Let it Snow Page 9

  "I don't understand, it takes a few days to make a dress, and I know you don't have a fairy God-mother…"

  "No, this dress was one she made some time ago and has used it as a store front to advertise her work. Everyone in town has admired it. But I had an idea it would fit you perfectly."

  "I'll repay you, I promise."

  He smiled, "Don't bother, it's a Christmas gift to you."

  "It's too much…" she began.

  "Not if I want to make Heather insanely jealous, now is it?" he leaned toward her.

  She stared into his eyes. "Oh well…"

  Then he kissed her and this time she was totally lost. It must have been the tender way he played with her lips, or the way he stroked her tongue with his. But she was lost in a place she never wanted to leave. She lost her breath, and her wish to keep it.

  When she pulled away, she was speechless.

  "I think Heather saw that…" He smiled into her unsuspecting face.

  That brought her back to reality fast.

  "Oh good!" She put on a fake smile and willed herself not to shake from the impact of his kiss.

  "A couple more like that, and we'll have accomplished what we set out to." He said his voice going a bit raspy as he spoke.

  A couple more like that? She'd be devastated!

  "Don't you think we should go inside now?"

  "Not when we have her going, no. Besides with the music so loud, we can dance out here and it would be much more effective."

  He took her in his arms again and they danced like some Disney movie fairy tale.

  Trying to keep things on a reality basis, she babbled about her idea of driving again.

  "I'm going to try to get my license and drive."

  He stopped in mid-step. "You are? That's fantastic, but what gave you the change of heart?"

  "Well," she crooked her head and gave him a lopsided grin. "You'll be busy with Heather soon, and me and Aunt Judy need to start taking care of ourselves. So, I'm going to get my license and drive her little bug. It's not big and this is a small town, so traffic isn't bad. I should do fine."

  "Is that a way of telling me, you don't need my help anymore?" He asked.

  "No, of course not, but you do have your own life to get on with…" She tried to be diplomatic.

  "I see, so you won't need me anymore." He asked, his eyes penetrating her.

  "Well, no…not as much at least." She suggested gently.

  He nodded, still staring. "Maybe you are right, maybe we should go in now…"

  She nodded.

  But as they went in, Heather had stopped the music and was giving thanks for all the helpers for the dance. "And I want to acknowledge someone who has never gotten quite enough credit for all he's done in our community, Mark Sutton."

  Everyone clapped and Mark looked puzzled.

  "Come on up here Mark and say a few words." Heather encouraged.

  As Mark went up, Lori felt a tear fall on her cheek. It was happening. She was losing her best friend, and the man that she had come to love. The hurt hit her right in the stomach. She moved away, and before she knew it, she was walking out of the hall and into the snow and not even bothering with her wrap.

  Tears clouded her vision and she swiped them away, but more just kept coming.

  She should have protected herself somehow. She should have known better than to play cupid, too.

  A million reprimands assaulted her thinking.

  Then she heard a car coming. She got off the roadside and onto the sidewalk.

  But it wasn't a car, it was a truck and Mark was driving.

  She tried to sniff away her tears, but it didn't work.

  He pulled his truck over and ran behind her and twirled her around. Instantly he wrapped her wrap around her. "You silly little fool. You'll catch your death in this weather."

  "I'm fine, thank you…" she snuggled against her wrap and shivered.

  "You aren't fine at all, come on, get in, I want to talk to you."

  "No thank you. I can walk." She told him not bothering to look at him.

  "In this weather, in those heels. No, Cinderella, get in the truck." He ordered and opened the door for her.

  "Alright, just take me home, please."

  "There's a perfectly good dance going on, why don't you want to be in there," he asked when he scooted behind the wheel and cast her a glance.

  "My feet hurt, I want to go home and soak them." She cried. "Besides, don't you know that Cinderella turns into a peasant at midnight, and her coach into a pumpkin."

  He jerked the truck into park on the side of the road and as the truck jerked from his quick actions, he caught her to him so she wouldn't hurt herself. When he did he pulled her into his arms. "Just shut up and kiss me."

  She started to say something, but his mouth covered hers in a kiss that went on forever. And suddenly her arms floated up and around his neck.

  She managed to pull away and murmur…."But Heather's not watching now…"

  "No kidding? Ask me if I care," He murmured as he kept kissing her all over her face, and down her neck. "It's time I told you the truth."

  She pulled away and looked into his shining eyes. "I'm not in love with Heather, and never have been. It was just an excuse to kiss you. Now do you understand?"

  Her mouth opened but nothing came out.

  "I never loved her, Lori. But from the moment I met you…" He stopped and kissed her lips tenderly. "I just knew you were the one. Judy and I cooked Heather up."

  She pulled away again and stared into his eyes, "You and my aunt, both of you?"

  "And I'd do it again."

  "You would?" She began to grin. "Why?"

  "Because from the moment I met you, I was in love and I knew I'd have a time just from the way your aunt spoke of you. You are the most loving, giving, sweetest creature I've ever met, and I wanted to give you this…"

  He pulled a little black box out of his pocket. He opened it and there inside in the velvet center was a beautiful diamond ring.

  Lori's eyes were huge now. "For me?"

  "For you and only you."

  "But Mark, this must have cost a fortune." She cried.

  He took the ring out and slipped it on her finger. "It fits. Now…say yes!"

  "Yes!" She cried and reached for him, this time planting a more than amorous kiss to his lips.

  When they were both breathless and smiling, he sobered, "Now look, we'll stay engaged for a decent three months and then we'll get married. How does that sound?"

  "Like heaven. But, what about Heather?"

  He chuckled, "She got engaged tonight to some guy her father picked out for her. She's over the moon happy, like I am now."

  "Aunt Judy knows?"

  "She's known all along."

  Lori turned to look outside, "Oh look, it's snowing."

  "Let it snow, gives me more reason to cuddle with my sweet little lady." He grinned and pulled her into his arms again.

  Two days later, Mark was walking down the street to the hardware store to get a part, and Lori came running up to him and hugged him.

  He whirled her around, threw her legs into the air, then dipped down and kissed her quite thoroughly on the mouth.

  An old woman came by and shook her head, "Right here on the street. Well, I never!"

  Mark chuckled, "I bet she hasn't either."

  When he let Lori up she had exciting news. "I just took my driver's test. And I passed!"

  He stared down into her eyes, "I knew you could do it, honey."

  "I think I've finally put it all behind me Mark. But it was you and Aunt Judy who gave me the confidence to do it." She cried.

  "I'm so proud of you. We'll have to celebrate. Say, wasn't that Sam's truck I saw over at your Aunt's?"

  "Yes, it was, they've been inseparable since the dance."

  "Well, honey, so are we. Come on, you can help me find the part, and later tonight we'll sit in front of the fire and talk about our wedding plans."

&
nbsp; "You sure know how to rush a girl."

  "You bet. I'm not letting you out of my sight."

  He kissed her again and they went inside. Lori's heart swelled with pride and love. She'd found what she'd been missing so long.

  Love!

  The End

  About the Author

  Rita Hestand is a multi-published author in several genre's. She's published in contemporary romance, historical romance, western romance, western mysteries, children's books, short stories and poetry. She's been writing for over fifty years and honing her craft.

  Like many others, she is a widow, a mother, and a grandmother. She puts her family and God first and figures everything else will follow.

  Rita's Other Books

  Series Books:

  The Travers Brothers

  The Amory's

  The McKay's

  The Armstrong's

  The Connor's

  The Western Serial Killer Series

  The Red River Valley Brides Series

  Brides of the West Series

  The Dream Catcher Series

  Her Singles:

  Nick's Bab, Pretend Mom, Strictly Business, Suspicions of the Heart, Wandering Heart, Runaway Bride, Always Remember, Jodi's Journey,