Under the Mistletoe, page 10
part #1 of Home to Heritage || Book Five Series
She deserved so much more than what her parents had arranged for her. But who was he to stop it? What did he have to offer? His heart? It didn’t matter what his heart wanted. His will was stronger. “Of course.”
Logan ran his hand over his face. I’ll give you this. When you decide to put your heart on the page, you don’t hold anything back. Maybe Luke wasn’t completely off base. After all, he’d written this after seeing Devin’s heart and determination to help the kids. After hearing about her lousy Christmases.
This whole thing was humiliating. At least only his family knew he was Victor Holt and Liam was still stuck in Switzerland. The last thing he needed was to give him any ideas.
Devin doesn’t want me.
We think she might.
Have you ever considered telling her how you feel?
Opening up to her face? The idea was a punch and made his throat tighten. Not to mention he refused to date his brother’s ex.
Why couldn’t he be more like Liam? Liam didn’t lock himself in a cabin and make the whole family worry. Liam didn’t need to thaw. Liam didn’t hide his feelings. He charmed everyone in sight. The guy was walking stinking sunshine.
Logan stood and continued through the mall. He definitely wasn’t Rand. Maybe Rand was the kind of guy he always wanted to be, but no, he was much more like Orin. Steady, dependable, boring. Emotionally frozen.
A purple sign hanging in a window of a bookstore caught his eye. The familiar promo poster for The Defender encouraged people to preorder it today. Who would have guessed all this when he’d sat down to write the first story? Not him.
“Would you take a photo for us?” A girl maybe a year or two younger appeared in front of him.
“What?” He focused on the group of girls.
The one who had spoken pointed to the poster, where several girls were now in the display window posing as they pointed to the poster. “Of us with the poster.”
As soon as he nodded, she took off to join her friends. He took several pictures, then flipped the camera and angled it so it was a selfie with them in the background. They were all laughing when they reclaimed the camera, then disappeared into the bookstore. They’d probably just thought he was trying to flirt with them. Nope.
Now they would delete it, not knowing that they had the first photo of Victor Holt with the book. Didn’t matter. He didn’t need the attention. He was just steady Orin.
As he continued navigating the Christmas crowd toward the car, he stepped around a lady who was bent over her stroller and then dodged some teen who had stopped to take selfies. Got to love the holiday crowds. When he tried to sidestep a toddler throwing a fit, Logan nearly took out a jewelry kiosk. He waited for the mother to collect her child. He glanced at the display and then did a double take.
There, lying on a piece of blue satin, was a silver bracelet with Christmas charms.
Hadn’t Devin asked for a charm bracelet but gotten books instead? He eyed the woman sitting by the register and scrolling through her phone, then tapped on the glass before pointing at the bracelet. “Can I look at this?”
She stood with a sigh, as if he were inconveniencing her. She unlocked the case and laid the bracelet on a black velvet cloth. She gave the price and pointed toward the case where more than a hundred other charms were displayed. “For that price, you get a total of six charms, and any additional charms are as marked.”
Her tone had zero inflection, but Logan was sold. Because like Astryn, Devin deserved better. And Rand might not be able to do anything about Astryn, but he could make sure Devin got a real Christmas present this year. But he couldn’t just give it to her.
He rolled the dilemma over a few times, then the answer struck. It looked like Devin was getting a Secret Santa gift after all.
six
Putting the kids first had become her mantra to the point Devin was probably mumbling it in her sleep, but looking around the Mathewses’ property on late Sunday afternoon, she couldn’t deny that it had been worth it. Even now more than a dozen kids still skated around the pond, and the event had technically been over thirty minutes ago. She glanced at the bonfire Mr. Mathews had set up in a small clearing. Normally a fire would have sent her into a panic with this many kids, but Luke, Thomas, and Pastor Nate, three of the local volunteer firemen, had taken shifts manning it.
In fact, there were volunteers everywhere. Jess and Piper had been bringing cookies out of the house all afternoon. Hannah, Janie, and Olivia were working at the cocoa station by the edge of the pond, and Libby had just left. Devin didn’t even know what to do with this much help, which was obvious by the fact they all seemed to be doing the same thing. If she’d had any idea how to manage volunteers, she would’ve had a few of them help her bake some of the three hundred sugar cookies over the past two days. Maybe she needed to get better about being more specific when she asked for help.
Devin picked up a few Styrofoam cups that had missed the trash and walked them to the bin next to the cocoa station.
“You look like you need a cup of this.” Hannah handed one of the last steaming cups of cocoa to Devin.
“Thanks.” Devin took the cup, but her eyes stayed on the ice where Logan was skating around on a pair of hockey skates in a casual manner with his hands in his pockets. They hadn’t talked since he arrived a couple hours ago, but he had yet to have a moment when he wasn’t surrounded by kids.
Not just the Wallis kids either. He was like a magnet to children. One of the kids yelled something, and all of them started skating toward Logan. But even backward, he could outskate them. Tyce reached toward him to tag him but lost his balance and started to fall. Logan shifted directions and steadied him. She couldn’t hear them from over here, but whatever he said made them all laugh, even Alani.
“I know I’m biased”—Hannah stopped next to her, sipping at her own mug of cocoa—“but my brother-in-law is one of my favorite people.”
Logan was now down on his knee, helping each of the kids untie their skates by where they left their boots at the edge of the pond.
Warmth filled Devin’s cheeks. “Yeah, he’s a pretty good guy.”
“Even though Liam looks more like my husband, Logan and Luke sure act a lot more alike. Which—don’t get me wrong—is a great personality.”
“Of course it is.” Luke walked up and grabbed the last cup off the table.
Hannah fitted her arm around Luke’s waist. “But getting them to open up is like trying to open a can without a can opener.”
“She’s not wrong.” Luke downed his cup in a few gulps and poured a refill.
Hannah gave her husband a squeeze. “It’s not that they’re not willing to open up, it’s just…”
“You have to listen a little harder.” Luke finished off his second cup of cocoa and tossed it to the trash. “Wait a little longer.”
“And sometimes you have to barge in the front door and make yourself at home.” Hannah sent him a look that indicated there was a story behind that remark.
His eyes creased with a knowing smile. “I do advise against throwing spoons, though.”
Hannah shrugged. “You were being infuriating.”
Luke dropped a kiss on his wife’s head and moved off to where one of his kids was beckoning him.
What was Devin supposed to do with that? They acted like she was the reason she and Logan weren’t together, that Logan wanted to open up to her but was struggling, that he liked her but didn’t know how to say it. The joke was on them. He had known exactly how to say it last year. He wasn’t interested.
Devin was just trying to reclaim their friendship. But she couldn’t very well say all that without embarrassing herself or admitting why she was very confident he didn’t want her.
Devin tossed her cup away, then grabbed a few other stray cups. She had to focus less on Logan and more on her ability to manage volunteers. “Think you can still help at the stocking party?”
Hannah wiped down the table with a cloth. “I’ve blocked out all of Saturday for you.”
Right, because people were all about volunteering at the event. However, a lot of prep went into getting everything ready. But if Hannah had the time to help beforehand, she would have said. No, she had to get better about asking for help. What was the worst thing that could happen? “Any chance you’re free Friday to set it up?”
“Sorry.” And her face did genuinely look regretful. “Libby, Olivia, Janie, along with a couple friends you don’t know, have our annual Christmas party. The six of us have been friends since middle school, and we sort of absorbed Libby after I married Luke.”
Well, that pretty much took out her entire list of people she was going to ask. “No problem.”
“But we can show up early Saturday morning.” Hannah wiped down the table, then picked up the empty thermos. “Fallon said we can get in at ten, and Cole is all set to play Santa.”
“Then it sounds like we’re all set.”
Hannah headed toward the house.
“I’m not sure we’ve officially met.” A tall blond man in his mid-twenties walked up to her, a smile stretching across his face. His hair was trimmed short and his face, freshly shaven, only drew attention to his deep dimples and dark-brown eyes. “I’m Greyson Hart.”
Ah. Now all the girls’ reactions at church made sense.
She extended her hand. “Devin Hendrixson. Thank you for volunteering.”
“Glad to help.” He shook her hand, then scanned the area. “And it’s a good way to meet more people. Strange being the new guy in town.”
“I remember what that was like. Well, I’m always looking for volunteers.” Devin glanced back at where Logan had been. The kids were gone, but he was…staring at Greyson.
“I have to say, you are not what I was expecting.” Greyson’s eyes narrowed on her but in a pleasant way.
“Were you expecting someone taller?”
“No. More masculine.” He laughed and tried to hide his embarrassment.
“I get that a lot. It’s a family name.” There was no doubt Greyson was good-looking and a quality guy from everything she’d heard. And maybe if Logan weren’t consuming her mind these days, she could entertain the idea of liking him. But right this minute, it took all her strength not to shoo him away so Logan might come over to chat with her.
“Well, it is good to finally meet you, girl Devin. Maybe I’ll see you around.” He waved, then walked away.
Her gaze darted back to where Logan had been, but he was gone. Of course.
Devin tied up the garbage and lifted it out of the bin.
“I’ll take that.” Logan appeared next to her with his skates over his shoulder. “I’m headed out.”
“Thanks for coming.” She didn’t hand him the bag but waited.
You have to listen a little harder.
Wait a little longer.
Luke and Hannah were wrong. Logan wasn’t saying anything except see ya later, and now she was making this awkward. But he did seem to be extending another olive branch of friendship, and that she would take.
Finally, she held out the bag, and he took it. “So the Victor Holt novella is good. Have you been reading it?”
“I have.” He gave a slight nod. “It’s all right.”
She studied his profile, waiting for a micro expression or anything that would clue her in to whether she was right about him being Holt’s editor. “All right?”
He blinked at her.
Maybe she had said that with a bit too much indignation. “I just mean, it’s better than all right.”
“Let me guess, you just love that Rand.” He sounded almost annoyed, but why wouldn’t she love Rand? He started back toward the garbage bin at a quicker pace this time.
She hurried to catch up. “I’m pretty sure I’m supposed to love Rand. Besides, he is so much better for her than Orin. Orin is just so—”
“Boring?”
“What?” She waited while he tossed the garbage in, then shut the lid. “No. I mean sure, he’s focused and intentional about his kingdom, but that’s fine. He doesn’t really love her. That’s the problem. Rand would do anything for her. And he’s a man of adventure. I think there’s a twist coming where someone is after Astryn, and Rand is the only one who can protect her.”
She had no idea if that was coming, but she really wanted that to happen, so it didn’t hurt planting the idea in the editor’s mind.
“Why would you want that?”
“Who wouldn’t want that? Rand is strong and daring. Orin is about the kingdom, but Rand is all about Astryn. He can see who she really is and would go to the ends of the earth to give her everything she needed.”
“Right.” He stopped at the Mathewses’ house, his face annoyed again. “Well, I told my mom that I’d help my dad put up the outside lights. I’ll see you around.”
“Thank you for coming.”
He waved but didn’t look back.
More difficult than a can without a can opener was right.
She turned back to the porch and nearly ran into Mrs. Mathews, who was walking toward her. “I am so glad you did this. Everyone seemed to have so much fun.”
“Thank you. And thank you for making your pond available. I know this is a lot of kids.”
“We’re happy to share anytime.”
“And don’t worry about overwhelming us.” Mr. Mathews joined them from where he’d been standing on the porch and wrapped an arm around his wife. “When you raise seven children, there are always a lot of kids.”
“I think most of the cleanup is done.” Mrs. Mathews surveyed the area. “But there is a gift under the tree with your name on it.”
“What?” Devin hurried up to where the tree had been set up on the wide wood porch. There had been a few Secret Santa gifts left there, but they seemed to have all been taken. But sure enough, there was a small pale-blue box with a silver bow. She picked up the box and flipped the tag over. Had one of the kids gotten her something from Santa’s Workshop?
All it said was “Devin” and it was not written in a child’s script. There was something strangely familiar about the handwriting, but she couldn’t place it. She removed the lid.
Oh my.
This was definitely not a dollar-store trinket from Santa’s Workshop. It was a silver charm bracelet with a single charm of an ice skate on it. She held it up and let the light catch it. A lump formed in her throat. What was wrong with her? It was just a bracelet. But she’d never been given a real present under the tree, and never once had she received a piece of jewelry as a gift.
“It looks like you have a real Secret Santa.” Jess appeared over her shoulder, trying to get a peek. “How romantic.”
“Romantic? It’s probably one of the parents. Who else could it be?”
Jess glanced at the driveway, and Devin followed her gaze. Logan’s Bronco was pulling away. “Logan? I don’t think so. Trust me on this. There is no reason he’d give me a gift. I promise you.”
Jess shrugged. “If you say so. But you have to ask yourself, why did he volunteer to drive you around? Why did he show up today?”
“He’s connecting with the kids.”
“Maybe. But I doubt that’s all of it. Ask him for help this week when the kids aren’t around and see what he says. I’ll put money on the fact the answer will still be yes.”
“I don’t need help before next Saturday.” Devin shook her head and walked away. Shoot, but she did need help because Hannah and her friends were busy Friday. And now she couldn’t ask Jess without admitting why she didn’t want to ask Logan. It didn’t matter. She’d handle it, because there was no way she was asking Logan for help. Not that she was afraid he’d say no.
But because it might be more dangerous if he said yes.
Stone of Anwar: Chapter 10
Astryn had never hated a man more than the one holding her hostage. The vile man and at least three companions had snatched her from the Cambrian castle gate less than two hours ago. They’d all split up, no doubt to throw Rand off their trail, but it wouldn’t work. Rand would find her. Rand would always find her.
The man pulled a crust of bread from his bag, tore it in half, and tossed it at her feet. “Eat up, pretty lady. We have a long road ahead.”
When she didn’t move, his eyes narrowed. “Think you too good for me bread, eh?”
“I’m not hungry.” It took all her strength to keep the quiver from her voice.
He stepped closer and snatched up the bread, then leaned close to her face. “We’ll see how long that lasts.”
The way his beady eyes skimmed over her sent a chill crawling up her spine. Origin, please help Rand find me.
The prayer had barely formed when a branch cracked to the left, just before Rand burst through the clearing of trees on a horse that wasn’t his. Tears sprang to her eyes—he’d come. She took a step toward him but was yanked back by her hair. The rough hand pulled her close as her captor had only enough time to get a blade out and hold it to her throat.
Rand dismounted and pulled weapons in one fluid motion. His golden eyes were as cold as ice as he sized up the man with a dagger against her skin. This wasn’t the rogue prince she’d seen skirting his duties. This was an avenging warrior come to claim what had been taken from him.
He held a broadsword in one hand and a dagger in the other. He wore no tunic and his shirt was loose, which meant he must have been readying for bed when he’d heard her scream.
He pointed with his gaze toward her hand clutching her gown. What did he want? She dropped the fabric and slowly reached back, but the wretched man was too fixed on Rand to notice.
“Keep walking if you want me to kill her.” The stench of the guy’s breath soured her stomach as the sting of his blade pressed into her neck.
Her fingers brushed the leather from the hilt of the foul man’s knife. What did Rand want her to do, stab the guy? Her gaze found Rand’s, and he gave the slightest nod.
Oh, he did.
She swallowed. Her stomach rolled at the notion.
