Heart of Christmas (Curiosity Bay #4)

11. Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven

Audrey

I blinked against the soft light filtering through the curtains and moved beneath the weight of my goose-down comforter. Curling my legs up along the flannel sheets, I rubbed my temples from the pounding headache that surfaced.

The house was quiet, and the freshly fallen snow muffled the sounds from the outside world as I thought about snuggling in with a good book today.

And then it hit me.

MacGregor was in my house.

I shot up from my bed and kicked the covers off as panic set in. I searched my room, and it had been just as I’d left it yesterday. There were no clothes strewn about, but the house was deathly quiet.

Running my fingers through my hair, I closed my eyes and tried to think about last night.

Had I?

Did I?

“No. I wouldn’t have,” I whispered, standing from my bed and walking over to the window.

I shoved the curtains to the side and saw the snow piled high as snowflakes lazily drifted to a foot deep on the ground.

However, the one thing missing from the scene was MacGregor’s rental car.

Which would make sense since he’d had specific instructions on how to get to the first ferry this morning.

A little ache of disappointment spread through me, settling deep into my belly as I thought about MacGregor.

Thanks to my many glasses of wine, I couldn’t remember much of what happened last night after dinner, but I felt…

Better?

Calmer?

More at peace.

But I couldn’t nudge away the unexpected bit of sadness that also worked its way into my body from his absence.

It had been nice catching up with him.

Did I just say that?

Ugh. I was a hopeless case.

But one thing I knew for sure was that I had to brush my teeth. The wine did me no favors. As I walked into the bathroom, I sighed and smoothed my hair away from my face.

When I caught my reflection in the mirror, I couldn’t help but notice I looked a little lighter.

Maybe all those years of harboring resentment had worn me out. I chuckled and quickly brushed my teeth before making it to the kitchen.

Looking out my kitchen window, I smiled at the beautiful scenery. My cement birdbath had been nearly hidden from the continuing snowstorm. If I could find a place that had more snow in the winter, I’d be in heaven. My chest tightened, realizing the trail from MacGregor going outside to get firewood had been covered with fresh snow. There was no sign he’d ever been here.

The disappointment nestled into my bones was hard to explain. It wasn’t like I could expect something more than closure with MacGregor.

But there was something more nudging its way into every cell in my body.

Regret.

I looked around my kitchen, realizing all the clocks were still off, and I had no power. My eyes shot over to the fireplace where fresh logs had been put on, and that’s when I saw a note on the counter.

Happiness flooded through me as I wandered toward the note. The guy had made sure to keep the house warm before he left.

That had to count for something.

My eyes fell to the note, and I smiled even wider as I read the first sentence.

Ferries are canceled until the evening run. Power is still out here, but it’s on in town, so I dashed out to get some coffee and whatever else I can scrounge up. I REALLY hope you find this note. I don’t want a repeat of last time.

I chuckled, knowing I’d obviously drilled fear into this man about merely going out to get us coffee—poor guy. But I did gather a hint of affection laced through the words.

Or was it my imagination?

I spotted my phone and saw a message from my brother asking how things went. I replied quickly that all was good and I was still waiting for the power to return.

A powerful knock sounded at my front door, and I walked to the entry, flinging it open to expect MacGregor.

Instead, my dad stood on the stoop looking like a marshmallow man, blowing into his gloved hands.

“I don’t know who would always want to do this.” He shivered and gave me a quick nod as he walked into my house.

“I kind of like it,” I confessed, shutting the door behind him.

“Your place is pretty warm. I’m proud of you for getting such a great fire going.” He looked around my entry and frowned. “Are you alone?”

“Yes.” I nodded. “Well, no. You’re here.”

His eyes narrowed on mine. “It smells like cologne.”

“Does it? Interesting.”

A twinkle appeared in my dad’s eyes, and my hand flew to my hip.

“Brad opened his big mouth, didn’t he?”

My dad chuckled. “He just wanted me to swing by and ensure everything was okay.”

I frowned. “Why wouldn’t it be?”

He rocked on his heels. “No reason. Oh, I know what I forgot.”

“What’s that?”

“Your mom made a whole bunch of peanut brittle before the power went out, and I left it in the car. That was supposed to be my ruse.” He chuckled. “After how many grown daughters, and I still can’t get it right?”

I snorted as my dad let out a sigh. “I’ll be right back. Your mom would be extremely disappointed if I returned to the house with the brittle.”

“I love Mom’s brittle. I’d be the one disappointed.”

As we opened the door, MacGregor stood outside with two large cups from my sister’s coffee shop. His eyes widened when he spotted my dad.

“Sir, you must be Audrey’s dad.” He handed me one of the cups and shook my dad’s hand. Considering my dad had gloves on, it was rather tricky.

“I am.”

“If it weren’t for her, I’d be a frozen popsicle in my rental car.”

My dad’s brows raised as he released MacGregor’s grip. “Is that so?”

“Indeed.”

My dad was always realistic. He didn’t want details, but he knew my sisters and I did have dating lives. It was just that none of them usually popped out of nowhere the morning after.

Except this time, there was no after.

“It looks worse than it is,” I assured my dad.

“We’re all adults here. I just came to check on my one remaining single daughter during a freak snowstorm and to drop off brittle.” My dad glanced at MacGregor. I could tell he didn’t quite get my dad’s humor.

I also couldn’t tell whether my dad was sizing MacGregor up or considering whether he and my brother could haul him over to Curiosity Bay and roll him into the water.

“Yes, that’s me. Single and probably will be forever.” I grinned at my dad, who rolled his eyes.

“If you’ll pardon me, I need to go get the brittle and get back home.” He gave a quick look at MacGregor, who towered over my dad, and my dad wasn’t a tiny guy. “Your mom is craving grilled cheese, and I’m the only one who can start the stove with a match.”

As I watched my dad stomp through the snow, I sipped the drink and hummed happily. “I’m so happy Mae opened a coffee shop on the island.” I shut the door to keep the heat in.

“Did you get my note?” MacGregor asked, glancing toward the kitchen.

I snickered and nodded. “I did. Thank you. And thank you for this.” I held up my drink, realizing I hadn’t properly introduced my dad and MacGregor.

Probably for the better.

“How are you feeling after last night?” He grimaced. “You looked like you’d feel pretty awful this morning once I got you into bed.”

“You had to get me into bed?” I asked softly.

“Well, I had to carry you. I didn’t think watching you crawl would be very gentlemanly.”

I groaned with a chuckle. “That must be why I don’t remember much.”

My dad tapped on the door, and I opened it to have him hand me the brittle, hug me, and turn back around to walk to his vehicle.

“Tell Mom I love her,” I hollered from the door. “And I love you. Thanks for checking on me.”

He waved behind him. “Will do. There should be enough brittle for two. Love you, Audrey.”

I closed the door and sniffed in the buttery candy. “My mom makes the best brittle in the world. Want some for breakfast?”

“I can’t think of anything better. I grabbed a couple of spinach egg wraps, and somehow, the brittle sounds better.”

“You went to Mae’s and got the healthiest thing on her food menu?”

“Not by choice. I think the entire town had the idea to eat out this morning. Downtown was bustling at all the food places.” He followed me into the kitchen. “There weren’t any cars, just lots of people. I think everyone walked to town.”

I sighed happily, thinking about what a special place the island was. I couldn’t imagine myself living anywhere else. Well, that wasn’t entirely true. I could see living in some mountain town in the winter or doing something crazy where I returned in the spring, summer, and fall.

“Getting this much snow is a big deal,” I explained. “The ferries usually run no matter what.”

He nodded, setting the bag of wraps on the counter while I grabbed two plates and opened the brittle.

“I’m sure the spinach will balance out the brittle.”

He chuckled. “For sure, and who cares if it doesn’t?”

I smiled in agreement and looked outside to the world blanketed in white. The snow transformed everything and forced us to slow down.

Glancing at MacGregor, I realized it did precisely that. I had no choice but to pause and listen to the man who’d broken my heart so many years ago. Beyond the window, the branches bent slightly from the heaviness of the wet snow, and the chill just beyond the walls threatened to sneak in if the fire went out.

“Thanks for stoking the flames,” I said, shaking some brittle onto our plates. “I mean the fireplace flames.”

He smiled, and his brows raised. “Whatever flames would you be talking about?”

I chuckled. “Exactly.”

MacGregor grabbed a piece of brittle and took a bite. “Whoa. This beats my mom’s, but don’t tell her I said that.”

“Really?”

“Amazing.”

“I could eat this for every meal,” I told him, taking a bite and sucking on the sugary goodness. “So, did I completely embarrass myself once I hit the point of no return?”

He waved his hands at me. “No. Never.”

I cocked my head slightly and laughed. “No. I mean it. Did I say something over the top or try to kiss you?” I teased.

“Kiss me? Yeah, you tried many times.”

My eyes widened in horror as my hands flew to my mouth. “Are you serious?”

“Nah. Just kidding. You were on your best behavior. Honestly, if you hadn’t tried to stand, I wouldn’t have known you were a little tipsy.”

“A little? You had to carry me to my bed.”

He didn’t say anything. Instead, he just shook his head.

“What?” I asked, focusing on him.

He glanced over at the Christmas tree. “I still can’t believe you’re finally talking to me.”

“I’m just glad the snowstorm slowed me down enough to stop and listen before you left town.”

MacGregor nodded as his gaze fastened on mine. “Thank you for giving me another chance. You know, with being a friend or whatever.”

“A very good friend,” I said, licking the sweetness off my lips.

I stepped forward, and the air between us was electrified with something I recognized before. The heat and need crawled up my spine as my eyes fell to his lips.

He glanced up at the ceiling and shook his head with a wry smile.

“What?” I asked, stepping even closer.

“There’s no mistletoe,” he said, shrugging.

“Since when have you ever cared about rules?” I asked, looking into his green eyes.

MacGregor’s smile only widened as his gaze fell to my lips.

His arms wrapped around my waist, and he pulled me tight.

“I’ve been waiting for years to feel your lips against mine,” he said gruffly.

“Then kiss me.”

MacGregor’s gaze intensified, and I felt heat deliciously sneaking up my spine. His lips slowly brushed mine, and it felt like dynamite had been set off. Every cell in my body heated with my desire for him from so many years ago and the dreams in between.

His hands slid around my waist, pulling me a little tighter. My body pressed against his as I looped my arms around his hips. I could feel the strength of his hands as they ran along my spine, holding me as he kissed me.

MacGregor’s full lips parted slowly as his warm breath coated my lips. I let out a slight hum of encouragement as his tongue slowly traced along my lips before his kisses deepened.

My body pushed against his as our worlds spun into a frantic need one last time.