Christmas Romance (The Best Christmas Romance of 2016): The Love List Christmas (8 page)

CHAPTER SEVEN

I wanted to host Thanksgiving dinner at my house. Even if my new friends already had plans, I knew Keaton would enjoy a full turkey dinner, but it didn’t hurt to ask everyone. Dakota had today off, so I started with her. I’d never thrown a holiday party before. William hadn’t liked them.

“Hello.” Dakota always sounded cheerful.

“Hey there. I know this is short notice but do you have plans for Thanksgiving?”

“No. Count me in.”

I mentally clapped my hands. “No problem. I’m going to call Maisey and see if she’s free, and I was thinking of inviting Kady, her son, and mom and dad too. Tegan, Rebecca and Chloe already mentioned they had plans.”

“Sounds like fun. I can’t wait. What should I bring?”

“Nothing. I’m going to do it all. How about starting the festivities at 4:00 p.m.?” My stomach fluttered at the thought of cooking for a large group. My gran did it while growing up, I was sure she could give me some pointers.

“I have to work every day until then to get that day off. See you then.” The phone clicked in my ear.

Maisey said she’d love to come, that she didn’t have any plans, but she wouldn’t be bringing Sean. She didn’t elaborate. Maybe they were having relationship problems.

Kady was ecstatic and was bringing Editon, her son Noah, and mom and dad. It was going to be a full house.

Keaton had an emergency at the clinic Thanksgiving Day and didn’t know what time he’d be over to help setup for dinner. He felt terrible but I had it handled. I’d been planning every detail for the last two weeks.

The turkey was in the oven, the potatoes were mashed, the gravy was waiting for the yummy drippings, and all my appetizers were waiting for my guests to arrive. When I heard tires crunch on the freshly packed snow, I popped the baked brie in puff pastry with caramelized pecans and apples, along with bacon-wrapped stuffed jalapenos in the oven. Several bottles of red wine were breathing and the white wine was chilling in the refrigerator.

Kady, Editon and her family arrived first and Maisey and Dakota drove up shortly after.

“Come in and get warm.” I stored everyone’s coats and purses in the back bedroom. The dog and kittens were tucked in my bedroom.

“Where’s Keaton?” Editon looked around.

“He’ll be here soon. What can I get you to drink?” Everyone rattled off their drink choices.

Kady stepped into the kitchen. “Let me help you with the wine and I’ll get Noah a root beer.”

“Great. Thank you.”

Maisey and Dakota walked in and Dakota sniffed the air. “Something smells wonderful. What can we do?”

“Do you mind setting the appetizers out? I pointed to the counter. “They are fresh out of the oven.”

“You bet.” They each took a platter and left the kitchen.

“I wish Keaton didn’t have to work, but a little Chihuahua swallowed a turkey bone. Keaton gave him something to make it pass so he wouldn’t have to perform surgery. He’s staying to see which way things go.”

Kady chuckled at how I phrased the predicament. She sipped her wine and got a dreamy look in her eye. “Did you ever tell Keaton about The Love List? I guess a lot of the single guys in town know about The Love List.
They have mixed feelings about the whole thing. Do you think Keaton would mind if his name was in the basket?”

“Yes. I do.” Keaton stepped farther into the kitchen. “Did you draw my name? Is that why you went out with me?” He sounded hurt.

Kady grabbed the root beer and a couple bottles of wine. “Take your time. I’ll entertain everyone.” She didn’t wait for our reply and left the kitchen.

I reached out and touched his arm. “No. I already met you. The girls knew I cared for you. They rigged it so when it was my turn all the pieces of paper had your name on them.”

“If you cared for me, then why did you choose a name?”

“We were drinking and laughing and I wasn’t taking it seriously. I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings. I care deeply for you.”

Before he could respond, the phone rang and the timer on the turkey went off. “Would you mind answering that while I check on dinner?”

“Yes. I guess I overreacted.” Keaton reached for the phone. “I’m just tired and hungry.”

“I’ll get you something to snack on in a minute.” I opened the oven and read the thermometer. It was time to take the turkey out.

“Hello.” Keaton’s face turned red after a moment of listening. “Who is this?” He listened some more, his expression hardened and then handed the phone to me.

I took the phone and whispered to Keaton, “Who is it?”

“Your boyfriend, Wayne The one you left behind after your three month vacation in Florida. Is that what this is? Just a three month fling?” Sadness clouded his features.

“No!” First, The Love List and now Wayne. No wonder he was upset. “Let me explain, please…”

He unclenched his jaw. “Okay.”

I put my ear to the phone. “Expect a visit from the authorities, Wayne. I will not put up with this harassment any longer.”

“But I’m here in Vine Grove. I thought if you saw me in person, you’d change your mind and come back to Miami with me.”

I needed this craziness to end. “Where are you?”

“I’m staying at the Mountain Inn.”

“Can I call you back?”

“Yes! Call me right back.” He hung up. Wayne’s excitement was scary as hell.

I touched Keaton’s hand. “That was the guy I told you about. He’s nuts. Do you know anyone on the police force?”

“Yes. I have a good friend. Are you going to file charges?” Keaton’s steely voice reassured me everything would be all right.

“Yes.” I took a deep breath and put my heart on the line. “Keaton, I don’t plan to leave. I’ve been soul searching for several months, but I feel like Vine Grove is home.”

Keaton waited patiently for me to continue.

“I’m sorry for the misunderstanding about The Love List and especially for Wayne. He was never my boyfriend. I never cared for him like I do you. I love you, Keaton.”

Then his whole body relaxed and he hugged me. “You love me?”

“Yes,” I breathed in his ear.

He captured my face between his palms and kissed me gently. “I love you, too. Deep down, I was scared you would leave in January so I never asked if you were staying—I should have.”

“And I should have been more open about my plans.” I bit my lower lip. “Are
we
okay?”

“We are more than okay. We’re in love.” Keaton slipped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me close, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

“Let me go call my buddy, Joe and have Wayne held until Joe can contact the officer in Miami. Joe will need to verify your story, but I can attest to the phone call just now.”

“Thank you. I’m sorry this happened.”

Keaton squeezed my shoulder and kissed the top of my head. “Everything will work out. Write down where he’s staying, his phone number, and your contact in Miami.”

I wrote everything down and then sniffed the air. I broke away. “Crap. I need to get the turkey out of the oven before it dries out.” I opened the oven and removed the turkey along with the potatoes and rolls.

“I’ll go make the phone call and then entertain our guests while you put the finishing touches on dinner. How does that sound?”

“Perfect.” He took my hand and pulled it to his mouth, gently kissing my fingertips. He grabbed another quick kiss before leaving the kitchen.

My heart melted.

When Wayne was taken into custody he became angry, uncooperative, and punched a deputy. They ran his prints and it turned out I wasn’t the only women Wayne had stalked and swindled. He had additional charges for fraud and identity theft he was going to face when he transported back to Miami. I was assured I wouldn’t be hearing from Wayne again.

CHAPTER EIGHT

November made its way quickly into December with snow and sleet. Snow I could handle, sleet was a different matter. Kettle and Corn wormed their way into my heart and became permanent residents in my home. Scorch loved and looked after them as if they were his own. The Thanksgiving decorations were taken down and boxed up and I spent several days putting up the Christmas tree and decorating the inside of the house. Keaton put up white snowflake lights on the outside for me. Scented candles perfumed the house with a cinnamon and apple pie scent.

The Que Syrah Syrah Wine Shop was hosting their annual Christmas Wine Dinner on Christmas Eve and I couldn’t wait. There weren’t many opportunities to dress up in Vine Grove, but I’d been told this was the one event everyone attended and dressed to the hilt.

Driving anywhere other than Vine Grove to shop for a dress was out of the question. Gran had a personal shopper who promised she would find me the prefect holiday dress. The event was one week away and the dress wasn’t here yet. More importantly, I hadn’t found the perfect Christmas gift for Keaton.

My gran was full of ideas. She’d see and done it all before. “Hi Gran. Happy Holidays.”

“Oh my dear, it’s so good to hear from you. How are you?” Gran’s warm voice worked on calming my anxiety.

“I’m terrific. I’d be super terrific if my dress was here.” I rubbed between my eyebrows with my finger. A headache was forming.

“It was shipped today for overnight delivery. I personally viewed it and it’s spectacular. Nobody in Vine Grove will have anything like it.”

“It’s not made of meat like Lady Gaga’s dress is it?” That got a youthful giggle out of Gran.

“No, honey. It’s all silver and shimmers brilliantly when it moves. Keaton won’t let you out of his sight.”

“It’s worth the waiting and anxiety, then. Now I have to figure out what to buy Keaton for Christmas. Any ideas?”

“I do. There are tons of organizations that help animals out there. There is one I’m particularly fond of. I can email you their website. Shelters are in need of repair and support services for their animals, but do not have the operating budgets to implement needed changes. That’s where volunteers and professional advisors come in, but they need funding. You could donate money in Keaton’s name.”

“That’s the perfect gift for such a giving, caring person and one who adores animals as much as I do. I already bought him a ‘first Christmas together’ ornament.”

“I’m two-for-two today. Enjoy your party and I’ll see you on New Year’s Eve. I can’t wait to see your little town and all its wonderful people.”

“I love you and can’t wait to see you, too. Talk to you soon.”

“Bye, honey.”

It didn’t take long to purchase Keaton’s present. I printed it and slipped it into his Christmas card.

CHAPTER NINE

Christmas Eve

The night of the Christmas Wine Party, Keaton arrived right on time. When I opened the door, awe transformed his handsome face into a boy-like-grin.

“You look absolutely amazing.” He picked up my hand and kissed the back of it. “You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen and the only one I’ve ever loved.”

“I love you, too.” His heartfelt words brought tears to my eyes. I dabbed at them before they spilled over and ruined hours’ worth of preparation. “I will not cry, I will not cry,” I chanted and he laughed.

“Come on.” He took my hand. “We don’t want to be late for the Christmas party.”

Several inches of snow had accumulated throughout the day. Vine Grove looked like a fairy tale winter wonderland. The majority of homes sparkled with lights as we drove through town.

The lodge where the Christmas party was being held was something out of a
Better Homes and Gardens
magazine. Large and small poinsettias sat prominently on the tables and in each corner of the room. The large stone fireplace glowed with warmth and ambiance. Lighted wreaths decorated with poinsettias, acorns, dried berries, and colored ornament balls hung from the walls. The large mantel had mini trees, LED candles, and lots of fragrant greens. Decorative reindeer with the poinsettias sat in each corner of the room. Christmas music played softly in the background and the scent of cinnamon and berries wafted through out the room. Everything felt right—the people, the atmosphere, and especially being here witty Keaton.

We drank spectacular wine, nibbled on amazing appetizers and mingled with our friends. When a romantic song started to play, Keaton took my hand and led me to the double doors leading outside.

“Would you like to take a stroll?”

“I’d go anywhere with you.” I wound my hands behind his neck and pulled him down for a kiss, just a brush of my mouth to his. No man had ever made me feel the way Keaton did. Then he took my face in his hands and gave me a tender kiss. He had magnificent lips, smooth and warm, and I could feel every dip and arc of his lips.

Keaton took my hand and led me to the heated, enclosed garden gazebo and pulled me down to sit on his lap, kissed me, and then wrapped me in his embrace.

“I love you with all my heart and soul,” he declared and then reached into his pocket and removed a small, gold paper wrapped box and held it out to me.

“We said we wouldn’t open our presents until Christmas morning.” I stroked the satiny paper.

“I know.” Love glowed brightly in his eyes. “This isn’t your Christmas present. Will you open the box?”

My happiness—my destiny—lay in that little box. “Yes!” I hugged Keaton tight and never planned to let go for the rest of my life.

Keaton grinned. “You have to open the box first before you say yes, my love.”

We both laughed and Scorch and the kittens opened their eyes to see what was going on. When they didn’t see anything interesting, they went back to sleep.

“I guess I got ahead of myself.” The paper slid off easily and I carefully opened the box. Inside, nestled in satin, lay a single solitaire set in platinum—the most beautiful ring I’d ever seen. Tears of happiness filled my eyes and I let them fall. “Can I say yes now?”

The corners of his mouth turned up. “If you’re saying yes to a lifetime of being my wife, partner, and best friend, then please do.”

“Yes! I’ll be all of those things and more…I love you.” Keaton slipped the beautiful ring on my finger. “This is the best Christmas ever. I can’t wait for many more…”

“Merry Christmas, my love.”