Authors: Violet Walker
Chapter Four
K
ara waited patiently—mostly patiently—for River to arrive for the Harwood Industries Christmas ball. He said he’d pick her up in a limo, but she wasn’t sure if he would even show up. His declaration of love on the island had stunned her. She’d hoped and, if pressed, she’d admit she had prayed, that he loved her back. She just hadn’t expected it.
To his credit, River hadn’t been upset, at least not visibly so. He’d been kind and romantic and sexy as hell for their remaining two days in paradise. But he was hurt, and there was a tension between them that hadn’t been there, not even when they were fighting like crazy. Kara had taken the long flight home and the past two days to think long and hard about what she wanted from life. From River.
She decided she wanted it all. Then she’d recruited Mrs. Miller, Margaret and some of the other old girls to help her pick out a ball gown that would take River’s breath away. It took longer than it should have, but in the end she’d come away with a beautiful rose-colored gown that highlighted her tan and fiery hair. The dress dipped almost to her navel in front, pressing her cleavage together for spectacular view. In back, it was nothing but lace and the full skirt clung to her curves and fell to the floor. She felt pretty and she hoped River agreed.
When the limo pulled up, she touched up her glossy lips and waited on the other side of the door for him. The second the ringer buzzed she pulled the door open with a nervous smile. “River. You look, striking. Very handsome.”
He didn’t smile but those deep blue eyes took in every detail. “As usual, Kara you are a vision. You take my breath away.”
She felt the flush rush up her chest, neck and face. “Thank you. Let me grab my wrap and my clutch and we can go.” He gave a short nod and her shoulders slumped as she grabbed what she needed for the night. “Alright, I’m ready to go.”
Inside the limo was deathly silent and tense. Kara didn’t know where to begin, but if she had any hope of a future with River, she needed to open her mouth. “River.” She waited for him to look at her, to acknowledge her presence. “River, please.”
“Just say it, Kara. You never use flowery words so just say what we both know you’re trying to say.”
She smiled at the return of that sexy Irish brogue. “You mean that?”
“Of course I do. Spit it out, woman!”
She bit her lip to keep from laughing. “Okay here goes. River, you stubborn son of a bitch, you arrogant prick, I love you.”
“See? That wasn’t so hard was…what?”
“I
said
, River you stubborn-”
He glared at her. “Yeah, yeah I got all that. Skip to the good part.”
“You arrogant prick?” He growled and she laughed. “Oh, you mean the part about me being in love with you?”
River pulled her in close and gave her the smile that was all teeth and dimples. His blue eyes sparkled with joy and affection. “Yes, that part, you crazy woman. You really love me?”
“I do.”
“Damn, I’m glad to hear you say that. The past few days have been miserable without you, sugar. I thought I would have to get used to a life without your red hair, big tits, bigger heart and smart mouth. I
hated
that thought.”
“I’m sorry I left you hanging that day. I knew I was in love you even before then and I hoped you might return my feelings, but I didn’t expect it. You threw me off and my brain just froze.” She kissed him gently but passionately. “I’m sure now of what I want, and it’s you River. I want us to stay married, to live together and eventually, to have a few little Rivers running around with potty mouths.”
“That sounds like the best version of heaven I’ve ever heard. I love you too, Kara. Will you stay married to me?” He pulled a ring from his pocket and held it up for her. It was a pink diamond, emerald cut with a sixteen smaller yellow diamonds circling it.
Her hands flew to her mouth and she felt tears burn her eyes. “Oh, River, it’s gorgeous.”
“No babe, you’re gorgeous.”
“I love you, River and yes, I would love to stay married to you. Forever.”
“Good because I’m never letting you go.” He kissed her neck until she shivered against him. “Sorry. I didn’t want to mess up those shiny lips. Every time I look at them, I think of them wrapped around my cock.”
Her core clenched at his words, her neck still bent to give him easy access. “Well you know,” she said in a breathy voice, “if you get the driver to circle a few times, we’d both be more relaxed when this ball kicks off.”
“Ron, circle the block a few times. I need some alone time with my wife.”
Epilogue
Oliver Harwood sat at the round table reserved for him and his children and looked on, thrilled to see each of them happy and in love. After the death of their parents, they were scared of being abandoned and unsure of their place in the world when they came to live with him. He’d done his best raising his niece and nephews into fine, upstanding citizens, and seeing them each aglow with love warmed his heart.
“I’m happy you’ve all finally come to your senses,” he told them, his voice booming over the excited conversation in the ballroom.
Rory sighed and rolled her eyes. “Yes, Uncle Ollie, you were right about everything.” She winked at Hunter and he pulled her in for a sweet kiss.
“I don’t know if I was right about everything, but I was right that Dean was in love with Krista.” He winked at the pretty blonde with her head on his oldest nephew’s shoulder. “And I knew that Rory needed to let go of past hurts so she could find happiness.”
“Yes, Uncle,” Dean placated. “We all bow down to your knowledge.”
“As well you should.” He turned his gaze to River. “You, my boy, I can’t believe you got married and none of your family was there to see it.” He shook his head but he was pleased River had found a woman he trusted enough to settle down with.
“Uncle Ollie, don’t worry,” Kara stood and put her arms around him, “we’re planning to do another wedding in the backyard at your place real soon. I’m hoping one of you boys will give me away since you’re the only family I have.”
River and Dean snickered at the way their uncle blushed under the spunky redhead’s charms. Oliver glared at them both. “Of course, honey, I’ll give you away since I assume Dean will be the best man.”
“Of course he will, won’t you?”
Dean grinned. “Only if you’re my best man.”
“Hey, you dickheads, what about me?”
Dean and River looked at each other, wariness clear on their faces. “Uh, well you can be my best woman, Rory. Sorry, River,” Dean looked stumped.
“I’ll throw your bachelorette party, Rory. There’s this great club in Vegas with the nicest bouncers.” She winked at River and giggled.
“I don’t want to know, but I’m down for a Vegas bachelorette party. Thanks, Kara.”
“Don’t worry, I’ve always wanted a sister. Krista you’re a mom but I’m happy to throw yours, too. Oooh, maybe we can do them together! When are you girls getting married?”
“As soon as possible,” Dean and Hunter roared at the same time.
The ladies laughed and looked at their men with love gleaming in their eyes. Rory lifted her champagne glass high in the air. “I’d like to propose a toast to the wonderful men in my life and the new sisters joining our family. Thank you all for your love and support, your kindness and kick in the pants,” she looked at Oliver. “Let’s make sure that we don’t wait until Christmas to remind each other how much we love and need each other.” She smiled mischievously, her eyes connected with each person at the table. “And let’s focus our matchmaking magic on getting Uncle Ollie hitched up.”
“Cheers!”
“Hear, Hear!”
Oliver groaned and buried his head in his hands. “Help us all,” he mumbled. “Merry Christmas, kids, and here’s to a wonderful New Year.”
“Merry Christmas, baby,” Krista whispered in Dean’s ear, “let’s get married on New Year’s Day.” His eyes widened but he nodded his agreement.
“Merry Christmas, sugar,” River planted a kiss on Kara’s lips and she smiled up at him.
“Same to you handsome. By the way, I’m late.” His blue eyes darkened and he pulled her onto his lap and whooped loud enough for the entire table to hear.
“Rory, you’re the best Christmas present I’ve ever gotten.”
She kissed him gently and smiled. “You too. Let’s aim for a smaller present for next Christmas,” she said and his eyes widened. He nodded and she kissed him again.
Oliver smiled. Everything was right in his world. His children were in love, the company was thriving and the house would be full on Christmas morning.
THE END
Out of the Cold
Billionaire Christmas Story
Book One
Violet Walker
Billionaire Christmas Story: Out of the Cold
T
hey left New York City behind in a thin rain, Henry Reid’s tricked out Jeep Cherokee powering along as if the highway was dry as a bone, easing through the aggressive Upstate traffic with the grace of a vehicle too big and heavy to risk hitting. Henry sat at the wheel, his fine, well-manicured hands gripping it steadily and his green eyes fixed on the road ahead. He was generous-featured and handsome, nose just a touch overlarge and smile lines starting at the corners of his eyes--maybe forty, Anna guessed. Whenever they were together she had the habit of watching his face like she wanted to memorize every detail.
Anna McCallister, twenty-three and his secretary, loved him with the kind of desperate adoration that was usually limited to schoolgirl crushes, and though it embarrassed her, it stayed in her head no matter what she did. She fell asleep to thoughts of running her fingers through his floppy coffee-colored hair, and woke up to thoughts of turning to see his sleeping face on the pillow beside her. As they drove, competing with late holiday-makers headed for dinner somewhere out in the Catskills, she kept stealing looks at him. Henry probably thought that she had agreed to spend her Christmas Eve with him because she was dedicated to their work, but Anna did it for the reason she did everything he ever asked of her: because, despite the complete impossibility of this real estate billionaire wanting to date “the help,” she lived to see him smile.
“I can’t wait until you see this thing,” Henry said excitedly. “Two hundred years old, stone, now with all the modern comforts. Solar array on the south roof, windmill, network cable in place. All we need is to order Internet and phone service, load cord wood into the shed and fill the oil tanks, and she’s completely ready to go. Bet she’ll sell in a month or two, even in winter.” Henry glanced at her, the excitement in his voice coloring his cheeks and making his eyes dance in a way that made her stomach do a little flip.
“It sounds great,” she replied with a little squeak in her voice that she couldn’t conceal. She was a small, voluptuous woman, her own hair a shade lighter than his, falling in waves to her mid-back when she let it loose. Not that he would know that--she kept it carefully tucked up in a bun for work. Her eyes were light gray-green, in contrast with his pine-colored irises, and she tended to line them with kohl to bring out their unusual pale color. She wore an wool aubergine suit today, one of her best thrift-store finds and warm enough, paired with fleece-lined tights, warm boots, gloves and a puffer vest, to take on the Catskills in late December. She hoped. In reality, she had only been Upstate a few times since moving to New York City from Delaware, and she still wondered if she was ready for what the locals termed “a real winter”.
“I hope so. James told me today that she’s ready for a tour, and I wanted to get it done before the holiday. I really hope you don’t mind spending Christmas Eve dinner with your boss.” He knew she had no family to speak of, but he didn’t know how much trouble she’d had making friends since she had come to the City. Shyness wasn’t an asset anywhere in the world, but in New York City it was a serious handicap, and she was struggling.
“I didn’t have any plans,” she admitted, but left it at that. The whole holiday thing depressed her; it drove home her loneliness and made her feel pathetic. Besides, the truth was that she couldn’t think of anyone in the world she’d rather spend a holiday with than him.
“It’s too bad I couldn’t swing by and pick up Monty,” he mused. “He just adores you. Of course, it will be nice to have a Christmas Eve dinner without his nose constantly poking out from under the table in search of scraps.”
She giggled a little, and his eyes twinkled in response. Her assistant's duties didn’t normally involve looking after overly-friendly Rhodesian Ridgebacks, but she spent so much time volunteering at the SPCA that handling rambunctious dogs was second nature to her. Now and again when Henry left out of town, he asked her to look after the big doofus, who was actually fairly well-behaved except for his begging habit. “I never really mind doggie begging. He’s a happy guy. We’ll just have to remember to bring him next time you take me out here to show off one of your houses.” She prayed that would be often, and soon. Just taking a quiet drive out to the country with him made her happier.
He nodded, flashing a brief grin. Restoring both the old houses and the local economy of this part of the Catskills was one of his personal missions. She had never met anyone who loved crumbling stone farmhouses as much as Henry and could only hope that the steady stream of holiday homebuyers he counted on materialized. He wasn’t hurting for money if the risks he took didn’t pan out, but she could imagine his disappointment if they didn’t. The whole area up here was economically depressed and filled with ancient, decrepit bits of American history begging for restoration. His dream was to bring jobs and money to the area by restoring those houses, and she had worked hard to help him in every way she could.
It was a three hour drive from the city into the west end of Ulster County, where his project restored houses in cooperation with the local housing initiative. His foreman on the project, a local named James Thompson, was scheduled to meet them there in a few hours. Meanwhile, there was nothing to do but sit next to the man whose company she coveted most and struggle to find something interesting to say.
Fortunately, Henry was a talker, always going on about his projects or his ambitions or his dog. Never girlfriends, she noticed, and he didn't wear a ring. That just added fuel to her inappropriate fantasies. Right now, she watched his lips move, that Cupid’s bow curve to them and the way a little smile kept coming through as he talked. “...Forgot to ask if you eat beef. Sorry about that. I figured I’d cook for us.”
Oh wow.
“Beef’s fine,” she mumbled, her heart rate jumping. He was going to cook for them. He might be crap at it for all she knew, but the thought was there. It was very hard not to misinterpret that as something romantic. She struggled with her feelings, and couldn’t stop smiling. “If I had known you were going all out I would have brought dessert.”
“Oh no, no problem, got it covered. I bake for a hobby, when Monty lets me anyway. He’s a damn muffin thief. That’s why he’s got a goddamn muffin butt. But anyway, don’t worry, I've got a Dutch apple pie in the trunk.”
God, could you be any more perfect?
She squirmed and clenched her knees together under her skirt, doing her best to fend off even more unrealistic but delightful daydreams.
Outside the window, bare trees flashed past, the ground carpeted in fallen leaves slowly graying as the season’s icy rain worked them down into the soil. It had snowed a few times so far, little more than frost, which melted away as soon as the sun touched it. Out here, though, winter was sinking its fangs into the land faster. She saw glimmers of snow on the peaks as they drove down the state route, and when she took off her glove and touched the window, the glass felt like ice.
“Did James say something about the weather?” he asked distractedly as he kept an eye on a tailgater in his rear-view mirror. People Upstate drove like they all had to pee. The beater Chevy behind them honked its horn, and she glanced at the speedometer. They were already five miles above the speed limit and it still wasn’t enough for this impatient ass. Henry let his foot off the gas gradually, slowing down incrementally until the Chevy driver was practically on their bumper. More honking. The idiot finally swerved over and passed them, flashing an obscene gesture out his window.
Anna let out her breath in relief. “God, if they’re in that much of a hurry they should just pass and be done with it,” she mumbled.
He grunted in agreement. “Yeah, well, that would take an actual effort besides stepping on the gas and laying on the horn. Folks should just disappear out of the way instead. Pull off the road, speed up to match them, otherwise just let ‘em through so they can keep being lead-footed assholes.”
“How do these people get through winter without ending up in a ditch?” she wondered aloud.
“Oh, well, trust me, a bunch of them do end up getting pulled out of ditches every damn year. James tells me stories. All we need is a little snow and ice and it turns into bumper-cars out here.” He laughed a little and then laughed louder as a rust-eaten Subaru took the place of the Chevy in his rear-view.
It was around five by the time they pulled off the state route onto the gravel drive that led up to the new project. Anna looked around eagerly as the trees flashed past, seeing a fox trot past a cluster of maples near the drive. A quarter mile up the hill, the drive opened out into a broad oval of gravel surrounding the detached garage --once an old carriage house, now sturdily rebuilt and with a steel shingle roof on top.
“And here we are!” Henry sounded proud as he pulled up to the garage and cut the engine. “What do you think?”
Anna looked up the hill above the garage and saw the farmhouse looming over them. It was large—she guessed at least three bedrooms--and of the same steel-roofed stone, but the south face of its roof was covered with solar panels. New double-paned windows gleamed in its walls, and stone planter boxes waited below, empty until spring. “It’s beautiful,” she said quietly, her mind still mostly on his smile. “I can’t wait to see the inside.”