The Trouble with Christmas (13 page)

“It was amazing,” she said, and her hips begin to move around his erection.

He kept her on top of him, placed his hands on her side and gently moved her up and down, his erection pinned between their stomachs. When he couldn’t take it anymore, he rolled to his side, braced himself on his elbows, Lily beneath him. He took a deep breath.

“Will this be special enough for you? Do you know how much I care? I know it has only been two days,” he said, staring into her eyes, wanting her to know how much he meant his words, how much she had climbed inside his heart.

“Yes,” she said in a whisper, her dark brown eyes unblinking, trusting him, trusting them.

“Good,” he answered, kissed her forehead, her nose, and finally, found her lips. He loved every inch of her and longed to know her completely. “I want you, Lily.”

She took a deep breath and ran her fingers across his chest and he looked into her eyes.

“Okay?”

She nodded. He leaned over her, his member poised at her entrance then he slowly eased inside, part of the way.

“Ahh,” she said, breathing hard, and he stopped, worried. “Go,” she said, her hips moved up as he pushed all the way inside her. He held her there, bending to kiss her tenderly, wanting to pump in and out of her, but holding on to the moment, their first time.

“Now!” she demanded, her muscles squeezing around him, urging him on as he began to thrust in and out, deeper and deeper, as she moved beneath him and their bodies became one. She tightened and released around him and then he finally found relief collapsing, shuddering, beside her. Once he caught his breath he hugged her to his side.

“That was amazing,” he said, breathing hard.

“He loves me,” she murmured as she cuddled into his side and fell asleep.

Yes, he does
. Cole smiled and held her tight.

LILY

‡

S
he had never
cooked so much in her life, even in culinary school. She was fairly certain she had ruined every fingernail. Somehow, she had managed to get a sunburn on her face—although it could have been windburn or frostbite—and she was fairly certain she had gained a few pounds thanks to Sally Ann’s insistence on trying everything they prepared.

And she was positive she’d never been so happy in her life.

It was December twenty-second, three days until Christmas, and so much had changed. Ever since she had woken up a week ago with the morning sunlight streaming in the window and a heavy arm draped over her shoulder, she had been smiling. It wasn’t just the great sex. It wasn’t just the fact they’d decorated a Christmas tree together. Nope. It also wasn’t only the shared responsibility of saving his restaurant and his reputation, of planning a meal, and strategizing the future of Marshside Mama’s. It was much more. It was the way his blue eyes sparkled that first morning when he had brought her coffee in bed. It was the way they’d talked and held each other before either of them made a move to take a shower or start their day.

It was the way he listened to her as if she mattered, as if she were the center of his world. She had never experienced pure attention. And, Cole admitted, he had not been capable of giving it until now. Until he had learned his own business decisions had caused a man to take his own life, until he’d seen the man’s widow’s eyes. He was a changed man and that was why he’d moved to Indigo Island to heal and to make an impact. Lily knew she had to forgive Bob his social climbing and for breaking their engagement in order to move forward. Cole’s ability to forgive himself was a model for her. Instead of being stuck in anger and feeling like a victim, she’d move on to a new life helping others even as she helped herself grow into a true, balanced relationship with a partner who deserved her love and full attention to as well.

At mid-morning, she was working in Cole’s kitchen, rolling the dough out for her fifteenth pot pie. She looked out the window at the golf course and the sparkling sound beyond and thought once again that this was the most gorgeous place she’d ever been. Right here, right now was the happiest she’d been. In this kitchen, rolling out dough, all by herself. She realized the trouble with Christmas came when she relied on other people to bring her happiness. Because they couldn’t. She had to feel good about herself before she could allow Cole into her heart, allow her heart to trust and feel again. Like everything in life, to truly live, it must start within.

She pushed up the sleeves of Cole’s cozy sweatshirt and wiped her hands on her apron. She and Sally Ann had prepared the pie fillings in the restaurant kitchen, along with the rest of the sides. There just wasn’t enough room for Lily to finish the pie crusts and the cookies at Marshside Mama’s, so she had taken over Cole’s cottage kitchen. Avery and Blake’s girlfriend, Samantha, were coming over at noon to start making the cookies. She had plenty of sprinkles and silver beads for Avery.

The kitchen smelled like cinnamon from the candles, but also of mint as Lily tried her hand at making the famous island mint tea, served at all the finest Lowcountry plantations during the Christmas holiday. She’d found the recipe when she had been researching the Christmas menu. It was a pleasing mix of green tea and mint, and she was enjoying a steaming cup.

She and James had finally run into each other, two days after the porch incident. She’d been home at the Putnams to change, and he had walked out of his bedroom at the same moment she passed by in the hall.

It had been awkward.

“Hi, James,” she had said casually, feeling her face flush. She was a mess anyway, from spending the night at Cole’s, wearing one of his sweaters to keep warm for the golf cart ride home. Cole always made sure she had a cozy sweater of his to wear.

“Hey, Lily. I just want to apologize again for my behavior. I’m embarrassed. I had no idea you had a boyfriend. Well, even if you didn’t, I was wrong,” James had said, his eyes kind and sad.

“I know. Seriously, please don’t think about it again. Okay? Apology accepted,” she had said, putting her hand on his shoulder. “You’re a great guy. Nothing’s changed.”

James took a deep breath, relief flooding his handsome face. “Thanks, and you’re great, too. See you later.” And then he had walked away from her down the hall, while she had hurried the other way to her bedroom. Relieved.

She spent nearly every moment at Cole’s, but the two of them were always invited to Putnam cocktail parties and dinners. They’d declined for now as they’ve needed to work. Cole’s goal was to get everything prepped and ready by December twenty-third. Lily thought they could do it, even as Sally Ann shook her head no. They’d made a lot of progress.

Cole surprised her, bounding into the kitchen, a huge smile on his face. “Hey, babe, what smells so minty?” he asked, coming up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist, lightly kissing her behind the ear which sent desire searing through her body.

“Not now, I’m making pie crust,” Lily said, leaning against his strong chest, wishing she could turn and melt into him.

“I just stopped by to help and tell you some great news,” he said, nuzzling her neck.

“Ah, huh,” she closed her eyes and relaxed against him. “What’s the great news?” she asked, feeling a little dizzy as his fingers brushed against her breasts.

“You’re killing me,” he whispered. “You aren’t wearing a bra.”

“But I am working.”

He laughed a little ruefully. “Whatever happened to mixing business with pleasure? I did want you to know our lunch and dinners are fully reserved at the restaurant, now until after New Year’s.”

“Great,” she said, closing her eyes, losing herself in his touch, as his hand ran underneath the apron, at the top of her pants along her panty line. Her stomach clenched. She was breathless. “Cole we can’t.”

He pulled her away from the counter and turned her around to face him, kissing her deeply, his hand behind her neck. Her flour-covered hands were still at her side until she couldn’t take it. Needing to touch him, she wrapped her arms around his waist so flour now covered his black cashmere sweater.

“Well, hello there,” Avery said, sauntering into the kitchen, a huge smile on her face. “I would have knocked, but I just thought we were making Christmas cookies. I didn’t know a naughty elf had dropped by.”

Lily blushed and wiped her hands on her apron as Cole gave Avery a lecherous grin. “Just keeping the help in line,” he said as another beautiful blonde walked into the kitchen behind Avery. “Wow, Marshside Mama’s staff just keeps growing.”

Lily smiled and walked forward.

“You must be Samantha. I’ve heard so much about you,” Lily said.

“Hi, yes, great to meet you Lily, Cole,” Samantha said with a smile.

Lily liked Samantha’s warm, easy presence immediately. She was happy for Blake. She never thought Blake would take the time for a relationship, much like his brother James. Much like Cole, she realized, smiling at him.

“I hope you’re a better baker than Avery?” Lily teased her best friend, “Or this is going to be a disaster.”

“Nope, have no idea what I’m doing in the kitchen, but this sounds like fun,” Samantha said. “Although I doubt we’ll get much done with that one around.”

She pointed to Cole who laughed and kissed Lily on the cheek. “True,” he said, as Avery walked over and tried to brush the flour off of his shoulders. It was in his hair and on his cheeks.

“You better go upstairs and change before you head back to the restaurant,” Avery said laughing.

“Right you are,” Cole said. “See you later, ladies. Time to stop procrastinating and start baking.”

Once he left, Avery squeezed Lily’s shoulders. “You guys are the cutest,” she said. “Now, where are my shiny silver ball thingies?”

“You’re getting way ahead of yourself, Aves. First, you two need to make the cookie dough. Wash up and I’ll show you all the ingredients,” Lily said.

“Make?” Samantha said, wide-eyed. “Don’t we just slice cookie dough, you know, from one of those frozen rolls?”

Lily smiled at the two of them, even as she had her work cut out for her. She had an idea. “Hey, Aves, is your mom free? Could she and Millie come over?” Lily asked, calculating with four more hands, hands with experience, they might finish by midnight.

“I’ll call her. She would love to be included, Millie, too. Oh, and I think Denton’s girlfriend arrives this afternoon. Maybe she could help, too? I could call Dorsey, see if she wants to come over after work,” Avery answered, reaching for the telephone hanging on the kitchen wall.

“The more the merrier,” Lily said. It was crunch time in the kitchen.

*

COLE

Sally Ann hummed
a Christmas spiritual as she filled a heavy iron pot at the sink. He knew it was a spiritual hymn because he had asked. He’d never heard her hum before. He considered it a happy thing, and hoped it held.

In addition to preparing the evening’s dinner offerings, Cole and Sally Ann worked together to prepare two huge batches of Smokin’ Joe’s Butter Beans and the sweet smell filled the kitchen and the dining room. Lima beans, pig’s tails—he almost gagged when she tossed those in—ham hocks and smoked pork neck bone were the secret ingredients. Cole wished he didn’t know about anything but the beans, but kept a smile on his face during the whole process.

He took a moment to step outside and enjoy the winter sky at dusk, the old oaks and the dock beyond silhouetted against the indigo blue. This month they were finally going to turn a profit. Every meal was fully booked, lunch and dinner, from now until three days after the New Year. It was amazing to feel like the business would go someplace. He walked back into the kitchen, past the humming Sally Ann, and into the packed restaurant. The first seating was well into their main courses, and a line had formed at the host stand again for the next. At the front of the line Carol, his Realtor, the one who talked him into buying this place and her husband waited. They must have boated over from Hilton Head.

“Cole, the place is on fire,” she said giving him a big hug. “I keep hearing about it, from the locals and from the tourists over on Hilton Head. You’ve really turned it around. And it looks so festive for the holidays!” He proudly showed them to their table.