I'll Be Home for Christmas
Author
Beverly Jenkins
Reads
19.9K
Chapters
11
For the first time as a standalone ebook, enjoy this beautiful holiday romance! Three years ago, Broadway star Dina Caldwell and celebrity chef Morgan Caldwell were passionately in love. Now America's onetime favorite couple are about to be reunited in Morgan's Detroit hometown for the holidays. Is this the season for forgiving and forgetting? With sizzling kisses under the mistletoe, Morgan vows to make this a Christmas Dina will never forget! Originally published in 2011
CHAPTER 1
Seated in the audience in the darkened New York theater, Morgan Todd stared rapt at the actress onstage. The New York critics were calling her performance in Tennessee Williamsโs Cat on a Hot Tin Roof fiery, bold and mesmerizing, and Morgan had to agree. She moved through her role as Maggie with a confidence that showed off her extraordinary acting talents and why sheโd won two Tonys in the past three years. Her name was Dina Caldwell. She was a particular favorite of his not only for her killer performances but because at one time sheโd been his fiancรฉe.
He watched her verbally blast the actor playing her husband during one of the playโs critical moments and the air in the theater crackled with the tension. Thereโd been no blast like that on the day sheโd ended their engagement four years ago. Sheโd been so controlled and icy, it had taken him days to thaw out. His treatment had been well deserved, however. Heโd treated her like crap; he knew it, she knew it and so had the readers of the nationโs tabloids chronicling the breakup because Morgan was as famous in his world as she was in hers.
He was Master Chef Morgan Todd, dessert virtuoso to the rich and famous. No Hollywood party was complete without his signature confections and when the First Lady of the United States had needed to impress the French president, sheโd called on him. Thanks to his hard work, he had one of the countryโs best-rated cooking shows on cable, a partnership in two exclusive dessert restaurants in Vegas and South Beach and cookbooks and bakeware bearing his name. Heโd begun his career in college, peddling his version of his motherโs prize-winning coconut cake to help with the costs of tuition, and the rest, as they say, was history.
Now, at the age of thirty-seven, his name was a household word, and his life was so well-ordered and profitable he was making money while he slept, but heโd begun to question where heโd be in twenty years. Economically heโd be fine; the rich would continue to indulge their appetites for fun, fashion and food no matter the economy, but who and where would the man inside himself be? Ideally, relaxing on his laurels and enjoying a wife and kids. That thought brought him back to the woman onstage. In hindsight, she was the only woman heโd ever needed, however, when they were together heโd been too much of a cheating fool to understand that. In his perfect world, Dina would be his wife and the mother of his children, but because of the way heโd screwed up during their engagement sheโd been refusing his calls since their breakup four years ago. That was a long time to be angry, but when a woman sees pictures of her fiancรฉ and his latest side dish splashed across the front pages of the tabloids she has reason to be mad and to stay that way. He sighed. To have her in his life again would be sweeter than anything he could create, but for that to happen heโd have to convince her that in spite of everything, heโd never stopped loving her.
After the show, a weary Dina sat at the vanity mirror and removed her makeup. Dressed in a loose silk robe, she tissued off the paint, glad to be free of it and the wig she wore each night over her short pixie-cut hair. The cast and crew had put on another stellar performance and the audience had given them a standing ovation in response. She loved her work, especially when everyone involved put the show first and left their egos at the door. The production had a great director, producer and the other actors in the cast were all heavyweight talents she enjoyed sharing the stage with. A knock at the door made her check her robe to make sure she wasnโt exposed. โCome on in.โ
Reflected behind her was her agent and good friend Maureen Anderson.
โHowโd you like the show?โ
โFabulousโjust fabulous.โ
Dina finished the makeup removal with a towel and tossed it into the hamper by her seat. Maureen had a tendency to complain about everything, from the shortcomings of Dinaโs understudy Rita, to the snarled NYC traffic to and from the theater, to the temperature outside. Sheโd claimed to have enjoyed tonightโs performance, but Dina could tell by her expression that something was up. โSo, why the face?โ
โIโm still having issues with you taking the week off, honey. Do you know how much money the show may lose with you not onstage? The ticket holders arenโt going to be happy to find out theyโve come all this way just to see your understudy.โ
Dina sighed. โMy being away for one week is not going to send the producers to the poorhouse, and Rita will do fine in the role.โ
โShe canโt even get to rehearsal on time.โ
Dina loved the fifty-five-year-old Maureen. She was efficient, organized and could be a pit bull when called upon, but she was such a worrywart that she sometimes drove Dina insane.
Maureen continued, โWhat if the producers like her and decide to give her the part permanently?โ
โYou just said the girl canโt make it to rehearsal on time. I donโt think my jobโs in jeopardy, but if that happens, Iโll find work somewhere else.โ
The answer didnโt appear to satisfy Maureen but it stopped the fussing, which was all Dina had been after. โArenโt you the one whoโs been saying I need a vacation?โ
โI was talking about in the spring, not the week of Thanksgiving.โ
โMaureen, this showโs been running over a year. I missed three performances last winter because of the flu, but other than that Iโve been going nonstop, two shows a day. This wedding is important to me, and remember, I told you and the producers last spring that I was going to go.โ
Maureen didnโt respond.
โBesides, you should take some time off, too. Go see your sister in Atlanta. Itโs Thanksgiving. Eat some turkey. Have some fun. Did she say anything else to you about this man she wants you to meet?โ
โNo, because I told her I wasnโt in the market.โ
โMaureen!โ
โDonโt Maureen me. You need to be worrying about being in the same place with The Buttercream Player all week,โ she said, helping herself to one of the shrimps sitting on ice in a silver bucket on the table. The dish was one of the buffet selections Dina received after each performance.
The Buttercream Player was Maureenโs playful sobriquet for Dinaโs ex-fiancรฉ, Morgan Todd. His sister Jasmine was getting married, and because Dina loved Jas like family she was flying home to Detroit in the morning for the wedding. Dina assumed Morgan would be leaving his Pop-Tarts long enough to fly in for the celebration, too, but she hadnโt spoken to him in years. When they crossed paths she planned to be polite, but that would be extent of her interactions with the man sheโd loved most of her life and whoโd treated her heart like something you put in a garbage disposal. โIโm a Tony-winning actress, Iโll just pretend heโs not there.โ
โUh-huh. When was the last time you two were in the same room?โ
โThe day I gave him back his ring four years ago.โ
โThen you might want to prepare yourself.โ
โFor what?โ
โHeโs waiting outside in the hall.โ
โExcuse me?โ
โHe wants to see you.โ
โWhy?โ
She shrugged. โCould have something to do with you not taking his calls for the past four years.โ
โHe can kiss my ass.โ
โThat could be one of the reasons heโs here, too, but Iโll let him tell you.โ
Maureen had always had a soft spot in her heart for Morgan, even when Dina wanted him boiled in oil. โWhy didnโt you just tell him I was unavailable?โ
โYou know I canโt resist dark chocolate, especially when he dangles two front-row-seat tickets to his show. He may be persona non grata, but the man can cook.โ
โYou took a bribe.โ
โI did,โ she confessed with mock sadness.
Dina didnโt believe this. โWith friends like you, I donโt need any enemies. Go home, and send Mr. Pop-Tart in. Iโll call you tomorrow after I land in Detroit.โ
โLove you,โ Maureen trilled as she headed to the door.
โLiar,โ Dina tossed back teasingly.
In the silence after Maureenโs departure, Dina studied her reflection. Morgan. Inwardly, she wasnโt prepared for this. Sheโd purposefully avoided all contact since giving him back his ring, mainly because of how much sheโd been hurt. Outwardly, her face was shiny from the makeup remover and there was a stocking cap over her hair. She wasnโt looking her best, but she decided, so what. It was only Morgan. Heโd have two minutes to say whatever heโd come to say and then get gone.
A quick two knocks sounded on the door.
โCome in.โ
Her first thought was that she hated that he was still so damn gorgeous. Rich brown skin. The razor-cut moustache framing his lips and flowing down to the short clipped beard on his chin made him look like a twenty-first century gunslinger. The eyes on hers were as potent as theyโd ever been. Dark chocolate, indeed.
โHey, Dee Dee.โ
Dark chocolate voice, too. โMorgan.โ
โGreat show.โ
โThanks. What brings you by?โ
โWas in town, thought Iโd catch the show. Jas said you were headed home for the wedding so I wanted to see if youโd like to hitch a jet ride home.โ
Sheโd been in love with him since the age of twelve. In the handsome planes of his face were remembrances of how heโd looked as a teen, as a high-school senior in his football uniform and the day heโd proposed. โYou own a jet now?โ
โNo, it belongs to one of the corporate sponsors of a competition my network will be taping while Iโm in Detroit.โ
โWhat kind of competition?โ
โHoliday-themed cakes. Four contestants. Ten thousand dollar grand prize.โ
โAh.โ
Silence filled her dressing room. They were studying each other. She wondered if he was replaying their past, too. She looked away and removed the stocking cap over her hair. โAny other passengers?โ
โNo.โ
She noticed that he was checking her out subtly, as well. The casual arms-crossed stance was as familiar as the way her traitorous heart was pounding. โWhen are you planning on leaving?โ
โTold Mom and Jas Iโd be in tonight.โ
โMy flightโs in the morning.โ
โThatโs what Jas told me, but you can always use the tickets another time. If you fly tonight, you wonโt have to deal with LaGuardia, baggage claim or security, and we can be home in under an hour.โ
It was tempting, but thatโs how the devil worked. โThanks, but Iโll wait for my flight in the morning.โ
โChicken,โ he called softly.
She met his reflection in the mirror. Parts of herself were angry that she was still attracted to him in spite of the hurts of the past. โNot chicken. Iโve gone on with my life.โ
โThen flying home with me shouldnโt be an issue.โ
The quiet tone touched her in places she thought sheโd locked up good and tight. โIt isnโt. I have to finish packing. Take care of some things.โ
Another knock sounded. Exasperated, she called again, โCome in.โ
Arthur Stevens stepped inside. โHi, doll.โ
Arthur was a fifty-something-year-old international investment banker sheโd been seeing for the past eighteen months. He was a nice sweet man.
She avoided looking at Morgan. โHey, Arthur. How are you?โ
He noticed Morgan and stopped. He looked quizzically between the two of them. โAm I interrupting something?โ
โNo.โ
Recognition slowly dawned on his face. โYouโre Morgan Todd, arenโt you?โ He held out his hand.
Morgan shook it. โYes, I am. And you are?โ
โArthur Stevens.โ
Dina saw the question in Morganโs eyes but she didnโt offer an explanation because he wasnโt owed one.
Arthur appeared uncomfortable. โI can call you later, Dina.โ
โNo, youโre fine. Morgan came by to offer me a jet ride home, but I told him Iโd wait and take my flight in the morning.โ
โA private jet is less of a hassle, though.โ
She wondered why Arthur seemed to be taking Morganโs side.
Morgan appeared buoyed by the support. โSee, even your friend here agrees.โ
Her pointed look his way earned her a chocolate smile.
โArthurโs my date for the wedding,โ she said holding Morganโs eyes.
The smile faded. She liked that.
Arthur added, โI have to be in Copenhagen for the next few days, but I plan to be back in the states in time to make the wedding. I met your mom and sister over the summer. Theyโre both very nice ladies.โ
Dina saw the surprise fill Morganโs face and that pleased her, too.
โYouโve been to Detroit?โ
โYep. She took me home to meet her parents. We had an interesting visit.โ
What Arthur didnโt say was that it was so interesting that Dinaโs mother Lynne wanted him shot. Arthur was a sweet man but he was also an over-the-top germophobe. By the time they left, he had the entire house smelling like bleach.
โI see,โ Morgan said.
Dina was enjoying his bemusement. She had no idea what Morganโs real agenda was but she hoped meeting Arthur had put it in flux.
Arthur asked, โSo what airport are you using?โ
Morgan answered.
Arthur turned to Dina. โThen how about I run you home? You can pick up your bags and my driver can zip us out to the airport. You donโt really want to mess with LaGuardia if you donโt have to, do you?โ
No, and she didnโt want to fly on a plane alone with Morgan, either, but in reality he was the lesser of the two evils. She really didnโt want to deal with LaGuardia. โSounds good.โ
Morgan looked as if he wanted to appeal the plan, but she ignored that and said to him, โWeโll meet you there in an hour or so. Now, both of you out, so I can get dressed. Arthur get his number just in case we run late.โ
โWill do, doll.โ
Morgan appeared to be frustrated but Dina ignored that, as well.
