Candace Shaw - A Chase For Christmas

It sure as hell wasn’t going to be Preston Chase. The thought made her nearly laugh out loud. She couldn’t even imagine him married and definitely not to her. She could envision him with children, perhaps because he loved and doted on Tiffani’s son as if he was his own. What kind of woman would he end up with, anyway? Would he want an independent working woman who was his equal or a trophy wife at his beck and call?

Realizing she’d been away for almost five minutes, Blythe tossed the napkin into the wastebasket on the side of the vanity, checked her hair and headed back to the meeting.

She returned to the dining area, where the other committee members were loading their plates with food and conversing about their day or the project. A few other people had arrived and were sharing ideas with Preston in the kitchen. He glanced in her direction when he noticed she’d returned, and a warm smile reached his face. Turning her attention away from him, she chatted with a few people she’d met at a party at Tiffani’s home. There was something intriguing about Preston that sent a slew of goose bumps along her skin. Even though there were twenty other people in the room, she sensed that his attention was solely on her. The thought scared her, and she laughed at herself for having that silly and ludicrous notion. She wasn’t even the man’s type. He was just being friendly as always because she was his sister’s best friend.

Satisfied with that realization, Blythe made a plate with roasted herb chicken, collard greens, cornbread dressing and a hearty helping of peach cobbler on a saucer. Moments later, everyone was seated around the dining table as Preston made the introductions and informed the committee members of each other’s roles for the project. A lot of preparations had already been made, but the most important was coming up with the design plans, according to Preston’s vision. She was paired to work with Devin Montgomery, the owner of Supreme Construction, whom she’d already spoken with briefly that morning about the event, and his wife, Sasha, who was in charge of the Christmas trees and their decorations.

For the next three hours, Blythe, Devin and Sasha worked together in Preston’s game room, and the other subcommittees broke off in different areas, as well. Preston was in and out, checking on them and offering his suggestions. Blythe was impressed by his expertise on the design plans, and his intellect showed through. For a moment, he wasn’t the flirtatious man she was used to. Instead he was serious, confident and compassionate about the Winter Wonderland project. He wanted the best, most extravagant event possible for the children who had grown near and dear to him, and cost wasn’t an issue.

The Montgomerys called it a night, citing that they needed to relieve the babysitter, and Blythe needed to leave, as well. When they emerged from the game room, they spotted Preston by himself on the lounge in front of the fireplace, working on his laptop. He turned his attention toward them as they entered the great room.

“You guys were brainstorming for a long while. Everyone else has left, but I’m really excited about all of the ideas you’ve come up with. I’m glad you were able to put my crazy vision on paper.”

Devin nodded. “My crew and I will start building the set in the morning, Prez.”

“And since I’m off on Mondays, I’ll be able to begin one of the murals tomorrow, as well,” Blythe said, pulling her keys from her purse.

“Perfect. I’ll swing by in the afternoon if I’m done working out the bug in this new game.” Sliding the computer off his lap, Preston grimaced and stood to join the trio, who were nearing the elevator.

“Blythe, I needed to discuss one more matter with you concerning the different stations at the event.”

“Sure.” Wait, what?

She bid goodbye to the Montgomerys. Preston continued to chat with them for a few moments more before joining her on the opposite lounge.

“So, I’m ecstatic about all of the stations the children can go to. Tiffani is doing a cupcake decorating station, and I was wondering if you would consider having an art station similar to your paint parties, minus the wine, of course. Maybe two thirty-minute-long sessions?”

“Oh, sure, I can do that. No problem. Perhaps I can do one during the day with the children at the hospital.”

Blythe loved the way his face lit up with sincerity and delight at the mention of the children.

“Perfect. They would love that. Maybe you could come with me beforehand to meet them. I’m going next week for story time.”

“I’d love to. Just text me the information, and if I don’t have a paint party, I’ll meet you there.”

The video game he’d been working on chimed, and they both glanced in the direction of his laptop sitting at the end of his chaise. He sighed and set the computer back on his lap.

“Still working out the kinks, huh?”

“Yeah. It’s complete, but just one level has a bug that keeps messing up the other levels after it. It’s for the game cartridge the little girls at the event will take home along with the new at-home console that comes out this year and whatever else is on their wish lists for Christmas. The one for the boys is good to go. I’ll be up late tonight working. I have a test group on Tuesday, so it has to be done. You wanna play it? Give me some feedback?”

“Sure.”

He slid over next to her and set the computer on her lap. He was so close to her that she almost froze. His scent was fresh and manly. She stifled a gulp when he leaned his chest on her back and touched a few keys on the computer to restart the game. The sweater he wore didn’t disguise his hard chest resting on her, and even though he was explaining the concept of the game, she hadn’t understood a word he’d said. Instead, she was focused on the simple tasks of breathing and keeping her eyes situated on the computer screen.

“There will be a similar game available for a free download on phones, tablets and computers, but it won’t be available until the spring. Only the children at the events will receive the cartridges and a free download to their tablets along with five new games my educational division has developed for primary and intermediate grades. Those are the types of games I usually give them, because as the son of two educators, I understand the value of education. However, I do know they need to have a little fun, so I throw in the fun games, as well. That way the kids think I’m a cool dude.”

“That’s very nice of you.” She slid over to the middle of the chaise before she found herself too comfortable against him.

“Well, it gives them something constructive to do and take their minds off the pain they’re in. Trust me, it’s a horrible feeling.”

His face scrunched up for a quick second, and Blythe had the urge to reach out to caress his cheek. Shocked by her thought, instead, she nodded in understanding because she’d witnessed her mother go through some tough times during her cancer period. She could only imagine what Preston and his family had gone through when he was a child. Now she understood why Tiffani always acted like a mother hen with him even though he was the oldest.

She began to play the game while Preston watched and offered hints to her.

“This is a cool game,” she complimented him after playing for thirty minutes. She was hooked and almost didn’t want to stop. She rarely played the games on her phone, but this one was going to be downloaded as soon as it was available to the public. “Little girls love to play dress-up, so the fact that they can change outfits according to the occasion and win points to buy more cute clothes is pretty sweet.”

“Thank you, Blythe. I asked Tiffani, aka girlie-girl, her opinion, and she said the same.”