'Tis the Season: A Collection of Mimi's Christmas Books (4 page)

Her son’s eyes narrowed. His attitude cool, but not over the line. “Hi, Mr. Watson.”

Sara, proud of her son’s manners, nodded her approval. Suddenly, strange noises from the corner alerted Sara that her pet seemed to be in difficulties, and so she quickly added.

“Would you like to meet Amy? Since she’s new to the area, I’m sure she’d be pleased to meet someone her own age.” Sara turned and waved at Amy, then smiled as she shyly nodded and then hobbled over.

“Kai this is Amy Watson. She hurt her ankle earlier, and Pegi and I helped her.” Sara had to get to her dog, who she knew was in extreme difficulties in the corner." Be nice, both of you.” She helped Amy to sit and quickly went over to where Jack spoke soothingly to her distressed pet.

Seeing her coming, Pegi tried to stand, but the animal’s heaving and gagging made it difficult. With Sara’s help, the frightened dog finally staggered to her feet and instantly became violently sick.

“Mom, what’s going on?” Kai had seen the commotion long enough to know his best friend was in trouble.

Sara called over from where she stood, patting the retching canine. “It’s crazy, but she’s acting the same way she did when she broke into my Purdy’s chocolate stash last year. Remember how sick she was?”

“Oh, no,” Amy groaned. “It’s my fault then. When you left me the big chocolate bar, I shared it with her. She lapped it up. I’m sorry, Sara, I didn’t know it would make her sick.” She hid her red face in her hands, but not before Kai saw the glistening of tears.

He spoke before Sara. “Don’t worry, Amy. Last time it happened the vet said she’d puk…ahh expel the stuff and be fine, and she was. Mind you she was sicker’na dog for a couple hours.” His cheeky grin did the trick, and Amy visibly relaxed.

Sara called over her shoulder. “It’s my fault too, honey. I didn’t warn you not to give her any. She’s such a beggar, I should have known better.”

Prone, thoroughly exhausted, Pegi lay with her head in Sara’s lap. While she massaged and petted the weak animal, she talked nonsense in a tone filled with love. To Sara’s amazement, Jack had miraculously cleaned away the evidence of the animal’s sickness without having spoken a word. Impressed that a man would help out in such a way, she sent him a loving glance without realizing how potent. Then wondered why he stopped in his tracks.

He moved closer and caressed her hair. He said, his voice low, “I’m so sorry about this Sara. I know Amy feels terrible about hurting Pegi. But I’m sure now that most of the toxins are out of her system, she’ll begin to recover.” Jack watched as Pegi struggled to her feet, then stumbled and righted herself once again. “She wants to go out. I’ll let her, shall I? She’ll probably be more comfortable in the cool air.”

“Yes, please.” Sara tidied the mat and decided to return to her son who was chatting away to his new friend.

She stopped to eavesdrop—the right of every mother with a teenage child—and couldn’t help but overhear the conversation.

Kai’s voice, more enthusiastic than at any time when he talked with her, sounded strangely deep and far too manly to belong to her fifteen-year-old.

“Amy, girl, you’ll like the school. The kids rule!”

Sara started and had to bite her lip. Her husband, Kai’s father, always referred to her in that endearing way, Sara girl, and to hear Kai use the same phrase made her heart melt.

Amy, much cheerier now, answered. “Are there lots of activities? I’ve always been involved in sports. I play soccer and ice hockey.”

“You do? Dope! I play hockey too. What position?”

“Goalie.”

“No way! Me, too. The net’s the place to be.”

“Yeah? I know what you mean.” Amy had lost all her reticence. Now relaxed in the chair, her finger twirling her long strands of curls, her face alive with interest, she looked much different from the unhappy girl Sara had met earlier.

Sara hated to interrupt, but she really wanted to know how Kai had fared with his hosts and the trip. She moved to lean over Amy whose green eyes sparkled up at her alive and full of glee. “Kai, I hate to interrupt, but I want to know the telephone number to the hotel and the number to your room in case I have to get in touch with you.”

“Sure mom. I’ll e-mail you all that stuff right after I finish talking with Amy.” The no nonsense tone to his voice made her understand that her son was growing up and putting down an ultimatum. Wisely, she backed off. “Awesome!” She grinned while he groaned. “Merry Christmas, my guy. I’ll talk with you tomorrow. Have fun there and be good.” She blew him a kiss.

“Backatcha Mom. You be good too, and Merry Christmas.” His innocent look didn’t fool her at all. There was a message meant for her from the cheeky devil.

Jack, waiting in the background, fluffed his daughter’s hair as he passed. “A few more minutes, Brat, then say goodbye. Right?”

“Sure, Dad.”

Knowing the kitchen needed to be cleared, Sara turned to go back into the room only to stop dead in her tracks. “You’ve put away the dishes? Are you for real?”

His self-conscious grin warmed her insides. “Amy’s mom left us years ago. I do these chores at home. Amy helps sometimes but she's classic in getting out of having to work in the kitchen. Considering she’s only thirteen, you wouldn’t believe her excuses.”

“I bet Kai’s are more imaginative. An allergy to soap and we have a dishwasher.”

“The stoneware is too heavy. She can’t carry more than one plate at a time.”

“Why do we have to wash everything, every night when it’s just getting used again tomorrow? Couldn’t we just wipe things off with our napkins and leave them on the table.”

“Okay, that’s just plain lazy.”

“Ya think? He’ll spend an hour or more polishing his ATV’s hubcaps but…?” Her shrug spoke a thousand words.

Jack shrugged. “Gotta admit, in the big scheme, hubcaps are important...”

Her glare stopped him. “It’s a man thing.”

By this time, they each had a full glass of wine and were sitting together on the living room couch in front of the fire. She tapped her glass against his and shyly smiled. His searching look threw her until he smiled in return. He placed his arm around the back of the sofa and breathed deeply. “This is a wonderful room. You must love sitting here in the evening.”

“I do. Except most times, I’m alone.” As soon as the truthful words left her lips, she realized she’d spoken honestly and not with her usual reserve. Bloody hell! Her face felt hot. Whatever possessed her to be so open with a virtual stranger? She’d never admitted these feelings to anyone before. Embarrassment and a huge amount of self-pride had kept the secret locked inside. She was a lonely soul and hated anyone to feel sorry for her. She snuck a peek at the man sitting next her.

He nodded as their eyes met. “I know what you mean. An empty room is still empty no matter how fancy the surroundings or decorations. It’s most likely why I spend most of my evenings working in my home office.” He picked up her hand, his so much bigger and stronger, hers so dainty next to his. His thumb rubbed her skin before he tightened his hold to draw her attention.

Understanding his aim to get her to look at him, she lifted her heavy eyelids and let him see her honest yearnings. It was like undressing in front of him, and she couldn’t believe he’d earned her trust in such a short time. Never before had a man intrigued her this much. Her husband had won the love and affection of a young girl and had treated her like a princess until the day he’d died. But to this man, she was all woman. Her heart doubled its beat, while her tongue stayed glued to the top of her mouth. He was the first who’d reached her essence. Brought her sensuality to life. Made her feel ready to move forward.

Trembling, afraid, she tried to snatch her hand back. But he wouldn’t let it go. “Oh no, Sara. It's too late to stop this now. We’ll pursue this attraction to wherever it leads, and I have a feeling, it’ll end up at forever.”

“How can you say that? We’ve only just met.”

“No we’ve only just found each other. We were destined to meet. I’ve been waiting for you all my life.”

She couldn’t look away. His eyes mesmerized. The warnings in her heart quieted. The trembling inside slowed and eased, while her soul whimpered in relief.

The yearnings faded.

He was here.

******

LOVEABLE CHRISTMAS ANGEL

Angels with Attitudes Series,

Book Three

~Aloha!~

Sweet romance,

A loveable angel,

and a prickly little boy’s Christmas wish.

Christmas in Hawaii! How lucky can a girl get? Except Leilani is bringing her mother’s ashes home to Waikiki and has an urgent plea for help from an aunt she’s never even met. After winning two free nights in prestigious Hotel Jordan, things take a turn she never expected. First, she is stuck in an elevator with the prickly, but luscious Mr. Jordan. Secondly, her aunt is a sick woman and only held on for one reason. She wants to pass on her most precious possession… her five-year-old grandchild. The same prickly little fellow that takes one look at Leilani, slaps his fist on his hips and yells, “Go away!”

Kale is the owner of the Jordan Hotel Chain and he can’t believe his rotten luck. He broke up with a spoilt brat of a girlfriend and now he’s stuck in an elevator with a big-eyed, effusive tourist. How in the world can a guy who’s so worldly be hooked on a lively beauty with more dilemmas than anyone he’s ever met?

This book is dedicated to one of my oldest and dearest friends, my mother-in-law, Freda. This angel of a woman has been in my corner from the beginning of my career as an author, and has made every achievement that much sweeter!

Chapter One

“Please, sir. You and your wife take this taxi. She looks exhausted.” Leilani Taylor stepped away from the open door, put her suitcase behind her and waved the older gentleman and his fragile-looking wife forward. As the cab drove up, she’d noticed them in the never-ending line and knew the elderly couple had a long wait before it would be their turn. “Please.” She beckoned them over. “I’ll take your place.”

“You’re an angel, dear.” The older woman patted Leilani’s hand as she accepted help getting into the car. Leilani smiled and made sure the woman was safely tucked in before closing the door.

“Bless you,” said her grateful husband. He hooked his silver-topped cane over his arm and reached to shake her hand. Once they were all secure, the taxi drove away and Leilani stepped back into the place they’d held so that no one would feel put out by her gesture.

Another taxi pulled up across the traffic-filled lanes of the airport shuttle bus area and a small Hawaiian man stepped out. The man looked like an attractive grandpa, his wavy hair snowy white around his face. He wore a traditional, short-sleeved blue shirt decorated with white orchids and around his neck hung a multitude of gorgeous leis.

Painted island flowers decorated the outside of the cutest old coral pink car she’d ever seen; coral pink happened to be her favorite color. He caught Leilani’s gaze when he waved a large sign overhead with her name on it.

Heavens! Now what?
She hesitated to go over and give up her new place in line, but he looked like someone she could trust. Once again, she stepped from the snaking line and made her way over to him. “That’s my name, but I didn’t order a taxi to meet me.”

“The airlines had a contest, Leilani Taylor, and you’re the winner. The hosts were supposed to tell you on the plane. They must have forgotten. You’ve won two nights at one of the most prestigious hotels on the beach in Waikiki, and better still, you have me to drive you there.”

The irrepressible grin on the handsome face of the older Hawaiian forced an answering one from her.
What a loveable character!

In her job as a hospital nurse, Leilani met many strange characters. Inevitably, because of her personality, she tended to like her patients—unless, of course, they did something distinctly unlikable.

This little man’s aura drove a silver stake right into her soft spot and she had the biggest urge to give him a hug. One day she had to stop taking people at face value. Everyone who knew her weakness warned her, but what’s a girl going to do when her heart overrules her head.