A Holiday Prayer

One young man, dressed most appropriately as a rooster; was crowing loudly and shaking his tail feathers in wild abandon. The music did sound rather like a clucking chicken.

She felt a small rumble building deep in her chest, growing promptly into full-fledged laughter. She clapped a hand over her mouth to keep from appearing rude.

But not to stem the flow of laughter. It felt so good—better even than whirling around on the dance floor. She felt like leaping up and shaking her own tail feathers.

Laughter scoured her insides clean. Maybe she’d get really brave and find a partner for one last dance.

“That chicken is really something.” The rich, soft, unmistakable baritone came from behind her, next to her ear. Her Phantom was back.

Her heart leapt into her throat, her head buzzing with excitement and the purely female thrill of attracting a handsome man. Not once, but twice. “Yes, he is, isn’t he?”

The Phantom chuckled. “I meant the music. It’s called ‘The Chicken.’ I guess ‘cause it sounds like a chicken clucking.”

Maddie grinned. “I noticed.”

“What do you say we get out of here for a while?” he whispered.

It had been a few years, but his words sounded distinctly like a come-on. She cocked her eyebrow. “Out?”

He grinned and held up his hands as if to ward off her unspoken accusation. “Just out for a breath of air and some peace and quiet. That’s all. I promise. Promise.”

“Oh, but they’re going to unmask at midnight!” she protested, though it sounded weak, even to her. She was being worn down, and his wink told her that he knew it. But she really did want to dance again before she left. Desperately.

“Never fear. We’ll be back before then. Come on, let’s get some air.”

Maddie cast one last disappointed glance at the dance floor, then shrugged. It wouldn’t hurt to leave for a few minutes. And he’d promised to be back before they unmasked. She hoped they’d have one more dance together before the night ended.

He led her to the door and assisted her with her coat. “I’ve got a surprise for you.”

“Surprise?” she repeated lamely, and then wondered at the wisdom of following an unknown man onto the streets of downtown Denver. A woman couldn’t be too careful. And she was no innocent child.

She searched his eyes for some sign of his intentions, but found only a gleam of humor lurking in their black depths. He wasn’t giving anything away.

At least not yet. But he wasn’t the least bit threatening.

He raised a questioning eyebrow over the top of the mask.

The decision was hers. She glanced back into the ballroom and the safety it represented.

The Phantom stood patiently, arms crossed over his thick chest and a half smile lingering on his lips. She had the niggling impression that he sensed the dilemma she was working through and was certain of the outcome.

She stood undecided for a moment more, knowing what she would do and waiting for the rational part of her brain to call her an impulsive fool. She instinctively trusted her Phantom. He was strong, but gentle. If she were going to gamble with her safety, she would bet on this man.

She nodded slowly. “All right. Let’s go.”

A gust of crisp Christmas air hit them as they stepped out of the hotel, causing Maddie’s lungs to burn. It was a pleasant sensation, she decided. She carefully watched her steps on the icy pavement. Glass slippers weren’t exactly winter weather gear, and she found herself wishing she’d worn her thick leather snow boots.

She slipped and giggled. The Phantom quickly clasped her arm, but not fast enough to keep her from sliding unceremoniously to the ground in a heap. The picture of herself in a satin dress and snow boots sent her into another fit of giggles.

It felt good. Very good.

“Your surprise…” the Phantom reminded her.

He reached a hand to help her to her feet, then pointed at the curb. Her heart pounded as she got her first hint of the Phantom’s scheme, which was at that moment stomping its impatience into the pavement. She clapped a hand over her mouth and exclaimed in delight over the slick white horse-drawn carriage, complete with a liveried driver.

“Oh, it’s lovely!” she exclaimed as he settled her on the seat and wrapped a wool blanket around her legs. “But aren’t we going to freeze?”

The Phantom chuckled and draped an arm around her shoulders. “No chance of that. We’ll just take a short ride down the 16th Street Mall. Have you seen the Christmas lights yet? They’re gorgeous this time of night”

Maddie shook her head. This was truly a night she would remember for a long time to come. If she believed in fairy tales, she’d think she stepped right into one. Even the crisp air couldn’t dull the heat warming her cheeks.

Motioning for the driver to stop, her Phantom gestured at the forty-three-foot Christmas tree in Larimer Square, the largest to be found in Denver.

“Didn’t I tell you it was beautiful?” he whispered, his breath fanning her cheek.

She turned her face toward him, expecting him to be watching the Christmas display, hoping to be able to study his masked face. His eyes met hers, and she suddenly realized that he’d been watching her, seeing the wonders of Christmas in downtown Denver through her, sharing in her delight

Her breath mingled with his, their lips only inches apart. His dark, intense gaze probed hers. It would take only the merest action on her part…just a shimmer of movement and their lips would meet.

Dragging in a breath, she turned away. How could she even consider…? But she had. She did. Guilt ripped through her like a rudder blade on the snow.

She had no right. And even less sense.

“Drive on,” her Phantom commanded, leaning back in the seat. She was afraid to look at him, afraid of what she would see in his eyes.

If only he would take that blasted mask off and she could see him as a real human being instead of the larger-than-life Phantom of the Opera. It was just that fairy-tale feeling again, getting the best of her. He was only a man underneath that mask. A plain, ordinary man. Maybe even disguising some hidden flaw.

The corner of her lips quivered into a smile.

“A penny for your thoughts,” he whispered. On the inside of her wrist, he planted a tiny kiss that radiated heat up the entire length of her arm.

She tried to ignore the sensation. “As if I’d sell them so cheap.”

The Phantom lifted an eyebrow. He was intrigued by this bright-eyed Cinderella, more so than he wanted to put a value to. “A million dollars, then.”

She stiffened.

“What? What did I say?” He’d been teasing, but by the look on her face, he could tell he’d said the wrong thing. She went as hot and then cold as a kitchen tap.

“Nothing.”

Nothing. No more than she had told him all evening. And why should it matter? He wasn’t in the market for a relationship. He should be glad she wasn’t pressing him.

But he wasn’t glad.

Who was this woman? He’d been stretching his mind for the answer, but the mask continued to throw him. He’d seen her somewhere—he knew he had.

But how to coax her from her shell? Flattery didn’t work. With a teasing lilt to his voice, he appealed. “Tell me your name.”