He cursed softly, then grabbed her hand and pulled her along toward the door. Holly wasnt sure whether to resist or go along with him. Was he going to toss her out on her ear? Or did she still have time to argue her case?
Pa, Ill be back in a few minutes, he muttered. Ive got some business to take care of with this angel.
2
I WANT HER TO STAY!
Alex ground his teeth as he stared at his son standing on the other side of his bed. Eric, dressed in his cowboy pajamas, had folded his arms over his chest, set his chin intractably and refused to meet Alexs eyes. He used to see Renee in his son, in the dark eyes and wide smile. But more and more, he was starting to see himself, especially in Erics stubborn nature. I know Ive made some mistakes since your mother left and, I promise, Ill try to make things better. We dont need this lady to give us a nice Christmas.
Shes not a lady, Eric said with a pout. Shes an angel. My angel.
Alex sat down on the edge of the bed and drew back the covers. Her name is Holly Bennett. She gave me her business card. When was the last time you heard of an angel who had a business card?
It could happen, Eric said defensively. Besides, her name doesnt make a difference. Its what she can do that counts.
What can she do that I cant? Alex asked. I can put up a Christmas tree and tack up some garland. He patted the mattress and Eric reluctantly crawled beneath the covers.
But you cant bake cookies and make ornaments andandthe last time Gramps made turkey it tasted like old shoes! He slouched down and pulled the covers up to his chin. If you havent noticed, Dad, shes really, really pretty. Like supermodel pretty. And she smells good, too. Shes mine and I want to keep her!
Alex didnt need to be reminded of the obvious. If she hadnt introduced herself as a mortal being, he might have believed Holly Bennett truly was heaven sent. She had the face of an angel, a wide, sensual mouth and bright green eyes ringed with thick lashes. Her wavy blond hair had shimmered in the soft light of the barn, creating a luminous halo around her head and accentuating her high cheekbones and perfectly straight nose.
No, that fact didnt get past him. Nor did his reaction to her beautysudden and stirring, almost overwhelming his senses. Over the past two years hed managed to ignore almost every woman hed come in contact with, not that there had been many. Running a horse breeding operation didnt put him in the path of the opposite sex very often.
Hed ignored social invitations and community events, secluding himself on the farm day and night and losing himself in his work. The last woman hed touched was Erics teacher, Miss Green, and that was a benign handshake at the parent-teacher conferences. Never mind that Miss Green was fifty-seven years old and smelled of chalk dust and rose water.
But Holly Bennett wasnt a spinster schoolteacher and she was hard to ignore. His fingers tingled as he remembered touching her, wrapping her delicate hand in his as he dragged her out of the barn. She was waiting downstairs at this very moment, waiting for him to decide her fate, and his mind was already starting to conjure excuses to touch her again.
She could stay in the guest room, Eric suggested.
Alex leveled a perturbed look at his son. Im not allowing a perfect stranger to
Angel, Eric corrected.
All right, a perfect angel, to stay in our house.
Then she can stay in the tack house. No ones stayed there since Gramps moved back into the house. He thinks shes pretty and nice.
How do you know? Alex said, raising an eyebrow.
I can just tell. His son set his mouth in a stubborn straight line.
Alex covered his eyes with his hands and moaned. If he sent Holly Bennett packing, Eric would never forgive him. And he wouldnt hear the end of it from his father. Aw, hell, maybe it wasnt such a bad idea having her around. He hated stringing lights on the tree. The smell of evergreen made him sneeze. And he was more comfortable with curry combs than cookie cutters.
Besides, Christmas had always reminded him of Renee. Every ornament, every decoration brought back memories of their time together, time when theyd been a happy family with a bright future. The week after shed left, hed thrown out every reminder of Christmas shed brought into the house, vowing to discard anything that brought thoughts of her betrayal.
But here was a chance to begin anew, to create Christmas traditions only he and Eric shared. Sure, Holly the Angel would be around, but she was nothing more than an employee, a helping hand during a busy season. And he was curious to learn who was paying her salary, a secret he might learn given time. All right, Alex said. She has three days to prove herself and if everythings going all right, she can stay.
Then were not going skiing in Colorado?
He sent his son a grudging smile. No, were not going to Colorado. But youre going to have to deal with her. Im not going take care of her the same way I have to take care of Thurston and the horses. Shes your angel.
Eric hit him full force against the chest, throwing himself at Alex and wrapping his arms around his fathers neck. The boy gave him an excruciating hug and beamed up at him. Thanks, Dad. Can I go tell her?
Alex ruffled Erics pale hair, a flood of parental love warming his blood, then kissed his son on the cheek. It took so little to make Eric happy. How could he think of refusing him even a bit of joy? Crawl back under the covers and Ill tuck you in. Then Ill go down and tell your angel.
Eric gave him another quick hug, then scrambled back between the sheets. As he did every night, Alex tucked the blankets around his son, then tickled his stomach. Who loves you the most?
You do! Eric cried.
Alex brushed the hair out of Erics eyes, then stood. But as he walked to the door, his sons voice stopped him. Dad? Do you ever miss Mom?
His hand froze on the doorknob and Alex turned around. He wasnt sure what to say. Did he miss the fighting, the constant anger that bubbled between them? Did he miss the sick feeling he got every time she went into the city, knowing she was meeting another man? No, he didnt. But he did miss the contentment he saw in his sons eyes whenever Renee was near. Your mom is very talented. She had to leave so that she could be the very best actress she could. But that doesnt mean that she doesnt love you just as much as I do.
Though his question hadnt been answered, Eric smiled, then sank back against the pillows. Night, Dad.
Alex released a tightly held breath as he slowly descended the stairs, wondering at how hed managed to dodge yet another bullet. Sooner or later, Eric would demand explanations and Alex wasnt sure what to tell him. So far, hed always managed to evade the truth. But could he tell an outright lie to his son?
He turned into the library and stopped short. Holly sat primly on a leather wing chair staring at the dying embers of a fire in the fireplace across the room. She was like a vision from paradise and Alex found himself tongue-tied. Shed removed her coat and tossed it over the back of the chair, revealing a pretty red jacket, cinched in at her tiny waist and a slim black skirt that revealed impossibly long legs. Hed never met a woman quite as cool and sophisticated as her. But though she appeared to be all business, there was an underlying allure that was hard to ignore. Im sorry to keep you waiting, he muttered. If youll just tell me where your things are, Ill get you settled.
She straightened at the sound of his voice then neatly crossed her legs. Alex stood beside his desk and let his gaze drift along the sweet curve of her calf. When she cleared her throat, he snapped back to reality and silently scolded himself. If Holly Bennett would be hanging around this holiday season, hed have to prevent all future fantasizing!
Thank you, she said in a quiet voice, for allowing me to stay.
I suppose I should be thanking you, Alex replied. Eric requested you be offered a guest room, but
Oh, no! Holly cried. I have a budget. I can afford to stay at a hotel. And Ill rent a car to get back and forth.
If youll let me finish, Alex said. I agreed that you can stay for the next three days. I cant imagine youll need any more time than that. And you can stay in the tack house. Its quite nice. Therere a couple of guest rooms with private baths and small kitchenettes. And you can use the pickup to get around. I can use my dads old truck.
But Ive been hired to stay through Christmas day, she replied. She stared down at her lap, then glanced back up at him. I know this is a little strange, me barging into your lives. Believe me, this is not the typical job for me. But I do intend to do it right and that will take more than three days.
How long can it take to put up a Christmas tree and a few strings of lights? he demanded.
She looked at him disdainfully, as if hed just asked her to build the Queen Mary III overnight. Actually, Mr. Marrin, the job will take quite a bit of time and attention. You have no decorations up and, from what your father tells me, you dont have any in storage. Between the exteriors and the interiors, there are at least three days of planning to be done. And with the budget, I can do some very special things. And Ive got baking to do and menus to plan and if youd like to throw a party or two Im perfectly capable of
He held out his hand to stop her. Slow down, Betty Crocker.
Martha Stewart, she muttered.
What?
Betty Crocker is a face on a cake box. Im really much more like Martha Stewart. She sighed impatiently and stared at her hands.
All right. Why dont we just see if everything goes all right, then well talk about extending yourearthly incarnation. But first, maybe youd like to tell me whos financing your visit.
She shrugged her delicate shoulders. I told you, I dont know.
Dont know, or cant say?
Both, Holly murmured.
A long silence spun out between them as Alex watched her intently. She shifted in her chair, and for a moment, he thought she might bolt. She left two years ago, he said, meeting her shocked gaze coolly. Four days before Christmas. Thats what youve wanted to ask, isnt it?
Itits none of my business, Holly replied as if questioning her curiosity was nothing more than an insult. I dont think its necessary for me to become personally involved in your lives to do my job. Im here to give your son, and you, a perfect Christmas. Im very good at my job, Mr. Marrin, and I dont think youll be disappointed.
This is for my son, Alex replied. Not me. Eric misses his mother around the holidays. Things have been difficult for him. He doesnt see much of her.
The meaning of his words couldnt have been clearer. He wasnt looking for another wife and he didnt want Holly Bennett to pretend to be Erics mother. He watched as she rose to her feet, her demeanor growing more distant with each passing moment. If thats all, then Ill be saying good night. Ive got a busy day in front of me tomorrow. If youll just point me in the direction of the tract house
Alex chuckled. Tack house. Its where we keep the saddles and bridles. We call that tack.
Im going to be sleeping in a storage shed? she asked.
I assure you, Miss Bennett, its quite nice. Now, where are your things? Alex asked.
My things?
Your halo and harp? You know, all your angel accoutrements?
My luggage is in the car. The driver is parked at the end of the driveway.
Alex nodded. Ill go get your bags and then Ill show you to your room.
Mr. Marrin, I
Alex, he said, pulling the library door open for her. He placed his hand on her back as she passed, then helped her into her coat. His palms lingered on her shoulders for a few seconds, her silken hair brushing his skin. Reason told him hed have to draw his hands away, but it had been so long since hed touched a woman, smelled the fresh scent of a womans hair, fought the overwhelming longing to make love to
Alex opened the front door and showed her out, drawing a deep breath of the crisp night air. The cold revived him, clearing his mind. Granted, she was beautifuland thoughtfuland unquestionably single-minded. But the last thing he needed in his life was a woman and all the trouble that came along with a romantic relationship.
No, hed keep his distance from this angel. And if he knew what was good for him, hed put any devilish fantasies right out of his head.
SHES AN ANGEL. I SWEAR!
For a moment, Holly wasnt sure where she was. Were the voices part of a dream? Slowly everything came back to her. Shed spent the night in Alex Marrins tack house. Though shed anticipated a storage shed, her room looked more like a quaint B & B than a barn. A beautiful field-stone fireplace dominated one wall of her bedroom, while the others were paneled with warm knotty pine. Across from the iron bed was a tiny galley kitchen and a whitewashed table and just outside the door was a pretty sitting area, decorated with old harnesses and riding prints and yellowed photos of very large horses.
She doesnt have wings, said an unfamiliar voice.
Holly slowly opened her eyes. When her vision focused, she found two little faces staring at her from close range. One she recognized as Eric Marrin. The other, a gap-toothed, freckle-faced boy, observed her as if she were an interesting lab specimen, pickled in formaldehyde and floating in a jar.
Can she fly? he said, lisping slightly through his missing front teeth.
Jeez, Kenny, shes not that kind of angel! Eric said. Shes a Christmas angel. Theyre different.
Whats wrong with her hair? Kenny asked.
Holding back a smile, Holly sleepily pushed up on one elbow. She looked at Eric then Kenny. Good morning. Kenny jumped back from the bed, a blush staining his cheeks, but Eric happily plopped down on the patchwork coverlet.
This is my friend, Kenny. He lives down the road. We go to school together.
Holly ran her fingers through her tangled hair and yawned. Judging by the feeble light coming through the window, it was still well before eight. The boys were dressed in jackets, both carrying backpacks. She groaned softly. Though her bed had been wonderfully cozy, her night had been plagued with strange and disjointed dreams. Unbidden images of Alex Marrin had been punctuated with a recurring nightmare that had her endlessly untangling tinsel and searching for the single bad bulb in a mile-long string of lights.
Why did Alex Marrin fascinate her so? Until yesterday evening, shed been ready to spend her life with Stephan! Yes, Alex was incredibly handsome. Perhaps it was the rugged, salt-of-the-earth image. Or maybe it was the wounded look she saw, deep in his eyes, the wariness that seemed to pervade his lean body whenever he looked at her. He seemed to exude excitement and a little bit of danger.