Cole's Christmas Wish (4 page)

No harm. No foul.

Their friendship would live on, Rachel would never know the
truth, and Cole would continue living and working in Steamboat Springs. Someday,
he might even meet another woman that he’d be able to envision a future
with.

He caught sight of Rachel crossing the street, barely skirting
the pile of snow left by the curb as she stepped off of it. She was, he
realized, stuck deep in her head somewhere, thinking of who knew what and not
paying attention to her surroundings.

In that moment, with his vision centered on Rachel,
someday
seemed an impossibility. As if the reality of
loving another woman—
any
other woman—existed in a
different world. One very far from the world Cole—and Rachel—lived in.

* * *

Right before she’d left the house, Andrew had
sequestered himself in her father’s office with his laptop and phone. The
cookies were baked and cooling, ready for frosting when Rachel returned. Andrew
had promised that if all went well on his end, they could see about getting a
tree that evening. If all did not go well, they could go tomorrow, or the next
day.

They had plenty of time. Almost two weeks until Christmas day,
so another day or two or three shouldn’t make a difference. But it did.

She’d put off her lack of Christmas spirit to the fact she
hadn’t yet immersed herself in the season. Christmas had always been her
favorite holiday, her most favorite time of year, and she wanted to reclaim the
happy glow that usually came so effortlessly.

To her, that meant choosing the perfect tree posthaste.

The tree was the visual epicenter of the holiday. You wrapped
gifts to put under the tree. You sat around the tree to look at the lights,
maybe even to sing a few Christmas carols. You hung ornaments from Christmases
past on the tree’s branches to recall the memories and emotions you experienced
one year ago, two, three...and more.

Everything
surrounded the tree.
Sure, she could find one on her own. She’d done so before. But to further her
goal of falling head over heels for Andrew, she wanted to do so with him. Create
more traditions, as it were. First, though, he needed to clear his schedule, so
he could enjoy himself and not stress over business-related problems.

Honestly, she had to wonder if it would have made more sense
for Andrew to have stayed in the city until a few days before Christmas. She
knew he hated dealing with work issues from afar, so she guessed he’d prefer to
be in New York now, rather than here with her.

That is a pessimistic attitude,
her
inner voice chided,
and you have no idea if that’s how
Andrew feels
. True. But she couldn’t help the way
she
felt.

Plus, frankly, coming to grips with her nonsensical irritation,
shock and other various emotions regarding Cole’s relationship would be easier
if she didn’t have to worry about what Andrew was doing, or how he felt,
or...

Lost in thought as she was, she didn’t see Cole until she’d
just about barged into him. One arm reached out to steady her, stopping her from
slipping on the snow-slicked sidewalk. She gasped, righted herself and took a
purposeful step backward.

Flustered, she pulled in a breath. “Didn’t see you standing
there.”

“I noticed.” Dark brown eyes simmered in amusement and
something else Rachel couldn’t name. “Have to be more careful or one of these
days, you’re going to run into a wall.”

Been there, done that
. What she
said, though, was, “Thanks for the warning.”

“That’s me, always willing to lend some helpful advice,” he
said, deadpan. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”
Calm down,
Rachel
instructed herself and her out-of-control pulse. This was Cole. Her friend. Her
good
friend. “What are you doing out here
instead of inside?”

“Waiting for you.”

Rachel arched an eyebrow. “Again. Why out here?” Oh. Maybe he
had something to tell her, something he couldn’t—or wouldn’t—say in front of his
girlfriend? “Is there a problem?”

“Nope. Not a one.” Grinning, Cole held up a to-go box. “Thought
we’d eat outside today, is all. Cupcake enjoys winter picnics and I like to do
things that make her happy.”

“Isn’t that...nice.” Rachel loved the outdoors, but really—a
picnic in the dead of winter?

“She thinks so.” His expression became contemplative. “If the
thought isn’t appealing to you, I’m sure Cupcake will understand. She doesn’t
have a lot of free time today, though, so we’ll probably have to put this
meeting off to some other—”

“No!” Ouch. Way too loud. Lowering the volume, Rachel said, “I
love winter picnics, Cole!” She looked around, didn’t see anyone resembling a
toy poodle. Or for that matter, an actual toy poodle. “I assume she’s meeting us
there...wherever
there
is?”

“Good assumption. I’ve always appreciated your above average
observational skills.”

“Are you being sarcastic?”

Instead of replying, he winked and curved his free arm through
hers. “We should get a move on,” he said. “Before you freeze standing there. The
walk will help warm you up.”

“I’m warm enough, but sure...let’s go,” Rachel said brightly.
“We wouldn’t want to keep her waiting.”

“Nope,” Cole agreed as they took off at a brisk pace. “That
would be rude.”

“And she wouldn’t like having to wait, would she?” Ugh. She
hadn’t meant to sound snide. “Based on what you said last night, that is, about
her being
determined
once she makes up her
mind.”

“Why, Rachel Merriday, are you calling my girlfriend
impatient?” Cole’s body shook with silent laughter.

“Yes, actually,” she said, his amusement pushing her irritation
to new heights. “I am.”

He let out a heavy-sounding sigh. “I’ll admit that her tendency
skews toward the impatient side, but I find the trait rather endearing. Helps
keep me on my toes.”

“You’ve always preached patience,” Rachel pointed out,
disliking the mysterious Cupcake more by the second. “To me, anyway.”

“Yup, I have. You two are quite a bit alike in the
impatience...
determined
department.” Cole guided
her around a small group of folks gathered in front of the hardware store. “In a
manner of speaking, our friendship has gone a long way in preparing me for this
relationship.”

Rachel stopped and narrowed her eyes. “Are you implying that
I’m a complicated woman, Cole Foster? Because if you are—”

One long, weighty look halted her words. Goose bumps popped up
on her skin and a tremble passed over her as he, inch by inch, appraised the
full length of her body.

“Wh-what are you doing?” she stammered.

“Ascertaining you’re still a female,” he said. “And you are. So
yes, Rachel, you’re a complicated woman. As is my sister, my mother and every
other woman I’ve ever known.”

Unable to regain her bearing, Rachel started walking again,
though she had no clue where they were headed. Over her shoulder, she said, “I
guess that means you owe me.”

He caught up to her, his long stride erasing the distance she’d
created in no time flat. “Owe you for what?”

“Why, preparing you for this relationship, of course.” With a
flip of her hair, she marched forward, refusing to look at him again so soon
after her body had darn near melted.

Once again, he entwined his arm with hers. He slowed their pace
down to that of a leisurely stroll. In a voice dripping with laughter, he said,
“Oh, you have, and you’re right, I absolutely owe you. What’s your price?”

“We can start with ‘Cupcake’s’ first name,” Rachel said as they
approached the local elementary school. Hmm. If they were having lunch here, did
that mean Cole’s girlfriend was a teacher? “It’s becoming tiresome referring to
her as a baked confection...or the generic ‘her’ or ‘she.’ So what gives, Cole?
What’s her name?”

“Driving you crazy that you don’t know, isn’t it? There,” Cole
said, nodding toward and then leading them in the direction of the school
playground. “I’ll brush the snow off one of the benches and we can get
settled.”

“Cole!” Rachel said, exasperated, and okay, a little crazy.
“What. Is. Her. Name?”

“Uh-huh, driving you crazy. I bet,” he said slowly, “you’re
coming up with all these excuses why I haven’t told you yet. One of them is
probably that my family doesn’t approve.”

“Do they?”

“They like her just fine, Rachel.” He shrugged, causing a lock
of black hair to fall on his forehead. Her fingers itched with the want to
stroke it back into place. “But I can’t tell you her name.”

“You...
can’t
tell me your
girlfriend’s name?” Rachel yanked her arm out of Cole’s and settled her hands on
her hips. “Why in the world wouldn’t you be able to give me such basic
information about the woman you’re seeing?”

“Why do you do that?” he asked instead of answering. “Repeat my
statement in question form, as if ascertaining you heard me correctly? You know
me well enough, or you should, to know I don’t say something unless I mean
it.”

“Because what you’re saying is absurd.”

“Only because you don’t have the proper information.” Cole
handed her the box of food. “Give me a minute here, and I’ll explain everything.
Over lunch.”

It was a Thursday, but the playground was empty. Too cold and
snowy for outdoor recess, apparently. Rachel shielded her eyes and turned in a
circle, looking for the woman they were supposed to be meeting. No sign of
Cupcake. Shouldn’t she be here by now?

“She isn’t here,” Rachel said, giving heed to the instinct
she’d had ever since Cole’s phone call that morning. “She isn’t coming. She was
never
coming. Isn’t that right, Cole?”

Cole faced her, his expression serious. “No, she isn’t. I used
meeting her as an excuse to give us some privacy, without Andrew’s
presence.”

“I see.” Rachel counted to ten, slowly. “Why?”

“Because I need your help.”

“My help? What type of help?”

“See? You’re doing it again, making a question out of my
statement.”

She tapped her foot once. Twice. And waited.

“It’s like this, Rachel.” He placed his hands on her shoulders
and looked her straight in the eye. “My mind is set on proposing to this woman I
love, on Christmas day. But I’m experiencing some...let’s call them
difficulties, in getting her to see our relationship the way I do. I need your
help in romancing her, priming her, so to speak, so she’ll say yes.”

“Proposing? As in...marriage?” Rachel whispered, not caring in
the least that she’d rephrased his statement as a question. “As in,
this
Christmas?”

“That’s my goal. And that’s why I can’t, or won’t, tell you her
name. I want someone who doesn’t have any preconceived notions about...Cupcake.”
He paused, as if weighing his words. The corners of his mouth curved into a tiny
grin. “Yep, that’s what I need. Someone who can be
objective
in their advice, based on what
I
see in this woman, in what
I
tell
them.”

Rachel swallowed, backed out of his hold. “And you’re afraid
that if I know her name, I’ll...what? Somehow learn something about her that
will hinder my ability to...help you
woo
her? By the
simple virtue of having her name?”

“Exactly! Why, you might accidentally bump into her at the
Beanery, or at Foster’s. If you don’t know her name, you won’t know it’s
her,
see what I’m getting at? Or you might hear some
folks chatting, and if her name came up, you’d be all over that.” His smile
widened in smug satisfaction, as if he were extraordinarily pleased with his
explanation. “This way, you have to rely on the information I give you, so your
viewpoint will be the same as mine.”

“I see.”

“I knew you would.” Cole grabbed Rachel’s hand and squeezed
tight. “This woman is special. Every detail needs to be right.
Just
right. She deserves so much more than she knows,
and I want to be the one to give her everything. And more.”

Wow. Just...wow.

“I guess I don’t understand,” Rachel somehow managed to say.
“If you love her, and she loves you, why do you need any help? Especially
mine?”

Turning away, Cole brushed the snow off the bench and gestured
for her to sit. She didn’t. Just kept her mouth shut and waited for him to
answer her question.

“She’s had...some problems with a few of her past
relationships. And a rocky childhood, I guess you’d say. She has all these
barriers because of both.” Cole shifted his gaze away from hers. “I’m afraid if
I’m not careful, she’ll bolt. I can’t let that happen, Rach.”

“Oh.” His logic clicked solidly into place with a sickening
thud. A tremble passed through her, and then another, before she found the
courage to voice the obvious. “Her past sounds a lot like my past, doesn’t it,
Cole?”

He nodded.

“So from your perspective, we’re both impatient, complicated
women who share similar issues.” Moisture appeared behind Rachel’s eyes,
threatening tears. She blinked them away. Fast. “That’s why you want my help in
particular, correct? Because you think I’ll somehow have an inside track into
how to get around these specific barriers?”

“That and the fact you’re my best friend.”

“Right. Best friend.” Well, at least he was honest. The
throbbing in her temples returned. “I... This is a surprise.”

Cole watched her with a speculative gleam. The tense set of his
shoulders, his jaw, his very stance declared how important this was to him. “I
don’t need an answer right now,” he said. “I know I’m asking a lot, especially
since this could potentially steal time you’d planned on having with Andrew. Ask
whatever you want, take however long you need.”