Midnight Under the Mistletoe (13 page)

“Neither can giving up hope and imagining all sorts of scary
scenarios. Then if something happens, because of your imagination, you’ve
suffered more than once. We’re very different people.”

“Amen to that one,” he said. “There’s the one thing we can
agree about,” he added and she smiled.

As soon as they were inside the house, Zach built a fire, got
the wine she requested and a beer for himself. While he sipped, he stretched out
on the floor. Firelight flickered over him and her breath caught. He looked
virile, appealing. Broad shoulders, long legs, thick curls. She wanted to join
him, but that was a path to deeper complications.

“How do people have kids and not have nervous breakdowns when
they do something like Caroline just did?” he asked.

“You cope with it, just the way you and Will and Ava did. You
do whatever you can,” Emma said.

“I’ll never understand how you could stay cheerful and
optimistic that we would find her. I know the reason you gave me, but I still
don’t get it”

“We did find her,” she reminded him, sitting near him to sip
her drink. He removed it from her hands and drew her down into his arms to kiss
her. “I just try to focus on the positive, Zach. And Caroline hadn’t been gone
long when everyone started looking for her.”

“I keep thinking she had reached the highway and if the Tanners
hadn’t come along—”

“But they did come along, so don’t think about the other
possibilities,” Emma said. He held her in his embrace as they were stretched on
the floor together. She had been frightened for Caroline, but certain they would
find her. Now to know Caroline was safe and with Will, Emma felt as if they had
been given the biggest Christmas gift early.

Desire, relief, joy all buoyed her and she wrapped her arms
around Zach to kiss him hungrily. Instantly, his arm tightened around her waist
and he pulled her closer. “I need you tonight, Emma,” he said in a rasp. “This
is an affirmation of life and all’s right with our world,” he said, his blue
eyes darkening as he drew her closer.

Seven

R
elief transformed into lust, and loving
Zach
was
an affirmation of life.

Heat from the fire warmed her, but not as much as Zach’s kisses
that sent her temperature climbing.

Sex with him became paramount. To be alive, to be able to make
love with Zach, to have loved ones safe—her emotions ran high and she threw
herself into kissing him, tangling her fingers in his thick hair.

She thought Zach was caught in the same emotional whirlwind,
relieved, celebrating life and that all was okay now because his kisses became
more passionate as he concentrated totally on pleasuring her.

In seconds they loved with a desperate hunger. With ragged
breathing, she kissed him while her fingers traced muscles and planes of his
body. Wild abandon consumed her and when they were joined, they rocked together
until she cried out his name with her thundering release.

“Zach, ah, love,” she gasped, the word slipping out and she
hoped he hadn’t heard her. Rapture enveloped her, a moment in time when they
were in unison and meant something to each other. A moment she wanted to hold,
yet would be as fleeting as the snowflake she had caught and watched disappear
in her warm palm.

Afterwards, as they drifted back to reality, he held her close
in his arms while he showered her face and shoulders with light kisses that made
her feel adored.

She turned on her side to look at Zach, drawing her fingers
along his jaw to feel the rough, dark stubble. “This isn’t what I expected
tonight. Yet it’s a rejoicing of sorts.”

“A definite celebration of life for me.” He sighed and traced
his fingers over her bare shoulder. “I hope next week is another occasion for
cheer. I have a doctor’s appointment and I have high hopes I can get back into a
normal shoe.”

“When you do we’ll be through here. Zach, I still urge you to
keep those letters. You don’t know if Caroline will want them one day. If you
destroy them, you can’t get them back.”

“I know you’ve scanned most of them into the computer, so now
we have electronic copies.”

“The original letters are far more important.”

He smiled. “Emma, you’re a hopeless romantic. You’re talking
about letters written over a hundred years ago.”

“I feel as if I know that part of your family. They were brave,
intelligent and your great-great-grandfather had a sense of humor. I’ve found
touching letters by your great-great-grandmother, too. I think the letters are
priceless. And the fact that the letters date from over a hundred years ago has
value, Zach. The electronic copies hold
no
value
except they are copies if the originals are destroyed.”

“I think you’re placing too high a value on old letters. Now
the things we’ve found mixed in with the letters, the gold watch, the Colt
revolver, the Henry rifle—those are valuable. I can’t believe someone put a Colt
or a rifle in a box of letters.”

“They put together what was important to them.”

“No way are those letters as valuable as that Colt.”

“Maybe not in dollars, but I think the letters are more
valuable. The letters are a window into your ancestors’ thoughts and dreams and
lives.”

He rose on an elbow to look at her. “We are polar opposites in
every way. How can we possibly have this attraction that turns my insides
out?”

“It does other things to you,” she said, caressing him.

“You know what you’re doing to me now,” he said in a deep
voice.

“Zach,” she whispered, knowing the one part of their lives
where they were totally compatible. “You’re an incredibly sexy man,” she
added.

“That, darlin’, is the pot calling the kettle black, as the old
saying goes.” His eyes darkened and his gaze shifted to her mouth as he leaned
closer to kiss her.

She held him tightly while the endearment, his first, echoed in
her mind and how she wished he had meant something by it. When it came to Zach,
she couldn’t hang on to that optimism she had everywhere else in her life.

Through the night they made love and slept in each other’s
arms. It was late morning before they dressed and ate. While Zach talked on the
phone to Will, she sat at the kitchen table and gazed outside at the crystal
blue swimming pool, the color reminding her of Zach’s eyes. She thought about
all she loved and admired about him—his generosity, his care for Caroline and
his family, even if he didn’t spend time with them, he obviously loved them. He
was intelligent, talented, capable of running the businesses he owned and she
had heard he started all of them, not his father. He was caring and fun,
exciting, obviously a risk-taker although that wasn’t a part that held high
appeal for her.

As soon as he told Will goodbye, she stood. “Zach, I’m going
back to work. I can still get a lot done today.”

Nodding his head, he stood as she left the room. Her back
tingled and she was tempted to turn around to stay with him and postpone work,
but there was no point and no future in spending a lot of time with him. After
this job ended, she did not expect to see him again.

Each day the rest of the week she spent nearly all her time
reading the letters. When she returned Sunday night after the weekend at home,
she was certain this would be her last week to work for Zach. A new concern
nagged her constantly—for the first time, her period was late. They had used
protection, so she dismissed the likelihood of pregnancy, but she didn’t know
what was wrong. Tuesday morning she called to make an appointment to see her
family doctor the following week when she would be at home in Dallas.

Later that day, forgetting time or her surroundings, she read a
yellowed letter on crackling paper.

“Zach, do you have a moment? Listen to this letter,” she said.
“This one is from your great-grandfather when their first child, a son, was
born. Was your grandfather the oldest son?”

“Yes, he was,” Zach said, leaning back in his chair.

She bent over the paper spread on her knees, her hair falling
forward around her face.

“My dear sister. Lenore gave me a son today. He is a fine,
strong baby and I am pleased. He has my color eyes and his mother’s light hair.
He has a healthy cry. I am certain his cries can be heard at the creek.

“With her long hair down Lenore looks beautiful. She has given
me life’s most precious gift. I feel humble, because there is nothing as
valuable that I can present to her in return. I have done what I hope will
please her the most. To surprise her I have ordered a piano for her.

“I wish I could give her fine satin gowns and a palace, but she
would merely laugh if I told her my wish. Instead, I hope she likes her piano.
It will be shipped to Saint Joseph, Missouri, on the train. I will send four of
the boys with a wagon and a team to go to Missouri to pick up the piano. They
must protect it from the elements, thieves and all hazards because they will
have to cross more than one treacherous river. They have promised they can get
the piano and bring it back here.”

Pausing, she looked up as Zach crossed the room to her.
“Surely, that letter means something to you.”

Taking the letter from her fingers to drop it back into the
box, he pulled her to her feet, putting his arm around her waist. “I still say
you’re a romantic.”

“If you destroy these, I think you’ll have regrets.”

“That’s impossible for me to imagine. Today I’m filled with
positive moments because I expect a great prognosis when I go to the doctor this
afternoon. I think he’ll say I’m healed and can wear regular shoes. After
Christmas I want to take you dancing.”

Her heart felt squeezed. She was thrilled while at the same
time, that was only postponing their final parting.

“We’ll see when the time comes,” she said, placing her hands on
Zach’s chest. She could feel his heart beneath her palms and wondered if his
reaction to her was half as strong as how he affected her. His blue eyes
darkened with desire, causing her heartbeat to quicken. “You may not be able to
dance as soon as you think. What is more likely—you’ll be half a world away by
that time.”

“I don’t think that’s why you aren’t accepting, is it?”

“I don’t see much future for us. I think when you fully
recuperate, you’ll be gone. You’ll return to life as you’ve always lived it. You
have to agree.”

“I might hang around Texas for a while. There are things I can
do here. Wherever I am, I can fly home when I want to.”

“I don’t know how you can even call one place home. This is the
family ranch, now Garrett’s, not your home. You don’t stay in your home in
Dallas,” she argued breathlessly, having to make an effort to concentrate on
their conversation when all she could think about was being in his arms and
wanting him.

He smiled at her. “I’ll ask again.” Sparks arced between them,
the air crackling. Just as it had been between them that first encounter, she
was caught and held in his steady gaze that made her even more breathless.

“Zach,” she whispered, sliding her arms around his neck.

He kissed her. Tingles streaked across her nerves. Awareness
intensified of every inch of him pressed so close. Holding him tightly, she
refused to think about the future, the job ending, her saying goodbye to Zach.
Each day she was more in love with him. The world, work, letters, her future,
all ceased to exist in her thoughts that focused totally on him.

His kiss turned her insides to jelly, ignited fires, heat
sizzling in her. She pressed against him more firmly, taking what she could
while he was here in her arms because too soon he would be gone forever.

Finally, she gave a thought to their time and place.

“Zach, there are other people in the house now,” she whispered,
wondering if her protests fell on deaf ears.

He kissed her, silencing her conversation. When she felt him
tug on her sweater, she grasped his wrists. Breathing hard, he looked at her as
she shook her head.

“We’re downstairs. Nigel and Rosie are here. Within the hour
you should leave for your flight to Dallas to see your doctor. We have to stop
loving now.”

Combing long strands of hair from her face, Zach looked at her
mouth. “You’re beautiful. We’ll come back to this moment tonight when I get
home.”

“We shouldn’t,” she whispered. “You need to get lunch now
before you go.”

“I know what I’d rather do.”

She shook her head. “Lunch is on the schedule.”

“Ok, come eat with me.” She nodded, walking beside him, unable
to resist. Through lunch he was charming, making her anxious for his return
before he had even left the house.

While he was gone the house was quiet and she read, stopping
occasionally to stretch, or pacing the room and reading as she walked.

Late afternoon shadows grew long and she added a log to the
fire. It was winter and the days had grown shorter with a chill in the air. She
heard his whistle before he appeared. When he came through the office door, he
closed it behind him. Her heart thudded against her ribs. She took one look at
him and knew her job was over.

Vitality radiated from him as if he had been energized while he
was in Dallas. She didn’t have to ask what the doctor had said. Zach crossed the
room to pull her to her feet and kiss her heatedly

In minutes, clothes were tossed aside. The fire was glowing
orange embers, giving the only light in the darkened room during early
evening.

“Zach, we’re downstairs and not alone in the house.”

“The door is closed. No one will bother us,” he whispered
between kisses. “I want you, Emma.” He kissed her before she could argue and she
yielded, loving him back with a desperate urgency.

They moved to the rug in front of the fire. Heat warmed her
side while Zach’s body was hot against her own. He got a condom from a pocket
and returned to kneel between her legs while he put it in place.

Orange sparks and embers highlighted the bulge of muscles and
his thick manhood while the planes of his cheeks and flat stomach were shadows.
Another memory to lock away in her mind and heart.

A log cracked and fell, sending a shower of sparks spiraling up
the chimney. The sudden flash of red and orange dancing sparks illuminated Zach
even more for a brief moment. He looked like a statue, power and desire
enveloping him. She drew her fingers along his muscled thighs and heard him gasp
for breath.

Lowering himself, he wrapped his arms around her to thrust
slowly into her, filling her. He was hard, hot, moving with a tantalizing
slowness as she arched beneath him.

“Zach,” she whispered, wanting to confess her love, longing to
hold him tightly and tell him she loved him with all her heart.

Their rhythm built, increasing need and tension, until release
burst, spinning her into ecstasy, taking him with her seconds later.

She lost awareness of everything except Zach in their moment of
perfect union. A physical bonding at the height of passion that carried with it
an emotional bonding. Clinging to him with her long legs wrapped around him, she
did not want to let go as if she could hold the moment and delay time itself.
This man, so totally different from her, had become vital to her. Right now she
couldn’t face letting him go.

They slowed, calmed while she caught her breath. Her hands were
light touches, caressing his shoulders and back while she drifted in
paradise.

When he rolled over, taking her with him, he kissed her
tenderly. There was still enough glow from embers to reflect on Zach and she
touched his cheek lightly. “The doctor said your foot is healed, didn’t he?”

“Yes, he did,” Zach said, smiling. “I can toss this boot and
wear my shoes. My own boots have to wait a while, but eventually, I can wear
them.”

“So my job ends this week. Christmas is coming and I wanted off
anyway.”

“I’ll be gone for Christmas, but I’ll come back afterwards and
that’s when I’m taking you out. I’d stay if you’d stay with me for a few weeks,
but you’ll want to be home for Christmas.”