Her Christmas Billionaire (The Joy of Christmas Series Book 1) Read online

  “I’m so glad we did,” Hannah said.

  Blake put his hand over Hannah’s hand. “Me too.”

  They stood up together. “If there is any emergency, anything at all Elsa needs, cost is no option,” Blake said.

  Doc nodded. “Let’s hope there aren’t any complications. You can go on in and see her before you leave.”

  Hannah and Blake went inside the room where Elsa was resting in what looked like some sort of incubator. She was fast asleep and her breathing seemed healthy.

  “She looks like she might be part Collie,” Hannah said. “Hard to tell until she puts some weight on and gets cleaned up. I think she couldn’t weigh more than ten pounds now.”

  “She’ll be fine,” Blake said, draping his arm across Hannah shoulder. He gave her a short squeeze. “We’ll come back in the morning and pick her up.”

  Hannah nodded. “Guess I’ll need some dog supplies to bring home to Clearview. Let me ask Pippa if there is anything special that I should get.”

  After a whirlwind trip to the feedstore, which also doubled at a pet supply store in Love Valley, Hannah and Blake arrived home, just in time for dinner. Mary was gathering her purse and keys as they walked through the door.

  “Where have you two been? You look like something the cat dragged in from a wet snowfall.” Mary asked.

  “We were down at Mystic Mountain Ranch looking around and we found an abandoned puppy. She was nearly dead! She’s at Doc Pippa’s now. Clearview has ourselves a mascot now,” Hannah said excitedly. “We bring her home tomorrow.”

  Mary’s face lit up with a surprised smile. “Is that so? We’ll does this pup have a name?”

  “We named her Elsa,” Blake said. “After the character in the fairy tale.”

  “Looks like Elsa arrived just in time for the party. I’ll be back tomorrow to set up all the buffets with you,” she said to Hannah. “I trust you’ll still be here, Blake? We couldn’t have the party without you.”

  “I’ll be here,” he said.

  “Wonderful,” Mary said. “I left dinner on the stovetop.”

  “Thanks, Mary.” Hannah smiled as Mary left. She suddenly felt alive with joy. She turned to Blake. “I’m so glad you suggested going to Mystic Ranch. Poor Elsa would be dead otherwise.”

  “I’m glad too. I think maybe some of Love Valley’s superstition is wearing off on me.”

  They walked into the kitchen together. “How so?” she asked.

  “I think Elsa was a sign, a good sign.”

  “A sign of what?”

  “A sign that I should buy Mystic Mountain Ranch.”

  “Really? Are you serious?”

  “I couldn’t be more serious,” Blake said. “Now I’m starving. Where is that dinner Mary spoke of?”

  Hannah strolled over to the stove and pulled off the lid of a simmering pot. “Looks like meatballs in marinara sauce,” she said. She removed another lid the second pot. “And spaghetti.”

  “Comfort food at its finest,” Blake said.

  Hannah took out two plates and started to serve them, while Blake set the table. Happiness bubbled inside of her. The day couldn’t have gone more perfect. She couldn’t believe Blake was considering moving to Love Valley. And now, she was the proud Mama of a little puppy named Elsa. She couldn’t imagine what tomorrow would bring. She wasn’t sure she could take anymore happy news.

  She went to bed that night dreaming of Mystic Mountain Ranch and a handsome man named Blake Bradley. They were standing at those open double doors of the ranch, arm in arm with beaming smiles on their faces. And there may have been a kiss in her dreams too as she slumbered through the night.

  Chapter Fourteen

  The next day, Hannah and Blake brought a much-improved Elsa home, who turned about to be a white border collie mix with a mixture of brown and black fur that ran from her ears to her tail. Hannah took Elsa in her bedroom, laying her down in one of her old doll beds, while Blake arranged tables and chairs in the large dining room. When she came downstairs, she helped Mary finish up any last-minute food preparations. Before long, everything was ready and everyone had gone to get dressed for the party.

  Hannah looked at herself in the full-length mirror and was pleased with the red satin dress she’d chose, a left over from her fancy holiday parties in the city. It might be a bit too formal for Clearview and Love Valley, but she was the hostess, so she decided she should be dressed up.

  She opted to wear her hair partially up and let the lower part of her long, curly hair cascade down her back. She slipped on a pair of silver pumps, a treasured pair from her favorite shop in the city that seemed to fit the festive mood.

  Although she was a country girl at heart, she still loved dressing up just like she had as a little girl. Shoes were one of her favorite guilty pleasure. A once over in the mirror left her satisfied with her outfit of choice. As she was powdering her nose before she went downstairs, a knock sounded on her bedroom door.

  “Yes?”

  “It’s me. Blake,” he said.

  She felt her insides tumble around like a sock in the dryer. After almost a week of sharing a home nearly twenty-four hours a day, Blake knocking on her door still gave her the best sort of chills. She took a deep breath and opened the door.

  Blake’s eyes widened once he got a full look at her. “Wow! That’s an Audrey Hepburn movie,” he said.

  Hannah gave him a shy smile. “Thanks,” she said. “You clean up pretty well yourself.”

  And boy did he. He was dressed in a deep grey suit that seemed cut exactly to his body; of course, it probably was a custom suit. He worse an emerald green tie that brought out the vivid green of his eyes, which were staring at her with obvious delight.

  “Thanks,” he said with a chuckle. “I have a few suits in my closet that I wear from time to time.”

  “I bet,” she said.

  “May I accompany you down stairs to receive our guests. Your guests, I mean.”

  He put his arm out and she linked hers around it. “Thank you.”

  And that was how the most amazing night of her life began.

  Only to end in disaster four hours later.

  ~

  “Promise me a dance,” Blake said as the first ring of the doorbell echoed through the foyer.

  “You got it.”

  Mary was already in the kitchen, finishing the buffet table and Charlene had stepped in as temporary bar maid by the time people started to come in in droves. Christmas music played throughout the house, while a make shift dance floor had been cleared in the music room at the back of the Inn.

  Hannah watched happily as the people she had known and loved her whole life mingled merrily, laughing, singing and dancing. It was turning out to be a much better Christmas than she had ever imagined.

  “How about that dance?”

  Blake’s deep voice was like music to her ears. Her heart skipped more than a few beats as she turned around to find his green eyes gleaming with mischief.

  “You look like the cat that swallowed the canary,” she said.

  “Do I?” he said with a feigned innocence.

  He took her hand in his and led her to the music room. “Yes. It’s your eyes. They seem to hide some secret,” she said playfully.

  “Ah, the cat eyes. They always give me away,” he said as he took her into his arms.

  They swayed to the melodic rhythms of Bing Crosby’s sweet, low voice. “You don’t mind the Christmas music?”

  “Not at all. Your beauty has captivated my attention completely. I’ve barely noticed anything or anyone else tonight,” he said swirling her around.

  “You’re not fooling me with all that elegant charm, buster. You do have a secret.”

  He laughed that deep belly laugh she’d grown to love the past week. “It’s Christmas. I may have a surprise, but I wouldn’t call it a secret.”

  He slowed their tempo and pulled her close to him. “These last few days have been some of the best of my life,” B
lake whispered in his ear. “I don’t want them to end.”

  Hannah looked up at him and the way he looked down at her, all sweetness and love was overwhelming. “Nor do I,” she whispered.

  He bent down slowly as she rose to greet him on the tips of her toes. Their lips were only inches away from-

  “Can I cut in?”

  “What?” they said in unison. Blake’s voice sounded angry. Hers was more than annoyed.

  She turned to see Clay standing next to them, with his hand out to Hannah.

  “I wasn’t…” she started, looking to Blake for help.

  “Just one dance,” Clay insisted. He gave Blake a pompous wink.

  “It’s okay, Blake. I’ll catch up with you in a bit.” She gave him a small smile, hoping he’d understand.

  Clay grabbed her and twirled her around, though the song was nowhere near a tempo for that type of dancing. “Just like old times,” Clay remarked.

  Hannah shoved her arms out to keep a safe distance between them. “I can barely remember high school,” she said. She knew she sounded peevish, but it was how she felt. Clay was still the clueless guy he was in high school. Some guys never grew up.

  “I remember you were crazy about me,” Clay said, swaying a little too much to the music. “Remember that?”

  “Not really,” Hannah said lightly. If she had been, she must have been out of her mind. “That was so long ago. We are all grown up now. I’m running the Inn and you are… what are you doing, Clay?”

  “I work for my Dad,” he said absently.

  “Oh, at the appliance store?”

  “Same one,” he said. “Hey, you want to get out of here? We can go down to the river, just like old times.”

  Hannah stopped and shook out of Clay’s grasp. “Clay, I am a hostess at this party. I can’t leave nor would I want to. Furthermore, it’s fifteen degrees outside, but even if it wasn’t, going to the river to make-out is something teenagers do, not adults. And, as long as we’re discussing it, I never went there with you. Must have been someone else. Now, please excuse me. I have to get back to my guests.”

  She tried hard not to storm away from Clay, as tempting as it was to do so. She did not want to make a scene at her own Christmas party. She snuck upstairs to check on Elsa before returning to the party. As she was coming out of her bedroom, Clay appeared in the doorway.

  She jumped, surprised. “You nearly gave me a heart attack, Clay. What are you doing up here? These rooms are off limits to party guests.”

  “I’m sorry, Hannah. I just wanted to talk to you, alone. I didn’t mean to come on so strong. I’m just really glad you’re back home. I thought we could give it another go.”

  “Sorry, Clay. I’m not interested in anything but friendship with you.” She closed the door behind her and started to move forward, but Clay blocked her path.

  “You’re not interested in that city slicker, are you? I couldn’t see you with someone like that,” Clay said.

  “Who I choose to spend my time with or date is my personal business, Clay. Now, I need to go down to the party. And you need to go downstairs. Let’s try and enjoy the party, like the old friends we are.”

  “I know you still love me. Charlene told me so,” he said.

  “What?” Hannah could hardly contain her surprise. “I don’t believe it.” She knew Clay was lying. He must be so desperate to even try that. Charlene was going to make him regret it, big time.

  “She told me all about how you’re still in love with me. And it’s a good thing, Hannah. Because I’m still in love with you.” Clay gently put his hands on either side of her face. “We belong together, Han. You always said that,” he said.

  Hannah put her hands over Clay’s. This boy wasn’t getting the message very clear. All those hits during football games must have caused some damage. She didn’t want to hurt his feelings, but she had to set him straight. “Clay, I do care about you,” she started. “But…”

  The sound of someone coming up the steps drew their attention and she turned to see Blake appear at the top of the stair landing. When he looked at them, Hannah’s hands were on top of Clay’s which were cradling her face. She knew right away it didn’t look right. She pushed away from Clay and turned to say something to Blake.

  “Sorry to interrupt,” Blake said in a clipped voice and disappeared down the staircase before she could reply.

  “Oh no,” Hannah whispered.

  Clay stared at her, the truth finally sinking in. “You love him, don’t you?” he asked.

  Hannah didn’t even hesitate in her reply. “Yes,” she said softly. “I do.”

  Afterwards, Hannah looked all over for Blake, but he seemed to have disappeared like a phantom in the night. It was long after everyone had left, long after she’d checked Blake’s room to find all his things gone, long after she had a good, long cry, that she found the surprise Blake had hinted at. Under the Christmas tree that they had decorated together only a few days ago was a wrapped present, which had a card with her name attached to it with a red bow.

  She opened the card and read it.

  Dear Hannah,

  I thought of you when I saw this angel. I know it can’t replace the one you and your Gram made together all those years ago, but I thought maybe this one could be the start new Christmas memories for the years to come. I will always remember you and the gift of Christmas you gave me.

  Merry Christmas, always.

  Love, Blake.

  As she sat on the sofa, looking at all the decorations they had put up, remembering the happiness she’d felt at Blake’s side, she felt blindsided. Why had he left so quickly? He hadn’t even given her a chance to explain. Then, she remembered what he’d told her about his late wife. He’d been hurt by betrayal before and clearly didn’t want to go through it again. If he’d only stayed, she could have told him she would never betray anyone. Especially him.

  She opened the gift and held up the beautiful Christmas angel he’d bought her, all the while her heart was breaking. She knew this card, this gift, was his final good-bye. And he wouldn’t be coming back for Mystic Mountain Ranch.

  He wouldn’t be coming back for her either.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Hannah tried to put on a happy smile as she greeted neighbors and townspeople at the Christmas Eve Festival. She wondered if she was fooling anyone; she certainly didn’t feel like it. In fact, she felt like a phony, a big pretender, which was a crime on Christmas more than any other day of the year. And she was a fraud if there ever was one. Because behind her false holiday cheer and broad smile was a heart that was breaking into a thousand pieces.

  “You okay?” she heard Charlene’s voice whisper from behind her.

  She almost burst into tears as she turned around and felt her friend’s arms come around her in a loving embrace.

  “No,” her voice quivered.

  “You will be,” Charlene whispered. “Things have a way of working out. If it’s meant to be, nothing can keep you apart. Especially here in Love Valley.”

  Hannah wiped a stray tear with her mitten clad hand. No one would mistake the light snow fall for tears on Christmas Eve. “You know that is nothing more than an old wives’ tale,” she said as she drew back. “But I appreciate what you’re trying to do.”

  Charlene kept her arm wrapped around Hannah’s shoulder. She leaned down to her ear, away from the crowds surrounding them. “It is not a tale, Hannah. Look around you.”

  As Hannah did, she was shocked by what she saw; all those people she’d seen flirting and dancing at her party, were standing hand in hand or hugging each other under the glow of the Christmas lights. All the happy couples were now together. All except one.

  She looked down at Elsa, bundled up in her own personal satchel, who seemed excited by the light show and the crowds of people. She remembered Blake finding her, freezing and covered in snow and ice. Remembered how he had pulled her out of the freezing cold hole and into his coat. Their family didn’t seem co
mplete without Blake here with them.

  “Did you know he bought toys for all the kids at the hospital and donated money to all their families to help with medical expenses?” Charlene said.

  Hannah didn’t have to ask who. “That doesn’t surprise me. He has a kind heart.”

  “I know he does. He just thought he saw you and Clay getting back together and didn’t want to get in the way.”

  “And left without an explanation or even asking me about it? Who does that?”

  “A man with a terribly broken heart, that’s who,” Charlene said.

  “I wouldn’t even be able to get a hold of him if I wanted. Not that I would ever call him. He left me. And he knows where to find me.”

  Charlene leaned her head across Hannah’s shoulder. “The day isn’t over yet.”

  “It is for me,” Hannah said.

  She gave Charlene a hug and took one last look around the square. It was time to go home. Christmas was over now. And she’d still managed to end it with a broken heart.

  ~

  “Are you sure you want to do this? Last time we jumped out of a plane, we were wearing United States uniforms and didn’t have a choice,” Nathan said to Blake, who was sitting in the cockpit next to him.

  “And jumping into enemy territory. At least this one will be a lot friendlier. I hope,” Blake said.

  “One last time, are you sure about this? And I mean about the girl.”

  “I’m one hundred and ten percent sure. I’ve got to know the truth. I couldn’t have been so wrong.”

  “Okay. Call me after you land so I know you made it. And don’t bother me again until after the New Year.”

  Blake laughed. “You got it, brother.”

  A seasoned crew member helped him check to make everything was secured as it was supposed to be. “Everything good? It’s a long drop if the chute doesn’t open,” he joked.

  “Everything good, Sir. Have a safe drop.”

  Blake didn’t hesitate one second. He did what he’d always done best in life. He jumped and hoped he landed safely on two feet. He had cat eyes after all. He couldn’t help screaming as the ice-cold air and wind braced him, reminding him he was alive and could choose to fall or choose to fly.