Almost a Christmas Bride Read online

  Shana hoped she could live up to Aggie’s expectations, and wished her parents had been as generous. They’d been much slower to put the past behind.

  Maybe she was being too hard on them. Her mother had come a long way in forgiving Shana for leaving and also accepting her back, but Shana sometimes wondered if it was more because of Emma, not her. Her father, always the strong, silent type, still rarely spoke to her. He’d mostly been the reason she’d run away—him and her own rebellious nature.

  She wanted forgiveness from her father for that. Since he wasn’t one to share his feelings, she doubted she would ever hear those words from him.

  “I love you, peapod,” Shana said to her daughter as she set her down to change her.

  Emma hadn’t learned to say I love you, yet. Shana was looking forward to it. She didn’t have any memories of her parents saying those words.

  “How about a bath?” Shana asked.

  “Bath!”

  That was an enthusiastic yes.

  After Emma had a splashy swim and two books read, Shana tucked her into her crib, then she fixed a cup of tea and sat down for what felt like the first time all day. Filled boxes were stacked in one corner of the living room, waiting to be taken to Kincaid’s.

  She closed her eyes and leaned her head against the sofa, then the phone rang. Her sister.

  “Hey, Dix! It’s 6:00 a. m. where you are.”

  “How do you do that?” Dixie asked with a laugh. “I always have to look at the clock and count the time difference on my fingers.”

  “We all have our talents.”

  “I guess we do, math whiz. I got your message, but Joe and I were out of cell phone range. What’s up?”

  “I have…interesting news. I got a job. A full-time, permanent position, right here in Chance City.”

  “That’s wonderful! What is it?”

  “I’ll be working for Kincaid.” Shana waited for her sister’s reaction. Dixie knew how Shana felt about Kincaid.

  “Really? Is he hiring a bodyguard, too?”

  Shana laughed. She missed her sister so much. If only they could be sitting on the sofa together, talking about this situation over tea. “Very funny, Dix.”

  “Well, there is the whole I-can’t-stand-Kincaid thing you’ve had going since the day you met him. You two are like oil and water sometimes.”

  “I know, but it’s a chance to make a good life for Emma and me. I can’t turn that down.”

  “You really have grown up.”

  “I hope so. And some of that credit belongs to you. I couldn’t have made it without you, Dix, and that’s no exaggeration. But as grateful as I am, I can’t continue to clean the salon. I’m not going to have enough time.”

  “What all are you going to be doing?”

  “Everything. Helping with his business, drumming up design work, taking care of his home.”

  “His home?”

  “I’m moving in. Emma and I will be living there.”

  There was a long stretch of silence. “Live-in? Really, Shana, is that wise?”

  “I don’t know yet. I guess I’ll find out. But Dix, it means I can save money. In time I can have the life I’ve wanted for Emma and me.”

  “But…living together, Shana?”

  “He hired me through At Your Service. It’s all on the up-and-up.” She sounded defensive, even to herself. “Look, I know it seems odd, but I’m getting used to the idea. I think it’ll work out fine.”

  “What will Mom and Dad say?”

  Shana wished she could say she didn’t care, but it wasn’t true. “They’ll probably be embarrassed or offended. I can’t change that.”

  “Well, you’re an adult. You get to make your own decisions. As for the job at the salon, Jade could use the money, I’m sure. She’ll take it on, as well as her receptionist duties.” Dixie yawned, then laughed. “Sorry. We’ve put in long hours this week.”

  “You were supposed to be home by now. Eight-thousand miles from here to Tumari is way too far.”

  “I know. Oh, I’m so homesick, Shana. I’m aiming for Christmas in Chance City. I won’t care if I ever travel again in my entire life, although I wouldn’t have passed up this opportunity for anything. And Joe’s really shined, you know? But he misses everyone, too.”

  They chatted a little longer then said good-night. Shana picked up her tea again and sipped it, although it had cooled. She considered reheating it, but her thoughts wandered instead.

  Dixie had been gone for over six months. Had Kincaid gotten over her during that time? Or would having her home stir up old feelings? She understood what he’d seen in Dixie. She was smart and confident and beautiful, not to mention all those curves that men appreciated, whereas Shana was just…ordinary, and too thin, lacking curves. At least that should help in keeping things professional between her and Kincaid. Without physical attraction, it wouldn’t be complicated.

  She needed this job, and their relationship, to stay uncomplicated. For her sake, for Emma’s sake, for her chance at a happy life.

  Nothing mattered more than that.

  Kincaid had just said good-night to Dylan, who’d gone off to bed. They’d stayed up later than usual, Dylan too excited about moving into his own place to settle down, so they’d watched a movie and half of another before he yawned and headed to his room.

  Kincaid couldn’t settle down, either. Seeing Shana in his house, in his personal space, had been disconcerting. He’d thought since Dylan had been living there for a couple of months, and Kincaid had gotten accustomed to having someone around, that it wouldn’t be difficult to have Shana and Emma move in.

  Wrong. He’d hadn’t foreseen how much time he’d be spending alone with a woman he found attractive, if not exactly the kind of woman he usually went for, the fun-loving, easygoing women he tended to ask out.

  And then there was Emma. Not just busy but rambunctious. Curious.

  His phone rang. It was late, too late for a casual call.

  Then he saw the caller ID.

  He leveled out his voice. “Hello, Dixie.”

  “You’re moving her in with you?” she almost shouted.

  He winced a little. “You wanted me to help her. I’m helping.”

  “I did not ask you to move her into your house, Kincaid. I asked you to give her a job.”

  “You asked, and I quote, ‘Can you please help her in some way?’”

  “As in give her a job.”

  “I did that. Several jobs, actually, because I can’t give her enough work for one full-time job, so I needed to improvise. I decided I could use a housekeeper more than anything. She won’t have to pay rent, and she’ll have money left over at the end of the week. Now, what’s your objection?”

  “If she finds out I had anything to do with this—”

  “I already promised you she wouldn’t. What else?” Because he knew there was more. He was just waiting for her to say it.

  “You can’t sleep with her, Kincaid.”

  “For the sake of argument, why not?” Because the idea wasn’t as impossible as he’d thought a couple of days ago.

  “Because you’re not the marrying kind, and she needs a marrying kind.”

  “I think that’s up to her, don’t you? Anyway, that’s not on my agenda. I thought you’d be happy. She’ll be in a safe place with plenty to do, and leisure time, as well. No more commuting to Sacramento. A backyard for Emma. I think I hit the ball out of the park for you.”

  “I’ll be keeping close tabs. I’ll call her a lot.”

  “I’m sure she’ll like that.” He found himself grinning. Dixie could be almost as stubborn as Shana.

  “So, I should just say thank you?”

  “That would be nice. I’ve disrupted my life a lot for you.”

  “Thank you.”

  He laughed. “That didn’t sound too sincere.”

  “I’m awaiting the outcome. I do appreciate that you are doing something for her. I’m just worried about exactly what that
is.”

  “You trust me, or you wouldn’t have asked,” he said, taking the stress level down a few notches. “I’ll do right by your sister.”

  “Thank you,” she said, a genuine tone in her voice this time.

  “You’re welcome. Feel free to call and check anytime.”

  “I will.”

  He laughed then they hung up. Having Dixie find out about the live-in situation had been his biggest hurdle, and he’d jumped it.

  You can’t sleep with her. It hadn’t been on his mind for the past year, yet suddenly the idea of it was there, circling him, burning the image in his head.

  He was counting on the fact she would be difficult to live with, which would keep his libido under control. That, and Emma, who would be around all the time, too.

  He should be in for one helluva time.

  Chapter Four

  Respite, Dixie’s day spa, was like most hair salons or barbershops in small-town America—a place where advice was sought and dispensed, problems debated and solved, and gossip spread, true or speculative. As Kincaid pulled into the parking lot behind the building, Dylan in his truck behind him, he anticipated a small, curious crowd inside. There was no outside access to the apartment, so Kincaid and Dylan had no choice but to enter the female-occupied space. Kincaid and a few other men in town got their hair cut at Respite, but he saw only women today.

  “Ladies,” he said. “I’d like you to meet Dylan Vargas. He’s the new upstairs tenant. Be gentle with him, okay?”

  “Aw, Kincaid, you’re no fun,” Aggie McCoy said, looking like some kind of alien, with foil sticking out from her head and black dye at her roots. “Dylan, have you met my granddaughter, Posey?”

  “No, ma’am, I haven’t.” Dylan nodded to the cute teenager seated in a chair next to her grandmother, having her hair cut and looking embarrassed about the new boy in town seeing her looking less than perfect. Her cheeks flushed pink.

  And so it begins, Kincaid thought, stopping short of heaving a sigh. And he’ll have a place of his own. Great….

  They’d had the birds-and-bees talk last night. Kincaid had been direct and graphic with the boy, because apparently his father never had been. Dylan was startlingly naive. Kincaid hoped he’d cured him of that. Being armed with information was a whole lot better than ignorance or guesswork.

  “Posey’s seventeen,” Kincaid said as he and Dylan climbed the stairs a minute later.

  “Got it,” Dylan said.

  Kincaid glanced back down and saw all the women watching them. “I think we’d better design a plan to move your entrance to the outside so you don’t have to interrupt the clients in their private domain.”

  “Fine by me,” Dylan said, sounding relieved.

  The upstairs door was open, so they climbed the child gate and went inside. “We’re here,” Kincaid called out.

  Emma came running. Kincaid crouched down in time to catch her as she neared, but she came to a quick stop, keeping her distance.

  “Good morning, Miss Emma.”

  “No Kinky!”

  Dylan laughed. “Kinky? Seriously?”

  “Dilly up!” Emma said, raising her arms.

  “Dilly? Seriously?” Kincaid said, feeling rebuffed as Dylan lifted her into his arms, looking only slightly uncomfortable at the nickname.

  “Dilly, Dilly,” she said, patting his face.

  “Where’s Mommy?” Kincaid asked.

  Emma pointed. Shana had come up behind him.

  “Good morning,” she said. “I’m packed and ready to go, except that I haven’t taken the crib apart. But first, Aggie brought some homemade apple turnovers for all of us.”

  She headed to the kitchen, and Kincaid found himself staring at her rear. She was slender but with curves in all the right places. Not that he hadn’t noticed before, but he was finding himself more aware of her than he had been before.

  Which probably wasn’t a good thing.

  As they dug into the turnovers they talked about the day’s plan of attack. Load her possessions into Kincaid’s truck, unload Dylan’s and haul them upstairs, although he had few possessions. Then they would all head to Kincaid’s to unload Shana’s things and set up the crib.

  They traipsed through the salon back and forth, back and forth, until everything was loaded and unloaded. Aggie offered to keep Emma, but Shana thought she should be part of the move. By seeing her crib set up in her new bedroom, she would more readily accept that she would be sleeping there.

  “Do you think that’s all it will take?” Kincaid asked as Shana buckled Emma in her car seat to head to his house. “She’ll see her crib and that’s that?”

  “I don’t think the house change will be a problem. She’s been babysat by a lot of different people and is used to that. I think the biggest adjustment may come from me not sleeping in the same room with her.”

  “She, uh, doesn’t have temper tantrums, does she?” he asked, suddenly wondering what he’d agreed to take on.

  “Occasionally.” She shut the car door and faced him. “I know this is going to be a big change for you, too.”

  She looked nervous, and he realized he wasn’t the only one worried that they were getting into something neither was ready for. “You already warned me that she’s busy.”

  “And noisy. Speak now or forever hold your peace.”

  He considered that for a moment. “A deal’s a deal.”

  “I’ll try to keep her away from you as much as possible,” she said tightly.

  She started to climb into the car, but he stopped her by putting a hand on her arm. The electricity of that one touch made him break contact immediately, and confused him.

  “I don’t expect you to keep her locked in her room. Just because I’m paying you a salary doesn’t mean you can’t consider my house your home, Shana. I don’t want you to feel like a visitor. I figure I’ll get married someday and have children. Emma will be good experience for me.”

  He’d been trying to make her relax, but her expression indicated he hadn’t succeeded. She frowned in that way she had, where her lips pinched together and her nose wrinkled. He fought the sudden urge to kiss that frown away.

  “If you have plans to get married, why did you invite me to move in?” she asked sharply.

  “It’s not like I have someone lined up at the door. I’m just saying that I’ll probably want a family at some point. Can we leave it at that?” The truth was that he’d rarely thought about it, especially about having children. It had always seemed like something for the future, if ever. Then the years just continued to pass.

  “Did you get a date for tonight?” she asked, not seeming appeased by his answer.

  “I said I would.”

  “Who?”

  “You don’t know her.”

  “What’s her name?”

  She sounded a little angry or annoyed or something, which he couldn’t figure out, since she was the one who’d demanded he take a date to the Stompin’ Grounds tonight.

  “Hey, boss! I’ve got to get to Gavin and Becca’s for lunch, remember?” Dylan shouted. He was waiting in his truck, his engine running, to follow them and help unpack.

  “We’ll meet you at the house,” Kincaid called out to Dylan, then to Shana he said, “We can finish this another time.”

  A few minutes later they all pulled up at the house. Because Emma was already overdue for her morning nap, Kincaid and Dylan put the crib together first. Kincaid was aware of Shana coming in and out of the room with boxes. Emma sometimes followed her to the gated landing and sometimes stayed in the room, “helping.” A Jack and Jill bathroom connected the two upstairs bedrooms. With both bathroom doors open, she had free range of the rooms.

  He’d been a little surprised Shana had taken the upstairs rooms, close to his. He’d fully expected her to stay downstairs. It’d seemed easier with Emma, not having to go up and down stairs as much.

  As Shana unpacked, Kincaid was hit by the responsibility of making sure Emma didn�
��t get into trouble. He’d never had to watch where he put his tools before, and suddenly the realization of what could happen had him sitting back on his haunches and worrying.

  “And you thought bringing me into your house was going to be a challenge to your hermit life,” Dylan said as he tightened the final screw on his side of the crib. His eyes were sparkling.

  “Yeah. What was I thinking?” Kincaid tried to joke back.

  “Are you sure you can handle it?”

  “It?”

  “Having Emma around. For that matter, having Shana here. It doesn’t take a psychic to see you got it bad for her.”

  Shana was making her way to Emma’s bedroom through the bathroom when she heard Dylan’s words. She stopped cold. Got it bad for her? She waited for Kincaid’s response.

  “Knock it off,” he said. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Was that true? Shana wondered. She didn’t want that. She wanted to do her job, and that was all. She’d told him from the beginning that everything had to be strictly business between them. She needed to be her own person. If he felt—

  “Sorry,” Dylan muttered.

  Shana backed out the bathroom then walked in again making enough noise to alert them.

  “Mama!” Emma called, running to her. “Night night.”

  “I’ll bet you’re tired, peapod. Are you hungry? Do you want to eat before you go to bed?”

  “No.” She said it defiantly, the way she always said no, but she tucked her head against Shana’s neck.

  “Is the crib about ready?” she asked, not looking at either of the men, uncomfortable now after Dylan’s statement.

  “All done,” Kincaid said.

  She walked up to Dylan. “Would you hold her for a second while I put the bedding on?”

  “I’m already late,” he said hesitantly, looking at Kincaid.

  “I’ll take her. You go ahead. Tell everyone I said hello.”

  “Me, too, please,” Shana said, then she passed Emma to Kincaid. Emma eyed him steadily, warily, but was tired enough not to fight it, apparently, although she didn’t snuggle against him. Shana made up the crib quickly, the ladybug and butterfly bedding a familiar sight for Emma to wake up to, even if the room wasn’t.