Christmas in Eternity Springs (29 page)

Nicholas. What a tough little trouper he was. She was so proud of him and, frankly, pleased that she'd played even a small part in his recovery. Because it was a recovery. Yes, he might well have more setbacks. Yes, he would likely fight this particular fight for years to come. But tonight, on this special Halloween, he'd won.

“Forget the wine,” she murmured to herself. She reached into the refrigerator for the bottle of champagne she kept on hand. If any occasion called for champagne, this did.

She was up on her tiptoes reaching for the champagne glasses on the top shelf of the wet bar cabinet when Jax joined her. “Wait. Let me help.”

“I thought champagne was in order,” she said, as he snagged the glasses.

Emotion hitched in Jax's chest. None of this would have happened had he not come to Eternity Springs and met Claire Branham. In a voice husky with feeling, he said, “I wholeheartedly agree. I like the way you think, Miss Christmas.”

He popped the cork, poured the champagne, then lifted his glass in toast. “To you, Claire.”

“Not me. To Nicholas.”

“To you and Nicholas, then.” He clinked his glass against hers, then sipped his champagne. “He might have eventually taken this step on his own, but you made it happen a whole helluva lot faster. I can't thank you enough for all you've done.”

“I'm glad I could help.”

He leaned in and took her lips in a long, steamy kiss that left her weak in the knees. “I'm not ready for this evening to end. How about I make a fire? Will you sit with me, Claire? Talk with me? Make plans with me?”

“What sort of plans?”

“We haven't discussed your wishes for our trip. Silver Eden has all sorts of amenities we can choose from. I don't know if you're the tennis type or if you'd want to go horseback riding. You should take a look at the spa brochure on the Web site because we should probably book that before we go.”

She put the champagne bottle in an ice bucket and carried it and their glasses to the coffee table near the fireplace. While he started the fire, they discussed the upcoming trip and decided they both preferred a visit to the resort without a set agenda. With logs crackling and flames flickering in the hearth, he took her hand and led her over to the sofa, where he pulled her down to sit beside him, keeping his fingers threaded with hers. He dropped his head back against the cushion and released a heartfelt sigh. “What a day. An exhausting day, but a great day.”

“I'll second that.”

“Something tells me that the kid is going to keep me on my toes for the next ten years.”

“Ten?” Claire laughed. “Try twenty. Maybe thirty.”

“True, that. However, I'm going to remember this day for a long time. A very long time.” He brought her hand up to his mouth and kissed it. “I'm happy that you shared it with us.”

“I am, too,” she said softly.

They sat in comfortable silence for a few moments, watching the fire. The scent of burning pine swirled through the room. Claire sipped her champagne, relaxing and reflecting on the evening's events at Forever Christmas.

Jax's thoughts must have gone that in direction, too, because he said, “I feel like a heel. I've been so focused on Nicholas and our problems that I never asked you about your family. Tell me about your sister, Claire. Was she your only sibling?”

“Yes.” The image of a pale young body wasted away by illness flashed in her memory. “Her name was Kelley Michelle, and she was my baby sister. She was two years younger than me. She fought leukemia for four years.”

“That's tough. Hard on your whole family.”

“Yes, it was a horrible time. A roller coaster of hope and despair. My parents tried to stay positive, but I could tell they were scared to death. Michelle was so frightened, so sick. Some of the treatments were worse than the disease. I was…” Her voice trailed off.

“You were what? Frightened? Sad? Confused?”

“All of the above.” She stared into the fire, remembering. She never talked about Michelle or her parents. Never talked about that life-changing time.

She knew so much about Jax. He'd shared his struggles, his failures, and now, this great success. She'd told him very little about herself, and after tonight, that didn't seem right. Jax shared so much, but she'd kept all her secrets.

Maybe it's time you opened up.
Not about everything. But about some of it.

“I had a great family, a great childhood. I was ten, not much older than Nicholas, when my sister got sick and my whole life changed. My parents did their best, but they focused all their energy and attention on the child who was ill. I was scared and I felt…”

“Neglected,” Jax suggested.

“Yes. I felt neglected and angry and oh, so guilty because I felt neglected and angry. I mean, my sister was dying. What sort of evil person was I because I was upset that we skipped Christmas a few times?”

“How long did she fight it?”

“Four years. We lost her the year I turned fourteen. At Christmas.”

“Oh, Claire.” Jax brought her hand up to his mouth and kissed it. “And then you lost your father. That's devastating. What of your mother? Is she…?”

“She's gone now, too. She lived fourteen years after we lost Dad and Michelle, though I would say it was more existing than living. Her light died with them. Three years ago, she caught the flu and developed pneumonia. I don't think she had the heart to fight.”

“Nicholas got it right, didn't he? You lost Christmas, too. It's no wonder you relate to him so well.”

“He's a special little boy, Jax. He's lucky to have you as his father.”

“Not always,” he said. “I can't go back and change the past, but I am determined to be a good father from this day forward.” He trailed his thumb gently down her cheek and studied her intently. “To that end, tell me something, Miss Christmas. What made you so strong?”

That startled her. “Strong?”

“Like Nicholas, you had Christmas stolen from you. How did a girl with every reason to be Ms. Grinch find her way to becoming Miss Christmas?”

“Oh, believe me,” Claire replied with an uneasy laugh. “I can still get my Grinch on. I think I learned … I am learning … just what is truly important in life.”

“Christmas?”

“What Christmas represents. It's personal and it's different for everyone. For some people who come into my shop, Christmas is all about family. For others, it's about tradition. I'm encouraged that the religious nature of the holiday remains strong and important to the majority of people with whom I deal, despite claims to the contrary. Of course, there are some who don't look beyond the gifts stacked at the bottom of the tree, but they definitely are not the majority.”

“What does Christmas represent to you?”

She stared into the fire. “It's a mountain I'm trying to climb. I'm making progress, but I still have a ways to go to reach the summit.”

Admiration gleamed in his eyes. “You and my son make quite a pair.”

“He inspires me.”

“You fascinate me.”

His voice was a caress and made her shiver. He kissed her as the hall clock began to chime, his lips gentle and sweet and almost worshipful. Jax Lancaster had kissed Claire many times, in many ways, but never quite like this before.

This kiss paid her tribute and for some strange reason made her want to cry.

The clock chimes had long faded by the time he lifted his head. “Claire … I…”

Suddenly nervous, she stood and stepped away. “Oh, wow. Eleven o'clock. I have a breakfast meeting at six
A.M.
I'd better go upstairs before I turn into a pumpkin.” She made a general wave toward the hearth. “Will you…?”

“Yes. I'll tend the fire and lock up. Good night, Claire.”

“Good night.”

He waited until she was halfway up the stairs to say, “Claire, you are farther up the mountain trail than you think. I want you to know that I'm damn glad to walk beside you.”

 

Chapter Eighteen

I've always liked the name Sven.

—CLAIRE

Five.

“Hello. I want to book the spa romance package, please, on Saturday afternoon. Yes. For two. It's under Lancaster.”
Aka Stamina Sven.
“Yes. Yes. On my credit card. Excuse me? You said it's how much, again?”
Sheesh.
“Yes. That's fine.”

Four.

“Did I hear you cough, Nicholas? Are you getting sick? C'mere. Let me check your temperature. You're not getting sick, are you? If you feel the least bit sick I want you to tell me so we can get you to the doctor and on some medicine. It'd break your grandparents' hearts if you couldn't go to Seattle this weekend.”

Three.

“Hello. Jax Lancaster here. Wondering if I could stop by and pick up a check for that work I did two weeks ago? Yes, I invoiced you. Sure. I'd be glad to make another copy.”
Deadbeat.

Two.

“We don't have a dry cleaners? How can a town not have dry cleaners? I have Racer Rafferty's caramel apple handprints on my suit coat, and I need to wear it Saturday night.”

The resort restaurant had a dress code. Why hadn't he thought to check that before today? He'd have to get his suit cleaned at the hotel. Guess he could switch around their reservations, and they could do the casual restaurant the first night instead of the fancy one.

Or maybe room service. Room service would be good.

One.

“Hello. Jax Lancaster again. Yes, tomorrow. For the dinner in the suite tomorrow night, go ahead and change it to the premium menu selection, please.”

This weekend was going to cost him a fortune. Not that he cared. He didn't. Claire was worth every penny. It's just that he got sticker shock every time he contacted the hotel.

Besides, deadbeats aside, he was doing just fine, wasn't he? He was turning away work. Barring some unforeseen disaster, he wouldn't have any trouble paying his bills, not even this weekend's already humongous tab at Silver Eden.

This weekend. Tomorrow.

Today!

“Mistletoe!”

*   *   *

Five.

“This is Claire Branham. I'm sorry to bother you again, but I'm hoping you can add a few more things to my order? The off-the-shoulder two-piece swimsuit that's on page four of the current catalogue. Style number seven seven five. In red, please. In fact, why don't you go ahead and send me everything the model is wearing on that page. Yes, the cover-up, shoes, and jewelry, too. The sunglasses? Hmm … yes, why not? Overnight, please.”

Four.

“This is Claire Branham. Yes, it arrived, thank you. I love it. That shade of red is spectacular. I think I've changed my mind about the dress. Why don't you go ahead and send the one on page ten. Everything. Suitable lingerie, too.”

Three.

“Hello, Susie. Yes, it's me. I know, I know. How did I ever manage without a personal shopper? The dress is fabulous, but I'm not certain about the evening bag. And I love, love, love the silk teddy! The emerald green is spectacular.”

Two.

“Luggage! I can't believe I never thought about luggage!”

One.

“Forever Christmas. How may I assist you today? Oh, hello, Susie. Yes, I'm all packed. Thank you so much. You've been a godsend.”

Today!

“Fling!”

*   *   *

Silver Eden Resort took luxury to a new level. Perched halfway up the side of a mountain, the resort blended into its surroundings with clean, modern lines and plenty of glass. “Look at that infinity pool,” Claire said as they approached the hotel's entrance. “Is it indoors or outdoors? I can't quite tell.”

“Both,” Jax said. “It has a retractable roof.”

“Cool.”

Their personal concierge greeted them upon arrival. Amy Gilbert was an attractive, efficient woman in her mid-forties who vowed to see to their every need. Based upon his interaction with her during their numerous phone conversations, Jax could attest to her attentiveness.

She took them on a tour of the facilities before showing them to a two-bedroom, three-bath suite with three fireplaces, and a private outdoor hot tub. Because he hadn't wanted to appear presumptuous—despite his presumptions—Jax had requested that his and Claire's bags be placed in separate bedrooms. When Amy left them alone in the suite, he spent a moment arguing with himself. He wanted to pick Claire up and carry her straight to bed. Instead, recognizing her nervousness by the way she kept playing with the shoulder strap on her purse, he asked if she'd like a little time to herself in order to freshen up after the drive.

“Thank you,” she said with evident relief. “That would be perfect.”

She turned toward her room, but he reached for her hand and stopped her. “Hold on a minute, honey. I'd be remiss if I ignored this.”

“Ignored what?”

He pulled her into his arms and nipped at her earlobe. “Look up.”

She looked up at the light fixture above them and laughed. Laughter that Jax cut off abruptly when he captured her mouth in a hot erotic kiss—beneath the mistletoe.

*   *   *

When the kiss finally ended, Jax pointed Claire toward her bedroom and gave her fanny a gentle swat. “Go on while you still can.”

She floated into her room, and once the sensual haze created by his kiss dissipated, she went into her bathroom, stripped off her clothes, and took a quick shower. When she reached for a towel to dry herself, she noted the trembling in her hands.

She was nervous. She wanted … she
needed
 … to get this first time behind her. When she realized she'd squeezed antibacterial ointment onto her toothbrush instead of toothpaste, she'd admitted that this fling needed to be flung before she lost what little sense she had left.