Wrapped Up in Christmas Love (Wrapped Up in Christmas #4)

Chapter Three

V isiting at Hamilton House, Isabelle arranged Christmas tree cookies on a tray on the kitchen’s island countertop, admiring the colorful icing and containers of candy decorations as she summoned the question that had burned in her mind all week.

“So, that thing we were talking about Tuesday evening. Do you really think Bodie could find my father?”

Sarah turned from where she pulled mini poppyseed ham sandwiches from the oven. “Yes, but even better, Bodie has a friend visiting who works for iSecure.” Sarah paused to spatula the sandwiches onto the large Santa serving platter. “He’s a computer genius. He sure helped me set up my embroidery program fast right after he arrived at Hamilton House. I bet he’d love to help find your father.”

Isabelle was glad someone would love finding Cliff Davis. She wasn’t looking forward to the effort. Why, why, why did Sophie want their father at her wedding, much less to walk her down the aisle? Isabelle wondered for the thousandth time since Sophie’s dress fitting. As horrific as she found the idea of searching for the man who’d abandoned them, the tear that had run down her sister’s cheek haunted Isabelle.

Between that and the buff stranger with the awful pickup lines, Isabelle had slept very little. She’d barely done anything that one or the other wasn’t weighing on her mind. Stupid laughing man. Stupid runaway father. Stupid cookie she’d just accidentally broken and now had to eat to cover up the evidence. She poked a piece of the tree cookie into her mouth, letting the sugary sweetness comfort her. What if Sarah had been right and, by some miracle, Isabelle could arrange for her father to escort Sophie down the aisle? If that would make Sophie happy, and their mom was okay with it, then Isabelle would suck up all her misgivings. As far as their mom, she didn’t plan to mention it to her until she knew whether finding Cliff Davis was even a possibility. Why bring up past hurts if she didn’t have to?

Sarah rinsed off the now empty baking pan. “Plus, Zach really needs something to occupy his time while Bodie’s at work.”

“Zach?” The name clicked and, heart pounding, Isabelle blamed her lack of sleep for not putting two and two together sooner. “As in six foot plus, solid wall of muscles, laughing hazel eyes with melted gold flecks, hair too long, gorgeous Zach Dawson?”

Sarah turned from the sink, an amused look on her face. “That’s not exactly how I’d describe him, but yes, Zach Dawson.”

“Yeah, well, I’d rather him not be who helps track down my father.” Why did the idea of Mr. Annoying knowing her most humiliating and hurtful childhood memory bother her so much? The last thing she wanted was him prying into her past.

Drying the pan, then sliding it into a cabinet, Sarah arched a brow. “Am I missing something? Why would you turn down help to make Sophie’s wedding dreams come true?”

“I’d rather not talk to someone I don’t know about my father.”

“You should at least consider.” Sarah surveyed the smorgasbord of goodies on display for her guests. “With his past, Zach probably understands your father better than most.”

“He’s military?” Of course he was. No wonder all the warning bells had clanged when she’d first looked up into his laughing eyes. His army T-shirt had been his own prideful patriotism, not a family member’s.

Sarah nodded. “He’s staying in our Beds for Vets suite. We’re honored to have him visit.”

“He’s here to rehab?” The suite was for helping veterans get back on their feet when they returned to civilian life.

“Bodie and Zach have been friends for a long time. Zach’s here to visit.” But even as Sarah said it, Isabelle knew there was more. “He went to work for iSecure after injuries prevented him from continuing in the army. He’s been with the company just over a year.”

Zach had been hurt? Why did that knot her belly?

“He didn’t look like anything was wrong with him.” He’d looked strong, healthy, full of life— Thank God . But only thank God because Isabelle didn’t wish ill upon anyone. Not even him .

“Zach has worked hard to regain his strength and life.” Sarah’s soft tone conveyed deep empathy that likely had to do with Bodie’s past. “Some injuries can’t be seen.”

Isabelle knew all about those injuries. The ones that couldn’t be seen. She’d lived with them for the first part of her life.

“That’s more reason for me to stay away from Zach. Maybe Bodie will help.”

“Help with what?” Bodie asked, joining them in the kitchen with Jeannie in his arms.

Sarah filled her husband in while Bodie removed a teether from the refrigerator and handed it to the baby he held. Immediately, the blue-eyed cherub raised it to her mouth and began gumming the pink ring.

With every detail Sarah gave, Isabelle’s stomach twisted tighter and tighter. “If we can’t find him, Sophie will be devastated. I don’t want that, not right before her wedding, so this has to be kept quiet. Who knows where our father is or what he’s been doing? I refuse to let that man disappoint her again.”

Jeannie waved the teether at her father, smiling up at Bodie.

He grinned at the baby, then, expression serious, met Isabelle’s gaze. “That man being your father?”

“He wasn’t much of a father. Not like you already are.”

“Sarah makes it easy.” Bodie shot an appreciative look toward his wife, who kissed his cheek, then went to check on her guests. “But not a day goes by that I don’t question my ability to do a good job raising our daughter. Sometimes the demons one battles in one’s head convinces a person that the best thing for his family is for him to stay away. Those demons make it easy to believe that they are better off without you being in the picture.”

“You sound as if you’re speaking from experience.” Isabelle didn’t buy that her father’s decision to leave had been anything other than selfishness.

He hadn’t been thinking about his wife or two young daughters when he’d skipped town.

“I am. Make no mistake, I’d always do what’s best for my wife and child, no matter the cost to myself.” The steely look that came into Bodie’s eyes assured there was nothing he wouldn’t do to protect them.

“You wouldn’t leave them.” Isabelle knew she spoke the truth.

“Never that my being with them wasn’t putting them in harm’s way. If it did”—his hold on Jeannie tightened, causing the baby to glance up as he took a deep breath—“if it did, then I’d do whatever was necessary to keep my family safe.”

Bodie was the type of man who would always do the right thing. Leaving his family would never be that. He didn’t understand the difference in her father’s abandonment and what he was describing. “You would, but that isn’t my father.”

“You’d know better than me.”

Isabelle did know. Painfully so.

Bodie’s gaze went beyond her to whomever had entered the kitchen, then back to Isabelle. “You want to find your father? Sarah just returned with the perfect guy.”

“Don’t believe a word he says about me, Blondie.”

Isabelle had known who he was looking at before Zach had said a word. The hairs on the back of her neck had alerted her that he was near, but she refused to acknowledge his comment.

She focused on Bodie. “I prefer you or a professional. I recall meeting Lukas and his family at your wedding. I’d like to hire his company.”

Bodie didn’t look sure. “No offense, but I’m not sure you can afford iSecure. On the low end you’d be looking at…” He told her an amount more than what she made in three months.

She winced. “That much?”

Sarah took Jeannie from Bodie. “It’s so lucky that one of iSecure’s top guys is in Pine Hill and willing to help you.”

Isabelle had never shirked from uncomfortable situations. Usually, she was the one who dealt with them so that her mother and Sophie never had to. But she didn’t want to talk to Zach about her father’s abandonment. She didn’t want to turn and come face-to-face with him again, either. She knew those hazel eyes would be more twinkly than all the gorgeous Christmas lights Sarah had strung around Hamilton House.

“Much as your ego might find it difficult to believe, we weren’t discussing you.” She avoided meeting Zach’s gaze when he joined them at the kitchen island and stared directly at her.

“Actually, we were,” Bodie reminded and Isabelle’s face heated.

Oops. They had been.

Zach grinned. “Oh? What were you saying? Asking for my phone number or just wanting to know all my deepest, darkest secrets?”

If only. Instead, she was about to tell him hers.

*

“Bodie thought you might be able to find someone for me.”

“No need to look any further. I’m right here.” Zach waggled his brows.

He’d caught a glimpse of Isabelle earlier when she’d first arrived, but she’d immediately disappeared into the kitchen with Sarah. He’d wanted to follow her, but Lukas had called. Due to the noisy party festivities and Christmas music playing in the background, Zach had headed to his room.

Lukas had just been checking on him. When he’d come back downstairs, Harry had wanted to go out and thought Zach was just the guy to take him. Not that Zach minded. Crowded parties for Christmas tree decorating weren’t exactly his thing. Hadn’t his mother just arranged for some interior decorator to spiff up the house to a magazine replica of whatever was the latest Christmas fad? Zach sure couldn’t recall tree decorating parties or the loving way Sarah displayed her aunt’s antique ornaments.

Isabelle shot Sarah a see-what-I-mean look, then toyed with her sweater’s zipper. “Not interested.”

Bodie snorted, then nudged Zach’s arm. “On that note, Sarah and I are going to leave you two to discuss this while we go find the Fruit flies. I imagine they’re cooking up some holiday mischief and need to be reined in before they get out of control.”

Fruit flies? Oh, yeah, Sarah’s group of old-lady friends. Bodie was always calling them by some insect name. Earlier in the week he’d called them hornets, then gnats. The one Zach had met at Lou’s seemed harmless enough, more like a blue ladybug if he’d had to give an insect name.

Sarah smiled, then the trio left the kitchen, leaving Zach alone with Isabelle. Her color heightened, her pulse pounded at her throat, and she was going to rip that zipper tab off any moment if she didn’t quit jerking it back and forth.

He grinned. “I can tell you’re excited to see me again.”

At Sarah’s advice, he’d held off on going to the quilt shop, but Tuesday seemed longer than three days ago. Finally, Isabelle’s gaze lifted, blue fire sparking with annoyance.

“Is that what you call the sudden urge to be ill? Excitement?”

Zach laughed. “When are you going to admit that you like me, Blondie?”

“I asked you not to call me that.” She gave him one of her pinched-face scowls. “As for the other, I’ll tell you what… you just hold your breath until it happens.”

“That bad, eh?”

Eyes still narrowed, she sighed. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m off to find my sister.”

That same sinking feeling hit that had when she’d driven away from the square. Just as she stepped into the large rectangular foyer in the middle of Hamilton House, Zach reached for her hand, momentarily staying her.

“Wait.” Electricity flared where their skin touched.

Not so long ago his hand had been dead, unable to move or feel. How sad if he’d never experienced the zings coursing through him?

Her gaze dropped to where he held her, and he wondered if she felt it, too, or if his nerve endings were just misfiring from some missed piece of shrapnel still lodged near his spine. Taking a deep breath, she pulled free. He hadn’t been holding tight, just enough to temporarily stay her. At the loss, he shoved his fingers into his jeans pocket to keep from reaching out again.

“Don’t go. Please.” Heart pounding all the way to his throat that their conversation wasn’t going as he’d imagined a thousand times that week, that he didn’t know when he’d see her again if she left Hamilton House, Zach latched onto the one thing that might give her pause. “What did you mean about me helping to find someone?”

Frustration flickered across her beautiful face. “It’s nothing.”

The tension pouring off her as she sucked in a deep breath said otherwise.

“I’ll just ask Bodie,” he pointed out, a bit in awe at how much he wanted to brush her hair away from her face and assure her that whatever had her wound tighter than the stripes on her candy cane sweater, he’d help. “You know he’ll tell me. We’re brothers.” At her confused look, he added, “We served in the army together. He’s my brother in every way that counts. Serving with someone, being willing to die next to them, for them, creates a bond every bit as strong as blood. Stronger in many cases.”

Much stronger than the bond Zach shared with his blood relatives. They’d never understood him, and truthfully, he didn’t understand them, either. He imagined the longer he stayed away, the happier they were.

Rather than respond, Isabelle looked around the Christmas-decorated foyer. Her gaze lingered on the thickly wrapped garland twisting around the curved staircase’s railing. White lights twinkled from beneath the greenery, snow-covered pinecones, and silver ribbons. Matching garland and lights were strung over the oversized openings that led into the living room on the side opposite of them and, on the side where they stood, into a dining room that was as elaborately decorated as any his mother’s decorators had ever done.

“Bodie probably will tell you since it’s not necessarily a secret from anyone other than my mother and my sister and her fiancé. I’m looking for”—Isabelle’s face scrunched—“my father.”

The word was so tortured sounding that Zach’s heart squeezed. “He’s missing?”

Pink stained her cheeks. “For the past twenty years.”

Zach studied the angle of her jaw, the way her fingers clenched and unclenched, the I-don’t-care-about-this expression she was trying so hard to pull off—and failing. Bodie had said that her father left when Isabelle was young. What had Zach missed?

“That’s a long time.” Would she knee him if he hugged her? He wasn’t a hugging kind of guy, but she sure looked as if she needed comforting, and his arms itched to hold her.

“Tell me about it.” Her fingers curled into her palms. The skin stretched taut over her knuckles. “Or I guess it’s me who will tell you, since Bodie believes you can track him down.” Her blue eyes pierced him. “Can you?”

Pain shone even as her chin tilted upward. Zach took it all in—her tough bravado on the outside, the hurt that gripped her insides, and the sappy sensation in his chest.

“I need to know more.” Not that he’d say no. He’d help her find her father. He’d go to the North Pole and drag Santa to Pine Hill if it was what he had to do to earn a smile from her.

“I figured you would.” Glancing into the living area, she focused on a pretty brunette who practically bubbled as she chatted with a small group huddled around her in the open living room. A man came over, handed her a drink, then slid his arm possessively around her waist.

“Someone you know?”

“That’s my sister and her fiancé.”

Zach had figured as much. “The ones you don’t want to know that you’re searching for your father?”

“My only sister, my only sibling, and yes, Sophie can’t know. Neither can Cole. He might tell Sophie.”

Curious, Zach asked, “Why can’t she know? Seems as if she’d want to know something like that.”

As if she suddenly worried that he planned to clang a bell and announce it to the room, fear entered her eyes. “You can’t tell her.”

Nor would he, but her reaction stung.

“Why would I tell her? I don’t know her.”

Isabelle humphed. “If you’re in Pine Hill very long, you will. Sophie’s a friendly sort and wants to wrap the whole world in warm fuzzy happiness.”

“Unlike you?” He’d meant the comment as a tease, something to ease the tension oozing from her every pore, but her face blotched.

“I’m friendly enough when I want to be friends with someone.”

“Point taken.” There were too many people in Hamilton House to have a private conversation, unless they headed to his room, and he was one hundred percent she’d have him singing Christmas carols with the sopranos if he suggested they go there. “How about we meet for lunch tomorrow and you can tell me everything?”

Her blond hair swished back and forth. “I work on Saturdays.”

“You were at Lou’s on Tuesday, so you obviously take a break to eat at some point. But maybe Saturdays are too busy for breaks. Good news is that I’m an early riser.” Always had been.

His mother used to say the sun wouldn’t rise if he didn’t make so much racket to awaken it. For a second, her image popped into his mind, and there she smiled at him. In reality, he hadn’t seen her smile in years. Certainly not the last few times he’d gone home. Instead, sadness and tears filled her eyes when she looked at him.

“How about we meet for breakfast before you go to work?”

Isabelle’s gaze narrowed. “You don’t even know what time I have to be at work.”

“Bodie told me that you and your sister run the quilt shop on the square. Thanks to Sarah, I’ve developed a deeper appreciation for those old quilts my grandmother made and how much work went into them.”

Hopefully, his mother still had the one his granny had made him. He’d been thinking about it more and more lately, wishing he had it.

“You talked about me with Bodie? Why?”

Of everything he’d said, that was what she’d focused in on?

“Because…” Zach hesitated. “He witnessed my crash and burn at Lou’s the other day. He said I didn’t have a chance with you.”

“He’s right. You don’t.”

“Because I’m military?” He refused to say former. Once a soldier, always a soldier.

She hesitated long enough that Zach knew the wheels were turning in that intelligent mind of hers.

“Because you’re you,” she finally answered.

Same difference.

“Then, breakfast it is?” he asked, knowing that despite her protests, she needed him to find her father.

Her mouth opened, no doubt to shoot him down, but before anything came out, the bubbly brunette joined them.

“Carrie loved your suggestion for the Petdanas and wants to implement that change to our online marketing immediately.” She turned to Zach and flashed a smile so bright he almost shielded his eyes. “Hi, I’m Sophie. Nice to meet you.”

Although at first glance their features seemed opposite, Zach could see a strong resemblance. The big eyes, even though Sophie’s were brown. But mostly it was that their facial structure was similar, with high cheekbones and full, wide mouths. Mouths that were curved in opposite directions.

“Zach Dawson.” He shook her hand, unable to keep from comparing the kind warmth of Sophie’s gesture with the electric bolts that had shot through him when he’d grabbed Isabelle’s hand. As different as night and day. Zach always had preferred the night.

“You’re a guest at Hamilton House?” Sophie’s eyes were as sparkly as her blingy Rudolph sweater with its flashing red nose.

“I’m a friend of Bodie’s. And Sarah’s,” he added, knowing it was true. “I’m visiting while on vacation.”

“That’s wonderful. Welcome to Pine Hill.” Sophie’s smile radiated her sincerity. “Any friend of theirs is a friend of ours, right, Izzy?”

“I, uh…” Isabelle stammered, her fingers tangled in her sweater hem.

“Izzy?” Zach teased, causing her eyes to jerk to his with more death daggers shining in their depths.

“Don’t you even start with—”

Zach laughed, loving her fire. “No worries. I prefer Blondie.”

*

Isabelle cringed at the nickname. Or maybe it was how Sophie’s expression had upped its wattage at Zach’s teasing.

“Blondie?” Her sister’s curious gaze bounced back and forth between them. “You two have met before tonight?”

“I rescued her earlier this week,” Zach bragged, hooking his thumbs into his jeans pocket and looking as proud as if he’d single-handedly saved Christmas.

Sophie blinked. “Izzy had to be rescued?”

“Yeah.” Isabelle snorted at Zach. “You were a regular white knight in shining armor.”

His lopsided grin dug a dimple into his left cheek. “Glad you noticed.”

Isabelle’s heart hiccupped at the twinkle in his eyes. Oh, Saint Nick, he was gorgeo—annoying.

“Hard to miss that ego of yours.” She turned to Sophie. “No, I did not need to be rescued.”

“Don’t let her fool you. She needed my help,” he assured Sophie, then winked at Isabelle. “Not sure there will be much left of my ego by the time you’re finished with me, Blondie. You pack a punch.”

Isabelle rolled her eyes. “I think you’ll survive, soldier boy.”

Eyes huge, Sophie’s jaw dropped. “You have nicknames for each other?”

“No.” Why had she called him soldier boy?

“Yes,” Zach said at the same time with another dimpled grin.

“That is so sweet. I don’t think she has ever had a nickname other than Izzy.” Sophie’s glee was so palpable Isabelle could feel it coating her skin.

She needed to get her sister away from Zach. Pronto. Glancing around, she spotted the Butterflies.

“Oh! There’s Maybelle. I think she wants to talk to you.”

Sophie gave her a dubious look. “I was just talking to her before I came over here.”

Okay, dumb comment, but could Isabelle help it if her neurons didn’t fire when Zach was nearby? Or more like every nerve cell in her body was firing, only not in any way that made logical sense.

“Isabelle is trying to politely make an exit without breaking my heart by refusing my breakfast invitation.” Zach sighed, sounding as if he was disappointed.

“Breakfast invitation?” Sophie’s palms slapped together with giddiness.

Isabelle’s were itching to throttle Zach. He might have just met Sophie, but he’d immediately recognized her as an ally to getting his way.

“I asked her to have lunch with me tomorrow, but she has to work.” Zach made a production of shrugging his broad shoulders. “I offered breakfast, instead.”

“You didn’t need to tell Zach no because of the shop. I can manage while you’re at lunch.” Sophie’s hand flattened against her chest while she talked. “It would feel good to do something for you for once. You’re always covering for me when I zip out for one reason or another. Please go, Izzy. I insist.”

Could Isabelle just slide behind the foyer’s big Christmas tree and hide? Ugh.

Taking a deep breath, she told her sister, “You’re missing the point. I don’t want to go to lunch with Zach.”

“Yes, you do. I can tell,” Sophie assured. “Oh, Izzy, this is exciting.”

Isabelle rubbed her temple. “No, it really isn’t.”

“Lunch it is, then.” Zach’s eyes twinkled. “Shall I pick you up at eleven?”

“One,” she shot back, then realized what she’d done. She’d just agreed to go to lunch with Zach.

“One it is.”

“No, I’ll meet you at—” Not at Lou’s because there would be a crowd on a Saturday afternoon. She didn’t want anyone to see her having lunch with Zach. The Butterflies would go into a matchmaking frenzy. “How about I pack sandwiches and we walk to the park? There are picnic tables by the river where we can eat.”

“A picnic by the river?” His gaze reflected that he knew exactly why she’d made her suggestion. “Sounds romantic. Good idea.”

“That does sound romantic.” Sophie’s smile was so big it had to be hurting her face. It hurt Isabelle’s face.

She shot Zach a cool-it look but wasn’t surprised that he ignored it.

“Should I borrow a blanket from Sarah in case it’s chilly?” he asked, lips twitching.

Sophie looked as if she was going to start bouncing around like a kid on Christmas morning.

“I work at a quilt shop,” Isabelle reminded through gritted teeth. “If we need a blanket, I’ve got us covered.”

He grinned. “Pun intended.”

“Pun not intended.” Darn that lip twitch of his that made her want to touch it.

“A romantic Christmas picnic.” Sophie almost floated off the shiny hardwood floor as she happily sighed. “That is the most perfect lunch idea. I can help you pack that lovely basket Cole bought when he took me out for my birthday this summer. It’s just the right touch for a romantic picnic. You should definitely bring a blanket and spread it close to the river. The scenery is lovely, even this time of year when the only green is the pines and firs.”

Not a bad idea since if they were down by the bank, they could pick a more secluded area and not be as readily seen by anyone walking the greenway. Sophie wouldn’t let the picnic idea drop, not when she thought something was happening that totally wasn’t happening. Happily in love with Cole, Sophie was forever trying to get Isabelle to go out with this guy or that one. She’d even scooted over so Trevor Reeves could sit next to Isabelle during bible study on Wednesday evening. Her sister had been hanging out with the Butterflies too long.

“I, um, okay. A picnic by the river.” She couldn’t bring herself to say romantic.

Their picnic was nothing more than a business meeting. She really did need to talk to Zach if he was going to find her father and perhaps doing so would cool Sophie’s encouraging Trevor. He was too nice to lead on when he just didn’t excite her. Her gaze touched on Zach. That wasn’t excitement running through her. It was annoyance that he was right about them needing a business meeting.

Only, no business meeting had ever tied her nerve endings into bow ties.