Eggnog and Candy Canes: A Blueberry Springs Christmas Novella Read online

  He gazed at her through his hands, eyes red. “Did I really do okay by you?”

  She hugged him tightly. “Of course you did. Do you think I’d let you do any different?”

  He gave a thin laugh. “Then why didn’t you tell me you didn’t want to become a nurse?”

  “Because I didn’t have anything better in mind.”

  “How long have you wanted this change?”

  Katie sighed. “A few years.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “You’re so proud of me.” Katie’s own eyes filled with tears. “And what if you’re not when I become someone else?”

  “You’ll still be my daughter, my Katie, and I’ll always be immensely proud of you. Always.” He placed his hand over hers. “No matter what you do with your life.” He tipped his head toward the dining room. “Or who you marry.”

  “A little ahead of yourself, Dad.” But, oddly enough, not ahead of her imagination.

  Chapter 7

  So now what was she going to do?

  Amber and Mandy had left after a few eggnogs, and Katie’s family had called it a night. Beth and Oz took Benji upstairs to stay in Oz’s old bedroom rather than stomp through the snow back to their own home, since they would be helping Angelica first thing in the morning, anyway. Which made Katie think they were up to something. Something such as keeping an eye on her and Nash, who were the only ones still up in the living room.

  Katie now had her father’s blessing not only to toss off the career he’d helped her afford, but to pursue the man who had, up until two days ago, been her arch enemy.

  She gazed at the cold fireplace, its bricks blackened from when Oz forgot to open the flue once when they were kids. She half wondered if jolly ol’ Saint Nick had given her a gift tonight. A change in plans, a life.

  Or maybe it was Nash. Maybe it was him giving her a gift. She leaned into him with a shoulder bump. He smiled and lifted his arm to draw her in.

  “So,” he began, “I know it’s been a big day and all, but I was wondering…did you really decide to move to the city and work for Monica?”

  Katie stopped herself from blurting out a defensive rejection.

  “She’d pay me, right?”

  He nodded.

  It was such a risk. No matter how she looked at the situation, it would mean a pay cut. No medical insurance or benefits. No retirement fund. She’d have to move to the city and away from everyone. What if she sucked at it? What if in the real world she didn’t have an eye for decorating? And when she was ready to come home, was Blueberry Springs big enough or cosmopolitan enough to support a decorating business? Who would want to pay her for choosing paint colors? Probably nobody.

  “I don’t really have a choice, do I?”

  “There’s always a choice.”

  She laughed. “Right. If I backtrack on what I said today I’ll get laughed out of town for being a big chicken.” And if she didn’t move to the city, would anything further happen between her and Nash?

  “Katie?” Nash played with a strand of her hair that had escaped her ponytail.

  “Yeah?”

  “You wouldn’t have told Mary Alice—someone you knew would tell everyone—if you didn’t truly want to do this.”

  Damn smarty-pants. How many psychology courses had he taken in his time?

  He reached down beside the couch and handed Katie a small box wrapped in gold foil. The paper was folded so neatly, so crisply, that she knew he had done it himself.

  “For me? Thank you.”

  She tugged at the green velvet bow, then unwrapped the gift. It was a beautiful antique snow globe, unlike any she’d ever seen. Beautiful polished wood for its base, the flakes inside delicate… In the middle was a couple on skates, embracing.

  “Nash, it’s gorgeous.” She could barely breathe. The gift was so extraordinary and unexpected. She threw her arms around him in a quick hug, loving the way his body fit just right against hers. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” His cheeks were pink. “I wasn’t sure what you had in your collection, so I figured an antique was likely a safe bet.”

  “It is. It’s amazing. One of a kind.” Like Nash. She shifted to face him, honored that he remembered that she had a snow globe collection. “Would you really take Dr. Nesbit’s job? Maybe we could live in Blueberry Springs when I’m done in the city. We could move back together.”

  “Are you asking me to marry you, Katie Reiter?”

  She laughed and snuggled against his side, feeling warm and comfortable. “Okay, so I move a little fast sometimes, but yeah. Maybe. One day. If we decide we actually like each other.”

  He tipped her chin up to kiss her. “I happen to like fast. And I already know I like you.”

  “Good,” she said, then kissed him back. Nash was all the things she wanted in a man. And more. Much more than what she’d ever dreamed of having.

  But could she really have him? Could she have it all? Her heart beat fast and hard. So much was unknown, but instead of scaring her, it made her excited—especially knowing that Nash might be there, too.

  She was ready, for the first time in her life, to not overthink things and simply start walking forward to see what happened.

  She’d had a big plan with nursing and Will, and had stayed with it because she’d feared there was nothing else out there for her. She’d believed Will was her one chance at happiness and marriage.

  Now she knew better.

  She kissed Nash on the lips and smiled. “Thank you, Nash. You’re the best thing that has happened to me in a long time.”

  “Anything for you, Katie bear.”

  “Did you really just call me that?”

  “Whatever it takes to get you to the city with me, until we are both ready to come back to Blueberry Springs.”

  “Moving rather fast, aren’t you?”

  “I told you I like fast. Are you going to have a problem with that?”

  She swung around so she was straddling his lap. “Not at all.”

  “I know what I want, Katie. I want to date you. You are the reason I came back to Blueberry Springs. I could have spent the days off with my parents, so remember that if you ever doubt me and my intentions. I couldn’t get you—” he clutched her chin, ensuring she was listening, his voice gentle, yet demanding “—out of my mind.”

  Katie paused, her chest tight with emotion. She rested a hand in the dip below his shoulder. She loved this man. And not just because he was saying things she’d always longed to hear. “Thank you for joining my family for the holidays.”

  “I’d like to again next year.”

  Katie pushed herself to standing. She needed to get her brain on track. When she was this close to him, everything he said sounded good. Easy. She let out a laugh. “For once I am thinking of not planning my life, and here you are, planning it. Believe it or not, you might be moving too fast for me, Nash Leham.”

  * * *

  Katie slipped into the kitchen, the light above the stove casting a quiet glow over the room. A shot of something strong would be nice to settle her nerves right about now.

  A figure moved at the table. Beth.

  “Can’t sleep?” Katie asked, digging through the cupboard for peppermint schnapps.

  “I’m pregnant, so of course not. It’s like my body is telling me to get used to it. Driving me crazy.”

  Katie sat with her friend, who was clutching a cup of hot chocolate.

  “Remember when you lived with Nash and his pretentious coffeemaker?”

  Beth smiled wanly.

  Katie had been angry with her for living that high on the hog with Nash. But mostly it was misdirected anger at her friend for changing. For daring to want something more from her life and for being brave enough to take it. For knowing she deserved to be happy, and claiming it any way she could.

  How silly and immature Katie had been.

  “So? Are you going back to Dakota with him?” Beth asked, breaking the peaceful,
middle-of-the-night silence.

  “I am going to talk to his friend who is a decorator, but I’m not…I’m not moving in with him, if that’s what you are asking.”

  “He’s a good man.”

  Katie nodded. “I know.”

  Beth scrunched her big brown eyes shut, let out a breath, then opened them again. “You should date him. Really.”

  “Is this Pregnant Beth talking or Whatever is Good for My BFF talking?”

  Beth let out a tinkling laugh. “Everyone but your pigheaded brother agrees you two are a good fit.”

  “Won’t it be weird?” To know that her best friend had been with the man who held her heart. Would Katie ever be able to let the twinges of jealousy go?

  “We dated some of the same guys in high school.”

  “Yeah, because there was no selection. You had to share men and then stay friends with them after dumping their sorry selves, because there was nobody else in town.”

  “Is that why you stayed with Will for so long? Lack of selection?”

  “Lack of understanding myself, too.”

  “You need to do this, Katie.” Beth reached across the table. “The two of you are a better fit than we ever were. He came into my life for a reason, but it wasn’t to marry him. Maybe he’s come into your life for a bigger, longer-term reason.”

  “You’re putting the cart before the horse here, don’t you think?”

  Everyone was moving so darn fast!

  “Shh. Quit fighting. You’re finally getting what you want.”

  “What if it’s wrong?” Katie whispered. “What if I am on the rebound? What if…” She tried to think of more excuses. None were coming.

  “What if you are being a big chicken and need to follow your heart? You were never scared with Will, and you want to know why? Because you always knew he wasn’t ever going to break your heart. And you know why?”

  Fierce Beth had come to town. “Why?” Katie asked in a feeble voice.

  “Because you never loved him! He can’t break your heart if he doesn’t have access to it!”

  Katie sat back, the news hitting her so hard she had trouble breathing.

  “Now go in there and tell Nash you love him. That you can’t live without him and you want to have hot monkey sex with him.” Beth swiped at her damp eyes.

  “Beth? I think the hormones might be controlling the mother ship.”

  Her friend slammed a fist on the table, her cheeks pink. “Shut up and claim him already!”

  Chapter 8

  So this was it.

  Nash was heading back to the city. Blueberry Springs had been dug out overnight and the roads were open once again.

  The day felt like a big letdown. The holidays were officially over. All that prep and then boom. Celebration finished. Life resumed as normal.

  Only this time life was no longer normal. It was as though Katie had finally received the pony she’d been wishing for. She wasn’t left sitting by the tree among the shredded wrappings, wondering why Santa had bypassed her once again.

  She had the pony and, as a result, her whole world had opened up. All she had to do was walk out into the yard and claim it.

  Claim her new career. Claim the man she’d carefully sidestepped all last night while she mulled over Beth’s advice, her own feelings, his words.

  It was time to step out of her pre-pony days and become the girl she’d always dreamed of being.

  She didn’t need a life plan; she was living it this time. Eyes open. Arms out wide. Ready to grab it all.

  Nash was hers. She’d known it in her heart as soon as her eyes had opened this morning. The hollow spot within her had been filled and she couldn’t wait to see him.

  And right now, that was all that mattered.

  Stretching, Katie walked to the living room’s bay window and took in the snowy scene. Her mother’s yard decorations were still buried under massive drifts, the street invisible behind the piles of snow the plows had left. In a while, Katie would go home to her basement suite and call Nash’s friend Monica, then start figuring out what she needed to take with her to the city. But first she was going to help her mother put on the best post-Christmas buffet in the history of the Reiter household. A little something to try and help stretch out the holidays for her mom.

  As Katie turned from the window, something caught her eye. What was that? It looked like the roof of a silver BMW squirreling its way to a stop in front of the house.

  She knew only one person who drove a Beemer. She flung open the front door, slipping into her father’s winter boots on her way out. She clunked up to the car, sliding to a halt as the driver’s door opened.

  “Nash!”

  He wrapped her in his arms, breathing her in as if they hadn’t seen each other in months. “Katie.”

  Her name sounded amazing tumbling out of his rumbly chest, with her body clutched against his.

  “I missed you already.” She laughed, tipping her head up to smile at him. His nose was red from the cold. “You are going to have to buy a more rugged vehicle if you move back, you know. One with a good heater.”

  “Maybe you can keep me warm.” He kissed her in a way that made the need for a winter coat unnecessary. “I missed you, too,” he murmured, his lips warm against hers. She sagged into him, allowing his strength to support them both.

  “I love you.” She blinked and took a sharp breath. She hadn’t meant to say that.

  But it felt right. Scary, it was so right.

  “Good.” He squeezed her against him, his voice thick with emotion. While he seemed so strong, possibly he needed someone like her in his life. Someone who was strong enough to be his anchor. And when it came to anchors, not just anyone would do. But she would.

  She smiled, knowing she would one day be the woman he came home to. The woman who, starting now, would hold him strong against the current.

  “I love you, Katie Reiter,” he whispered in her ear. “Be mine.”

  “It’s not Valentine’s Day, silly man,” she teased, her eyes filling with gratitude and love.

  “I know, but I want you today and every day until then. And then beyond. Much beyond.” He held her face so he could meet her eyes. “Can you handle that?”

  “Challenge accepted, Nash Leham. Challenge gladly and wholeheartedly accepted.”

  The End

  The Blueberry Springs story continues! Keep turning the pages for more on this series…

  Psst! You can also get more great reads from Jean as well as her new book news. Click here: www.jeanoram.com/signup.

  The Blueberry Springs Collection

  Small Town Romance by Jean Oram. Women’s fiction soul with chick lit charm.

  Book 1: Champagne and Lemon Drops

  Will Beth be able to win back her fiancé when he asks for a break? Or will the process of winning him back teach her things about herself that will ultimately lead her to another man?

  Book 2: Whiskey and Gumdrops

  Will Mandy be able to sort out who she is and what she wants in time to save not only her friendship with Frankie, but get what her heart has always wanted?

  Book 3: Rum and Raindrops

  Will Jen be able to prove she didn’t start the forest fire threatening Blueberry Springs as well as face her past in order to get the man of her dreams?

  Book 4: Eggnog and Candy Canes (This book!)

  From enemies to lovers. Nurse Katie Reiter’s nemesis, Dr. Nash Leham is back in Blueberry Springs and he came for one thing—Katie. Will their battles turn to stolen kisses in the midst of a Christmas storm or will Katie find her happily ever after in the arms of another?

  Book 5: Vodka and Chocolate Drops (Click to see if it is available!)

  After her boyfriend’s betrayal, will tell-it-like-it-is Amber be able to keep her mouth shut long enough to allow others to tell their side of the story, including the one that reveals not only her own past, but also that of her one true love?

  P.S. Amber is going to have her own Vale
ntine’s Day short story—coming in 2015. Snag a spot on my mailing list to find out more! Don’t miss out, subscribe: www.jeanoram.com/signup .

  *While it is not necessary to read this series in order—all the books are stand-alone novels—they do spoil each other’s endings, so it is advisable to read them in order.

  What else is by Jean Oram?

  The Summer Sisters

  Four sisters. One cottage. And four men who will sweep them off their feet and teach them what life is really all about.

  Love and Rumors ~ Can photographer Hailey Summer use movie star Finian Alexander to save her family’s cottage? Or will she have to risk revealing her secrets and failures to her family? When she finally gets Finian in the tabloids…he’s not alone! Can they work together or is Hailey about to face her worst nightmares?

  Love and Dreams ~ Business woman Maya Summer continues the quest to save the cottage by providing an executive retreat for her business world hero, Connor MacKenzie. The only problem is that the real-life version of Connor is not the man she’s always dreamed of and every time she turns around, she’s further from saving the cottage, and further from merging with Connor and making a difference.

  Love and Trust ~ Melanie Summer puts her legal mind to good use as she struggles to find loopholes to not only save the family cottage, but also prevent a disruptive development across the water. She can’t do it alone and must convince the former land developer Tristen Bell to put on his old suit—one he promised he’d never wear again—and help her out. (Coming winter 2014.)