A Family for Christmas (Contemporary Romance Novella) (7 page)

He leaned down to kiss her, but she flattened a hand on his chest, held him at bay. "There's something I need to tell you. I haven't accepted the partnership yet. I asked for time to think the offer over."

Tom's gaze sharpened. "And have you thought it over?"

"Mmm. I don't think it's going to work for me. I've recently decided I prefer the weather down in Devon."

A slow grin spread across his face. "All that snow, you mean?"

Eve linked her arms around his neck and snuggled closer to his hard chest. "Yep. The sort of snow that can keep me stranded in the middle of Dartmoor all winter."

"So, will you be able to transfer to the Plymouth office?"

"I'll probably try for a partnership in a different firm. There are a few alternatives I'm looking into."

"Come back home with me, Eve. Spend Christmas with us."

"Oh, Tom, I'd love to, but I've arranged to go to Germany to see my brother." She thought for a moment. "How about I stay with you for Christmas and you and Polly spend New Year’s in Germany with me and Ed's family. I'd need to check with him, but I'm sure he won't mind."

"Sounds perfect to me," he whispered. He kissed her then, long and slow and deep, until she pulled away to catch her breath.

It was strange how a week ago she'd been so focused on her career, when now all that mattered was being with Tom and Polly.

***

Fluffy snowflakes spiraled out of the night sky as Tom parked his pickup in Higher Combe. Eve hadn't seen the village before and the pretty, old cottages looked like a Christmas card with a layer of snow frosting their roofs and windows. Christmas lights twinkled in bushes and around doors. Inside the mullioned window of the general store, a Christmas tree sparkled. The medieval church rose into the darkness, a glowing cross lighting the top of its spire.

Polly gripped Eve's hand tighter. The child had hardly let go of Eve since she and Tom arrived back at Combe Farm yesterday evening. They climbed out of the pickup. Polly tugged Eve to follow her. "I want to show you my school."

"Not now, pumpkin. It's all closed up, and it's nearly time for the carol service to start." Tom took Eve's other hand, and for a moment she was pulled in two directions at once.

"Hey, you two, quit the tug of war."

Tom laughed and relaxed his grip. "I'm sure Eve wants to see your nativity scene, Polly?"

The little girl bounced up and down in her fleecy pink boots. "Oh, yes!"

They crunched across crisp, frosted grass, and joined the throng of villagers heading towards the church for the Christmas Eve service.

"There's Lindy." Polly dropped Eve's hand and darted away between the people towards a little girl wearing a blue hat. The two children squealed and jumped about together holding hands.

Tom slipped his arm around Eve's waist and pressed his lips to her cheek. "Better take every opportunity I can for a kiss. I don't think I'm going to get you to myself much over Christmas."

Eve leaned into Tom's side as they walked, marveling at how right it felt to be with him, as if she had known him for years, not days. She felt so comfortable with him, yet a thread of excitement ran through her every time she looked at him. When Connor found Lilly, Eve had started to wonder if there
was
a man she'd want to spend her life with. Now she'd found him. She was certain of that.

Polly skipped back to them. They headed down the paved pathway between the ice-topped gravestones. A wreath of holly trimmed the church door with a sprig of mistletoe hanging over the doorway. The elderly couple in front of them paused beneath it for a quick kiss and giggled like teenagers.

"The vicar obviously has a romantic streak." Tom stopped and pulled Eve close. He stared into her eyes. Everything around them fell away. She forgot the people and why she was here, lost herself in the soft blue depths of his gaze.

"May this Christmas be our first of many," he whispered, and then pressed his lips to hers.

"Daddy, come on." Polly's demand brought Eve back to the present. She blushed at the crowd of people who had gathered behind them, waiting to pass through the church door.

Tom chuckled as she pulled him out of the way. The vaulted church roof rose above them, the wooden pews trimmed with glittery pine branches. Candles burned in small alcoves in the stone walls, casting flickering light off the colorful stained-glass windows.

"Here, look." Polly skipped ahead and led them to a nativity scene at the back of the church. "Lindy and I made baby Jesus in his crib. Isn't it good?"

Tom and Eve chuckled together. "Very good, sweetie," Eve said, stroking the little girl's hair.

Exchanging Christmas wishes with the other smiling villagers, they made their way to a pew halfway down the church and sat beside Mr. and Mrs. Undy.

"First time I set eyes on you, I knew you belonged at Combe Farm," Mrs. Undy whispered to Eve. "The good Lord works in mysterious ways."

He certainly did if He had a hand in Pickle escaping into the snow and her wrecked car, but Eve was glad of it. She had much to say thank you for when the time came to pray.

The hymn sheet included Christmas carols Eve hadn't sung since she was a child. As the organ played and voices rose to the rafters, her spirits soared with the music.

When it was time to pray, Eve kneeled on the old embroidered hassock. The faint musty scent of the fabric combined with the smell of ancient oak took her back to the last time she'd kneeled to pray inside a church, eighteen months ago at her parents' funeral.

Losing them had cast her adrift like a lost balloon floating into the sky, longing for a friendly hand to grab her string and pull her back to earth. For the last year and a half, she'd been lost and she hadn't even realized it until Tom found her that day in the snow. When he'd taken her back to his home, he'd done more than rescue her from her stranded car, he'd shown her the way back to happiness, shown her what her life might be like if she opened her heart and took a risk.

She reached out and slid her fingers into Tom's hand. His eyes rose to meet hers as the vicar recited a prayer. "Thank you," she whispered. He would never know how much he had done for her that day in the blizzard, and she wasn't sure she could ever explain it. But she would do her best to be there for him and repay his kindness with her own.

Her heart told her he was the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. It was about time she followed her heart and gave her head time off for the holidays.

Epilogue

One year later

Eve halted just inside the sitting room door and smiled with contentment. Ribbon-tied swags of pine and holly decorated with baubles trimmed the mantelpiece over the roaring log fire. The Christmas tree twinkled with multicolored lights in the corner of the room.

After lots of hassle changing her job, Eve had finally moved down to Plymouth six months ago. She and Tom knew each other well now, and a few weeks earlier he'd asked her to move in to Combe Farm. And she couldn't stop smiling.

This Christmas she had helped Tom and Polly choose the Christmas tree. She'd lain in the snow with Polly and made snow angels while Tom cut the tree down, then they'd all carried it inside and decorated it together.

The scene before her reminded her of her childhood family Christmases. Polly and Connor were playing snakes and ladders in front of the fire, while Lilly sat on the sofa cuddling her baby girl, Jasmine.

Tom came in behind Eve. She took half a step back into the warm circle of his arms. His lips brushed her neck, eliciting a flutter of desire in her tummy. His breath warmed her ear. "I love you," he whispered.

She turned in his arms and snuggled close, closing her eyes and reveling in the solid strength of this man who had become the center of her world. "I love you too, darling. Always."

He smiled and kissed the tip of her nose. So much had happened in the past year that she felt like a different woman—a happy and contented woman who had finally found her place in the world.

"Hey, that's not fair," Connor's voice cut into Eve's pleasurable moment. "Barbie's cheating."

Eve stared at her brother, her mouth dropping open in question.

"When I came to help you tidy up," Tom said, "Barbie took over my place in the snakes and ladders game."

A disbelieving laugh burst from Eve. "Con, please don't tell me you're upset because a doll's beating you?"

Her brother gave her a sheepish smirk. "Okay. Maybe I overreacted."

Eve glanced at her sister-in-law who had her hand clamped over her mouth, trying not to laugh. They shared despairing eye rolls.

"Men," Eve muttered affectionately.

Tom tickled her middle and she squirmed away from him.

"What about men?"

"Nothing." She ran out of his reach, giggling. "Time for the presents, I think."

"Presents." Polly jumped up, knocking the snakes and ladders board and scattering the counters, making who was winning a moot point. "I want to hand them out."

They all dutifully took seats around the fire, then Polly fetched the brightly wrapped presents from beneath the Christmas tree and passed them out. "This one's for you, Uncle Connor." She handed across a box covered in pink paper decorated with angels. "I wrapped it for you."

"And very well wrapped it is," he said.

"You don't mind glittery pink angels then?" Tom said.

"I have a twin sister," Connor reminded him.

"Ah, of course." Tom put his arm around Eve's shoulders. "Then I'm sure you'll have no trouble when Jasmine wants to comb your hair and decorate it with little bows."

Connor laughed. "No problem at all, mate. Eve used to practice putting makeup and nail polish on me."

Tom went pale and Eve patted his hand. "Don't worry, darling. I'm sure we can spare you that trial."

Once all the presents were unwrapped, Eve made a cup of tea. They settled in front of the fire. A relaxed, easy atmosphere fell over the room as they chatted.

Tom pulled out a small box wrapped in gold paper with a bow on top, and offered it to her.

"Another present for me?" Eve pressed a hand to her chest. Tom had already given her a beautiful pair of diamond and sapphire earrings that now adorned her ears.

"Yes. For you, love," he said. "Open it."

Eve's heart thudded as she ripped the paper away to find a jewelry box. Her gaze rose to meet Tom's, and he smiled with encouragement. She lifted the lid to reveal a stunning marquise-cut diamond ring. "Oh, Tom, it's beautiful, is it a…" Her pulse raced in anticipation with just a touch of uncertainty.

"Of course it is, darling." Tom slid off the sofa and went down on one knee in front of her. He pulled out the ring and set the box aside. "Eve, my love, will you marry me?"

"Yes, oh, yes." Eve fell into Tom's arms, laughing as she peppered his face with kisses. Polly squealed with excitement and jumped on them. Eve was vaguely aware of Connor and Lilly clapping as Tom's lips touched hers. How she loved this man who had rescued her from the snow and from her lonely life.

As she sank deeper into his embrace, Polly danced around them singing, "I've got a mummy for Christmas."

Eve put her lips to Tom's ear. "And I’ve got a family for Christmas," she whispered.

Thank you for reading A Family for Christmas

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