Holiday Wedding (20 page)

Making three short turns, she headed straight for the town's center. As she pulled up toward the tree and spotted Drew, Olivia let out a gasp while Miles burst out laughing. “Is Drew channeling Bing Crosby or Perry Como?”

Lauren grinned and rolled down her window. “Shut up and listen.”

They all watched the dozen or so people surrounding Drew belting out “Jingle Bells.” Beside him was a small girl with a cap over her head, hugging a Happily Ever After doll with long brown hair. Lauren presumed it was Sara hugging Anna.

“Let's join them.” She maneuvered the car into a parking space a little ways away and shut off the engine. Within minutes, they were by his side.

He smiled wildly as Olivia stood next to him and joined in the merriment.

“Did you know he could sing?” Miles asked.

Lauren nodded, not able to take her eyes off of Drew, who gave her a wink. “He sang to me just the other night …” She lowered her voice. “In the hot tub.”

“Falalalala,” Miles chirped. “Or maybe it's more oooh la la.”

She gave him a playful bump with her hip. As they joined the chorus, her heart swelled at the realization in front of her. Drew had finally let Christmas back in.

Lauren continued to hum as Miles followed her inside the log cabin and into the kitchen.

“Someone's in a good mood.” He slid onto the barstool, rubbing his hands together.

She peeled off her gloves and coat, leaning against the kitchen island. “Wasn't today absolutely wonderful?”

“Are you referring to the Frost Festival or watching Drew go all
It's a Wonderful Life
in the town's square?”

“It was quite a sight, wasn't it?”

“Something like that.” He took off his ski jacket and set it on the stool next to him.

“So, do you think he's going to give Olivia the heave-ho tonight?”

“I think so.” Lauren looked out the window at the gray sky. The snowstorm was coming, but would it compare to what was surely brewing at the inn? Once they pulled into the cabin's driveway, Drew had asked to borrow her car and disappeared with Olivia. She assumed they were having the talk.

Miles checked his watch. “I think I'll head out in about an hour then … just in case she doesn't want to be alone.”

Lauren came around the counter and grabbed his hand, giving it a squeeze. “You really area a good friend, Miles Payne.”

“Yes, I am, and don't you forget it.” He paused, and she could instantly tell from his expression that an idea had just popped into his head. “I think I should get a cut of the Happily Ever After dolls profits since the new sales plan was inspired by me.”

“How about we create a doll in your likeness and name him Miles?”

“That could work. God, that doll is going to be ridiculously handsome.” He chuckled but then grew serious. “So you ready for tonight?”

Lauren opened the refrigerator, pulling out a tub of dip and then grabbing a bag of chips on the counter. “What do you mean?” She opened the bag, snagged a chip, and scooped some dip.

“You know exactly what I mean. Be careful of how much salt you have.” He snatched the bag from her. “You wouldn't want to be bloated.”

She rolled her eyes and snatched it back. “I'm not going to lie. I love Drew, but I really saw a different side to Olivia today, and I know he cares about her. I hate seeing anyone get her heart broken, especially at Christmas. Know what I mean?”

“She'll be fine. I've decided that I'm going to make it my mission to find her a man without the last name Cannon.”

“Good idea.” Lauren sighed, wondering if it was too early in the evening to pour herself a glass of wine to calm her nerves. She glanced longingly at the bottle calling her name in the wine rack and then walked over and grabbed it. “I've been thinking about the whole situation a lot over the last couple of days. Olivia was never the obstacle to our getting back together.”

“No?”

“No. I just don't know if Drew will ever be ready to take the next step with me.”

“You can't be serious. He's breaking up with his girlfriend to be with you.”

“No, I mean it. What if he thinks he's ready and then a month or two from now, he freaks out again and runs? I don't think I can take another breakup. The last one sucked.”

“You need to lay it all out on the line tonight. Tell him exactly how you feel.”

“What if he admits that he doesn't want to get married … ever?”

“Is that a compromise you could make? A lot of couples don't get married.”

“I don't know. I'd like to think us being together is enough, but if he's not ready to get married will he want other things with me—like children?”

“
You
want kids?”

“Why are you so surprised?” Lauren asked, searching for the wine opener in the utensil drawer. She really did need a glass of wine.

“Um … Ms. Candy Cane Sparkly Toes who couldn't wait to bolt from her assignment the other day.”

“Well, those are other people's kids.” She laughed. “My and Drew's children would be perfect.”

“Of course. God, I hope they get your nose.”

She laughed, but grew serious. “Maybe I should give everything a little more thought before Drew gets back.” She grabbed the wine bottle. “I think I'll drink on this.”

• • •

Drew headed out of the Snow Frost Inn onto the powder-covered street. The residents were right. The storm had arrived, and he was eager to get back to the cabin, where he could watch the snowflakes fall in the arms of the woman he loved.

Two hours earlier, he'd finally had a long conversation with Olivia over dinner where he admitted his feelings for Lauren. She'd taken the news better than he expected.

Actually, she'd intercepted all he'd planned on saying and broke up with him, admitting they weren't meant to be together and insisting that she would be fine. Was she putting on a brave face? Maybe. She'd excused herself from the table to call Miles to see if he'd bring her her suitcase. Then when she returned, she did the oddest thing. She asked Drew if she could stay in town for the wedding.

He wasn't going to lie. That request had taken him by surprise, but he also knew how much she missed being part of his dad's life and really wanted to mend things with Luke. He couldn't say no. She even offered to help Lauren and him with the final wedding preparations. He didn't really know how much more they needed to do for the wedding, but it didn't sound like a bad idea.

Picking up his steps toward Lauren's BMW, his heart also picked up its beats. He couldn't wait to get back to the cabin and sweep Lauren off of her feet and into his arms. He'd build that fire he promised, and with any luck, they would be lying naked in front of it in no time.

He looked up at the dark sky, snowflakes instantly coating his lashes. The town had been abuzz about the turn in the weather that might cancel the second day of the festival. That was okay by him. Now that they had a solid plan to sell the dolls, the pressure was off. He planned on talking to Natasha and seeing if she could distribute the rest of the shipment to kids visiting the Gingerbread House.

It had been great to see Sara again. Natasha had introduced him as the creator of the doll that Santa had given her yesterday. He'd had a wonderful time singing with them, and he'd even talked to her parents about making a sizable donation to a fund that had been set up to cover her medical expenses.

He took his time, slowing down as to avoid an accident. Huge snowflakes hit the front window as the wind whistled. The bartender at the inn said they were predicting over four feet of snow. Once Drew got back to the cabin, he and Lauren would hunker down until the snowstorm passed.

He could think of worse places to be then trapped in a beautiful, rustic cabin with Lauren. If they had to spend the next two days finding creative ways to pass the time, so be it.

Fifteen minutes later he pulled into the familiar driveway, thankful he arrived before the roads became treacherous.

He shut the engine off, feeling a little bit nervous, but the good kind of nerves when you just know you're about to finally get what you've always wanted. Starting right now, the only thing on his mind was getting back the relationship he should have never let go of in the first place.

He jumped out of the car and trudged up the snowy path. It must be past eight p.m. He hadn't meant to stay so long, but was now ready to get started on that fire.

“Anyone home?” Shutting the door behind him, he pulled off his gloves.

“In here,” Lauren called out from the living room.

“Hey.” He strolled through the foyer, loosened his scarf, and took off his coat. Lauren was curled up on the couch with her laptop. A glass of red wine sat almost finished on the coffee table next to a nearly empty bottle. “You alone?”

“Yeah, Miles left about thirty minutes ago.” She moved her legs for him to sit down.

He accepted that invitation, took a seat, and maneuvered her legs on top of him. “Nice boots.”

“I've been waiting to warm up a little bit more before taking them off. I thought the wine would do the trick.” She picked up her glass and took a long drink.

“So, Olivia and I talked and—”

“You are going to die when you see this.” Lauren sat her wine glass down and spun her laptop around. “Look at all the male dolls that are registered. Isn't it terrific?”

Why was she changing the subject? Didn't she want to know that he was now a single man? He peered down at the screen. Wow. She was right. Not only was there a spike in registrations but it looked like several kids were logged in and playing with the interactive games. This was exactly what he'd wanted.

But right now there was something he wanted more. Way more. He pushed the laptop screen down.

“Don't you want to see who belongs to Anna? I see Sara's family registered the doll.”

“I already know. Sara told me earlier. It's Tyler.”

“No way. Best friends and soul mates. What a happy ending,” she said softly.

“The best kind, right?”

She shrugged, and Drew leaned back. Lauren didn't seem mad, but he could tell something was bothering her.

He eyed her nearly finished wine glass. “Have you eaten? I can order some takeout if you'd like. Maybe Dasher's Diner delivers.”

Lauren swung her legs off of him, sprung up, and headed to the window. “I don't think anyone will be on the roads now. It looks pretty bad out there.”

“You're probably right. I'm glad Miles left when he did.” He walked over to Lauren, and drew her in. Sweeping her bangs off of her forehead, he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “And that we're finally alone.”

Tilting her chin up, their eyes met for a split second, before he closed his lids and brought his mouth down. There was no way he could hold back his desire to kiss her any longer.

One second later, his lips met unexpected air, and his eyes flew open to see Lauren walking away from him. He watched as she moved back toward the sofa and grabbed her wine glass and bottle. Before he could anticipate her next move, she spun around.

“Drew, what are we doing?”

He smiled, hoping it would diffuse whatever was going on inside that pretty head of hers. “I'm trying unsuccessfully to seduce you.” Walking over, he took the items from her hands, set them down, and brought both of her hands up to his lips, kissing her soft knuckles. “Olivia and I are over.”

She blinked, not saying a word.

“For good.”

“How is she?” Pulling her hands from his grasp, she folded them across her chest.

“Quite well, actually.”

“It couldn't have been a pleasant conversation.”

“No, but she took it better than I expected.” While he understood it was Lauren's nature to be empathetic to the pain of others, didn't she understand what this meant? “Olivia will be fine.” He tried to reach for her hand again, but this time she moved it away. “Lauren, we can be together now.”

“Together … right …” She stared in the direction of the Christmas tree.

Something was wrong. This wasn't the reaction he had waited all night for. Didn't she want this as much as he did? She certainly did yesterday in the dressing room, not to mention their close encounter in the hot tub. What had changed? “Lauren, is something the matter?”

“Why didn't you want to marry me?”

“Lauren …”

“No. Really. I want to know. What was wrong with me that you weren't ready?”

“Nothing's wrong with you. It was all me.” He shook his head. “I was being stupid … I don't know …”

“You don't know?”

He gazed at her, knowing if they had any chance of making it this time, he needed to be truthful. “I felt rushed.”

“After nine years!” She threw her hands up in the air and then turned her back on him.

“No. That's not what I meant.” Whatever he said was going to just set her off, but he needed to be completely honest, even if it meant admitting something she might not want to hear. He took a deep breath. “The wedding was rushed, and you can't deny it. Maybe we shouldn't have immediately jumped into planning a wedding in three weeks, but enjoyed our engagement.”

She turned, voice shaking. “I thought you wanted to get married immediately.”

“What I wanted was to make you happy. Before I knew what was going on, Tie Your Knot had been hired, and we were off to Hawaii to meet Kate and Miles. I freaked out and should have been honest with you up front. I know that now.”

He shook his head. This was not how their evening alone was supposed to go. Sure, they'd have to talk about the aborted wedding, but he thought they were on the same page when it came to getting back together. What happened to change her mind? “We have a second chance now. I ended things with Olivia …”