Almost a Christmas Bride

“Really?” Aggie chuckled. “I haven’t been there in years. But why would he ask you to be his live-in housekeeper if he’s finally serious enough about a girl to bring her to the town’s hot spot and show her off? Wouldn’t having you and Emma around cramp his style with a girlfriend?”

“Who knows how Kincaid’s mind works.” Shana crouched next to Emma as she pulled plastic containers out of a cabinet.

“When are you moving in?”

“By the weekend, I think. The apartment furniture belongs to Dixie, so I’m going to leave it for Dylan, although I may edit a little to make it more suitable for an eighteen-year-old guy. It’s pretty feminine now. I really only have clothes and Emma’s things. A few box loads, probably.”

“Kincaid’s got that big ol’ pickup, so I figure you don’t need me to help.”

“No, but thank you. Here, Emma, stack these up and put them away. We need to get going.” Shana stood. She touched Aggie’s shoulder. “I was so embarrassed for crying all over you at Thanksgiving, but maybe finally saying it out loud, putting it out there into the universe, is what made Kincaid’s offer happen.”

Aggie nodded seriously. “I’m thinking you’re right about that.”

“Because you didn’t tell him, right?”

She held up a hand. “I swear I didn’t say a word to Kincaid.” She swept Shana into her arms. “This’ll be good for you and the little one.”

Shana relaxed into her, eyes stinging. “I just want people to forget who I was before. I’ve grown up a lot since I left home, but especially this last couple of years.”

“Honey, if rumors or betting pools get started, it would be because they like you. If they didn’t, you wouldn’t be worth their time.”

Shana straightened. “I hadn’t thought about it like that.”

Aggie patted Shana’s cheek. “There you go. If you’ve got time, you could stay for lunch. The pie will be cooled enough to eat after that. And maybe Emma could take her nap here, and you could get started packing.”

Everything was happening so fast, Shana almost couldn’t take it all in. But Aggie had allayed some of her fears, and there was the excitement of the work ahead of her.

Maybe she was a late bloomer, but blooming she was—finally—and she owed it all to Landon Kincaid, a man who’d always seemed to just tolerate her. Opportunity really could come from the strangest places—or people.

Hours later, Kincaid had just pulled up in front of the Take a Lode Off Diner to meet Dylan for dinner when his cell phone rang. He glanced at the screen first, let it ring once more then answered. “I’ve been expecting your call, Aggie.”

“Oh, have you now? Why would that be?”

“I figure Shana already told you about my job offer.”

“She did. Dixie must’ve called you because I told her I was worried about Shana.”

“I promised Dixie I wouldn’t tell Shana how I learned about her situation. You’re the only other person who knows, who might guess at my motives.”

“I’ll take it to the grave, Kincaid.”

He relaxed. “Thank you. She’s proud.”

“That she is.”

“And she can get plenty angry,” he added.

Aggie laughed. “Yes, but she’s also worried about her reputation, too.”

“I’m aware of that.”

She didn’t answer immediately. “If I were you, I’d let it be known right away what’s going on. If you try to hide it at all, it’s only going to work against you in the long run.”

“Who should do the telling?”

“You, I think. You might start with Honey. Word’ll spread from there, but it won’t be malicious.”

Honey owned the diner he was about to enter. That was easy enough. “Thanks, Aggie. For everything.”

“You’re welcome.” Before she hung up, she said, “You know there’s something between the two of you, Kincaid.”

“Yeah. Animosity.”

Aggie laughed a little. “There’s that, of course, but for all that she seems like one tough cookie, she really has a tender soul. Been hurt a lot. Worked hard to recover. Independent as they come. Got it?”

“Don’t mess with her,” he said. “Yes, I got it.”

“Okay, then.”

He ended the call then put one through to Shana. “Aggie advises us to be up front about everything,” he said when she answered. “She says we should start at the Lode, with Honey. Now, I can do it myself, or you could join me and Dylan for dinner and we could sort of announce it together.”

“I’m fine with you taking on that task. If I’m there, we’ll seem like a couple.”

“Okay.” He was both relieved and apprehensive. He just wanted to get it over with. The diner was a microcosm of the town. The initial reaction would represent how everyone felt. “When will you be ready to move?”

“Friday.”

Four days from now. He wondered why she was stalling. She’d already told him she didn’t have much to pack. “How about Saturday, instead? I book as few jobs as possible on weekends.”

“Works for me. Have you lined up a date for Saturday night?”

“I’m thumbing through my black book as we speak.”

She laughed.

“Do you need boxes?” he asked.

“I’m good, thanks. I called Dixie to fill her in, but I had to leave a message and she hasn’t called back. Have you talked to her?”

“We email about the house now and then.” Not only were he and Dixie connected through business, he’d been remodeling and expanding Dixie and Joe’s house for months while they were honeymooning and working overseas.

“I’ll try her again later. Um, would you ask Dylan to call me, please?” she asked. “We can set up a time for him to stop by the apartment and see what he’d like changed to suit him.”

“Sure.” He saw Dylan pull up in his Kincaid Construction truck. “I’ll stay in touch during the week, Shana. Let me know if you need anything.”

“I’d like to see your house before I move in. Figure out what I need to buy for our bedrooms.”

“How does tomorrow evening suit you?” They finalized their plans, then he ended the call and walked to where Dylan was parking.