On a Snowy Night: The Christmas BasketThe Snow Bride

  “You’re not a hostage! Trust me, if I knew how to get you safely out of here, I’d do it.”

  “And I’d go, partying all the way.”

  He snorted loudly and threw open the door.

  A blast of cold air enveloped her, sending a chill up her spine and spraying the room with fresh snow. Snuggling under her blankets, all warm in bed, she’d fantasized about Reid and their kisses. The charm of those few moments had been a fluke and any lingering pleasure had best be forgotten. He slammed the door, which only seemed to emphasize her decision.

  Between tentative sips of hot coffee, she hurriedly dressed in her warmest clothes before Reid had any reason to change his mind about that phone call. No sooner was she finished than he came back into the cabin.

  “You ready?”

  “Ready,” she said, echoing his clipped tone.

  Reid hesitated. “Addy and Palmer saw me warming up the snowmobile.” He glanced at her. “It seems Jake and Pete and the two of them plan to come over here for dinner tonight.”

  “I hope you don’t expect me to do the cooking.”

  “No,” he said, disgruntled. “I’ll cook, but I wanted you to be aware of what they were planning.”

  “All right.” Frankly she’d welcome the company. It would certainly be preferable to another evening trapped inside the cabin with Mr. Personality.

  “Addy intends to bring his musical saw and Palmer plays the harmonica—and well, they’re probably all going to want to dance with you. I just thought I should give you fair warning.”

  “I’ve been duly and properly warned.”

  “Good.” He paused before opening the door. “You’d better take my arm. I know you’d rather not, but for safety reasons you should. Technically it isn’t a blizzard anymore, since the wind’s down to thirty-one miles an hour, but it’s still damn strong.”

  She slipped her arm through his and once outside, was grateful she had. Blizzard or not, the snow was thick and falling fast. The road was barely recognizable and drifts had formed against the sides of the house, stretching up toward the roofline.

  “You okay?” Reid asked as they approached the snowmobile.

  “I’m fine.”

  The pump station seemed to be half a world away. Driving slowly and carefully they made it, but Jenna could feel the tension in Reid. She didn’t reveal her own apprehensions.

  Inside the station, Reid led her into his office. The man was a constant source of contradictions. His house was an environmental disaster area, but his office couldn’t be neater. It didn’t stop there, either. He was unreasonable, demanding, bad-tempered and yet he’d kissed her with a gentleness that had practically melted her bones. He barked at her as if he was angry and then risked everything to get her to a phone so she could reassure her mother.

  The telephone line was bad. Jenna heard heavy static as she waited anxiously for the number to connect to her mother’s cell phone in California. When the first ring came, Jenna relaxed.

  “Hello,” the familiar voice said.

  “Mom, it’s Jenna.”

  “Jenna! Hello, honey! I was wondering when I’d hear from you. How’s Alaska?”

  “It’s great, Mom.” No need to worry her, Jenna decided.

  “Why didn’t you call earlier? Still, I’m glad you called now. I’m having a pedicure and you know how boring it is just to sit here.” Jenna heard a little snuffling sound and realized her mother must be baby-sitting Bam-Bam, her neighbor’s Pomeranian. Chloe found this the perfect way to have a pet—the benefits of companionship without the responsibilities of meals, vets or training.

  “Well, honey,” she said. “Tell me what’s been going on.”

  Jenna hardly knew where to start.

  “That Dalton friend of yours phoned,” her mother announced before Jenna could tell her anything.

  “Dalton called for me?” Her heart pounded crazily.

  “He sounded worried.”

  “When was that?” Jenna pressed the phone hard against her ear, straining to make out every word.

  “Oh, dear,” her mother said, sighing. “I can’t remember. You know how bad I am with details like that.”

  “Mom, I’m in Snowbound, Alaska. If Dalton phones again, tell him that right away.” She glared at Reid, defying him to challenge her. She’d find her own way out of here, since she obviously couldn’t depend on him.

  “Snowbound, Alaska,” her mother echoed. “Oh, that sounds romantic.”

  “Tell me everything Dalton said,” Jenna insisted. He might be her only chance of escape.

  “Let me think.” Jenna could hear her mother tapping her fingernail against her teeth. “Well, I don’t remember all of it, only that he was in Fairbanks and you weren’t. We talked for a few minutes. He’s very concerned about you.”

  “I’m with a man called Reid Jamison, Mom. If Dalton calls again, you tell him that, all right?” Reid stared at her, but he said nothing.

  “Sure, honey. I’ll do that. Are you having fun?”

  “Yeah, Mom. Lots of fun. I just didn’t want you to worry.”

  “Worry? Jenna, why would I do that? Well, okay, I was a little worried. But you’re perfectly capable of taking care of yourself.”

  How Jenna wished that was true.

  The line faded in and out. “Mom…Mom?”

  “I’m here. Oh, before I forget, Brad Fulton’s new secretary called asking about you, too.”

  “Brad phoned?” Jenna was hardly able to take it all in. “What did he say?” she asked eagerly.

  “Not Brad,” her mother said. “His new secretary who, if you don’t mind my saying so, isn’t worth a hill of beans compared to you. She’s the one who phoned.”

  “What did Ms. Spencer want?”

  “Apparently Mr. Fulton’s looking for you.”

  “Brad’s looking for me?”

  “According to Ms. Spencer, he wants you back.”

  Jenna bit her lower lip. She had no idea what to think—or say.

  “Is there anything you want me to tell him?” her mother asked. “Because I’m sure he’ll be contacting me himself.”

  “Oh, Mom, I don’t know.” Jenna had wasted years being infatuated with her boss. In all that time, Brad hadn’t seen her as anything other than an efficient and capable assistant, and she suspected that wasn’t going to change now. Brad viewed her the same way he would a comfortable pair of shoes. As soon as he broke in a new pair, he’d forget about her. Besides, Brad was married to his job. He didn’t need or want a wife.

  The connection started to fade. “Mom?” she shouted. “Mom?”

  “I can’t hear you. Jenna? Jenna? You’re fading out.”

  “Mom, I’m here.”

  “Oh, good, that’s better,” her mother said. “Okay, now what should I tell Dalton if he phones again? Oh, heavens, what was the name of that town?”

  “Snowbound.”

  “And you’re with some other man?”

  “Yes, Reid Jamison.”

  “My goodness, Jenna, Alaska must be some kind of state. You haven’t been there three days, and already you’ve got two men on the line. Maybe I should come up and check it out myself.”

  “Mom…no, don’t do that.”

  The line went dead. Emotionally drained, Jenna replaced the receiver.

  Reid stepped back and crossed his arms over his chest. “Who’s Brad?”

  Jenna frowned at him. “Although it’s none of your business, Mr. Fulton is my former boss.”

  He let that information sink in. “Now I know why you hooked up with Dalton,” he muttered.

  She raised her eyes to meet his. “Why?”

  “You’re in love with your boss.”

  Chapter Nine

  Chloe Lyman shook her cell phone in a desperate effort to hear her daughter. “Jenna. Jenna?”

  Alas, there was nothing but static and then a droning sound that confirmed the connection had been severed. “Oh, drat!” Chloe pushed the button to turn off her c
ell. Tucking the Pomeranian more securely under her arm, she tossed the phone inside her huge purse and sat back, trying to relax. Bam-Bam snuggled close to her side.

  “Everything all right?” Dolly, her nail tech, asked, coming into the spa room.

  “That was Jenna.”

  “Oh, you heard from her?”

  “I’m telling you, Dolly, I don’t know what’s come over that girl. It’s like she hit thirty-one and decided to dive into the deep end of the pool without any swimming lessons.”

  “Jenna? I don’t think you need to worry. She has a good head on her shoulders.”

  “Had,” Chloe corrected.

  Dolly lifted Chloe’s foot out of the swirling water and wrapped it in a fluffy white towel, propping it in her lap.

  “She hasn’t been in Alaska three days and already she’s involved with two men.”

  Dolly looked up, astonished. “Jenna?”

  “Not only that.” Chloe dropped her voice, so none of the other women in the salon would overhear. “Brad Fulton wants her back. Apparently he’s lost without her.”

  “He never appreciated everything she did.”

  “You’re absolutely right!” Chloe had been saying as much for years. Jenna had refused to listen to her suggestions for luring her boss into a romantic liaison. Unlike Jenna, Chloe had never had a problem enticing men into her bed. But then again, Jenna hadn’t gone through two husbands by age thirty.

  “Did she meet up with the man she’s been talking to on the Internet?”

  Chloe frowned as she mentally reviewed their all-too-short conversation. “No, she’s with some other guy in a town with a funny name—something like Snowdrift. For the life of me, I can’t remember what it was.”

  “Jenna’s already got two men. Wow. Alaska must be something else.”

  Chloe’s smile was slow and thoughtful. “Three men,” she reminded Dolly. “Remember Brad Fulton.”

  Dolly dried Chloe’s foot. “I think the competition will do him good.”

  Chloe nodded. “You’re right. As soon as I’m done here, I’m going to visit Mr. Fulton.”

  “I thought you were banned from the building.”

  Chloe sighed gustily. “That was an unfortunate misunderstanding. Trust me,” she said, leaning back in the comfortable chair. “He’ll be more than happy to see me—this time.”

  “Two men,” Dolly said in a dreamy voice. “I wonder if Jenna knows what to do with two men.”

  Chloe giggled. “If she’s anything like her mother, she’ll figure it out.”

  An hour later, dressed in her skimpy high heels with cotton balls between her freshly painted red toenails and the Pomeranian under her arm, Chloe Lyman clip-clopped her way through the executive lobby on the seventy-seventh floor of the Fulton Industries building.

  “I’m here to see Mr. Fulton,” she announced to the receptionist.

  “I’m sorry, we have a no-animal policy in this office building.”

  “Oh,” Chloe said, hating the other woman’s superior attitude. “Next time I’ll leave Bam-Bam at home with his mommy. But I believe Mr. Fulton will make an exception this once, especially when he learns why I’m here.”

  The woman frowned. “And your name is?”

  “Chloe Lyman.” She paused for effect. “I’m Jenna Campbell’s mother.”

  The woman’s attitude change was instantaneous. “Oh, hello…”

  “Hello,” Chloe smiled sweetly, letting her know there were no hard feelings despite her lack of welcome earlier.

  The receptionist looked around, then lowered her voice. “Everyone misses Jenna. I do hope she’s coming back soon.”

  Chloe played dumb. “I wouldn’t know about that. Do you think Mr. Fulton would be willing to see me?”

  “I’ll find out right away.” She pushed a button and spoke to Brad Fulton’s new executive assistant.

  No more than a minute later, the large double oak doors opened and an older woman bustled through. “Ms. Lyman, I believe we spoke earlier.”

  “We did,” Chloe confirmed.

  “Mr. Fulton only has a couple of minutes, but he said he’d see you.”

  Chloe hadn’t thought for an instant that he’d turn her away. “I knew he would.” She trotted after Ms. Spencer. As soon as she entered the inner sanctum, Bam-Bam growled.

  “Shh.” Chloe hushed the dog, who’d apparently taken an immediate dislike to Jenna’s former boss.

  “Ms. Lyman.” Brad stood up behind his massive desk as she entered his office. “It’s, uh, good to see you.”

  “You, too,” she responded although it was a lie. She’d never cared for this man, who appeared to be utterly blind when it came to her daughter.

  “I understand you have some information regarding Jenna.”

  “I do.” She sat down in the leather chair reserved for visitors and crossed her long legs. Bam-Bam settled nicely in her lap but kept his eyes on the evil man.

  “Is she in Alaska?”

  “Yes.”

  “Did she mention where?”

  “Oh, yes. It’s just a small town. I bought a map and looked it up before I stopped by.” She’d checked all the places beginning with “snow,” which made it easy to find. “Did you know Alaska has more than three million lakes?”

  “No,” he returned impatiently.

  “Well, it’s true,” she said with a little nod.

  As though he recognized that he wasn’t going to extract the information easily, Brad Fulton sank into his chair. He steepled his fingers beneath his chin and waited.

  This was more like it. Chloe enjoyed being the center of attention and she intended to take advantage of it.

  “Why Alaska?” Fulton asked.

  Chloe shrugged while she dug a dog cookie out of her purse and fed it to Bam-Bam. “It might have something to do with the men there.”

  “Men?”

  “My daughter is like most women her age. She wants a husband and family. She chose a state where she’d have any number of eligible men vying for her affections.”

  Fulton frowned. “Are you saying she’s involved with more than one?”

  “Apparently that’s the case. She’s already mentioned two who are interested in her.” It was gratifying to see him clench his jaw.

  “I see.”

  Chloe sighed expressively. “I don’t know if she’s chosen one over the other. We only spoke briefly.”

  Fulton stood. “Are you going to tell me where Jenna is or not?”

  Chloe fed Bam-Bam a second cookie. The Pomeranian gobbled it down, all the while keeping his gaze fixed on Fulton. “Ask and you shall receive.”

  “I’m asking.”

  Chloe smiled mysteriously…and let him wait. “Jenna’s in a little town called Snowbound,” she finally said. “Isn’t that something? Snowbound, Alaska.”

  Brad Fulton pressed the button for his secretary. “Ms. Spencer,” he thundered. “Have my private jet readied for me.”

  “Right away, sir,” the secretary’s faint voice returned.

  “You’re going after her?” Chloe was too excited to hide her feelings.

  “I need Jenna.”

  It was all she could do to keep from clapping with delight. “Bring her home, Mr. Fulton, bring my daughter home.”

  For the first time since she’d entered his office, Brad Fulton smiled. “I plan to do exactly that.”

  “Good.” With her mission accomplished, Chloe got to her feet. “Then I’ll leave you to your task.” She cuddled Bam-Bam in her arms and headed out the doors. Suddenly remembering, she said. “Oh—I believe she’s with a man named Reid Jamison.”

  Fulton wrote that down. “I’ll have her home within a couple of days.”

  “Thank you.” Chloe let him know how grateful she was. “You won’t be sorry.”

  He had that determined look about him. The last time she’d seen it, he’d had her escorted from his office. That happened the week he’d hired Jenna, but Chloe recognized it even after all thes
e years.

  “You’re aware of what Jenna wants?” She probably shouldn’t force the issue, but Chloe wanted it understood that her daughter’s demands had to be met. If he didn’t accept Jenna’s terms, then he’d be wasting his time. “My daughter is looking for a husband.”

  “Yes.” He wasn’t happy about it, but he seemed willing to comply.

  Chloe smiled and petted Bam-Bam’s head. “Don’t worry. You don’t need to call me Mom.”

  Fulton scowled. “I have no intention of calling you anything other than Ms. Lyman.”

  She didn’t let this bother her. “Whatever makes you comfortable…Brad.”

  Judging by the way his lip rose in a snarl, it might be a good idea for Chloe to make her exit. “I’ll see you soon.”

  He muttered something about anytime being much too soon, but Chloe let it pass. Fulton was going to bring Jenna home, and that was what mattered. By Christmas she’d be mother-in-law to one of the richest men in America.

  “Have a good day,” she said cordially to Gail Spencer as she tripped out of the office.

  “Oh, yes. Thank you so much for stopping by.”

  In the elevator, Chloe realized she couldn’t allow her daughter to make the most important decision of her life without her mother there to guide her. She toyed with the idea of asking Brad Fulton to take her with him. But common sense prevailed. The man had never been fond of her and he wouldn’t agree to fly her to Alaska. Especially if it meant they’d be in the same plane.

  No, Chloe was going to have to find her own way to Snowbound. Well, she could do that. She wasn’t as helpless as her five husbands—and even her daughter—assumed.

  Chloe was about to show them all.

  Chapter Ten

  Jenna kept her hand on the telephone receiver for a moment after the connection was broken. Away from her mother for three days, and already she missed her terribly.

  “You okay?” Reid asked, sounding genuinely concerned. His bad temper had disappeared the same mysterious way it’d appeared that morning.

  “I’m fine…It was just so good to speak to my mother.” She turned away, fearing she might embarrass them both by bursting into tears. Alaska was nothing like she’d expected. The snow didn’t bother her; in fact, there was a certain beauty in that. Even the blizzard hadn’t disturbed her too much. Blackie had, but she’d lived to recount the tale of her encounter with the bear.