Marry Me at Christmas (Fool's Gold #19)(65)

After straightening several veils, she walked back to the main showroom. She looked at the tall ceilings and big mirrors. The lighting was good, but the walls needed a little sprucing. She had some ideas for colors. The wallpaper was in decent condition, but tired. She would love to take it down and replace it with paint. They could go with a faux finish. Cheaper than wallpaper and easier to update.

After the first of the year, she was going to set up a meeting with Isabel to talk about the wedding gown side of Paper Moon. Her business partner had been focused on the designer clothes business for a couple of years now. Madeline had placed the last sample order completely on her own. As she bought into the company, she was taking on more responsibility. She had a lot of plans and it was time to share them.

Her cell rang. She pulled it out of her pocket and smiled when she saw the familiar picture on her screen.

“Hi, Mom.”

“Madeline, how are you? Your father and I were just talking about you, so I thought I’d call.”

“I’m good. I sold two dresses today. Both to lovely brides.”

“I can’t wait to see the pictures. Are you ready for Christmas?”

“Yes. My shopping is done. I’m busy with Ginger’s wedding. She comes in tomorrow. I’m excited for her to try on the dresses I chose. Are you and Dad all ready for the cruise?”

“We are.”

“You’re going to have a great time.”

“I know, but I worry.” Her mother paused. “Darling, are you going to be all right by yourself? With us gone and Robbie not there, what will you do?”

“Mom, you’re sweet, but let it go. We’ve talked about this. You and Dad are going to have so much fun. I’ll be busy getting ready for Ginger’s wedding. On Christmas Day, I have places to go. Seriously, relax. I’m all grown up. You did a good job raising me.”

“I can’t help it. We love you.”

“I love you two, as well. Now relax and trust me to be okay.”

They chatted a few more minutes, then hung up. Madeline went to her computer to check her email before heading home. As she sat behind her desk, she thought of her family and how much she enjoyed spending time with them. Within a second or two, her throat was tight and her eyes burned.

“Don’t be silly,” she told herself. “I’m fine. I have plenty to do.”

Only this would be the first Christmas on her own. Maybe it was a rite of passage or something, but it also felt kind of lonely. Sure her parents would call, as would Robbie, but it wasn’t going to be the same.

She sniffed, then sniffed again. In the battle, tears finally won. She sucked in a breath, trying to get control as she wiped her face.

“What’s wrong?”

She looked up and saw Jonny standing in the doorway to her office, Raven at his side. The old dog had the rope bone in her mouth and Christmas antlers on her head.

“Why do you do that to your sweet dog?” she asked, hoping a bright, happy voice would keep him from noticing her ridiculous tears.

He was at her side in a second. He pulled her to her feet and wiped her face with his fingers.

“Tell me.”

She stared into his green eyes. Funny how the more she got to know him, the less she noticed that he really was good-looking. Amazingly so. But somehow that didn’t matter anymore. He was just Jonny now.

“Nothing happened,” she admitted. “My mom called. She’s worried about me being alone for the holidays. I told her I would be fine, which I will be. Then we talked and hung up and I started to cry. I don’t know why.”

“Yes, you do.”

She tried to turn away, but he wouldn’t let her.

“I’ve never been alone on Christmas,” she admitted. “I know, I know. I’m acting like a baby. I have places to go. People to see. It’s no big deal.”

He smiled at her, then kissed her. “Have Christmas with me.”

“What? No. You’ll be with family.”

“I’d like to be with you, too. There’s going to be plenty of food. I’m having a chef brought in.”

She laughed. “Of course you are. I’ll be with friends.”

“Then come over when you’re done. Stay with me.”

Stay with me and be my love and we will all the pleasures prove.

It was about the only poetry she’d ever committed to memory and she was pretty sure she didn’t have it exactly right, but the point was clear.

She leaned into him, wrapping her arms around him. He held her close. She felt the heat of him, the safety of his embrace. These were the moments, she thought. She could believe everything was going to be fine. That she wouldn’t get her heart broken and nothing bad was ever going to happen.

FIFTEEN

THE LARGE BOX was delivered at nine in the morning. Madeline read the label twice. She knew she hadn’t ordered a custom anything from that particular design house. The only person she knew who could afford those prices was Taryn, and her friend had already gotten married. Yet the box was addressed to her. Not the shop, but her.

She studied it for a couple of seconds before she realized that she knew exactly what was inside. Some ridiculously priced designer gown that Jonny had bought for his sister. Because he couldn’t help himself.

“Rosalind, fill up the steamer,” she called. “We’ve got a new dress in.”