Whatever We Are: A Highland Springs Romance (Whatever Series Book 3) Read online

  “So, other than baking cookies, how was your day?”

  “Okay.” She snatched oven mitts off the counter and reached into the oven. He admired her backside as she lifted another tray of cookies. “Just the usual, painting, baking, you know.”

  “That’s good.”

  “Hey, have you heard about the castle in town? Did you know the city is selling it?”

  “Sure, it’s been in the paper.”

  “Did you know Bridges has submitted an offer and at least one other who plans to tear down the building?”

  “Tear it down?” The sweet cookie turned sour in his mouth. Travis told him the other offer planned to restore the building. Did this mean there were now four offers on the building?

  “Yes, isn’t that terrible? I know whoever buys it will need to put in a lot of work, but it can’t be torn down.”

  “I agree. I’ll talk to Arthur about it if he’s there tonight.”

  “Good idea. I’ll talk to Virginia. I’m sure they would rather see the castle restored to its former glory. Don’t you think that would be best?”

  “Absolutely. Between the two of us, maybe we can convince the committee the castle’s sale needs to go to the person who will save the building and make the best use of it.”

  “I couldn’t agree more. Surely Mr. and Mrs. Claus carry some sort of clout, especially this time of year.”

  ***

  A hypnotic glow hovered over the landscape as if a flying saucer had landed two miles outside of town. Every inch of Diana and Bret’s house was covered in miniature white lights while a spotlight illuminated an antique sleigh in the front yard. Liza was just glad they had arrived safely to this winter fairyland. The roads were a sheet of ice, putting her nerves on edge. Since the wreck, she avoided driving when the roads were icy, and was so thankful for Tucker’s expert driving skills.

  “It’s a good thing there isn’t an airport nearby.” He maneuvered his truck between cars parked along the road. “The pilot might mistake this place for the runway.”

  “It looks likes Cinderella’s castle was besieged by a pack of wild, light-bearing elves.”

  “But no princess lives here.”

  “Just the wicked witch of the west.”

  “Maybe we can throw water on her.” He winked at her as he rolled into a spot in front of Brody’s SUV. He cut the engine and then turned in his seat, taking her hand in his. “Now listen, Mrs. Claus, you need to be kind to our hostess. I expect you to be on your best behavior. No snarky comments. Be the good little lady I know you to be.”

  “I will, Mr. Claus. I promise. And even though he rubs you the wrong way, you need to be polite to our host.” She smiled as she settled her white-gloved hand on his cheek. “Besides, nothing, not even Diana, can put me in a bad mood tonight. We’re going to work our Christmas magic on Arthur and Virginia to be sure the deal goes to the person who plans to save the castle.”

  “I’m glad you’re so supportive of the idea.”

  “I am. You have no idea how much I want to see the castle saved.”

  “Let’s kiss on it for good luck.”

  “Good idea.”

  Pleasant warmth surged through her as Tucker cupped his gloved hands around her face and placed a delicate kiss on her lips. He had been so sweet when she had tried to explain in a roundabout way how sorry she was for abruptly stopping their make-out session last night. He hadn’t pressured her about sleeping with him, or made her feel guilty about it, and had kept their friendship front and center.

  Tonight, she would tell him about her injury and maybe then he’d understand why she’d thrown on the brakes last night. But as the days continued without a lightning strike or a natural disaster, and knowing Tucker was behind her idea to save the castle, she had started to think maybe the Curse of Christmases Past had lifted. Maybe it was safe for her to lower her guard and give in to her feelings for him, and maybe even share her secret. She wanted more of his mind-numbing kisses, to feel his hands on her again. Maybe there was a chance he’d accept her deformity and they could move beyond friendship to something lasting.

  “Ready?” He asked with another peck.

  “Ready as I’ll ever be.”

  Diana met them at the door wearing a long, emerald, velvet gown trimmed in white crystals and a sprig of mistletoe in her hair. Since she couldn’t be the official Mrs. Claus, she obviously had chosen to dress like her younger, hotter sister. Liza caught her own reflection in the foyer mirror and grimaced at her gray curly wig, wire-rimmed glasses, and muffin cap. It wasn’t exactly her best look.

  “You’re here.” Diana threw open her arms as if they’d just arrived home from a long night of toy delivery. “Look at you—so adorable in your Christmas finery.”

  Christmas finery? Maybe a space ship had landed on Diana’s house and exchanged her for an alien life form from the eighteenth century.

  As they stepped through the foyer, she and Tucker fell silent, mouths agape with wonder. If the outside of the house was over-the-top, it couldn’t compare to the inside. The staircase was wrapped in fresh evergreen boughs and red satin ribbon. Fully-decorated Christmas trees adorned every room while festive music piped throughout the house. A cheery hum of conversation and laughter wafted toward them, shaking Liza out of her bedazzled stupor.

  “Your house is beautiful, Diana. Really.” Tucker should be proud of her sincere smile and kind compliment. The house was truly amazing.

  “Oh, Lizard, thank you. We wanted it to be extra special tonight.” Would she ever stop calling her Lizard? Liza took a deep breath while chanting inside her head, I won’t let her get to me. I won’t let her get to me.

  “Thanks for hosting,” Tucker said.

  “We’re thrilled to do it.” With her hands clasped against her chest, Diana beamed with happiness. “Everyone who’s anyone is here tonight. We have an epic turnout.”

  “Epic?”

  Tucker answered Liza’s question with a nudge to her ribs. She had promised to remain pleasant toward Diana and Bret, but epic?

  “Yes, a huge crowd. It might have something to do with Bret and I hosting and Bridges Enterprises big plans for the castle.”

  “What happened to secret, sealed bids?” Liza asked as she handed Diana her cape.

  “Oops, I guess I shouldn’t have let that one slip.” Her cousin’s fake giggle grated on her nerves as she gathered Tucker’s coat in her arms.

  “The city hasn’t decided on the fate of the castle yet.” His harsh tone surprised her. Saving the castle really was a passion of his.

  “True, but we all know they’re almost guaranteed to get it.”

  “I wouldn’t place any bets,” he grumbled as he wrapped his arm around Liza’s shoulders and led her into the party.

  Any trepidation she had felt before coming was unnecessary. She knew almost everyone there and all were in a festive mood, and with Tucker’s arm securely wrapped around her shoulder and his support of the castle, she felt invincible. After a while, they broke off on their own and she flitted from room to room, greeting all the business leaders of Highland Springs, while doing her duties without knocking over any decorations with her big, puffy dress. She found Virginia in the dining room with several ladies from the local garden club, discussing the unique arrangement of fresh mistletoe hanging over the table, tucked among the chandelier’s crystals.

  “It’s quite a lovely idea, don’t you think?” one of the women said.

  “But it makes it tough to kiss under.” Virginia’s mischievous comment started a chain reaction of giggles through the group. “Well, if it isn’t Mrs. Claus. How’re you doing, honey?”

  “Hello, Virginia, ladies. Sorry to interrupt.”

  “Oh, honey, you’re not interrupting. Don’t you look cute?”

  “Thanks.” Liza pulled a sprig of mistletoe from the chandelier and twirled it between her fingers, trying to decide the best way to bring up the castle project. She didn’t want to be obvious in her inquiries nor le
ad Virginia to believe she was expecting any special favors. She just wanted to know what her chances were of securing the property.

  “Where’s that handsome man of yours?”

  The mistletoe fell to the table as she glanced up at Virginia, flushed at the idea that Tucker was her man. “Tucker?”

  “Of course, Tucker. You got yourself another handsome man I don’t know about?”

  “No, he’s about all I can handle.”

  A collective chuckle rang out around the table. “That didn’t come out right.”

  “Oh, honey, I think it came out just right.” Virginia guffawed with a nudge to Liza’s ribs. “I see the way he looks at you.”

  “What?”

  “You can’t fool me. He’s had it bad for you for a long time. I’m just happy you finally let him catch you.”

  “Virginia, I think maybe you’ve misread—”

  “Why do you think I nominated him for Mr. Claus? I knew the time was right. You must have picked up on it because, thanks to you, he finally got his wish.”

  “Oh…you mean his wish to be Mr. Claus, right. Since I agreed to be Mrs. Claus, he finally got to do what he’s always wanted.”

  “I’m glad to hear it, honey, but he’s been crazy in love with you what seems like forever.”

  Tucker was in love with her? The blood drained from her face as a thrumming warmed her heart. Was it just the romantic notions of an old lady or could Virginia know something Liza failed to see? No doubt a strong physical attraction was growing between them, but love? He kissed her like he meant it, and last night he wanted more, but he never said anything about love.

  She looked through the doorway into the living room across the hall where he was deep in conversation with Arthur. He must have sensed her gaze because he lifted his head and gave her a quick wink before returning to his conversation. Kate had warned her they might fall in love while pretending to be a couple. The warmth spread from her heart to the tips of her fingers as she realized she was falling in love with him, too.

  “Well, honey, I’m going to mosey into the next room. I’ll see you—”

  “Wait. I wanted to talk to you.” She shook away the dreamy feelings and set her mind to the purpose of finding Virginia in the first place. “Can we talk privately for a minute?”

  “Sure, honey.”

  They moved to a quiet corner of the dining room, leaving the garden club to argue over the ingredients in the artichoke dip.

  “I wanted to ask you about the bids on the castle property.”

  “Now, you know I can’t really discuss it. No decision has been made yet.”

  “I know, and I’d never expect you to tell me something that would get you in trouble. But can you at least tell me how many offers you’ve received?”

  “Well…”

  “Are the other bidders planning to tear it down?”

  “I really—”

  “Surely, the committee wouldn’t allow that to happen. Think of the historical significance of the building. My great-grandfather built the castle and it can’t be torn down.”

  “I thought you’d know about at least one of the other bids.”

  “I know all about Bridges Enterprises’ plan to tear it down and build a gas station.”

  “Right, but—”

  “And I heard about another plan to turn the block into retail space.”

  “Yes, but—”

  “I also heard there is one other offer to restore the building, so that makes four. You know I want more than anything to win the bid and turn the building into an art gallery,” she whispered just in case the ladies hovering over the food were listening, “but if the committee doesn’t pick me, at least pick the person who plans to restore the building. More than anything I want to see it continue standing.”

  “Listen, honey,” Virginia whispered, pulling her closer. “Rest assured I’ll do everything I can to keep the castle standing right where it is.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I’m surprised you don’t know the details of the other bid.”

  “Everyone in this town has been very secretive.”

  “Hmm. Well, I’ll tell you this, but you didn’t hear it from me. That other bid you mentioned…the plan is to keep the castle intact.”

  “It’s good to know the castle has at least a fifty percent chance of standing.”

  “Odds are better than fifty percent, if you ask me.” Virginia gave her another jab to the ribs and walked away, chuckling and shaking her head. Liza felt a wave of relief that at least Virginia planned to fight for the castle’s survival, and her confidence meter went up several points knowing her plan was still in the running.

  She glanced around. The dining room had grown quiet when the other women moved on with their plates mounded with finger foods. Liza was left alone.

  So Virginia thought Tucker was in love with her. She glanced across the hallway toward the living room where he was still speaking with Arthur when a mischievous little thought prompted her to snatch another piece of mistletoe from the light fixture. She stuffed the greenery in her hand and walked toward the living room, hoping to get his attention. As she stood inside the doorway she looked him over, still focused on Arthur, his handsome face no longer hidden behind the fluffy beard, and wondered if the attraction she felt for him could be love. Lately, he was constantly on her mind and her thoughts were beyond those normal between friends. She had never even considered something more between them, but he looked so handsome. Even in his Santa suit, she wanted him in her arms now. But, if it was love, would he want her when he saw her scar? Even after eight years, it still made her cringe.

  Tucker looked up and shot her a sexy smile. She lifted the mistletoe above her head and mouthed the words, “Back porch?”

  FIFTEEN

  Liza slipped down the hallway and through the back door into a room that had once been a back porch but had been turned into a sunroom. She shook her head in amazement. Diana and Bret had only moved in a couple of weeks ago and had managed to unpack as well as decorate every room in the house, including this one. Candles glowed in each window and garland hung along the sills. At the far end of the room was an antique washstand she remembered from her grandmother’s house, now covered with framed pictures of family members past. She picked up a photo of her great-grandparents on her mother’s side, looking for any resemblance to her, Diana, or Brody. This was the couple who bought the farm and built the house in which Brody and Kate lived now.

  Along the opposite wall in front of a long row of windows sat a huge fish tank teeming with all sorts of colorful fish. Diana and Bret had even managed to turn the fish tank’s lights red and green. She picked up a can of fish food and sprinkled a generous amount, smiling at the fish as they swam to the water’s surface.

  Ongoing chatter filtered through the walls, but she heard footsteps headed her way. She quickly set down the fish food and returned to the center of the room, closing her eyes and raising the green sprig over her head. The curse seemed to have lifted and Virginia’s announcement made her decide to forget her vow of friendship. She was ready to explore the possibility they were falling in love. The door creaked open as Tucker entered the room.

  “That was more than sixty seconds, I’ll have you know.” She giggled and puckered up, anxious for his heart-stopping kiss.

  Instead of Tucker’s soft, warm lips, she encountered cold, chapped lips, pressed firmly against hers. This mouth didn’t feel like the one she’d been kissing lately. Still attached, she opened her eyes and found Bret nose-to-nose with her, eyes closed and cheeks flushed.

  “What the hell?” Her powerful shove caused him to stumble into a hand-carved nativity scene.

  “Hey, a cute lil’ elf is waiting with her lips puckered? No way am I passing that up.” Obviously drunk, Bret slurred his words and stalked toward her with his arms open wide.

  “Stay back.”

  “Oh, come on, Liza, give me another kiss. I’ve wanned to do that since hi
gh school.”

  “You kissed me back in high school and then blew it.” She picked up a flameless candle and waved it at him like a saber. “Don’t come any closer.”

  “What do you mean? How did I blow it? You were the one who missed her chance.”

  “Best decision I ever made.”

  He tripped toward her, teetering side to side. If he came much closer, she would collide with the fish tank.

  “Sure, that’s right. Didn’t wanna do it with a crowd watching.”

  “Among other things.”

  “We’re alone now. Les pick up where we left off.”

  He lurched and yanked her into his arms so quick her muffin cap flew off and her wig went askew. A strong whiff of whiskey nearly took her breath away as he engulfed her mouth in an open kiss, jamming his tongue between her lips. She pushed again with all her strength, but he wouldn’t release his hold.

  “Liza!” Diana squealed.

  “What the—?” Tucker’s voice echoed against the windows.

  She wiggled out of Bret’s vise-like embrace and swiped the back of her hand across her mouth. Diana was standing in the doorway, hurt and fury etched across her face, and Tucker stood right behind her. Diana rushed across the room and grabbed Bret by the arm, dragging him around to face her.

  “What’s going on in here?”

  “Let me splain.” Bret’s face had turned a ghostly white as he fought to stay erect.

  “Liza, how could you?” Diana redirected her wrath. She shoved Bret aside and stepped menacingly close. “You little slut.”

  “What?” Those three words echoed through her mind, sparking a memory from the night of the wreck. Just as quickly, it was gone. “What did you call me?”

  “Not satisfied with one man? You have to take mine?”

  “He came on to me.” She pointed at Bret who had taken several steps toward the door as if he planned to escape undetected. “I was expecting Tucker.”