'Twas the Week Before Christmas (17 page)

“It was business. You said so yourself.”

Max shrugged. “I guess I just didn’t realize that the project wasn’t worth it until it was too late.”

Holly lowered her gaze and stared at the letter in her hands. She ran her fingers over the formal deed to the land. Her eyes shot up to his. “Was it really important to you? The project?”

It was now or never, Max knew. He had fought so hard to build a safe world for himself—his business and nothing else. Now it was time to fight for something else. Something that meant a great deal more to him than anything else ever had.

“None of it matters, Holly,” he said, fighting to form the words, “if it costs me the one thing that has come to mean so much to me.”

Holly’s eyes held his, unblinking. “What’s that?”

“You.”

* * *

Holly looked down at the deed to the property that lay flat against the smeared ink of Max’s letter. She clung to the paper, thinking it odd that something that could mean so much could be both so simple yet official in form.

The tenderness of his confession tore at her heartstrings.

She looked deep into his blue eyes, noticing the way they crinkled at the corners, the way a faint line had formed between his brows. He had opened his heart to her, and now it was up to her to step inside.

A memory of how deeply he had hurt her cut fresh. He had broken her trust, blindsided her when she had finally dared to let her guard down. And now he was standing here, telling her everything she wished to hear but didn’t know if she could believe.

“Max—” she started and then stopped as her mind waged war on her heart.

“What is it? What more do I need to say? Just tell me what more I need to say to convince you that I will never hurt you again. I’ll say anything, Holly.”

Holly searched his eyes. “Tell me what you want, Max. Tell me what this is all for.”

His eyes didn’t waver from hers, and when he spoke, his voice was strong and clear. Certain. “I want this, Holly. I want your world. I want
you.
” He gestured to the room, to the tree. “Being here this past week has made me realize how much I’ve chosen to miss out on. I thought it was better to keep to myself, but I was wrong.” He paused, giving her a lazy smile. “I want the tree and the stockings and the small town where everyone knows your business. I want to live my life feeling the way I’ve felt every day that I’ve been here. I don’t want to go back to the way it was before.”

Holly beamed. “You don’t have to,” she said.

Max’s smile widened. “You really mean it?”

“I’ve never been more sure of anything,” she said as she took a step toward him. He leaned down toward her, his eyes never breaking their hold with her own, until the moment his lips finally touched hers. His kiss was light and tender at first, sending a tingle down her spine.

He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her to his hard chest. His fingers traced lower down her curves, drawing her in as his mouth claimed hers with more passion. Holly ran her hands over the nape of his neck, through his hair, feeling the urgent heat radiating from his body.

Barely breaking their kiss, he whispered in her ear, “I’ll never betray you again, Holly.” The delicate rush of his breath in her ear and the featherlight touch of his lips on her skin made her shiver with need and she wrapped her arms tighter across his wide chest, pulling him close.

They continued to kiss, their hands tracing the other’s chest, hips, back, until step by step they were moving together in the direction of Holly’s bedroom.

“I didn’t think guests were allowed back here,” Max teased.

Holly laughed, letting her lips linger softly on his. “There are exceptions to every rule.”

They fell back onto her bed, and Holly let her head drop back as Max traced his mouth along the length of her neck. She sighed, barely believing life could transform so quickly.

His tongue traced her bottom lip, teasing her for more, and higher still, sending a warm current rushing through her. She opened herself to his embrace as he pulled her sweater free, and she quickly released him from his shirt. His chest was taut and firm, and the warmth of his skin on hers made her ache for him to touch her more intimately.

Her nipples strained against the lace of her bra, and Max slowly pulled the straps off her shoulders, one by one, before unhooking the clasp and lowering his mouth to her breasts. His tongue circled each nipple softly as his fingers traced over her stomach, her hips and the rim of her panties, teasing her with his touch.

Her hips lifted with anticipation. She raked her hands through the silkiness of his hair and craned her neck to recapture his lips when his mouth met hers once more.

“I want you, Holly,” he said, looking her in the eye.

She nodded, unable to speak as she looked deep into his blue eyes, noticing for the first time the slight dusting of freckles that covered the bridge of his nose, the flecks of brown that surrounded his pupils.

She lay back against the pillow as Max’s lips trailed down her stomach, over her hips, his touch so light, yet her body so achingly aware.

He pulled her jeans off, then slid her panties down her legs. Kneeling before her, he released his belt, and he was soon hovering above her in only his plaid boxers, and then nothing at all.

She opened her mouth to his deep kiss as he sheathed himself in a condom and then entered her in one long, slow thrust. Easing back slowly, he pushed forward again until their bodies found their rhythm, his mouth never leaving hers until the end, when he groaned into her ear and collapsed against her chest.

They lay against the soft flannel sheets, which, as Abby had observed earlier that week, had up until this moment never seen anything more exciting than a romance novel. Their bodies entwined, each lazily stroked the heat off the other’s bare skin, sighing with happiness or possibly relief.

“You know,” Max said eventually, “I think your Christmas spirit might be contagious. All this mistletoe has clouded my judgment.”

Holly smiled to herself. “So you’re looking forward to another day of festive activities, then?”

“Do you know what’s even crazier than that?” he asked in a husky whisper, his lips curling into an irresistible grin as his blue eyes danced. “I love you, Holly Tate.”

Holly smiled. “I love you, too.”

* * *

Bright sunlight poured through open curtains, filling the bedroom with a golden warmth and stirring Holly from her slumber. She smiled as the memory of the night before came back to her, and she rolled over on the mattress to run her hands over Max’s smooth skin.

It seemed like an eternity since she had first met Max, when really it had been only a week. A mere matter of days, and her whole world had been turned upside down. She almost had to chuckle, thinking of the events that had brought them to this perfect moment. She could still picture the look on Evelyn Adler’s face when Max had appeared in the dining room for breakfast that first morning.

“What are you laughing about?” Max mumbled. His voice was muffled with sleep and his eyes remained closed, as if clinging to the remains of a fading dream.

“Nothing, really,” Holly whispered. She traced her finger down the contours of his bare chest and again let her arm fall lazily around his waist as she sank down deep into the burrows of his warm body. “Just happy.”

Holly felt the shift in Max’s torso, the twist of his limbs. Rolling over to face her, he wrapped a strong, heavy arm over her waist. “Mmm,” he murmured into her hair. “This is nice.”

“It is,” Holly managed to whisper as desire overwhelmed her senses and caused her insides to quiver.

A smile began to play at Max’s lips as he slid his hand down the length of her thigh. Holly sighed ever so slightly as a surge of warmth filled her. “It’s Christmas,” he said, leaning down to skim her lips with his.

And it was. Christmas Day. The Christmas she had been anticipating for years was finally here. She had imagined it so many times over—what it would feel like to know her home was really and truly her own—but never could she have imagined she’d be sharing it with the man who had swept into town and nearly taken it from her.

“It’s your first official Christmas in your home,” Max said, roaming his blue eyes over her face. He pulled his hand from her hip and brushed a loose tendril of hair off her cheek. “Was there anything special you had in mind?”

“I think this will do just fine,” Holly whispered, nestling into the smooth curve of his neck.

“Mmm,” Max murmured as he wrapped both arms tightly around her waist. She could hear the smile in his voice, and her curiosity was piqued. “There’s just one little surprise I hadn’t mentioned....”

“What’s that?” Holly lifted her gaze to his, her eyes wide in alarm when she saw the mirth dancing through his.

The sudden chime of the doorbell tore through the house, interrupting their moment and jolting Holly away from the warmth of the bed. She sat up, wrapping the sheet around herself as confusion mounted. The bell rang again and again, the sound echoing off the walls of the large house.

Holly’s brow furrowed in confusion and her heart began to race as she turned warily to Max, who was laughing so hard he was clutching his stomach. “What in the world?” Holly demanded.

Max wiped at his eyes as another round of chimes began, and finally groaned as the remains of his laughter faded away, until a fresh round of ringing caused him to sputter once more.

Holly was on her feet, frantically pulling on a sweater and socks, her mind reeling with the possibilities of what could be going on, of who could be all but tearing down her front door. Had she forgotten about a guest? Surely they had all canceled. No one was scheduled to arrive until New Year’s Eve...unless... “Max?”

She slid her eyes to him knowingly as her heart lurched with hope. Max sat up in bed, propped on an elbow, his hair tousled, his eyes warm. He nodded to her just once, and that was all it took.

“The Adlers,” she said, releasing a sigh.

He grinned. “It wouldn’t be Christmas for you without a house full of everyone you love the most.”

Holly beamed. “Present company included.”

Epilogue

T
he White Barn Inn really did come alive for Christmas. Max smiled as he walked into the warm kitchen, drinking in the fragrant air.

“Smells delicious,” he said, stomping the snow off his boots. He’d never in a million years have thought he would hear himself say it, but it smelled like Christmas. And he liked that it did.

“Turkey will be ready in an hour,” Stephen announced from his familiar post in front of the stove. His girlfriend stood behind the island, placing appetizers on a sterling silver platter, and Evelyn Adler was perched on a counter stool, arranging cookies on a tray. When she noticed Max, she plucked the biggest cookie from the tray and handed it to him, smiling.

“Don’t tell me Stephen’s put you to work!” Holly said to Evelyn as she swept into the room with a half-empty punch bowl. Max’s pulse skipped at the sight of her. She seemed to have grown more beautiful overnight. Her eyes twinkled and her rosy lips were perpetually spread in a warm smile.

“It’s not work, it’s dinner!” Stephen countered. “And you’re in charge of the wine.”

Holly added more eggnog to the bowl and garnished it with a sprinkle of nutmeg, smiling brightly. Her expression changed when she saw the freshly chopped logs Max was holding to his chest. “What are those?” she asked, her voice an octave higher than usual.

“Wood for the fire. I thought I’d pitch in.”

Holly’s eyes blazed with mirth as she took in the jagged and splintered cuts of wood in his arms. She wagged a teasing finger. “I never want to hear you make fun of my stint as a waitress ever again.”

Max grinned. “Deal.”

* * *

As everyone trickled into the dining room and lobby, Holly finished up a few quick tasks in the kitchen, smiling as she listened to the laughter and conversation flowing through the rooms. She had lived in this house for five years, had spent plenty of holidays here as a child, yet this was her first
real
Christmas here. Oh, her guests were lovely, of course, but she had never realized how wonderful it was to be surrounded by the real people in her life for the holiday. In her real home.

Picking up the bowl of eggnog and balancing the cookie platter in her other hand, Holly walked into the lobby and set both items on the coffee table. A shiver of excitement zipped down her spine at the mere sight of Max who was now sitting in a club chair, chatting easily with Abby’s husband Pete, looking very much at home. It was almost impossible to believe that this was the same man, who, only days before, had looked more uncomfortable and out of place in this house than any guest of hers ever had before.

“I had a feeling it would all work out,” Abby said, coming to stand next to her.

Holly turned to her, unable to suppress the smile she had worn all day. “Sure, you did.”

“I’m just so glad that it did,” Abby mused. “But there’s just one thing that still doesn’t make any sense.”

“What’s that?” Holly pulled her stare from Max and turned to meet Abby’s furrowed gaze.

“The Millers. Why’d they do it?”

Holly shifted in her shoes. Max had explained everything to her—including the fact that the Millers had refused to accept any money for the sale of the land. The money would serve as a donation only. After Holly’s fury had faded, she had been left with an overwhelming sadness that Lucy had harbored this secret for so long, and that she hadn’t trusted Holly enough to share it. To think that Bobby had been responsible for the destruction of the library, and that Lucy had kept the knowledge bottled inside this entire time...it broke Holly’s heart to imagine the burden her friend had carried.

“They had their reasons,” she said to Abby. “I understand now. And I’ve actually invited them here today before they visit Lucy’s parents.”

Abby peered at Holly for a long moment and eventually said, “Well, if you’re at peace with it, then so am I.”

“I am,” Holly affirmed, nodding her head.

“Miss Tate,” Evelyn said, squeezing her way in between the two friends. “I read the most interesting thing in this morning’s paper.”

“What’s that, Mrs. Adler?” Holly looked down at her dearest guest, finding it still almost impossible to believe that she was even here. Just when she had thought her Christmas wish list was complete, she had opened the door this morning to find Evelyn and Nelson standing on her doorstep, demanding to know why on earth the door was locked.

Max was full of good surprises, Holly thought, feeling all warm and fuzzy again. Though she couldn’t have wanted more than for her house to be filled with her own makeshift family for Christmas dinner, a part of her couldn’t wait for everyone to leave so that she could be alone with Max again...

“They’re going to begin rebuilding the library in the spring!” Evelyn recanted.

“Really?” Abby asked, disbelieving. “But how? I thought there wasn’t enough funding.”

“Apparently an anonymous donor has come forward,” Evelyn remarked.

Abby’s wide eyes darted to Holly’s, but Holly refused to feed into the knowing stare. “I think I heard about that,” was all she would comment and she left the two women to go and greet George and Lucy, who had just arrived.

“Holly.” Lucy’s eyes were bright and tearful, and Holly could see the toll the past few days had taken on her. With shaking hands, she thrust a white pie box into Holly’s hands, saying, “Peppermint chocolate cream. I thought it seemed...festive.”

Holly smiled and reached out a hand to grab Lucy’s wrist. “It sounds perfect,” she said.

Lucy exhaled in relief and blurted, “Please forgive me, Holly. Some things have happened, you see, and we...we didn’t know what to do.”

“Lucy, it’s okay. Max told me everything.”

Lucy sighed and her shoulders slumped with release. With pained eyes, she held Holly’s gaze. “I’m so sorry.”

“I just wish you had told me what was going on,” Holly said quietly. “You could have confided in me. We’re friends.”

Lucy squeezed her eyes shut. “I don’t think you know how much it means to me to hear you say that.”

“You and George have been like family to me since I moved to Maple Woods. There’s no need to discuss this anymore. It’s over. We’re just going to keep moving along.” She nodded her head into the room and flashed Lucy a smile. “Now come on in and get some eggnog. Dinner’s almost ready and I think Max wants to talk to you about some other business venture he has.”

Lucy paled. “What now, Holly?”

Holly laughed. “What would you think about branching out with these?” she asked, holding up the pie box. “Now that Max is planning to stay in Maple Woods, he’s looking for some new investment opportunities.”

“Oh, is he, now?” From behind them Evelyn’s voice chirped. Holly turned to her, trying to suppress her smile at the obvious glee in the woman’s eyes. “Should I presume I’ll be seeing Max again during future stays at the inn?”

Holly laughed softly. “I think that’s a safe assumption, Mrs. Adler.”

Evelyn’s blue eyes gleamed. “This place just gets better and better.”

Holly watched as Evelyn scurried off to find Nelson. Although they usually didn’t exchange presents until after dinner, she couldn’t wait any longer to give Max his gift.

“Come here,” she said as she brushed past his chair.

“What is it?” he asked, sensing her need for privacy.

“You haven’t opened your present yet,” she said. She pointed to the tree and Max’s eyes sparkled as he leaned down and picked up the small box with his name on it.

“Should I just open it here?” he asked.

Holly nodded as Max quickly shed the box of its wrapping paper and lifted the lid. His expression folded, first in confusion and then in recognition, and a warm glow filled her heart as his eyes met hers in a tender, knowing gaze. The red-and-black toy train looked small in his hands, but not in the least out of place.

“It’s just the engine, but I couldn’t let you go through life without that train,” she said. “Even if it is about thirty years after you asked for it.”

Max grinned. “Some things are worth waiting for,” he said, leaning in to kiss her.

Holly wrapped her arms around his waist and snuggled into his chest, enjoying the weight of his arms around her shoulders, and the security they provided. She looked around the room at all the wonderful people that filled it and she smiled to herself. A week ago this house was an inn. Yesterday it was empty. And today, it was officially home.

* * * * *

Don’t miss Olivia Miles’s next
MAPLE WOODS
story! Available this spring wherever Harlequin books are sold.

Keep reading for an excerpt from A COLD CREEK CHRISTMAS SURPRISE by RaeAnne Thayne.