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  Two Dads for Christmas

  Copyright © 2013 by Kate Richards

  ISBN: 978-1-61333-639-7

  Cover art by Tibbs Designs

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work, in whole or in part, in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

  Published by Decadent Publishing Company, LLC

  Look for us online at:

  www.decadentpublishing.com

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  Also by Kate Richards

  One Night on the Beach

  Avalon for Christmas

  1Night Stand Series

  The Virgin and the Playboy

  The Virgin and the Best Man

  Two Men and a Virgin

  Gale Force Passion

  Trail of Hearts

  Madame Eve’s Gift

  Two Men

  Virgin Underground

  The Edge

  The Milkman Cometh

  Two Dads for Christmas

  A 1Night Stand Story

  By

  Kate Richards

  Chapter One

  If anyone had told Zacchary he’d spend the best Thanksgiving of his life with his three new friends—Rex, Paul, and Andie—in the home the three lovers shared, he wouldn’t have been in the least surprised. The trio’s warmth and happiness spilled over onto everyone around them. And the food wasn’t bad either.

  “Andie, best meal ever.” Rex leaned back in his chair and unfastened the top button on his 501s. “I don’t think I could eat another bite.”

  Andie slapped at his arm, her soft, dark curls bobbing. “Sit up straight, Rex. We have company.”

  Paul chuckled, tossing his cloth napkin on the table. “Where Zach lives, they don’t even have indoor plumbing. Outhouses are still pretty common here in Alaska, once you get away from town, and as busy and he and his dad are with the fishing guide business, his mom is still waiting for most of the niceties. I doubt he’s upset by an open button. But since Rex is full, I’ll take his pie.”

  “Like hell you will.” Rex straightened in an amazing recovery. “There’s always room for our girl’s desserts.” He flashed a grin at their guest. “Same ones they’re enjoying over at Castle Lodge tonight, you know. It pays to snuggle with the pastry chef.”

  Before Zach could reply, Andie sent her men the look. “Nobody gets any dessert until the table is cleared. Volunteers?” The terrifying expression his mother often gave his dad, turning the brusque, backwoodsman into her slave, had the same effect on the fireman and forest ranger. He was amazed the bouquet of orange mums in the center of the table didn’t wilt under its impact.

  But Rex’s wink and Paul’s mischievous grin didn’t imply fear and Zach’s loneliness intensified as wordless communication flowed between the three an instant before the two leapt into action.

  When he pushed his chair back to follow, Andie shook her head. “No, thanks. The guys are happy to take care of it.” Happy might be an overstatement, but they were fast and in less than ten minutes, pumpkin, pecan, and a mouthwatering apple crumb pie occupied the table. The happy hostess slipped away then bustled back to her seat bearing a silver bowl brimming with softly whipped cream. “What kind would you like, Zach? These ruffians will probably want a piece of all three.”

  He wouldn’t take a miss on the best pies in the Castle, Alaska environs. “The same, please.”

  “You are all going to explode.” But she served them with grace…and had a slightly smaller piece of each herself. Andie’s happiness lit the room around them. In fact, the three glowed with a sense of contentment, touching one another affectionately when they passed on their way in and out of the kitchen. And while he wouldn’t deny them their joy, Zach wished for a sliver of what they had for himself.

  Their new cabin wouldn’t be complete until spring, but the portion they already occupied met their needs—in fact, better than his own home would, where they actually did have some indoor plumbing, but the outhouse still held a place of pride out back.

  When the guys rose, took the empty dessert plates and almost-empty pie pans into the kitchenette, Andie cast her beautiful smile in his direction. “I hope you don’t regret missing out on the main event in the lodge with your folks.”

  “Are you kidding? After a meal like that?” He resisted the urge to open a button on his own pants, but sucked his gut in to avoid a scolding. “What a delight to have a change of faces. The only new people I see out our way are the fishermen, and none of them can cook. Don’t tell my mom I said this…but neither can she. This is the best meal I’ve had in months.”

  She blushed and took a sip of sparkling wine. “We enjoyed having you. Next time maybe you can bring a date. If you don’t think she’d be too shocked by our unusual living circumstances.”

  “It’s not that. I just don’t have anyone special.” Zach cleared his throat and said something he hadn’t shared before. “And it might not be a she. Although it could be.” Then, a little surprised at his candor—after all, the trio were new friends of his, despite their unconventional relationship with one another—he shrugged. “Ugh, don’t listen to me. You don’t want to hear my problems.”

  He took in the newly built cabin, its wood gleaming, the wide plank floors honey-colored and shining. Although the house was clean, small things reflected the trio who shared their lives there. A forestry magazine tossed on the arm of the sofa by the fireplace, three parkas lined up on hooks by the door next to his solitary lumber jacket. And a photo on the mantel of the three in the snow, wearing those jackets, arm in arm, beaming.

  “I think the main thing that’s unusual about your relationship is how fantastic it is,” he said.

  “That’s a sweet compliment, Zach. I believe I will send the rest of the pie home with you.” Her eyes twinkled. “The guys will have a fit.”

  When the door closed behind Zachary, Andie leaned against it and sagged. “I’m beat. The dishes can wait until morning, I think.”

  “We’ll do them for you, honey,” Paul said. “You sit by the fire.”

  Rex shot him a glare then shrugged. “You did all the work, it’s our turn.”

  She held out her arms. “No, we can all do t
hem in the morning, together. Let’s go sit in front of the fire.” At the eager light in their eyes, she laughed. “And talk.” Her two best friends—she shuddered to think what might have happened had she not engaged Madame Eve and 1Night Stand to take the biggest chance of her life and find out if they could be more to one another. Once the gates opened on their passion, there’d been no closing them and within six months they’d moved to Castle, Alaska, where the small-town gossips back home wouldn’t tarnish their love.

  Paul stood behind her and kissed her neck. “Just talk?”

  Rex sprawled on the sofa She struggled to keep her focus. “Well, just talk for a few minutes anyway. I know what we can give our new friend Zach for Christmas.”

  ***

  Lauren Peoples pressed her nose to the cold glass of the airplane window and watched Castle appear through the clouds below them. She couldn’t believe how quickly everything happened to get her there.

  One moment she was getting ready for work at the fishery, the next her mother shoved a packed bag in her hand and told her to hurry up. It seemed Aunt Kathryn, Mom’s baby sister, had offered her a temporary job over the holiday season. Castle Lodge planned their biggest extravaganza yet and needed extra help.

  “But why the rush?” she’d protested. “I need to ask for vacation time.”

  “You’ve been there five years and rarely taken a day off. I already called in and let them know you’d be gone until after the New Year. So, come on, or you’ll miss the flight and make me late for work. Not everyone has a glamorous job like yours, missy.”

  Five years. Since the doors of Dillingham High slammed behind her. And, no, she hadn’t taken much time off…because she didn’t have anything she wanted to do with it. Since entering the work force, she’d been more and more numb. Get up, go to her office, go home. With her gone, that bitchy Wendy who had wanted to move up to her position would have lots of free time to try to weasel her way in, but Lauren couldn’t find it in herself to care that much. What did it matter?

  She’d burned out on that years before. As well as the guys…the ones who were underfoot all her life, and the seasonal fishermen, most of whom were married and just looking for a little action. Along with some who omitted that information when they met a girl and coaxed her into a relationship.

  As the skis touched down on the frozen lake, the tiny figure of her aunt came into view, growing larger as they approached. The bundle in the redhead’s arms squirmed and Lauren smiled. Imagine her freewheeling, bush pilot aunt a mom. A very happy one, to hear her own mother tell it. As she often did during the lectures about Lauren moving forward in her life and finding someone special.

  Still, when the props stopped, the first hint of excitement she’d experienced in a long time thrummed in her veins. Before the pilot could unbuckle his seatbelt and open the door, Lauren jumped to her feet and scooped up her bag. She hopped onto the dock, took a deep breath of clean air, and headed for her aunt, and baby niece, who stood a few yards away.

  Lauren wrapped her arms around them both. “It’s so good to see you, Auntie. And you, too, little Madelyn.” She dropped a kiss on the bundle. “I can’t wait to get inside so I can get a look at her.”

  “Let’s hurry then.”

  Lauren set out, admiring the clean snow, so unlike the dirty, trampled slush of her hometown, crunching under her boots. “Are you flying yet?” With the baby three months old, she couldn’t imagine her intrepid relative keeping her feet on the ground.

  “I plan to start after the holidays. I promised your uncle Nick I’d help out with the extravaganza first.” Kathryn slowed and gave her a one-armed hug. “I’m so grateful to you for coming. All of the Castillo clan is gathering here this year, including Nick’s uncle, the founder of the empire. Most of them weren’t here for our spontaneous wedding two years ago, and they are descending en masse to meet the little princess. I half expect them to bring frankincense and myrrh, they’re so excited. She’s the first baby in this generation, you know.”

  “No wonder they’re excited. Once you have some cousins, the pressure will be off you, Madelyn.”

  “Just think, your children, when you have them, will be her playmates—if you ever come and visit.”

  Lauren struggled to remain calm as she kept pace with her aunt. “I’m here now, aren’t I? And my mother said to remind you planes fly both ways.”

  “I know. It’s my plane that lands there. I just never stay long because I have to fly it in the other direction as well.” Kathryn grimaced. “Anyway, since my sister cannot be pried loose, I begged for you to represent our side of the family. My husband’s family is wonderful, but sometimes it’s all I can do to cling to Nick and weather the storm of their affection. I don’t know how Leah, his cousin Jackson’s wife, handles them so well. She just glides through everything on those high heels of hers.”

  And would one of those Castillos guess Lauren’s secret before she could decide what to do?

  She dismissed the ache in her chest, ready to provide support. “You can count on me.” And tears would freeze on her face. Her aunt stopped at a snowmobile. “We’re going on that with the baby?”

  “Well, we can’t walk, it’s too far. And I don’t want to keep her out in the cold too long—even if she does seem to love being outside. Her dad carries her around the property everywhere he goes. And the staff—we need a nanny to take charge of her and get her settled into a routine before she starts to think all this adulation is her due.”

  “Miss Madelyn is a lucky girl.” As Kathryn fastened the baby in a sling and climbed on the machine, Lauren’s heart ached even more.

  They glided up the trails toward the lodge, where she’d been once before. Everything was pristine, even the snow on the drooping pine tree branches appeared arranged for maximum effect, parting to reveal the massive log structure whose frosted windows cast light into the night. Beautiful. Romantic even.

  For anyone who hadn’t called that part of her life over.

  ***

  “Jorell, can I see you for a moment?” Jagger Castillo’s voice from the doorway distracted him from the rows of numbers on his screen. “In my office.”

  “Can it wait a few minutes? I just need to—”

  “Now.”

  Jorell glanced up from his keyboard, startled. “Of course. Right away.” Clicking a key to secure the report from unauthorized eyes, he tucked his creased button-down into his slacks and hastened to follow, grabbing his tablet on the way past his desk. A small part of his attention focused on the breadth of his boss’s shoulders narrowing to a trim waist. Even in the main office, Jagger eschewed a suit…a shame. The tailored attire worn by the manager’s brother, Jackson, and by Jorell himself, would make him even more attractive. But then, Jagger had his Daniel, while Jorell had no time for a social life. Expansion plans in the Caribbean region sailed ahead under his guidance, a project he savored—and focused on day and night.

  A vice-presidency with Castillo Resorts lurked on the horizon.

  “I have a new assignment for you.” Jagger waved Jorell to the guest chair in front of his desk. “You’ll need to leave this afternoon.”

  Jorell remained standing, reorganizing his schedule in his mind. “Of course. I’ll go to my quarters and pack. How long will I be gone?” With the Grand Bahama opening three weeks away, he couldn’t afford to let a single task drop.

  “Permanently.”

  His knees gave out and he sank into the upholstered seat. “What?”

  “Well, of course nothing is really permanent.” Jagger sat behind the desk and opened his laptop. “But for at least the foreseeable future.”

  Jorell’s heart raced. “But what about Grand Bahama? And the other resorts due to open in the next couple of years?” His confidence in the job he’d done for Castillo Resorts dissipated. “Did I do something wrong?”

  Jagger shook his head. “Not that I’m aware of.”

  “Where…?”

  “Alaska.”

&
nbsp; “Alaska, Jagger?” Born and raised in the Caribbean, he’d left long enough to obtain his Harvard business degree then fled the frosty winters to return home. “I’m always willing to go where the company sends me, but…I wish you’d tell me what I did.” To deserve this.

  Jagger frowned. “Have I ever said or done anything to make you think I’m displeased? We’re sorry to deny you the pleasure of watching the new resort open, but we need you on-site as soon as possible.” He turned his laptop to face Jorell. “Castle, Alaska. Our northernmost jewel.”

  A huge, log lodge glittering with lights and holiday decorations filled the screen. But the deep drifts piled around it chilled Jorell to the bone. “It’s very attractive, sir.” And just the kind of place for an employer to send someone he wanted out of the way. Castillo’s loyalty was legendary. They probably didn’t want to fire him….

  “Since when do you call me sir?” Jagger glanced past him. “Daniel, come on in. I’m just telling our friend here the exciting news.”

  Freezing to death is exciting? He loved white sand, brilliant sunshine, and turquoise oceans. Well, he loved to see all those things from his office windows or when he took his morning run along the beach…so early the sun’s rays had not yet warmed the sand under his feet.

  “Glad to hear it.” Daniel appeared at his side and slapped him on the back. “You’re going to have a white Christmas, my friend.”

  Horrors.

  “So it’s settled.” Jagger stood and ushered Jorell to the door. “All the details are in your e-mail. The corporate jet is standing by, so you’d better get moving.”

  As Jorell stumbled down the hall, visions of toes swollen by frostbite filling his blurry vision. Daniel’s hearty laugh echoed from behind him. “We have a special surprise waiting, Jorell. A Christmas present from the two of us.”