'Tis the Season: A Collection of Mimi's Christmas Books (63 page)

“I wouldn’t change a thing. It’s endearing and cute. Chances are it’ll never happen again so we’ll have to take more pictures for keepsakes.”

“The little actress loves getting her photo taken, as you well know already, since your phone has been busy for days. I never knew men liked to take so many… ahhh keepsakes?”

Belle’s teasing never failed to disarm him. The craving he’d fought all day sprung up. He wanted to hold her and preferably while in his bed. The unrelenting ache to have her close was becoming unbearable. Jesse guided her into the hallway and closed the door to Kim’s bedroom.

Then he turned toward her, his arms lifting, hands reaching. When she stepped inside the haven, he blessed the saints and every God in the universe that he’d found the love of his life. Take it slow. Don’t scare her. Teach her about how you love completely and give her time to learn.

First he kissed her, and when her sweet response devastated, he whispered, his voice rough with emotion. “I want you in my bed tonight, Belle. Will you come?”

“Will you make it worth my while?”

Laughing, Jesse swung her over his shoulder, lightly smacked her behind and headed toward his room. “Oh, baby. You’re gonna have to learn that teasing a hungry man is dangerous.”

Chapter Thirty-three

Early the next day, Belle thought about the wonder of the night before when Jesse had loved her so sweetly, lifting her to peaks she never knew possible. They’d hungrily explored each other’s bodies with kisses and strokes, while moans of ecstasy and encouraging love phrases reverberated around the room. In the end, she’d ridden him (a first for her) and the power of being in control had been an exquisite experience. Sweet, yet at the same time seductive, it had lifted her passion to new heights.

A number of times, she’d even felt that Jesse had been on the verge of declaring his love. At one point, he’d stared into her eyes and whispered “forever.”

The smell of burning bacon brought her back to earth and the smoke-filled kitchen. Making breakfast while Jesse and Yaya took Sam outside for a walk, Belle had to stop daydreaming about their future and think about now and what the heck she was doing to their breakfast. She threw the overcooked meat into a dish to cool and added more to the sizzling pan.

Since she knew Jesse had a fondness for a full breakfast, she had decided to cook one for him. In fact, she’d do almost anything to please him today. She wanted that man—as a husband for her and a father for Yaya, Jesse was perfect.

If he wanted to woo her, take his time, that would be fine with her but he wasn’t getting away, not with her heart.

Belle reflected that should Jesse decide he really did want to step up their relationship, she had to be in a good place, centered and healthy. Therefore, she had to make some changes.

It was more than time to get her life back on track. She made a note to call her old boss later and let her know she’d be ready to return to work after the holidays. Thankfully, Yaya came to work with her at the daycare and so they spent more time together. Although her baby joined in the fine with the other kids and the various activities, she had a habit of constantly combing the room for sight of her mom.

Seeing as how there was no daddy in the picture, at least for now, Belle guessed that was normal for a child of a single parent. Even though she’d made up her mind not to dwell on the past, thoughts of her family’s pending visit snuck in and wouldn’t be dislodged. After sharing some of her reserves last night with Jesse, he’d helped her decide that she shouldn’t overthink anything but take things as they came.

The door opened and Yaya flew toward her, the pompom on her sweater bouncing with every skipping step. “Mama, can we still make cookies for gwampa today?”

Belle watched as Jesse approached and sent her a wink. He wiped Sam’s feet and lowered the wriggling bundle so the pup could bound in her direction and shower her with his own leaping style of “hi-I’m-home-aren’t-you-glad?” kind of adoration.

“Sure, muffin, we’ll make cookies and perogies and bread. Then we’ll be ready for company. Go and hang your sweater on the chair, wash your hands and come get breakfast. Then we’ll start.”

“Okay!” Both puppy and child ran to the hallway, having to leap over the two Persian princesses who blocked their way.

Jesse stood still, hands on hips and a delighted grin lighting his face. “Seriously? You make perogies? And bread? I think I’ve died and gone to heaven.”

“Yes, seriously. I have a Polish friend who loves to share her cooking skills. I can promise you that Christmas dinner will be a meal fit for a king.”

Jesse prowled behind her and whispered so only she could hear. “I’ve been in the kingdom of heaven ever since I met you. Does that make me a king?”

Man the guy knew how to weaken her knees! A quick kiss that turned into a lustful tease soon got interrupted when bouncing feet were heard returning.

As the day started, so it continued. Hungry glances interrupted by a beaming happy child while everyone had jobs to do getting the place ready for their expected company.

Finally, while the baking ham filled the room with glorious smells and the last of the decorations were added to the cookies, a text message appeared saying their guests had arrived.

“I’ll go and show them my apartment and let them get settled and then I’ll bring them here to you and Yaya. That okay?”

“Absolutely. Yaya and I will put some of those cookies on a platter while you’re gone. Right, Layla?”

“Wight, Jesse.” Seeing the devil in his eye, and the cheeky grin on her daughter’s face, she warned them both. “Only one each or you’ll spoil your dinner.”

Rather than use the elevator, Belle ran down the stairs and got there in time to help an older version of her father with his bag. “Hello, Belle. You look wonderful… happy. I’m glad.”

Belle searched his face, seeing the pain and age embedded into the wrinkles he’d grown since she’d last seen him. He’d dressed in a suit for the occasion and his mustache was neatly trimmed along with the thinning grey hair. “Hello Dad.” She smiled and hugged his portly body, hearing his sigh of relief as he held her close and patted her back over and over.

A beautiful woman who’d finished paying the driver stepped toward her, smiled kindly and held out her hand, “I’m Marilyn Dangerfield, your step-sister. Thank you, Belle, for inviting us for the holiday.”

Belle shook the proffered hand and searched the face of a stunning woman. Styled by a pro, Marilyn’s blonde hair had been pinned in the back leaving her features prominent and breathtaking. Green eyes, similar to her own, were surveying her at the same time and seemed to like what they saw since the small polite smile now reached her eyes and lit them into a sparkling wonder.

“You’re very welcome,” Belle said. “I’m happy to finally meet you. Come with me. First I’ll show you where you’ll be staying and then we can go to the apartment two doors down where I have supper ready and waiting. You must be starving?”

Her father answered with a chuckle. “I’m starving to meet my granddaughter. Is she here?”

“She’s waiting for you upstairs.”

“Then let’s hurry. You won’t take too long will you, Marilyn?”

She laughed and answered. “We’ll go straight there, Dad.” She turned to Belle and said. “He’s been fussing about Layla all day. We can just drop the things off and then meet Layla if you don’t mind.”

In no time at all, Belle pointed her father in the direction of Layla’s room and led Marilyn into her own space. Through the other woman’s eyes, her haven suddenly seemed dowdy and cheap, which annoyed Belle. She had no right to believe her sister so shallow—until she heard the cool tone in the polite words. “It’s fine… and comfortable. Thank you.”

Then her doubt re-emerged.

Her father hovered in the doorway. “Can we go now to visit with Layla? I have a special gift for her.” He carried a small, Christmas-wrapped parcel sporting a red satin bow.

Belle smiled and led the way. “You should give it to her for Christmas.”

“Oh, I have another one for Christmas. This one is different and I want her to have it now.”

Belle opened Kim’s apartment door, happy that at least this classy room shone with beauty and a perfect feeling of Christmas. Most important of all, the two people who she loved more than anything else in the world were there waiting to be showed off and shared.

Layla suddenly shy, hugged onto Jesse’s leg while hiding her face. He patted her back before looking up. Then he took a halting step forward as he breathed one word that tore Belle’s happiness into tiny unbearable shards.

“Mari!”

Chapter Thirty-four

Bell froze. Her nerves rioted as she hugged herself and rocked in place like she did when she soothed her baby.

Desperately, she tried to control the waves of emotion from becoming wails of denial. Biting her bottom lip, she blinked more than once so she could see through the gathering tears. Deep breathing helped somewhat until Marilyn flew across the space and flung herself into Jesse’s open arms. Then Belle knew she either had to leave the room or make a complete fool out of herself.

She backed away, snuck around the furniture and fled into the kitchen. I can’t take it! Oh God! Not now… Her hands covered her face while images of Jesse holding another woman flooded into her mind and took root.

Small hands pulled at her for attention. Obviously, Yaya had followed her rather than staying with strangers. “Mommy, Gwampa is here. We have to meet him.”

Belle reached for a tissue from a nearby box and used it to mop up before turning to smile at her daughter’s uneasiness. “Yes baby, Mommy forgot something on the stove. It’s fine now. Let’s go and introduce you.”

Squaring her shoulders, Belle lifted Yaya as a shield and returned to the room in time to see that Jesse had now put space between himself and Marilyn. In fact, he was in the midst of offering refreshments as they’d planned for him to do earlier. He seemed rather relieved when she appeared and although she sensed his drawing gaze, she ignored him. Instead, she moved toward the older man who rose as soon as she came close.

“Father, I’d like you to meet my little ray of sunshine, Layla Foster. And Layla, this is your Grampa Harry. Say hello like I showed you.”

“Hello.” Layla held her tiny hand out in front of her and waited for Belle’s father to shake. He didn’t disappoint. “How do you do, Miss Foster? May I call you Layla?”

“O-kay. Can I call you Gwampa?”

The older man beamed with approval and grinned, his tidy grey moustache framing his lips. “Of course, sweetheart! I have a special present for you. Would you like to open it?”

“Yes please.” Layla wriggled from her mother’s reluctant arms so she could go to where her grampa pointed at a small, beautifully wrapped gift. Lost without something to cling to, Belle knelt to watch Yaya opening her surprise.

In the meantime, Marilyn carried on with explanations. “Dad, Jesse is a really old friend of mine. In fact we were childhood sweethearts in high school. I believe I’ve told you about him. We spent every moment together during the final year, before mom and I moved with you to L.A.”

“Yes. I remember how you mooned over his picture until you got all wrapped up in going to college and met Steve.”

Marilyn shot Harry a warning look and then smiled once again at Jesse.

Eavesdropping, Belle saw her father’s frown when he noticed the proprietary way that Marilyn held on to Jesse’s arm. Belle sensed that he didn’t like this unexpected situation any better than she did, and was relieved by the fact.

Being a gentleman, he smiled politely as he accepted the glass of wine his host provided. Then he quickly stepped back to watch Layla’s face when she saw what he had brought for her.

Snug in a pink velvet jewellery box, one Belle vaguely remembered, was a dainty golden ring with a tiny heart in the center. In the same parcel was a small ornately framed photograph of a little, golden-haired cherub. She wore the same ring, plus a gigantic smile as she proudly showed her hand to the photographer.

Layla, her green eyes shining with pure delight, clutched the box and swung her gaze to Belle. “Can I wear it, Mama?”