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Authors: Caroline Clemmons

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BOOK: SNOWFIRES
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Two sofas faced each other near the fire.
Groups of chairs and tables were scattered around the room. He
figured the place could hold a hundred people for one of those
parties where everyone stood around and tried to balance food on
little plates. Through one of the arches at one side of the living
room, a dining room opened and he spotted a kitchen behind it
through another doorway.

To his left, a wall of windows gave a perfect
panoramic view of the lake broken only by large live oaks, red
oaks, and bare trees and shrubs he couldn’t name. He’d thought the
house sat on a bluff, but the back sloped gently downward toward
the lake. Red earth showed in patches through the dormant grass,
and a red beach lined the shore.

When she came back and sat beside him, she
appeared a little breathless from hurrying.

He nodded toward the window. “Nice view, but
back to my story.” He took a deep breath. This was tougher than
he’d imagined. “I rushed out of the plant Wednesday”—he looked at
her—“on an important errand. No sooner had I taken care of that,
satisfactorily I think, than the jalopy went haywire. Terminal.
Kaput.”


What did you do?” She smoothed her
hair and he saw she’d brushed it when she’d disappeared with his
jacket. Ah, and she’d applied fresh lipstick to her luscious
lips.

Buoyed by her hurried efforts to primp for
him, he smiled. “After an incredibly long wait with people honking
and flipping me off, the tow truck arrived and hauled the car and
me to a dealership.”

She touched his hand. “What a terrible thing
to have happen. And you missed the Christmas party.”

Her touch almost wiped out his train of
thought. He gave himself a mental slap. “Yes, and by this time it
was late and I was hungry. They fed me a hot dog while we haggled
over the price of a new car for a hour or two.”

He turned toward her. “Let me tell you, when
your car has just been towed in, it definitely weakens bargaining
power.”

She sniffed and smiled. “I’ll bet they were
no match for the Pirate Macleod.”


Damn straight. But when I drove off
the lot, I went by your place to show you all my day’s purchases.
Your house was dark and no one answered. When I got home I called
and got an answering machine.” He met her beautiful cornflower
gaze. “You didn’t call me back.”


Oh.” She blushed. “And I was mad at
you for not having an answering machine, but then I never thought
to check my own messages.”

He took her hand. “So, does that mean you
called me at some time recently?”

She nodded and chewed at her freshened
lipstick.

He wanted to brush his lips across hers.
Instead, he asked, “How recently?”

She sniffed. “Yesterday. I—I wanted to talk
to you.”


That’s usually why people call.” He
pulled her near. “Why did you want to talk to me?”


To tell you I missed seeing you.” She
laid her head on his shoulder. “And ask why didn’t you speak to me
for the last thirteen days?”


Thirteen? You know exactly how long
it’s been?” Dear God, it had seemed like years since he’d held
her.


Precisely. You told me to get lost
when the Amberfield people walked out. You never spoke to me again
except for business.” She straightened and looked at him. “No phone
calls, no visits, no dinner, no—no anything. Why?”

He’d missed being with her. And he really
needed that anything part. He pulled her into his arms. “I can
answer that question by combining it with number two from earlier.
You know, the why am I here one?” He cradled her in his arms.
Cuddled in his embrace was right, perfect.

She nuzzled into his neck. “Start talking,
sailor.”


Yes, Ma’am.” He inhaled the sweet
vanilla scent of her. “Much as I hate to move, I have to show you
something.”

He released her so he could stand, then took
her hand. “Come let me show you my latest purchase.” He led her to
a window that overlooked the drive.

She parted the drapes and leaned her face to
the glass, then turned toward him. “The big white SUV is
yours?”


Yeah. I wanted it to be as close to a
white charger as possible.”

He knelt on one knee before he took her hand.
He’d forgotten to open the ring box, but he held it up. “Princess,
I know I have faults and there’s not a man alive good enough for
you. But I love you, and if you’ll marry me, I promise to do my
best to make you happy.”

She pulled him up, laughing and crying.
“Forgive me for doubting you.” She threw herself into his arms.


Can I take that as a yes?” He waited,
hoping she’d repeat the words he’d said to her. He needed to hear
them. Wouldn’t believe until she spoke those three
words.


Yes, I’ll marry you. Yes, I love you.
Yes, yes, yes.” She pressed a kiss to his lips. “Now come sit down
and show me the ring.”

Holly had never been so happy. He loved her.
After she’d refused to trust him. Not only did he love her, he
wanted to marry her.

He opened the box. “If you don’t like them, I
can exchange them. You could come with me.”

She gasped at his choice of rings. “They’re
perfect. Oh, Trent, I love you. I’ve been miserable these past two
weeks.”

He slipped the engagement ring onto her
finger then cupped her face. “Me, too, honey, which is the last
part about why I stayed away. I decided if I failed, I shouldn’t
have you. You should have a man who can give you the life you’re
used to and deserve. I vowed not to touch you if I couldn’t be that
man. I decided if I failed again I’d walk away and never see you
again.”

Men. He hadn’t a clue what she needed. Him.
She’d finally realized she only needed his love. No conditions, no
qualifications.


And what about me? What about what I
want?” She smacked him on the arm. “Did you think of that? I
deserve to have the man I love, and that’s you.”

He smiled and rubbed his arm. “Sorry. But if
I’m the man you want, you have me. And I learned I couldn’t bear
the thought of a future without you in it.”

She remembered her purchase this morning when
she’d gone for groceries and the Christmas tree. “Let me give you
your present since you’ve given me mine.” She hurried to the stack
by the tree and brought him a wrapped box.

He blinked then smiled. “You got
me
something?” He looked like a
little boy, emerald eyes flashing. For a few minutes he stared at
the box as if he were afraid to touch it. “You, um, you got
me
a present?”

She thought of the green sweater that exactly
matched his eyes. And the sexy black briefs with the red lip print
design. And her black lingerie she’d bought to wear for him.


I have others for you at home that I
bought a couple of weeks ago. This one isn’t that great, but it’s
the best I could find at the little town near here.”

He took it reverently. “Gifts, plural? I
can’t remember the last time I had even one present for Christmas.
This may be a first for me.” He untied the ribbon with such care
and awe it broke her heart.

He’d missed so much in life, but darned if
she wouldn’t make it up to him for the rest of their lives. And
she’d make sure he had lots of presents from now on. She’d do her
best to see he never felt alone or abandoned from this day
forward.

He laughed when he saw the box. “An answering
machine. You’re a treasure, Princess.”

Oh, and after those awful things she’d said.
She touched his face. “Trent, I’m sorry for telling you I couldn’t
trust you because you gambled. Grandpa and Laura told me you were
right. I thought about it a lot and I know I overreacted, and I
know you’re not a gambler like Dad was.”

She sighed and leaned against him. “It’s
taken me a while but I realize everything in life involves risk. If
I’m afraid of ever taking a chance, I won’t experience life at its
fullest.”

He slid his arms around her. How wonderful to
have him hold her again. She could hardly wait to show him the
king-sized bed in the master bedroom here. And the whirlpool tub in
the bathroom.


Princess, for so many years I depended
on no one but myself. I thought that’s the only way to be safe.
Imagine my surprise when I found out I not only work better with
others, I enjoyed myself more. Here’s the risk thing again—it’s
worth risking someone letting you down to benefit from others
helping you.”

He kissed her nose and nibbled toward her
ear. “Or sometimes all we need is a duo, like the two of us.” He
shifted her onto his lap. “I promise you, Princess, I will never do
anything to jeopardize our welfare. Okay?”

She brushed a lock of hair from his forehead.
“I told you I’ve been thinking a lot. Today I realized that trust
is a part of love. I thought mine had died, but you resurrected it.
I do trust you, Trent, with my love, and for life.”


Thank you, Princess. I’ll do my
damndest never to give you reason to regret loving me.” He rested
his forehead against hers. “I’ve fought my attraction to you for so
long. It’s good to hold you as I’ve wanted to since the day I first
met you.”

She leaned back to look into his eyes.
“Really? Since the first day?”

He nodded. “You haunted my dreams and
intruded on my waking thoughts. Played hell with my
concentration.”

So, he had wanted her from the first,
too. “I was intrigued beyond belief from the moment I saw your
photo, the one with you standing in an office, but the ocean was in
view through a window behind you. I read that first article about
you in the
Today’s Business
magazine.”

She sighed. “You looked so handsome—but
rakish and dangerous. I could believe you really had been a pirate
complete with cutlass and skull and crossbones flag.”


Well, I’m your pirate or businessman
or whatever. And I’m grateful we’re getting married so I can be
yours officially for all the world to know.” He brushed his lips
across her cheek and sent more heat spiraling to her
core.


When I was hung up about the gambling
thing”—he started to interrupt but she put her fingers to his
lips—“I thought I could have an affair with you and make do until
we had our fill of one another. But then when you shut me out after
the Amberfield deal fell through, I knew I could never be happy
without you, that I’d never get my fill of you.”


Me neither. It was hard not to give in
and call you or come see you. I thought about you constantly. I’m
sorry I hurt you, Princess, but I believed it was in your best
interest.”


It wasn’t.” Oh, dear, she was tearing
up. And she never cried. Almost never. “Promise you’ll never shut
me out again.”


I promise. And you won’t let rumors
upset you. If you hear something bad, come and ask me about it,
okay? I’ll be honest with you, I give you my word.”


I know it was stupid to hold a grudge
against you before I gave you a chance. I didn’t want to believe
Geneva, but she was so adamant that you’d caused my dad’s heart
attack by taunting him. As soon as I got to know you, I knew you
would never be so cruel.”


Thank you, Princess. And did you find
out what really happened that day?”

She nodded. It hurt to think her stepmother
could have been so uncaring. “Marnie finally confided in me because
she saw Geneva was trying to come between you and me. In a fury, I
confronted Geneva. Poor Dad. For all his faults, he loved us. She
even admitted she’d told Dad she was leaving and taking my sisters,
that she’d make sure he never saw them again.”


Cold, even for her.”


Yes, to her marriage meant only as
long as Dad could keep her in high style. I hope Carl isn’t hurt by
her vision of forever. It’s only as long as the money holds
out.”


He has enough to last even her, I
think.” He framed her face with his hands. “But I’m truly yours
forever, Princess, with or without the marriage certificate, with
or without the money.”

He gave her that crooked grin she loved. “You
know, for better or worse, in sickness and in health, the whole
thing.”


When do you want to get married?” She
moved her fingers across the stubble on his chin and admired the
strong line of his jaw.

He kissed her fingers then looked at his
watch. “Guess it’s too late to tie the knot today, isn’t it?”

She laughed. “How do you feel about
Valentines’ Day?”


Way too long a wait for me, but I’ll
agree to anything you want. And I swear we’ll keep the fires of
love burning for the rest of our lives.”

He kissed her deeply and she reveled in his
touch. When at last he broke the kiss, he nodded toward the view of
the lake.

With no wind, the large snowflakes had built
up to create thick layers on every flat or slanted surface. Only
the red strip where the water lapped at the shore gave color to the
icy fairyland. Safely inside with the man she loved, she agreed
with him. The fire that burned in the fireplace was no match for
the one that warmed her heart.

He caressed her cheek and his emerald eyes
twinkled. “We could get snowed in again. Hey, we might be stuck
here alone for days.”

She smiled and slid her arms around his neck.
Her heart filled with love and hope and trust. “Oh, I hope so.”

 

***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Caroline Clemmons writes Romance and
Adventure. Her earliest made up adventures featured her saving the
West with Roy Rogers, but she now writes romance and mystery. Her
career has included stay-at-home mom (her favorite job), newspaper
reporter and featured columnist, assistant to the managing editor
of a psychology journal, and bookkeeper. She and her husband live
in rural North Central Texas with a menagerie of rescued pets. When
she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with family, reading,
travel, browsing antique malls and estate sales, and
genealogy/family history.

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