Starry Night: A Christmas Novel Read online

  Once she refreshed her makeup, she glanced out the window and saw that the snow, which had been threatening most of the afternoon, had started to fall in thick flakes. With the holidays so close, everyone seemed preoccupied. Carrie had gotten three invitations to parties and other social events from friends. Sophie had invited Carrie to join her family for Thanksgiving. Knowing she would be alone, even Harry had extended an invite. Carrie had declined both invitations, feeling she would be an add-on. She would have her own Thanksgiving, she decided, and make the best of it by herself.

  The last time she’d seen snow she’d been with Finn and Hennessey. The reminder made her miss them both dreadfully.

  Unable to bear this silence any longer, she reached for her cell and typed out with practiced ease. Miss you.

  Almost right away she got a response. Good.

  Where have you been all day? Finn had to know she’d been anxiously waiting to hear from him.

  In the air. Still have your hot date tonight?

  In the air? That didn’t make sense—a flight to Fairbanks from his cabin was less than thirty minutes. Are you jealous?

  You bet.

  Carrie grinned, and a warm sensation came over her. It’s snowing here; makes me miss you all the more.

  I know it’s snowing in Chicago.

  You know it’s snowing?????

  Big, fat flakes.

  Carrie gasped, and her fingers moved with urgency across the tiny alphabet on her cell phone. Finn, where are you?

  Chicago.

  She hardly had time to take in the fact that Finn was in town before her phone rang. She hit the answer button so hard the cell nearly dropped out of her hands.

  “Surprise,” he whispered.

  Carrie wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. Laugh because she was so happy and excited and then weep because she had this stupid date and wouldn’t be able to see him until the end of the evening.

  “Where are you?”

  He named a local hotel about two blocks from her condo. “I know it’s crazy, my being here. I didn’t want you to be alone over Thanksgiving.”

  “I don’t care if it’s crazy or not; I’m too happy to care.” Carrie just hoped she didn’t embarrass herself when she first saw him by launching into his arms and bursting into tears. She’d dreamed about seeing him again. He hadn’t said a word that he was planning this. Not a single solitary word.

  “Do you still have to go to the theater?” he asked, and then instantly withdrew the question. “Forget I asked. Of course you do. I’ll be here at the hotel waiting, and when you get back to your apartment, let me know.”

  Her doorbell chimed, announcing Dave’s arrival. “I hope you realize this is torture,” she told Finn on her way to answer the front door.

  “For you or for me?”

  “For us both.” Carrie had no idea how she was going to get through this evening, knowing Finn was in town.

  “Go. It’ll be fine,” Finn encouraged her.

  “Okay, but you’re going to suffer for doing this to me.”

  He chuckled and ended the call.

  Carrie took a moment to compose herself before she opened the door. Dave was impeccably dressed for the evening. He really was an attractive man, but she didn’t feel even the slightest stirrings for him. Just thinking about Finn waiting for her in his hotel room had her pulse spinning at the rate of a jet engine.

  The Christmas musical they went to see, which had gotten rave reviews, didn’t hold Carrie’s attention, but to be fair, she doubted she would have appreciated anything outside of a five-alarm fire. Somehow she got through the evening, although she felt it was only fair to tell Dave that she’d met someone else. Their relationship had never really gone beyond friendship, and he took her news well.

  Straight from the theater, Dave drove her to her home and briefly parked outside the condo complex. The snow had stopped, but traffic was a mess. It went without saying that he didn’t need to see her up. She thanked him for the evening, and then before she climbed out of the car she impulsively hugged him. He’d been decent and thoughtful, and she was grateful for his friendship.

  “I hope it works with you and the other guy,” he said, and didn’t seem to have any hard feelings.

  “I do, too.” Carrie wished that more than anything.

  “He’s a lucky guy.”

  “I’ll let him know you said so.” She smiled as she said it.

  Climbing out of the car, she gathered her coat more securely around her and made a dash for the building’s entrance. Dave waited until she was inside the foyer, and Carrie waved before he drove off. The instant he was out of sight, she opened her clutch to retrieve her cell phone. Right away, she sent Finn a text.

  I’m home.

  I know.

  She glanced up to find Finn standing on the other side of the building’s glass door. For a moment, all she could do was stare at him. She shivered with the cold, but he wore no jacket. All he had on was a yellow-and-black plaid shirt, jeans, and boots. In her entire life she’d never seen a more strongly appealing man. Hurrying to the locked security door, she opened it for him. Even before he was inside, she was wrapped in his embrace.

  Carrie looped her arms around his neck, hugging him and laughing with joy. Right away, Finn swept her off her feet. With his arms around her waist, he lifted her so that her shoes dangled several inches off the ground. With her hands framing his bearded face, they kissed as if they couldn’t get enough, as if they meant to consume each other right in the center of the lobby.

  A man’s voice broke through the fog of longing and joy. “Ms. Slayton? Ms. Slayton?”

  Reluctantly, Carrie ended the kiss and looked over her shoulder to find Lester, the security guard, closely studying her.

  “You know this man?” Lester asked.

  She smiled and nodded. “Lester, this is—”

  Finn released her and stretched out his hand to the guard. “Paul. Paul Dalton.”

  “Glad to meet you, Paul. I apologize if I was rude earlier.”

  “Not a problem.”

  Carrie was curious to know what that was all about. “Let’s go upstairs,” she said, and steered Finn toward the elevator. She waited until they were inside and the doors had closed. “I’m glad you were clearheaded enough to tell him your name is Paul.”

  Finn smiled down at her “Clearheaded? You’re joking, right?”

  Carrie laughed and cuddled close to his side. They had their arms around each other. “What’s this about Lester being rude?”

  “It’s nothing. He didn’t like the idea of unsavory types hanging around the building and asked what my business was.”

  “Unsavory types?”

  “Shhh, just let me kiss you again.”

  Carrie wasn’t about to argue with him. They were completely consumed with each other when the elevator stopped on the twenty-fifth floor and the door glided open. Finn reluctantly broke off the kiss and thrust out his arm to stop the doors from closing on them.

  Using her code, Carrie let them into her apartment, wondering what Finn would think when he stepped inside the ultra-exclusive high-rise. It was a one-bedroom unit that she’d rented because of its close proximity to the newspaper office and the incredible views of the city it offered.

  Staring out the picture window, Finn stood with his back to her. “I’m a bit out of my element.”

  Wrapping her arms around him, she pressed the side of her face against his back. “I think we’re both way out of our comfort zones.”

  He chuckled and folded his rough, muscled hands over hers. “True enough.”

  “I’m so glad you’re here.”

  “It was either fly to see you or go slowly mad wondering about you and that pretty boy.”

  “You saw Dave?”

  “I saw you hug him. He’s darn lucky he didn’t try to kiss you; otherwise, I would have been forced to drag him out of that car and send him flying into the closest snowbank.”

  Carrie l
aughed at the mental picture. Dave was a pretty boy, but he wouldn’t have stood still for Finn’s he-man tactics.

  “You think I’m joking?”

  “Oh, Finn, if only you knew how close you are to my heart.”

  He turned and nearly crushed her in his arms before he slowly released her. “I’ve never been the jealous sort, but Carrie, you … you make me feel things.” Frowning, he rubbed his chest. “One kiss just before Sawyer took you away and you unbalanced my entire life. I hardly know myself any longer.”

  “Do you like having your life unbalanced?” she asked, noting how dark his face grew with the confession.

  “I don’t know. It’s never happened quite like this.”

  She kissed him, letting her lips linger over his. When she pulled away, he groaned softly. “Perhaps I could grow used to it,” he whispered.

  “I’m thinking I could as well,” she confessed.

  After a while she brewed them each a cup of coffee, and then they sat and talked away half the night. They bounced from one subject to the next as if it’d been months since they’d last spoken. It felt as if they’d known each other their entire lives. Finn talked about the second book he’d written. It was finished, but he wasn’t sure it was as good as the first one.

  “That’s a problem when a first book is such a success,” she said thoughtfully.

  “How do you mean?”

  “Well, there’s all this pressure for you to repeat the performance of the first book. That alone is intimidating enough.”

  Finn agreed. “New York keeps asking me when they can see this second manuscript, and I’ve been putting them off, although it’s been finished for quite some time.”

  “Would you like me to read it?” she asked.

  “Would you?”

  “Of course.” It was an honor that he trusted her enough to give her this opportunity.

  “You’ll be honest with me?”

  “If that’s what you want.”

  “I do.”

  With anyone else she would have doubted their sincerity, but not with Finn.

  It must have been close to three in the morning before Finn announced it was time for him to go back to his hotel. Carrie resisted the urge to ask him to stay. They both knew that it wouldn’t take much encouragement on either of their parts to convince him to spend the night. She had to go to work in the morning but would be off early. Most of the staff would be away from their desks for the Thanksgiving holiday.

  Reluctantly, Carrie walked him to the door.

  “Can I see you tomorrow?” he asked, his arms around her.

  “Please.”

  “Any more social obligations I need to know about?”

  “Nope. The entire holiday is free … well, other than church. The choir is singing. You’ll come, won’t you?”

  He frowned and then nodded.

  Carrie rewarded him with a lengthy kiss. “Church might actually do you some good, and then next week is the party.”

  He frowned again. “What party?”

  “The Christmas one Sophie and I are throwing right here. You must come, you really must.”

  He certainly didn’t look keen to join in the festivities. “The first week of December? You’ll be here, won’t you?”

  “Ah …”

  “See if you can change your flight, Finn. I need to prove to everyone that you’re real. If you think you’re the only one who’s not himself, then you’re wrong. My friends claim they hardly know me anymore.”

  “Carrie, I’ll never fit in with your life here.”

  She didn’t argue. Instead, she pressed her hand to the side of his jaw, her eyes round and pleading.

  Finn snickered softly, and Carrie knew she’d won.

  “Could I refuse you anything?” he asked.

  “Good to know.” She hugged him, fearing if they kissed again they wouldn’t be able to stop.

  He grumbled but didn’t argue.

  “I promise the rewards will be worth any discomfort.”

  “Rewards?” His dark eyes brightened.

  “Yes. We can talk about those later.”

  He left her then, and while she was practically asleep on her feet, Carrie was far too happy and excited to let go of the exquisite sensation of knowing Finn was only a couple of blocks away, and would be with her for several days.

  Chapter Eleven

  Late Wednesday morning Finn unloaded the last of the groceries into Carrie’s refrigerator. Shopping for their Thanksgiving dinner had been an experience he never wanted to repeat. While she was at the office he decided to make good use of his time and get what they needed for their meal. If ever he wanted a lesson in the differences between their lives, this was it. The trip to the grocery store had taken him hours.

  Finn knew his way around a kitchen, his father had made sure of that. But the meat he was most familiar with didn’t come from a food market. He found the selection of vegetables and fresh fruit mind-boggling. He had to admit he was impressed. It was like walking into the Garden of Eden. In Alaska, especially at this time of year, fresh fruits and vegetables were at a premium. They were available in limited quantities, but the prices were astronomical.

  He glanced at his watch. Carrie should arrive home anytime now. Just thinking about her produced a sense of lightness that he’d rarely experienced. His decision to fly to Chicago had been last-minute. If he’d been smart he would have planned this trip much earlier.

  After all Carrie had gone through in order to find him, he was determined she not be alone over Thanksgiving. She was close to her family, which was something Finn had never experienced. His father had been his only relative, though Carrie would be quick to remind him that his mother was living. But she’d been out of his life since he was a kid and he had nothing to say to her. He loved hearing Carrie talk about her family and their traditions. It made him feel good to know how deeply she valued these relationships; it was something he envied. The more he got to know Carrie, the more he cared about her. He tried to ignore the feeling that he was starting to care more for her than he should. More than was wise for either of them.

  Finn pushed those thoughts aside for now. He was determined to make this a Thanksgiving they would both remember.

  The door opened and Carrie breezed in, breathless and excited. “Finn?” she called out.

  “In here.” He had the turkey in the sink and the counter-tops lined with a variety of food.

  She rounded the corner and came to an abrupt halt, her beautiful blue eyes widening. “What in heaven’s name is this?” Not waiting for his answer, she launched herself into his arms and buried her face in his neck.

  Finn wrapped his arms around her and breathed in the fresh scent of her. In all his life, nothing had felt more right than having Carrie in his arms. If he was living in a dream world, then he never wanted to wake up. She smelled of roses and sunshine. Clinging to him, she swallowed tightly but didn’t say a word.

  “It’s our Thanksgiving dinner,” he explained, probably unnecessarily. “I plan to cook for you.”

  Her arms remained tightly clenched around his neck. “Thank you. Oh, thank you,” she whispered.

  What struck him was the fact that Carrie thanked him when he was the one who should be grateful. For an instant his throat clogged and he found it impossible to speak. He held her close and then they were kissing, so hungry for each other that breathing no longer seemed necessary. The taste, the feel, the need he had for this one woman was all the oxygen he would ever require. In a single moment all the hassles of traveling from Alaska, the crowded grocery store, and every other irritation he’d experienced evaporated. Being with Carrie was worth all of it.

  Finn realized this emotional high, this linking of their hearts, was temporary. He’d long ago accepted that their time together was destined to be limited. He tried not to think about it. One day they would both need to face reality, but it wouldn’t be this day. He hoped whatever it was they shared would last, and in the same brea
th he felt he had to accept that it probably wouldn’t. People change, and what had seemed right could suddenly go very wrong. One day Carrie was sure to wake up to their differences. Thus far they’d managed to look past the fact that they were polar opposites. As soon as she stopped, and long before he was ready to deal with letting her go, she would end their relationship. Finn had seen it often enough. His own mother had walked out on him and his father. They were a good example of what happened when a man and a woman who didn’t belong together ignored what should have been clear from the beginning.

  Gradually and with a great deal of reluctance, Finn released her. Carrie tried to hide the tears that shimmered in her eyes. Because he knew they embarrassed her, he pretended not to notice. One thing that did catch his attention, though, was the reddish marks his beard had caused on the tender skin of her face. He rubbed his hand down the sides of his jaw and felt his prickly whiskers. His thick beard offered his face protection against the bitter cold, but for Carrie he would do away with it. Fact was, he hardly remembered what he looked like without it.

  “I was thinking this was going to be the worst Thanksgiving of my life,” Carrie confessed.

  “Not on my watch,” Finn countered, and, taking her hand, he raised it to his lips and kissed the inside of her palm.

  Their Thanksgiving meal was everything Finn had hoped it would be. The turkey was cooked to perfection and the stuffing was delicious. In fact, the entire meal was the best he could remember outside of his early childhood. His mother’s cornbread stuffing had been his favorite, and he’d taken delight in wolfing it down in large quantities. Along with that long-buried memory came others, reminding him that at one point, his parents had been happy together. And then they weren’t. He knew the lessons from their marriage and divorce remained deeply engraved in his psyche, but he hadn’t minded that until now. Finn shook his head, needing to dispel the image of his parents and those early Thanksgivings. He wanted to focus on the present, here with Carrie.