Once Burned (19 page)

“Oh my. Lindsay’s going to love that. It’s much better than that old piece of junk she had before.”

“That was all Noah’s idea,” Henry remarked.

“Very thoughtful of you both,” Debbie said. “But I believe I just heard Lindsay pull up, so you might want to hide that in our room. That is, if I guess right and you want to surprise her with them at dinner tomorrow.”

“That’s the idea.”

Henry excused himself to hide the gifts in the Millers’ bedroom where Lindsay wasn’t likely to stumble upon them. As he was leaving the room, he heard the Millers talking with Noah, whose glowing praise of him was a relief. Another test passed, he thought. Lindsay came in and greeted her parents, and just before Henry stepped back into view, he heard her father utter something that made him grin.

“You found a keeper this time, my darling daughter.”

* * *

“You just sit down and relax while we do the dishes,” Debbie told her daughter. “You and your father have already done more than your fair share in cooking that magnificent meal. Haven’t they, Henry?”

“Yes, they have,” he replied as he stacked plates on his hand. “For once in your life, let someone take care of
you
.”

“Thank you, Henry,” Debbie agreed.

“Mmm-hmm.”

Lindsay sat back in her chair, folded her arms across her chest, and pretended to be mad. When her father got up and headed toward his bedroom with a not-so-subtle nod from Henry, she sat up a little straighter, curious. What were they playing at? She glanced at her son, who suspiciously averted his gaze.

“What is going on?” she demanded.

“We have a surprise for you,” Henry replied. “And please don’t be mad at me because we—Noah and I—bought you something.”

“Henry….”

“I know, I know. Humor me, all right? I think you’ll like them.”

“Them?”

“Them,” Steve confirmed, striding through the kitchen into the dining room.

He settled two white paper sacks on the dining room table as soon as his wife wiped it down. Lindsay instantly recognized the logo on the front of the bags as that of the kitchen store in the mall. Exasperated, curious, and touched all at once, she craned her neck to see what was in the bags, but her father yanked them out of her reach and told her she had to wait.

It wasn’t difficult to find a distraction. Henry provided an excellent one. He was dressed casually, as they all were, and his dark blue jeans fit him perfectly, putting his long, muscular legs with slightly bowed knees and, damn, that ass of his was fine. The plain black, long-sleeved T-shirt tucked into his jeans fit him just as well, showcasing his powerful shoulders and strong arms. No man had any right to be that sexy, she mused. As usual, he wore a plain brown belt and his newer work boots, and though he lacked the classical cowboy touches like the hat and big, shiny belt buckle, he still managed to exude that Western charm.

More powerful than his physical appeal was the emotional one. It amazed her how quickly her parents had taken to him and how he seemed to appreciate them in return. He was ever the gentleman, lavishing her mother with compliments an endearing genuineness. For being an introverted country boy, he sure had a natural way with people.

Since Lindsay had already done most of the dishes while she and her father cooked, it didn’t take her mother, Henry, and Noah long to finish up what was left, and they were soon seated once again at the table.

“
Now
can I look?” she asked.

“Have at ‘em,” Henry replied.

She started with the larger sack first, and pressed her hand over her mouth in shock when she saw a beautiful new heavy-duty mixer inside. “Henry, no. This is too expensive. You have to take it back.”

“Not a chance.”

“Let the man spoil you,” her mother remarked. “And if you think that’s thoughtful, wait ‘til you see what’s in the other bag.”

She reached into the second sack and pulled out a set of six cookie cutters—a tree, candy cane, snowflake, snowman, Christmas stocking, and a star—along with an assortment of sprinkles and tubes of colored icing.

“I figured we could make our own dessert,” Henry explained. “Together. You, Noah, your parents, and me.”

The sentiment warmed her heart, but she couldn’t find the words to express it, so she simply stood and unpackaged her gorgeous new mixer, washed what needed to be washed, and started pulling ingredients out of the cupboards for sugar cookies, keeping her back to them so they couldn’t see her trying not to cry. To her further surprise and delight, everyone stepped in to help, and before long, they were all laughing and the kitchen was a mess of ingredients. It wasn’t that she and her family hadn’t done anything together… it was that they hadn’t done anything like
this
together in a long time. While the first batch of cookies cooled on the counter and the second baked in the oven, they gathered around the kitchen, and Lindsay glanced from one beloved face to the next. Not one of them had escaped without at least a light dusting of flour, and not one face was unsmiling.

Henry nudged Noah with a grin. “See? Isn’t this fun?”

“Yeah, it is,” her son was quick to admit.

Lindsay regarded him with a brow lifted.

“While we wait to decorate, I want to show you that other thing,” Henry continued. “If your mom will indulge me.”

He held out his hand, and she tilted her head in curiosity. His patience fueled her interest, and she found herself slipping her hand into his and following him into the living room. Her family followed, taking seats on the plush couch and recliners to watch… whatever it was he had in mind.

“A dance, milady?”

“Okay… but why?”

“One, I want to. And two, your son seems to be laboring under the incorrect assumption that dancing is for girls. I’d like to show him otherwise.”

“In that case, I’d love a dance.”

“Deb, would you mind putting some music on?”

“What’s your poison?”

“Doesn’t matter. Anything with a decent beat, fast or slow, will do.”

Her mother turned on the radio to a fast-paced Christmas song—let the holiday craze begin, Lindsay thought with a twist of her lips even as she admitted to herself that she was actually looking forward to it this year.

“Ready?” Henry asked.

Lindsay nodded. Half a second later, she found herself twirling and swinging in a heart-pounding, energetic dance. Henry handled her with exquisite power and grace. The word
handled
seemed harsh, but there was no other way to describe it because she had no idea what she was doing, and by his skill alone, she moved through the dips and spins with agility. She’d been amazed by his ability back in August, but by comparison, the dances they’d shared then were lazy and playful. This was something entirely different—an exciting seriousness wrapped in a familiarity that shocked her. Back in August, there had been flirtation and curiosity, but now they knew each other’s bodies, and Lindsay understood with a start that Henry wasn’t playing the doting boyfriend anymore. He was committed to that role.

“You were holding out on me at Vince and Evie’s wedding,” she remarked. Her voice trembled with more than exertion.

“Maybe a little.”

The song ended just as the timer for the cookies buzzed, so Henry let her go with a noticeable reluctance. She glanced over her shoulder and watched as he explained to Noah all that went into a dance like that. It shocked her that Noah listened with the same intensity he reserved only for football.

“To dance like that, you have to be strong,” Henry said.

He demonstrated the posture required for other traditional ballroom dances and asked Noah to mirror it and hold the position for a full minute. As soon as the time was up, Noah slouched in relief.

“Not so easy, is it?”

“No.”

“Imagine trying to maintain that pose when you’re holding your partner, spinning her, dipping her so low her head nearly touches the floor. It’s your job to lead her… and you have to show her she can trust you to do it. That requires strength of a different kind.”

Noah nodded solemnly and asked Henry to show him some of the steps. Lindsay’s mouth fell open.

“Never thought I’d see anything like that,” Debbie remarked.

“Like what?”

“Noah interested in dancing, of all things.” Debbie grinned at her daughter. “That man of yours can move.”

“Yes, he can,” Lindsay agreed, squirming with a combination of shyness and possessiveness to hear Henry referred to as
her
man. Her cheeks heated more as memories of other ways his body moved popped gleefully into her mind, and her face heated.

“Oh, my girl. I know that look.”

Lindsay groaned. Her mother already knew she’d slept with Henry in Montana, but that didn’t mean Lindsay wasn’t embarrassed that Debbie could see through her so easily.

“I agree with what your father said yesterday. Henry’s a keeper.”

“But you’ve only just met him. How can you know that?”

“In that short time, I’ve seen more than enough to know it. Take his gifts as one example.”

“I love them,” Lindsay admitted. “But I’m not happy he bought them. He
knows
I don’t—”

“Would you put that stubborn pride of yours away for a moment and listen?”

She snapped her mouth closed and stared at her mother. Debbie hadn’t ever been one to hide her feelings, but she wasn’t usually so blunt.

“He’s not trying to buy your love, Lindsay. If he were, he would’ve bought something like jewelry or flowers, which require little imagination. Instead, he bought you something you’ll use, and maybe the mixer was Noah’s idea, but I guarantee you, Henry already had something for your kitchen in mind because he pays attention and knows what you enjoy. More than that, he bought something that brought us all together as a family, which tells me he is not only a generous soul but also one who understands what’s important in life.”

“But—”

“Stop it, Lindsay. Stop looking for this to fall apart like it fell apart with Max and then with Logan because that is a guaranteed route to failure. I know you haven’t had much reason to hope in the last few years, but don’t give up just yet.”

“I’m not giving up,” Lindsay promised softly. “He’s here with us because I
do
have hope.”

“I’m glad to hear that. Boys!” she called into the living room. “Get your backsides in here. Time to start decorating cookies.”

The menfolk returned to the kitchen, and Henry, Noah, and Lindsay got started decorating the first batch of cookies while Steve and Debbie cut out the next and got them in the oven.

Later in the evening, when the cookies were all beautifully decorated, safely wrapped and stored, and the kitchen was once again flawlessly clean, they all headed into the living room to watch the Christmas movies—a family tradition Lindsay’s parents had started when she was younger than Noah. Lindsay turned off the lights in the kitchen and started toward the living room, but Henry, who’d been rinsing out the washrag, tugged on her hand and pulled her back into the shadows.

“Did I do all right?” he asked.

“You did wonderful, Henry. We haven’t had so much fun as a family in a long time. Thank you.”

“You’re not mad at me for buying you something?”

“How can I be after that?” She flashed him a smile. “I was inclined to be upset with you, but my mother talked me out of it.”

“Mmm. Remind me to thank her.” He skimmed his thumb across her cheek and lowered his head.

She thought he was going to kiss her lips, but instead, he kissed the tip of her nose, flicking his tongue across it.

“What was that for?”

“You had frosting on your nose.”

Laughing softly, she curled her arms around his neck and pressed her body firmly against his before claiming his mouth.

“You two coming, or what?” Steve asked.

“Yeah, yeah,” Lindsay replied. She sighed at the interruption. “To be continued?”

“You bet. The next time we have a moment alone.”

Hand in hand, they ventured into the living room, and without letting her go, Henry sank onto the couch and pulled her down with him so quickly that she lost her balance and ended up in his lap. To this point, they’d refrained from overt displays of affection for Noah’s sake, so she was surprised at him. He made a half-assed apology and helped her scoot onto the cushion beside him… but he didn’t let her put even an inch of distance between them. She glanced at her son to see what his reaction was. He spared them a fleeting glance, too absorbed by the movie to notice much else.

“Now that we’re all settled in,” Debbie said, muting the TV, “I have an announcement.”

All eyes turned expectantly to her.

“Bill and Mary stopped by yesterday afternoon with two extra tickets to Shannon O’Neil’s debut next Friday.”

“Shannon O’Neil?” Henry asked. “Pat’s little sister?”

“That’s the one. She’s starring in her first musical at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle… and you and Lindsay are going.”

“Mom, I have to work next Friday.”

“No arguments,” Debbie said firmly. “Switch shifts again or call in sick if you have to. Noah will stay with us so you and Henry can go on a proper date—your first since he’s been here, I’d wager. I won’t take no for answer from any of you, so just swallow whatever arguments you’re thinking of making and forgive me for being pushy and presumptuous. Also, I don’t expect Lindsay home until Saturday… preferably not until she has to get ready for work. Have breakfast together, take a stroll on the beach, whatever you want to do, but enjoy each other for a few hours.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Henry replied.

Lindsay smacked his arm at the betrayal, but she was smiling. With a laugh, she tucked her feet under her, wrapped her hands around his arm, and rested her head on her shoulder. He kissed the top of her head, and what she’d said to her mother in the kitchen before they’d decorated cookies settled over her again with the warmth of the brightest fire on a cold winter night.

I
do
have hope. And that in itself is a wonderful thing.

“HELLO, HANDSOME,” DEBBIE greeted when she opened the door at Henry’s knock. “I knew you’d look dashing in a tux, but I didn’t expect you to look quite
so
gorgeous.”

“Thank you.” Henry bowed politely at her praise, grinning. “I’m a bit surprised myself.”

“That dark blue neck tie paired with the dark gray of the vest and tux really bring out the beauty of your eyes. And I know it’s a rental, but it fits you like it was tailored for you.”

“Again, thank you. You’re sure we won’t be overdressed?”

“It’s a semi-formal affair, so you might be a
tad
over dressed, but even so, that’s half the fun, isn’t it?”

“I suppose so.”

“I know you won’t be the only ones, though. Bill and Mary are going all out as well, and I believe Pat will be in a tux, too. Seems Aelissm requested it, and with that stunning gown she found, I can’t blame her.”

Chuckling, Henry remarked, “I’m amazed because Aeli has an even greater loathing of dresses than Lindsay. Speaking of my date….”

“She’s almost ready.”

As soon as he was far enough into the house to see into the dining room, he spotted Noah and Steve sitting at the table putting a jigsaw puzzle together. They were so intent that Henry was standing behind them, peering down at the colorful tropical island scene—a Christian Riese Lassen painting, if he guessed right—before they realized he was there. Lindsay’s father eyed him and nodded in approval. Noah was a bit more vocal about his thoughts.

“You look like a movie star on the red carpet,” the boy remarked.

“Thanks, bud. Kinda feel like one, too. Who’d’ve thought this country boy could pull off Hollywood, eh?”

“You definitely pull it off,” Debbie observed.

Henry tapped a puzzle piece and then pointed to where it went. Noah fit it in place. He found another, but this time, he placed it and was sucked into the activity.

A catcall whistle drew his attention away from the puzzle. “Look who’s rockin’ the penguin suit.”

“You’re a riot, Lindsay,” he remarked. “Very fun….”

When his eyes found her, his voice trailed off. She stood in the kitchen sheathed in a one-shouldered, floor-length gown of shimmery dark blue that hugged her curves before flowing out in a slight flare just below her hips. An off-center, knee-high slit revealed a tantalizing peek of leg and made Henry’s jaw drop. Crystal beads or rhinestones—he wasn’t close enough to tell which—glittered all over, more numerous toward the top and thinning toward the bottom as if someone had poured a bucket of stars over her and they’d trickled down toward the floor, caught up on the fabric. The cut of the gown was both demure and sexy as hell, drawing attention to her graceful neck and shoulders without revealing too much. When she moved, light danced along the lines of the satiny material and twinkled in the beadwork, mesmerizing him. It was pure elegance.

“Holy cow, Mom,” Noah said. “You look amazing. Doesn’t she, Henry?”

He swallowed and, still unable to speak, only nodded as his gaze raked over her again. Half her hair was pinned back in a braided bun studded with sparkling rhinestones, and the rest cascaded down her back in soft, silky curls. The only jewelry she wore was a pair of simple dangling diamond earrings. She’d applied very little makeup, even less than she usually wore to work, and the effect was alluringly understated and natural. She’d been breathtaking in her bridesmaid gown, but in this dress, she was unequivocally exquisite.

Finally, he found his voice, but what came out of his mouth didn’t feel adequate. “Wow.”

He tried again.

Nope. Nothing.

“What? No quick-witted, flirty compliments to make me blush?” Though her words were teasing, her voice was shyly soft.

“Nothing adequate comes to mind.”

She sidled up to him, needlessly straightened his tie, and gazed up at him with wide, innocent eyes, begging him to reassure her that she was beautiful.

“You are the night sky over Northstar,” he murmured, skimming his fingertips under the line of her jaw to her chin, “and I am utterly dazzled by your radiance.”

The only thing that kept him from kissing her right then was a vague awareness that they had an audience that included Lindsay’s eight-year-old son. Even with their agreement to keep things mostly casual around Noah in the back of his mind, he barely resisted.

“I do hate to interrupt,” Steve remarked, “but Pat and Aelissm just pulled up over to Bill and Mary’s, so you should probably headed over.”

Henry helped Lindsay into the knee-length coat Debbie loaned her, and they bid her parents and Noah farewell with a promise to enjoy themselves and their night on the town. As Lindsay lifted the skirt of her dress and sauntered through the front door Henry held open for her, taking the open umbrella as she went, Henry gave Noah’s shoulder a squeeze with a twinge of guilt for leaving him behind. He did his best to ignore it, and as he huddled under the umbrella with Lindsay with her hand around his arm, it wasn’t
too
difficult. Once they were safely under the overhang of the eaves, Henry collapsed the umbrella and carefully shook the water from it away from Lindsay so he wouldn’t splatter the unprotected skirt of her dress.

“I can’t remember the last time I used one of these before I arrived here,” he remarked. “And I’m pretty sure I’ve needed one more in the last couple weeks than in my entire life.”

“You never use them in Montana?” Lindsay asked after she knocked.

“Not really. They’re damned inconvenient when you’re out working the ranch, so we just tough it out and get wet. Of course, the rain doesn’t keep coming down there like it does here. Rarely does it last more than a day or two.”

“Do you not like the rain?” she asked with a note of disappointment in her voice.

“I wouldn’t say that. It’s just a different world than I’m used to. Kind of fascinating really.”

Mary Granger opened the door wearing a beautiful mauve dress. “My, my, my, aren’t you both stunning? Come in, come in.”

Henry embraced Mary as he walked by her into her lovely house. Furnished entirely in Western style, he felt like he’d stepped out of Washington and back into Northstar and was at home in the space she had so artistically and lovingly decorated.

“It’s so good to see you again, Henry,” Mary said. “It’s been a long time.”

“Too long,” he agreed. “I’m sorry I missed the last couple trips you and Bill took out to Northstar.”

“But I hear you’ve moved back home. That’s wonderful to hear, even if your reason for leaving Denver isn’t.”

“Thank you, Mary. I’ve very much enjoyed reconnecting with my family and the ranch, but right now, I’m enjoying your hometown and the company of a certain beautiful, redheaded neighbor of yours.”

“So I see. And I hear her best friend is enjoying the company of your twin brother.”

“That’s the rumor.”

They found Pat and Aelissm standing in the living room with Bill. Aelissm’s uncle was clad in a tailored three-piece suit, but like Henry, Pat wore a tux—black with a deep emerald green vest and tie that matched his wife’s glamorous strapless gown. She was every bit as ravishing as she’d been back in the day when he’d once taken her dancing and idly entertained thoughts of dating her, perhaps even more so.

“Aelissm, you are absolutely bewitching,” he said, taking her hand to kiss her knuckles. “Are you certain you had a baby barely a month and a half ago?”

“I was up three times in the middle of the night with the proof of it, so yes, I’m certain.” She glanced up at her husband and tucked her arm around his waist, and a smile of adoration and deeply felt love softened her expression. “But thank you, Henry.”

“What a delight to see you here in Indianola, Henry,” Bill greeted. “And with our beautiful Lindsay on your arm. I hear there’s a story behind this.”

“You just keep your matchmaking tentacles to yourself, Unk,” Aelissm chided without heat. “By the looks of things, they don’t need your assistance.”

“Matchmaking tentacles?” Lindsay asked. “
That
sounds like a story to me.”

“Bill was rather instrumental in pushing Pat and Aelissm together,” Mary explained.

“Pushing?” Bill retorted. “It was barely a nudge.”

“Uh-huh.” Aeli rolled her eyes. “If that’s what you call sending Pat to Montana ‘on vacation’ to keep me safe from Adam, then you need to reevaluate your definition of the word nudge.”

They exchanged a few more pleasantries, but they had a ferry to catch, so they headed back out into the rain and piled into Pat and Aeli’s Suburban. The O’Neil children, Henry learned, were with Aelissm’s parents, giving them their first no-kids date night in months. On the ride to the ferry, Pat, Bill, and Mary talked about Shannon’s new career path, and Lindsay and Aelissm chatted about the challenges and joys of a new baby and the bittersweet inevitably of babies growing up too fast. Henry was content to listen, amused that Lindsay and Aeli chatted like old friends though they hadn’t had much interaction during Lindsay’s stay in Northstar. When Aeli asked her if she wanted more kids given the right situation, Henry leaned in a little closer so he didn’t miss her response.

“I was so young when I had Noah that I hadn’t even started to figure out how many kids I wanted someday or
if
I wanted any, and I’ve spent so long trying
not
to have any more that it’s strange to even think about it. But with the right man, yes, I think I would. I know Noah would love to have a brother or a sister.”

“With a brother being more likely if Mr. Right is a Mr. Hammond.”

Having known Aelissm as long as he had, he should have expected her comment and the blatant sideways glance in his direction, but it floored him, and he turned his head away as his neck and face heated uncomfortably. He swore under his breath.

Lindsay, however, didn’t miss a beat, and her response surprised him even more than Aelissm’s shameless remark.

“But Aaron has Jessie.”

No hesitation whatsoever and no balking at the idea of having children with him. Had she already considered that possibility? He snorted. The thought had already crossed his mind, so he supposed it was a good sign that it had apparently crossed hers, too.

“Yes, and she’s the first girl to be born to the Hammonds in… four generations, isn’t it, Henry?”

“Yep.”

“Beth calls it the Hammond Curse.”

“Considering that this tomboy barely knows how to be a girl herself, that might actually be a good thing.”

The comment elicited two very different aches, and again, Henry swore, but this time, Aelissm heard it.

“What’s wrong, Henry? Is our conversation making that tux a little—”

“Don’t you
dare
say it, Aeli,” Henry interrupted with a chuckle. “No, it’s not exactly the most comfortable conversation for me, but the reason why has little to do with what that dirty mind of yours is thinking right now.”

“That’s not to say we don’t have plans for after Shannon’s play,” Lindsay added. She walked her fingers up his chest, then smoothed her hand over his collarbone and up his neck before leaning over to kiss him soundly. “Because we do.”

“We do, but unless you want to miss the play, knock that off.”

“Tempting, but I wouldn’t want those two tickets to go unused.”

Aelissm laughed. “Henry, my friend, you’re in trouble.”

Grinning, he replied, “Maybe so, but I love it.”

* * *

Several hours later, Henry and Lindsay stood on the front walk of Bill and Mary’s house to say their goodbyes to the Grangers, Pat and his wife, sister, and parents, who’d joined them for late-night snacks out on the Grangers’ deck to celebrate Shannon’s incredible debut. Henry had met Pat’s little sister a few times when she’d come out to Northstar to visit, and he’d heard that she was musically inclined, but she’d blown him and the capacity audience away with her powerhouse voice and emotional performance. He never would have imagined the bold confidence she’d displayed on stage to come out of the outwardly shy young woman with ivory skin, blue-flecked hazel eyes, and hair almost the exact shade of dark copper as Lindsay’s who currently stood with her arms around her brother’s and mother’s waists to thank Henry and Lindsay yet again for coming to her play.

Without dropping his hand from Lindsay’s waist, Henry leaned in to kiss Shannon’s cheek. “Congratulations, Shannon. You were amazing tonight, and I can’t wait to see what’s in your future.”

“Thank you, Henry.”

“Thank you, Bill, Mary, for an incredible night,” Lindsay said, briefly stepping away from Henry to embrace them. “And Pat and Aelissm, I can’t even begin to describe how wonderful it was to see you both again. But it’s time Henry and I head home to tackle the rest of our plans for the night.”

With a wink, Aelissm said, “We certainly don’t want to keep you. Hopefully we’ll see you back in Northstar soon?”

She slid her gaze to Henry with that last part. He nodded, and she grinned in reply.

“I hope so,” Lindsay replied, oblivious of the silent conversation between her date and his friend. “Noah’s been pestering me about it.”

“In that case… see you soon.”

They crossed the street to Henry’s truck, which he’d parked in front of the Millers’ house, and he opened the passenger door for her and helped her into the cab. She leaned out and rewarded him with a delightfully flirtatious kiss.

It was late enough that Noah would be in bed and hopefully asleep, but the lights were still on in the living room of Steve and Debbie’s house, and Henry almost popped in to thank them for providing the means for him to treat Lindsay to a night out. Remembering Debbie’s express demand that he and her daughter treat the evening like they were young lovers without a care in the world, he slid in behind the wheel of his truck and started the engine. Some of that adventurous spark Lindsay had treated him to in Northstar had returned to night, and he’d done his best to stoke it because it was good to see her set her stifling worries for a few hours.

At his rented cottage overlooking the beach, he continued his stately gentleman routine and offered his hand to help her out of the truck, and they strolled up the walkway arm-in-arm. Just before they reached the step up to the covered front porch, Lindsay stopped and turned her eyes skyward. Following her gaze, he saw that the last of the clouds had dissipated, and in the narrow clearing between the monstrous cedars that towered above the cottage, the black night sky was studded with a scattering of stars.