Holiday Wedding (21 page)

Her eyes watered. “Drew, I'm starting to realize Olivia wasn't the problem.”

“Then what is your problem?” He instantly regretted that sentence as soon as it flew out. “Our problem,” he tried to correct it.

“
My
problem is who's to say we should be together? Sure, we could give into our feelings and have an amazing night, but what about tomorrow or the next day, when you have cold feet again?”

Drew shoved his hands in his pockets. What did he need to do to convince her that he'd regretted what he'd done and he'd never hurt her again? “Lauren, I'm not going to have cold feet, second thoughts, or regrets, but obviously you do.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Earlier today when I tried to talk about us, you changed the subject. Not to mention just now when I brought up that Olivia and I were through.” He shook his head. “I might have had cold feet, but you're the one who called off the wedding. You dumped me.”

“Oh, so now this is all my fault?”

He shrugged his answer as the lights flickered and suddenly the cabin went dark.

“Well, just great,” she muttered. “I'm going to bed.” She attempted to cross the room and hit the end table. “Ouch! Dammit.”

“You okay?” He could barely make out her silhouette.

“I'm fine.”

Judging by her tone, that clearly wasn't the case. If she wanted to be alone, he'd help her upstairs. “Maybe there's a flashlight in this place. I'll check the kitchen.”

“There's one in my car,” she said. “In the glove compartment.”

“Don't go upstairs,” he ordered. “I'll be right back.”

He grabbed his coat and headed out the door, wanting to hit the rewind button on this evening. Too bad he'd already given his Wishing Tree wish away. It might have come in handy. Hopefully that woman with the matching silver snowflake was having a better night than he was.

He didn't blame Lauren for having doubts, but she wasn't giving him a chance. The wet snow smacked his face as he hurried to her car. Clicking the unlock button on the remote he flew open the passenger door and yanked open the glove compartment.

He tossed its contents onto the passenger seat. “Jesus, Lauren. Do you ever clean this out?” He remembered the time he'd gotten pulled over in Lauren's car for speeding on the 401 Highway. He'd had to search for her registration through a mound of items she'd stuffed in the compartment.

He found the flashlight and flipped on the switch. At least it worked and could guide them to their separate rooms since this night seemed to be a wrap. Maybe she'd be more reasonable in the morning.

He picked up the items on the passenger seat and began to shove them back in. The flashlight shone on what appeared to be a red and white scarf or something wrapped around shoes.

Wait a minute.
He reached again for the material, examining both it and the shoes with the flashlight. “Tights and shiny shoes?”

Candy Cane Sparkly Toes.
What was Olivia's costume doing in Lauren's glove compartment?

Grabbing the items, he slammed the car door and trudged through the snow back to the cabin.

“Lauren,” he yelled, kicked off his boots and returned to the living room. She was bent down, using the fire starter to light the logs.

“Did you find the flashlight?” She grabbed a fire poker. “I thought I'd at least get the fire going.”

“Are these yours?” He held up the stockings and shoes and turned the flashlight on the items that Olivia had on earlier. They had to be Lauren's. They needed to be Lauren's.

“Yeah. They were part of my elf costume your brother made me wear last week. I threw them in the glove compartment the night I picked you up at the airport. Olivia borrowed them today.”

“Thank God.” Relief rushed through him, as he squeezed the tights and then set them and the shoes on the coffee table.

“What's the big deal?”

With one swift motion he pulled her into his arms and cupped her face, this time determined for their lips to lock.

“What are you doing?” She peered up at him. “Shouldn't we go find the fuse box?”

“Lauren Kincaid, you are the love of my life and my soul mate.”

“Drew,” she whispered, setting down the fire poker. “I didn't mean to go all crazy tonight, but how are you so sure about us now when we've been living on separate continents for over a year?”

He brought her down to the white bear skin rug, encouraged that she wasn't pulling away this time. The glow from the crackling flames made her even more beautiful. As far as he was concerned, the electricity could stay off for the rest of the night.

Before sitting down beside her, he grabbed the tights and shoes.

“I've loved you from the first day we met on Waikiki beach in college. I love how you have always been a pack rat, cannot turn down a piña colada to save your life, and make the best cup of coffee I've ever tasted.”

She cocked an amused eyebrow. “That's what you love about me?”

“I love the woman you are, the amazingly talented professional you've become, and your unwavering loyalty to my family's legacy. I was out of my mind to let you walk away from me last summer. I knew it then, and I know it now.”

“Drew …”

He reached up and placed a finger on her soft lips. “And I love how that even though you know how hard this time of year is for me, you never give up.” His throat tightened. “You saved my dolls, you make me better—you always have. I know now I can't go on one minute longer living my life without you in it.”

He grabbed the elf costume, grinning. “A young prophet told me rather emphatically recently that my soul mate was named Candy Cane Sparkly Toes. I think I've found her.” He paused and knelt down, unzipping her tall boot.

“Candy Cane Sparkly Toes is your soul mate?” She leaned back and straightened her leg, letting him slide the boot off. The irritation on her face from earlier had disappeared. “You're not seriously going to make me try the shoe on. I can assure you it's mine.”

He flashed her a devilish grin. “Nah, I just wanted to get you out of these.” After tossing the first boot aside, he immediately went to work removing the other. His hands slid up her jeans, and he scooted closer. “I love you, Lauren. I know how much I hurt you, but I'll do whatever it takes to prove to you things will be different this time.” Moving her hair to the side, he leaned in and kissed her soft neck.

“Whatever it takes?” She let out a sexy sigh that he interpreted as permission to keep doing what he was doing.

He nodded, unbuttoning the top of her sweater. “This snow storm could last for hours.” His fingers worked their way down, until her black lacy bra peeked out. “I'm fully prepared to keep you warm.”

“Because undressing me is going to keep me warm.” She smiled, flashing her own mischievous grin.

“Body heat,” he whispered before finally taking possession of her lips, deepening the kiss, and laying her down on the fluffy carpet. As the logs cracked and the snow fell outside, Drew set out to prove to Lauren that he'd never disappoint her ever again.

• • •

Lauren flipped over and wrapped an arm around Drew's middle. His hand covered hers.

“Good morning.” He opened his eyes and grinned.

That was an understatement.

They'd made love in front of the roaring fire and then spent hours in each other's arms talking, reminiscing, and enjoying the snowfall before heading upstairs to Drew's bedroom. He promised her things would be different. That he would never keep how he was feeling from her again, and he would never question what they had.

And she believed him. It was becoming more and more evident to her that Drew had done some serious soul searching, but so had she. She was a different person, too. No longer was she afraid to go after what she wanted—and right now that was a future that would end with her becoming Mrs. Drew Cannon.

She ran her hand up and down his bare chest, enjoying every moment of reconnecting with his muscular ridges.

But this reconnection wasn't just physical. They were and had always been a team. They'd proven it last year when they'd worked together to get Luke and Kate back together, and they did it again this weekend at the festival coming up with a plan to sell the dolls. “I could stay here forever,” she murmured, resting her head on his chest and relishing the fact that after all this time apart, she was finally close enough to feel his beating heart.

“Me, too.” His hands ran up and down her bare back.

“Drew, I'm sorry about last night.”

“You are?” His eyebrows furrowed. “Do you regret what we did? Am I moving too fast?”

“God, no.” She scooted up his body, brushing his lips with hers just to give him a little extra reassurance. “I'm sorry for being irrational when you first got back. I had way too much wine while you were at the inn and very little to eat yesterday. My mind went to a dark place. I was being stupid.”

“I understand.” He stroked her face with the back of his finger. “And you weren't being stupid. You had every right to be angry and have your doubts, but I hope you know how much I love you.”

“I do. I love you, too, baby.” She reached over for the red and white tights and sparkly shoes that she couldn't resist bringing upstairs with them last night. “You know, Miles gave me that nickname.”

“What nickname?”

“Candy Cane Sparkly Toes. Elf Candy Cane Sparkly Toes, to be exact.”

“He did? How ironic is that?”

“I guess my best friend helped me find my way back to my Happily Ever After—just like the doll.”

“You're never going to let me forget that Miles was the inspiration for our Hail Mary idea, are you?”

“Never!” She laughed, laying the tights and shoes on the nightstand. “But I'm glad that inspiration is not currently in the next room.”

“Me, too. Come here.” Drew wrapped his arms around her, both enjoying the silent embrace as they continued to caress each other. The electricity had come back on during the night, and even though the fire had long been snuffed and they'd moved upstairs, his body kept her plenty warm.

Drew finally tilted his head toward the window. “Looks like it's still snowing.”

That it was. Outside white snowflakes continued to fall, not showing any signs of letting up anytime soon. “Trapped for another day,” she said with more than a hint of flirtation. “Whatever shall we do to pass the time, Mr. Cannon? Scrabble or Monopoly, maybe?”

“Board games, right.” He pulled her in for a long kiss, causing heat to rush through her. “I have something else in mind.” He brought the comforter around them, tucking it in on both sides. “But it's definitely going to shoot us both straight to the top of the Naughty List. Can you handle that?”

“I think Santa will forgive us this once.” She giggled as the love of her life pulled the cover over her head and proceeded to show her the definitely naughty, but oh, so pleasurable, things he had in mind.

Drew raced down the steps straight for the door. Whoever was responsible for the ridiculous knocking and interrupting his lazy afternoon with his in-bed companion was going to land headfirst into the nearest snowbank.

Pulling his shirt on, he swung the door open. “Dad?”

“Hi, son.” His father stood on the porch, rubbing his gloved hands together, with a stylishly bundled-up Vanessa by his side.

“What are you doing here? We weren't expecting you until later this week.”

“We've come to help with the wedding.”

“You have?”

“Care to let us in?” His dad motioned for Vanessa to go first. “It's a bit chilly out here.”

“Sorry. Of course. Come on in.” Drew yanked his shirt all the way down and glanced behind his father. The snow had stopped hours ago, and he and Lauren had even spent some time outside this morning shoveling the walking path and playing in it. Miles and Olivia were still at the inn so he hadn't been expecting anyone to interrupt his continuing to show the beautiful blonde upstairs how much he loved and missed her.

They both had soothed their cabin fever in pretty much every room over the last forty-eight hours. He wasn't ready for their time alone to end, but suspected it just had.

Drew escorted his dad and new stepmom into the house, bringing them into the living room. Just then, Lauren barreled down the stairs and joined them. She'd thrown on a sweater and black yoga pants, her hair in a messy ponytail.

“Jack.” She ran up and hugged his dad and then Vanessa. “What are you doing here?”

Drew came up beside them, offering a hand with their coats. “I'd like to know the same thing. Weren't you coming up on Friday with the bride and groom?”

“Luke asked us to come early,” Jack said, and he and Vanessa took a seat on the couch.

“How wonderful,” Lauren said. “We don't have much food in the house, but would you like some coffee?”

“Got anything stronger?” Jack asked, and Vanessa agreed.

“Two glasses of red wine coming up.” Lauren rubbed Drew's shoulder and disappeared into the kitchen.

“Are my eyes playing tricks on me, son, or are you two back together?” Jack asked, obviously catching on to her little display of affection—or maybe that they were both pretty much still in their pajamas.

“Yes, we are.” Drew grinned, adding, “We're in a really good place.”

“That's wonderful.” He raised an eyebrow and lowered his voice. “But what happened to Olivia? Isn't she here, too?”

“Jack, stop being so nosy.” Vanessa gave him a swat.

“It's okay. We're no longer together.” He waved his hand. “But it's a good thing, and she's fine. She's actually staying in town at the inn with Miles.” He took a seat in the recliner across from the couch, wondering if he could suggest that his dad and Vanessa stay there, too. That would probably be rude given the number of sleeping rooms upstairs.