The Christmas Proposition (6 page)

R
achel stood at the bottom of the bunny slope at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and concluded that for someone who hadn’t been around little girls much, Derek was doing a good job making Mickie happy. Right now the child stood at the crest of the small mound of snow, awkwardly positioning her skis, ready to give the downhill experience one more try.

They’d spent a good couple hours picking out clothes and equipment. Mickie had groaned when she’d insisted on a helmet, but Rachel hadn’t budged.

Derek had wanted to be the one to teach Mickie to ski, but Rachel convinced him that it would be good for the little girl to be around other children. Thankfully when they’d dropped her off at ski school, the other children in her class had also been wearing helmets.

They’d hung around for a while and watched. Mickie hadn’t been lying when she’d said she had zero
experience on skis. In fact, she’d been the worst in her class. But her tenacity impressed them both and eventually she’d mastered the basic skills of stopping, turning and getting up from a fall.

While she and the other children were practicing, Derek and Rachel were able to get in some ski time of their own. It was an exhilarating experience. Rachel had always been much better than Tom, which meant that when they skied together it had to be on slopes that were too easy for her. She and Derek had headed straight for the expert slopes. She’d been having so much fun that she could have skied all afternoon. But all too soon they’d had to get back to Mickie.

“Watch me, Mr. Rossi,” the child called out. “Rachel, watch me.”

Once she was confident their eyes were on her, Mickie pushed off with her poles and skied down the small slope for the first time without falling.

“Woo-hoo,” Derek yelled, giving her a big thumbs-up.

Rachel snapped another picture. Derek had grabbed a camera out of his glove box and presented it to her on their way to the village. She’d put it immediately to use, taking candid shots of Derek and Mickie in the Escalade. Then, when they’d stopped to shop for ski clothes and equipment, Rachel had taken pictures while the child shyly modeled the latest fashions. She and Derek had wanted to stay during the practice session and get a few photos, but Mickie had said it would make her too nervous.

“This was super fun,” Mickie said when they met her at the bottom of the hill. “I want to come here again.”

“Definitely,” Derek said. Rachel could tell he was pleased by the child’s enthusiasm. “In fact, you’ll probably be sick of this place by the time January comes.”

“Never.” Mickie’s eyes shone. “This was the best day of my life.”

They waited while Mickie sat on a bench and removed her skis, then headed to the parking lot. On the way, another family joined them. Rachel recognized the daughter from Mickie’s ski class and the two girls chattered happily all the way to Derek’s vehicle.

After saying goodbye to her new friend and exchanging phone numbers, Mickie hopped inside the truck. Rachel waited outside with Derek while he stowed their gear. “I think we showed you today that girls can enjoy outdoor activities and sports as much as boys.”

“Some girls,” he said with a rueful smile. “Not all.”

She wasn’t sure who he was thinking of, but she understood. Tom had tolerated skiing but had never had the passion for it that she did. Impulsively, Rachel looped her arm through Derek’s. “Well, the two with you today had a fabulous time.”

His blue eyes met hers. “That’s because you…and Mickie…are special.”

Ignoring the little sparks of electricity from his nearness, Rachel laughed. “Don’t tell me you just figured that out?”

By the time they were ready to leave the Teton Village area, the snow had began to fall again and darkness was rapidly descending. Thankfully, the blizzard that had been predicted hadn’t yet materialized. The digital display on the vehicle’s dash said it was suppertime.
Derek’s growling stomach had already made that connection.

He slanted a sideways glance at Rachel and marveled at her wholesome good looks. The blue of her parka accentuated the color of her eyes. She’d pulled off her stocking cap on the drive from Teton Village, her golden hair a mass of curls brushing her shoulders. With a slight flush of pink on her cheeks, she looked like one of those angels that topped a Christmas tree. He thought about telling her so, but decided not only would that be corny but also inappropriate. After all, she was his friend, not his girlfriend.

Derek wheeled the Escalade out of the Teton Village parking area and onto Moose Wilson Road. “Anyone else but me hungry?”

“I am,” Mickie said.

Rachel smiled at the child’s enthusiasm. “Me, too.”

“We should all stop somewhere and eat,” Mickie said.

“That does sound like fun.” Rachel turned in her seat to face Mickie. “But I’m afraid I didn’t budget for eating out this evening. I’m sorry, kiddo.”

In the rearview mirror, Derek could see the disappointment on the child’s face. But she didn’t beg. It was as if she knew most of the money Rachel had spent today had been on her.

The ski jacket and pants, helmet, even the cost of the lessons had all come out of Rachel’s pocket. Derek had wanted to pay, but she’d politely but very firmly turned him down.

“But I’d be happy to make something for all of us,” Rachel offered.

Which, Derek realized, would necessitate Rachel using her groceries to feed him.

“I have an even better idea,” he said. “Why don’t we go to my place and I’ll fix dinner?”

“We couldn’t impose—”

“I have an ulterior motive,” he said.

“What’s an all-terrier motive?” Mickie asked.

Derek didn’t crack a smile. “It means that while you’re there, I’d like you to help me decorate my tree.”

Mickie’s eyes drew together in thought. “Decorating a tree takes a lot of time, huh?”

“Are you saying that you don’t want to do it?”

“No, I want to do it. I think it would be super-duper fun.” Mickie’s enthusiasm seemed to grow with each word. “Rachel doesn’t put up her tree until Christmas Eve. By then it will be almost time for me to leave.”

Two spots of color settled on Rachel’s cheeks. “I explained that was always our tradition.”

Derek knew exactly who “our” was. He wanted to ask her why she felt the need to hold so tightly on to past traditions, but kept his mouth shut. When she chose to put up her tree wasn’t his business.

“What do you say, Rachel? Can we go to Mr. Rossi’s house? Can we, please?”

Rachel shook her head. “Fred has been alone most of the day. I hate to leave him alone all evening as well. I’m afraid we’re going to have to pass.”

If it wasn’t for the tears in Mickie’s eyes, Derek wouldn’t have pressed the issue. But he agreed with the child. Waiting until Christmas Eve to decorate a tree was way too long.

“We can pick up Fred and take him to my place.
There’s no reason he can’t come along.” Derek’s tone turned persuasive. “Please, give me this opportunity to return your hospitality.”

“Yeah, Rachel,” Mickie said. “Give him a chance to return your hos-bis-tality.”

Rachel smiled. “Okay. We’d love to join you.”

Something that sounded a lot like “Thank You, God” came from the backseat.

“Dinner won’t be anything fancy,” Derek said. “How does chili sound?”

“Sounds good to me,” Rachel said.

“How ’bout it, Mick? Are you happy?”

In the backseat, Mickie grinned. “Very happy.”

A peaceful calm settled over Derek’s home. The chili had been polished off, the dishwasher loaded and the dog fed. That only left…the tree. The majestic sixteen-foot Douglas fir stood in front of the great room windows practically begging to be turned into a Christmas tree.

When Rachel bent over to pull another box of ornaments from the closet, Derek paused to admire the view. Blue jeans hugged her long, slender legs and caressed her firm backside. He let his gaze linger, wishing his body would keep its feelings to itself.

“I have to tell you something.”

Derek shifted his gaze and found Mickie with Fred beside her. A tiny frown worried the child’s brow. He crouched down until he was at eye level with her, fending off Fred’s attempt to kiss him. “Tell me.”

“I don’t know the right way to decorate a tree.” Her frown deepened. “I’m afraid I’ll do it wrong.”

For a second he wondered if she was joking. Then he saw the flicker of fear in her eyes. They’d told Mickie to share her feelings. Now that she had, Derek was determined to be respectful and not minimize them.

“Are you saying there’s a correct way to decorate a tree?” He kept his tone deliberately conversational.

She nodded and chewed on her lip, her gaze focused on her feet.

As if picking up on her stress, Fred whined and nudged her hand with his nose. Mickie looped one arm around his neck and he quieted.

Derek waited, knowing she’d tell him more, when she was ready. It didn’t take long.

“Uncle Wayne used to get angry if I didn’t put the ornaments on the tree the way he wanted. But he wouldn’t tell me what the right way was.” Tears welled in the little girl’s eyes. “I want to do it right. I don’t want you or Rachel to be mad at me. Ever.”

Out of the corner of his eye Derek saw Rachel straighten and turn.

He rested his hand on Mickie’s shoulder. “In this house there is no right or wrong way. That goes for stringing the lights or hanging the ornaments. But I’m glad you let me know you were concerned.”

“I think we should put the ornaments on first.” Rachel placed a box filled with them at his feet.

“I’ve always put the lights on first,” Derek said. “What do you say, Mick? Lights or ornaments? Remember, there’s no right or wrong answer.”

His last words were drowned out by the raucous tune “Ding Dong the Witch Is Dead” coming from
Rachel’s phone. “I’m sorry,” she said quickly, her cheeks reddening. “I should answer this.”

Derek had assumed she’d talk there, but instead, she moved to the kitchen and out of earshot.

“Do you think something is wrong?” Mickie said. “Rachel looked worried. Don’t you think she looked worried?”

“Maybe a little bit,” Derek reluctantly conceded, relieved when Rachel returned to the room.

“Everything okay?” he asked.

Rachel let her gaze linger on the banister decorated with tiny homemade wreaths made of evergreen tied together with a ribbon garland, not sure what to say. She’d been determined not to bring up Tom tonight. But there was no way around it now. “It was my in-laws’ annual Christmas call.”

“You’re still in touch with them.” Derek spoke in a matter-of-fact tone, the words more of a statement than a question.

Rachel felt compelled to defend their action, though she didn’t understand it herself. “They
are
Tom’s parents.”

“Hey, I didn’t mean anything.” He lifted his hands, an ornament in each one. “It’s…nice…that they keep in touch.”

“I think it’s weird,” Mickie said.

Rachel inhaled sharply, too stunned to reply.

“Mickie.” A hint of reproach filled Derek’s voice. “You owe Rachel an apology.”

Instead, Mickie’s chin lifted in a stubborn tilt. “But why would his mom and dad call her?
Why?
”

Attitude dripped from the last word and out of the
corner of Rachel’s eye she saw Derek’s expression darken.

“We had some business to discuss,” Rachel said.

“Even if you didn’t, you were a part of their family for a good number of years,” Derek said. “I’m sure you had a close relationship during that time. It’s only natural they’d want to keep in touch.”

Mickie rolled her eyes.

“Honey.” Rachel stepped close and placed a gentle hand on the child’s shoulder. While she didn’t want to ruin the afternoon, she couldn’t let such behavior go unchallenged. “Rolling your eyes is rude. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t do that again.”

Mickie’s bottom lip trembled. “I’m sorry.”

Motherly love rose up inside Rachel. She wrapped her arms around the girl, pulling her close, planting a kiss on the top of Mickie’s curly head. “Forgiven.”

Rachel lifted her head and her eyes met Derek’s. His slow smile of approval sent warmth coursing all the way to the tips of her toes.

She pulled her gaze away, her heart full, but at the same time, light. “Why are we standing around? We’ve got a tree to decorate.”

“It’s bee-u-ti-ful.” Mickie clasped her hands together and stared at the large tree, her eyes as bright as the lights gracing its branches.

“We did good,” Derek agreed.

Instead of a tedious task, hanging the ornaments and stringing the lights had been a joyous endeavor, thanks mostly to Rachel. She’d made it, well, fun. Before they started, she’d insisted he look through his friend’s vast
CD collection for some Christmas music. Surprisingly, they’d found not only traditional holiday classics but some children’s tunes as well. Right now a tune from “A Chipmunk Christmas” blared from the Bose speakers.

Rachel stood beside him, gazing at the tree. The glow on her face matched the wonder on the child’s face in front of her. Derek fought an almost-uncontrollable urge to slip his arm around her shoulder. Only the knowledge that such an action could ruin the moment kept his hands at his side.

“Look.” Mickie pointed to the large floor-to-ceiling window almost obscured by the large tree. “It’s still snowing.”

Rachel’s eyes widened. “Ohmigod.”

Derek moved past her to the glass. The thick blanket of white covering the ground had grown significantly since they’d gotten home. The way the flakes were falling, the snow was destined to get even deeper.

“I can’t believe I didn’t notice it was getting so bad.” Rachel’s fingers curved around his arm as she leaned close for a better look.

Derek inhaled the clean fresh scent of her. The dulcet sounds of Kenny G’s sax had replaced the raucous Chipmunk music and the candles they’d lit earlier added a warm intimacy. For several heartbeats he stood, reveling in the moment which seemed suspended in time.

Until Mickie wiggled between them. “Are we snowed in?”

The child couldn’t have sounded happier if Santa Claus laden with gifts had dropped from the chimney.