Journey of the Magi (4 page)

“You have a soft streak wider than the Mississippi River. No use trying to hide it.” Noel bit back a smile.

When her hand lifted and she brushed his messed hair into place his knees almost buckled. Her topaz eyes widened when static snapped between them, and she snatched her fingers away. “I’m sorry,” she cried.

“Don’t be.” Dan grabbed her hand and studied it for a long moment before he pressed a kiss to her palm. “I liked it.”

Her lips trembled as he folded her fingers over the spot.

“The children are both settled in for the time being,” she squeaked, and cleared her throat. “Maybe you’ll show me anything special I should do to set up before the next rush.”

“Eddy did it.” He sat on the edge of the nearest table and drew her between his legs.

“But that’s my job.” Her gaze flew to his face and he felt her tremble. A rosy blush colored her cheeks.

“Look, Noel, we have a routine here. Whoever has the time helps out. This time Eddy had a few minutes to spare. Tomorrow he might need you to give him a break. It all works out.”

“I don’t know.” When Noel bit her lower lip, Dan’s gaze dropped to her mouth.

Her throat dried. She knew how his mouth would feel if he kissed her again. Only this time she wanted more. Harder, deeper. Her stomach gave a quick flip and she swallowed as her thighs clenched. She had two children but couldn’t remember when a man’s simple touch had affected her like this.

“What don’t you know?”

Confused by his question, Noel hesitated. She had to stop this silly fantasy. She glanced down and realized how close she stood to him. Encased in denim, his muscular thighs filled her with longing.

“Oh. Oh, yes. The last place I worked, you kept going until you finished. But you didn’t get paid for extra hours.”

“Like I said, it’s different around here. People help out.” His hands stroked her arms and she ached to be pressed to his chest. “In fact, I need to pick up a couple items from the hardware store. It’ll take about ten minutes. Can you keep an eye on things?”

“Of course.” Noel grabbed at a chance for a break from all these unfamiliar feelings. She moved behind the counter. It was nice to be trusted. “I can pour coffee with the best of them.”

A few minutes after Dan left, someone rapped at the kitchen door and she hurried to open it.

Clutching a stack of egg cartons she could barely see over, a sturdily built woman called, “Hoped to get here earlier. Darn snow is drifting over the road.”

“Let me help you,” Noel said and took the top layer.

“Well, hello. You must be the new waitress. I’m Molly.” A wide smile appeared above the thick collar of her quilted coat. “Dan here? No? How about fetching some coffee while I put these in the cooler?”

Noel nodded after Molly bustled through the kitchen. Within minutes the eggs were put away and Molly settled like a nested hen at the counter. Her chapped hands cupped the mug to absorb the warmth.

“Nice to meet you, Noel. Pretty name. Heard that idiot Joe managed to hit your car. His brother will fix it right as rain, though.” Molly chattered between quick sips. After Noel refilled her cup, she gave a deep sigh and relaxed. “Been rushing all morning. The chickens don’t lay as many eggs when it’s cold, but a couple decided they wanted to set. Must be the heat lamps Dan installed. Dumb clucks don’t know spring is still too far away.”

Noel giggled. “I never raised chickens. It must be nice to have fresh eggs every day. Maybe I’ll get some when I get home.”

“It’s work. Took months for them to settle after we lost the farm, but thanks to Dan we still have our flocks. We’re leasing his coops until we can get back on our feet.” Molly gave a thumbs-up sign and her wide smile revealed a gap in her front teeth. “He’s a good man.”

Noel didn’t know what to say. She’d been on the receiving end of his generosity. Curiosity pursed her lips with personal questions.

“He’s running an errand. Do I need to pay for those?” She nodded before refilling Molly’s empty cup.

“Oh, no. The eggs are barter for rent. Works out for all of us. Ella will be dropping off milk tomorrow. She’s keepin’ her herd in his dairy barn.”

Noel’s eyes widened. “Must be a big place.”

“One of the biggest in the county before his parents passed. Dan claimed he wasn’t a farmer, when he made the barter agreement with us. Bought this bankrupt café and turned it around despite the town’s downturn.”

The kitchen door slammed, cutting off Molly’s chatter. Dan paused to hang his heavy coat on the hook.

“Hey Dan,” Molly called as she pushed off the stool. “Nice new waitress. Hope she stays for a while.”

Dan set a brown paper sack on the counter before he grinned at both women. “Noel’s going home for Christmas.”

“Too bad,” Molly mumbled through the scarf she wrapped over her chin. “See ya in a couple days.”

“She put the eggs in the cooler since I didn’t know where they should go. No other customers.” Noel returned Molly’s wave before she carried the used cup to the sink, avoiding Dan’s gaze.

Ernie poked his head around the corner. “I got the Santa suit out of the shed. It needs to be cleaned before the party.”

“Want coffee?” Dan waved at the pot.

“Naw.” His blue eyes twinkled as he nodded at Noel and then disappeared.

“I bet Molly talked your ear off,” Dan mumbled while he poured himself coffee. His eyes slid sideways at Noel as if waiting for her reaction before he leaned against the counter.

“She talked about eggs and hens mostly.”

Although curiosity chewed on her like a hungry mosquito, no man appreciated being gossiped about. “What’s in the bag?”

“Locks.” He dumped two door locks on the counter. “I figured you’d feel safer with me sleeping here if I gave you the keys from new locks.”

“I-I-I—” Noel stammered, while her pulse did a rumba. “I didn’t know you stayed here.”

Her mind filled with his broad shoulders propped on her pillow, the blanket barely covering what lay below his narrow waist.

“I’m sure Molly told you that big old farmhouse is full. I bed down in the back, behind the playroom. It helps to be close, since I open early.”

Noel glanced toward the hall before her heart gave another weird thump. “I didn’t realize.”

“Well, consider it a reminder that you need to be careful.” He grabbed the packages and preceded her upstairs.

After checking that both children were napping, Noel watched Dan change the lock. Her skin heated as his fingers moved over the various pieces. She nervously nibbled at her lower lip while she hovered over his shoulder. Dan might install a lock on the door, but he’d managed to free her long suppressed feelings, and that worried her.

Chapter Four

Noel found Dan’s routine to be easy to follow, but after two days she was glad the café was closed. She planned to sleep in.

Thanksgiving dawned with the bang and clatter of roasting pans. Noel followed the sound of Dan swearing downstairs. It was barely five and both children slept through the racket.

“I thought you were closed today,” she said. The dawn light glinted highlights off his dark brown hair. Her lips twitched when his heavy brows snapped together.

“We are. I’m cooking turkey for a few friends. It’s kind of a tradition.” Her mouth dropped open when he lined up six turkeys on the counter and proceeded to fill each one with a different stuffing. Her teeth clicked when she closed her jaw.

“You must have been up for hours,” she said. “That’s enough for a crowd.”

Her heart swelled with admiration for his sharing. She wanted to grab him in a big hug. Her grandparents had invited friends over, too. It was a tradition she planned to continue when she returned home.

“I’m not sure how many. It’s gotten bigger.” He wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. “People need friends. Everyone brings a dish, so it’s potluck.”

“What can I do to help?” she asked before she tied an apron decorated with dancing elves over her sweater and jeans.

“Not much, unless you can bake a pie?” His lifted brows and wide brown eyes reminded her of his hopeful stray standing over the empty dish.

“I do a killer crust,” she exclaimed while mimicking rolling out a pie crust. Dan wasn’t the only one who appreciated the chance to contribute.

“Got everything for apple, pumpkin or mince,” Dan said before he laughed and waved at the cooler. “Take your pick.”

“Hey. My grandma taught me how to make those. We have time to do them all.”

****

Forty or fifty people crowded around the buffet while Christmas music blasted over the sound system. The first arrivals had hung evergreens and Christmas decorations from every surface.

At first Dan had been worried about Noel. Small-town people could be standoffish, and he didn’t want her feelings hurt.

Now a frown tightened his mouth, and he wanted to throw every unmarried male into the piled snow to cool off. They swarmed around Noel like bees on a fresh blossom.

A scarlet sweater painted color in Noel’s cheeks and laughter brightened her eyes. She grinned at him as she hefted Nicholas on her hip. His heart ached to hug her close after he returned her cheerful wave.

Clad as a believable Santa Claus, Ernie arrived to the shouts and cheers of the crowd. He carried a sack of wrapped gifts to a chair near the decorated tree in the corner.

“Hey, Dan, nice turnout. Seems to be more people than last year.” Ella punched him on the arm before she took another piece of apple pie. Skinny as a board, she was the direct opposite of Molly. “This is great. Who brought it?”

“Noel can bake,” Dan said with a proud grin. He had no right to take pride in her skill, but he did.

“And you’re letting her get away?”

“That’s not up for discussion, Ella.” His stomach twisted with pain at the thought.

“You’re not getting any younger, Dan. Man needs a wife, family. A home filled with love. I can’t think of anyone who deserves it more.”

Dan’s face heated. When Noel appeared at his side, he turned to her with the feeling he’d escaped. Nicholas’ head was tucked into the side of her neck. He slept despite the noisy crowd.

“Joe’s brother found parts for my car. He remembered a junked Nash at the recycling center, and the fender and passenger door fit,” she exclaimed. Her face glowed and his spirits plummeted. Her feet did a little happy dance as she clutched his arm. “My promise to Holly will come true. We’ll be home for Christmas.”

Dan didn’t expect the painful punch to his chest. His hands fisted while he struggled not to grab her.

“That’s great. I expected old car parts to be the hardest part of the repair.”

“C’mon, Mommy,” Holly interrupted, and tugged at Noel’s hand, leading her and Dan to the merry Santa.

“Hello, Holly,” Santa said before he lifted her to his lap. His sparkling eyes met Noel’s gaze. “And what do you want for Christmas?”

Noel silently wondered if Santa could bring her a happy resolution. She needed to take her children home, yet she wanted more time to explore her growing feelings for Dan.

“I want a puppy,” Holly mumbled around her thumb. Before Noel could explain, Santa gave a brief nod.

“Well, that would be nice, but you’ll have to wait until you’re home. It wouldn’t be fair to a puppy to drive it across country.”

“That’s okay, then. You can bring it to Con-nec-ti-cut. We’ll be home for Christmas. My mom promised.”

Noel rocked Nicholas while she listened. Her babies would love the farm as much as she had. Her grandparents had given her a wonderful home after her parents died in a car accident. They’d never complained, although money was scarce.

“If that’s what you really want, that’s what you’ll have.” Holly gave a happy sigh and scrambled off his lap.

She solemnly accepted a small box wrapped in red paper with a red-and-white bow. Turning it over and over, she seemed reluctant to open it.

“Do you need help?” Noel watched Dan crouch next to Holly as her fingers tightened around the small box.

“No, but I think I should give Santa a gift before I open it,” Holly whispered.

“That’s why we leave milk and cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve,” Dan explained, with a wink at Noel.

“I don’t know if Mommy does that.” Holly frowned and slipped the box into her pocket. “Maybe you should remind her.”

“I’ll try to remember.”

Noel smiled when he patted her daughter’s head and stood.

Noel followed as Holly wandered over to a decorated table. She seemed fascinated by the small figures inside the manger. She poked at a tiny camel, then an elaborately dressed wise man.

“What are they doing?”

“They’re bringing gifts to the Holy Child after a long journey.” Noel swept her hand over Holly’s hair. The Christmas story always made her smile.

“Like us, Mommy?”

“Not quite. We’re going home. They still have far to go.”

Molly dragged Noel away with a plea to share her piecrust-making secrets.

Joe wandered over to join Dan as someone switched to different Christmas music. Several couples pushed back tables to clear a dance floor. The noise level hit deafening.

“I suppose Noel told ya about the repairs. That won’t take long, but she needs tires. Hers are bald as Molly’s husband,” Joe shouted to be heard over the music.

“So replace them.”

“Even if I can find used ones, it’s gonna cost money. That weren’t part of the damage,” Joe argued, and rubbed a chapped hand over his stubble-covered chin.

“I’ll pay for them.” Dan silently considered what monthly bill he’d delay. Although he didn’t want to worry Noel would have a flat, money was really tight around the holidays. “Don’t tell her. I don’t want her to feel obligated.”

A familiar tug at his pant leg had Dan crouching to hear Holly.

“Can I feed the stray dog?” she whispered around her wet thumb. “He’s hungry.”

“Sounds like a good idea. I bet we’ll have plenty of leftovers.” Dan grinned at her concerned expression. She looked so much like Noel. He’d grown to care deeply for this little girl. He’d miss her. Loneliness made him hollow. He ruffled her hair with one hand before he stood. “We’ll find a piece of turkey with no bones.”