Taming His Montana Heart(52)

He blew out a long breath. “Then we need to open our gifts and get back where it’s safe.”

Was anywhere safe where they were concerned? Maybe not, she acknowledged as, lightheaded, she unwrapped the box that held a half dozen amaryllis bulbs. Shaw explained he’d been influenced by her pots and had decided she needed something she could grow inside in winter.

“Perfect. I love flowers.”

“And I love cookies,” he said around the one he was eating. “Ah, homemade. Keep this up and I’ll kidnap you and keep you prisoner in my kitchen.”

“Kitchen?”

His eyes narrowed. “I get what you’re saying. Look, we have to get out of here. Before it’s too late.”

He was right, unfortunately.

Back among the crowd, she again stood with him behind her with his hands on her shoulders while they watched children interact with Santa. Despite the distraction he was responsible for, her thoughts turned to how much she wished her brother and his family were here. Shaw obviously felt the same way about his family. Not only that, he’d told his brother and sister-in-law a little about her. She hadn’t yet confided in Mick because her brother would undoubtedly ask what Shaw knew about their parents and she’d have to be honest.

“Santa has to leave pretty soon,” Shaw announced. “He has a pretty busy night ahead of him.”

“He looks pretty relaxed for someone with the schedule he keeps,” she said just loud enough for him to hear, “but I wouldn’t be surprised if all that pint-sized energy is wearing him down.”

“His beard’s slipping.”

Nate’s beard was indeed lower on the left side than the right. Fortunately his helper stepped behind him and made the necessary adjustment. The loving look that passed between Nate and Alisha made Haley ache. Maybe Shaw had noticed and that was why he brushed his lips over the side of her neck. It took all she had not to moan.

“You and I need some us time,” he whispered. “The minute and a half we spent in my office made that absolutely clear.”

“Yes, it did.”

He started stroking her shoulders and the sides of her neck.

Not certain she trusted her back to keep her upright, she shivered. “I’m just not sure how we’re going to make it happen,” he said. “Our respective places—I don’t need to point out how public they are. If one of us spends the night…”

“I know.” How many of the couples here were looking forward to when their children, if they had them, were asleep so they could privately celebrate the holiday? It was more complicated between her and this man who wasn’t her lover, yet.

“Tomorrow’s going to be crazy busy for me.” She pointed out unnecessarily. “But the twenty-sixth is a weekday. It should slow down here.”

“I keep remembering when it was just the two of us out in the wilderness.”

She’d brought that memory out every night when she was falling asleep or rather trying to. Knowing the trip had made a similar impact on him warmed her heart and more. Sexual desire was becoming a living thing, a powerful need. “It might not have been just the two of us. Don’t forget the wolf.”

“Never. All right, if you could go anywhere you wanted, where would it be?”

If he was deliberately redirecting the conversation, maybe it was for the best. “I don’t—the Scapegoat Wilderness. I’d love to see the limestone cliffs.”

“So would I.”

Santa’s helper announced the jolly old man’s eminent departure. Santa had left the room to the wail of a toddler when a dozen employees all wearing Santa hats gathered around the fireplace and started singing carols. A number of guests joined in.

For several minutes Haley came close to believing she could do this. She would experience Christmas Eve in the present with Shaw, not let the past escape. However, the contrast between this festivity and her childhood proved too much to discount. Maybe it was the music, maybe it was knowing she was important to Shaw and, for the first time in years, she wasn’t alone. She kept him behind her as her tears fell. She didn’t sob or sniffle or shake, just cried silently.

“Can I talk to you for a minute?” a female voice asked. Startled, Haley blinked until she recognized Alisha. “Woman to woman,” Alisha said.

Shaw didn’t seem to want to let her go, but Haley was too emotional to do anything except let Alisha direct her through the back door that led to the deck overlooking the frozen lake.

“We won’t be out here long,” Alisha said. “I’ve been watching. Something’s bothering you.”

Haley wiped away what she hoped were the last of her tears. “I guess I’m a little nostalgic.” She hedged. “Holiday memories can get complicated.”

Alisha tucked her hands under her armpits. “You know my parents are dead. Between that and not having siblings, Christmas wouldn’t be much if Nate wasn’t in my life. Loving him has made an incredible difference in so many ways.”

“I’m glad.” She slid her hands into her pockets.

“Anyway, watching you, I couldn’t help but wonder if Shaw knows what you’re going through.”

“Not everything. We’re still in the getting to know each other stage.”

“Honey, you’ll never get past that stage and why would you want to? A little mystery keeps things interesting.”