Trading Christmas: When Christmas Comes / The Forgetful Bride. Debbie Macomber

She decided that question was best left unanswered.

      Eleven

      Heather Springer wrapped her arms tightly around Elijah’s waist, the sound of the wind roaring in her ears. She laid her head against his muscular back and relished the feel of his firm body so close to her own. Three other Harleys, all with passengers, zoomed down the interstate on their way to the white sandy beaches of Florida.

       Try as she might, Heather couldn’t stop thinking about the bewildered look on her mother’s face when she learned Heather had made her own plans for the Christmas holidays.

       The least her mother could’ve done was let her know she was flying to Boston. It was supposed to be a big surprise—well, it definitely was that. Actually, it was more of a shock, and not a pleasant one. Heather had hoped for the proper time to tell her mother about Elijah. That opportunity, unfortunately, had been taken away from her.

       Heather sighed. She was grateful when Elijah pulled into a rest area near Daytona Beach. He climbed off the Harley and removed his helmet, shaking his head to release his long hair.

       Heather watched as the other motorcycles pulled into nearby spaces. Heather was proud that Elijah led the way in this adventure. Being with him during the holidays was thrilling, and she wasn’t about to let her stick-in-the-mud, old-fashioned mother ruin it.

       Elijah was different from any boy Heather had ever dated. The others paled by comparison, especially Ben who was traditional and frankly boring. All he thought about was school and work and getting his law degree. For once, just once, she wanted to think about something besides grades and scholarship money. She wanted to live.

       She’d met Elijah at Starbucks, and they’d struck up a conversation. That was in early October, and after meeting him everything had changed. Never before had she been in love like this. It was exciting and crazy and new. Elijah’s world was completely unlike her own, and she knew their differences were what made him so attractive. He was dark, wild, dangerous—all she’d ever craved. She wanted to share his life, share everything with him. Heather felt pleased that he was introducing her to his friends, but she’d noticed he wasn’t interested in meeting hers.That hadn’t bothered her until recently. Heather didn’t know the other bikers and their girlfriends very well, but she liked them and hoped for the chance to connect.

       “Feel that sunshine,” Elijah said. He closed his eyes and tilted his face toward the sun.

       Heather removed her own helmet and slid off the Harley. “It’s not as warm as I thought it would be.” She didn’t want to complain, but she’d assumed the temperature would be in the seventies; it was closer to the fifties. This wasn’t exactly swimming-in-the-ocean kind of weather.

       “Once we’re in the Miami Beach area you’ll be hot enough,” Elijah promised. “Until then I’ll keep you warm.” He circled her waist with his massive arms.

       She turned in his embrace, kissing him lightly.

       “I thought we’d hang out here for a while,” he murmured.

       “That sounds good to me.” Heather didn’t want to admit how much her backside ached, especially when the others didn’t seem to have any such complaint. She’d heard one of the girls comment that Heather was walking oddly and then giggle. Heather pretended not to hear. She wasn’t one of them, but she badly wanted to be. Given a chance, she’d prove herself, she vowed.

       Soon the eight of them were sprawled out on the grass. Elijah lay on his back, his head resting on Heather’s lap. She sat leaning against a palm tree.

       “You okay?” Elijah asked.

       “Of course.” She tried to make light of her feelings, rather than confess what she was really thinking.

       “You’ve been pretty quiet.”

       Heather slipped her fingers through his hair. “I suppose.”

       “I bet it’s your mother.”

       Heather sighed and realized she couldn’t hide her thoughts any longer. “She might’ve said something, you know.”

       Elijah nodded. “You couldn’t have known she was planning to fly in for Christmas.”

       Heather twirled a lock of his dark hair around her finger. “She didn’t even hint at her plans. It’s like she expected me to abandon everything just because she showed up in Boston.”

       “Parents are unreasonable.”

       “Yeah.” Still, the sick feeling in the pit of her stomach refused to go away.

       “It’s better with just you and me,” he whispered.

       Heather didn’t bother to mention that there were three other couples tagging along. In the beginning, it was supposed to be just the two of them. But as soon as word got out, several of Elijah’s friends had asked to join them. He’d agreed without discussing it with Heather. She hadn’t said anything, but she was disappointed.

       She’d had their first Christmas together all planned out. Once they reached Miami or the Keys, she’d make this Christmas as special for him as her mother had always made the holiday for her. They’d decorate a tree, sing carols on the beach and open small gifts to each other.

       Thinking about her mother depressed her.

       “You’ve got that look again,” Elijah muttered, frowning up at her.

       “Sorry.”

       “Forget about her, okay?”

       “I’m trying, but it’s hard. I wonder what she’s doing and who she’s with.” The thought of her mother all alone tugged at Heather’s heart, and despite her best efforts, she couldn’t stop feeling guilty. She steeled herself against those emotions. If anyone was to blame for this fiasco, it was her mother, not her!

       “You’ve got to let go of this, or it’ll ruin everything,” Elijah warned.

       “I know.”

       “You said you and your mother were tight.”

       “We used to be.” Heather knew that nothing would be the same again, and she was glad, she told herself fiercely. Well, maybe not glad exactly, but relieved that her mother knew about Elijah.

       “It’s time she understood that you’re your own woman and you make your own decisions.”

       Elijah was repeating the same things she’d told her mother, the same things she’d been saying to herself from the moment they left Boston. “You’re right.”

       “Of course I’m right. She can’t dictate to you anymore, you know.”

       Heather agreed in principle, but that didn’t do a thing to ease the knot in her stomach. “I’d feel better if I talked to her.”

       “You already did.”

       That was true, but Heather had lingering doubts about their conversation. She’d been shocked and angry when she’d learned her mother was in town. Everything she’d worked toward all these weeks was in danger, and she refused to let her mother ruin her plans.

       Elijah studied her, his gaze narrowed. “You’ve changed your mind, haven’t you?”

       “About what? Us?” Heather pressed her hands gently against the sides of Elijah’s bearded face and stared down at him, letting her love for him fill her eyes. “Oh, Elijah, about us? Never.” As if to prove her undying love and devotion, she lowered her mouth to his.

       Elijah was a seductive kisser, and he brought his muscular arms around her neck and half lifted his head to meet her lips. His mouth was moist and sensual and before long, any thoughts of her mother vanished completely.

       When Elijah released her, Heather kept her eyes closed and sighed softly.

       “Are you still worried about