Christmas Romance (The Best Christmas Romance of 2016): The Love List Christmas (9 page)
Read Christmas Romance (The Best Christmas Romance of 2016): The Love List Christmas Online
Authors: Natalie-Nicole Bates,Sharon Kleve,Jennifer Conner,Angela Ford
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sharon Kleve was born and raised in Washington and currently lives on the Olympic Peninsula with her husband.
Sharon is a multi-published author of contemporary romance. She loves romance. She loves reading romance, living romance, and especially loves writing about romance. She gets no greater feeling than watching her characters come alive in each other’s arms. Most of all, she loves giving her characters the happily ever after they deserve—with a few bumps and bruises along the way.
One of her favorite things to do is pick up a new book and sink into the story, immersing herself in the emotions between the characters. She hopes to inspire her readers the same way her favorite authors have inspired her.
When not writing, she can usually be found either curled up in her recliner with her cat and a good book, or in the kitchen baking sourdough bread or bagels.
FOR THE LOVE OF ANIMALS
I’m asked on a regular basis why I have some sort of animal in every one of my books. It is simple…I love animals, and I love writing about them. It doesn’t matter what kind, shape, or size. I love them all.
Throughout my life, I’ve had dogs, birds, frogs, lizards, rabbits and of course precious cats. My husband and I have a dozen bird feeders, two water fountains and multiple yard-art fixtures that we put food and water in for the critters.
Several years ago our cat of fifteen years passed away and we were going to wait awhile before getting another one but as the days went on we missed having a cat. It was during the winter, so there weren’t any kittens available. I searched all the shelters and saw pictures of an eight-month-old female, shorthair cat.
When we picked up Ardy from the Bremerton, Washington PAWS, they said we’d never be able to pick her up or touch her. She’d been abused. My husband played with her and instantly fell in love. We took her home and after many months of special care, she loves to be held. We laugh because she likes it so much she won’t let you put her down.
All animals deserve a little time, patience and a good loving home.
PAWS is a wonderful organization. To volunteer your time or donate: you can contact them at
http://www.paws.org/
YOU CAN FIND SHARON KLEVE HERE
Sharon Kleve’s Romantic Ramblings
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OTHER BOOKS BY SHARON KLEVE
Josey’s Christmas Cookie, November 2012
Valentine Special Delivery, January 2013
Halo’s Christmas Wish, September 2013
Brenda’s Christmas Desire, November 2013
Kitty’s Christmas Hope, March 2014
Christmas Dreams Come True Series, October 2014
Promiscuous Christmas, November 2014
Second Chance Cinderella, April 2015
Four Weddings and a Fiasco - The Wedding Switch
, August 2015
A Home for Christmas
Jennifer Conner
Chapter One
Kady inched her car through the snow. Her tires left what seemed to be the only tracks in the fresh powder. This fall, the snow came early to Eastern Washington. The quiet town was nestled in darkness, and the vacant streets were cast in an eerie glow. Not a soul was out.
“This is the ‘main street’?” Noah asked. “You have got to be kidding me.”
“You’ve been to Vine Grove before to visit Grandma and Grandpa. You don’t remember?” Kady tightened her grip on the steering wheel as the car’s back tires slipped to the right a few inches.
“That was five years ago, I was eight-years-old. Things seemed…bigger...and
more
then.”
“Looks about the same to me.”
“I guess it’s been the same for the last hundred years around here,” Noah mumbled, as he picked up his cell phone again. He’d been glued to the glowing screen of his cell phone since they left California. Normally, Kady would have complained about Noah screen time, but it was a long drive. Kady wanted to say,
you’re one of the main reasons we
ʼ
re here
, but she didn’t have the energy level for one more fight to rehash things.
“You sure Grams and Grandpa are up this late?” Noah asked.
“I called your Grandma at the last rest stop. She said that it didn’t matter what time we got in, and that she would have dinner waiting for us.”
“Well, that’s one good thing about this day.” Noah pulled the hood of his sweat jacket up and slumped down in the seat. “I’m starving.”
Kady drove out of town and then turned down the gravel road. Even in the ice and snow, the road was as familiar to her as an old sweater. Memories of walking home from school and throwing rocks into mud puddles flooded back as she drove down the narrow lane.
She inched the car up alongside the house and turned off the ignition. The back door opened, and her mom and dad came out.
“Sweetie!” Her dad grabbed her in a bear hug that practically lifted her off the floor.
“Look at you, Noah. My goodness, you are as tall as your mother.” Kadyʼs mom admired her grandson before giving him a hug. “You must have grown two feet since we last saw you.”
“Hi, Grandma.”
“We can’t stand out here in the driveway and freeze. I made a pot roast that is still in the crockpot. Let’s get some dinner in both of you before we get settled.” Vivian turned on her heels and headed into the house.
As Kady walked in the house, again, memories of her childhood flooded back. Just like the town, not much had changed. New drapes here, a few new throw pillow there, and a new bookcase.
The four of them ate and carried on a light conversation about the drive up. Kady’s mom and dad probably sensed that now was not the time to talk about what had happened over the last six months.
Kady helped her mom wash the dishes, as Noah and her dad carried in a few suitcases from the car.
“Don’t worry about the rest of the stuff in the U-Haul, Dad. There is nothing in there that can’t wait until tomorrow.” Kady wiped her hands on a kitchen towel, and then she went to help. She lugged her suitcase up the narrow stairs and dropped the case to stand in the corner of her old bedroom. Stuffed animals lined the top shelf, and the pictures of her favorite movie stars and bands from high school were still on the wall. She was thirty-one. If she had to live with her mom and dad, she was going to have to update her room. She’d worry about this later. As Kady came back down the stairs, each step she took felt heavy and slow with the world pressing down on her shoulders.
Noah had already pulled out the sleeper sofa and was lying on top of it.
“Let’s put some sheets on your bed.”
“It’s okay.” His back was still turned to her. “I’ll be fine.”
Kady sat on the edge of the mattress which squeaked from her weight. She cringed at the bumpiness and springs pushing through the top. Noah hadn’t complained. He was very quiet which was even scarier.
She brushed a chunk of Noah’s hair over his ear. Some days he already seemed like a young man and other days he looked like what he was, still a boy. His hair was turning to a sandy brown, just like hers. She leaned over, wrapped her arms around him, and pressed her face to his back.
“Things will get better soon.” Kady tried not to let the tears slip out that she felt hanging on the edges of her lashes.
Noah rolled toward her. His eyes were dark and troubled in the dim light. “You promise?”
“Yeah…” She fought to keep her voice steady. “Yeah…I promise. Things will get better,” she repeated.
She and Noah silently lay there in the dark listening to the sounds of her mom and dad bumping around upstairs as they headed for bed. There was nothing more to say to Noah, and she hoped what she’d just said wasn’t a lie.
I doubt things could get much worse.
Chapter Two
Kady unpacked what she could—at least what was left of their lives—from the back of the U-Haul. The house felt claustrophobic. Four people in barely over a thousand square feet made it clear as to what it was, a small house. She’d filled up her room with as many boxes as she could and still walk around in the little Habittrail she’d created.
Her room now smelled like smoke from the boxes they’d brought in. Kady needed to get out for a few minutes to clear her head and her nose.
“Iʼm going to the market to pick up a few things. Is there anything I can get you guys? Kady asked as she grabbed her coat and purse.
“Buy some pop, there’s no pop in the house,” Noah called out from the sofa.
“Don’t buy him soda, it’s bad for him,” her mom yelled back.
She mouthed, ‘okay’ to Noah, and he grinned. It was nice to see him smile.
Kady drove the short distance back into town. She steered her car into one of the nearly vacant parking slots at Rays Cash and Carry Mart. She sat watching the snow fall on the windshield and be wiped away, to gather her thoughts. Kady dashed into the store and then put the groceries in the trunk.
Back in the car, she drummed her fingers on the steering wheel and looked at the clock on the dashboard. It was still early, they wouldn’t miss her for a few minutes.
The neon red and blue lights of
The Steer In
blinked, beckoning her in the darkness. Kady scooped up her purse and headed across the two-lane main street.
She opened the door and was assaulted with loud jukebox music mixed with the smell of peanuts and the acidic fragrance of hops from beer. She walked up to the bar and took a seat. After a moment, the bartender came toward her.
“What can I get you?”
She opened her wallet and looked at the five and two ones nestled there. Just one drink, she could afford that. “Do you have cherry rum?” she asked.
“Nope,” the bartender answered wiping his hands on a towel. “But, we have rum and we have cherries, would that do?”
“Sure.”
A man slid onto the bar stool next to her. “Fancy seeing you in a place like this.”
The oldest line in the book.
Kady rolled her eyes and faced the man. “Listen, buddy, you are trying to pick up the
wrong
girl tonight. A man is the
last
thing I need right now. I need a job. I need money. I need a life. Unless you can supply me with any of those things, then beat it.”
Instead of being offended, the man laughed.
“I didn’t mean what I said as a joke,” she said curtly.
“Kady, it’s me, Editon. Man, I must look different because I know that we’re both older, but I recognized you right away.” He smiled making little-crinkled lines form in the corners of his eyes.
“Editon? Editon Rain?” She looked closer. She did recognize him. The dark brown eyes and his part-Native American jet black hair brought back recognition.
“My God, it’s been…what?” He stopped in thought.
“Thirteen years since our senior year in high-school.” The bartender set down the rum with a small cup of cherries in front of her. “Let’s toast to old times.” Kady grabbed the shot glass and downed the rum.
“Okay...” Editon watched her. “Can I buy you another?”
“Sure,” she said, as she let the rum trail in spiral paths to warm her insides.
He motioned to the bartender, who brought the bottle and filled her glass.
“Hanging out at the bar. I guess that’s what people still do for excitement around here?”
“I wouldn’t know.” He shrugged a broad shoulder. “Not really.”
“
You’re
hanging out here. What are you drinking? I should offer to buy
you
a drink.”
Those dark brown intense eyes were still watching her. She had to break eye contact and finally look down. It was like he was trying to figure her out.
“You can if you want, but it’s just ginger ale and lime.” He swirled the contents of his glass. “I don’t drink. I’m here because that’s my brother, Nahko.” He motioned to the bartender who waved a hand before going back to talk with a patron. “You probably don’t remember him from school, he’s a few years older. Anyway, I promised I’d hang around the bar cleared out and help him with a broken pipe under the sink.”
“You’re a plumber?”
“I’m kind of a jack-of-all-trades. Call me a handy man. I help where I can.” He leaned an arm on the bar and Kady noticed the Native American tattoos that wound around his bicep. “I heard you were back in town.”
“Yep…so you probably also know that I’m living with my mom and dad.”
“I lived with my mom and dad for a few years until I got some money.”
She drank her second shot, and Editon’s brother filled up her glass again. She downed that too. The light feeling of a buzz closed in and clouded her mind. They sat and listened to the music.
She tried not to think about the rest of her life and enjoy the moment she had.
“Well, it seems that you want to drink in peace. I’ll leave you alone. Let me know when you want to cash out, and I will pay Nahko.”
“You said you would buy me
one
drink.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of it,” Editon said, as he slipped off the bar stool to shoot a round of pool.
Kady sat and listened to the music on the jukebox. One country song. One eighties rock song. And then back to country. She lost track of time. It was nice for a change.
When she looked up, she had been there for nearly two hours. Shaking her head, she smiled at Editon and started to stand.
“You ready to go?” he asked.
“Yes…” She grabbed the edge of the bar. “Whoa…” she said, surprised by the spinning room.
Editon was there with his hand on her elbow to steady her. “I’m going to drive you home.”
“I’m…” she started to say ‘fine’ but knew that she wasn’t. “Thanks. I’d appreciate it.”
When they got outside, she motioned across the street. “What about my car?”
“Don’t worry about it. We’ll get it tomorrow.”
He helped her to the parking lot and unlocked his pickup. It was new, shiny, and expensive.
“I only ask one thing,” he requested. “You can’t throw up in my rig, I’ve only had it a month.”
“I promise I won’t,” she said, embarrassed. She slid in the front seat.
Editon got in and said, “Put on your seatbelt. The roads are still icy.”
She clicked closed the buckle. As he pulled out, Kady’s head swam more.
How much did I drink?
The night and the darkness seemed to envelop her. Her head slumped over and landed on Editon’s shoulder. He felt solid, the first solid thing in her fluid world that she’d felt in months. She inhaled. He smelled like firewood and cedar trees. The brush of leather from his coat was cool against her cheek.
I’ll just close my eyes for…
“Kady?” A deep voice pulled her awake from the nice dream she was having. Editon straightened her in the car seat. “Are you okay?” he asked, concern etching his brow.
She rubbed at her eyes. “Yeah…I’m fine.”
“Weʼre here.”
“Where?” she asked, disoriented.
“Your mom and dad’s house. I remembered where they lived. When you live in Vine Grove, you pretty much know where everyone lives.” He reached across her and unhooked her seatbelt. “You gonna be okay?” he asked again.
“Yep.” Kady shook her head to clear it and rubbed a hand over her face. She looked at his leather coat and felt her cheeks heat. “Here I was accusing you of trying to pick me up at the bar, and I’m the one who slobbered all over you in the car.”
“I think you were asleep. Short nap. That doesn’t really count.” His smile was easy, and it lit his eyes.
She slid her legs out and stood. “Thanks for making sure I got home safe.”
“You’re welcome. And, when it comes down to who’s picking up who, I’m the one who got to take you home at the end of the night.” He winked, making something flutter in the pit of her stomach.
Kady took a pen out of her purse and reached for his hand. “Here’s my number, why don’t you call me.” She inched up his sleeve and wrote her cell on his wrist.”
He smiled and pulled the sleeve back over his wrist. “I’ll see you around, Kady Randall.”
The only light still on in the house was over the sink in the kitchen. Her parents went to bed early. Her dad’s motto was always,
early to bed, early to rise
. Farmers were like that year-round, not just during the growing season. This was a good thing, she’d hate to face them.
Kady slipped her coat off her shoulders, took off her boots and set them by the front door.
She got about half-way across the living room.
“I thought you were going out for a few groceries, not to get drunk and pick up guys.” The computer screen lit the glare on Noah’s face.
“I didn’t…well, I did have a few drinks, but I hadn’t really planned to. Editon was buying.”
“At least the two of you are on a first name basis.”
“We knew each other from school.”
“That makes it better? And…you forgot the pop.”
“It’s back in our car… which is back at the store. Sorry.” Kady sighed. “I can’t have this conversation right now. I’m going to bed. I’ll see you in the morning.” She started to turn away and then stopped, remembering her rule of never going to bed angry. “I love you.”
“Yeah…” Noah muttered as he flipped his computer closed and tossed it over on the other side of the bed.