If I Had You (Christmas In Harper Falls) (3 page)

“Equal opportunity all the way too. She taught my
sister how to kiss.”

“Your sister is…”

“A lesbian,” Sam told her matter-of-factly.
“Olivia wasn’t certain at the time. She claims one kiss from Marcy sealed
the deal.”

“That must be rare.”

“Having a lesbian sister?” Sam asked warily. He
waited tensely for her to make some offhand homophobic remark. He wanted Lila
to be better than that.

“A brother and sister getting their first kiss from the
same person. That must be unusual, right?”

Sam relaxed. Sweet. She was so damn sweet.

“I’m not sure it’s
Ripley
worthy. A little odd.
Definitely anecdotal.”

They were close. Close enough to kiss. Close enough to do a lot
of things. Lila found herself wanting to give into temptation. Why not? Sam
wasn’t going to be in Harper Falls very long. When would she get another chance
to take advantage of this kind of situation? A real life, bona fide sex god,
wanted her. She wasn’t naive. This was about more than a kiss. He wanted a
holiday fling — with her. She wanted him to have her.

She leaned closer when the phone rang.

“The vet,” she said.

Lila was disappointed and relieved all at once. She wasn’t
ready for Sam Laughton. She wasn’t wearing the right underwear. Her body needed
primping. Check her legs. Stubble was a no-no. Lotion. The expensive kind she
saved for special occasions. So many things. She wanted to make what would be a
once in a lifetime experience as close to perfect as possible.

Sam listened as Lila filled the vet in. Damn phone. Lila was
about to give him his kiss, he knew it. She wanted more; he could tell. A
little Christmas fling. Not what he planned when he accepted Rose’s invitation.
Lila was a very pleasant surprise.

“She is waiting for you.” Lila took a sturdy piece
of rope, tying it expertly around the dog’s neck. He was very well behaved, but
she didn’t want to take the chance on him running off between here and the
vet’s office.

“Nice knot.”

“I dated a sailor for about a month. He taught me all
kinds of nifty variations.”

“Kinky?”

“Studious. He was still learning. I helped.” Lila
handed Sam the rope. “I don’t attract sexually adventurous men. Guys see
me as the girl next door.”

Sam led the dog to the door. He was halfway out when he
turned back.

“Why does everyone underestimate the girl next
door?” He gave her a look that said he never would.

“See you tomorrow night,” Sam said with a smile.
“I’ll be looking for you under the mistletoe.”

Lila felt her cheeks heat, glad Sam wasn’t here to see it.
Sometimes she blushed. Not always. It wasn’t something she could control or
anticipate. Experienced women didn’t blush. Did they? She wanted Sam to rip her
clothes off in a bout of mad, wild, no holds barred sex. Pink cheeks made men
want to take it slow, be gentle. Or back out altogether.

Lila decided right then and there. She wanted one thing for
Christmas. Only Sam Laughton could give it to her.

“THIS IS NOT a permanent situation. Understand?”

Cooper looked at Sam with adoring eyes. They seemed to say,
Think
what
you like. I’m here to stay.

“No. I don’t have the room, or the time, for a dog.
That’s final.”

The trip to the vet turned out to be a bust. She gave the
dog a thorough examination. Like Sam thought, he was healthy, well cared for.
Until recently, he must have had a good home. No microchip though.

“He’s been neutered.”

Even knowing it was for the best, Sam couldn’t control a
sympathetic wince.

“Men,” Dr. Baine smiled, shaking her head.
“You all have the same reaction.”

“No guy wants to lose his balls, Doctor.”

“Mmm.” What else could she say? “I can’t be
sure he’s had all his shots. If you want, I can give them to him again.”

“Won’t that harm him?”

“No,” She gave the calm, happy dog a scratch
behind his ear. “He would be fine. Better safe than sorry.”

“He isn’t my dog. There must be someone out there
looking for him, right?”

“I don’t know him,” she said. “It’s possible
someone passed through town, stopping for some reason. This guy doesn’t seem
like the runaway type.”

Sam swallowed, hating to ask. He looked at the dog, then
whispered, “What about the
pound
?”

Even though he spelled it out, he was afraid the dog
understood the nasty word.

“Across town. The storm would keep some of the staff
away. I’m sure there’s a skeleton crew. Want me to call?”

“No,” Sam said. It didn’t seem right. Especially
this time of the year.

“Leave me your contact information. If anyone comes
looking for this guy, I’ll let you know.”

That settled they were now back in the SUV. The road to
Rose’s house was surprisingly well tended. Freshly plowed, Sam found the trip
easy and quick. His companion stretched out in back, unworried.

Could a dog look smug? This one did. Even after the
this isn’t
permanent
warning. Maybe because Sam gave in concerning the shots. As the
vet said, having him vaccinated couldn’t hurt. The last thing he needed was the
dog getting sick on his watch. That kind of guilt he didn’t need.

“I never should have named you.”

Sam didn’t think it was right to keep calling him dog. He
searched for something that suited the big guy, settling on Cooper in honor of
his dad’s favorite movie star.
High Noon, Pride of the Yankees, Ball of Fire
.
He lost count of how many times he and his father would sit watching Gary
Cooper. The good, the bad, and the dreadful. Didn’t matter. Looking back again,
Sam admitted the name fit. The dog somehow looked like a Cooper.

The heavy security gate, down the road from the house,
didn’t make Sam blink. Jack Winston made his fortune keeping people safe. Why
wouldn’t he do the same for himself and the woman he loved?

He identified himself; the camera and intercom verified his
identity. A few minutes later, he pulled up in front of a house that looked like
it was from another century. Nineteenth, if he was any judge. Grandma’s house.
Homey. Not the kind of place he pictured when he thought about the couple who
lived there.

Yet on second thought, the wraparound porch, dark green
shutters, bay windows, all screamed Jack and Rose. They were a modern couple.
He imagined inside there would be every convenience known to man, or woman. The
more traditional outside design was a good choice.

Cooper seemed to know they were at their destination. He sat
up, an excited sparkle in his eyes.

“Better than spending your Christmas wandering the
streets, right Coop? I understand there’s another dog who lives here. Remember.
We are guests. I expect you to be on your best behavior and play nice.”

As usual, Sam was sure the dog understood every word. Cooper
even nodded at him.

“Right. Here we go.”

He barely stepped out of the SUV when the front door flew
open, a red-haired, streak of energy rushing out. Right behind, Jack Winston.

Sam had just enough time to determine it was a giggling
little girl when she surprised him by launching herself at him.

“Charlotte Marie,” Jack cried out.

“Don’t worry,” Sam laughed, scooping her into his
arms. “I have a niece about this age. She’s always coming at me like that.
The Laughton charm acts like a female magnet. Age is no obstacle.”

“I appreciate you catching her. She’s decided four is a
big girl age. That means going outside even when her mother told her not
to.”

Charlotte, obviously learning how to use her feminine wiles
at an early age, batted her eyes at Jack.

“Love me?”

“Always, you little scamp.”

He snatched her from Sam, tossing her into the air. The ring
of laughter reached the house, drawing a crowd of six women of varying ages.

“Starting a harem?”

“I was blessed with six older sisters, countless
nieces, and a mother who could pass for a woman half her age.” Jack gave
Sam a warning look. “Hands off.”

“Your mother, your sisters? Your nieces seem a trifle
young. Your soon to be wife?”

“All of the above.”

Grinning, Jack tucked his niece under one arm, extending his
other. Sam took the hand, giving it a firm shake.

“Thanks for having me, Jack. You look like you have a
full house. Are sure I’m not going to be in the way?”

“Go back to your mama, Charlotte.” Jack set her
down, giving her a gentle pat on the bottom. He waited until she was safely
back in the house before turning back to Sam.

“I built this place to accommodate my ever-growing
family. If one sister isn’t giving birth, another is about to.”

“All girls?”

“My dad and I are the only men on the Winston side of
the family. Luckily, my sisters all married good men. Who have proceeded to
repopulate with girls.”

“You don’t sound too upset by that.”

“Are you kidding?” The big man with sparkling blue
eyes gave Sam a friendly pat on the back. “I wouldn’t have it any other
way. Now, let me grab your bags and get inside where it’s loud but warm.”

“About that,” Sam said as Jack reached for the
back passenger-side door. “I brought an unexpected guest.”

“So I see.”

Cooper greeted both men with a sharp bark. That was a first,
Sam thought. Up until now, the dog was virtually silent.

“I know that sound.” Jack stood back, his hand
making a sweeping gesture towards the snow-covered lawn. “Go on, boy. My
yard is your yard.”

Cooper leaped from the SUV, running around, rolling in the
snow, scoping out the area. Finally, finding just the right tree, he lifted his
leg.

“If I’d known he needed to relieve himself, I would
have pulled over before we got here.”

“Most dogs will hold it until you reach your
destination. I take it you haven’t had him long.”

“It’s a long story.”

“On cold, snowy days, that’s my favorite kind. Looks
like your friend is done. Let’s go inside. He can meet Edgar; I’ll introduce
you all around. Then we’ll settle down with a hot drink for story time.”

Sam took the box that was stamped with a pink
Peony
logo. He waited for Cooper to shake off his newly acquired coat of snow before
following Jack inside. What greeted them could only be termed barely controlled
chaos. Children ran, played. Parents kept a watchful eye, for the most part,
happy to let them.

“What do you think?”

It was so much like the holidays when he was growing up. Sam
felt a twinge. If he couldn’t be with his own family, this was a nice substitute.

Sam turned to Jack and grinned.

“It feels like home.”

LILA PUT AWAY her notes, the regret becoming harder to ignore.
She wrote something every day. Sometimes pages, sometimes one line. From a
young age, she recorded her thoughts, wrote stories. The only time she stopped
was after her parents died. Her mother’s encouragement was gone. The loving
belief that Lila’s dream of being a writer, wiped out in an instant. The muse
that used to sit on her shoulder, whispering, was gone.

For a long time, Lila was sure it would never return. As
time eased the pain of loss, the spark flickered to life again. Slowly, a bit
here and there. Writing became a joy again. The dream of doing it full time was
harder to regain. She was a businesswoman. Running
Peony
took all her
time and effort. The yellow legal pads stacked in her desk drawer were filled
with stories no one would ever see. Now when she wrote, it was no longer with
ambition. She wrote because she had to, for herself.

Pushing back from her desk, Lila shut the drawer on her
wayward thoughts. She had a party to get ready for. She planned to kiss a very
sexy man. Hopefully, more than once. Looking her best was essential.

As a rule, Lila didn’t linger in the shower. Tonight, she
took her time. She washed and conditioned her long, dark hair. The body wash
filled the room with the scent of vanilla. When she finally stepped out,
grabbing a fluffy towel, she was smooth and silky from top to bottom.

Drying her hair was always a chore. Most days she didn’t
bother. A clip to hold it back and she was good to go. With thoughts of Sam
floating through her head, she knew that would not do.

Lila pulled out her seldom-used blow dryer before plugging
in the curling iron she bought last spring, only to forget about it until
tonight. Out of practice, it took some time. When she was done, she stood back,
critically examining her work.

Not bad. A little make-up, the right dress. She might not be
able to compete with Sam’s usual supermodel type, but those women weren’t here.
She was. Applying her eyeliner, Lila promised herself to do this more often.
Why wait for a special occasion? It was easy to forget, in the day-to-day
living of life, how good it felt to pamper and primp.

Her choice of what to wear was a no-brainer. In the back of
her closet, tags still attached, was a dress. An impulse-buy one day when she
was shopping with Rose, Dani, and Tyler.

The soft, jersey knit hugged her body like a dream,
highlighting her curves in all the right spots. The forest green color brought
out the flecks in her eyes that were exactly the same shade.

Her legs weren’t long, but they were shapely. The dress hit
her just above the knee showing off her nicely toned calves. Thank you, step
class.

Shoes were a problem. In this weather, boots were practical.
For tonight, high heels were mandatory. Again, easy decision. Being good
friends with the hostess meant Lila wouldn’t feel awkward showing up in clunky
boots then changing into strappy sandals.

Lila gave herself one more look in the mirror, before
heading out. Hair, nice. Makeup? Good — not clown like. Sparkly earrings, her
mother’s gold bracelet. The dress was a killer. She was as good as she was
going to get. Hot. Yes, little Lila Fleming felt ready to seal the deal with
Sam Laughton.

They could start with a kiss. She hoped they ended naked,
sweaty, and highly satisfied.

“I KNOW YOU didn’t expect me to accept your
invitation.”

Sam stood with Rose, sipping aged malt whiskey. His
enjoyment of her home and family grew with each passing hour. The large, open
living area was decorated with festive lights, illuminating banisters, mantles,
doorways. Boughs of pine scented the room, a large fire crackling, adding to
the festive atmosphere. His companion, her shoulder-length brown hair shining
with touches of red and gold highlights, glowed brighter than any light. She
was lit from within. That’s what loving, and being loved in return, will do for
you, Sam realized. It made a beautiful woman incandescent.

“No,” Rose admitted. “When I invited you, I
was certain this was the last place you’d want to be for Christmas.”

“Should I apologize? Not only do I show up, I bring an
uninvited guest.”

Cooper and Edgar, Jack’s large black dog of indeterminate
breed, were getting along like old friends. A few tentative sniffs was all it
took. Now, they were patiently letting three little girls decorate their coats
with ribbons of various colors.

“Cooper fits right in. Knowing his story, I’d be mad if
you hadn’t brought him. As for you, my friend.” Rose linked arms with him.
“I said I didn’t think you would accept. I never would have made the
invitation if I didn’t want you to.”

“Ever regret turning down my many advances?”

“God no.”

“Ouch.”

Laughing, Rose squeezed his arm.

“I think your ego can take one woman not finding you
irresistible.”

“Mmm.” Sam gave her forehead a friendly kiss.
“It did make it easier when I needed to get on your case. If we were
lovers, I might have hesitated.”

“Ha,” Rose said incredulously. “You wanted
those songs for your movie. A little intimacy would not have stopped you. You
bullied, Sam. Constantly.”

“Didn’t you write some songs that will live forever?
Classics, Rose.
Unconditional
has been number one for two months.”

“You don’t get to take credit for that, Sam.”
Looking across the room, Rose’s eyes got dreamy. “Jack was the
inspiration. You should be thanking him. I know I do. Every day.”

“I still say my gentle nudging helped.”

“Gentle my…” She did a quick assessment of how many
little ears might be around to hear Aunt Rose swear. Too close to call.
“My rear end.”

Seeing Sam’s amused look, she explained.

“Little pitchers have big ears. They also tend to
repeat everything I say.”

Sam nodded. “Hence, rear end instead of —”

“That goes for you too. Curb the language while you’re
here.”

“Got it. Gosh, dang and shucks only. I promise.”

Sam mingled for the next half hour, his eyes constantly
checking and rechecking the door. No Lila. He knew she was coming. Earlier when
he was talking to Alex Fleming, someone asked about her. She was coming. Being
Christmas Eve, she stayed open to catch the last minute shoppers.