Homecoming for Christmas Read online

  Brent Donnelly.

  Every nerve in my body kicked up to a hundred and fifty miles per hour and my spark plugs fired on all cylinders. Would he still see me as the fun friend? Would his parents still see me as the unworthy poor kid he shouldn’t hang out with?

  “Turn around and put your hands on the hood, Miss Brooks.”

  I shook the haze away and faced Officer Hutchinson as she approached. “Excuse me?” My voice sounded breathy and full of shock, even to me. Of course, Brent always had a way of stirring me up and leaving me disoriented.

  “There’s a warrant for an unpaid speeding ticket from eight and a half years ago.”

  Heat flushed my cheeks. I dared a quick glance at Brent. Yep, he still stood watching my humiliation unfold. So much for sneaking into town and making an escape without being noticed. I felt like a busted teenager instead of a twenty-six-year-old woman. In minutes, the entire town would know about my run in with Officer Hutchinson. It was the small-town way. “You’re joking, right? I’ll pay it now. Tell me how much?” I reached for my purse, but she grabbed my arm and spun me to face the car.

  “Bribing an officer?” Officer Hutchinson rolled off a bunch of phrases at me, but all I could focus on was Brent standing at the window. Even if he was married with children, I didn’t want him or anyone else in Christmas Mountain to think I was the same immature, adrenaline seeking, commitment avoiding, girl anymore.

  Based on the shake of his head and knowing grin, I’d bet that was exactly what he was thinking. I closed my eyes and rested my forehead against the cold steel of the car. For the third time in my life, handcuffs clamped onto my wrists in Christmas Mountain. Last time I’d been with my six best friends. Did they still hold a grudge for me ruining high school graduation night?

  At least their parents bailed them out the same night. Mine had left me there until the next day.

  The jingle from the knitting store warned me Brent was about to take a front row seat to my embarrassment. “Is that necessary Samantha?”

  “You know those men are looking for a reason to kick me off the force. I do everything by the book, so I don’t give them any ammo. And it’s Officer Hutchinson while I’m on duty.” Samantha—Officer Hutchinson—pulled me up by my shoulders so I stood eyes to massive chest with Brent.

  “Only in town minutes and already making life more exciting for us.” Brent’s signature boyish charm came through in his deep, masculine laugh.

  I managed a quick cold-stinging breath and faced him. His diamond blue eyes, the ones that could cut through any wall I could construct around my heart, captured me in his mysterious, perfect, smart, and confident way. “Thought I’d wake this town up.”

  “You always did,” Brent said in a tone that lured me into his world. The one I never belonged in with their total package of awesomeness wrapped in a bow of perfection. That’s why Emma and he were ideal for each other. Head boy and girl in school, straight A’s, and model citizens of Christmas Mountain.

  I was a little thankful for the handcuffs as I’d always had this weird flirting touch thing with him even though we were only ever friends. And at that moment, I wanted to flirt with him, but I couldn’t. Never again. I didn’t belong here. I never had completely fit into the Christmas Mountain world.

  “You want to talk to her, come to the station. I’m going to book her now.” Officer Hutchinson dragged me to her patrol car and shoved me in the back seat like I’d just robbed the First National Bank of Christmas Mountain.

  “Wait, my purse, coat, and stuff are still in my car. I need my bag if I’m going to post bail.”

  She backed out of the space and I watched Brent remain on the sidewalk with an amused smile. He was enjoying this too much.

  “Don’t worry,” Officer Hutchinson told her. “When they impound your car, they’ll bring whatever is in your vehicle to the station.”

  I hit the back of my head against the seat and sighed. Maybe this time my mother would come bail me out. Nah, doubt it. She’d only tell me if I was old enough to make mistakes then I was old enough to clean them up on my own. Of course, Ms. King would come bail me out. She was the one woman I could always count on, even when I ended up in jail. This was so not the way I wanted to start my first Christmas at home in over eight years. On the bright side, this time I didn’t bring my friends down with me. How could I when we hadn’t spoken since graduation night?

  Two

  The grey jail cell with dust-infused linoleum hadn’t changed. Same black bars, same hum of the heater, and yet the same lonely chill. I leaned back against the wall and remembered the look each of my friends gave me the last time I sat in this cell. They hated me, and I didn’t blame them. Who knew releasing pigs into the school hallways after graduation would be such an epic ordeal? Of course, I hadn’t anticipated the pigs would ram the trophy case and take out the prized football trophies of Christmas Mountain High School. Thank goodness, no charges were filed.

  The clang of a metal door sounded but I didn’t bother to move. It wasn’t as if visiting hours were in effect.

  “Jail cell suits you,” Brent’s deep voice echoed, bouncing off my psyche.

  Humiliation swept over me faster than Officer Hutchinson had slapped the cuffs on my wrists. “Come to gloat on the epic failings of Ashley Brooks?”

  He sauntered closer, his pressed khakis and wool navy sweater hugging him in all the right spots. I’d always thought I’d fantasized Brent over the years to avoid any real intimacy. Okay, that’s what my business partner, Clint, had said. Now I could call Clint and tell him the truth. I wasn’t that imaginative.

  Brent Donnelly really was the most handsome man that ever walked into my world and left his name on my forever Christmas wish list. He wasn’t one of those rich, fit, and tanned business men who chartered my boats. They never compared to Brent’s mysterious smile—the kind that always made me want to know more about him—or the crystalized blue eyes. Eyes that were so unique I thought for years he wore contacts.

  His hands grasped the bars over his head and he leaned into them. “Fail? You joking? From what I hear you’re some successful entrepreneur down in the Keys. You made it out of Christmas Mountain and did something with your life like you wanted,” he said in a prideful tone. Then I saw it, he cast a glance of remorse at the floor. The way he had the night his father discovered Brent had made a B in high school Chemistry.

  My heart softened, it always did when he looked to be troubled in some way. I wanted to make him smile. “You mean running boats with handsy men who think too much of themselves?” I joked. Why could I never be serious around him?

  His right eyebrow hitched, and his lips spread in a devious smile. “I can’t blame them. Have you looked at yourself?” I wanted to read more into his words, but Brent and I always teased and made flirtatious comments. It didn’t mean anything. It never had, or he would’ve asked me to prom instead of Emma. That had left a lasting sting as if I had a life altering allergy to rejection.

  His gaze swept over me, warming my skin to a low simmer. Sure, my hair had turned blonder from the sun and I was fit from scuba diving. But the way he scanned my body made me feel like a world-famous model.

  “I had imagined what you looked like at this point, but not even my imagination came close.”

  The main door swung open before I could gather any of my thoughts into tangible conversation. “Mr. Donnelly, you sure you want to take on the responsibility of this woman?”

  He turned to face the overzealous officer. “I’ll take my chances.”

  “Alright. Make sure she doesn’t leave town.”

  “It would be hard since you have my rental impounded,” I huffed.

  The click of the lock meant freedom and I didn’t waste any time before I bolted out of that darn cell.

  “You’re lucky to have a friend who can call in favors or you would’ve been in here until Monday when the judge was available,” Officer Hutchinson said.

  I strutted past her and Br
ent with my chin held high despite the fact I wanted to find the nearest Groundhog hole to crawl in until winter was over.

  The door slammed shut behind me, but I didn’t stop until I reached the front desk. I didn’t have to say anything as Brent retrieved my duffel and purse from the front clerk and handed it over to me. “Thanks.”

  “My pleasure. I haven’t had any excitement in months. I love it when you’re around. I feel alive.” He held open the door. “Where you staying? With your mom and dad?”

  “No. At the Mistletoe Inn. Guess I’m walking from here. Good thing everything’s close by.”

  “I’ll walk with you.”

  I quickened my pace up toward Garland Street to expand the distance between us. Forbidden fruit always looked more attractive, and at this moment, I didn’t trust myself to be alone with my knight in shining smiles. “No need.”

  “Ah, but there is. I’m invested in you now. What if you jump bail?” He kept pace with me. So much for my fast getaway. “Tell me what you’ve been up to since your great graduation night disappearing act?”

  I quirked an eyebrow at him. “Disappearing act?”

  We reached Garland Street and hung a left. “Yes, you know. When you left town without saying goodbye. To anyone.”

  I thought about that morning I snuck away from Christmas Mountain eight years ago. It had been quiet, and my parents didn’t even walk me to my car. My dad only said it was time for me to figure out my life. That’s when I drove. Drove for hours, days, all the way until I couldn’t drive any more. “I didn’t think anyone would notice.”

  “I noticed.” He placed a hand on my shoulder and pulled me to a stop two houses from the Inn before his hands fell to his sides. “I thought we were…friends.”

  I couldn’t confess a fourteen-year-old secret on the street five minutes after seeing my crush for the first time since high school graduation? That friendship wasn’t enough for me. That I had been madly in love with him since sixth grade. Even dressed in his Toy Soldier costume he couldn’t hide his perfection. And that was him, picture perfect. No, life perfect. Something only Emma could be worthy of. “Yep, I’m your crazy-old-stunt friend.” I guy slugged him.

  “No.” he stepped closer and the mountain air froze mid breath. “You were my exciting, full-of-life friend who made everyone smile and feel alive.”

  A car putted by and I stepped away. “Right, well for now your exciting friend needs to check-in and get some rest if I’m going to make it to Ms. King’s on time in the morning.”

  “I thought that might be why you were here.” Brent’s smile faded. “How long will you be around?”

  I shook my head. “Don’t know. My partner is covering for me right now, but I’ll head back as soon as I speak to Ms. King and figure out what she brought me here to do. Oh, and after I get my car out of impound.”

  “Do?” His voice hitched

  “Yeah.”

  “You don’t know, do you?” Brent sighed, and his gaze broke away to scan the mountain side toward the falls.

  “Know what?” I asked, my suspicious radar sounding the red alert.

  “It’s not my place to tell you.” Brent backed away. “Listen, come see me after you speak to Ms. King. I’ll be at the knitting store. I have to run a senior class in the morning.”

  I hadn’t seen Brent scurry away so fast since we were in eighth grade and Mrs. Whitmore caught him with a Victoria’s Secret magazine in his backpack. “Guess I’ll see you ‘round.”

  Brent stopped abruptly, his mouth ajar.

  “What?” I asked.

  “That’s what you said the night of graduation. The night you left.” He scratched his temple. “If you want your car out of the lot by Monday, come see me at the store. If not, I guess this is goodbye. At least this time I get to say it.” He about faced and marched down the street and around the corner, disappearing from my sight.

  I clutched my purse to my chest and fought through the pain of seeing the only man I’d ever wanted, but never got a chance to have and now was too late. Some chances were meant to remain a wish on a Christmas Star. I wouldn’t want to stay in Christmas Mountain, and I knew we weren’t compatible, so I did the only thing I could. I walked away…again.

  Three

  That night I tossed and turned, plagued by images of Brent and what could’ve been. Worse, nightmares followed of facing my family and the friends I’d let down. I was grateful when the first rays of light broke through the clouds and I was able to sneak off for a hike and short free climb. I’d missed the mountain activities over the last few years. The ocean was nice, but Florida was too flat for any climbing or strenuous hiking.

  I’d managed to make it to the trails in the early morning hours, but now that it was breakfast time, I’d have to be more careful in town. If I was lucky, I’d sneak to Ms. King’s and get out of Christmas Mountain before I ran into any of the others.

  My family, though. I needed to see my mother and father. None of my siblings were still in Christmas Mountain. They’d all gone to college and had traditional jobs in big cities. The last phone conversation I’d had with my mother a month ago had ended with a coughing fit. I’d been concerned, but all my father would say was that she was fine. No reason to worry. I’d call her after I spoke to Ms. King and make arrangements to see them before I returned to my real life.

  I shoved my feet into my favorite pink hiking boots and then slid my arm into my thickest sweater hoping to be warm despite the fact I’d left the precinct last night so fast I’d forgotten to ask about my coat. Even with activity, I still returned to the Inn this morning a hiker-popsicle.

  I skirted the wall on the stair case before I opened the door to escape before Mr. Toni caught me and made me sit and eat breakfast. He had been sweet and insisted that I needed to eat a good breakfast to start my day when I’d checked in last night, but I wasn’t hungry, so I grabbed a banana off a table in the corner. The man was like an Italian grandmother always thinking women needed fattening up with good food.

  Outside I came face-to-face with the morning chill and Brent waiting at the wrought iron gate. My heart beat sped faster than Santa’s sleigh flying on Christmas eve. He looked even better in the morning light that caught the few blonde highlights in his dark hair. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he looked dangerous with the black coat and sunglasses on.

  He waved. “Good morning.”

  “Good morning.” I walked to join him at the fence. “What are you doing here?”

  “Can’t an old friend walk you to Ms. King’s this morning?” He opened the gate for me and stepped back.

  There was that word again…friend. No matter how many times he said it, it didn’t get easier to hear. “I would think you’d be too busy. Didn’t you have a knitting class this morning?”

  “Yes, but not for thirty minutes. I would’ve come by earlier, but I figured you were off on some adventure before the sun rose.”

  “I might have gone on a small hike or something.” I shook my head. "I can’t picture you teaching knitting. Your grandmother used to have to bribe you with her famous peppermint hot chocolate, so you’d sit long enough for her to teach you a stitch or two.”

  “You were no better.” Brent hip bumped my side and the sudden touch shocked me. “You used the knitting needles as weapons and tried to defeat her ceramic cats on the shelf.”

  I smacked my forehead and it stung from the cold. “Oh, don’t remind me. I couldn’t believe I broke her favorite.”

  “You didn’t.” He stopped at the corner, blocking my path.

  “Yes, the one with the red scarf and white pom poms on the end.”

  “Do you remember when your dad caught us snuggling next to the fire to keep warm at your grandmothers when she lost heat? I thought he was going to disown, cut you off, and ground you for life all in five minutes.”

  Brent scrubbed his beard. “I remember.”

  “He must’ve given you some lecture on why you shouldn’t commingle w
ith the lower class.”

  “No, he never had the chance. Grandmother told him to stop being a snob and to shut his mouth.” He chuckled. “I miss her.”

  A breeze blew down the street tossing my white blonde hair all over the place. Brent tamed it. His finger brushed along my cheek and ear to secure it in place and I wasn’t so cold any more. “You were her favorite. She made me promise never to tell any of the other girls, especially not Emma, but grandma always wished you could’ve been her granddaughter.”

  “I loved your grandmother. I miss her. How long has it been now?”

  “Three years.” Brent’s eyes downcast with sorrow. They’d been so close.

  The guilt hammered into me faster than an elf working on toys. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there for the funeral. Friends should be there for each other.” There I’d used the ‘F’ word.

  “Forgiven.” He strutted ahead and this time I had to hurry to keep up.

  “I have to admit, I’m surprised that you’re working at the knitting store. Doesn’t your family own a bunch of large resorts in the northeast?”

  Brent laughed, the kind with sarcasm. “Yes, well, father says I need on the job training, so I’ll be running the knitting store a few years before I can move up.”

  “Sounds like a plan. Fancy degree from University of Montana and now job experience.” I knew better, though. No matter how perfect Brent was in my eyes, he was never good enough for his father. The man was a legend in the business world and accepted nothing less than perfection.

  Too bad he didn’t see how perfect Brent was. If my mother had been right, he still lived in the family cage. The one where he’d never control his own life and future.