Marry Me at Christmas (Fool's Gold) (16 page)

Madeline’s expression turned pitying. “Everyone knows, Jonny. And this is just the beginning.”

She was right. He’d barely been introduced to his temporary dogs when Eddie and Gladys arrived. Both women rushed into the house and insisted on checking on his wounds. Eddie hugged him tight. She was thin and felt so small and frail. While she was talking smack and checking out his butt, she was larger than life, but like this, she seemed tiny and old.

“I’m sorry,” she told him, her mouth trembling as tears filled her eyes. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I feel awful.” She sniffed, then swallowed. “We’re not going to show your butt on our show. It wouldn’t be right.”

He’d caught their cable show a couple of times and knew the naked butt contest was their favorite segment. He took one of Eddie’s hands in his good one and shook his head.

“You are so showing my butt and I am going to win the contest. Do you hear me?”

“You’re not mad?” Gladys asked.

“No. I’m not.” What had happened had been an accident. He was more relieved that Madeline was okay than worried about himself.

“We’re going to take the dogs for a walk,” Eddie said. “It’s the least we can do. I have experience. I have a little dog. Marilyn. After Marilyn Monroe. She’s a Chiweenie.”

“A what?”

“Dachshund and Chihuahua mix. She’s very sweet. It’s nice to have a companion. All right, let’s get your dogs together.”

Jonny wasn’t sure about two septuagenarians walking four dogs, but before he could voice his concerns, three teenagers arrived. They explained they were there to help out and joined Eddie and Gladys in collecting the dogs and herding them outside.

Jonny looked around his family room. There were large dog beds and bags of dog food. He could see into the kitchen where Madeline was sorting through all the people food that had been dropped off. In addition to the traditional casseroles, there were plates of cookies, pies and cakes along with a couple of six packs of beer.

“Exhausted?” she asked cheerfully.

“Kind of.”

She’d insisted he take a painkiller, so he wasn’t hurting that much, but the stress of what he’d been through was catching up with him. He patted the sofa beside him. She left the kitchen and joined him.

“How are you?” he asked. “Still no aftereffects?”

“Not a single one. I told you, I didn’t get hurt.” She studied him. “You’re really okay?”

“I swear.” Especially with her close. He leaned in and kissed her.

The front door opened and Eddie and Gladys walked in. They had one of the dogs with them.

“She’s done,” Eddie announced. “The other dogs wanted to run, but this one did her business and was ready to come home.”

Madeline got up and took the leash from the other women, then read the tag on the collar. “Her name is Raven.”

Jonny looked at the black lab. She was thin with a bit of white on her muzzle and kind brown eyes. As she glanced around, she seemed both sad and tentative, as if not sure what would happen next.

He had paperwork on all four dogs. He opened the folder with his good hand.

“Raven is nearly eight. Her family couldn’t keep her when they moved into an apartment and she’s been in foster care for nearly six months.”

Madeline’s mouth twisted. “That’s awful.” She stroked Raven. “It’s okay, little girl. We’ll find you a forever home. That’s what Saturday’s about.”

Raven’s gaze was steady, but her tail didn’t wag. After a couple of minutes, she walked over to one of the dog beds and laid down.

Eddie and Gladys promised to come by the next day to help with the dogs. Madeline walked them out to their car. By the time they’d left, the teenagers were back with the other dogs. The kids helped get dinner ready for the dogs. Jonny noticed that Raven hung back. When she didn’t attack her bowl, one of the other dogs started toward it.

“Not so fast,” he said, and swept up the bowl, then took it into the pantry. He returned to the kitchen and got Raven, then led her into the panty and shut the door.

The dog looked from him to the bowl, then back.

“It’s okay,” he told her. “Come on, Raven. You’ve got to be hungry. I’ll sit right here.”

He pulled up a step stool and sat down, then tapped the side of the metal dish. She took a step toward the food, then another. Finally she was close enough to start eating.

He sat quietly while she finished her meal. When she was done, he stroked her back and then her face. Her brown eyes didn’t have any hope left.

“You lost everybody, huh,” he said quietly. “They walked away and you don’t know why.”

He had no way of knowing the circumstances that had caused the former owners to have to surrender their dog. They could have been devastated or not cared at all. Either way, Raven had lost her pack. She’d been sent to a strange place and probably spent her days waiting for her family to return.

She was meek and underweight. He wondered if the other dogs she’d been fostered with had eaten most of her food. He didn’t think it would take much to push her away from her bowl.

“It’s going to be okay,” he told her.

She turned away, as if she understood but didn’t believe. He supposed she had a point. How could he know what would happen at the adoption on Saturday?

“Sometimes you have to have faith,” he told the dog, only to realize it wasn’t something he had a lot of himself. His sister’s words seemed to echo in the small space. Her claim that he was so terrified of losing that he wouldn’t risk getting involved. That he held back because the alternative was to connect and then lose.

He patted Raven. Her tail gave a tentative wag, then stilled. As if the price of believing was just too high.

THIRTEEN

“I
COULD
HAVE
HELPED
,”
Jonny grumbled from one of the bar stools by the island as Madeline finished loading the dishwasher.

“You don’t own rubber gloves,” she pointed out. “You can’t get your bandage wet. Besides, it’s only a few dishes.”

What she didn’t say was that she liked working in his kitchen. It was big and bright. Overhead lights illuminated every corner. The appliances were new and efficient. A girl could get used to a kitchen like this, she thought humorously.

The visual perks weren’t bad, either. Jonny looked good, as always. A little rumpled. Before dinner she’d tried to get him to take another painkiller. He’d resisted, and now as she took in the lines around his mouth, she wondered if he was in pain. His hand wasn’t broken, but it sure was beat up. And the cuts had to be hurting.

She rinsed her hands before drying them on a dish towel, then walked over to his prescription bottles and shook one of the pills onto her palm. She handed it to him.

“I don’t—” he started.

She walked to the sink and filled a glass with water. “I don’t want to hear it.”

“But I don’t—”

She set the glass in front of him and put her hands on her hips. “Don’t even get me started. I can be shrill. Trust me, it’s a side you don’t want to see.”

His smiled. “Yeah, I’m scared.” He took the pill and swallowed it, then drank some water. “The bossy thing is kind of sexy.”

“You like shrill? I’m surprised.”

“You only threatened shrill. I never actually heard it.” He stood. “Want to walk the dogs before we watch something?”

“Sure.”

It was still warm out. Warm and muddy, she thought as they collected leashes. Just the sound was enough to get the dogs on their feet. All except Raven, who raised her head, but didn’t get up.

“Come on, Raven,” Jonny called, his tone coaxing. “We’ll walk slow.”

The older dog rose slowly, then started toward him.

“I feel bad for her,” Madeline admitted. “The other dogs are friendly and interactive, which means they’ll have an easier time getting adopted. I hope someone takes the time to see that Raven is basically a sweet girl.”

“Me, too.” Jonny rubbed the dog’s back before attaching the leash to her collar.

They went outside.

Madeline insisted on taking the other three dogs while Jonny handled Raven. She didn’t want him having to use his injured hand.

They started down the driveway, then turned by the first barn. The night was clear and the stars bright.

“Too bad you don’t have a view of town,” she said. “It would be pretty tonight.”

“It would.”

“If only we could hear them whispering about you.”

He chuckled. “I doubt they’re bothering to whisper.”

“Did you tell your manager what happened?”

“No. Annelise would worry and there’s no reason for her to. In a couple of days, I’ll be good as new.”

“You could have gotten out of the butt contest. Eddie was feeling really guilty.”

“But I don’t want to. You think I’m going to let those sports guys hog all the Fool’s Gold glory? No way.”

Which was an interesting attitude, she thought. Jonny valued his privacy. He’d moved all the way out here to find peace from his star status. Yet he was willing to let a couple of old ladies flash his butt on their cable access show.

She wasn’t sure what that said about him. Obviously the town was sucking him in. She liked that he wanted to belong. But the competitive streak was interesting, too. And kind of sexy.

“Before you know it, you’ll be volunteering to be the sacrifice at the Máa-zib festival.”

“I don’t know what that is.”

“It’s a festival that celebrates the first settlers in the area. Hundreds of years ago a group of Mayan women left their village and headed north. They settled here and created a matriarchal society. Every year, at the festival, a female warrior rides a horse. The horse dances and then they cut out the heart of the male sacrifice. Not literally.”

“Good to know. And you’re volunteering me for this? I thought you liked me.”

“I do, but you’re trying to fit in. This is me helping.”

He laughed. “That kind of help I don’t need.”

“Chicken.”

“I want to keep my heart beating in my chest and not on some female warrior’s plate.”

“They just cut it out. They don’t eat it.”

“Still.”

They walked along the gravel path. The dogs stopped to do their business and sniff the ground. The night was still. Madeline felt a whisper of cold on her cheek. As she turned toward the sensation, she felt the temperature dropping.

“The cold front,” she whispered. “It’s right here.”

They stood and let the chilly air wash over them. Raven moved closer to Jonny, as if concerned about the temperature. When they were both shivering, they turned back to the house.

“Does the spirit of the Máa-zib tribe live on?” he asked.

“Naturally. The kids collecting toys for the toy drive are part of the Future Warriors of the Máa-zib. It’s a little like scouting, but with a Fool’s Gold twist.” She smiled at him. “The warriors are girls.”

“Why do I know Eddie used to be one?”

Madeline laughed. “I’m sure she was.”

“Were you?”

“Yes, I started as an Acorn and graduated when I was a Mighty Oak.”

They reached the house. Jonny pushed open the front door, then waited for her to step inside. They unleashed the dogs. All four of them hurried inside. Raven walked the slowest, and when she was partway across the room, she turned back, as if checking to see if the humans were still there.

“A mighty oak?” Jonny asked.

“Acorns, Sprouts, Saplings, Sky-Reachers and Mighty Oaks. It was fun. I learned to tie knots and do crafts. My mom was a Grove Keeper.”

His dark green gaze settled on her face. “And when you have a daughter?”

She felt the beginnings of a shiver, although it had nothing to do with temperature. Inside the house was plenty warm. “I hope she’ll want to join the FWM and carry on the tradition.”

“Will you be the Grove Keeper?”

“Probably. It’s fun to be involved.”

“I want to tell you I’ll never get sucked into anything like that,” he told her. “Yet here I am with a busted-up hand and four dogs that aren’t mine.”

“It’s Fool’s Gold Christmas magic.”

“Are you an elf?”

The shivers became tingles and heated her from the inside out. “If you’d like me to be.”

“I would. Very much.” He moved closer to her. “Hmm, I’m going to have a little trouble, though. What with my hand being bandaged.”

“I think we can work around that.”

She stepped into his embrace. His arms came around her as he kissed her. The feel of his lips on hers was magical. Arousing, delicious and unexpectedly tender. Just like the man himself.

* * *

Madeline woke sometime in the middle of the night. She wasn’t sure what had disturbed her sleep. Beside her, Jonny was breathing deeply. He’d only resisted a little before taking a painkiller before bed. There’d been no sign of bleeding on the white bandage and he swore his hand barely hurt, so she didn’t think he was the reason she’d awakened.

She got up and reached for the robe Jonny had lent her, then slipped it on and got out of bed. The night was still and dark. There were a couple of night-lights in the hall.

She walked to the living room to check on the dogs. They’d taken them out just before turning in around midnight, so she doubted they had to go again.

She turned on a small lamp and saw that they were all snug in their beds. There were... She looked around the living room. Three beds. Not only was Raven missing, but her bed was, too.

Madeline checked to see if the dog had dragged it behind the sofa, but there was no hint of the dog or her bedding. She retraced her steps, not sure what to do next. She supposed she should search the house before waking Jonny. With the cold front coming through, the dog wouldn’t do well outside for any length of time. Not that she could have gotten out, but still.

She entered the bedroom. Something moved. She turned and saw Raven curled up on her dog bed. The plaid quilted bed had been placed on the floor next to Jonny’s side. The black lab raised her head and looked at Madeline, as if wondering if she was going to get into trouble.

Madeline crossed to her and knelt down, then gently stroked the dog’s head. It was only then that she realized there was a blanket draped across Raven. While it was possible the dog could have dragged her own bed to the master, there was no way she could cover herself. Which meant sometime in the night, Jonny had gotten up to check on Raven.

“Looks like you have an admirer,” she whispered.

Raven’s tail thumped against the thick fabric.

Madeline tucked the blanket more securely around the dog, then returned to bed. As she settled next to Jonny, he turned toward her and placed his arm around her.

“You okay?” he asked, his voice sleepy.

“Uh-huh. Shh. Close your eyes.”

He drew her against him and sighed. She felt him relax as he drifted back to sleep. She lay in the dark, more awake than before. Her mind raced. The more she got to know Jonny, the more she liked him. How was she supposed to resist small acts of kindness, like looking after an old, lonely dog? And if she didn’t resist, wasn’t she in danger of losing her heart?

* * *

Madeline stared at the trays of food. There were appetizer samples and soup samples and salad samples along with multiple entrées and eight different desserts. A few of the items were what Ginger had suggested, but the rest, while probably delicious, were a little over the top.

“Three kinds of oyster on the half shell?” she asked, pointing. “Ginger doesn’t like oysters.”

“Other people do,” Jonny said easily. “They go with the seafood bar. There will be shrimp and crab, along with different kinds of sushi.”

Before she could scream at him, Ana Raquel, their catering expert, returned to the small tasting room.

“This is the last of it,” the twentysomething chef said cheerfully. “I have to say, it was fun ordering with no regard for pricing. I swear, in my next life, I’m going to make sure I have that all the time.”

Ana Raquel was a petite blonde with big hazel eyes and a happy, upbeat attitude. Madeline knew her socially, but had never worked with her before. All the brides who hired her loved her. Madeline figured her ability to look on the bright side would help when Jonny doubled the order and added fifty items two days before the reception.

Ana Raquel sat down across from them and opened her tablet. “I’ll need to place the seafood order today. Some of it requires specialty items. Not for a sushi restaurant, but for me. My fish guy needs a few days to pull it all together. It’s the holidays and all.”

“Makes sense,” Madeline murmured, even as she began texting Ginger. The message was simple.
Do you like sushi and do you want it at your reception?
She pushed the send button and waited.

“The open bar is easy,” Ana Raquel continued. “We’ll have all the usual suspects on hand, along with champagne. Wine will be served with dinner. Should we do a different wine with each course?”

“Yes,” Jonny told her.

“No,” Madeline said at the same time. She turned to him. “People have to drive back down the mountain. At night. They’re going to be totally drunk. Unless you plan on putting up fifty people, you can’t have that much alcohol.”

“I’ve hired transportation.”

“Excuse me?”

“Tour buses from Mitchell Adventure Tours. This is a quieter time for them and they have a couple of good-size vans and a big bus. There’s also a service limo company in the area, although they’re for the wedding party.” He turned back to Ana Raquel. “Wine with every course.”

Madeline thought about pounding her head against the desk, but before she could start, Ginger answered her text.
Yuck and no.

“Well, that’s certainly clear.” She showed her phone to Jonny, then smiled at their chef. “No sushi.”

“Really? I was looking forward to making it.”

“The bride doesn’t like it.”

“Oh, well, that changes everything.” She went through the dozen or so appetizer selections. They tasted and narrowed the choice down to four, keeping to their semitropical-Mexican theme.

“We won’t have enough food,” Jonny complained.

“You kind of will,” Ana Raquel told him. “In fact, you’re overfeeding your guests, but as long as the check clears, I’m okay with that.”

They moved on to the soup course. Madeline had to admit that Ana Raquel and her husband had outdone themselves. Each choice was better than the one before. The onion soup was deliciously savory, with a cheesy topping that melted in her mouth. The mushroom soup had an earthy, smoky finish. It was rich enough to make her wonder exactly how much cream they’d used, then told herself it didn’t matter. She was only sampling and everyone knew that sampling didn’t count—calorie-wise.

As they tasted salads, she noticed that Jonny still favored his injured hand. She knew he was due to start another movie in the next few weeks and hoped he would be healed by then.

Thinking about the movie reminded her that he would be leaving when he went off to do filming or whatever it was called in the business. That while he had a house in Fool’s Gold, she wasn’t sure he could be considered a permanent resident.

What would happen to them when he left? Would they still be together? For that matter, she wasn’t sure how together they were now. They had agreed they were exclusively dating. They were planning Ginger’s wedding, but when the holidays were over, did they keep seeing each other?

She supposed the most logical step would be to sit down and have a conversation. That was what most people did. With any other guy, she would have suggested that, but not with him. Mostly because she knew he would ask questions about her feelings and she wasn’t willing to look inside enough to figure out the answers.

Next came the entrées. Madeline had to admit the filets were delicious, especially with the spicy salsa on the side. Ana Raquel said she could also easily do a fish option.