A Very Crimson Christmas
Autor
Michelle Major
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19
Chapter One
Natalie Holt blinked open one eye and slapped her hand against the alarm clock blaring out heavy metal music. Heavy metal wasn’t typically popular in the mountains, but she’d managed to tune in to a college station situated a few towns over from where she lived in Crimson, Colorado.
Not her preference, but she slept through every other genre from classical to country to talk radio. Even the annoying default alarm buzz couldn’t jolt her awake these days. Probably a result of averaging about four hours of sleep each night.
Last night had been closer to three hours since she’d stayed up to finish the month-end medical billing for the senior living center where she worked. She’d been lucky to pick up the extra position—her official third job. She needed the money but couldn’t afford to take any more time away from her nine-year-old son, Austin. A decent night’s sleep was one of the few expendable items on her schedule.
Austin was the best thing in her life, and Natalie would manage through bleary-eyed sleep deprivation or walk on hot coals if it meant keeping him safe. Even if she collapsed from utter exhaustion in the process.
But she wasn’t dead yet, so she dragged herself out of bed and threw on a sweatshirt and pair of black yoga pants that hadn’t seen the inside of a yoga studio for years. It was Saturday morning, which she hoped meant Austin was still asleep. When she found the door to his room open she expected to find him at the computer or in front of the TV. Instead, the farmhouse where they’d been living for the past several months was quiet.
She headed down the stairs toward the hallway that led to the master bedroom, but something caught her eye out the front window. Shading her eyes against the bright morning light, she stepped onto the porch, wrapping her arms around herself to ward off the frigid temperatures. It was the start of December, so the cold air and dusting of snow on the flagstone porch were to be expected, but still a shock. Not smart to brave the cold precoffee.
An enormous black SUV sat in the driveway, and a shiver of unease slithered up her spine. Who would be paying such an early morning visit to Ruth Keller, the elderly woman who owned the property? And where was her son at this hour of the day?
She turned and went back into the house. The farmhouse had been remodeled with two distinct sections, the bedrooms on one side and the main living area with the kitchen, dining room, office and family room on the other. Her heart raced, then slowed as she found Austin curled on Ruth’s bed with her, reading aloud from one of his beloved Magic Tree House series of books.
“Hey, Mom, I’m keeping Miss Ruth company.” He smiled, showing off the gap between his two front teeth. Orthodontia was definitely a part of their future, but Natalie would put off that financial worry for another day.
Ruth’s smile was softer. “Good morning, dearie. I hope you weren’t worried about Austin.”
“Not at all,” Natalie lied. “But next time wake me up before you come downstairs. Okay, bud?”
“Sure, Mom.”
“And maybe you should give Miss Ruth some room on the bed. I don’t want you to put any pressure on her hip.”
Ruth placed a hand on Austin’s arm when he went to move. “He’s fine. I like the company.”
Natalie didn’t doubt that for a second. Ruth Keller was a firecracker of a woman, even pushing her mideighties. She liked to be independent and active, which was why she’d initially hired Natalie to help with her care. According to Ruth, Natalie was the only nurse in town who didn’t treat her as if she had one foot in the grave. Natalie had been happy to coordinate doctors’ appointments, buy groceries and help around the house in exchange for using the two upper guest bedrooms. But Ruth had insisted on paying her as well, and Natalie was in no position to refuse the money. A few weeks ago, Ruth had fallen and bruised her hip, which increased Natalie’s responsibilities.
She knew Ruth was terrified of eventually ending up in assisted living, despite the fact that she already had a room paid for each month at the senior center. Natalie had vowed to help out as much as she could to make sure that Ruth could stay at the farmhouse as long as possible. There was another home-care nurse who came in for respite shifts, but it was a lot for Natalie to balance with her schedule at the senior center and the medical billing work. Natalie was determined to handle everything. She’d learned a long time ago that the only person she could depend on in life was herself.
“How about breakfast?”
“The man’s making it,” Austin informed her, then went back to reading.
“Don’t get too far ahead.” Ruth tapped the page with one bony finger.
“The man?” Natalie took a step closer to the bed, remembering the luxury SUV parked in front of the house. Her skin suddenly tingled. “What man?”
“I must have forgotten to mention it to you.” Ruth straightened the covers over her lap, keeping her eyes averted. “Austin, what happens next? Do Jack and Annie find the ninja?”
“Mention what?” Natalie asked, reaching forward to grip the bedpost. “Who’s here, Ruth?”
“Hello, Natalie,” a long-forgotten voice said from the doorway behind her.
Her fingers tightened around the wood until her knuckles went white.
“You remember Liam Donovan,” Ruth said cheerfully, although she still wouldn’t meet Natalie’s gaze. “The two of you knew each other in high school.”
Breathing was supposed to be an involuntary muscle reflex, but in that moment Natalie forgot how to draw air into her lungs. Concentrating, she forced her breath in and out. Saying she’d known Liam Donovan was like claiming Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton once had a passing acquaintance.
She turned, keeping her features a placid mask as stormy gray eyes clashed with hers. “It’s been a long time, Liam. Nice to see you.” Which was partly the truth. Yes, it had been over ten years since she’d spoken to Liam Donovan. But nice didn’t begin to describe how it felt to be in the same room as him after all this time. It made her feel nauseous, invigorated, desperately sad and filled with regret. But not nice. Her feelings for Liam had never been nice.
One side of his mouth lifted as if he found her outright lie amusing. The smile didn’t reach his eyes, and the storm inside them cooled by several degrees. “I’m here to visit Ruth, to make sure she’s okay after her fall. And to find out why I’m paying for housing every month at assisted living when she’s still here even though she’s been injured.” Ruth had been Liam’s nanny when he was younger, but Natalie knew the woman loved him as if he was her own family.
“She fell two weeks ago and is almost fully recovered.” Natalie didn’t try to stop the censure in her voice. “She’s worked out how she wants to handle her room at the center with the director, so you’ll need to discuss that with him. I can assure you she’s well cared for. I’ve got it under control.”
His gaze flicked to Austin, whose nose was once again buried in the book. “So I see.”
She wondered for a moment what exactly Liam thought he saw. The boy who had been her first love was gone, replaced by a man who was so much larger, both in physical build and general presence. Liam had been beautiful in high school but now there was a raw masculinity to his features. He’d filled into his height and the potential of his looks. His hair was shorter than he’d worn it back then, the cut clearly from an expensive salon. It had darkened to almost black but remained streaked with the same chestnut shine she’d always loved to run her fingers through.
Even now her fingers itched to reach out and touch him, to prove that he was here before her, not just a visitor to her unwanted dreams and fantasies, as he’d been so many times in the past decade.
She ran a self-conscious hand through her own hair, several weeks past due for a trim and years from her last professional highlight. Her shoulders inched a little straighter. Pride was one of the few things so many years of struggling hadn’t taken from Natalie. As the only weapon left in her arsenal, she would use it without apology.
Before she could reply, Austin scooted off the bed to stand next to her. “My mom is Miss Ruth’s nurse,” he said, his small chin jutting forward. “She’s really good at it. Miss Ruth needs us.”
For better or worse, Austin had inherited both her pride and her stubborn nature. He was unfailingly protective of her and didn’t even blink under Liam’s scrutiny. She imagined grown men in boardrooms cowering before that stare, but not her beautiful boy. She gave him a small squeeze.
“I’m sure Ruth is happy to have you here, Liam.”
He gave the barest hint of a nod as he continued to study her son.
“Austin, sweetie, why don’t you finish the story with Miss Ruth while Liam helps me with breakfast?”
“That’s a great idea,” Ruth piped in behind them. “Happy reunions always make me hungry.”
Natalie threw Ruth a look over her shoulder and the older woman winked.
“I can help, Mom. I’m good at making coffee.”
“That you are, big guy.” She bent down to kiss his cheek, then whispered in his ear, “Miss Ruth needs you more this morning. Liam and I can handle breakfast. We’re fine.”
Clearly reluctant, Austin narrowed his eyes at Liam before turning to climb back on the bed.
Liam held out his arm, indicating that Natalie should lead him to the kitchen. She tried to hold her breath as she walked by him, but his scent twined through her senses as if by osmosis. He’d changed something in the years since she’d known him, his soap or shampoo maybe. But underneath remained a trace of something that was all Liam, clean and a little spicy. Unfortunately, parts of her that didn’t involve her brain had an immediate reaction to him. She reached out for the wall to steady herself.
“Cute kid,” Liam mumbled as she passed him.
Her temper quickly roared to life. “He’s an amazing kid. We’re a team.”
“What about Brad?” he asked as he followed her through the house.
She cringed at the mention of her ex-husband. “He’s not part of Austin’s life. He left Crimson and never looked back.” Not exactly the whole truth, but as much as she was willing to share with Liam Donovan. For good measure she added, “I seem to have that effect on men.”
When she glanced back Liam was frowning.
“You have no idea the effect you have on men, Natalie. You never did.”
Oh. Well. She didn’t know how to take that.
She moved to the refrigerator as a distraction and took out a carton of eggs, cheese and juice. “What are you doing back in Crimson? Ruth’s hip is healing just fine. In another week or so, she should be cleared to drive again. I don’t believe you’re here to see to her welfare.”
“She practically raised me until I was eleven. I love that woman.”
She rolled her eyes as she put a pan on the stove, then began to crack eggs into a small mixing bowl. “I know. And she thinks the sun rises and sets by you. It doesn’t answer the question.”
“I’m here to see to her welfare.” As he stepped closer to her, Natalie worked to keep her fingers from trembling. He handed her an egg and she took it, making sure not to touch him in the process.
She could feel him watching her but kept her attention focused on the task in front of her.
“I believe someone is stealing money from my former nanny,” Liam said after a moment. Her gaze crashed into his as he continued, “I’m wondering if it might be you.”
* * *
Liam wasn’t sure how he wanted Natalie to react to his little bombshell. He’d said it more for the shock value because he wanted her as off balance as he felt. A part of him expected her to throw a fit or crack an egg over his head as she screamed out her denial. Instead, she placed the egg on the counter as she went brittely still.
“Is that really what you think of me?” she asked, her gaze flaring as she watched him.
No, never, a voice inside him wanted to argue. I think you are still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.
Even the ratty sweatshirt she wore couldn’t cover Nat’s perfect figure. Her dark hair pulled back in a messy ponytail was still shiny and looked as soft as he remembered from years ago. She wore no makeup, but he’d always preferred her that way. Unlike when they were in high school, she now had faint circles under those big melted chocolate eyes that told him something was keeping her awake at night. Liam found himself wanting to know what it was and figure out a way to fix her troubles.
But that wasn’t what this trip was about. Natalie had made her choice years ago. She’d picked this town over him. He wasn’t about to come crawling back to her.
“I don’t know what to think, Nat. You came to work for her and two months later almost ten thousand dollars is missing from her account.”
“Did you ask her about it?”
“Of course I did. I called her when the accountant alerted me. She told me to mind my own business.”
“Which wasn’t an option for you?”
“She’s a strong woman, but not as strong as she once was, either mentally or physically. You’re her nurse so you must see that she’s frail. I won’t let someone take advantage of her.”
“I would never do that.”
“But you haven’t denied taking the money and you’ve let her return to the house when I arranged for assisted living.”
She looked up at him now, her brown eyes blazing. “I didn’t steal anything, Liam.”
Her voice was quiet but lethal. Liam realized he’d misread her stillness. He thought it might be masking guilt, but now he saw she was reining in her anger. Anger that he would accuse her of something so awful.
“I’m sorry, Natalie. The way the accountant spoke it was too much of a coincidence to ignore. You started working for her and soon after money goes missing from her savings account.”
“Does she know you’re monitoring her finances?”
Liam blew out a breath. “She does now.” He watched as she put two bagels in the toaster, then poured the egg mixture into the heated pan. “She’s mad as all get out.”
“Do you blame her?”
“I want to keep her safe. People know I’ve settled money on her and that she barely touches it. I would have expected someone to take advantage of her long before this. That’s why I keep track of things.”
“All signs to the contrary in your life, you can’t always bully or manipulate people into doing what you want. Ruth can make her own decisions about her savings.”
“Trust me, I know very well that not everyone bends to my will just because I want them to.” He thought of a night long ago when Natalie had made him believe his heart was breaking in half. “But why is she acting like she doesn’t know what I’m talking about? Why isn’t she the least bit concerned the money is gone? That’s not like her. She’s hiding something. Maybe it’s not that someone is stealing from her. But there’s more to what’s going on. I’m going to find out what it is.”
He saw her fingers tighten around the handle of the pan. “Either way, I’m sure Ruth will be glad to see you. If you want to use the guest bedrooms upstairs, Austin and I can move out.”
“Natalie.” He placed his fingers on her shoulder. His chest took a direct hit as she flinched at the contact. “Kicking you out or waging some kind of war with you was never my intention.”
She took a stack of plates from the cupboard, her sweatshirt rising above the waistband of her pants as she reached for a high shelf. His mind went blank for a moment at the sight of the creamy strip of skin across her lower back and the small birthmark that peeked out from her hip. Memories flooded back to him, along with a rush of heat to the lower half of his body.
“You accused me of stealing from a woman we both love. How is that not waging war?”
He shook his head to bring himself back to the present. “I had to be sure.”
“And you are now?” Something about her tone and the way she wouldn’t make eye contact with him made his skin prickle with doubt.
“I’m not getting the whole story, but I will figure it out.”
“Go for it,” she snapped back quickly. “I don’t have Ruth’s money.”
Her movements jerky, she dished eggs, bagels and sliced bananas onto the plates.
“It wouldn’t matter if you did,” an unsteady voice called. “Thanks to Liam, I have plenty to spare.”
Liam turned as Ruth and Austin appeared in the doorway to the kitchen. His breath caught as he watched her lean heavily on a carved wooden cane. He’d arrived in Crimson late last night, so he hadn’t seen his former nanny before this morning. Knowing she was an early riser like him, he’d come to the property at the crack of dawn. She’d been awake but still in bed, so he hadn’t fully noticed how frail she looked compared to the hearty, healthy woman he once knew. Ruth had always been larger than life, the only constant he’d known for most of his childhood. She’d seen his shock this morning and had immediately sent him off to survey her property.
After checking to make sure things looked good around the house and small pond near the edge of the forest, he’d returned to the house to find Austin curled up next to her in her bed. Liam had never been the type of kid to snuggle with anyone, let alone his nanny. He’d been too busy getting into trouble as a kid. He envied Natalie’s son the easy affection he had with both his mom and Ruth. Austin was clearly loved, a thought that gave Liam an unfamiliar stab of envy for what he’d only felt as a boy from the paid help.
“That isn’t the point.”
“Leave her alone.” Ruth straightened and pointed at him. “Sit down and have breakfast with us. Stop harping on Natalie. I’m glad to see you. Don’t make me change my mind.”
“There isn’t—” he began at the same time Natalie handed him a plate. “You made enough for me?”
“When I cook it’s for whoever is here to eat.” She picked up the three remaining plates, balancing two in one hand. With her opposite elbow she pointed to a drawer at the end of the kitchen island. “Bring forks over with you.”
He stared at her.
“Please,” she added as an afterthought.
“I don’t eat breakfast.”
“It’s the most important meal of the day.”
Ruth lowered herself into a chair and patted the one next to her. “Come on over. Catch me up on your life.” She leaned closer to Austin. “Liam is powerful. He has lots of money and dates gobs of brainless supermodels who are too young for him.”
“Ruth, stop.”
“Are you a supermodel, Mom?” Austin asked.
Natalie set down the plates with a clatter. “No, bud, I’m not a supermodel.”
Her son nodded, looking relieved.
Natalie brushed by Liam to get the orange juice and glasses, her mouth tight with obvious disapproval.
He wanted to tell her she was more enticing than any model he’d ever known. She was a real woman, and it was more than her physical beauty that had made Natalie irresistible. It was the way she carried herself, how she knew who she was, the fact that she wouldn’t ever take any crap from him.
He slid into the seat next to Ruth instead. “You can’t stay here,” he said, changing the subject back to the argument they’d been having before she sent him off to look over the property this morning.
“It’s my home.”
“It’s too much for you. You’ll move in with me while I’m here and we get the property ready to go on the market. When I leave, you’ll go to assisted living. Why am I paying for a room there if you don’t use it?”
“Because I like the social activities. They only let residents go on outings. You have the money, so I didn’t think you’d mind.” Ruth forked up a slice of banana, the tremor in her hand clearly visible.
“Are you selling the farmhouse?” Natalie looked shocked.
“No,” Ruth answered at the same time Liam said, “Yes.”
“Ten acres is too much for her, too far away from town—”
“That’s why Natalie and Austin are here. And I have Clarence come by for a few hours every day to maintain things.”
“Clarence is almost as old as you.”
“Don’t sass me, Liam.” Ruth stabbed at her eggs with the fork. “I’ll have Stan give you extra chores when he gets home from work.”
Liam glanced at Natalie, who gave a sharp shake of her head. Ruth’s husband, Stan, had died the same year she retired and they moved to Colorado. He wasn’t sure if he should argue with her or let the comment pass. After a moment he sighed, trying to remember that he had to tread lightly with his former nanny. She’d always been fiercely independent. Liam had gotten used to people doing what he said without question. In the space of an hour, these two women and one boy had given him more trouble than he’d had in years.
“I just want to take care of you.”
“If you’re only here to pester me, you might as well leave now.”
He knew she meant it. Her heart was as big as the Rocky Mountains, but Ruth Keller didn’t mince words.
“Is it so hard to believe I missed you?”
“It’s hard to believe you haven’t been to see me in two years,” Ruth answered, her gaze shrewd.
She could believe her husband who’d been dead for over fifteen years was coming home yet still intuit that Liam was hiding something from her. Liam had to respect the way her mind still worked. He also had to come up with another reason to stay in town so he could get to the bottom of what was happening with her money. “I’m working on my own software company—it’s a new type of GPS technology for outdoor activities. It’s called LifeMap. Besides wanting to see you, I’m looking at basing the company in Crimson. I know how much you love this town and I thought it would make you happy if I could give a boost to the local economy.”
She studied him for a moment, then reached out and wrapped her veined hand around his. “I like the sound of that. You’re a good boy, Liam. Much better than either of your parents. I raised your father, just like I raised you. And I certainly raised him to do better than that gold-digging mother of yours. She always resented me because I knew how to take care of you better than she did. No offense, sweetie.”
“None taken,” Liam said with a smile. “When was the last time you talked to Mom?”
“She sends flowers on my birthday,” Ruth said without hesitation. “Pink roses.”
“You hate roses.” He looked up as Natalie clapped a hand over her mouth.
“I know,” Ruth answered. “Liam’s mother does, too. She sends them anyway.”
Liam closed his eyes for a moment, anger building at his parents for all the things they didn’t care about because they were too busy with their own lives. When he opened them again, Natalie was watching him with a look in her eyes that he didn’t want to believe was pity.
“What do you think?” he asked her, his voice tight. He could take her anger and irritation, but pity he had to shut down immediately. “Should she stay in this house alone when I’m paying for a room at Evergreen?”
“She’s not alone,” Austin offered around a mouthful of food. “She’s got us.”
Liam raised an eyebrow at Natalie. “Not the point.”
“It’s up to Ruth to decide where she wants to live, but I think you’ve been generous.”
“You won’t mind if she sells this place and moves to Evergreen full-time?”
“I’m not selling.” Ruth pushed back from the table. “I bruised my hip in a fall, Liam. I’m not one foot in the grave quite yet.”
“That’s not what I mean.”
“It’s what you’ve implied.” She lifted herself to her feet. “Austin, will you walk me back to my bedroom?”
The boy glanced at Natalie, who nodded. “I’ll clean up the kitchen, Ruth, then come back to help you dress.”
“Ruth, listen—”
“No, Liam, you listen. I know you’re trying to help, but pushing me into changing my whole life isn’t going to happen. I’ve lived on my own since Stan died. I don’t see any reason to change now. You keep your big mansions and private jets. I’m happy with the simple life I have here in Crimson.” She leveled a look at him. “As I remember it, you were pretty happy here once upon a time. Maybe you should focus on that instead of all your high-handed plans for me.”
“I didn’t—”
“Come back here at six and you can take me to Saturday night bingo at Evergreen. I’ve got a hot streak going and I missed last weekend.” She leaned on her cane. “You can join me for church tomorrow morning, as well. A little time in the pew will do your soul good.”
Liam shot a look at Natalie who only shrugged. “Okay, Ruth, whatever you say.”
She left the room, muttering to herself. Austin made a face at Natalie over his shoulder but she gave him a bright smile and a thumbs-up and began clearing the dishes from the table.
“I pushed her too hard.”
“Ya think?” Natalie stacked plates on the counter.
“I forgot how stubborn she can be when she gets riled up.”
“The fall has been hard on her. She’s healing, but Ruth isn’t used to depending on other people. She’s a proud woman, Liam.”
“I know, Nat. That’s one of the things I love about her.” He moved to the sink and rinsed the plates, then put them in the dishwasher. “You’re a lot like her, you know.” And you both frustrate the hell out of me, he added to himself.
After a moment, he looked up to find Natalie’s eyes on him. “What are you doing?”
“Um...the dishes?”
“I didn’t think big, important CEO types did their own dishes.”
“Apparently the CEO card doesn’t get me far in my nanny’s house.”
“Are you really thinking of headquartering a company in Crimson?”
Leave it to Natalie to see right through him. “Sure. If I can work out something with the town, that is. It’s a good place to live and the GPS technology we’re developing will appeal to people who like the outdoors. It’s a natural fit.”
She nodded but still looked doubtful.
They finished cleaning the kitchen in silence. There had been a lot of nights Natalie had eaten dinner over here when they were in high school. Her mom waitressed in town back then and wasn’t around very often. Ruth would cook while Liam and Natalie took cleanup duty. Being here with her now brought him back to a time long past. A time his heart didn’t want to forget but his brain wouldn’t let him revisit.
His cell phone beeped in his pocket. “I’ve got some stuff to do to get settled in today.”
“Before bingo?” Natalie asked, flashing him the first smile he’d seen from her.
He’d missed that smile but forced himself not to show it. “Before bingo,” he agreed. “Are you okay if I head out?”
“This is my job, Liam. One of them, anyway. We’re fine.”
She didn’t need to add “without you.” He knew she’d never needed him in the same way he did her.
He nodded and turned, but stopped at the sliding door that led from the kitchen to the back of the house. “In case you were wondering, I haven’t dated gobs of supermodels.”
Her gaze crashed into his and he hoped it was relief he read in their dark depths. “It’s none of my business who you date.” Her words were sharp but her voice breathless.
He could see her chest rise and fall as she busied herself wiping invisible spots from the counter. It gave him the confidence to say exactly what was on his mind.
“And, Natalie?”
She looked at him again.
“No one ever compared to you. Not even close.”
He watched her jaw drop as he let himself out the back door and walked away.
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