Champagne for Christmas Read online

  CHAMPAGNE FOR CHRISTMAS

  By

  Jean C. Joachim

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, and events are fictitious in every regard. Any similarities to actual events and persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Any trademarks, service marks, product names, or named features are assumed to be the property of their respective owners, and are used only for reference. There is no implied endorsement if any of these terms are used. Except for review purposes, the reproduction of this book in whole or part, electronically or mechanically, constitutes a copyright violation.

  Champagne for Christmas

  Copyright © 2011 JEAN C. JOACHIM

  Published by Moonlight Books

  Cover Art Designed by Jean C. Joachim

  Edited by Tabitha Bower

  Formatted by Dingbat Publishing

  ISBN 9781626227866

  The author acknowledges the trademark status and the following trademark owners mentioned in this work of fiction:

  Korbel

  Moët & Chandon

  Piper Heidsieck

  Dom Perignon

  Early Grey

  Paul Stuart

  Steuben Glass

  Roller Coaster Tycoon

  Rummikub

  DEDICATION

  To My Readers.

  May you always find true love and drink champagne at Christmas

  Thank you for buying and reading my books.

  Acknowledgment

  Thank you so much to Jimmy Blackman for his invaluable guidance, Marilyn Lee, Tabitha Bower, and my guys: Larry, David and Steve Joachim

  Other works by Jean C. Joachim

  MANHATTAN DINNER CLUB SERIES

  RESCUE MY HEART

  SEDUCING HIS HEART

  SHINE YOUR LOVE ON ME

  TO LOVE OR NOT TO LOVE

  HOLLYWOOD HEARTS SERIES

  IF I LOVED YOU

  RED CARPET ROMANCE

  MEMORIES OF LOVE

  MOVIE LOVERS

  LOVE’S LAST CHANCE

  LOVERS & LIARS

  HIS LEADING LADY (Series Starter)

  NOW AND FOREVER SERIES

  NOW AND FOREVER 1, A LOVE STORY

  NOW AND FOREVER 2, THE BOOK OF DANNY

  NOW AND FOREVER 3, BLIND LOVE

  NOW AND FOREVER 4, THE RENOVATED HEART

  N0W AND FOREVER 5, LOVE’S JOURNEY

  NOW AND FOREVER, CALLIE’S STORY (Series Starter)

  MOONLIGHT SERIES

  MOONLIGHT & ROSES (Series Starter)

  SUNNY DAYS, MOONLIT NIGHTS

  APRIL’S KISS IN THE MOONLIGHT

  UNDER THE MIDNIGHT MOON

  NEW YORK NIGHTS NOVELS

  THE MARRIAGE LIST

  THE LOVE LIST

  THE DATING LIST

  LOST & FOUND SERIES

  With Benjamin Tanner

  LOVE, LOST AND FOUND

  DANGEROUS LOVE, LOST & FOUND

  FIRST & TEN (Sports romance)

  Coming in 2015

  SWEET LOVE REMEMBERED (SHORT STORY)

  THE ADVENTURES OF AMANDA & EMILY, THE SECRET OF THE HIDDEN ROAD

  BEYOND THE BAKE SALE, THE ULTIMATE SCHOOL FUND-RAISING BOOK

  ACTIVITY BOOKS:

  CARS & TRUCKS

  RESCUE VEHICLES

  CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES

  WILD ANIMALS

  ANCIENT EGYPT

  Prologue

  The day before Christmas, New York City

  Wrapped in a luxurious mink coat and nothing else, Nina Wells stood, alone, on the terrace of her lavish New York City apartment, watching snowflakes fall. Even the Christmas lights, blinking at her from Fifth Avenue across the park, didn’t melt the frost surrounding her heart. The wind gathered strength, whipping tiny, icy bits into her face, stinging like a million needles. The blowing sent the chill factor plummeting down to zero. With a little shiver, she flipped up the collar to cover her bare neck.

  Will I ever see Clint again? Probably not. A heavy sigh escaped her lips. I’m too old for him, anyway. How stupid to fall for a younger man. I should’ve known better. She blew out a breath then returned to the warmth of her tony place.

  A widow for only three years, she wasn’t used to being alone on the holidays. Even her huge Christmas tree, decorated with ornaments lovingly collected from her past and winking lights in red, blue, and green, wasn’t festive enough to cure heartbreak.

  Nina slipped on sweats, as the freezing temperature outside had cooled her apartment, too. After building a healthy fire, she wrapped her hands around a cup of hazelnut hot chocolate and curled up on the sofa, tucking the mink around her like an expensive blanket.

  As cold as it was in New York, the opposite had been true on the day she had met Clint. Snuggling down on the sofa, she remembered as if it was yesterday, not four months ago.

  Chapter One

  August, Pine Grove, New York in the Catskill Mountains

  The sultry, August air hung heavy around Nina, quickly melting the ice cream in her sundae. While gazing up at the clear, night sky to look for the Big Dipper, she dribbled fudge sauce on her new, aqua T-shirt. She pursed her lips. That’s what I get for not paying attention. With a disgusted sigh, she reached for a napkin before realizing she’d forgotten to take one. “Damn,” she muttered under her breath and doubled back to the stand before the stain set.

  She rushed up to the tiny counter right as a tall, good-looking man holding a double scoop cone turned. They collided. Half of his cold treat fell onto her chest, causing her to gasp at the shock against her skin. She looked up into his light brown eyes as she grabbed the melting ball.

  He slipped one arm around her waist to keep her from losing her footing. She stood wobbling, mesmerized by him. He was almost a whole foot taller than she was, with thick, straight, brown hair and shoulders a mile wide. Nina shifted the ice cream from hand to hand, not knowing what to do.

  “I don’t think you can put that back on the cone. Maybe the garbage?” he suggested with a grin.

  Nina jerked back to reality and stepped toward the trashcan, tossing in what was left of the melting mess. “I’m so sorry. I’ll buy you another one,” she said, reaching for napkins to wipe her shirt and hands.

  “It was my fault…completely. You don’t have to buy me anything. Besides, I still have one scoop here. I’ll just…,” he began, approaching her with more napkins, and then stopping, his hand in midair, color suffusing his face.

  Nina had raised a hand to halt his actions. “It’s okay. I’ve got this.” The young woman behind the counter offered him a replacement scoop for free. Nina sat down at the picnic table set up for people to eat outside. After a good look at her shirt, she knew it was ruined.

  The tall, attractive man joined her. “At least let me pay for a new shirt,” he offered, sitting down next to her on the bench.

  “It’s okay. I had a spill on it already. That’s why I was coming back and got in your way,” she said, finishing the last of her sundae.

  “What flavor?” he asked.

  “Mint chip…is there any other?” She laughed.

  “Not for me.”

  Nina’s gaze was drawn to his mouth, then his tongue, as he licked the cold confection off the cone first then his lips. She ran her own tongue over her bottom lip unconsciously, in tandem with him. Wonder what it would feel like to kiss him? “I’m Nina Wells.” She offered her hand, as soon as she could rip her stare from his mouth.

  He shook it. “Clint Hayworth.”

  “You look familiar,” she said, with hooded eyes, admiring his physique.

  “I’ve seen you, too…in the garden? Next door?” he asked, looking away from his ice cream.

  “You’re renting th
e Willis place?”

  “Thinking about buying it, too.” He stopped eating long enough to shoot her a confident smile, his gaze resting on her face before sweeping over her chest and back again.

  “It’s a lovely house. The neighborhood’s terrific, too. Lots of space and nice people.”

  “Then, why did I see a ‘For Sale’ sign in front of your place?”

  “Oh.” She could feel the heat of her blush. “I’m alone now…and it’s kind of…I’m not…”

  “Not used to taking care of it by yourself?”

  She nodded. Why am I still embarrassed about being a widow? It’s not a personal failing.

  “Have you owned it long?”

  “Since my son was eight…seventeen years.”

  “You have a twenty-five-year-old son?” His eyebrows shot up, and he stared at her.

  She nodded, forming a weak smile and trying to hide her nerves.

  “You don’t look old enough.”

  “Looks can be deceiving.” Nina crumpled up her sundae cup and moved to the trashcan to discard it.

  “Not in my book,” he said, giving her figure a frank once-over as she crossed his path.

  “Was the boy helping you in the garden your son?” Nina asked, changing the subject to hide her discomfort at his scrutiny.

  “Yes. Cory.”

  “Where is he?”

  “He went back to his mother’s place.”

  “Oh. I’m sorry.” She put her hand on his forearm.

  “I’m used to it by now…” He rubbed his fingers over his two-day growth of beard and closed his eyes for a second. “I lied. Not used to it at all. Hate it, in fact.” He took a big, loud bite of the sugar cone, crunching it between his teeth.

  “My son lives in Seattle. Has for three years. I’m not used to him so far away and probably never will be.”

  “Can I at least buy you a cup of coffee to make up for the shirt I wrecked?” He finished the last of the cone and turned to face her, holding her gaze as a seductive grin inched across his face.

  She swallowed, and her pulse kicked up. “Why don’t you come over, and I’ll make us both some coffee? Some company in my too-quiet house would be welcome.”

  “Great. Meet you there,” he said.

  ****

  Nina returned home, arriving before Clint. She ducked into the bedroom to change. While she had her shirt off, she faced the full-length mirror on the back of the closet door. She looked at herself with a critical eye, her gaze roving over her form from head to toe. Trying to be objective, she admitted she didn’t look too bad. True, everything may have been a touch lower than it was ten years ago, but she still looked good.

  Rummaging through her drawer, she found a rather low-cut raspberry T-shirt and slipped it on, facing the mirror again. Don’t be ridiculous! He’s maybe ten years younger than you! Grow up! Still, he’s so handsome and sexy.

  She brushed her straight, dark hair, refreshed her make-up, emphasizing her large, clear blue eyes, and inched the neckline of the shirt a little lower, giving her cleavage more exposure. Nothing wrong with flirting. I need practice, and he’s perfect, since he’ll never be interested.

  With a new lightness in her step, she descended the stairs and got busy in the kitchen. While she rummaged through the refrigerator for something more than coffee to serve, she heard the buzz of the bell at the back door. The sound started her heart racing, and her mouth dried out like a leaf of lettuce in the sun.

  “Coffee smells great,” Clint said, sniffing the air as he walked into her kitchen. He stopped and looked around. “My kitchen doesn’t look anything like this. This is awesome.” He ran his hand over the granite counter top and checked out the pristine, oak floor.

  “We—I mean, I renovated it last year.”

  “I love the light green on the walls.” His gaze travelled from the recessed lighting to the country artwork, finally settling on her.

  “My husband didn’t like green, but I did. Do, I mean.”

  He moved away. “You’re married?”

  “Was. Henry died.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry. Long time ago?”

  “Just three years. Some days, it feels like yesterday, and sometimes, it seems like forever.”

  Clint eased up next to her, slipping his arm around her for a brief squeeze.

  The warmth of his touch sent a shiver of pleasure down her spine. “You?”

  “I’m divorced. My ex found a rich guy, took my son, and moved to a fancy neighborhood.”

  “What a shame.”

  “Yeah. I hate sharing him. But I’m stuck.”

  His gaze traveled her length, sizing her up, his brown eyes glowing when they met hers. She fidgeted with the hem of her T-shirt, her gaze dropping to the floor, trying to remember why he was there.

  “Coffee?” He raised his eyebrows.

  “Coffee! Yes…it’s ready,” she said, glancing at the pot.

  He stepped closer. “Can I help?”

  “Got it.” Nina took out two mugs with flowers painted on in pastel colors and put them on a tray with a matching sugar bowl and a small pitcher of milk. “Sit over there,” she suggested, pointing to the snug booth carved into the corner alcove.

  Clint followed her instructions. Nina poured the coffee and took the tray to the table, concentrating on keeping her hands steady and wondering why she was nervous all of a sudden. This isn’t a date. He’s a neighbor. You’re being friendly, neighborly. It isn’t a date…is it?

  After moving the cups, milk, and sugar to the table, Nina slipped into the spot opposite Clint, raised her drink, and asked, “At the risk of being mundane—what do you do, Clint?”

  “I teach English, high school English. But I’m here this summer to write a play,” he admitted, lowering his gaze to his mug.

  “A play! How fabulous!”

  He looked up at her, surprised.

  “That’s wonderful. I’m an actress. What’s the play about? Can I read it? Can I help by reading aloud? It would be good practice for me.” She realized she was babbling and suddenly clammed up.

  Clint’s smile seemed to reach from ear to ear, making him even more attractive. “I haven’t finished it yet, but sure…I’d love to have you read…maybe even help me write?”

  “I’m no writer,” she said, glancing down.

  “I don’t know if I am, either.” He laughed.

  “Tell me what it’s about.” Nina sat back, relaxing her body against the seat.

  “The story is about a man and woman getting a divorce. They have a child, who is manipulating them, trying to get them back together by behaving badly, pretending to be sick…” He paused.

  “Is it working?”

  He nodded, bringing his beverage up to his mouth for a sip before continuing, “She’s making them work together to get her back on track, and while they are, they fall in love again.”

  “What a lovely story.”

  He looked down at his mug, raised it to his lips again, and drank. She watched his face carefully.

  “None of this is based on real life, is it?” she asked.

  He shook his head. “Six months ago, when I got the idea, I wished it was, but now, I know it can’t be so… No, not based on real life.”

  “Can I read the part of the wife, or am I too old?”

  “There’s nothing old about you,” he said, sweeping his stare down to her waist and back to her eyes, lingering on her breasts for a moment.

  His gaze connected with hers, producing a jolt of electricity in her, heating her cheeks. He slowly smiled, as if seeing her for the first time. Feeling a spark of desire from him, she blushed deeply, and her mouth went dry as cardboard as his stare settled on her lips.

  “Ice cream?” she asked him, feebly.

  “Mint chip. All because of mint chip,” he replied, covering her hand with his.

  ****

  Clint stayed talking with Nina until eleven o’clock. Afterward, she left the dishes and went straight up to sleep. Her
dreams were filled with images of him, producing a restless night.

  It was ten o’clock the next morning before Nina could pull herself out of bed. Clint Hayworth had kept her awake with heat that didn’t lead to sexual satisfaction. She smiled and shook her head. Am I too old for these kind of fantasies? I guess not.

  By ten thirty, she was ready to run errands, but stopped when she opened the front door. There was a small package wrapped in brown paper on the stoop. She sat down and opened it. Inside was a sky blue T-shirt. She checked the label on the back of the neck, and son-of-a-gun, it was her size. A small note fell out as she shook it.

  Please wear this tonight to a barbecue at my place. Popping a cork at six sharp. Hope it’s your size. It’s certainly your color.

  Clint

  She held up the top and looked it over. It was almost the exact color of her eyes…in fact, it was exactly like one she had been eyeing in Mimi’s, a posh clothing boutique in Oak Bend. Clint must have been up early.

  Her pulse pumped fast all day, as she prepared for her evening with Clint. Is it a date or just a barbecue between neighbors? She fought her nerves by keeping busy. First, a manicure then a long bath and lotioning her body with her favorite scented cream passed the time.

  Choosing an outfit was easy. She’d wear shorts and the top he gave her. Sitting at her dressing table, fretting over how much makeup to apply, she laughed. This isn’t a date. He’s much younger than I. He’s only asking me to apologize for wrecking my shirt. Get a grip. I’m too old for him, anyway.

  She opted for less-is-more and applied a bit of blush, mascara, and lipstick. A final look in the mirror surprised her. Anticipation of a wonderful evening with an attractive man heightened the color in her cheeks. She looked good. She smiled as she descended the stairs.