On a Snowy Night: The Christmas Basket\The Snow Bride (25 page)

C
hloe Lyman shook her cell phone in a desperate effort to hear her daughter. “Jenna. Jenna?”

Alas, there was nothing but static and then a droning sound that confirmed the connection had been severed. “Oh, drat!” Chloe pushed the button to turn off her cell. Tucking the Pomeranian more securely under her arm, she tossed the phone inside her huge purse and sat back, trying to relax. Bam-Bam snuggled close to her side.

“Everything all right?” Dolly, her nail tech, asked, coming into the spa room.

“That was Jenna.”

“Oh, you heard from her?”

“I'm telling you, Dolly, I don't know what's come over that girl. It's like she hit thirty-one and decided to dive into the deep end of the pool without any swimming lessons.”

“Jenna? I don't think you need to worry. She has a good head on her shoulders.”

“Had,” Chloe corrected.

Dolly lifted Chloe's foot out of the swirling water and wrapped it in a fluffy white towel, propping it in her lap.

“She hasn't been in Alaska three days and already she's involved with two men.”

Dolly looked up, astonished. “Jenna?”

“Not only that.” Chloe dropped her voice, so none of the other women in the salon would overhear. “Brad Fulton wants her back. Apparently he's lost without her.”

“He never appreciated everything she did.”

“You're absolutely right!” Chloe had been saying as much for years. Jenna had refused to listen to her suggestions for luring her boss into a romantic liaison. Unlike Jenna, Chloe had never had a problem enticing men into her bed. But then again, Jenna hadn't gone through two husbands by age thirty.

“Did she meet up with the man she's been talking to on the Internet?”

Chloe frowned as she mentally reviewed their all-too-short conversation. “No, she's with some other guy in a town with a funny name—something like Snowdrift. For the life of me, I can't remember what it was.”

“Jenna's already got two men. Wow. Alaska must be something else.”

Chloe's smile was slow and thoughtful. “Three men,” she reminded Dolly. “Remember Brad Fulton.”

Dolly dried Chloe's foot. “I think the competition will do him good.”

Chloe nodded. “You're right. As soon as I'm done here, I'm going to visit Mr. Fulton.”

“I thought you were banned from the building.”

Chloe sighed gustily. “That was an unfortunate misunderstanding. Trust me,” she said, leaning back in the comfortable chair. “He'll be more than happy to see me—this time.”

“Two men,” Dolly said in a dreamy voice. “I wonder if Jenna knows what to do with two men.”

Chloe giggled. “If she's anything like her mother, she'll figure it out.”

An hour later, dressed in her skimpy high heels with cotton balls between her freshly painted red toenails and the Pomeranian under her arm, Chloe Lyman clip-clopped her way through the executive lobby on the seventy-seventh floor of the Fulton Industries building.

“I'm here to see Mr. Fulton,” she announced to the receptionist.

“I'm sorry, we have a no-animal policy in this office building.”

“Oh,” Chloe said, hating the other woman's superior attitude. “Next time I'll leave Bam-Bam at home with his mommy. But I believe Mr. Fulton will make an exception this once, especially when he learns why I'm here.”

The woman frowned. “And your name is?”

“Chloe Lyman.” She paused for effect. “I'm Jenna Campbell's mother.”

The woman's attitude change was instantaneous. “Oh, hello…”

“Hello,” Chloe smiled sweetly, letting her know there were no hard feelings despite her lack of welcome earlier.

The receptionist looked around, then lowered her voice. “Everyone misses Jenna. I do hope she's coming back soon.”

Chloe played dumb. “I wouldn't know about that. Do you think Mr. Fulton would be willing to see me?”

“I'll find out right away.” She pushed a button and spoke to Brad Fulton's new executive assistant.

No more than a minute later, the large double oak doors opened and an older woman bustled through. “Ms. Lyman, I believe we spoke earlier.”

“We did,” Chloe confirmed.

“Mr. Fulton only has a couple of minutes, but he said he'd see you.”

Chloe hadn't thought for an instant that he'd turn her away. “I knew he would.” She trotted after Ms. Spencer. As soon as she entered the inner sanctum, Bam-Bam growled.

“Shh.” Chloe hushed the dog, who'd apparently taken an immediate dislike to Jenna's former boss.

“Ms. Lyman.” Brad stood up behind his massive desk as she entered his office. “It's, uh, good to see you.”

“You, too,” she responded although it was a lie. She'd never cared for this man, who appeared to be utterly blind when it came to her daughter.

“I understand you have some information regarding Jenna.”

“I do.” She sat down in the leather chair reserved for visitors and crossed her long legs. Bam-Bam settled nicely in her lap but kept his eyes on the evil man.

“Is she in Alaska?”

“Yes.”

“Did she mention where?”

“Oh, yes. It's just a small town. I bought a map and looked it up before I stopped by.” She'd checked all the places beginning with “snow,” which made it easy to find. “Did you know Alaska has more than three million lakes?”

“No,” he returned impatiently.

“Well, it's true,” she said with a little nod.

As though he recognized that he wasn't going to extract the information easily, Brad Fulton sank into his chair. He steepled his fingers beneath his chin and waited.

This was more like it. Chloe enjoyed being the center of attention and she intended to take advantage of it.

“Why Alaska?” Fulton asked.

Chloe shrugged while she dug a dog cookie out of her
purse and fed it to Bam-Bam. “It might have something to do with the men there.”

“Men?”

“My daughter is like most women her age. She wants a husband and family. She chose a state where she'd have any number of eligible men vying for her affections.”

Fulton frowned. “Are you saying she's involved with more than one?”

“Apparently that's the case. She's already mentioned two who are interested in her.” It was gratifying to see him clench his jaw.

“I see.”

Chloe sighed expressively. “I don't know if she's chosen one over the other. We only spoke briefly.”

Fulton stood. “Are you going to tell me where Jenna is or not?”

Chloe fed Bam-Bam a second cookie. The Pomeranian gobbled it down, all the while keeping his gaze fixed on Fulton. “Ask and you shall receive.”

“I'm asking.”

Chloe smiled mysteriously…and let him wait. “Jenna's in a little town called Snowbound,” she finally said. “Isn't that something? Snowbound, Alaska.”

Brad Fulton pressed the button for his secretary. “Ms. Spencer,” he thundered. “Have my private jet readied for me.”

“Right away, sir,” the secretary's faint voice returned.

“You're going after her?” Chloe was too excited to hide her feelings.

“I need Jenna.”

It was all she could do to keep from clapping with delight. “Bring her home, Mr. Fulton, bring my daughter home.”

For the first time since she'd entered his office, Brad Fulton smiled. “I plan to do exactly that.”

“Good.” With her mission accomplished, Chloe got to her feet. “Then I'll leave you to your task.” She cuddled
Bam-Bam in her arms and headed out the doors. Suddenly remembering, she said. “Oh—I believe she's with a man named Reid Jamison.”

Fulton wrote that down. “I'll have her home within a couple of days.”

“Thank you.” Chloe let him know how grateful she was. “You won't be sorry.”

He had that determined look about him. The last time she'd seen it, he'd had her escorted from his office. That happened the week he'd hired Jenna, but Chloe recognized it even after all these years.

“You're aware of what Jenna wants?” She probably shouldn't force the issue, but Chloe wanted it understood that her daughter's demands had to be met. If he didn't accept Jenna's terms, then he'd be wasting his time. “My daughter is looking for a husband.”

“Yes.” He wasn't happy about it, but he seemed willing to comply.

Chloe smiled and petted Bam-Bam's head. “Don't worry. You don't need to call me Mom.”

Fulton scowled. “I have no intention of calling you anything other than Ms. Lyman.”

She didn't let this bother her. “Whatever makes you comfortable…Brad.”

Judging by the way his lip rose in a snarl, it might be a good idea for Chloe to make her exit. “I'll see you soon.”

He muttered something about anytime being much too soon, but Chloe let it pass. Fulton was going to bring Jenna home, and that was what mattered. By Christmas she'd be mother-in-law to one of the richest men in America.

“Have a good day,” she said cordially to Gail Spencer as she tripped out of the office.

“Oh, yes. Thank you so much for stopping by.”

In the elevator, Chloe realized she couldn't allow her daughter to make the most important decision of her life
without her mother there to guide her. She toyed with the idea of asking Brad Fulton to take her with him. But common sense prevailed. The man had never been fond of her and he wouldn't agree to fly her to Alaska. Especially if it meant they'd be in the same plane.

No, Chloe was going to have to find her own way to Snowbound. Well, she could do that. She wasn't as helpless as her five husbands—and even her daughter—assumed.

Chloe was about to show them all.

J
enna kept her hand on the telephone receiver for a moment after the connection was broken. Away from her mother for three days, and already she missed her terribly.

“You okay?” Reid asked, sounding genuinely concerned. His bad temper had disappeared the same mysterious way it'd appeared that morning.

“I'm fine…It was just so good to speak to my mother.” She turned away, fearing she might embarrass them both by bursting into tears. Alaska was nothing like she'd expected. The snow didn't bother her; in fact, there was a certain beauty in that. Even the blizzard hadn't disturbed her too much. Blackie had, but she'd lived to recount the tale of her encounter with the bear.

The isolation was a shock. Dalton hadn't prepared her for that aspect of life in the forty-ninth state—the isolation and the vastness.

All her dreams of Alaska had been wrapped up in her
fantasies about Dalton. They'd exchanged messages every day, and she'd let herself believe he was everything he'd claimed to be. She was beginning to suspect he wasn't, but she refused to admit that to Reid. This was what she got for being so desperate for—what? for
love
—that she was willing to risk her whole future, just like that. Could she have been any more naive?

“You ready to go back?” Reid asked.

Jenna nodded.

Reid gave her his arm and they headed into the storm. The wind and the snow stung her face. Jenna closed her eyes and allowed Reid to lead her to the hangar, where he'd parked the snowmobile. It wasn't until she was safely inside that Reid broached the subject of her former boss.

“When you said you had trouble attracting men, you were talking about your old boss, weren't you?”

She stared outside at the swirling snow and didn't answer.

“It's fairly obvious.”

“Listen, Reid, it isn't the middle of the night and we aren't sitting in the dark, drinking Scotch and sharing secrets.”

“Now look who's testy.”

“I have a right,” she flared.

“Okay, okay, sorry I asked.”

He should be.

They rode in silence all the way back to Reid's cabin. As soon as they'd pulled into the enclosure, he got off and plugged the snowmobile into the heating element. As if by magic, Addy and Palmer appeared. They were both dressed in heavy coats and hats with earflaps hanging loose.

“'Morning, Jenna,” Addy said as he helped her climb off the snowmobile.

Palmer stood directly behind him. “You cooking tonight or is Reid?”

“I am,” Reid barked.

“Spaghetti for sure,” Addy said with a disgruntled expression. “It's the only thing he knows how to cook.”

“Are you makin' it with moose meat again?”

“I'll cook with whatever is in the freezer.”

“Moose,” Addy and Palmer said simultaneously.

Jenna wouldn't have minded cooking for the guys, but she didn't want Reid to assume she'd willingly take over all domestic tasks.

“I'll play you a game of cribbage,” she told Reid. “Loser does the cooking.”

“If I win, you cook?”

Jenna nodded.

He grinned, and without his mustache and beard blocking the view, she realized he had a very nice smile. “You're on.”

Addy and Palmer instantly crowded around Reid, leaving Jenna to trudge to the house alone. Reid hurried around to meet her, Addy and Palmer close behind.

“There are ways to cheat so she won't know what you're doing,” Addy murmured under his breath.

“Boys.” Reid whirled around to face them. “Dinner's at six. We'll see you then. Understand?”

Addy's and Palmer's mouths gaped open. “You saying you don't want us around?” Palmer asked.

“You might need our help. We watched last month when Pete beat you at cribbage. This is too important, Reid! You can't lose this time.”

“Yeah, Reid,” Palmer said in a pleading voice. “This is important. You can't lose.”

Reid slapped them each on the back in a good-natured way. “I'm saying let Jenna and me work this out for ourselves. Whatever happens, you're going to be served a mighty fine dinner.”

This seemed to appease the two men. “Can't ask for more than that,” Addy told his friend.

“You want us to tell Pete and Jake to come here at six?”

“Good idea.”

On a mission now, both men hightailed it over to the café.

Reid helped Jenna through the snowdrifts to the cabin door. “The guys don't mean any harm,” he said as soon as they were inside.

“I know. They must be tired of their own cooking.”

“I don't think either of them knows how. They eat everything out of tin cans,” he explained.

The image that took shape in Jenna's mind produced an instant smile. She found Reid watching her, grinning, too. She
wanted
to be angry with him for ruining her plans, but she'd discovered it was impossible to maintain her irritation for very long.

Once they'd removed their coats, hats and gloves, Reid set up the cribbage board while Jenna made fresh coffee and poured it.

“Everything's ready,” he said when she brought their coffee to the table.

Jenna pulled out a chair and sat down, sipping from her mug as she surveyed the board. “Are you planning to cheat?”

“Don't need to. I beat the socks off you the last time we played.”

Jenna scoffed at him. “Nothing but a fluke, my friend.”

Reid pushed the cards to her side of the table. “Deal 'em and weep.”

She wasn't sure how Reid managed it, but she had one terrible hand after another. He was well on his way to winning before she'd rounded the last turn.

He didn't say anything as he triumphantly planted his peg over the finish line.

Jenna muttered under her breath. “Want to play two out of three?”

“That wasn't our bargain.”

“What if I said I'm not all that great a cook?”

Reid leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. “I wouldn't believe you.”

“And why not?”

He didn't hesitate. “I may only have known you a short while, but in that time I've learned something about you.”

This Jenna wanted to hear. “What's that?”

Reid wore a smug look, the same look that had annoyed her earlier but now amused her. “You'd never offer to do something you weren't qualified for.”

He was right.

“Do you want to check out the freezer?” he asked.

“Looks like I don't have any choice.” She pretended to be disgruntled about this turn of events, but she wasn't. In truth, cooking the evening meal for practically the entire Snowbound community gave her a genuine sense of purpose.

Reid settled down with his novel while she flipped through the only cookbook he had on the shelf. It must have belonged to his mother because it was nearly thirty years old. Sorting through the recipes, she found several that looked appetizing.

The freezer had an abundant supply of seafood, and she took out clams, shrimp, crab and scallops, plus several loaves of frozen French bread. She laid everything out on the kitchen counter to thaw.

“What are you making, or is that another one of your secrets?” He lowered his book.

“Dinner,” she said.

“Very funny.”

“I'm glad you're amused.”

He raised his book again. “You really do have to have the last word, don't you?” he muttered.

Jenna had never realized that about herself, but suspected he was right. From this point forward, she determined that she'd make an effort to respond to any unpleasant or teasing conversation with dignity.

That decided, she set to work. She tucked a dish towel into the waist of her jeans and rolled up her shirtsleeves. She collected the rest of the ingredients, impressed by Reid's well-stocked cupboards. Onions, chopped garlic in a jar, a choice of pastas, dried herbs…The next time she looked up, she found him napping.

What a complex person Reid Jamison was, Jenna mused, studying him. Rarely had any man made her so angry. Nor had anyone ever frustrated her more. He could be arrested for what he'd done, but she'd never press charges. Despite her frequent annoyance with him, she actually
liked
Reid and enjoyed his company.

Unfortunately, his companionship wasn't the only thing she enjoyed, but she absolutely refused to dwell on their kisses. They were both eager to admit it had been a mistake, something best ignored. And forgotten. Jenna, however, had been unable to put it out of her mind. Try as she might, the memory resurfaced at the most inappropriate times.

Concentrating on dinner, Jenna had everything cut up and ready to go, plus she'd cleaned up the cabin a bit. Nothing major. As she'd explained to Reid, she wasn't about to become his maid, but his friends were arriving and pride demanded that there be a degree of order and cleanliness. When she'd finished, it was late afternoon.

Reid watched her bustle about, which unsettled Jenna when she noticed.

“Need anything?” he asked, slowly emerging from his chair.

“Cooking wine.”

He shrugged. “Any wine I have is for drinking.”

“That will do.”

“How much do you need?”

Jenna checked the recipe. “Just a cup.”

Reid rummaged in the room's one closet and came out
with a bottle of white wine. “It seems a shame to open it, then let it go to waste. Would you like some?”

“Please.” Jenna was far more accustomed to wine than whiskey.

Reid poured them each a glass of the chardonnay and gave her the rest of the bottle.

“I thought we'd have a salad,” she said. “Do you think Pete would have lettuce at his store?”

“Not in the wintertime, unfortunately. Fresh fruit and vegetables are almost unheard of up here for most of the year. Supplies are shipped in once during the summer and other than that, we get everything either canned or frozen with a few exceptions.”

“I found onions and potatoes in the pantry.”

“Those are the exceptions.”

“That's too bad.” Their meal wouldn't be quite the same without a Caesar salad.

“Lucy makes a nice salad from frozen veggies. You could ask her when she returns.”

Reid would be flying her back to Fairbanks at the first opportunity, but Jenna sincerely hoped there'd be a chance to meet Lucy.

“You're looking thoughtful,” Reid commented.

“I was thinking about Lucy and how much I'd like to talk to her.”

“The storm could be over as soon as tomorrow afternoon. Do you want to wait until Lucy and Jim get home before we take off?”

She nodded immediately. “I'd like that.”

“Good, because Lucy would probably have my hide if you left before she got back.”

Jenna sipped her wine and as she did, another thought came to her. “Do you have any rum?”

“Rum? Do you think I run a liquor store here?”

“Sorry, I should've asked for it when I requested the
wine, but it just occurred to me. My third stepfather liked rum cake and Mom used to bake one or two a month. I thought it would be a real treat for Addy and Palmer. I know the recipe by heart, but it would help if I used real rum.”

Shaking his head, he returned to the closet and ransacked it noisily. Eventually he pulled out a dusty bottle, handing it over.

“I don't know how old this is,” he muttered. “But it's the good stuff.”

“Thanks. I'm sure it will do nicely.”

She set about mixing the cake batter, using his supplies of flour, sugar and liquid eggs. Working efficiently, Jenna was surprised by how contented she felt. When she glanced up, she saw Reid watching her with a pad and pencil in his hand.

“What are you drawing?”

“You.”

Jenna wasn't sure how she felt about that. “Can I see?”

He shook his head. “Not yet.”

“You were supposed to show me your drawings when we were at the pump station,” she reminded him.

“I forgot.” He moved the pencil quickly across the page, then hesitated when he realized she'd stopped her work to stare at him. “Don't let me distract you.”

“You're not,” she said, but he had. She wasn't one who rushed to have her picture taken; in fact, she avoided it whenever possible. A lot of people felt the camera didn't do them justice, but in Jenna's case it was true. Photographs seemed to sharpen her features and make her skin look sallow. Every shot ever taken of her was unflattering.