A Heart for Christmas (8 page)

The two chatted while Yvette combed and brushed Lacey’s hair.  Afterwards, she put it into a pony tail tied with a red bow.  It matched the red sweater with reindeers that she was wearing.  Next, she handed Lacey a belt for her jeans and her sneakers.

“There we go,” Yvette said eyeing their handiwork.  She took her daughter by the hand and left the room.

By the time they returned to the kitchen, it was filled with people.  Lacey went to greet her aunt, and then the Darcys. 

“Breakfast is ready,” Margaret announced to the crowd.  Let’s all join hands and say a prayer of thanks.”

Everyone gathered in a circle and joined hands.  Lacey clasped Margaret and Anthony’s hands.  Yvette stood next to Adelaide and took hers.  She turned and saw Christopher to her left.

“Is this hand taken?” he teased.

She grinned.  “It is now.”

Anthony cleared his throat and began the blessing.  When he was done, everyone said Amen, and formed a line to fix their plates.  Margaret helped Lacey so Yvette stayed where she was.

Christopher leaned down and whispered in her ear, “Are you enjoying yourself?”
  

“I am,” she whispered back.  “You can’t imagine how much.”

He scanned her face.  “I think I can.”

Anthony and Christopher had set up tables and chairs in the family room so that everyone could sit down and enjoy their breakfast.  Between there, the kitchen and dining room, all their guests we seated comfortably.

There were plenty of compliments for the meal which Margaret happily shared with Yvette and Adelaide. 

“It was great having you both here to help.  These two are lost in the kitchen,” she said tilting her head in the direction of her husband and son.

“We know enough just to be dangerous,” Anthony countered.

“Speak for yourself, dad.  I’m quite the accomplished cook now.”

“Really?” Yvette said.  “I can’t wait to test something you make.”

“You have,” he bragged.  “Those rolls from dinner last night.”

Her eyes grew wide with shock.  “You baked those?  They were delicious.”

Adelaide got into the conversation.  “I think every man should know how to cook, clean and take care of the house.  That’s very appealing to a woman, you know.”

“Is that so?” Christopher said looking at Yvette.  “Good to know.”

She blushed slightly, and then turned her concentration back to her plate.

Minutes later, their meal was over and everyone began a group effort of cleaning the kitchen.  Margaret shooed her staff out so that they could get back to their duties.  Yvette insisted on helping since they would be leaving soon.

“We’re leaving already?” her daughter complained.

“Soon Lacey.  We’re going to Aunt Addie’s house for a while, and then we’re heading home.  You’ve got school, and I’ve got work tomorrow…remember?”

Margaret turned to Yvette and Christopher.  “I’ve got an idea.  Chris you should show her Storm and Fuzzball before they go.”

Yvette arched her eyebrows.  “Who?”

“Our newest colts.  They’re so adorable.  We showed Lacey and Adelaide yesterday.  You two go ahead.  We’ll be fine.”

Yvett
e glanced at the group.  “If you’re sure…”

“Go on,” Adelaide prompted.  “We’ll be packed up by the time you get back.”

“In that case I’d love to see them.”

Christopher left the kitchen and returned moments later with their coats.  He helped Yvette with her coat, and shrugged into his own. 

“We’ll be back shortly,” he replied to his mother.

They walked toward the barn.  Finally, Christopher broke the silence.

“You smell a set up, don’t you?”

Unable to help it, Yvette
snickered.  “It wasn’t the most subtle of invitations.”

“That’s true.  Have I mentioned how happy I am that you
came?”

She nudged his shoulder.  “You might have said something about it.”

“It was worth repeating.”

After Christopher showed her the horses, they walked around the property for a while.  They chatted about their lives and how each grew up.  When Yvette started shivering, he announced it was time to go back to the house.

“I’m fine,” she replied through chattering teeth.

“CNN alert: you’re not that great a liar, Yvie.”  Christopher wrapped an arm around her and eased her into his side.  “And even if you were, your teeth aren’t.”

Minutes later, t
hey arrived back at the farmhouse.  Christopher deposited Yvette on the living room couch while he started a fire.  He draped a blanket around her and disappeared down the hallway.  When he returned, he was holding two mugs.

“It’s hot chocolate.  I wanted to get you warmed up as fast as possible, so this is the instant and not the homemade kind,”
he explained.

Yvette took the proffered mug and held it between her hands.
  “It’s fine, really.”  She took a few hesitant sips.  “See?  I’m warming up.”

Christopher sat down
next to her; a frown etched the smooth skin on his face. “You’d be more convincing if your lips still weren’t a faint blue.”

“Where’s everyone?”

“At the Christmas Shop.  Mom left a note saying they’d be back soon.”

Yvette digested that bit of information.  Now that she had warmed up, her brain was focused less on being cold, and more on the man sitting next to her.  In truth, Christopher was driving her to distraction:  Yvette was acutely aware of the way his sweater stretched across his chest each time he took a breath, how her pulse raced when he said her name a certain way or how she could feel his eyes on her whenever she came into, or left a room.  Whatever the connection was between them, it was strong.  Yvette considered how fast it was all happening.  The more time she spent around Christopher Darcy, the more she wanted to. 
It’s crazy
. 

“Some might find it odd, but I don’t.”

Yvette gasped.  She locked gazes with Christopher. 
Had she spoken
? 
How did he know what she had been thinking?

His hand reached up to cup her face.  His expression was calm, but intense.  “I didn’t have to hear you, Yvie,” he clarified.  “Your eyes tell me everything I need to know.”

Just then they heard a door shut, followed by loud, “Mom?” 

The spell
was broken.  Yvette leaned away from him, and Christopher lowered his hand back to his side.

Lacey called again. 

“In here, honey,” she said, loudly.

Her daughter barreled in and hopped on the couch between them. 

“I got to feed the Reindeer,” she said, proudly.

“You did?” Yvette responded with excitement.

Christopher stood up.  “That’s a very important job.”

“She did very well,” Margaret replied walking into the room.

Yvette gave her daughter a big hug.  “That’s fantastic, honey.”

“Guess what we brought back,”
Lacey cried.

Christopher glanced at Yvette, and then back to her daughter. 
He knelt down in front of the couch next to her.  “I give up, what did you bring back?”

“This.”  Lacey grinned and help up a sprig of mistletoe.  She held it over her mother’s head.

“It’s mistletoe,” she said, proudly.  “I got it from an elf.  He said you have to kiss the person that’s standing under it.”

“That’s true,” Christopher replied slowly
standing.  He looked up at Yvette with a mischievous gleam in his eye. “It is tradition.”

“Yes, it is,” she agreed.

He held out his hand to help her up, and then turned to Lacey.  Miss Stilwell, would you be so kind?”

Lacey handed him the mistletoe which he promptly dangled over Yvette’s head. 

She eyed him suspiciously.  “Did you pay her?”

Christopher’s eyes grew wide.  “Me?  I had nothing to do with this ingenious idea.”

Before she could reply, Christopher leaned down and quickly kissed Yvette on her lips.  He pulled away just as fast.

Two things came to mind for Yvette when the kiss ended.  The first was that Christopher Darcy was an excellent kisser.  The second, and more serious, was the fact that she enjoyed it…immensely.  Her lips still tingled from the brief touch.  Yvette tried her best to appear nonchalant, but the truth was that the quick peck only succeeded in making her want more.   

She watched Christopher, Lacey, and his mother head back to the kitchen.  They were discussing what cookies to put in a container for Lacey to take home.  She remained rooted to her spot. 
Oh yeah, you’re heart is in trouble
.  Her conscience warned. 
Deep, deep trouble
.

CHAPTER TEN

Deciding that
it was too late for Yvette and Lacey to come to her house for a visit, Adelaide insisted that they head back to Raleigh to avoid Sunday traffic.  Christopher took their overnight bag to the car while Margaret packed leftovers for everyone to take home.

She handed Yvette and Adelaide each a shopping bag full of goodies. “This way neither of you has to worry about cooking when you get home.”  She gave Lacey a
decorative tin.  “This is for you.  It’s got lots of the goodies we made.”

Lacey hugged her tightly.  “Thank you, Ms. Margaret.”

“You’
re welcome, sweetheart.   You all come back any time.”

Yvette hugged her
, and then Anthony.  “We will.  Thanks for having us.”

“It was delightful,” Adelaide told everyone.  Waving goodbye again, she got into her car and headed home.

Christopher walked Yvette and Lacey to the car.  Climbing in back, Lacey shut the door leaving the two of them alone.

“I’m going to stay the night here.  Call me on my cell and let me know you ladies made it home safely.”

“We will,” Yvette promised.

He hugged her.  “I’ll probably be working most nights this week, but how about dinner on Friday night?”

Yvette frowned.  “Mmm…can I check my schedule and get back to you?”

“Sure,” he said quickly.

“I’m kidding,” she laughed. 

Christopher visibly relaxed. 

“I’ll check with Lacey’s babysitter to see if she’s free on Friday.  If she is, we’re all set.”

“Sounds good,” he said opening the door for her.  He shut it behind her.  “Don’t forget to call me when you get in.”

“I will.”

He brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it.  “See you later.”

Yvette said goodbye, and then started the car.  Once she put her seatbelt on, and double checked to make sure Lacey was strapped in, she drove away.  Her eyes went to her rearview mirror.  Christopher was still standing there.  He waved a final time before walking back to the house.

“Well, that was a fun time wasn’t it?” she asked her daughter.

“It totally was,” Lacey agreed.  “He likes you, mommy.”

A grin suffused Yvette’s face.  “I think Mr. Darcy is a very nice man.”

“And you like him, too,” her daughter pressed.

She glanced in the mirror again.  “Yes, baby.  Mommy likes him, too.  In fact, Mr. Christopher asked me on a date this Friday.  How do you feel about that?”

Yvette watched Lacey’s expression carefully.  If her daughter wasn’t comfortable with the idea of her going out with Christopher, there would be no date.  Her heart constricted painfully as she awaited Lacey’s answer.

“I like Mr. Christopher
.  His mommy and daddy are nice, too.”

A look of relief passed over Yvette’s face.  “Me too, sweety.  Me too.”

The week went by in a blur for Yvette.  Luckily, she was swamped at work which kept her mind off her impending date with Christopher; at least most of the time.

When it didn’t, it was all she could do to stay focused.  It was like her brain and completely left her body at times.  He didn’t help matter, either.  Every time she spoke with him on the telephone,
just hearing his voice made her miss him more.

“You’ve got it bad, and you two haven’t even gone out on your date, yet,” Adelaide mentioned during a phone conversation one day.

“I do not,” Yvette denied. 

“Honey,
I know you…well.  I could see it when we were at the farm.  You two are smitten with each other.  Personally, I think it’s high time you were interested in a man.  You’re too young to be up on the shelf.”

“Aunt Addie—” Yvette began.

“Don’t bother denying it because I’m not listening.  Now, go out and get yourself a new dress and get your hair done.  Treat yourself…you deserve it, honey.”

By the time she had ended her call with Adelaide, Yvette had decided that her aunt was right.  She should get something new to wear on her date with Christopher.  It wasn’t that often that she went on a date, much less with someone that she really liked.  Yvette decided that instead of going to lunch tomorrow, she would go to Crabtree Valley Mall to Macy’s and shop for a dress.  She retrieved her cell phone off the kitchen counter and dialed up her hairstylist for an appointment.