Sleigh Bells in the Snow (29 page)

We.

She never heard
we.
She’d never been part of a
we
before, and the word threw her more than hostility would have done. Kayla tightened her fingers on the edge of the table.

“When I first arrived here you asked me what makes Snow Crystal special and I couldn’t answer you. Now I can.”

“Get on with it then.” Walter caught his wife’s eye. “What? I just want her to hurry up, that’s all. I’ve seen what’s for dessert. It’s enough to make a grown man beg.”

Alice peered at him over her glasses. “The girl is trying to speak. It would serve you right if she walks out.”

“She’s not going to walk out. She’s got grit.” He pushed his plate away. “Doesn’t change the fact the seasons will have moved on by the time she’s finished. We’ll be in summer and what’s the point of having taught the girl to ski if we’re in summer?”

“Maybe it’s bad news.” Elizabeth sat down, her face pale. “We’re going to need a miracle, aren’t we?”

“You heard Jackson. She is the miracle,” Walter said gruffly. “Now will you stop panicking or she
will
walk out and I’ll get the blame. And then I won’t get my just desserts.” He winked at Alice, and Tyler groaned and covered Jess’s eyes with his hand.

“You’re too young to see this. Start talking, Kayla.”

“It’s not bad news,” Kayla said to Elizabeth. “First, the cabins...” She spoke fluently, not once glancing at the notes she’d made as she painted a visual picture of how she saw the cabins being used.

When she finally stopped talking, the only noise in the kitchen was the bubble of food on the stove and the gentle
click clack
of Alice’s knitting needles.

Walter put his beer down on the table. “I think—”

“Gramps—” Jackson gave him a warning stare and his grandfather glared back.

“What? If I can speak without being interrupted, I was just going to say I think it all sounds great.”

Jackson stared at him in disbelief. “I’ve been telling you some of this for months. You told me I was an idiot.”

“If you’d explained it the way Kayla did, maybe I wouldn’t have thought you were an idiot. She needs to give you a few lessons in communication.”

Kayla tried not to smile. “Moving on, I want to—”

“Wait a minute—” Jackson held up his hand, his eyes on his grandfather. “So are you finally going to quit telling me to knock the cabins down?”

Walter O’Neil looked innocent. “You heard the woman—they’re part of the magic of Snow Crystal. What would be the point of knocking them down? They’re up now. They might as well stay up.”

Kayla cleared her throat. “I’d like to—”

“So you admit they were a good idea?” Jackson’s gaze was locked on Walter, and Elizabeth sighed.

“Why does there always have to be a winner? Just ignore them, Kayla, and carry on talking. If you wait for silence in this house you’ll be waiting forever.”

“I’ve finished. Here’s my Christmas gift.” She handed out the proposals, neatly bound by Stacy and tied with a red bow to add a festive touch. “Read them, and then I’ll answer any questions.”

Jackson immediately turned to the back page and scanned the cost breakdown.

“I like the ribbon.” Alice twisted it around her fingers. “People think there is only one shade of red, but they’re wrong.”

Kayla handed the last proposal to Tyler. “You should knit a jumper that color, Alice.”

“Just don’t knit it for me.” Tyler winked at Jess and then everyone started talking, and Kayla fielded their questions until finally Elizabeth stood up and pulled her into a warm hug.

“Thank you for working so hard. Between you and Jackson, I know things will be all right—”

Kayla felt her throat close as she returned the hug.

You and Jackson.

“Just doing my job.”

“You’ve done much more than that. You could have sat in your cabin, but you’ve been out there every day, joining in.”

“I’m a terrible skier—”

“You truly are,” Tyler said, and then caught Jackson’s eye, “but we can work on that.”

“She is also a terrible cook,” Élise said, “and we will
not
be working on that because I do not have the patience. I would kill you and that would lead to bad feeling, but fortunately you have your own job and you’re good at it so you don’t need to work in my kitchen.”

Kayla eased herself out of Elizabeth’s embrace.

“That’s it.” She stared down at her copy of the proposal, realizing with a lurch that this part of her job was done. “If you have any questions, Jackson can always call me.”

“Call you?” Alice sounded confused. “Why would he have to call you?”

“Because Kayla is going back to New York the day after Christmas.” Elizabeth focused on the document in her hands.

“She could stay. You did. She can share your English Breakfast tea and HP Sauce.”

“Kayla has a job, and a life, somewhere else. Now let’s all clear the table and make some coffee.” Elizabeth was brisk and Kayla watched as she stood up and bustled around the kitchen.

They’d be building the business without her. Every day they’d be working together to build Snow Crystal, and she’d be sitting in her office in New York, managing her team and growing the business for Innovation. Finding new clients, winning new accounts, achieving successes that would be good for her reputation, but which didn’t touch her personally.

While they were grooming the trails, chopping logs and baking cinnamon stars, she’d be flying across the country to meet clients.

Alone.

There was a pressure behind her chest.

Usually at the end of a presentation she felt satisfaction. This time she felt numb.

Perhaps the lack of sleep was catching up with her.

She was so desperate to leave the room it was a relief when her phone rang. “It’s Brett. Will you excuse me?”

Jackson frowned. “It’s Christmas Eve.”

“I doubt he knows what day it is.” She walked through to the living room. “Brett?” She tried to sound cheerful. “You should be trimming the tree.”

“Delegated that job to my kids.”

“You’re not supposed to delegate Christmas. You’re supposed to be part of it.” She thought of the O’Neil family gathered around the table next door, enjoying time together.

“So are you finished there, Green? Because I want you back in the office day after tomorrow. The partners are flying in.”

He wanted her back in the office.

Which meant Christmas was almost over for another year. She waited for the rush of relief that always came.

“Aren’t you taking time off?”

“I’m off now. Got a Christmas gift for you, Green.”

“Gift?” She immediately thought of Jackson.

What do you want for Christmas, Kayla?

“I’m moving you up. That vice president role is vacant now that Cecily has moved to L.A. You’ll need to jump through a few hoops, but that’s just a formality. There isn’t a person in this company who doesn’t know your name. Sure, you’ll be working double the number of hours you work now, which basically means you can forget about sleep for the rest of your working life, but that’s the price you pay for achieving your goal, right?”

Vice president.

Stunned, Kayla sank down onto the sofa and Maple sprang onto her lap. She hadn’t even heard the puppy come into the room. Resting her hand on the dog’s springy fur, she looked at the Christmas tree, remembering how hard it had been for her to decorate it. Had that really only been a few days before?

“I don’t know what to say.” She hadn’t expected it to happen this quickly.

“You’re overwhelmed. You can thank me later. Go and buy yourself something to celebrate. My wife is always telling me a woman can’t have too many diamond earrings.”

She should be feeling excited.

So why did the thought of standing in front of the window of another jewelers, picking out a pair of earrings for herself, depress her?

She looked down at herself, thinking that diamond earrings would look ridiculous with what she was wearing now.

“Everywhere is closed for Christmas.”

“Oh, right, I forgot you were out there in the boonies. Take a few hours off to eat maple syrup with your client or whatever they do up there on Christmas Day, and then get yourself back to the real world.”

“I— Thanks, Brett.”

“No worries. And congratulations.”

As Brett ended the call, Kayla stared at the lights twinkling on the tree and then looked out of the window into the darkness of the forest. Stars studded the night sky like tiny diamonds, sending light sparkling over snow and she knew what she was looking at was more beautiful than anything she’d see in a jeweler’s window.

She cuddled Maple close.

Tomorrow was Christmas Day. The day after, she’d be flying back to New York.

Her stay at Snow Crystal was over.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

J
ACKSON
WOKE
IN
the dark to find the bed empty.

He went in search of her and found her curled up on the sofa watching snow fall on the trees.

They’d chosen to spend the night in his barn for the first time. His home. The significance didn’t escape him.

“What are you doing out here?”

“I like looking at the trees. Helps me think. And your sofas are so comfortable.” She snuggled deeper. “I love what you’ve done to this room.”

She hadn’t switched on lamps, but moonlight shimmered on the hardwood floors and the last flickers of the dying fire gave enough light for him to see her expression.

He sat down next to her. “What do you need to think about?”

“That phone call from Brett—I’m being promoted. Vice president. I still have to have an interview with the partners, but it sounds as if it’s virtually a done deal.”

Jackson felt a rush of mixed emotions. “Congratulations.”

“It’s my dream. I just didn’t expect it to happen yet.”

He decided not to say that she didn’t sound very pleased for someone who had just achieved her dream.

“Perhaps it hasn’t sunk in yet.”

“That’s probably it.” She shifted position and leaned her head against his shoulder. Her hair was soft and silky and brushed against his jaw.

“You need to come back to bed. If you don’t close your eyes, Santa won’t come.”

“I don’t believe in Santa.”

There were a lot of things she didn’t believe in, but he decided this wasn’t the time to talk about any of those, either, so he simply pulled her to her feet, scooped her into his arms and carried her back to his bed.

They had this. They had now.

It was enough.

* * *

S
HE
AWOKE
IN
his arms and felt weight in her heart. Then she realized she also felt weight on her feet.

“What’s that?”

“What?” He levered himself up on his elbows, his eyes sleepy under lowered lids. “Looks like you were wrong about at least one thing, Kayla Green. Santa does exist.”

And she saw the cause of the weight. A stocking, lying across the bottom of the bed, the shape distorted by mysterious packages stuffed inside. “That’s for me?”

“How would I know? Better take a look.”

She sat up, thinking that there could be no better place to wake up than Jackson’s handcrafted log canopy bed with its uninterrupted view of the lake and forest. A cobweb of early-morning mist hovered over the trees, but the first rays of sunshine were already peeping through, sending shafts of light bouncing across the frozen surface.

“This place must be stunning in the summer.” Reaching down, she dragged the stocking onto her lap, feeling lumps and bumps and interesting shapes. As a child, the lumps had excited her. She’d been intrigued by the anticipation and the endless possibilities that came with not knowing. She’d loved that part so much she’d often prolonged the moment when she’d actually opened the packages. “There’s a note—
To Kayla, because you’ve been a good girl this year
—” Eyebrows raised, she turned to him and slid her hand over his chest. “That’s funny, because I thought I’d been quite a bad girl the last few days.”

“Yeah, you certainly have.” His voice was husky. “I guess Santa didn’t see that side of you. Don’t worry, I won’t tell.”

“I can’t believe you made me a stocking.”

“Honey, I’ve never seen that stocking before in my life.”

She was incredibly touched. And choked. Telling herself she was just tired, Kayla put her hand in the stocking and pulled out the first package, ripped off the paper and laughed.

“Underwear?”

“Thermal. To keep Alice happy, obviously.”

She fingered soft fabric and lace. “It’s sexy.”

“Okay, maybe it’s not just Alice who will be happy. I wanted to buy you a black basque for skating but I decided one Christmas night spent at a police station is enough for anyone.”

Smiling, she ripped off paper, touched by the thoughtful gifts. There was a pretty bottle of maple syrup, warm ski mittens, sachets of hot chocolate and a couple of hand warmers. As she opened the last packet, she laughed. “A toy moose?”

“For your desk.”

“I should have gone shopping. I didn’t buy any gifts—”

“You came here. You put up with my family. You worked until you dropped. And you were the one who made me see how Walter felt.” He leaned back against the pillows. “Eighteen months I’ve been charging around here, burying grief in activity, behaving like a steamroller and not even noticing who I was crushing.”

“You didn’t crush anyone.”

“He was grieving, too. And he was protecting my father’s memory. He saw the changes I was making as a criticism of my father, and he couldn’t handle that. Couldn’t cope with the enormity of losing Snow Crystal.”

“He won’t. You won’t.” She leaned across and kissed him, feeling the roughness of his jaw against her lips. “Our campaign is going to rock. We are going to do what it takes to make sure this place is full.”

“But you won’t be doing the day-to-day work, will you? As vice president you’ll be out winning new business and directing strategy on all the accounts. You won’t be picking up the phones.”

“I can pick up a phone whenever I want to.” But he was right, of course. She wouldn’t be involved in the detail.

Someone else would be doing that part while she moved on to other things.

He eased away from her, sprang from the bed and walked into the shower without looking back at her. “We’d better get moving.”

“Jackson—”

“We’re expected over at the house for Christmas lunch. Or are you going to say you have to work?”

Christmas lunch.

She hadn’t shared Christmas lunch with anyone in years.

Last year she’d heated up a microwave meal. She hadn’t even bothered sitting down to eat it.

“I don’t have to work.”

He stopped in the doorway. He was naked, every inch of his masculine physique on display. And then he turned and trapped her with that deep blue gaze, holding her there with nothing but a hot look until she was ready to combust.

Her stomach curled, and she could barely string a sentence together. “I just meant there’s nothing more I can do here. I’ve done what I came to do.”

“That’s what I figured.”

Why was he looking at her like that?
What did he want from her?

Apparently she wasn’t going to find out, because he turned and walked into the bathroom without saying a word.

* * *

T
HE
MOMENT
SHE
stepped into the house she was assailed by delicious smells of Christmas and the sound of laughter from the kitchen.

“I shouldn’t be here.” She turned to escape but Jackson blocked her path, legs spread, arms folded.

“Where are you going?”

“No one wants me here, Jackson.”

“We
all
want you here.” His gaze dropped to her mouth. “And, more to the point,
I
want you here.”

Did he?

He’d been acting strangely since they’d woken up.

“I shouldn’t be at your family Christmas celebration.” It had the potential to be a supremely awkward moment, but a loud chorus of welcome from the hallway soon dispelled that.

Alice and Elizabeth stood there, their hands full of plates and kitchen implements.

“Kayla! Thank goodness you’re here. Can you help lay the table, sweetheart?”

Before she could utter a word, napkins were thrust in her hand along with a box of matches and instructions to light candles.

And that was it. There were no awkward moments, just the usual O’Neil kitchen chaos. And the warmth, of course. Always the warmth.

“Spare candles in the drawer, Kayla.” Elizabeth bustled around the kitchen, removing pans from the heat and draining vegetables. “Alice used branches from the white pine by the door to make the table centerpiece. Doesn’t it look pretty?”

Kayla lit candles, duly admired the artful twist of pine and the addition of scarlet berries, placed napkins by all the plates and then went to sit at the farthest end of the table, telling herself it would be fine.

She was an expert in the social etiquette of being the awkward extra at holiday celebrations. She’d learned all the rules at an early age. Sit at the end of the table, not in the middle. At least then you didn’t get in the way of other people’s conversation. Make yourself as inconspicuous as possible.

“You’re sitting here, Kayla—” Elizabeth caught her arm and pulled her gently back to the middle of the long table “—in between Jackson and Tyler. Sean across from you—” She organized everyone. “We’re three extra. I invited Brenna, of course, and Josh, although he can’t stay long because he’s on duty. Pete’s going to pop in and take a few slices of turkey for Lynn. She can’t be cooking with a two-day-old baby.” Elizabeth thrust a cloth in Kayla’s hands. “Could you rescue the roast potatoes from the oven? Try not to drop them on the floor, dear. Maple doesn’t mind flour on her head, but roast potatoes would feel like bullets to a puppy of her size.”

“When did Maple have flour on her head?” Tyler was intrigued, and soon Kayla was being teased along with everyone and she was surprised by how good it felt. She’d spent so many holidays hovering awkwardly on the edge of everyone else’s celebration. This was the first time she’d felt part of it.

Finally, when everyone was sitting down, Elizabeth placed the turkey in the center of the table.

Everyone oohed and aahed, except Jess, who recoiled.

“I can’t eat meat, Grandma. I told you on Monday I’m vegetarian.”

Walter shuddered. “Vegetarian? Since when?”

“If she wants to be vegetarian, that’s fine by me.” Tyler winked at Jess. “Most parents have to nag their kids to eat vegetables. Good to know that’s one job off my list.”

“Will you carve please, Walter?” Elizabeth gave Jess a quick hug. “I made you a delicious nutty parsnip bake. Élise gave me the recipe. I’m just so glad you’re here. It wouldn’t feel like Christmas without you.”

Walter sharpened the knife. “All I’m saying is a growing girl needs to—”

“Make her own decisions,” Alice said firmly, and Walter subsided.

“That’s what I was going to say, honey.”

“Of course you were, but you were taking your time getting the words out so I thought I’d help.” Alice helped herself to potatoes, and Kayla noticed there was a new energy about her. She wondered whether it was because all the O’Neil men were home or because the people around her were happier. Jess was spending all her time skiing with Tyler, and Elizabeth was absorbed in her new role in the restaurant.

“Sean should be doing this.” Walter handed him the knife. “He’s the surgeon.”

Sean raised an eyebrow. “If you want my professional opinion, I’d say this turkey is never going to walk again.”

Kayla watched as he carved, sensing tension between him and his grandfather. Or maybe it was just that she didn’t know Sean. He was harder to read than Jackson. Physically they were alike—same dark good looks, same killer blue eyes—but Sean seemed more emotionally detached. She wondered if that was a necessary quality for a surgeon.

“Did you operate on Tyler’s knee?”

Tyler shuddered. “Are you kidding? I wouldn’t let him near me with a scalpel after what he did to me when we were kids.”

“I’m the reason you’re still walking.” Sean served perfectly carved slices of turkey onto plates. “If it had been left to that team in Switzerland, you wouldn’t be.”

“We were all in Switzerland when Tyler had his accident,” Jackson explained, “so Sean was able to take charge. He’s an expert on skiing injuries.”

Walter grunted. “So why is he working in Boston? If he worked here, he could help out at Snow Crystal when he isn’t fixing bones.”

Sean didn’t respond, but Kayla saw a muscle flicker in his cheek.

Elizabeth sighed. “Do we have to talk about bones at the lunch table?”

“You’ve raised three boys. No way can you be squeamish. And anyway, you should be proud of him.” Walter tried to sneak a slice of turkey onto Jess’s plate. “Just try one small slice. It will make you big and strong.”

“I didn’t say we weren’t proud of him,” Elizabeth murmured, “just that I didn’t want to talk about surgery over lunch.”

“I don’t want her any stronger than she already is or she’ll be beating me down that slope.” Tyler forked the turkey from Jess’s plate onto his own. “She’s faster than I was at her age. And faster than you, Gramps.” He pushed the vegetables toward Jess, and Walter brandished the carving knife.

“In my day we didn’t have all the fancy equipment you have now.”

“She’s more stylish than you, Tyler.” Brenna helped herself to potatoes. “Your aim was to get down the mountain as fast as possible. You didn’t care how you looked.”

“The point is to get down as fast as possible.” Tyler’s eyes glittered. “And I looked awesome.”

“You crashed all the time. Jess is amazing.”

Basking in the attention and love, Jess glowed like the flame of a candle.

Family could be like a cushion, Kayla thought. Something soft to protect you from the blows of life. You couldn’t stop the blows happening, but if you had people who cared around you then the blows hurt less.

She’d learned to live without that cushion. She’d learned to protect herself from the blows of life, but she’d done it by avoiding anything that might hurt. She’d avoided relationships so she didn’t have to nurture herself through the pain of an ending.

And she’d avoided Christmas.

She rubbed her hand over her stomach, realizing that she hadn’t reached for indigestion tablets since that first night with Jackson.

“Are you hungry, honey?” Alice patted her hand. “Sean, put some turkey on this poor girl’s plate before she starves.”

They noticed everything. They looked out for each other. They even looked out for
her.

Kayla’s throat thickened. She’d come here to escape Christmas, and ended up being immersed in it. She’d been cushioned from the usual bruises by the O’Neil family.