Marry Me at Christmas (Fool's Gold) (12 page)

When they reached the main house, he parked in front. The ranch-style home sprawled out as if it had been added to over the years. There was a wide front porch and a big double door. The house wasn’t new, but it looked welcoming. Especially with the heavy dusting of snow.

“The toys are out back in one of the barns,” he told her. “Wait and I’ll come around. It’s going to be slippery out there.”

Because he wanted her to be safe. An excellent quality in a man. But if she slipped, wouldn’t he try to catch her? They could fall together in tangle of arms and legs. In real life, that would be desperately cold, but this was her fantasy. She could ignore everything except how it would feel to have him hold her close and—

“Ready?” he asked as he opened her door.

“Um, sure.”

She stepped out and immediately sank into about eight inches of snow. It was cold, but also beautiful. The trees looked like something out of a Christmas card.

“Around here,” he said, taking her hand and leading her past the house.

Once they were between the house and the garage, it was easier to walk. Then they were out in the open again and the snow drifted down steadily. She saw two big barns.

“My workshop is in there,” he said, pointing to the closer one. “The other has the open area for the wedding.”

“Let’s look at the toys first.”

He guided her to a side door. They walked into a foyer with two doors beyond. The right one led to a huge workout room. Seriously, it was the size of a professional gym. There was every kind of equipment imaginable and a few she couldn’t begin to place. No wonder he looked as good as he did.

The left door was partially closed. Jonny pushed it open and motioned for her to go first. He clicked on the lights as she stepped over the threshold.

“It used to be the ranch workshop,” he said. “It’s bigger than I need, but I like the windows.”

Despite the snowfall, light spilled into the room. There were a couple of long workbenches, two desks and lots of cabinets. Everything was obviously cared for but worn. Tools were hung neatly on a peg board. Carved toys filled open shelves.

She hadn’t known what to expect. Maybe some primitively honed bears or a shell of a car. Instead, the toys were smooth and detailed. The dinosaurs had carved scales and the cars had wheels that not only turned but had tread on their tires. One of the trucks could be loaded with blocks. She touched the side of a castle.

“These are amazing,” she breathed. “They’re so beautiful. They must take hours.”

“There’s a lot of downtime on a movie set.”

“Apparently.” She looked at him. “You’re talented.”

“I had a good teacher. He was very patient with me. These are nothing compared to what he can do. But I enjoy making them.”

He showed her the paint he’d bought, along with brushes. “I didn’t know where to start,” he admitted. “What colors to use. That’s not my thing.”

The paint was all labeled as approved by the FDA, so food-level safe. Perfect for kids.

“I can make some calls,” she told him. “There are a lot of creative people in town. If we got everyone together for an afternoon, we could get everything painted in a few hours. Are you sure you want to donate these?”

“Yes. Better for kids to play with them than for them to just sit here.”

“They’re going to be wonderful.”

They went back outside. The wind was much stronger than it had been. They went into the second barn. There were a couple of bathrooms, but otherwise it was one big open space. She took pictures with her phone.

“I’ve already reserved the tables and chairs,” she said as she turned to get the room from every angle. “I know there are plenty of twinkle lights. The lady at Plants for the Planet mentioned some large potted plants we could rent. It’ll take me a few days to get with everyone to figure out the best layout. But the room’s nice and big. That gives us a lot to work with.”

She walked to the far end. “We could set up the ceremony here. With only forty or fifty guests, we need...what? Five rows of chairs? Ten across with a center aisle? That won’t take much space. I wonder if Dellina can help me get some screens or something to divide the space. I’ll text her and ask.”

She took more pictures, before turning to him.

“I have what I need. Thanks for showing me all this.”

“You’re welcome.”

He opened the door and was blasted by a gust of wind and plenty of snow. Even from several feet back, she felt the cold.

They made their way toward the house. Just in the half hour or so since they’d arrived, another inch or two lay on the ground. When they reached his SUV, she saw the entire front end was buried.

Jonny shook his head. “I’m going to have to dig this out. You go inside and get warm.” He handed her his house keys, then went to the garage.

Madeline let herself into the house. She entered through a mudroom that led to the kitchen. Although the urge to explore was strong, she forced herself to stay by the mudroom. Jonny trusted her. She wouldn’t take advantage of that.

Twenty minutes later, he joined her. Snow coated his head and both sides of his coat.

“It’s coming down faster than I can dig out the car,” he told her. “I should have paid more attention to the conditions before I brought you here. I’m sorry. You’re going to have to stay until the storm passes.”

The words bounced around in her brain. At first they didn’t make any sense and then they did. Stay. Here. In his house. Alone. The two of them.

Merry Christmas to her, she thought, trying not to break into the happy dance.

Jonny took off his coat and gloves, then moved in front of her. “I didn’t plan this, Madeline.”

“I didn’t think you had.”

“I don’t want you to be nervous. I’m not putting the moves on you.”

Darn. He didn’t have to actually come out and say that, she thought. He could have let her wonder...and hope. Unless he knew about her crush. Oh, no. Did he? Was he right this minute thinking she was thrilled about being snowed in with him and dreading the time he had to spend with her?

“Of course not,” she said brightly. “Why would I think that? We’re friends. I’m helping with your sister’s wedding. Nothing more.”

She hoped she sounded totally sincere and disinterested in him in that way. Because the alternative was humiliating. Honestly, if there hadn’t been two feet of snow on the ground, she would have started walking home right that second.

Jonny motioned for her to lead the way out of the mudroom, only to put his hand on her forearm when she started to move. He turned her until she faced him again. One corner of his mouth turned up.

“Nothing will happen tonight,” he repeated.

She did her best not to wince.

“But that doesn’t mean I won’t be tempted.”

TEN

T
HERE
WAS
NOTHING
like a man confessing to wild sexual desire to brighten up a girl’s day, Madeline thought as she tried to come up with something witty to say in response. “Thank you” seemed really lame and “Me, too” was just too, well, dangerous. Because while wanting him was pretty safe, she wasn’t sure what would happen if she actually had him. Even counting the Ted debacle, she’d never been one to sleep around. For her, being that intimate had meant she had crossed an emotional threshold. Maybe not to the point of being in love, but darned close.

She liked Jonny a lot, and yes, there were plenty of tingles, zips and zings. But they weren’t about anything real. They couldn’t be. Not only did he have commitment issues, he was famous. And she was little more than a shopgirl.

“I don’t know what to say,” she admitted when the silence had stretched out far too long.

“How about a tour of the house? That will give you plenty to talk about.”

“I like a man with a plan.”

“That’s me.”

They went into the kitchen.

“Someone’s done some work,” she said, thinking about the age of the ranch house compared with the modern kitchen.

There was a large island with a built-in wine fridge at one end, some kind of fancy granite countertop and beautiful wood cabinets that stretched to the ceiling. A huge farm sink sat in front of a bay window. Right now all she could see was semidarkness and snow but she would bet that when the weather was nice, the view was amazing.

“I had the kitchen gutted,” Jonny admitted. “It was the original one, and while I love avocado tile as much as the next guy, I figured it was time for a change.”

“You flew in a decorator?”

He nodded. “The construction team was local, though.”

“Hendrix Construction?”

“You know them?”

“They’re one of the founding families in town, so yes.” She smiled. “They do good work.”

“I agree.”

Off the kitchen was a dining room with a rock wall and a fireplace. It was open on both sides and beyond that was the family room.

Here there hadn’t been many changes, she thought, taking in the worn stone and the beautiful beam mantel. The table and twelve chairs looked well-worn, but happy. Maybe a strange description for furniture, but Madeline was sticking with it.

“Some of the furniture came with the house,” Jonny told her. “This dining room set and a lot of the wood pieces.”

Madeline knew that old Reilly Konopka had moved to Florida to be near his kids and grandkids, but that until he’d sold, his family had owned the ranch for about fifty years.

“There are a lot of memories in this house,” she murmured.

“I know. I like that. The history. There’s a good feeling here. Ginger likes the house.”

He showed her the family room. The furniture there was mostly new, but well done with a beige upholstered sectional and a couple of leather chairs. A big Christmas tree stood in the corner. It was artificial and looked professionally done. Beautiful, she thought, but without the charm of one that had been decorated with ornaments that might be worn but were also filled with emotional significance.

“The guest rooms are this way.”

The house was kind of U-shaped, with the kitchen and family room at the base of the U. They went down the right hallway, past an office. Jonny pushed open a door that led into a comfortable room with a queen-size bed, a dresser and an attached bathroom.

There were neatly folded towels on a bench and fluffy pillows on the bed.

“I use a service,” he admitted. “They clean and keep things ready.”

“It’s nice,” she said, wondering where the master was but not about to ask. The situation was a little awkward. Interesting, but strange. She was both nervous and excited, which left her feeling that she could easily do something foolish, like walk into a wall or say something ridiculous.

She told herself to relax, that she and Jonny had spent plenty of time together. If they ran out of conversation, there was always the wedding. They could discuss linens and music selections.

They went back into the kitchen. He showed her the pantry off the kitchen. In addition to shelves and prep sink, there was a large upright freezer. She opened it and started to laugh. He moved closer and looked over her shoulder.

“People dropped off some casseroles,” he told her.

“I recognize some of the serving dishes, which means I know what’s inside. We’re very big on casseroles here in town. There’s even a casserole cook-off.”

“I’ll have to be in town that weekend,” he said.

She raised her eyebrows. “On purpose?”

“Hey, I grew up with a single dad. Anything homemade is my favorite.”

“A man with low culinary standards. Tell me again why women aren’t lining up to marry you?”

He chuckled. “I leave socks on the floor.”

“Oh, well, then. That explains it.” She studied the various selections. “How about lasagna?”

“Sounds good.”

She pulled out the dish, unwrapped it and set it on the counter to start defrosting. She would finish that process in the microwave later, but first went back into the pantry to check for other ingredients.

Whoever did the shopping had made sure he had the basics. She found plenty of fresh vegetables, along with spices, flour and sugar.

“Do you have a generator?” she asked.

“Sure. Whole house. If we lose power, it kicks on in twenty seconds. Why?”

“I think I’ll make cookies.” She found a couple of packages of yeast. “And maybe some garlic rolls. Oh, and salad dressing.” There weren’t any lemons, but he had fresh garlic and white vinegar. She could whip up a flavored ranch dressing easily. “If you have milk.”

“I don’t have any recipes.”

“You don’t need them. I can do this from memory.” She handed him vinegar, garlic and the flour. “You’ve met my mother. Cooking is a big deal to her, so she taught me. Stand back and be impressed.”

“I already am.”

Thirty minutes later peanut butter cookies were in the oven. She set Jonny to work, washing out the cute elephant-shaped cookie jar she’d spotted in the pantry.

While he took care of that, she added flour to the mixture in the bowl. When all the flour was incorporated, she dropped it onto the counter and began kneading.

“When that timer goes off, I’ll need you to take out the first batch of cookies and put in the second,” she told him.

“Just say when.”

“You’re very agreeable.”

“I don’t have a problem being your sous chef. Home-cooked meals are a treat.”

Based on the frozen dinners in his freezer and the take-out containers in his refrigerator, she knew he wasn’t lying.

“You could have a chef or something,” she said.

He put the cookie jar on the counter. “Not my style. I’m not the staff type.”

That was true. She would guess most stars at his level had a personal assistant, but he didn’t. She knew his manager and her people took care of some things, but the rest he did himself.

“In the summer I barbecue a lot,” he said as he sat in a stool at the island. “I grill a mean steak.”

“You’re such a guy.”

He winked. “I am.”

“My dad and brother both love to barbecue, too. But put them in front of a stove and they’re lost. Which makes no sense to me. A gas stove still has fire.”

“But it’s indoors. Not the same at all.”

“Uh-huh. Why do I know that’s a trick to keep women cooking for you?”

“Never.”

“Right.”

She put the kneaded dough into an oiled bowl, then covered it with a clean dishcloth. She set it near the upper oven vents where it would stay warm while it rose.

“Your mom didn’t teach Robbie to cook?” he asked as she washed her hands.

“Apparently not. Or if she did, it didn’t take.” Madeline looked at the timer, then picked up hot pads. The timer dinged. She took out the first pan of cookies and put in the second, then reset the timer.

“I wasn’t around when Robbie was a kid. By the time I was aware of the world around me, he was off to college. So it was like being an only child. It would have been nice to have him closer to my age.”

“I know what you mean. Ginger’s nearly eight years younger than me.”

“You took care of her.”

He shrugged. “I complained a lot, but I knew my dad was already scrambling to take care of everything.”

“He never remarried?”

“No. Some of it was he said he couldn’t find anyone as great as my mom and some was probably because he had two kids and no free time.”

“Did that make you more responsible than you wanted to be?” she asked, thinking his fussing over his sister probably wasn’t new. She would bet he’d been there for Ginger since she was born.

“Don’t make me into a saint,” he told her. “I got into plenty of trouble in school.”

“Like?”

“The usual stuff. Cutting class, being rowdy with my friends.” He smiled at the memories. “I got cut from the junior varsity football team for tardies. I’m sure the plan was that I would be devastated and change my ways. But I found I liked hanging with my friends more than I liked playing.”

Madeline grinned at him. “You do know we have retired NFL players in town. Don’t let them hear you say that. They’ll never recover.”

“Yeah, I have my doubts about how much they’d care.”

“So you’d survive if they didn’t love your movies.”

“I would.”

She leaned against the counter. “How did you get started in movies?” she asked. “Did you audition a lot?”

He looked at her quizzically for a second, then held up both hands. “You didn’t look? Online? You didn’t use Google to look me up?” He lowered his arms. “I want to ask why, which is ridiculous. You’re normal. I like that.”

“Was I supposed to check you out online?” She’d thought about it, but somehow, after meeting him, it had felt as if doing that were an invasion of his privacy.

“No. You were supposed to do exactly what you did.” He rested his elbows on the counter and leaned toward her. “After my dad died, money was tight. I left college to take care of Ginger. I worked a couple of jobs to pay the bills. One of them was cleaning pools. A guy I worked for was a producer. We talked a few times and he offered me a chance to be in one of his movies.”

“That was nice of him.”

“It was. The pay was better than I was making at my other job.” Jonny grinned. “He made me promise I would keep cleaning his pool, even after I was a movie star, which was supposed to be a joke. Anyway, I showed up at the studio. I had one line, which I delivered. Trust me, acting isn’t rocket science. I had to stick around because they wanted to change the set or something. There was a call saying the guy who was supposed to be the sidekick broke his leg skiing.”

Madeline winced. “That can’t be good for anyone.”

“It wasn’t. Everyone was pissed. They wanted to keep doing the scene, so they asked me to stand in for him. Just read the lines so the star could have someone to talk to. I knew nothing about the business, but I figured it meant an extra couple of hours not cleaning pools, so I agreed. The next thing I knew, they were having me read more scenes. Two days later, I was hired as the replacement.”

“And the rest is history?”

Jonny grinned. “Pretty much.”

“Did you keep cleaning your friend’s pool?”

“For a year. Then he cut me loose.”

Madeline liked that he’d kept his word. She wondered how many other people, in his position, would have blown off the promise.

“Do you like acting?”

“It beats a real job.” His humor faded. “I know what I do is about entertaining people. It’s not saving lives or changing the world, but that’s not an excuse to phone it in. I want to do my best. To be at work on time, knowing my lines. I want to be in shape and have whatever fighting skills I’m going to need for the current project.”

“You take pride in your work.”

“Yeah. Too hokey?”

She shook her head because saying “Exactly right” could complicate things. The pretty face had been appealing enough, she thought wryly. The actual man was even more of a temptation. A problem she didn’t need and wasn’t sure how to handle.

“Do you film all over the world?” she asked.

“On some movies. It’s always strange to go into a foreign country and yet be a part of the movie. We bring in nearly everything. It’s like a strange movie-set community.”

“Do you get a chance to see the sights?”

“Sometimes. It depends on what we’re filming and how big my role is. There have been movies where there’s a subplot that doesn’t include me and others where I’m in every scene.”

“Are you recognized everywhere?”

He shrugged again. “Sometimes. It’s strange to have people speaking a language I’ve never heard come up to me and start talking.”

She checked the timer, then used a spatula to take cookies off the sheet. “I have a friend—Felicia. She’s supersmart and knows everything. She talks about how despite how technology has changed us, we are, at heart, still primitive people. We react to fear the same way, only now the threats aren’t a big tiger that’s going to eat us. She says that it’s important to know the most important person in the village. That being connected to the power means getting shelter and having enough to eat.”

She put down the spatula. “The need to be close to that powerful person hasn’t changed, but because we don’t have a village in the same way, we’ve transferred our allegiance to celebrities. We want to be close to them, to know them, to be a part of their lives.” She sighed. “I’m saying it all wrong.”

“No, you’re not. I get what you’re saying. That happens to me a lot. People think they know me because they know my character. Or they tell me they know we could be good friends.”

Or the women want to sleep with him
, although she appreciated that he didn’t bring up that one.

“But they don’t know anything about me,” he continued. “What they see on the screen isn’t real. I’m not a hero. I’m just a guy.”

“A good guy,” she said before she could stop herself.

He smiled at her. “I’m keeping my dark side hidden until after the wedding.”