Safe in his Arms (10 page)

When she fell against the wall and then felt solid arms cage her in, she didn’t hesitate to turn around. She forgot all about the crowd when Hawk’s lips captured hers and she found herself lost in his embrace.

Bethel lifted a cup of steaming cider to her lips and took a sip. “I know I should be a lot happier about this. But those two kids are leaving us with nothing to do,” she groused from the sidelines of the ice-skating rink.

“I know. I thought we’d surely have to do a little more meddling,” Eileen said with a grumble of her own.

“Yes. They appear to be falling in love,” Maggie sighed, too happy to be grumpy about it.

“What are you ladies up to?”

The three women turned guilty stares to their friend Martin Whitman.

“Oh, just enjoying watching the kids skate,” Bethel said. Unfortunately, she’d never been good at telling a fib and she flushed, but she hoped he thought it was from the cold.

His eyes narrowed and he looked out at the ice. It didn’t take long for him to home in on Hawk and Natalie, who were still locked in a passionate embrace.

“Enjoying the show, huh?” he said as he sat down.

“Yes. The kids are really getting good,” Eileen said with a nervous giggle.

“Somehow I don’t think it’s the
little
kids you’re watching,” Martin said with a laugh. “You know, you’d
better spill everything to me right now, or I might have to figure it out on my own and tell other people what you’re up to.”

Maggie’s outrage showed only too clearly. “Martin Whitman, you wouldn’t dare.”

“I’m sure your husband wouldn’t be too pleased if he learns that you’re meddling in the kids’ lives,” Martin said with a self-satisfied grin.

“All right. Fine, then,” Maggie snapped, and she gave a nod to her two best friends.

They spilled the whole story. They would be pleased to know that their meddling was putting some ideas into Martin’s head about his own stubborn sons, who still refused to settle down . . .

T
he stage filled with children in red, white, and green, and even a few in traditional costumes associated with the Near East and Africa. The young performers giggled as they looked out upon the audience, searching for their parents and waving excitedly.

Natalie felt like she was going to be sick. They weren’t ready! She was going to prove herself a failure—had she taught them well, given them good direction? Or would they choke out there?

The last week of rehearsals had zipped right by. The only things she could remember about the time were the looks that Hawk threw her from across the gym, making her forget her voice as she tried to sing along with the kids. Now Natalie was standing in the wings, shaking in her nice slacks as the auditorium filled with parents all expecting to see a show as good as the one put on last year.

“Calm down. It’ll be fine.”

Hawk was standing beside her, a reassuring smile on his lips. But instead of calming down, she felt her heart pick up speed while she remembered that twelve short hours ago he hadn’t been telling her to calm down. He’d been making her cry out.

“I can’t do this,” she said in a hushed wail.

“Not only
can
you do this, but you
will
do it, and you’ll do it well. I’ve been here with you the entire time. You’re amazing with the kids. They love you. And so they’ll perform their little hearts out for you.” He rested a hand on her shoulder.

The gesture settled her down, finally. Hawk believed in her, and if this man, a man she was falling so deeply for, believed in her, how could she go wrong?

“You’ll save me if I freeze?” Funny question to ask a fire chief . . .

“I won’t need to rescue you, Natalie. You’re confident, beautiful, and more than capable of hosting a pageant. Go and knock the socks off these parents.”

He nudged her forward, and Natalie had no choice but to step from behind the curtain and face the entire town. Feeling her cheeks turn as bright as the lights she was under, Natalie nevertheless walked to the microphone with what she hoped appeared to be confidence. A hush fell over the crowd as the children behind her continued to giggle and wave.

“Thank you all for coming out this snowy evening.” Natalie felt her throat tighten. These people didn’t want her to fail. They just wanted to enjoy their children. If
only she’d realized this sooner, she wouldn’t have been such a wreck.

“I have to admit that when I first arrived in Sterling and walked out of those airport doors, I was in shock. When I saw the one lone street of businesses, I didn’t know how I’d survive.” No one said anything as she paused to swallow her emotions. “But during this last month, I’ve fallen in love with this town. How could I not when my neighbors have brought me goodies and cheer, when my classroom is full of beautiful, talented students, all eager to learn, and when every time I step from my home there is always someone passing by with a wave and a
good morning
? All I wanted to do in the beginning was to run far away to somewhere bigger and warmer, but now I can’t imagine teaching anywhere else. Thank you for trusting me with your children, and for believing in me to give you a good pageant. I can guarantee the children are ready. As for me, on the other hand . . .” She trailed off with a laugh that had the audience doing the same.

“I can’t promise perfection, but I can guarantee I’ll always put in a thousand percent effort. Enough about me and my silly emotions. It’s time to watch the show!”

Natalie knelt down in front of the kids, and they took over, singing their songs in celebration of Christmas, completely off tune and with full delight.

During the last number, five children stepped forward, and while the kids behind them sang “Silent Night,” they signed the words for a mother in the audience who was deaf. It had been something one of her young students had asked to do for her mother, and Natalie had been
touched immeasurably by the request. Standing next to the kids, she signed along with them, looking down and smiling at the woman they were doing it for.

When the song ended, the audience maintained a reverential silence for a few moments, and then several people lifted their hands and waved, the universal sign language for applause. The children were glowing with pride as they walked offstage, and as Natalie prepared to thank everyone and call an end to the pageant, Martin Whitman stood up and walked to the microphone.

“The parents would like to extend a very special thank-you to our newest teacher, Ms. Natalie Duncan, for directing another beautiful pageant. You were thrown in at the last minute, and you’ve done a spectacular job.

“And we’d also like to present an award to our very own fire chief, Mr. Hawk Winchester. This year marks his tenth pageant, and his help with building sets, moving equipment, bringing in the other firefighters to set it all up, and coordinating the necessary fund-raising has always been invaluable. Would you come out here and join us, Hawk?”

The audience burst into applause, and Natalie found herself standing next to Martin as Hawk approached. Their gazes connected and even a room full of people was unable to tear her eyes from him until he turned toward the audience with his most winning smile.

“Thanks, Martin,” Hawk said. “I love these pageants, and I feel that I’m getting far more from it than the help I’m giving. I hope you keep me around helping for at least another ten years.”

“We’re not going to let you go that soon, son,” Martin joked.

“Not a chance,” someone in the audience called out.

Then Hawk placed an arm around Natalie’s shoulders and turned them both to allow photographs to be taken. But instead of facing the camera, she looked up into Hawk’s eyes, instantly feeling lost in their deep brown depths. And then, right there in front of the entire town, Hawk claimed her lips and at the same time captured the rest of her heart.

I
can’t come with your family!”

Natalie was standing in her living room, still wearing her pajamas and looking at Hawk as if he were insane. There was no way she would intrude on his family at Christmas. It was bad enough she’d been thrust upon them on Thanksgiving.

“You’re coming,” he said with the same sickeningly confident smile he’d been sporting since he’d walked in the front door.

“No, I’m not, Hawk. Christmas is family time.”

“And you have no other family, so my mother has decided to adopt you,” he told her. “Besides, she’s invited a few other friends. The holidays are about more than just family being together. It’s a time to leave no one out.”

Natalie turned away, pretending to wipe dust from the spotless end table as tears forced their way into her
eyes. Dammit, she was always crying now, like some sappy twit, and she sure as sin didn’t want to expose her vulnerability where family was concerned. Her relationship with Hawk had been moving at the speed of light, and she felt overwhelmed.

To hear him say so casually that his mother had adopted her choked her up. But she was never going to admit to anyone how badly she wanted to be part of a real family. It would make her sound too desperate, too pathetic.

“Hey? What’s wrong?”

Hawk came up behind her, slipped his arms around her waist, and tugged her against him. Great. Having him touch her certainly wouldn’t help her gain control over her wretched emotions.

Despite all her efforts, a damned tear fell. They hadn’t spoken of the future. They hadn’t talked about a happily-ever-after. She hadn’t told him how she felt about him.

“Nothing. I’m just . . .” She was just what? She had no freaking idea.

“I’m not demanding that you come with us,” he said softly, his breath washing across her cheek. “I’m asking you to please make this Christmas my best one ever, and join us.”

How could she tell him no after that? “Okay,” she whispered.

“Why is this so hard on you?” he asked again, this time making her face him.

Natalie suddenly needed to speak about it, needed to release the weight from her shoulders. He said nothing
more as he waited, his hands caressing her arms and back. She could do this.

“I . . . it was always just me and my mother while I was growing up. She had me when she was only fifteen, and I grew up in shelters, and then she worked hard and got us a little apartment. Mom worked all the time, I mean like seven days a week. Even working so much, we never had enough—not enough food, clothes, not enough to pay the bills. Mom told me over and over again not to mess up like she’d done, not to fall for a guy who would walk away at the first sign of trouble. She told me to go to school, get an education, and get a good job. She was bitter a lot, but she did love me.”

“I’m sure she loved you very much,” he whispered when she paused for too long.

“She did,” Natalie sighed. “She did the best she could. But I had no family, Hawk. I had no one but her and she was gone so much. We didn’t do holidays; we didn’t celebrate much. I feel like I’m betraying her by enjoying my life.”

“You feel that way because you are kind and caring. But, Natalie, if she truly loved you, she would want you to be happy. Don’t all parents want better for their children than what they had for themselves?”