Her Christmas Hero (Home To Dover 6) (12 page)

“That would be real nice. Now that I see all the lights and stuff going up, I’d sure hate to be the Scrooge with the dark storefront window this weekend.”

Laughter escaped her throat and she clasped her hands together. She wanted to spread her arms wide and dance around the park, but first she had to find the generous person who’d paid for the lights. “Thank You, Lord. You are always faithful.”

With the decorations well in hand, Gemma returned to her office, trying to figure out what had caused Linc’s change of heart about the Christmas events. Maybe Caroline was right and she was too quick to think the worst. Over time it had become a habit. One that she should work to change.

The sight of Linc high in the bucket hanging lights—lights he’d been opposed to—filled her with an unusual kind of happiness. She couldn’t deny her attraction to him any longer. He invaded her thoughts at night, she wondered about him during the day, and when he was near, she wanted to watch his every move. The way he walked, quick and deliberate, the way he rubbed his forehead when he was irritated or troubled. How he always stood with his weight thrust onto one hip, a masculine pose that only made him more attractive. But most important, she was beginning to think he was a man she could trust. A man who could be counted on.

It had been a long time since she’d even considered that idea. The thought tied her stomach in a knot.

Because what if she was mistaken? She’d been wrong before. Horribly wrong.

Chapter Nine

L
inc secured the end of the wire to the top edge of the building, then leaned back and examined his work. The clear lights outlined the facade of the old abandoned hotel and the windows. He knew there were more lights to position on the lower level, but he couldn’t make heads nor tails of Gemma’s plans. Clearly her months working for Montgomery Electric hadn’t taught her the proper way to lay out wiring.

Glancing downward he stared at the front door of the Chamber offices, hoping for a glimpse of Gemma. He’d expected her to be scurrying around below making sure everyone did things properly, but she’d barely acknowledged him with a halfhearted wave, then retreated into her office. Of course she hadn’t known he’d be here this morning. He’d made all the arrangements without consulting her. It avoided any more confrontations. He shoved aside the thought that she might not appreciate his stepping in to fix things. He’d cross that bridge if and when he came to it.

Linc grasped the controls and lowered the bucket. Time to talk to the lady in person. Not an unpleasant prospect. She’d looked stunned to find him hanging lights. She wasn’t alone in that. He’d never expected to be helping this way. After the shock of Leon’s embezzlement, and in the wake of Gemma’s determination to press on with the events, he’d found himself unwilling to let her dream or her hard work fail. Gemma had captivated him with her ability to accomplish things with a smile and enthusiasm. She’d quickly risen to the occasion, and even with the lack of funds, had found alternative ways to keep the events on track. She’d eased fears, boosted morale and inspired confidence. Everyone was counting on these events, and in a way, so was he. It was why he’d ensured their success, despite the cost.

Safely back on the sidewalk, Linc placed a call to Gemma, who agreed to meet him with the design layout so he could finish the hotel. The sight of her hurrying across the street made him smile. In her dark jeans and soft white sweater she exuded an energy and a grace that was a delight to watch. Though lately, everything she did delighted him.

She stopped in front of him, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek. “Show me what you’re confused about.” He nearly blurted out that he was confused by her. She had him viewing everything in his life differently, and his emotional circuits were so overloaded he couldn’t sleep anymore. Clearing his throat, he opened the plans and pointed to the large overhanging metal canopy that jutted out from the hotel. “I have no idea where you want this string of lights.”

She gave him a quick explanation, which, had he been blessed with even a dab of imagination, he could have figured out. He shrugged. “Yeah, that makes sense.” He studied the adjacent building. It would be much simpler. The lights would follow the roofline and outline the arched windows across the front.

He looked at Gemma. She studied him with a concerned expression. “Something wrong?”

“Why are you so angry all the time?”

“What? I’m not angry.”

“Then, why do you always have a frown on your face?” She placed her fingers on the spot above his nose between his eyes. He inhaled sharply at the warmth in her touch that radiated down to his toes.

Her eyes widened. “I’m sorry. I’m getting too personal.”

He grasped her wrist, his thumb resting on her pulse point. It was racing. Her skin was warm and incredibly soft. “It’s okay. You’re not the first person to comment that I scowl a lot.”

Her eyes locked with his and held him captive. He realized there were tiny gold flecks in her deep green eyes. The air between them hummed like an alternating current, linking them with an invisible force. She blinked, her long lashes brushing against her cheeks. When she met his gaze again her eyes glinted with warmth.

“Maybe you should do something for fun. Something that would make you smile more.”

She sounded breathless, as if she’d just been kissed, or wanted to be. She pulled her hand from his grasp, leaving him with an odd empty feeling in the middle of his chest.

“So what do you usually do for fun?”

Linc tried to remember the last time he’d done anything for the pure pleasure of it. “I run in the morning.”

“That’s for exercise, not fun.”

“I had fun coaching the boys. I think I might volunteer to coach basketball. The church has a team starting up after New Year’s.”

She clutched the papers to her chest. “You’re good at it, and it did make you smile.”

There was an appreciative twinkle in her eyes that gave him courage. “You like my smile?”

She shrugged. “It’s not bad. I could stand to see more of it.”

“Because you like my smile or because you want me happy?”

“Everyone should be happy. Come on. There must be something you look forward to?”

Being with you
. He stopped the words from being spoken. “I used to look forward to breakfast with my dad. Every Saturday we’d go to the Magnolia Diner, sit in the last booth by the window and discuss things. Just the two of us.”

“Did he do that with the others?”

“Yes. They each had their own special time and place.” Linc caught a flicker of envy in her green eyes and recalled her comments about her family. Maybe she’d never known that kind of family closeness. Gemma looked at him with concern in her eyes.

“Maybe you should go to the diner and have breakfast one morning. Say goodbye. It might ease the pain a little.”

“Alone? It wouldn’t be the same.”

“I’ll go with you.” She blinked as if she’d not meant to say the words out loud. “I mean...I like breakfast, that is.”

He’d like nothing better than to share a morning with her. And Evan. Maybe he could start a new tradition. “How about this Saturday?”

“I can’t. That’s the judging of the lamppost contest. Your mom is a judge and she volunteered you to watch Evan. But I’m sure he’d love to have breakfast with you and carry on the tradition.”

The implications sent Linc’s pulse racing. Having a family of his own had been something he thought about, but always in the distant future. Lately he’d been thinking more and more about a settled life, something more than running Montgomery Electrical.

“The frown is back.”

Linc looked into Gemma’s smiling eyes. “Sorry, I guess I do have a lot on my mind. With Dad gone I have to step up and fill in.”

“You’re not your dad. You can’t do things the way he did. You have to find your own path. Do things the way that works for you.”

He tapped her chin with one finger. “That’s good advice. How did you get so smart?”

“I’ve had to carve out my own path my whole life. Following in my parents’ footsteps was never an option for me.” She bit her lip, then smiled. “Thank you for hanging the lights. Does this mean you’re finally behind the new celebrations?”

The light in her deep green eyes warmed his heart. He didn’t want her to ever be disappointed. “I guess it does.”

“Good. I’m glad we’re finally on the same side.”

“Me, too.” He watched her walk away, wishing she would stay at his side. Always.

* * *

Settled at her desk once more, Gemma tried to focus on the Christmas events, but thoughts of Linc kept diverting her attention. She touched her wrist, the one he’d held, reliving the feel of his fingers on her skin. There was a magnetic force between them. An energy that she couldn’t ignore, and it had all started when she saw him high in the bucket, hanging lights.

What had prompted him to help? It was a far cry from his earlier attitude, and while she was grateful, his change of heart left her off balance. His story about having breakfast with his dad had replayed in her thoughts, too, filling her with envy. She had no such memories. No warm fuzzy recollections of family get-togethers or special times with her parents. In her home you stayed quiet, invisible and made sure you got As on all your schoolwork.

Leatha appeared in front of the desk, peering over the rim of her glasses. “Gemma. Have you decided what to do about the nativity?”

Shoving aside thoughts of Linc, she focused on the next problem. “I suppose I’m going to have to go back to the storage building and take another look at the old one.” She’d ordered a new nativity, but with no money to pay for it, she’d had to cancel.

“I know you had your heart set on that shiny new nativity, but folks here had a deep affection for that old one. Some of them were sad to hear it wasn’t being used this year.”

“Let me guess. It was a tradition, right?”

“Yes, but it was more than that. Most people in Dover have probably forgotten, but the nativity was donated to the town by the Ballard family after the death of their infant son on Christmas Eve.”

Gemma exhaled a sigh. “Oh, how sad.”

“It was a difficult time. The Ballards were a well-loved family here. The town held a vigil for the baby for several years. The family eventually moved away, but the nativity always held a special significance at Christmas.”

“I appreciate you sharing that with me. I’ll take another look at the old one. Maybe we can get another year out of it.”

It was late afternoon before Gemma found time to visit the storage building. She went immediately to the section she’d set aside for the items she planned to discard. The old nativity was near the front of the pile. Besides the canceled parade, her decision to order a new nativity had been another thing Linc had balked at. The twelve-piece set was faded and weather-beaten. The baby Jesus figure had a large hole in its side, hardly the image of the baby savior she wanted to present to new visitors. As she ran her fingers over the large gash, a scripture came to mind, reminding her of why He’d come to earth in the first place. Not to be a sweet baby in a manger but a man on a cross who died to redeem his children.

Hot tears stung the backs of her eyes. Maybe she’d been too quick to dismiss all traditions as pointless. Looking at the nativity now, she saw it in new light, a way to honor the memory of the child who was lost and the child who came to save the lost.

She’d fussed at Linc for not knowing the roots of the traditions he cherished. She owed him an apology. The more time she spent in Dover, the more she came to see that holding on to certain things in the past might be necessary. Remembering happy times or people who were no longer with us could be comforting. Most things in her past she’d worked hard to forget.

The nativity was dirty and faded, and making it presentable would be time-consuming, but she felt confident Leatha would know someone who could handle it.

A loud snap split the quiet air. A shudder shot down her spine, making her aware of how alone and isolated she was in the old building. Linc’s warning to not come here by herself took on new meaning. She wished he was here. His steady, dependable presence always made her feel protected and special. And each time she was with him she took a step closer to the cliff called “falling in love.” It was a very dangerous place to go.

But she didn’t think she could turn back now. Linc was too tightly intertwined with her life and Evan’s. Each day he wrapped another layer of himself around her heart. His kindness, his consideration, his affection for her son, his fierce need to protect those he cared about... She was coming to understand that it derived from a well of love, and not a need to control as she’d first thought.

But there was a fine line between those two things, wasn’t there? Or was it her fear talking? The rafters above creaked. Time to get out of here and back to work. Questions about Linc would have to wait.

* * *

Gemma shoved her hands into her pockets as she crossed the courthouse square Friday evening. The past week had been hectic, but exhilarating. The lights had gone up on the buildings, the street drapes installed, garlands hung along the wrought iron fence surrounding the courthouse park. The Dover bank had donated a giant tree for the square, their way of compensating for the mess Leon had created, and local church members had come together to decorate it. The tree and the brightly lit gazebo nearby were the crowning glory of the park. Santa had a special tent covering his throne, surrounded by fake packages and a few plastic reindeer.

Tonight was the grand lighting, and she’d promised to watch with Evan and Francie. The temperatures had fallen, making it perfect for visitors to watch the lights and stroll through town. She dodged a couple standing in the middle of the walkway as she headed to the far end of the park, every nerve in her body alive and rejoicing. Her campaign had succeeded. Dover’s downtown streets were teeming with visitors. She sent up a prayer of thanks and one for the upcoming weekends. She’d come to love the small town, and her desire to succeed now went beyond wanting to do a good job. She wanted to be a part of their growth.

“When are the lights supposed to come on?”

The couple Gemma walked by were glancing around the darkened town. Only the usual streetlights illuminated the square. Gemma slowed and smiled. “In about ten minutes. Welcome to Dover. We’re so glad you’re visiting.”

The woman smiled. “Are you the mayor?”

Gemma chuckled. “No. I’m with the Chamber of Commerce.” She answered a few more questions before hurrying on. She wanted to be with Evan when the lights came on. She’d done all she could at this point. Linc had assigned one of his best men, Ike Walker, to take control of the actual throwing of the switch. He’d been invaluable in getting everything coordinated and connected so the whole downtown would burst into light at the moment the switch was thrown. All that was left for her to do was stand back and wait, and pray that everything went according to plan.

Spotting her son near the west side of the park, she waved, only to halt midmotion. Francie was there, but so was Linc. Her mood hitched up a couple more notches and her pulse skipped. She’d been so busy this week she hadn’t actually talked to him in a few days. Her every minute had been taken up with organizing decorations, creating new designs on the fly and keeping her sanity. The events weren’t complicated, but keeping everything on track was.

“Hey, Mom. When will the lights go on?” Evan bounced up and down, unable to contain his excitement.

“Soon.” She glanced at Linc. There was an appreciative glint in his dark eyes that even the dim light couldn’t hide. She took up a position beside Francie and behind her son. Linc stood behind her, so close she could feel the warmth of his body and a whiff of his woodsy aftershave. She resisted the urge to lean back against him.