Mia Ross - Jingle Bell Romance

Chapter Three

When Nick stepped outside to check on the snowfall, he heard the chorus of “Rudolph” coming from across the yard and found his brother-in-law singing along with the radio while he shoveled the driveway. Todd Martin was new in town, which in Holiday Harbor meant he’d been around less than ten years, arriving after Nick had left for New York. While Todd must have had heard plenty of negative things about him, apparently he didn’t hold any of them against Nick.

“You know that’s a losing cause around here, right?” Nick teased.

Todd laughed. “Yeah, but someone’s gotta do it. Lainie’s with the kids, so I’m elected.”

“In that case, do you have another shovel?”

Glancing at Nick’s stylish leather boots, he grinned. “You’re not exactly dressed for manual labor.”

“I’ll be fine.” Noticing a smaller shovel leaning against the shed, he retrieved it and started in on the other side of the driveway.

“Thanks for the help.” As they got to work, Todd continued. “I heard you’re stuck here ’til tomorrow.”

“Yeah. If I’d known how long I’d be here, I’d have stayed at a hotel so I wouldn’t be in your way.”

“What makes you think you’re in the way?”

When Nick didn’t answer, Todd abruptly stopped working and waited for Nick to look at him. “Lainie told me what happened to Ian and how things went for your family afterward. That has nothing to do with me, and I’m not one to judge anyway.”

It was one of the nicest things anyone had said to him all week, and Nick smiled. “I appreciate that.”

“From what I see, you’re a decent guy, and having you around makes my wife happy. We’ve got a perfectly good guest room here, and you’re welcome to it as long as you want to stay.”

“Thanks, Todd.”

“Don’t mention it.” Grinning, he picked up his shovel again. “I have to admit, it’s nice having another pair of hands out here. Hannah tries, but after a few minutes, she starts making snow angels and throwing snowballs. Then we end up in a snowball fight, and I’m out here ’til dark.”

So he dropped what he was doing when his daughter wanted to play, then worked longer to get the job done. That was how a father should be, and Nick admired Todd’s devotion to his family. Imagining them playing in the snow brought to mind the Christmas cards that always stacked up on his hall table until he finally tossed them out on New Year’s Day.

Even though the Martins’ humble lifestyle was starkly different from his own, Nick felt himself smiling back. “Sounds like fun.”

“Yeah, it is. I can’t wait until Noah’s older, and all four of us can play.”

“Girls against the guys?”

“Got that right.”

“Just watch out for Lainie,” Nick warned as a silver Mercedes pulled into the cleared half of the driveway. “She plays dirty.”

The car glided to a stop, and when the driver’s door opened, Nick was stunned to see Holiday Harbor’s favorite toy store owner stepping out. Assessing their progress, she smiled over at them. “Good work.”

“Thanks,” Todd said, strolling over to greet her. “I figure we’ll be done right about the time the next storm comes through.”

She laughed, and the bright sound struck Nick as a perfect accompaniment to the Christmas music on the radio. “Isn’t that always the way?”

“Seems to be.” Seeming to remember he had company, Todd added, “Where are my manners? Julia Stanton, this is Lainie’s brother, Nick McHenry.”

“We met in town yesterday,” she said politely.

Usually adept at reading between the lines, Nick couldn’t get a handle on how she felt about their unusual encounter. While she gave the appearance of being open and friendly, she actually kept her emotions well masked. Must be all that diplomatic training, he decided. She could probably turn that stunning movie-star charisma of hers on and off at will. “Nice to see you again.”

“And you, as well.” Opening the passenger door of her car, she pulled out a bag imprinted with Toyland in the same gold script lettering he’d noticed at the shop. “The girls have things under control at the shop, so I’m on a delivery run.”

Nick let out a low whistle. “That’s what I call service.”

“When you have young children, it’s hard to keep their gifts a surprise,” she explained in an ultrapatient tone she probably used with troublesome customers in her store. Not rude, exactly, but it lacked the warmth she’d shown his brother-in-law.

“That’s the truth.” Taking the bag, Todd added, “I’ll hide them in my workshop. Hannah’s not allowed in there, so they’ll be safe.”

Nick didn’t understand why they were going to so much trouble to keep the presents a secret. Maybe it was something you didn’t understand until you joined the parent club. Then again, Julia didn’t have children, but she seemed to buy into it completely. So maybe, he admitted with a mental sigh, it was just him.

“I’m ready for a break,” Todd continued. “I’ll stash these and meet you inside.”

Julia checked her slender gold wristwatch. “I really should get back.”

“We’ve got hot cocoa,” he pressed, adding a pleading look. “If Lainie and Hannah find out I let you leave without saying hello, I’ll never hear the end of it.”

“All right, then,” she relented with a smile. “I’d hate to get you in trouble.”

He grinned before heading toward his work shed in the backyard. That left Nick on his own with Julia, which was awkward. He hadn’t planned on seeing her again, so he hadn’t bothered to apologize for his poor behavior yesterday. Another strike against him. Considering his dismal track record with women, he really should be used to it by now.

Hoping to smooth things over, he motioned her ahead of him the way he had the first time they met. “Ladies first.”

Instead of sailing past him as he’d expected, she studied him for a long, uncomfortable moment. “You’re a perplexing man.”

Sensing he’d made some progress with her, he grinned back. “I’ve been called worse.”

To his immense relief, she laughed. Shaking her head, she added, “I can only imagine.”

When she turned up the snow-covered walkway, her foot slipped, and she nearly went down on the gravel. Nick reached out to catch her, and by some bizarre happening she ended up in his arms.

Holding her lightly, he gazed down into those sparkling blue eyes. Wearing her ivory coat and framed by the white snow, she reminded him of the Victorian angel ornament that had reigned over the top of his mother’s Christmas tree since he was a little boy. Elegant and beautiful, with the wispy look of something that might vanish into thin air if he closed his eyes.

Part of him longed to maintain that hold, to keep her close and enjoy the scent of magnolias that followed her everywhere. Instead, he did the gentlemanly thing and released her.

“It’s a little slippery,” he managed to say as he took her arm and guided her to a clear section of the path. “Watch your step.”

She rewarded him with a queenly smile. “I will. Thank you.”

While he stood there watching her go up the path, he noticed the very distinctive way she moved. With the grace of a ballerina, she seemed to float over the snow, barely touching the ground before going up the steps. Nick had dated plenty of models and dancers, but he’d never met a woman who walked the way Julia did.

People didn’t usually snare his attention this quickly, but she’d managed it somehow. It was a good thing he was headed back to Richmond tomorrow, or he might have given in to his curiosity and done something stupid like ask her to dinner.

Right, he thought with a grimace, as if there was any chance of her saying yes, whether he stayed in town or not. Men had probably taken her to Paris for dinner and a ride on the Seine. There was no way a guy like him could compete with that, even if he wanted to. Which he didn’t.