Christmas in Eternity Springs (22 page)

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Jax had intended to treat this evening like a real first date, which to him meant holding off for a good-night kiss. He'd been prepared to resist the pull of her beauty, but that sensuous slide of her tongue across her full, moist lips defeated resolutions already weakened by his confrontation with Brian.

Right this moment, he needed something positive to offset the negative looming tomorrow and, as usual, Claire Branham supplied it. In spades.

“I feel so lucky to have met you,” he told her when the kiss finally ended.

“That's an incredibly nice thing to say, Jax.”

“You make me feel pretty incredible.” He released her and took a step backward. “Shall we go to dinner?”

He left the words “while we still can” unspoken.

“Sure.”

They chatted about inconsequential things during the drive into town. Upon their arrival at the restaurant, they visited a few minutes with Brick, who introduced Jax to his father, Mark Callahan, and Mark's wife, Annabelle, before being seated at their table.

After their waiter took their orders, conversation turned to tomorrow's big event—Chase and Lori's wedding. “I'm looking forward to it,” Jax said. “I've been hearing about this special wedding cake ever since we moved to town.”

“Maggie Romano's Italian cream cake. It's become quite a tradition for weddings, not to mention the adult-only cakewalk that's part of the school fund-raising festival. I think this year they're talking about selling tickets to watch the competition. It's become quite the brawl.”

Jax smiled. “This is the first time I've lived in a small town. I wonder, are all these traditions common in small towns everywhere or is Eternity Springs special?”

Claire sipped her wine. “Eternity Springs is definitely special, but I don't know about other small towns. This is my first, too.”

Over their entrées, they talked about places where they'd lived and then places they'd visited. He'd grown up in Arizona, gone to college in California, and traveled the world in the navy. She'd been born and raised in Dallas, attended college in Austin, and her foreign travel was limited to one European trip during high school. It was an appropriate get-to-know-you-better first-date conversation that gave Jax new insight into Miss Christmas. “Dallas, hmm? How did a city girl come to choose Eternity Springs for her new home and business?”

Claire hesitated. She lifted her napkin and wiped her mouth and Jax thought she might deflect the question. She surprised him.

“After I discovered the truth about a certain Lying Lizard Louse, I basically ran away from home. I ended up in this little town about two hours west of Fort Worth, and I needed a potty break and gas for my car. In the bathroom at the minimart, I had a bit of a meltdown.” She paused and searched and found a smile. “It was my good luck that a biker gang had pulled in right behind me.”

Jax did a double take. “A biker gang?”

She nodded, and a sparkle entered her eyes. “I was sobbing my heart out in the ladies' room, and one of the riders walked inside and took me in her arms and rocked me like a baby.”

“Wait a minute.” Jax held up his index finger, making a point. “I think I know where this is going. Did this particular biker woman dress in white and gold leathers and drive a Honda Gold Wing?”

“Got it in one. Celeste was riding with a group of friends she'd made while visiting the Callahan ranch in Brazos Bend. She asked me what was wrong, and I started blabbering—surprise, surprise. Seems to be a habit of mine. I still don't know how she managed to get me to tag along to lunch with the group, but before I knew it I was sitting in a little country diner having chicken-fried steak.”

“Cream gravy? Fried okra and mashed potatoes, too?”

“Yes.”

“Wait a minute, Claire. We should have a moment of reverential silence.”

“Seriously, Lancaster? You just plowed away enough pasta to feed a high school cross-country team.”

“Yes, and it was delicious. The Yellow Kitchen has more than lived up to its reputation. However, I haven't had chicken-fried steak and cream gravy since I was in college. It was a religious experience.”

Claire gave a little laugh. “Well, my meal at Mary's Café was delicious, but I'd classify it as therapeutic rather than religious. Celeste somehow managed to pry the low points of my woebegone love life from me, and show me a path forward if I were brave enough to take it. That woman has an uncanny way of saying just what you need to hear when you need to hear it.”

“She convinced you to move to Eternity Springs?”

“Nothing that direct. She talked up the town, though. She mentioned that she thought a Christmas shop would do well here, and that planted the seed. She said something else that resonated in me.”

“Oh, yeah? What was that?”

“It sounds a little woo-woo, but remember, we're talking about Celeste. She told me that the way out of the darkness was to discover my own inner light and let it shine. I took that to heart. It took me a little while to get my light lit, and frankly, it still flickers from time to time, but I'm making progress.”

“Well, if it's any consolation, from my perspective your light is high-voltage.”

“That's a lovely thing to say, Jax,” Claire said, beaming.

“It's true.” He wanted to ask her for more details about her relationship with old quadruple L and the “truth” that had sent her running away from home, but he reminded himself that this was a first date, and the conversation had taken a serious turn. Better to lighten it back up.

So he asked her what kind of music she liked, then after their server brought dessert—chocolate cake to share—she asked him what exotic foods he'd sampled during his travels. That conversation lasted until the plates had been cleared, and as they sipped one final cup of decaf, talk turned to Forever Christmas and her plans for her upcoming reception unveiling the Twelve Dogs of Christmas ornaments. “By the way, Nicholas made his final layaway payment for his Captain ornament last week.”

“He told me. He says you're holding it for him until we put up a Christmas tree.”

She lifted the coffee cup in toast. “Thinking positive.”

So was Jax. He was positively rethinking his decision about his approach to the end of this first date.

On the drive back to Three Bears Valley, she asked him about life aboard a submarine, and he shared a couple of the more amusing stories. Her laughter was a welcome sound that Jax couldn't help but compare to the tight-lipped, angry response that any mention of the navy invariably elicited from Lara.

When he pulled the car to a stop in front of Mama Bear, the easy mood evaporated. Tension hummed between them. Claire reached for her door release and Jax said, “Wait. Let me come around.”

She grinned up at him when he extended his hand to help her out of the car. “Opening the door for a lady, Jax? A little old-fashioned, aren't you?”

“I'm Navy.”

“An officer and a gentleman?”

“I'm trying, Claire,” he told her honestly. He didn't release her hand. “You make it difficult.”

That shut her up. They didn't speak as they climbed the steps toward the front door.

The porch light cast a soft yellow glow across the portal. Claire's shoulders lifted as she sucked in an audible breath, then exhaled a little giggle. “Okay, this is a little weird. I'm not sure of the rules here. Do I ask you in, even though you live here? This is my first mistletoe fling.”

Her obvious nervousness was just the push he'd needed. “Don't be nervous, Miss Christmas.” He drew her into his arms. “The nice thing about having a mistletoe fling is that we get to make up the rules as we go along. As much as I'd like to dive into Christmas morning, I think it's only fair to us both to have a bit of an Advent, don't you?”

She blinked. “You don't want…?”

“Oh, I want, Claire. I want very, very much. But this was our first date. As much as it pains me to say this, I think first dates should end with a kiss. Don't you?”

Her smile dawned slowly, but its brilliance lit up the night. “I do.”

Jax set about to give her a first-date kiss to remember. He figured he must have succeeded because when he finally lifted his head, she stood stupefied until he reached past her and opened the door. “Good night, Claire.”

“Oh. Um, good night, Jax. I had a lovely time.”

“I did, too.”

“Okay, well. I guess I'll … um … see you in the morning?”

“Yes. I'll see you in the morning, though I expect I'll dream of you tonight.”

It was as good an exit line as he'd managed in a very long time, so he turned and left. He was halfway to his destination when she called out. “Jax? Where are you going?”

“To jump in the ice-cold creek.”

Her laughter rang out upon the night like a song.

 

Chapter Fourteen

Mistletoe, mistletoe, and more mistletoe.

—CLAIRE

Saturday morning dawned clear and crisp and gorgeous. As Jax drove into town to pick up Nicholas after his sleepover, he noticed the heavier-than-normal bustling of both vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Lots of visitors in town for the big wedding, he guessed. Wonder if Brian and Linda had had trouble finding a place to stay.

The argument yesterday had been intense. Jax had seen red when he'd heard Brian attacking Claire, and for a few minutes there, he'd come close to throwing a punch. He might have done it, too, if not for dinner reservations for the date. He'd wanted the Hardcastles out of the way fast, and he'd known that decking Brian wasn't the way to accomplish that. Making an appointment to meet them first thing Saturday morning with Nicholas was, so that's what he'd done.

He rang the doorbell at the Cicero home and visited with Rose and her husband for a few moments before hustling Nicholas toward the car. Ordinarily, coaxing his son away from his friends would have taken effort, but Nicholas knew they'd be picking up Captain for his visit to Three Bears, so he was ready to go.

“Did you call Mr. Chase, Dad?” the boy asked as he climbed into Jax's truck and fastened his seat belt. “Does he know we are on our way?”

“I talked to him. We've had a bit of a change of plans. Instead of you and me driving up to the Timberlakes' house to get him, Chase's dad is bringing Captain to us in town. I have another surprise for you. Guess who has come to visit you?”

“Who?”

“Your grandparents.”

“Really?”

“Really. We're meeting them for breakfast at Angel's Rest.”

“Cool. Except I already ate breakfast. Miss Rose made us pancakes.”

“Your grandfather said something about cinnamon rolls.”

“I can always eat cinnamon rolls.”

“That's what I figured.”

They arrived at Angel's Rest five minutes early for their eight-thirty appointment, and as Jax parked his truck, he spied the Hardcastles already waiting on the front porch of the resort's main structure, Cavanaugh House.

“There they are,” Nicholas said. He scrambled down from the truck and took off running toward his grandparents.

Jax watched the reunion with mixed emotions. Obviously, Lara's parents loved his son, and Nicholas returned that emotion. It was in the boy's best interests for Jax and the Hardcastles to reach some sort of peace between them.

Upon spying Nicholas, the Hardcastles rose from their seats and descended the porch steps.

Nicholas ran into his grandparents' arms. “Mimi! Pops! I didn't know you were coming.”

“We wanted it to be a surprise,” Linda said to the boy.

Brian extended his hand toward Jax. “Good morning, Lancaster.”

“Brian.”

“Thanks for coming,” Brian added as the two men exchanged a handshake.

“I said I'd be here.”

“Guess what?” Nicholas broke in. “I'm taking care of Captain while Mr. Chase is on his wedding vacation. Remember Captain? He's Mr. Chase's dog who I made friends with during camp. I get him today because Mr. Chase and Dr. Lori are getting married later. Dad and I are going to the wedding. I got new clothes to wear because I've outgrown my other dress-up clothes. Captain isn't going to be at the wedding. He's going to stay at Three Bears with Tinsel. Tinsel is Miss Claire's dog. She let me pick out her name. I help take care of her, but I'm not in charge of Tinsel. I'm gonna be in charge of Captain. I have to feed him and make sure he has water. Dad says he can sleep in my room, but he's not allowed to sleep in my bed.”

When the boy finally stopped to catch a breath, his grandmother laughed. Brian said, “Sounds like you're happy here, Nicholas.”

“I love it here. I have three new best friends and a bunch of regular friends. Guess what? I scored a goal at soccer practice yesterday! Can I have a cinnamon roll now? Daddy said we're having cinnamon rolls.”

“I'm sorry, Nicholas, but the bakery is closed today, and I wasn't able to get any cinnamon rolls. However, Ms. Blessing has coffee cake for us. I sneaked a bite. It's very good.”

“Cake for breakfast? Cool!”

Brian met Jax's gaze. “The dining room is full, but we have a table reserved on the upper verandah, if that's all right with you.”

“That's fine.”

“Is Mr. Timberlake on his way with Captain now, Dad? I don't think Miss Celeste allows dogs upstairs.”

“You have time to eat coffee cake with your grandparents before Captain arrives. You'll be able to watch for him from the verandah.”

Linda and Nicholas led the way, and when Jax started to follow, Brian stopped him with a hand on his arm. “If I could have a minute, Lancaster?”

Expecting another attack, Jax braced himself. “Sure.”

“I owe you an apology.”

If he'd declared he was a Martian, Jax wouldn't have been more surprised. In his experience, Brian Hardcastle didn't apologize for anything.