The Clause in Christmas Read online

  Love always hopes and always perseveres.

  Words that had never held more meaning.

  The coffee maker beeped, signaling the end of the brew cycle.

  Startled from her reverie, Cassie gasped, and Luke spun around, smiling when he saw her.

  “Good morning, sleepyhead.”

  “Good morning.” Cassie blushed as Luke poured her a cup, and she accepted it gratefully. “Thanks.” Inhaling the nutty aroma, she suddenly missed Frank.

  Luke seemed to notice. “It’s not the same, is it?”

  “No,” Cassie admitted, taking a sip. The locally roasted coffee she used to love now lacked flavor and body. She imagined every cup of coffee would dull in comparison to Frank’s from now on.

  “Well, don’t worry. We’ll be home soon.”

  Cassie’s skin tingled at his words. “I can’t wait.”

  Their eyes locked over the rims of their mugs and the tingles turned to shivers down her spine. With a single glance, he made her forget how to breathe.

  Luke cleared his throat. “But there’s something we have to do before we leave town.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I called Dolores this morning.” His hazel eyes sparkled as he took a sip of coffee.

  “And?”

  “I asked her to look up today’s activity on the Christmas Calendar.”

  Cassie’s heartbeat skittered in anticipation. “What is it?”

  “Perform an Act of Service. And I have the perfect idea.”

  Cassie smiled, barely stopping herself from kissing him on the spot. Of course, Luke had the perfect idea.

  “There’s a nonprofit down the street that serves meals to homeless veterans,” Luke told her. “If we get ready quickly, we still have time to help with breakfast.”

  “Sounds perfect.” Downing the rest of her coffee, Cassie set her empty mug in the sink.

  “One more thing.” Luke set his mug on the counter and reached into his back pocket. He withdrew Cassie’s necklace, holding it out to her. “I found this on the living room floor.”

  Cassie stared at it a moment, then taking it from Luke’s hand, she strode to the garbage can. Without a word, she stepped on the foot pedal that popped the lid and dropped the necklace inside.

  As if she’d sent some silent signal, Luke’s arms were around her waist, pulling her against him.

  Their lips met with a breathless blend of urgency and tenderness.

  Standing barefoot on the cracked linoleum in her cramped kitchen, with tangled hair and coffee breath, was not how she’d envisioned their next kiss.

  But Cassie didn’t care.

  She slipped her arms around his neck, her fingers finding their home in the hair at the nape of his neck.

  As far as Cassie was concerned, everything about the kiss was exactly as it should be.

  Because it was with Luke.

  Luke tried to concentrate as they served pancakes and sausage links at The Forgotten Heroes Homeless Shelter. But in truth, he was still reeling from kissing Cassie. She turned him inside out, satisfying his soul, yet making him crave more. Even now, dressed in a hairnet and latex gloves, she set his pulse on edge.

  “Luke.” Cassie turned to him, a teasing smile tugging at her lips. “Bert claims the coffee here is the best in the city.”

  “That’s a pretty lofty claim.” Luke turned his attention to the scruffy veteran who’d returned for a second serving of flapjacks. “Are you sure about that, Bert?”

  “I’d stake my life on it.” The old man placed his hand over his heart.

  “In that case, I’ll have to give it a try.” Cassie grabbed a small paper cup from the stack, and pumped a thimble-sized amount from the air pot.

  “Come on. You gotta have more than that,” Bert insisted. “I promise. Best coffee on the west coast.”

  “Whoa! The entire west coast, huh? We’re really raising the bar.” Luke laughed as Cassie filled her cup to the brim.

  Luke watched with a fond smile as Cassie brought the rim to her lips, recalling the very first moment he saw her—the moment that changed everything. Amused, he wondered if she’d spit this coffee out, too.

  Cassie’s eyebrows lowered in hesitancy as she took a sip. But as the liquid touched the tip of her tongue, her head jerked up in surprise.

  “See?” Bert nodded, a grin stretched across his weather-worn face. “I told you.”

  “It’s that good, Cass?” Luke asked, still a bit skeptical.

  “Not only that…” Cassie said slowly, taking another sip. Her eyes met Luke’s with a look of confusion. “It’s familiar.”

  “What do you mean ‘familiar’?”

  Cassie stared into the cup as though studying its contents for a clue. “I… I think I roasted this coffee.”

  Luke frowned. “How is that possible?”

  Cassie handed him the paper cup. “I don’t know, but taste it. It’s my blend. The first one I made with Frank.”

  “Are you sure?” Luke tasted the sultry liquid, rolling it around in his mouth before swallowing. His palate wasn’t nearly as refined as Cassie’s, but it did taste vaguely familiar. And unbelievably delicious.

  “Bert,” Cassie smiled at the old man, “do you know where this coffee comes from?”

  He shrugged. “No idea. It’s here every morning, that’s all I know.”

  “Will you excuse us for a minute?” she asked, grabbing Luke’s hand.

  Bert nodded, apparently content to return to his breakfast before it got cold.

  Excitement illuminating her face, Cassie tugged Luke toward the kitchen.

  Breathless, Cassie pushed through the swinging double doors leading into the kitchen.

  “You don’t really think it could be…” Luke trailed off, following close behind her.

  Cassie’s eyes dazzled with the possibilities as she glanced over her shoulder. “I’m not sure. But it would make sense, wouldn’t it? Frank never did tell me what he does with all the coffee he roasts.”

  Luke seemed to consider this as they paused in the chaos of the breakfast cleanup.

  “Excuse me,” Cassie addressed one of the volunteers. “Can I speak to whoever’s in charge of the kitchen?”

  The boy pointed to an older woman dressed in a white smock and hairnet. “That’s Deb.”

  “Thanks.” Cassie’s pulse raced as they approached the woman checking off an inventory sheet on a clipboard.

  She glanced up with a friendly smile. “Can I help you?”

  “I hope so.” Cassie snapped off the latex gloves, stuffing them in her back pocket. “I’m wondering who your coffee supplier is.”

  “It’s good, isn’t it?” Deb said proudly. “But I’m afraid I don’t know. It’s an anonymous donation that gets shipped to us every two weeks.”

  Cassie’s heart sank. She’d been so hopeful a moment ago. “Well, thanks anyway.” Turning to go, a sudden idea struck her. Whirling back around, she asked, “Do you still have one of the shipping boxes?”

  “I think so. But I don’t know if it will do you any good. No name or company is listed on the return address. Only a PO box.”

  Cassie smiled, trying to calm the excited butterflies rollicking in her stomach. “Is it okay if we take a look?”

  “Sure.” Deb led them to the storage room, gesturing to a plain cardboard box resting on the shelf. “There you go. Let me know if you find anything. I’d love to thank whoever it is. The vets rave about the coffee here. And I’m pretty sure it’s partially responsible for bringing a lot of them in off the street.”

  Hearing that warmed Cassie’s heart, and she teared up. To hide her emotions, she concentrated on pulling the box off the shelf.

  “Thanks,” Luke told Deb. “We won’t be long.”

  Cassie heard the squeak of Deb’s white sneakers against the slick linoleum as she left them in the storage room. But she couldn’t tear her gaze from the shipping label.

  The town beneath the PO box blurred as tears filled Cass
ie’s eyes.

  Poppy Creek, CA.

  Luke slid his arm around her shoulders. “It’s Frank, isn’t it?” he asked softly.

  Cassie nodded, unable to speak past the lump in her throat. Taking a few deep breaths, she murmured, “It’s so like him, you know.” She sniffled, dabbing her damp cheek with her sleeve. “To do something like this and not tell anyone.”

  “Are you going to tell Deb?”

  “No. It’s not my secret to share.” Cassie sighed. “Plus, while he’s come a long way, I don’t think we’ve fully cracked his shell yet.”

  Luke squeezed her upper arm. “Something tells me you’re not going to give up until you do.”

  Cassie laughed as she wiped away a stray tear. “It’s the Poppy Creek way, after all.”

  Love always hopes and always perseveres.

  Chapter 30

  Cassie knocked on Frank’s front door, smiling to herself as she adjusted the box of baking supplies in her arm. So many things had come full circle since she first stepped foot in the quaint, quirky town of Poppy Creek.

  She’d spent an unforgettable day with Luke in the city, then caravanned home, stopping a few times along the way. Luke claimed he wanted to check out the various fruit stands, but Cassie secretly suspected he wanted an excuse to hold her hand and steal a kiss. Which she didn’t mind in the slightest! Truth be told, she hadn’t stopped walking on air since their kiss in her kitchen.

  Even her phone call to Derek, explaining she’d be gone for a few days, hadn’t dampened her mood. She’d promised to carry out her duties—calling vendors and price checking equipment—and keep him apprised. Cassie hadn’t mentioned she’d also be figuring out a way to pay him back to end their arrangement.

  Luke had reiterated his offer to loan her the money, but Cassie still wasn’t sure if she should accept it. Fifteen thousand dollars was a lot of money. A loan of that magnitude might be too much strain on a new relationship.

  Cassie’s heart fluttered at the thought. A relationship! They hadn’t spelled it out in so many words, but with the way Luke looked at her, Cassie didn’t have any doubts. He made her feel as though he’d been waiting all these years just for her.

  The door swung open, and Frank cracked a smile before his gaze settled on the box. “What’s that?”

  “Baking supplies.” Cassie slipped past him, taking the lead down the hallway toward the kitchen. “And hello to you, too,” she teased.

  Frank mumbled something incoherent, before he echoed, “Baking supplies?”

  Cassie set the box on the kitchen table, whipping out an apron. “We’re making a gingerbread house. It’s today’s activity on the Christmas Calendar.”

  “And why do I have to help?”

  “Because,” Cassie quipped simply, looping the apron over her head.

  Frank grumbled but didn’t object.

  “If it makes you feel better,” Cassie offered, “once we bake the gingerbread, we’ll have some free time while we wait for it to cool. I thought we could try a new roast.”

  Frank’s eyes gleamed, and Cassie could tell she’d struck the right chord of compromise.

  After the roast, they returned to the kitchen to check on the gingerbread.

  “Perfect,” Cassie said, testing the biggest square with the back of her hand.

  “What about the extra dough?” Frank asked in a much more amiable mood.

  “Oh, I’ll just pop a few gingerbread men into the oven.” Cassie attempted her most casual tone, so Frank didn’t catch wind of the surprise. “It never hurts to have a few extra cookies, does it?”

  Frank snorted, eyeing the enormous ball of dough. “That looks like enough to feed an entire naval squadron, but suit yourself.”

  Cassie grinned. “While I get these cookies into the oven, why don’t you start frosting the walls together.” She handed Frank the pastry bag of thick white icing.

  He muttered a little under his breath, but couldn’t hide the glint of delight in his eyes, and Cassie suppressed a giggle. He sure tried to be cantankerous, but he wasn’t fooling her. Not anymore.

  They worked together in peaceful silence for a few minutes until Frank cleared his throat. “I submitted my proposal for the second edition.”

  Cassie brightened. “Really? That’s fantastic!”

  Frank concentrated on his task, his head down. “I told my publisher I’d be working with a coauthor this time.”

  Cassie paused, the cookie sheet halfway in the oven. The heat blazed, tinging her cheeks bright red, but she didn’t notice.

  When the surprise finally subsided, she slowly slid the tray onto the rack. Closing the oven door, Cassie twirled around. “Frank… are you saying…” She didn’t dare speak her thought out loud, in case she was wrong. After all, she had to be wrong. There was no way…

  “I want you to write it with me.”

  Cassie’s excitement bubbled to the surface, and she threw her hands into the air, a giddy squeal escaping her lips. The oven mitts went flying in opposite directions as she wrapped her arms around Frank.

  He chuckled, patting her back while he gripped the pastry bag. “Don’t get too excited. My name will still be bigger on the cover.”

  Cassie laughed, brushing a stray tear from the corner of her eye. “Sorry, I just can’t believe it. This is so generous of you.”

  “You’ve earned it. Besides, I could use your help.”

  Cassie glowed from the inside out, barely able to contain her joy. She threw her arms wide, ready to envelop him in another hug, but he wielded the pastry bag.

  “If you’re this giddy already, I hate to see what happens when I tell you the rest of the news.”

  “There’s more?” Cassie wasn’t sure she could handle more good news.

  Frank shuffled toward a kitchen drawer and pulled out a plain white envelope. Handing it to Cassie, he said, “As my coauthor, you’re entitled to a portion of my advance.”

  Cassie balked, shaking her head adamantly. “Oh, no. I couldn’t accept—”

  He shoved the envelope into her hand. “Cash it or don’t, it’s up to you. But the money is yours.”

  Hesitantly, Cassie slid the check from inside the envelope. She gasped, gripping the back of the chair for support. Twenty-thousand dollars! Quickly, Cassie slipped the check back into the envelope, holding it out to Frank. “I can’t take this. It’s too much.”

  “If it makes you feel any better…” Frank’s lips twitched. “That’s not even half.”

  Cassie gaped at him, but Frank merely shrugged. “I’d give you more, but I had a feeling you were going to be difficult about it.”

  At first, Cassie didn’t know what to say. Frank was calling her difficult? The irony caused a giggle to rise to the surface, transforming into a full-on burst of laughter.

  Cassie laughed so hard she almost couldn’t breathe. And before she knew it, Frank had joined her.

  After a few minutes, they were both wiping tears of laughter from their eyes.

  “Frank, I don’t know what to say.”

  Before he could respond, a loud clamor outside drew their attention.

  Frowning, Frank led the way down the hall toward the source of the commotion.

  Throwing open the front door, he teetered in shock, and Cassie braced his elbow, grinning from ear to ear.

  Five pickup trucks were parked in the driveway. Luke, Jack, Reed, and a few other men from town unloaded wood, toolboxes, and other supplies while Penny and Eliza, along with her parents, unpacked paint cans and a plethora of rollers and brushes. Maggie, Dolores, and several women from their knitting circle carried enough cleaning supplies to spruce up a farmhouse twice its size. Glancing their way, Luke waved, followed by a few others.

  “What—” Frank gasped, his gaze darting to Cassie.

  Cassie smiled, her face glowing with affection. “Think we made too many cookies, now?”

  Still stunned, Frank looked out across the driveway where a tiny construction crew converged on his f
ront lawn, ready to mend his neglected house—and heart. “Why?” he croaked.

  “Because, like it or not, you’re a part of this town. And we care about you.” Tugging on his arm, she added, “How about we brew a fresh pot of coffee for all these folks?”

  Nodding slowly, Frank turned, his steel-gray eyes glistening.

  As they headed back inside, Frank reached for her hand. Giving it a shaky squeeze, he placed it in the crook of his arm.

  Side by side, they walked down the hall, accompanied by the sounds of life outside Frank’s front door.

  A few hours later, as Frank served the group another batch of cookies, Cassie stole a minute with Luke.

  Once they were hidden behind Luke’s pickup, he scooped her into his arms, pressing a kiss to her lips.

  When he finally released her, Cassie beamed up at him, breathless. She didn’t think she’d ever get used to that.

  “You’re amazing,” he murmured, pressing his forehead to hers.

  Melting inside, she smiled. “So are you.”

  “I mean it, Ru.” Pulling back, Luke gazed into her eyes intently. “You’ve changed everything. Since the moment you stepped foot in Poppy Creek, nothing has been the same. In the best possible way.”

  Cassie’s heart stilled and time seemed to slow down as Luke took both of her hands in his. “Being with you these past few weeks, watching you fight for the important things in your life…” Pausing, Luke swallowed.

  Offering encouragement, Cassie tightened her grip.

  Luke took a deep breath, running his thumbs along the backs of her hands. “I’ve decided to do the same… Pursue something important in my life.”

  It took all of Cassie’s strength to remain standing as anticipation weakened her knees. Was Luke about to…

  “I’ve decided to quit my law practice and pursue my passion full-time.”

  It took a moment for Luke’s words to sink in, but then a slow smile spread across Cassie’s lips. “Really?”