A Christmas Promise by Barbara Baldwin

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Here are the first three chapters of A Christmas Promise, a 2024 Christmas release from Barbara Baldwin

Snowflakes and Kisses

Barbara Baldwin

 

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the publisher of this book

 

 

Dedication

For all my family and friends

who have shared their holiday traditions over the years.

May this holiday be the best ever.

 

 

 

Chapter 1

 

 

“Stop! Thief!”

Rem jerked upright from tying his shoe and saw Mrs. Peacock drop to a bench against the wall as a youngster grabbed her grocery bag and darted down the sidewalk. He took off and caught him by the collar within half a block, jerking him around.

“Robbie Jenkins, what the hell?” The kid was a local; a good kid as far as he knew and never in trouble of any kind. Grabbing him in a head lock, he dragged him back to where the older lady still sat.

“Are you all right, Mrs. Peacock?” he asked, easily keeping a squirming Robbie locked against his side.

She turned to look at him in surprise, then quickly glanced straight ahead. “I’m…I’m fine, Sheriff,” she said loudly. “He may have gotten my groceries, but he didn’t nab my tickets to the Winter Festival!” She held up two cardboard tickets, grinning somewhere off to his left.

“Cut! That’s a wrap!” A voice hollered from across the narrow thoroughfare.

Rem stood on the sidewalk, Mrs. Peacock grinning like a loon and Robbie struggling to get free. As he tried to process the scene, Gwendolyn, his twin sister, hurried across the street.

“Oh my gosh. That was totally unscripted but so much better than I could have written!” Gwen exclaimed when she stepped onto the sidewalk.

“What the…?” Behind his sister stood a man with a camera and a couple of other people he didn’t recognize.

“Let him go, Rem,” she said, tugging on his arm.

He kept his grip on Robbie. “He took Mrs. Peacock’s groceries,” he said but even as he spoke, he didn’t sound very convincing. His sister laughed and the others joined in. Rem could feel his face heat.

“We’re making a marketing video,” his sister said with a sigh. “Now let him go.”

Rem looked back at Mrs. Peacock who slowly nodded in agreement, a smile on her wrinkled face.

“Did I get my lines right, Gwendolyn, dear?” she asked sweetly.

“You were awesome,” Gwen answered before turning back to Rem with a brow raised.

He slowly released Robbie but latched onto his sister’s arm instead. None too gently, he tugged her away from the rest of the people clustered in front of Nobbie’s Grocery.

“What the hell, Gwen?” He spun her to face him.

“Seriously, Rem, with all your literary skills, can’t you come up with something more original?”

“Don’t push me, Gwendolyn Elizabeth Matthews. Spill it.” His twin had been the bane of his existence for thirty years and that didn’t appear to be changing anytime soon.

She pulled her stocking cap off and shook out her hair, the black curls swaying around her face. It was like looking into a mirror except for the length of her hair. The same green eyes stared back at him, the same straight nose and high cheekbones defined their Irish heritage although her features were somewhat softer than his. Unfortunately, the same stubborn chin rose in defiance.

“You know you can’t bully me, Rem, even if you are the sheriff and even less because you’re my brother. We were shooting a video for the community calendar to advertise the Winter Festival.” As head of the Chamber of Commerce, his sister went overboard sometimes to put Cherrywood on the map.

He rubbed a hand over his face. “You could have told me. I thought we were having an actually robbery.”

“Hungry for a little action?” She grinned at him and the last of the tension slid away. He had to admit being sheriff, albeit part time, in the sleepy little town of Cherrywood didn’t lead to many bragging rights at the national law enforcement conventions. The entire town had only a few thousand people; more in the summer as it was a hot beach destination on the east coast. However, once the first frost came, the tourists left and residents hunkered down for the winter. Now that December had arrived, the wind off the Long Island Sound often blew bitterly cold. So far this winter, the snow accumulation promised a brisk business for the Winter Festival with all the activities the town had planned.

“Delete that video,” he ordered as he tugged his stocking cap over his ears and turned to finally start his daily run.

“No way,” his sister called behind his back with a laugh. “Don’t forget to stop at the office and sign a release.” Her laughter followed him down the street.

Three days later, Rem almost reconsidered taking his usual route jogging. Ever since his sister had posted that stupid video, he couldn’t go anywhere without a half dozen people trying to stop him and ask if he caught a thief. He usually did a thumbs-up and kept on going because he knew they were simply having fun, even if it was at his expense.

Today he really didn’t want to run into anyone because he had things on his mind. His latest manuscript had a problem and even after talking to his editor, he couldn’t put his finger on exactly what he needed to change. Many times, a good run would clear his mind and help him refocus.

He slowed as he trotted down the steps from the park to the beach. There was snow in town and on the sea grass that sloped down to the beach, but at the bottom of the steps the snow disappeared, and he hit soft sand. He slowed further until he got to the packed sand at the water’s edge and then kicked into a slow run. Out of habit, he glanced up to the ocean front houses he passed, all sitting on the rise above the beach. He knew which were empty for the winter and what residents stayed in Cherrywood all year round. His parents’ house sat about a mile further down the beach where a pier ran from the shrubs out almost half a mile into the water. He couldn’t make out the house from where he ran, as the trees they had planted yearly were finally the height for camouflage, even if they were bare of leaves at the moment. Except for college and his stint in the Marines, Cherrywood had always been his home and even now, he lived in the carriage house on his parents’ property.

 His parents were okay as parents went and left him to his own devices except for Sunday dinner, a requirement unless he had a doctor’s excuse. His father, though retired now, had been an attorney for forty years but had never hassled Rem about his own path through the law. His mother, on the other hand, embraced the job of mothers worldwide, which meant nagging him to get married and have babies.

Why doesn’t she nag Gwen for babies, he muttered to himself. He was perfectly content with his life, even if it rather lacked in the romance department at the moment. That might be the one drawback to living in a small town.

He narrowed his gaze to a figure jogging along the water some twenty yards ahead of him. Not many people ventured forth when the temperature dropped to the forties, and he seldom encountered anyone midday. That made him curious. Besides, even from this distance he could tell the runner was female. Her long legs ate up the distance and a long ponytail of auburn hair swung behind her. He picked up his pace.

***

Ah, vacation. Finally, Erin thought as she inserted her ear buds, turned on her playlist and started jogging along the hard packed sand that edged the beach by the town of Cherrywood, Connecticut. She had chosen Cherrywood for her two-weeks vacation because it was an out of the way small town and they were having a winter festival with a craft market; the type of thing she loved. Other than that, she wasn’t really looking for excitement. In fact, after this last year of intense work and a broken relationship, she wanted nothing more than to sleep in, read a good book and enjoy great seafood.

As a confidential investigator for the Hartford District Attorney, she had been working a case for the past year and at times had wondered if it would ever end. But she prided herself in being able to find that one computer link that led to unraveling an entire conspiracy, in this case within the Copper and Teller Company, one of the largest, privately owned technology and software companies in the state.

The DA had gotten wind of possible wrongdoing within the company, and as with almost any technology enterprise, they always worried about deep cyber crime or even something of national security proportions. Erin’s job as an investigator focused on computers. Both an analyst and an expert hacker, she had investigated the company in depth, unearthing both fraud and embezzlement but within the company and not against competitors. That meant charges could be made at the state level. Once she had turned in her reports, the DA’s office would take the next steps and they didn’t involve her at all. Thank goodness.

She reached up to increase the volume of her music, letting her thoughts clear as the soulful sounds of John Legend soothed her. She raised her face to the warm sun, momentarily closing her eyes and sucking in a deep breath of crisp, salt-tinged air. As she opened her eyes, a movement off to the side caused her to stop short and whip around. She hadn’t noticed anyone coming up behind her and now a man stopped only a step or two beyond her. She immediately took a defensive stance; arms bent, and weight balanced on her left foot, her right poised to kick.

He held one palm out in a placating gesture as he grabbed his knit hat off his head.

She sucked in a breath. He was the perfect portrait—silhouetted by the blue sky, frozen in time on a windblown beach with angry waves crashing at his back. His spiky black hair framed a face far too handsome, even with a shadow of beard on his chiseled chin. He was straight out of her most vivid dreams. She pulled out her ear buds and reached up to the phone strapped to her bicep, never taking her gaze off him.

“Are you Poseidon’s daughter, come from the sea to wreck heartache on mortal man?” His deep voice only added to his sexy image.

Her eyes widened and she pinched her mouth shut trying to show disapproval. And then he smiled, and it made her laugh.

“Does that line work?” she asked as she relaxed her stance.

“I can’t say as I rarely if ever meet anyone while running on this beach, especially in this weather.” His grin grew.

“Yet suddenly here I am,” she said, deciding in that moment his intense green gaze held honesty and inspired trust. She pulled a mitten off and put out her hand. “I’m Erin Thomas.”

“Rem,” he stammered, jerking off a glove to enclose her hand in his. His warmth raced straight up her arm. When she tilted her head in question, he clarified. “Remington Matthews.” A gust of wind stirred the sand at their feet, and she shivered.

“Front’s coming through and the temps will be dropping as the day goes on instead of warming. I’d suggest we carry this conversation up the trail and back into town to the coffee shop.”

A little fast, she thought warily as she took a step back, then another as he reached in his back pocket, but he pulled out his wallet and flashed a sheriff’s badge.

Her brows rose. “Well, that trumps my job,” she stated.

He shot her another grin and she decided to take a chance.

She shrugged. “Lead the way.” She started jogging in place as she pulled her mitten back on.

He pointed to the left where railroad tie steps led back up to the edge of town and they took off together. When they got to the steps, he waved her ahead of him. Erin knew he watched her as she ran up the steps but then she was used to people, especially men, watching every move she made. She worked in a field still predominately run by men. Though getting better, the classes she taught at UCONN were still also mostly men. They questioned her knowledge, then they questioned her femininity, assuming any female who spent so much time alone on a computer must not have estrogen running through her veins. She gave an extra wiggle of her butt as she crested the hill. She definitely was all female and the man behind her had jacked her estrogen levels to an all time high.

He came abreast of her and they slowed to a walk. She caught a landscape view of Main Street as they came to the end street of town. A picture postcard, similar to many of the beach resort towns along the coast, yet it had a charm of its own. The store fronts were all painted in pastels – peach and turquoise, yellow and pale pink. Hand painted signs proclaimed “Nobbie’s Grocery”, “Nelson’s Pharmacy”, “Barbie’s Bakery”, just to name a few, and her personal favorite “Mirabelle’s B&B”, where she happened to be staying. Built on a hill that overlooked the harbor, small houses, a church or two and some other community buildings rose in neat rows behind the main street. It had been just the place she needed to get away for vacation and try to figure out her life after Alex.

Rem stopped in front of a store in the middle of the block and pulled the door open for her. The rich smell of coffee wafted across the warm air as they entered.

“Shut the door, sheriff,” someone yelled. “Don’t you know it’s winter?”

“Sit closer to the back, George,” Rem said with a laugh as he slapped an older man on the back as they passed.

“So, you didn’t get that badge out of a cereal box?” Erin asked as they approached the counter.

“I did, but don’t tell them,” he whispered. “What’ll you have?”

“Vanilla latte.”

“You heard her, Trudy,” he said to the girl behind the counter, “and I’ll take a caramel brulee latte.” He saw her smile and added, “What?”

“You must come here often to know the specialty drinks.”

He shrugged, grabbing the two drinks and heading to a table off to the side. She looked to the cashier because he hadn’t paid but she just grinned and shook her head.

He shrugged out of his vest and jacket and pulled the cap from his head. The long-sleeved jersey he wore hugged his muscles and trunk. Apparently, his running regime kept him very fit. A day-old scruff framed his grin and his green eyes sparkled when he caught her giving him the once over and she gave a mental shrug. Quid pro quo.

She continued to stare at him when he smiled, wondering why he looked so familiar. And then it struck her. “You’re Remington Matthews.”

He looked confused. “Yes, I introduced myself on the beach.”

“No, I mean you’re the Remington Matthews; the writer.” She had read his book on small town law enforcement, and she had totally obsessed over his cover jacket photo.

He seemed nonplused that she recognized him. “What exactly are you referring to?”

“Small Town Justice,” she said the title, wondering if he had written more than one book. “I work for the District Attorney and while not a lawyer, I read just about anything having to do with the law because it does indirectly relate to my work. However, I have a bone to pick with you. Not to sound sexist, but why were all the people you interviewed male? Don’t you think women can shoot guns, capture criminals and dispense law edicts?”

He chuckled. “Are you always this prickly, Ms. Thomas?”

She felt heat burn up her neck and into her cheeks. He was right, of course. She shouldn’t project attributes on him when she didn’t know him at all. Yet looking across the table at him as he sipped his coffee, she thought she would like to get to know him better.

“Call me Erin, and I apologize. I live in a world dominated by men and even though we…women…are making strides, it sometimes seems we move backward rather than forward.”

He nodded before she had even finished. “I have a sister and a very feminist mother so believe me when I say I try to keep the sexist tendencies to a minimum. However, I hear what you’re saying, and not just because my sister says the same. Unfortunately, there simply aren’t any small-town police or sheriff departments run by women.” He leaned closer, his gaze potent as it traveled over her face. “But I want you to know, personally I love women. I love their intelligence and their abilities and wish I had the opportunity to work with them more often.”

She wasn’t sure how to take his words. Although she found him attractive, it would be disappointing if he were a player. Deciding their conversation had gotten too personal, she searched for a generic subject.

“Does being sheriff of such a small town keep you very busy?”

“I actually work for the county and I’m only part time. I don’t have regular hours but am more of an on-call employee. If anything major should happen, knock on wood, the district sheriff department is called in. Besides, this town pretty much polices itself. Everybody knows everybody else and their business, so if anything out of the ordinary happens, you can bet someone notices and reports it.” He took another sip of coffee, studying her over the rim of his cup. “For example, my mother probably already knows that I’m having coffee with a pretty lady. She’ll ask my sister, who runs the Chamber, who it is, and since my sister won’t know, she’ll come looking for me within half an hour.”

“So, you’re originally from here?”

“Born and raised. My folks have a house up the beach from where we ran earlier.” A cell pinged and he reached in his front pocket, scanned the text and turned it to her.

“New record for my sister.” He didn’t seem all that upset by a nosy family. He quickly replied to the text then put his phone down. “I apologize for that but if I didn’t answer, she would be here in five minutes. I told her it was business, so she’ll stay away. Now, enough about me. What’s your story, Erin Thomas, who works for the District Attorney?”

She didn’t know what to tell him as her own family background was practically non-existent. She decided to stick to the very basics.

“I’m a computer analyst.”

“What does that have to do with the DA?”

She shook her head. “There’s hardly a crime committed anymore that doesn’t involve computer technology. My job is to research and document that part of a case so the DA’s office can focus on the other parts of a crime.”

“Impressive,” he said. “Since Cherrywood doesn’t have a courthouse, you probably aren’t here on business.”

“Vacation, actually. I recently finished a huge case so decided to take much needed time off.”

“How did you happen to pick Cherrywood? We’re not a ski resort and there’s not a mall within a hundred miles.”

When she narrowed her gaze at his comment, it only made him grin. “Come on. I’m not being sexist, I just know my sister. You can be as feminist as you want but I bet you still like to shop.”

With a laugh she agreed. “I love to shop, but I really like unique boutiques and craft festivals. That’s one of the reasons I came here. I looked for winter festivals on the internet and Cherrywood came up.”

His phone pinged again and when he glanced at it, he frowned. “I’m afraid I have to go, although I don’t want to.” He paused. “May I take you to dinner? Where are you staying?”

She hesitated to tell him. She hadn’t come here for a quick connect, but he was very attractive and intelligent and perhaps they might find something in common if they saw each other again.

Such a lie. She did a mental eye roll. She totally wanted to connect with the handsome sheriff. Besides, she seriously didn’t know what she would do with herself for the next two weeks.

He stood, putting on his outer garments, his gaze intent on her as he waited for her answer. She didn’t want to sound too easy.

“I’d like to see your small-town network in action. If you can find out where I’m staying in, say…the next three hours, I’ll buy you dinner.”

He tugged on his ski cap and gave her a wink. “You’re on.”

She watched him stop at the cashier’s counter and pay for their drinks before leaving, not looking back at her once. She leisurely finished her latte before leaving, grabbing a couple of brochures from the tourist kiosk by the door on her way out. Her thoughts were on the sheriff and she wondered if her vacation destination might become a little more interesting than she originally thought.

When she walked into her room at the Bed & Breakfast, a flashing light on the room phone answered that question.

“This is Rem. I’ll pick you up at seven.”

She looked at her watch. It had only taken him twenty minutes to find her. Small towns; you gotta love ‘em.

 

***

 

He didn’t believe in love at first sight, but he did believe in love, although some days he impatiently waited for the right woman to come along. Almost as if the gods heard him, he was bumped from behind at the bar. He turned just in time to catch her as she, too, had been pushed by the crowd.

“I’m so sorry,” she drawled, grabbing his arms to keep from falling. Her voice dripped with Georgia charm. Wide brown eyes looked up at him from a sun kissed face with a sprinkle of freckles across her nose. He had always loved freckles.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

“Yes, but I’m afraid my shoe has been forfeit.” She lifted a long, slender leg and removed a broken heel from a dainty foot, revealing sparkly pink painted toes.

He was a goner for sure.

 

Erin’s phone alarm rang, and she jumped, slamming her book shut and dropping it to the bed. With a sigh, she stood, giving a last, longing glance at the latest romance novel by her favorite author. Reading romance was her guilty pleasure and it had been severely limited over the past year, so she anxiously wanted to catch up. She had just started this one and always loved that first meeting between hero and heroine.

Now though, she had her own meeting to attend. She hurried into the bathroom to give a last check to her makeup. She touched up her lipstick, thinking that at least she was giving up her fictional hero for a real-life handsome guy.

 

 

Chapter 2

 

 

Rem paced the front parlor of the B&B. Should he have Maribelle call up to her room? Why hadn’t he thought to get her cell number this morning? Why the hell was he nervous?

“Hello.”

He turned at her voice and couldn’t help his mouth from dropping open. She wore a clingy purple sweater dress, black knit tights and ankle boots. All afternoon he wondered if he had imagined her beauty and her open smile. Her witty comments rushed through his mind and he realized he’d found someone he wanted to get to know better. Now if he just didn’t muck it up. When she stared at him questioningly, he rushed over to take her coat from over her arm and held it out for her.

“Am I dressed wrong?” she questioned, slipping her arms into the red wool.

He finally found his tongue. “Absolutely not, but I’m having a hard time imagining you as a computer guru.”

“Why?” She turned back to face him, pulling her long curls out from the collar of her coat.

“Because you look soft and cuddle-able.”

“Cuddle-able? Is that a word?”

“If not, it should be.” He tugged the lapels of her coat closed and concentrated on closing the large black buttons down the front. When she didn’t reply, he slowly raised his head to see her gaze steady on his.

“I’ll have to look it up.” Her voice, soft and sexy, had a crazy effect on him.

He took a breath. “Shall we go?” He put a hand to the small of her back but didn’t miss her quick look of disappointment. His game tonight was one of anticipation and now he knew she felt it as much as he did.

On a normal night they could have walked to the restaurant, but the evening had turned colder. He had left his truck running and she murmured in appreciation when he handed her up and closed the door.

“I thought we’d go to Sammy’s on the pier,” he said as he pulled out. “Do you like seafood?”

“I didn’t come to the seashore to sunbathe at this time of year,” she said with a laugh.

He threw her a quick all-over look but refrained from asking her to come back in July so he could see her in a bikini. Even his look seemed to embarrass her as evidenced by her tugging her dress down.

The middle of the week meant the restaurant wasn’t busy and they were seated immediately at a table by the windows which overlooked the harbor. After ordering drinks, Rem looked over to see Erin staring out the window.

“By the weekend, all the harbor boats will be decorated for the holidays.” When she didn’t immediately answer, he expounded. “The town celebrates Christmas all month. Something is going on almost every day.”

She did look back then, her lovely brow pulled down in a frown. “Why does this feel like an awkward first date?”

“I’m sorry if I’ve made you uncomfortable.”

She glanced out the window then back at him. “It’s not you. I don’t normally do blind dates.”

“It’s not a blind date. We introduced ourselves on the beach. We had coffee.”

A soft scoff. “Like six hours ago.”

“That’s almost speed dating.” His comment drew a small smile. “Erin, what can I do to help?”

She nibbled on her bottom lip.

“Do you want me to call my mom? She’s my best character reference.”

She finally smiled. “You are impossible.”

The waitress came back, and they spent a minute deciding on food. As soon as she left, Rem picked up on her earlier statement.

“If you don’t blind date, are you on a dating AP or do the bar scene? How do you…you know…” He waved a hand in a circle. For all his literary background, he was at a loss for words with her.

“Hook up? Connect?” She shrugged. “It hasn’t been necessary for quite a while.”

He frowned. He didn’t trespass. “You’re in a relationship? Is that why you’re uncomfortable having dinner with another guy?” Then it hit him. “Any guy?” His radar couldn’t be that off.

This time she laughed out loud, and her eyes lit up. “Oh my god. You have quite the imagination. The answer is no, no, no.” She kept laughing.

Their appetizer of calamari came, and she dipped one into the sauce and ate it before she spoke again.

“I don’t usually talk about myself; especially with a guy.”

“Ah, you subscribe to the get-a-guy-to-talk-about-himself-because-it-makes-him-feel- important philosophy?”

“Are you writing a book?”

He choked on his drink. Grabbing his napkin, he wiped his chin.

She covered her face with her hands. “I’m a mess,” she said when she finally looked at him. “Can we start over?” At his look, she put out her hand. “Hi, I’m Erin Thomas, visiting your unique town for the first time.”

Her gaze locked with his and what he saw startled him. Because of his sister, he had more knowledge of the female psyche than he wanted. It wasn’t nerves or wariness he saw but rather insecurity, like she couldn’t understand why he might be interested in her. He had to admit her looks were stellar, but he more appreciated her wit and the conversation they had shared. He realized if he wanted to get to know the real Erin Thomas, he’d have to go slow.

“My friends call me Rem,” he replied, taking her hand in his. When she started to pull back, he put his other hand on top. Her hand was soft and warm, and he didn’t want to let her go. “I’m very, very pleased to meet you.”

He would have continued holding her hand if the waitress hadn’t brought their salads and hot rolls. She began to relax as they ate, and he casually told her about the Winter Festival that would commence that weekend and continue throughout the month of December.

“How’s the salmon?” she asked as she twirled noodles from her shrimp fettuccini onto her fork.

“The best you’ll find around here. Want a bite?” He scooped some up and leaned forward to feed it to her. Her tongue licked her lips and his stomach dropped.

“May I ask you about your book?” she asked.

“Book?” he squeaked, his gaze still on her lips.

“Small Town Justice.”

He nodded dumbly, mentally kicking himself. Get your head in the game.

“Almost all the people you interviewed said the most important attribute for small town law enforcement was compassion. Do you agree?”

“Definitely. Our town has no crime, so we don’t have to be hard asses.”

“None?”

“Not in the true sense of the word. We have squabbles and disagreements, fender benders and accidents. But most of the people here are lifetime residents and have known each other forever. That’s where the compassion comes in. Sometimes all it takes is a third party to listen.”

Their waitress set the check down by his elbow, but Erin grabbed it before Rem even had a look.

“Why do they always do that?” she asked as she dug her credit card out of her purse.

“Because the man always pays when he takes a beautiful woman to dinner.” His comment brought a scowl.

“That is so last century.” She rolled her eyes. “Besides, that was not our agreement.” She signed the check and tucked the receipt and her card back in her clutch.

He stood and held out her coat. For some reason, she was uncomfortable in a dating role and he had to wonder about her past relationships. Yet another secret to unravel about Erin Thomas.

The trip back to the B&B was entirely too short and Rem thought about taking her on a drive up to his place as the sky view from there was spectacular. Then his cell pinged and, always on duty, he pulled up the text.

“Compassion duty?” she asked with a smile.

“The pool hall is having a tournament and Matt, the bartender, is worried things might get a bit rowdy so wants me to stop by.” That gave him an idea. “Do you play pool?”

She shook her head.

Not discouraged, he continued asking questions as he walked her up the steps to the porch at the B&B. “You’re here for awhile, aren’t you?”

“For two whole weeks,” she replied quickly then blushed. He hoped her rapid response meant she wanted to see him again.

She turned at the door but wouldn’t quite meet his gaze. He didn’t know why she remained somewhat awkward and skittish and the last thing he wanted to do was scare her off. While he couldn’t deny the attraction he felt, he knew better than to act on it. He reached around her to open the door, his lips close to her ear. “Thank you for dinner.” He nudged her inside. “Next time is my treat.”

 

***

 

He looked at her, his gaze full of desire and her stomach dropped.

Did she want what he silently offered? She hadn’t been in a relationship for a long time and her last hadn’t ended well. Could she do a weekend fling because she knew he wasn’t asking for a lifetime. They might not even be compatible, sexually. As he leaned toward her, her gaze dropped to his lips and she desperately wanted to find out.

 

Erin dropped the book onto the bed, feeling dissatisfied and out of sorts. All she could think about was that Rem had not kissed her. Was that bad or had he just been a gentleman? And had she even wanted him to kiss her? Maybe he wasn’t interested in her after her crazy behavior. Yet he had said there would be a next time. She stared at the book cover, two half naked entwined bodies, and tried to envision her and Rem in a lover’s embrace. Would he be tender and gentle like the hero, or would he be quick and fast and not worry about her pleasure as had been the case with her last relationship?

She frowned, having told herself she would not think about the last three years that had ended so badly. Six months had since gone by, but that’s all she had thought of, which was yet another reason why she had taken vacation. If she could get out of the city and away from their usual haunts, she thought she could forget her crushing disappointment.

There had been no other woman, no workaholic syndrome; no gambling, drinking or drugs. There had been simply…nothing. She and Alex had fallen into a relationship during grad school, moved in together and proceeded to live their lives, somewhat together but not really. One morning she had woken up with a tremendous desire for more. She just didn’t know more of what until she saw a plaque in a little boutique.

“It’s never too late to live happily ever after.”

She had bought the plaque, packed up her things and told Alex goodbye, realizing the rightness of her actions when he didn’t even argue with her.

She got up and grabbed a bottle of water off the dresser, swigging several gulps. She wondered how Rem’s kiss would taste; how he would feel pressed against her. She fell back on the bed, her head bumping the headboard. If he hadn’t gotten a duty call, would he have kissed her, or done more? She didn’t even know whether she wanted another man in her life.

Liar.

She was a woman in her prime with very energetic hormones. She accepted that but she had never been one to sleep around. The sheriff’s image popped back into her head. He had looked so right in his black trousers and mint vee-neck sweater tonight. Was it sleeping around if it lasted for two weeks? Although she thought Rem had felt the same electricity as she had, she hesitated to make the first move.

She snuggled into the covers and reached for her book. For now, she would have to settle for her fictional hero. He knew just what buttons to push; how to be an alpha male without being dominating, and when to show his gentle side.

 

She handed him her key and he unlocked the door to her hotel

suite. It hadn’t completely shut behind her before he had her against

the wall, tugging her shirt over her head and taking her mouth in a

deep kiss. He touched her everywhere, but with a gentleness that

made her feel special; cherished. While she could feel he was ready

for more by the way his hips ground into hers, he took his time to

bring her to a fever pitch.

Then he picked her up and carried her into the bedroom.

***

Erin came down for breakfast to a room of laughing guests. Maribelle pointed her to an empty chair and once seated, poured her coffee and put a plate of breakfast in front of her. Not normally chatty before her second cup of coffee, she tried to ignore the conversations around the table, only answering when directly spoken to. The other guests were groups of two; all here for the Winter Festival, which officially started today with the polar bear plunge.

“You seriously are going to run into the water in this weather?” she asked the young man sitting to her right. When she had opened her curtains that morning a light snow was falling.

“We’ve done it before in Boston,” said another. “After the first jolt, your body is numb, and you don’t feel a thing.”

“You don’t feel because you’ve downed a bottle of whiskey beforehand,” replied the one who had started the conversation.

Erin couldn’t remember ever being that young and stupid, but realized she wasn’t any older than those sitting around the table. God, when had she turned into an old fuddy-dud? As she listened to their discussion of where to get a bottle or two of liquor before the beach party, she realized where she might find Rem today. That made her feel instantly better. She had kicked herself for not getting his cell number at the coffee shop. He said he didn’t even have an office and although he told her his parents had a house facing the beach, so did a few dozen other people. At least he had known where to find her.

The other couples left, and Erin poured herself a second cup of coffee. She could hear Maribelle in the kitchen and the TV in the front room. She tilted her head, noticing it ran a local community channel and took her coffee cup into the next room. She had left her brochures upstairs so maybe she could get today’s rundown if they showed a calendar.

“Stop! Thief!”

Her head jerked to the television as a familiar figure ran across the screen. In the next thirty seconds, she went from stupefied to hysterical laughter so loud Maribelle rushed in from the kitchen.

“Erin, what on earth?” She patted her back because she was choking on her coffee. “Are you all right?”

Erin nodded, then shook her head, tears running down her face. All she could do was point to the TV screen.

“Oh, that’s Gwen Matthews, the head of our Chamber of Commerce.” She looked at her strangely and Erin could only guess what she thought.

Erin jerked her gaze back to the TV. The commercial was over, and a pretty woman smiled as she gave information about the Winter Festival and the upcoming events.

“Sorry. There was a commercial that…” She had no words to explain.

It was Maribelle’s turn to laugh. “A total fluke; Gwen getting her brother in the commercial like that. But he’s been a good sport about it.”

Erin’s heart did a little thump. Remington Matthews was handsome and had a sense of humor, but his comments and Maribelle’s about his sister gave her a lot of insight into his personality, which was far more important. She might have to change her mind about what she expected during her stay at Cherrywood.

 

 

Chapter 3

 

 

Rem dropped his duffle in the sand near the guard tower, hoping he had everything he needed for the day. Of all the Winter Festival activities the town provided, he hated the polar bear plunge. It never failed that some idiot would go too far into the water, drink too much beforehand, or try some other crazy stunt that would get him in trouble. His bag contained a thermos of hot coffee, several towels and an extra running suit, gloves and the like in case he had to make a rescue.

He scanned the crowd that already formed around the bonfire. He and the rest of the volunteer fire department had built the fire with a rock perimeter that kept people back yet let the fire burn large enough to provide warmth for chilled plungers. The only fire permitted on the beach, they made sure everyone knew it. Off to the left at the edge of the sea grass were several port-a-potties and a dozen or more canvas changing tents. Further down to the right, a concession would make a killing on the tourist trade because no one ever thought to bring warm drinks or food.

Making money was the main purpose of the festival anyway and it put Cherrywood on the winter tourism map, a good and bad thing, depending on one’s point of view. As sheriff and a member of the volunteer fire department, it meant a month of havoc, mishaps and parties. There were usually no catastrophes, but they all were basically on duty twenty-four seven for the entire month. With a sigh, he mentally begged for patience as another group of rowdy people stumbled down the path and dumped their pile of whatnot on an open spot closer to the water.

“Rem!”

He turned as someone called his name, but seeing his sister, Gwen, he didn’t get too excited, until he saw who walked beside her. Erin. She had infiltrated his brain last night, turning normal dreams into hot sexual fantasies. His grin widened as they came to a stop in front of him.

“Nice that you’re glad to see me,” Gwen said with a snort.

“Huh?” Rem jerked his attention from Erin to his sister, who had an all-knowing smirk on her face. How could these two possibly know each other?

“I stopped at the Chamber office for some information,” Erin unknowingly answered his question.

Okay, that was innocent enough, Rem thought…until his sister spoke.

“We had the nicest conversation,” she drawled sweetly.

“Gwendolyn.” He dragged out the syllables of her name, letting her know he didn’t like whatever she had told Erin.

“Oh, please.” She rolled her eyes. “You didn’t think it would stay a secret, did you?” Before he could ask exactly what was a secret, she reached up and kissed his cheek. “Gotta get this show on the road.” She turned to leave, lifting a megaphone and blaring over the crowd. “Thirty minutes, folks. If you haven’t registered, get on over to the concession stand.”

“Don’t tell me you plan on participating in this madness,” Erin asked once his sister took her broadcast further down the beach.

 “I’m on duty today.”

“I see that now,” she nodded, taking in his camo knit hat and matching down jacket, both with the sheriff emblem visible. As he watched, her smile grew, and she began giggling. “Too bad you didn’t wear that for your…screen debut.” The last bubbled out in a burst of laughter before she put a mittened hand over her mouth.

He cringed. “Damn.”

She grabbed a handful of his jacket. “I’m sorry, Rem. I shouldn’t have laughed but you were so…so cute and confused. It was adorable.” Her eyes twinkled with humor and he decided he could handle being adorable in her eyes.

He shook his head. “My sister gets me into more trouble.” As he spoke, they heard Gwen’s call to post, now at ten minutes, with a new notice.

“If you get in trouble, ladies, we have our handsome and available fire department and sheriff waiting to come to your assistance.” A cheer went up from the crowd and Erin shouted just as loudly at his side.

 He smiled down at her. Today she wore a red down jacket, red ski pants and snow boots. At least she knew how to dress for the cold. He lifted a hand to brush snow off her hair which was uncovered except for a knit headband. “You need your head covered.” He bent to dig through his duffle but when he lifted the blue and white knit cap to put it on her she grabbed his wrist.

“I can’t wear Yale blue,” she said indignantly, pointing to the white Y at the front.

“It’s a warm cap.”

“I’m not a traitor,” she said with complete seriousness.

“What are you?”

“UCONN all the way.”

He flipped the cap inside out so the Y disappeared and quickly tugged it onto her head. “I’m the sheriff and if you don’t obey the rules, you’ll have to suffer the consequences.”

Her eyes opened with surprise and she sucked in her bottom lip. “What conseq—”

He growled. “Don’t ask because there’s no way I can show you with this crowd.” He gave her a wolfish grin.

“Five minutes,” Gwen’s shout through the megaphone had everybody scrambling.

He pointed to the guard tower. “Come up with me. I need a view of the shallows.” Together they climbed the steps and took a position at the front rail of the small wooden shack. He dropped his bag after digging his binoculars and walkie-talkie out, which he handed to her. “Chances are I won’t need those, but who knows.”

“I still can’t believe people actually run into the water in this temperature?”

Light snow fell again though the temperature was warmer now than it had been that morning. He quickly checked his phone.

“The ocean temp is in the forties, as is the air temperature at the moment. Most people don’t stay in more than a minute or two, then rush back to the fire.”

“I hear hesitation in your voice,” she said.

“The problem isn’t always the air or water temperature. We’ve had heart attacks, leg cramps and non-swimmers getting caught up in an undertow.”

“Oh my god. And the town keeps doing it?”

He understood her concerns as they mirrored his own, but every year he’d been overruled when the committee meetings started. “Everybody has to sign a waiver and read a whole list of requirements, but you know human nature as well as I do. If they want to do it, they’ll do it. The incentive is that they pay an entry fee with the chance of a five-hundred-dollar prize drawing.”

“And the town makes money.” Her voice held accusation.

“Actually, in this case the money goes in a special needs fund.”

He watched the participants lining up behind the ribbon that had been strung across the sand. Spectators stood in clusters all around him, the bonfire and along the edge of the corridor for the plungers. He surveyed the crowd with the binoculars and saw several members of the fire department posted throughout the crowd, as well as many of Gwen’s festival committee in florescent green vests. He breathed in relief. They were as prepared as they could be.

Gwen shouted a countdown into the megaphone, a whistle blew, and everyone started screaming encouragement as a few hundred people raced toward the water. He heard Erin shout beside him, but his total focus remained on the participants. He scanned back and forth continually, never taking his gaze off the swimmers that were out the furthest.

“Matt, two down on the edge at quadrant one,” he reported into the walkie-talkie. He watched as Matt helped a couple regain their footing, having been jostled by the crowd. The minute they were upright, they plunged ahead into the frigid water.

Erin jerked on his sleeve. “Rem, I think I see a dolphin.” He could see her point out of his peripheral vision.

“I can’t look, babe, but dolphins are never spotted this far north in December.” He focused on a lone swimmer, farther out than was wise. “Tom, can you see the guy in quad four?” Prior to the event, the team had divided the swim area into quadrants for easier identification in circumstances just like this.

“Negative,” Tom answered. “The waves past the breakwater are hampering my view. He is past the breakwater, isn’t he?”

“Yeah,” Rem muttered. He glanced at his watch. Three minutes in and that guy has at least five of swimming to get back to shore. Even as he watched, the man started flailing. He locked the walkie-talkie on and set it on the railing as he started peeling off his clothes.

“Attention all units. Trouble in quad four. Find Gwendolyn and get her to the tower with her megaphone. Tom, he’s straight out from you. I’ll be right behind you.”

He turned to Erin as he grabbed the buoy from the wall and slid the rope over his head and shoulder. Her eyes were wide with fear which he didn’t have time to calm. “When Gwen gets here, have her broadcast the guy’s location over and over so Tom and I can know which way to go. Got it?”

She started to shake her head, but then nodded instead. “Okay, but be careful.”

“I’ll be fine. That’s why I wore my wetsuit.” He didn’t have time for more, hurrying down the stairs and running along the edge of the crowd to the water’s edge, not stopping as he stumbled into the surf until it finally tripped him up and he dove. Even with the wetsuit his feet and hands were bare, and the water was biting. He tried to stay to the side away from the people who were struggling back to the shore.

It wasn’t long before he heard Gwen’s voice over the megaphone.

“Tom, left.” She shouted across the water. “Rem, straight on.”

When he bobbed above the next wave, he could see Tom not far ahead of him.

“Rem, right. Right! He went under!” his sister screamed, and he quickly adjusted his strokes. Another wave hit and something bumped against his leg. He and Tom grabbed at the same time and pulled the guy’s head up. He gasped in a breath. Rem got him to latch onto the buoy and together he and Tom towed him back to shore.

They were met by the medics who immediately hustled the guy to the ambulance. Rem dropped to his knees in the sand, pulling back his hood as a blanket was draped over his shoulders. He looked up to see Erin grab a towel from his bag and start briskly rubbing his hair dry. The crowds were being held back by the festival committee and soon dispersed on their own once the excitement was over.

“Are you okay?” Erin fell to her knees in front of him, still rubbing his hair. “You’re shivering.” She tucked the blanket closer around him.

“Adrenaline,” he said, but she heard his voice crack.

“Here; drink this.” She lifted the thermos cup to his lips, and he downed gulps of coffee.

“Rem, let’s get you to the station and have Marlene check you out. Tom has already left with the medics.”

He looked up to Becky, one of the EMT’s. “I’m fine.”

She shook her head. “Protocol,” she replied then smiled. “That you wrote.”

Rem didn’t want to leave Erin alone on the beach. This wasn’t how he thought the day would go although he should have known because it never failed that some idiot would get in trouble.

“Come on, brother.” Gwen grabbed him under the arm and Becky grabbed the other and he stood, realizing he was a bit wobbly. Together they walked up the beach to where Becky’s SUV waited. “I’ll take care of Erin,” Gwen whispered as he climbed into the back seat. Louder she said, “We’ll collect your gear. See ya later.” As Becky drove him away, he looked back to see the two women walking away, arm in arm, but Erin looked sadly back at him.

***

“That was the worst, craziest thing I’ve ever witnessed,” Erin stated emphatically as Gwen tugged her back down the hill toward the bonfire. She didn’t hold back, even if her new friend happened to be the one in charge.

“It wasn’t that bad,” Gwen said. “From a PR standpoint, it was very exciting.” At Erin’s look, she put up a hand. “I know, I know. Rem has the same objections every year. I may have to come up with something different.”

They walked back to where someone had already collected Rem’s stuff and left it at the base of the guard tower. Gwen started stuffing things in the duffle and Erin climbed the stairs and grabbed his walkie-talkie, binoculars and the clothes he had jerked off. She brought his sweater to her face, inhaling deeply. She had only had dinner with the guy. Why the panic over whether he was all right? The woodsy scent invaded her senses and calmed her nerves. Maybe she hoped for another dinner. She grinned as she tramped down the stairs. Maybe she hoped for a kiss, or two.

“So now what?” she asked Gwen. When she had met Rem’s sister at the Chamber office that morning, they had instantly clicked. Over coffee, they had exchanged backgrounds, which were admittedly different, but they had very similar ideologies.

“I have to stay here, of course,” Gwen said now. “As part of the festival committee and head of the Chamber, I have to be visible all the time.” She grinned. “At least I love all the activities.”

Erin looked about as Gwen did. Although the plunge had finished, the beach still overflowed with tourists, enjoying the bonfire and snacks from the concession stand. It would have been more fun with Rem.

As though reading her thoughts, Gwen said, “Rem only has to be checked out by the EMT. You know, make sure his core temp is normal and he didn’t get frozen fingers or…other body parts.” She laughed and Erin blushed. She was far too outspoken, especially about her brother. In their discussion at the coffee shop, she had pumped Erin for details about their dinner date. The fact she knew about the date shouldn’t have surprised Erin, but regardless of the small-town network, she wasn’t about to reveal any juicy details. Ha, not that there were any.

“He’ll call you when he can get away.”

Erin frowned. Again she wondered how they had neglected to exchange numbers. Tamping down her embarrassment, she stopped Gwen from turning away. “Um, I never got around to asking for his number.”

Gwen looked really surprised. “My brother, prom and homecoming king, captain of the basketball team, not getting a number from the new girl in town? Oh, I can’t wait to lay this on him.”

“Does he ever pay you back for all the hassle you give him?”

She shrugged. “He usually suffers in silence.” She tapped a text into her phone and Erin heard her own cell ping. “I’m only giving you his number because he’s the sheriff and you might be in trouble. Right?” Her grin was back.

“You know one day he’s going to royally have your ass?” 

Gwen laughed. “As my new friend, will you have my back?”

Erin shook her head. “No way would I get in the middle of that.”

“I guess you’re right,” Gwen agreed. She gave her a quick hug and jogged away, leaving Erin on her own for however long it took for her to gather the nerve to text Rem.

***

“Are you all right, son?” Eugene Matthews asked when Rem came out of the changing room and sat in the fire house lounge to put on his wool socks and boots. Several hours after Becky had checked him out and he’d sufficiently warmed up, he had called his dad to bring him some clean clothes, but not to tell his mother what had happened. “Your mother’s worried.”

He shook his head. “I told you not to say anything.”

His dad chuckled. “You know her. The minute my phone rang, she saw who it was and wouldn’t quit asking questions.”

“Tell her I’m fine,” he mumbled as he pulled a tee shirt over his head, followed by his favorite Yale sweatshirt. He grinned as he recalled Erin’s comments. He couldn’t wait to find her again, but that thought brought a frown.

“What?” His dad noticed. He might be retired, but he was still perceptive as hell. “Is it about that woman you took to dinner last night?”

He laughed. There was no help for it. “Have you been talking to Gwen?”

His dad joined his laughter. “You know I don’t interfere with your personal life. Your mother’s a different story. She said you should bring her to dinner Sunday.”

“Dad, I just met her. We had dinner; that’s all.” And not even a kiss, although it hadn’t kept him from hoping to correct that as soon as possible.

“Don’t shoot the messenger.”

“I didn’t get her number.” His father was the only one to whom he would ever admit such a thing.

“Call Gwen. She knows everyone in town.”

“Seriously, dad?”

He chuckled. “Shouldn’t she owe you after that commercial you did?”

“You would think, but somehow I always end up with the short end of the stick.”

“Stand up to her.”

This made him laugh out loud. “Come on, Dad. You’re as bad as I am; with Gwen and Mom.”

His dad gave a sigh. “True, true. Remember Rem, they deserve our love and protection, even when they don’t think they need it. Especially when they don’t think they deserve it.”

Eugene Matthews had always been a role model for Rem, not only in how he had conducted his legal dealings, but especially how he treated his family. Rem hoped he did as well.

He stuffed his wetsuit into a trash bag for his dad to take home. It had been his saving grace today. His fingers and toes still tingled slightly from exposure, but Becky had said there was no lasting damage. They hadn’t heard about the kid they’d pulled out as he’d be taken on to the county hospital, but Tom was upstairs resting. Rem was too restless to think about lying down.

They walked out together to where his dad had parked, and Rem threw the bag in the back seat. He gave his dad a hug, thanked him again for the clothes and promised he’d be at dinner tomorrow. He didn’t promise Erin would be with him.

He had turned toward his truck when his phone pinged. He didn’t recognize the number but smiled at the message.

If you phoned my room, I’m not there. E.T.

So she wouldn’t come out and say she wanted to see him, he thought, but she did want him to know she was available. In this case, he didn’t mind being the pursuer. He saved the contact then texted her back.

Meet me at the Snack Shack, in ten.

He parked his truck around the corner from the main street café called the Snack Shack. He was gratified by the huge smile that lit her face when he walked in. The minute he sat down opposite her, she reached across and grabbed his hand.

“You’re here,” she said on a breath, like she couldn’t believe he’d survived.

He squeezed her hands. “I’m fine, Erin.”

He dug in his coat pocket and tossed a candy bag at her. She looked at it in confusion.

“Your message was basically phone home E.T.”

“Uh, that’s because those are my initials. What did you think I meant?”

“Come on. You’ve never see the movie E.T.?” Now he was confused. “It’s a classic, even if it was made before we were born.”

“I haven’t seen it, but I do love Reese’s Pieces^®. Thanks.”

She laughed. It was soft and sexy, exactly how he remembered, and he wondered if he could get her to laugh while making love to her. He mentally bit his tongue, reminding himself to take it slow. Regardless of her happiness to see him, she held some part of herself back.

“Hey, Remington.” The voice jerked his attention from Erin to the waitress. He groaned, having forgotten Joyce worked at the café. “You haven’t been in for some time now. What have you been doing?”

“Joyce, hey.” He looked at Erin. “Do you know what you want?”

Erin quirked a brow. She appeared to know exactly why his voice sounded strained but decided to rescue him anyway. “Hamburger, well done with fries. No onion or pickle. Oh, and iced tea, please.” She gave Joyce such a sweet smile, Rem had to cough to cover his laugh.

“Make it two,” Rem said, “but add a bowl of chili to mine.”

Joyce didn’t immediately leave but when Rem didn’t expound on her earlier question, she finally walked away with a huff. His gaze followed her but when he looked back, he found Erin grinning across the table at him.

“Note to self: don’t date locally,” he said with a self-deprecating smile.

Her eyes widen. “Is that why you hit on me?”

“No! Christ,” he muttered and rubbed a hand down his face only to hear her laugh. “You only spend part of one day with my sister, but you zing me just like she does.”

“I like your sister,” she said, which didn’t bode well for him. “She told me all your secrets.”

Rem felt his anger rise until he saw her roll her eyes and her lips quirked. He shook a finger in her direction.

“What?” she asked innocently when he didn’t say anything.

“I can’t think of a good comeback, damn it.” He chuckled. “But don’t worry. I’ll get you back. You just won’t know when.” He enjoyed the look of interest in her gaze and knew payback wouldn’t be some snappy verbal comeback. No, there were so many other ways to retaliate.

 Continued......

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