I'm Your Santa (18 page)

Bailey peeled oranges for the fruit salad she was going to take over to the community dinner. Her job was to do the fruit salad. She had a feeling it was because everyone knew it was safe—no cooking. Just cut up the fruit, add whipped cream, chopped nuts, and marshmallows. Even she couldn't screw that up.

But her heart wasn't in it.

She glanced at the clock. It was late. She should go to bed. She should do a lot of things. She should be happy—tomorrow was the play, too. She had the lead.

A sob caught in her throat. He'd said she couldn't act. He would know. She put the fruit salad in the refrigerator and covered it.

But when she crawled between the cold sheets on her bed, sleep eluded her. She finally snuggled the extra pillow close to her. It was a poor substitute for the warmth he'd given her. She missed the heat that he'd started inside her and that had never really gone away.

You're a fool. He's so not worth your tears.

She knew he wasn't worth crying over but it didn't stop the tears that fell.

Not only had he left her but now she had to face everyone tomorrow. The whole town knew he'd shamed her. Shamed all of them.

 

Jeremy glared at Fallon. His gaze moved to the other woman, Cody. She was a looker: long black hair and even longer legs. But a bounty hunter? It was kind of hard to believe—except she'd been the one to clip him and had offered only a lame apology. He had a feeling she'd enjoyed taking him down.

And her partner was cool as a cucumber. Nothing seemed to faze him. At one point, Jeremy had tried to reason with Josh. The man had only smiled and told him that he had to face the music.

Face the music? Just thinking about seeing Bailey again sent a flash of heat through his body. Just as quickly, it turned cold.

She hated him. Fallon had already told him as much. Man, was she going to kill him, and who the hell would convict her? Small Texas towns—they got away with murder all the time. And with Wade as the sheriff, it wouldn't be hard to do. He only hoped it was a quick death.

Ah, damn, he knew Bailey needed closure. That was the only reason they'd kidnapped him. As soon as Bailey finished telling him off, they'd put him on a bus that would take him home.

They pulled into town. His hands began to sweat.

“Where do you want me to take him?” Josh asked.

A slow smile curved Fallon's lips. “Take him to the theater. He owes the whole town an apology.”

He sank farther down in the seat. Ah, man, this wasn't good. Not good at all. The town would crucify him.

Josh pulled into the alley and after they got out, all three ushered him into one of the dressing rooms. Fallon looked at her watch.

“At least you won't have to wait long.”

 

Bailey squirmed in her seat. The reverend had just finished his sermon. All the preachers had taken ten minutes to talk about forgiveness and loving one another in keeping with the Christmas spirit.

Ho, ho, ho.

She didn't feel much like celebrating. At least the night was almost over. She could go home and wallow in her misery before she had to go to her parents' home tomorrow and pretend to celebrate Christmas.

The crowd in the theater began to murmur in hushed whispers. She looked toward the stage and saw Jeremy Hunter walking across it. He stopped at the podium and looked out over the crowd.

“I was invited to speak here tonight by the town's clergy, but that was when they thought I was one of them. I lied when I said I was a preacher.”

There was some grumbling but Fallon shushed them.

Damn, she'd told Fallon not to interfere. And was that Cody and Josh peeking from behind the curtain? Oh, Lord.

“I don't regret coming here,” Jeremy said. “But I do regret the lie and I owe everyone an apology. It's with sincerity that I offer my deepest regret for any problems I might have caused. I hope in time you'll be able to forgive me.” He started to turn away.

Bailey jumped to her feet. “Is that what I was, Jeremy Hunter. A problem?”

He hesitated, then cleared his throat. “No, you weren't a problem.”

“You just thought you could have your fun and then run away. I mean, I'm just a small town girl—a country hick.”

“That's not what I thought and you know it.”

“And how the hell…” She glanced at the pastors. “Uh, sorry.” Then faced Jeremy again. “How was I supposed to know what you were thinking when everything you told me was a lie? You probably weren't raised in an orphanage, either.”

“Not exactly.”

“Jeremy Hunter you can go to…to hell!”

She left her seat and made her way up the aisle.

“I'm already there,” he said. “I've been there ever since I left.”

She stumbled to a stop.

“Let him beg a bit more, sweetie, before you take him back,” Audrey whispered in her southern drawl.

“I don't want him back,” she said.

“I'll take him,” Callie murmured with a deep sigh.

“For the first time in my life,” Jeremy began haltingly, “I've felt a sense of belonging.”

She turned around. “Then why did you leave?”

“Because I was scared. I was a fool.” He left the stage and began to walk toward her. “You turned my world upside down. Made me believe in people again. You made me see what was missing in my life. Before I met you I was cold and lonely and didn't even know it.” He stopped in front of her. “Please don't send me away. I love you.”

“Do you even know what the word means?”

“I didn't until I met you.”

She didn't know what he'd lived through in his lifetime, but there was a wealth of pain reflected in his eyes. It broke her heart.

“Don't leave me again,” she warned.

“Never. I promise.”

“If it was me, I'd kiss her,” Dr. Canton said. “Young people take up too much time talkin'.”

Jeremy wasn't about to tell Dr. Canton he was wrong.

He pulled Bailey into his arms and lowered his mouth. She tasted so damn sweet. And as the whole town cheered, he knew life really could be wonderful.

The winner for best actor in a motion picture is Jeremy Hunter for his portrayal of Trey Jones in
A Time For Mercy.

 

Jeremy stood, the applause was deafening. Bailey squeezed his hand and smiled. He dropped a quick kiss on her lips, felt the heat, the essence of her as he hurried on stage.

“I have a very special person to thank tonight,” he said when he got to the microphone. “My beautiful wife. She showed me what it meant to live. I thank God every day she granted me the mercy of forgiveness.”

He paused.

“And to the town of Two Creeks, Texas. Where everyone knows each others business but they forgive you anyway.”

Bailey smiled. This had been a long time coming and Jeremy deserved to win the Oscar. God, she loved this man so much. Her heart swelled with pride.

“And to my sister-in-law Fallon,” he continued. “For breaking into my apartment with her friends, kidnapping me, and making me realize just how much I'd be giving up if I didn't confess my sins and tell Bailey I loved her. And now sweet wife, we have no secrets between us.”

Fallon, who was sitting right beside her groaned and sank farther down in her seat.

“You kidnapped him!” The room had grown quiet so her words echoed throughout the cavernous room.

“Well, it worked didn't it.”

“Just wait until we get back to Two Creeks.”

She looked at Jeremy, knowing he'd told her in front of the crowded room so he wouldn't get into too much trouble.

“Don't think you're off the hook, either. And since we're going public with our secrets, then congratulations.” She smiled sweetly. “You're going to be a father.”

“What?” he croaked, right before he passed out on stage.

“Oops.”

“You could've chosen a better time,” Wade whispered.

Bailey stood, but before she hurried on stage, she looked at her brother. “Well, at least I didn't tell him we were having twins.”

Dianne Castell

LuLu Cahill looked out from the gazebo to the falling snow, Christmas lights and carolers on the corner, and knew with absolute certainty that she wanted to be anywhere but home for Christmas! Too many couples, smiling faces, families and total happiness, when all she felt was totally pissed off. She grabbed the railing and growled like a poked dog.

“Not exactly the joyous sounds of the season,” said a guy who walked up next to her. “Anything I can do to help?” He handed her a travel mug. “I'll share my apple cider.”

“You can help wring my cheating ex-boyfriend's neck who maxed my credit cards then left me.” She took a sip then handed back the mug. “And you're here alone because you're a stranger in town?”

“That, and I was dumped at the altar, have guests without a Christmas Eve wedding to attend and had to get out of the house and away from their pity party. If your ex shows up I'd be glad to help with the wringing idea. Course then we'd be sharing a jail cell instead of cider.”

He was tall with buzzed dark hair, clean shaven, a little lonely, and a whole lot handsome. “Can't believe a good-looking guy like you got dumped.”

“Lost out to the drummer from Blue Sticky Notes. Bachelorette parties should be outlawed. Miss your guy?”

“Miss the sex.” She slapped her fingers to her lips. “Can't believe I just said that. What's in that cider?”

“Apples.” He chuckled then nodded at the crowd. “The natives are leaving, probably to go home to lovers and warm beds.” He took a long drink. The carolers finished up their last song, kettle fires got extinguished and the gazebo suddenly went dark, leaving a sliver of moon, the faint glow of streetlights and the quiet of falling snow. She let go of the railing. “Guess this is our cue to go home.”

She turned and slipped on ice, stumbling against Handsome, making him lose his balance, too. They both fell onto the wood bench in fits of laughter. LuLu buried her face in his pea coat. “This is the most fun I've had in two months. Gives you a clue how great my life's been lately. Thought twenty-five was going to be the best year ever.”

“I was hoping twenty-nine would do it for me.” His eyes darkened as he stared down at her and then, slowly, as if giving her time to stop him, he kissed her. It was one of those mutual kisses, the kind that said I really want this and hope you do, too.

And she did, a lot. He tasted of cider and cinnamon, and smelled like fresh snow and one very delicious man. His tongue touched her bottom lip, and her mouth opened as if she'd been waiting for him and this kiss all her life. Amazing what a little cider can do to brain cells. Then their lips mated more than kissed, and her brain cell's sizzled.

“I needed that,” he whispered, his breath hot on hers, his voice low, a little rough and a lot sexy. Where'd this guy come from?

“Glad I was here for you.” She nodded for emphasis. “I think I'm horny and tired. Good thing I'm leaving tomorrow. If I ever ran into you after saying something like that I'd die of embarrassment.”

He grinned, his teeth white against the dark night. “Won't tell a soul, promise. I don't know your name so your secret's safe. I'm out of here tomorrow, too, no reason to hang around.”

Then he kissed her again and she ran her hands through his hair and around his strong neck. She sure felt a lot better then she did five minutes ago. He touched her face, his erection pressing into her middle. Been months since she felt one of those and…well dang…they really did come in sizes.

“What do you want?” Moonlight danced in his eyes. “Tell me and I'll make it happen. It's the code of the dumped. We hang together, gotta be there for each other.”

She swallowed. “I think I want what you want but I could be wrong.”

He kissed the tip of her nose. “Forget any reference to the word
but
tonight. I've heard it too many times as in, ‘I'm in love with you
but
love him more.' Or, ‘I'm in love with you
but
you're never there for me.' Or my personal favorite, ‘You're a great guy
but
I just want to be friends.' What the hell does that mean?”

His lips claimed hers in a slow seduction this time. What was he doing? What the heck was
she
doing right out here in a gazebo! Then his fingers crept under her jacket and sweater and caressed her nipple, and she suddenly didn't care about making sense. She gasped, his touch exciting, alluring, promising. She really liked the promising part.

“Do you like that?”

“Don't stop.”

He grinned—he had a great grin—and kissed the lobe of her left ear. His rough chin on her cold cheek and neck were the sexiest thing she'd ever felt in her life, till he licked a spot behind her ear, stroked her other nipple, and liquefied her insides to that hot stuff that comes out of volcanoes that she couldn't remember what it was called. She swallowed a primal whine and forced herself to breathe. If she fainted and missed the rest of this magic she'd never forgive herself. “How'd you know to do that? Where'd you learn to…” She panted again as he took another taste of her.

“Instinct,” he said in a heavy voice. “Pure instinct and the right partner.”

“Amen to instinct!”

“Amen to the right partner.” He laughed, a deep sound that said he didn't take himself too seriously. “I want to make love to you, here and now.”

“There's not enough money in the Western Hemisphere to get me to leave.”

“I'm pretty good, but with that much money on the line I hope I don't disappoint.”

“No buts, remember, and you passed the pretty good mark two kisses ago.”

He reached to his back pocket and pulled out his wallet, covered himself then faced her.

“Did you know that Donna W loves Charles M?” She pointed to the gazebo roof.

“Then it must be true. Glow-in-the-dark orange graffiti wouldn't lie.” He bunched her skirt to her waist. His brow rose, a laugh on his lips. “Daffy duck undies? I'm a fan.” He looked her in the eyes. “Of a lot of things about you.”

She felt herself blush hairline to heels and he quickly placed himself over her. “Damn, it's cold tonight.”

“It's getting a whole lot warmer.” The tip of his erection thrust against her panties and when his fingers pushed aside the strip of cotton and touched her bare flesh she nearly swallowed her tongue. She gulped a lungful of air and her fists tangled into his coat as he did something down there that nearly sent her into an instant orgasm. “Holy—”

He kissed her, swallowing her whimpers, his fingers pushing deeper and massaging as they went, gradually opening her, setting fire to what was already hot and wet.

“Breathe, sweetheart. You got to remember to breathe.” He slowly took his fingers from her and she grabbed his coat. “Oh my God. Don't go!”

“It gets better.”

She grabbed him tighter. “Handsome, I can't stand better.”

He smiled and this time his erection eased into her just a bit, her body adjusting to his size and that she didn't burst into a million pieces was a complete mystery. His eyes bore into hers. “Am I hurting you? You have to let me know. You're so tight.”

“You're magnificent.”

“You're a flatterer.” His lips met hers as he filled her more, stopping, then moving again till he took her completely; making her feel more like a woman and more desirable than…what was the name of that guy she almost married?

“Hold on to me, honey.” Handsome braced himself over her, dots of perspiration forming over his lip. “I want this to be special for you because it is for me.” He entered again, bit by bit. “I want you ready, eager.”

She framed his face between her palms. “Any more eager and I…” She pulled his face to hers and kissed him as he thrust into her the third time and everyone knows that the third time is…“Oh my God!” she gasped into his mouth, a blazing orgasm roaring through her; Drowning out every sound and every sensation, but all-consuming sex and being with this incredible man.

His damp cheek rubbed against hers, his breathing ragged, fast and uncontrolled. “Oh, sweetheart,” he panted again. “You are amazing, incredibly amazing.” His chest rose and fell against hers, the back of his neck damp, the weight of his body on hers a delicious sensation of them being one. His gaze met hers and he offered a half smile, and a hint of devil in his voice when he said, “Guess we have more in common than getting dumped.”

A car slowly circled the town square, snow crunching under the tires, headlights reflecting off the bushes that hid them.

She said, “It's the sheriff. Can we get thrown in jail for sex on the square?”

“If he finds us we'll definitely be the opening act for the a.m. edition of town gossip, and even if we're leaving we have family here who aren't.” Handsome took himself from her, making her feel alone and abandoned, even more than when what's-his-name ran off with what's-her-name. Lulu's brain refused to function, a by-product of afterglow?

He zipped then hunkered down beside the bench. She joined him and he took her hands in his, keeping them warm. “You leave first. Just walk naturally,” he said. “The sheriff will think you're out for a night stroll.”

“What if he or someone else sees you, too? Won't they know something's up?”

A spark of mystery lit his eyes along with a healthy dose of self-confidence. “Sweetheart, no one will ever see me.”

“Oh, boy. You're a vampire.”

The grin grew. “Better.”

She kissed his cheek. “You're great, Handsome.”

“Right back at you.” His lips grazed over hers. “You're going to be okay. I want you to believe that. You're young and beautiful and have a lot of living to do. Things will get better. Now get the hell out of here.”

 

The hum of breakfast customers at Slim's mixed with
Boogie Woogie Santa Clause
from the green and yellow jukebox in the corner. LuLu straightened her bulky sweater and tied on a waitress apron dotted with snowmen. Yawning she thought of Handsome, since it was the memory of hot sex and tricky fingers that kept her awake all night. Good thing he was leaving, because the next time she laid eyes on the man she'd jump his bones demanding an instant replay.

“You're brooding over that boyfriend again, aren't you?” sister Callie said, taking a sip of coffee while sitting at the bar. “You got to get over him, get out and socialize. Mix it up a little.”

If she'd mixed it up any more she'd be in jail for indecent exposure. LuLu hoisted a tray of breakfast coffee cups and full carafes for the customers seated at the tables. “Maybe I should just leave here like I planned on doing.” Because every time she glanced at that gazebo across the street she got a severe attack of frustration knowing she'd never experience anything like that night again if she lived to be a hundred.

Callie took a bite of hush puppy. “You're broke, honey, remember? Unless you like walking and camping and trapping food a lot more than I think you do, you're here for the holidays. Slim's needs help and the pay's good. Besides, we haven't been together since my wedding in June.”

“You're right. It will be a good Christmas.” Sure was off to a bang-up start. But that part was over and it was a pity. “I think I got the men part of my life figured out. The problem is they keep leaving and it's really getting me down. We're good for a while then bam, they up and run off to greener pastures.”

“Men?” Callie's left eyebrow rose. “You have
men
in your life?”

“Man…just the one man…Jerome.” She could remember his name now, but last night under the influence of new hunky man and astonishing sex, noway. “Except for Paul when I was in college, who left me for the Peace Corp. And Eddie who took that accounting job in Columbia and then there's Danny who joined the monastery in Nepal.”

“You drove a guy to celibacy?”

“You're not making me feel better here. The point is I end up alone. If any man wants a life of travel and adventure he just needs to hang around me and it'll happen, guaranteed and…Oh heavenly days and mother have mercy,” she blurted as Handsome ambled through the main door.

She dropped the tray, mugs and coffee falling everywhere. Better than jumping his bones like she'd planned. Her gaze met Handsome's across the room and he stopped dead. Then he grinned. Oh, crap, did he have to grin? What the heck was he doing here?

“Hi,” he said in that low rough voice that sent chills all the way to her fingernails.

Callie looked from one to the other. “You two know each other?”

“No,” LuLu said as Handsome said, “Yes.” Why did he have to say yes? Now there'd be sister questions and those were the worse kind…nosey, prying, unforgiving.

Handsome said, “We met last night on the square.”

“For a split second,” LuLu added. “By the carolers.” She said to Handsome, “You should go find a table, have breakfast, are you leaving today? Gee, that's too bad, I'm so sorry. Have a great Christmas. Ta-ta.”