traditional upbringing in a huge, loving family, with all of them still close by.”

He surprised her by framing her face with his hands. “You're right. I can't understand how someone could know you and not want to love and cherish you.”

“Hey, how are you doing in he—Blake Ferguson! You know men aren't allowed in here unchaperoned. I'm so sorry, Doc.”

One second he was holding her, and the next he was holding air as Janice disappeared into the dressing room. Blake turned to Candi and said, “Anybody ever tell you that you have rotten timing?”

“What are you doing in here, Blake?”

“I came in to get some perfume.” He raked a hand through his hair, shaken by what was happening between him and Janice. At some point, she'd not only gotten under his skin, but into his heart.

“Well, what do ya know? I'm havin' a run on the stuff today. You'd think I was having a sale.”

Blake barely noticed that she'd spoken as he walked out of Candi's Naughty Boutique and into the front room. How could this be happening? He knew where he stood with Janice. To have a relationship with her, he'd have to give up his dream of a traditional family. Maybe even move to the city. He couldn't be sure he was willing to do that, but he knew he cared about her. He propped both hands against the counter, hung his head, and pulled in a ragged breath while conflicting emotions ripped him apart.

He pulled out his wallet and threw several bills down on the counter. “I need some flowers delivered to Susan Houston.” His cell phone rang, and he stepped out onto the sidewalk to take the call.

“What about the perfume?” Candi called after him.

“Not today. Yeah,” he barked into the phone.

“Take my head off, why don't you?”

“What do you want, Dixie?”

“I need you to watch the diner for me.”

“You know, I have other things to do besides jump when you say—”

“Look, Blake Ferguson. My best friend is dying, her husband is in the city with her finding out exactly how much longer she has, and her son is sick. That leaves me to get him to the doctor, so just get over yourself and haul your ass down here.”

He held the phone away from his ear as Dixie slammed the receiver home. Blake holstered the cell and turned to go back into Heart's Desire. Janice was just coming out of the side room. They met at the counter.

Candi ignored Blake and spoke to Janice. “So, can I box up that dress and send it over to Doc Prescott's?”

“No. I'll just take the perfume.”

“But—”

“I'm sorry, Candi, but I'm really in a hurry.”

Seemed the plan was for her to ignore him, too. “Janice, I just spoke with Dixie. Little Sammy Houston is—”

“I know. I just got a call from Mable.”

She handed Candi some cash, thanked her, and bypassed him on the way to the door. She left without looking back.

As he watched her walk away, something snapped inside him. Determination straightened his back. He'd backed down too many times in his life. Some things were worth fighting for. He didn't know how it would turn out, but he knew in his gut, if he didn't give it shot, he'd live with the regret.