Christmas Romance (The Best Christmas Romance of 2016): The Love List Christmas (12 page)

Her heart sped up. “What’s stopping you?”

“Right now…I don’t know. I feel that you’re afraid to take a chance with another man. But, I’d like to think that I’m not the men from your past.”

“I see that with everything you do. You’re the problem-solver…what do you want to do?” she asked barely above a whisper.

Editon enfolded her within his arms, and she met his gaze. He took her face in a soft caress, but there was a hint of hesitation. She moved to him, erasing the hesitation in both their minds to draw his face to hers. Kady quivered at the sweet tenderness of his kiss as their lips touched.

He put his hands on her arms and ran them in a sensuous slide up and down until she forgot that she didn’t need another man in her life. Editon deepened the kiss until she forgot to breathe. His breath was uneven as his warm, and his solid body engulfed her.

Editon finally sat back. “
Damn
. Just damn.” His eyes were a little dazed. “I’d dreamed kissing you would be good, but in reality, it
ʼ
s much better.”

It had been a long time since a man looked at her like Editon did at this moment. Kady wasn’t finished yet. She wanted more.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him to her again. She kissed him until they finally had to break apart to breathe.

Editon brushed his hand over his mouth. “I’m a problem-solver and what my solving abilities are telling me is not very gentlemanly.” He grinned a sensual smile that sent a skitter of sexual tension through her spine. “We’re going to stop here…for now. If I don’t, I’m not sure how much willpower I have. I don’t want to, but I’m going to leave now and see if the road is open. I’ll be back.”

When the front door clicked closed, Kady hugged her arms around her middle. She liked Editon. She liked Editon a lot! She hadn’t planned on that…but, she hadn’t planned on many things that happened in her life. Why not leave space for
unexpected goo
d things? Kady thought of the Love List drawing, happy now that she hadn’t taken a name because right now the only man she wanted was Editon.

Editon was back in a half-hour. He shook his head as he took off his coat and hat and hung them on a hook by the door. “The road’s still closed. Now there are power lines down, and the trucks are working on them. It’s a big old mess. I asked them when they thought it would be open, and they had no idea.”

“Huh…what should I do?”

“I think it’s a no-brainer. You have to stay. It’s the safest option. Noah is fine with your mom and dad.”

“I guess you’re stuck with me.” She couldn’t argue. It was the best solution.

“Things could be worse.” He grinned. “Now it’s
your
turn to warm up
my
hands.” He came to her, and she rubbed his hands like he’d done to hers. “Since you’re stuck, you’re spending the night, but you’re going to sleep in the spare bedroom. This is really our first date, and I want a second.”

“I’d like that too.”

“I’m going to make some popcorn, and I’ll let you pick out a movie. The DVD’s are in a cabinet next to the TV.”

They snuggled on the couch, watched a silly comedy and laughed until her sides hurt. It felt good to laugh, it had been too long since she had. Editon loaned her a pair of shorts and a T-shirt, and they soaked in the hot tub on his deck, drank more hot chocolate, and watched the snowfall around them. She could see the outline of the valley below and bet the view was a knock-out when it was clear.

“How many acres do you have?” she asked as she dried off with a plush gray towel.

“A little under fifty.”

Now that she was back in Vine Grove, she missed the open space and fewer people than California. It was nice to have trees over traffic.

When it was time for bed, Editon showed her to the guest bedroom. When she was in bed, he came in and sat on the side of the bed. He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and watched her for a long moment before saying, “You have no idea how much I want to break that bond of chivalry I stupidly set up earlier.”

“You don’t have to leave.” She touched his cheek.

“I said it, and I’m sticking to it. I want to take things slow and not mess this up. I want that second, third, and twenty-fifth date…so,…” Editon let out a sigh before adding, “goodnight.” He kissed her again and then left.

Kady listened to the wind against the side of the house and thought about how things had shifted so suddenly. Was she ready to try again? As she drifted off to sleep, she felt Editon’s kisses still on her lips.

Chapter Six

Kady thought that she would miss not having a teaching position yet, but she liked her job at the wine shop, and when the time was right it would come. She saw Editon every night for the next week. As the weather dragged on through November, when she was off work, she spent a few hours at his shop laughing and telling him what happened during the day.

This is what a relationship is supposed to be
. She’d never had a man who asked how
her
day was or was willing to talk to her if she’d had a bad one. Finn invited her and Editon over for Thanksgiving dinner. Kady was able to swing both meals and not hurt her mother’s feeling by having one dinner early and then traveling to Finn’s after that.

One afternoon, Editon asked if she could bring Noah with her to his shop after school.

“What does he want to see me for?” Noah asked.

Kady shrugged. “He said that there was something he wanted to talk to you about.”

When they arrived at the shop, Noah followed her inside and dropped his backpack on the floor.

Editon was covered in grease as he popped up from behind a motor that he was working on. “Hey! Good to see both of you.”

“I brought Noah from school. I didn’t want him walking over here on the icy roads,” she said.

“Mom…I am old enough to walk home by myself,” Noah grumbled.

“I know. It’s the other cars on the icy roads I don’t trust,” Kady stated, as she sat on the corner of Editon’s desk. “Why did you want us to come in?”

Editon wiped his hands on an old towel. “I need some help around here, and I was hoping that I could hire Noah after school to help me?”

Noah’s eyes narrowed. “Why me?”

“I heard you were good with projects, and I have lots of projects around here.” Editon smiled, but Noah didn’t return it. “I also need help finishing the lower level of my house.”

“I don’t know how to do any of that,” Noah said.

“Neither did I when I started. You can learn, and I can teach you the things you aren’t sure of. Are you interested?” Editon asked and then took a sip of water from a bottle on the desk.

“I don’t think so.” Noah got up and headed to the door. “Can we go, Mom? I have homework.”

Kady looked from Noah to Editon. “Sorry.” When Noah walked out the door, she lowered her voice and said, “It’s a great opportunity and thanks for thinking of Noah. I’ll try and talk to him.”

She gave Editon a quick kiss and left.

****

Noah watched his grandfather put the worm on his fishing pole and then drop it into the lake. Their small metal boat rocked in the breeze. It was cold enough that their breath made little clouds in the air as they sat in silence. Even though he was older, Noah had to admit that he still loved fishing with his grandpa.

“Will there still be fish this time of year?” Noah asked as he took the pole from his grandpa.

“Oh, sure.” Grandpa still had a hint of a Midwest in his voice.

“I didn’t think you usually fished this late in the season.”

“Often I don’t, but I thought we needed a little man on man time without the ladies around.”

Noah nodded and dipped the end of the pole to jiggle the line.

“I overheard Kady and your grandma talking in the kitchen last night. Kady told her that her new friend Editon offered you a job, and you turned him down.”

“Friend? Is that what she calls Editon?” Noah asked and blew out a huff.

“Listen, your mom’s been through a lot and from what I’ve heard, hasn’t had too many good men either. Editon has done a lot for this town, and no one I know has a bad thing to say about him.”

“I guess I don’t know him that well.”

“Do you think maybe that’s why he made the offer? I think it sounds like a win-win. You two can get to know each other better, and heʼll pay you to work.” Grandpa dropped his fishing line into the water. “I’m sure you could use a bit of your own money.”

“I’m worried that he’s going to be another one of the guys that hurt her.”

“I don’t think he’s that kind of guy. I asked around. I’m still Kady’s dad and protective.” He gave Noah a wry smile. “They told me he’s not a love ʼem and leave ʼem kind of fellow. I see the way Editon looks at Kady when they are together. It’s the same way I looked at your grandma…still do. When you have a special someone in your life, someday, you’ll understand.”

Noah gave him a sideways glance wondering if he should say anything. He took a deep breath and then his words tumbled out, “I really like this girl at school. She’s so beautiful, and she’s smart. She wants me to join the debate club. I did so I can see her after school.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“I didn’t say anything. She’s Native American…like Editon. Naira told me about the community center that he’s going to build and that all the kids in the area are really excited about it.”

His grandpa scratched his chin. “Well, I didn’t know that either.”

“I think I figured this out on my own. Editon’s a pretty nice guy, and maybe I made a mistake by telling him no.”

“I think that you should think about it a little more until you give your final answer.”

Just then, Noah’s pole danced. The line jerked once, twice, and then he started to reel it in. “I’ve got something!”

“Looks like dinner’s on you tonight,” his grandpa said using the net to scoop up the fish as it broke the surface of the water.

****

Editon looked up, as the door of his shop opened. He had to admit, he was surprised to see it was Noah.

“Noah? Hey, I didn’t expect to see you here.”

The boy took his backpack off his arm. “I was walking back from school and hoped that you would be here.”

“What can I do for you?”

“I’ve been thinking about your offer to work for you…with you. But, I have a few questions.”

“Sure.” Editon pulled two sodas from the mini fridge and handed one to Noah. They sat on the broken down couch on the side of the shop.

“Do you like my mom?”

Editon tried not to choke on the drink he’d just taken. Noah got right to the point. He paused for a moment before saying, “Yes, I do. I like her a lot.”

“I think she likes you too. I know my mom hadn’t planned on being a single mom. She always puts me first and not herself. Mom told me that you have this big, huge house and that you kidded that you don’t need all of it.”

“Yeah…” Noah laughed. “I did tell her that.”

“Did my mom tell you what happened, I mean, about our trailer in California?” Noah stared at the can in his hand.

“She told me what happened.”

“I didn’t do it, but I was responsible. It was because of me that those losers did what they did.” Noah bit his lip and wrung his hands. “Mom gave up everything for me, and all I did was burn down our house and most everything we had.”

“It wasn’t your fault.”

“You can tell me that, but I don’t believe it. I want to make it up to her. I can’t pay back everything, but at least I can do something. If I work after school, every day I can help finish the lower level of your house. If we finish it, will you let my mom and me move in there? You know, like an apartment?”

“Would it be difficult for you?” Editon asked. “You know, with me and your mom dating?”

“I like a girl, too. I understand that you want to be with her as much as you can. It’s not weird. I checked you out. I guess you’re okay. Grandpa likes you.”

“He does?” Editon tried to keep the surprise out of his voice.

“Yeah, and I know my mom does too, and so does Naira, that’s the girl I like. If I work for you, then I can save up and maybe pay you some of the rent.”

Editon’s heart broke as Noah laid his heart out on the line. He wanted to give him a hug, but guys just didn’t do that. “I think that sounds like a great plan.”

“I’m just a teenager, and there is only so much I can do. I can accept this, but sitting around and doing nothing is the worst thing I can do.”

“I know all about that.” Editon smiled. “Noah, what you just said is the start of being a man. Because you love your mom, you are doing something unselfish.
This
is being a man.”

Noah brushed his bangs out of his eyes. “When can I start?”

“What about now? I can finish up here and then we can go back to the house to start deciding what building supplies we need for the house.” He held out his hand. “Shake on it?”

Noah shook his hand. “One more thing. Can we keep this between you and me until we get it finished? I want it to be a surprise.”

Noah kept his word. Every day he was there working hard, except for the debate club days, and then he’d be there a little later. Editon showed Noah how to hang Sheetrock, put in tile and carpet, and complete the finishing work. Noah even asked if he could stay and work while Editon left to meet Kady for dinner.

Kady was right, Noah was a fast learner and a smart kid. Noah was in upper lever math classes, and it made Editon feel good that he could help Noah with his homework.

Noah and Kady began to feel like family. Would they think of him the same way?