The Christmas Crusade (Silverton Sweethearts Book 2) Read online

  Levi gave the elastic on Mike’s suspenders a snap, making his brother grimace. “Just wait until you fall in love, big brother. You’ll understand the euphoric misery I’m in.”

  Mike laughed and tugged on one fake patent leather boot. “You make it sound so wonderfully awful, I can see now why we’re both still single.”

  Levi grinned and handed Mike the other boot. “Maybe I don’t plan to be for long.”

  Mike’s smile melted and he stared at Levi. “Seriously, bro? Are you serious?”

  “I am.”

  Mike jumped up and engulfed Levi in a bear hug. “It’s about time.”

  Levi thumped his brother’s back then took a step away. Mike sat down and finished pulling on the second boot.

  “What about you?”

  “What about me?” Mike stood and shrugged into the bright red Santa coat.

  “Are you serious about the girl you’ve been dating? Anything longer than two months is a huge record for you. You’ve been seeing her for what, five months? Is she the one?”

  Mike shrugged, unwilling to respond.

  “Come on, man. Has she got you tied up in knots? Or are you still deciding if she’ll be able to put up with a crazy lunkhead like you for the long haul?”

  “Shut it, bro.” Mike’s words sounded harsh, but the teasing grin on his face let Levi know all was good between them.

  The tinny notes from the center’s old piano filled the gymnasium with the tune of Here Comes Santa Claus. Levi handed Mike a big red sack filled with bags of treats. “It’s show time, Santa.”

  For the next hour, Mike sat in a lumpy overstuffed chair Levi had discovered sitting on the curb with a free sign near their apartment. Mike smiled as he greeted children and gave them all little sacks filled with candy and toys. Levi and three volunteers made sure each child received a gift from beneath the tree, even the older kids who wouldn’t sit on Santa’s lap.

  Finally, all the families departed for the evening, many of them stopping to thank Levi and the other volunteers for the best Christmas Eve some of them had ever experienced.

  Kat walked over to the tree and retrieved two unclaimed packages—two she’d placed there earlier.

  She handed the first to Mike as he sat on the edge of the stage with the Santa costume half off, fanning himself with the jaunty red hat.

  “What’s this, sugar plum?” Mike asked, setting aside the hat and accepting the package she handed to him.

  Levi and Lewis stepped next to her. She motioned for Mike to unwrap the present. “Just a little something, for fun.”

  “Cool,” Mike said, unwrapping the gift. The silvery snowflake paper fell away to reveal a chocolate tool set. “I’ll cherish this right up until I take a big bite out of the pliers.” He grinned at Levi. “You better watch it, bro. If I bring this hammer down on you, it’ll make a mess.”

  Kat accepted Mike’s hug when he slid off the stage and wrapped his burly arms around her. She was surprised when he whispered, “you’re a good kid, Kat,” before pulling back with a teasing smile.

  “I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m ready to head out, as soon as I get out of this costume. Couldn’t you find one lined with steel wool, Levi? This thing is not only hot, but also scratchy. Next time you should wear it.”

  Levi grinned at Mike’s grumblings as he walked behind the stage to change. When his brother disappeared from sight, he turned and shook Lewis’ hand. “Sir, if you have no objection, I’d like to borrow your granddaughter for a while.”

  “You may borrow her for as long as you like, son. I mean that. You can bring her back in say fifty or sixty years, if you get tired of her by then.” Lewis winked at Levi then kissed Kat’s cheek. “I’ll see you at the house, honey. Have fun.” He left with a wave, whistling God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.

  Thrilled by her grandfather’s words, his subtle permission to pursue Kat, Levi sincerely hoped she’d be open to the idea.

  The couple stood with their arms around each other watching the lights flicker on the Christmas tree until Mike bid them good night. When he left, Kat handed Levi the only remaining wrapped package.

  “Is this from you?” he asked, holding the large box in his hands.

  She nodded.

  “Do you mind if I wait to open it until I give you your gift?”

  A little disappointed he didn’t want to open the present immediately, Kat forced a smile. “No, that’s fine. I’m starving, though. Can we go get that dinner you promised me?”

  “Absolutely. Let me lock up and we’re out of here.”

  Kat helped him turn off lights, shut doors, and make sure no one lingered anywhere in the center before they walked outside and locked the front doors.

  They strolled hand in hand to Levi’s pickup. He unlocked the door and helped Kat slide in then handed her his gift to hold.

  When he climbed behind the wheel, he reached out and wrapped his hand around her waist, pulling her across the seat beside him. “There. That’s much better.”

  Kat rested her head on his shoulder and grinned. “I agree.” She set the present on the seat next to the door and basked in the joy of being with Levi, in knowing he loved her. For tonight, that was the only gift she needed.

  As he drove away from the center, he gave her a cautious glance. “I hope you aren’t going to die of starvation anytime soon. The place I want to take you is about thirty minutes from here.”

  “I don’t mind, Levi. It means more time spent with you.”

  He kissed her cheek and entered the freeway heading south. Kat paid no attention to where they headed, too content, too happy to be with the man she loved.

  When Levi took an exit and drove out into the country, she looked around, curious as to where he planned to take her.

  “What’s out here?” she asked. The pickup jostled down a dirt lane and followed it past a farmhouse and barn then around a rolling hill. As they turned into an open pasture, flickering light from a bonfire beckoned to them not far from what appeared to be a small pond.

  “Levi?” Interested and eager to find out what he had planned, she stared out the windshield. “What is this place?”

  “Your very own Cary Grant moment, minus Cary Grant.” The look Levi turned on her held everything she’d ever dreamed of seeing on his face—acceptance, desire, joy, hope, and love.

  “I guess you’ll have to do.” Kat almost squealed with excitement when Levi parked the truck and helped her out. Two folding chairs and a table with a wrapped package on top sat near the bonfire.

  She looked at the pond in question. “How is the water frozen? It’s not cold enough to freeze anything.”

  He grinned and lifted a box from the back of his pickup. “Do you remember my friend Jett?”

  “Sure, he’s kind of hard to forget.” Kat smiled as she recalled Levi’s flirtatious friend. She watched Levi set the box on the ground near one of the chairs and toss more wood on the fire.

  “His folks own this place. They always do a big New Year’s Eve party out here, so this is kind of a practice run for next week. The pond is actually more of a big puddle frozen with some chemicals. It’ll start to melt in a few hours, unless the temperature drops considerably.” Levi motioned for Kat to have a seat. “We’ve got plenty of time to enjoy it before that happens, though.”

  Kat held her hands out to the fire. If she’d been a feline, she would have curled up in a ball and purred with contentment. She couldn’t imagine anything more perfect than this wonderful Christmas Eve Levi had created. How he had found the time to do anything was beyond her ability to comprehend since he’d been so busy making Christmas merry for all the families connected to the community center.

  “Let’s eat first then open presents.” Levi handed Kat a foil-wrapped turkey sandwich. He produced a jar of pickles, a bag of chips, and poured a steaming cup of hot chocolate.

  “I’m impressed,” she said, taking a bite of her sandwich. “Don’t tell me you forgot dessert.”

>   Levi triumphantly held up a bag of marshmallows and tossed it to her.

  She laughed. “You really did think of everything.”

  They ate their dinner by firelight then Kat ran back to the pickup and retrieved Levi’s gift while he added more wood to the cheery blaze.

  “Open yours first,” Kat handed him the large box.

  “Are you sure? I think you should go first.” Levi lifted the beautifully wrapped package from the table and handed it to her.

  She settled it on her lap, but shook her head. “Please, Levi. Open your gift.”

  He ripped off the jaunty snowman paper and studied the red damask box on his lap. It appeared to be the type of box used to store ornaments. Carefully lifting the lid, he gazed at the velvety sections, meant to keep fragile ornaments from breaking. It looked like it would hold about thirty ornaments. A second set of velvet compartments lined the bottom of the box. The center position of the bottom tray held a gorgeous blown glass red heart.

  Levi lifted the ornament by the white ribbon tied to the top and held it up to the firelight. It had the year painted across it in small print. Below that, in swirling silver script, it read, “Our First Christmas.”

  He glanced over at Kat and she nodded with tears in her eyes. “Explain this to me, Kat. Tell me what it means.”

  “It means…” She left her present on the seat of her chair. Taking the ornament from Levi, she placed it back in the box and set it aside. She settled onto his lap and put her hands on either side of his face, smiling into his warm hazel eyes. “It means that every Christmas I want us to find a special ornament to add to that box until we’ve filled it up. If I counted right, that means you’re stuck with me for fifty-nine more years.”

  “I guess I’ll have to get used to you. To get used to this.” Levi pulled her head down until his lips caressed hers in a tender, loving kiss that made tears roll down her cheeks.

  He pushed her back and brushed her tears away with his thumb. “Hey, what’s this? Don’t cry, Kathleen.”

  “They’re happy tears, Levi. Incredibly happy tears.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.

  He held her on his lap with one strong arm while he reached out and lifted her present from the other chair. “Open your present.”

  Kat tore away the paper with all the enthusiasm of a sugar-crazed child and lifted the lid on what appeared to be a large dress box. She clapped her hands in delight when she removed the tissue to discover a deep green plaid skating skirt with a matching jacket. The outfit could have come straight out of a 1940s movie.

  “This is incredible! Where did you find it?” Kat jumped off Levi’s lap and shook out the skirt, holding it up to her waist. “It’s perfect!”

  “The lady who donated the costumes to the center mentioned she did custom sewing. I asked her about doing this for you and she hurried to get it done in time for today.” Levi stood and held out the box to Kat. “There’s something else in there for you.”

  Kat pushed aside more tissue paper and pulled out a white fur muff. The squeal she’d restrained earlier burst out of her mouth and she hugged Levi again. “Oh, you wonderful man. If you make a pair of ice skates appear, I’ll know you’ve been sprinkled with holiday magic.”

  “As a matter of fact…” Levi pulled a box from beneath the table and pointed to several pairs of ice skates. “Jett’s parents keep these on hand for their party. I brought down a few different sizes for you to try because the sizing system seems a little wonky on these old skates.”

  Kat only half listened as she pressed against Levi and kissed him. She finally had to pull back and fill her lungs with air.

  “This is the best Christmas Eve I’ve ever had.” She held the skirt and jacket up, anxious to try them on.

  “Tell you what. I’ll turn my back and you can try on your skirt and jacket, then I’ll help you lace up some skates. We can take a turn or two around the pond before we need to head back into town. I promised your grandfather I’d have you home before midnight.”

  Levi hadn’t fully turned around when Kat whipped off her coat and kicked off her shoes. His self-control wavered on the edge. Everything in him wanted to turn around and help her change, but he would behave like a gentleman if it killed him. And the way he felt, it just might.

  Fast running out of willpower, he released a breath of relief when he felt a tap on his shoulder.

  “What do you think?” she asked.

  Slowly turning around, Levi sucked in his breath. Kat had discovered the matching beret and settled it on her luxurious waves at a saucy angle. “You are so beautiful, Kathleen.”

  Pleased by the awe on his face and the husky tone of his voice, she held out a hand to him. He kissed her palm and surrendered to the need to run his fingers through her hair. “I love it when you leave your hair like this. It nearly drives me beyond the point of reason.”

  “Then I’ll make sure to frequently misplace my flat iron.” His touch left her limbs languid so she sank down on one of the chairs. “I haven’t been ice skating in years. I’m not sure I’ll remember how.”

  Levi dug into the box and lifted out a pair of ice skates made of smooth white leather. He slipped one on her foot and she tugged it into place. At her nod, he helped her put on the other one then took out a pair for himself while she tied her laces. When she finished, he got to his feet, picked up her muff from the box and handed it to her.

  “Are you ready?”

  “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

  Levi took his phone from his coat pocket and set it to play The Skater’s Waltz before leading Kat out on the ice.

  He placed his hands on her waist and waited while she stuffed her left hand inside the muff.

  A confused look crossed her features and she pulled her hand back out then turned the muff inside out. A diamond ring glittered in the firelight, tied inside the muff with a red ribbon.

  She glanced at Levi. He grinned then untied the ring. Dropping to one knee, he held it out to her. “Would you do me the great honor of becoming my wife, Kathleen Marie Kingsley? I can’t imagine a more perfect gift than your love this Christmas and for all the holidays to come.”

  “Yes!” Kat tugged on his arms until he stood then melted into his embrace, into the happiness of the future that waited before her. “Always and forever, Levi.”

  She placed a hand to his cheek, her eyes brimming with tears. “I love you so, so much, my Christmas crusader. You’ve been like a knight in shining armor, not just to me, Levi, but to all those you’ve touched through Center for Hope. I’m so proud of you and so honored to be loved by you.”

  “The honor is all mine.” Levi kissed her palm then turned so she could see the ring in the firelight. “Do you recognize the ring?”

  Kat gasped as she glanced down at the gold band and diamond. “It’s Grandma’s ring.” She looked at him in confusion.

  “When I asked your grandfather for permission to marry you a few days ago, he insisted that you have this ring. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “No, not at all.” Kat hugged him with a fierce possessiveness. “I love it and you.”

  “I love you, Kathleen.” He turned so he stood beside her and once again placed a hand to her waist. “May I have the pleasure of waltzing with you—tonight and for the rest of my life?”

  She placed a kiss to his cheek and smiled. “You may.”

  ****

  Holiday Punch

  Here’s a simple punch recipe that even Kat can make. Enjoy!

  2 64-ounce bottles of cran-raspberry juice

  1 2-liter bottle of raspberry soda pop

  Raspberry ice (optional)

  To make the ice: Place a fresh or frozen raspberry in each section of an ice cube tray, fill with juice and freeze at least eight hours or overnight.

  To make the punch: In a punch bowl (or large pitcher) mix juice and soda together. Add ice and serve.

  For an added touch of fun, rim glasses with sparkling sugar.
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  Serves approximately 20.

  A Note from the Author

  My heartfelt thanks to you, dear reader, for reading THE CHRISTMAS CRUSADE.

  If you enjoyed Kat and Levi’s story, please help other readers discover it by leaving a review.

  And don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter. You’ll be able to keep up on the latest releases, enter contests, receive recipes, and be the first to hear exciting news! http://tinyurl.com/shannasnewsletter

  If you enjoyed Kat and Levi’s story, read about Levi’s brother Mike in Untangling Christmas!

  Untangling Christmas — Tricked into helping with Silverton’s Festival of Trees, electrician Mike Clarke battles faulty outlets, tangled lights, and a woman determined to share the spirit of the season.

  Find Untangling Christmas and 16 other sweet holiday romances in the Sweet Christmas Kisses 3 boxed set!

  Turn the page for an excerpt from Mike’s story!

  Chapter One

  “I need a favor.”

  Mike Clarke lowered the newspaper he held in his hands and glanced up at the woman who set a warm cinnamon roll on the table in front of him. The spice, redolent of home and holidays, drifted upward to his nose, eliciting a growl from his empty belly.

  Brenna McCrae ignored the sound and refilled his empty coffee cup with the steaming dark brew he favored.

  Mike leaned back in the chair, fighting the urge to inhale the cinnamon roll in a few hungry bites. Cream cheese frosting melted into a decadent pool around the base of the tender pastry, enticing him to sample the creamy sweetness.

  Rather than give in to the indulgence, he studied his best friend’s wife. Since he’d moved from Oregon’s biggest city of Portland to Silverton five months ago, the lovely woman fed him breakfast every morning at her bistro, often packed a lunch to go for him, and rarely asked for anything in return. Brock and Brenna offered him unconditional friendship and acceptance when he’d needed it most. He’d do anything for either of them. All they had to do was ask.