The Billionaire’s Christmas Contract by Laura Haley-McNeil
Seven months later …
Leah rested a hand on the slight curve of her stomach and took one last look at the table set for the Christmas Eve Celebration with her parents, her brother, David, and his family, the boys and the Moores. The tree glistening in the corner of the living room was piled with colorfully wrapped gifts.
How Leah baked and cooked while fighting the queasiness in her stomach, she didn’t know, but she was determined to host the Christmas Eve celebration and couldn’t wait to have the family fill the house.
Through the window, Leah watched Bryg set the snow shovel in the corner of the front porch. He stepped into the house, a bluster of snow following him through the front door. He lifted his gaze to hers, his smile pressing dimples into his cheeks that made her heart melt. Each time she looked at him, it was like the first time. She’d never get used to the full lips that kissed her every morning and every night and many times throughout the day.
The past year had brought more changes than she could’ve imagined. Bryg had proposed to her last Christmas Eve, but it bothered him he hadn’t given her an engagement ring.
A few days before she was scheduled to return to the college, Bryg planned to fly her to New York to meet with an exclusive jewelry designer so they could discuss her ring.
Looking into Bryg’s eyes, she saw his desire to make her happy, and compassion filled her heart. “I don’t need a ring to remind me that you love me,” she said and looked into the blue eyes reflecting the affection he expressed to her several times a day.
“I’m not trying to buy your love,” he said. “I just want the world to know you’re mine.”
“I know I’m yours,” she said with a soft laugh.
“I want to buy you an engagement ring.” Taking her hand, he pulled her to him, pressing the length of her body flat against his.
Her head against his chest, she heard his heart thunder beneath the ridged muscles and breathed the subtle hint of his masculine scent.
“Let’s go to Henri’s on Main Street. He designs his own jewelry. Several of my friends here have bought their rings from his shop.” She tipped her face to his and saw the doubt filling his eyes.
“If that’s what you want,” he said on an exhaled breath.
“I don’t want anything, but if a ring will make you feel better, then let’s compromise and buy it from Henri.”
Bryg had been pleasantly surprised that Henri had won several awards for his designs, and Bryg and Leah decided on a setting that Leah loved and had impressed Bryg.
When Christmas break ended, Leah didn’t know how she had the strength to leave Bryg and return to Braxton to teach her winter quarter classes.
When she arrived in Braxton, she scheduled a meeting with the department chair to discuss switching her status to online teaching. The dean had resisted until she presented her letter of resignation. She’d already talked to other universities about teaching online. She didn’t want to leave Braxton, but knowing she’d have a position elsewhere filled her with relief. If she left Braxton, a sizeable portion of the college’s donor base would leave, and the dean wouldn’t let that happen. Her offer was plain⸻let her teach remotely, or she would tender her resignation.
The dean gave a soft laugh and told her to present her proposal with the classes she would teach. Now she had the best of both worlds⸻a teaching position at Braxton and a home with Bryg in Mardale.
On an evening in Braxton when she met friends for dinner, she saw Charlie. The meeting had been awkward, but not painful. When he saw the sparkling diamond on her finger, a lost look flickered in his eyes. She swallowed. Charlie now knew they would go their own ways, and she felt relief that Bryg had insisted she have an engagement ring. When Charlie’s brows arched with curiosity, Leah told him she and Bryg planned a spring wedding. He wished her the best.
With Bryg, she had the best.
During winter and spring quarters, Leah spent every evening on the phone with Bryg discussing the wedding, which would be simple, and every weekend in Mardale. She slept little and spent every night staying up late grading papers and planning lessons. Each visit to Mardale was an adventure where Bryg showed her the latest changes he’d made at the ranch. She still couldn’t believe he wanted to make Mardale his home. That she and Bryg would raise a family in Mardale made her heart float inside her chest. No degrees or awards could compare to the joy she felt knowing their children would be raised on a ranch.
Bryg hung his coat in the closet, then stepped into the living room and threw a couple of logs on the fire, the muscles in his broad shoulders swelling and easing with his movements. Rising, he brushed his hands together and faced her. His eyes lighted when he saw she watched him.
She blushed. She had every right to stare at her own husband, but felt awkward when he caught her.
“What are you thinking?” Bryg stepped to her and drew her to his chest, the ridged muscles in his powerful arms holding her as if she were the delicate babe she’d soon hold in her own arms. The curve in her stomach pressed against his own flat board abs.
“What a wonderful Christmas this is,” she said, and rested her head against his chest. The steady rhythm of his heart making her own heart fill with love for this strongly built and gentle man.
“It is wonderful,” he said, his voice deep and filled with emotion. “How are you feeling?” He tipped her face and looked into her eyes.
“Fine,” she said. Mostly, she was fine. Today, her stomach had been more queasy, but she’d cooked more today than she had since she’d discovered she was pregnant.
Bryg arched a brow at her.
“Don’t worry,” she said with a laugh. “I’ll be fine.”
“Maybe we should’ve pared the guest list,” he said, concern filling his face.
“And miss out on a chance to celebrate the holiday with both our families?” She arched her brows in surprise. “No, thank you. I’m glad your foster parents will be here. I hope they’ll play a big part in our baby’s life.”
“You can count on that.” Bryg gave a deep laugh. “They’d still have foster children if they had the energy.”
“Then that will give them more time to dote on our children.” She grinned.
The sound of tires turning over gravel filtered into the living room. Car doors opened and closed, followed by heavy boots stomping up the front steps. Bryg opened the door. On the porch stood Leah’s parents and the Moores. Leah’s brother and his family and the boys stood behind them.
Bryg’s eyes filled with joy and feeling. He stepped aside, welcoming everyone into the house, then drew his foster parents into his arms. He held them close, clinging to them as he may have done as a boy in desperate need of a home.
Leah collected jackets and hats and led everyone into the living room where an assortment of mixed nuts, cheese spreads and relish trays sat on the end tables and coffee tables.
She and Bryg settled on the loveseat while the others sat in chairs around the crackling fireplace. Small talk included the boys and David’s children, and they talked about school and activities and the colleges Zeke and Frankie would attend when they graduated high school in the spring.
“Maybe you have more news to tell us.” Mavis sipped the tea Leah had served and looked over her cup at Leah.
Leah’s breath caught, and she shifted her gaze to her father and then to the others in the room.
“I thought there was a glow about you,” Cheryl Moore said with a smile.
Bryg slipped his hand around Leah’s, his smile soft and filled with love. The boys and David’s children quieted as they realized Bryg and Leah would welcome a little one into their home.
“The baby is due in early May,” Bryg said.
“Spring is perfect timing,” Mavis said softly, delight shining in her eyes.
“Cool,” Zeke said. He grinned and leaned into his chair. “I’ll still be here. I’ll get to see him.”
Everyone laughed.
“Anyone hungry?” Bryg rose, bringing Leah with him.
“Yes.” The boys and David’s children talked at once. They were on their feet and cast longing looks toward the dining room.
“Good.” Leah gestured everyone toward the dining room. “Everyone take a seat.”
The boys and David’s children were out of the room and pacing around the dining room table when they noticed the placards. They slipped into their chairs.
Leah smoothed a hand over her stomach. A year ago, her life had seemed a shambles when she’d broken her engagement to Charlie and returned home. What was broken, God had made better than new―marriage to a man she had never thought she’d meet. Now, they were expecting their first child.
Bryg’s tentative fingers touched hers, then clasped them with the warmth and tenderness so familiar in his touch. His mouth curved slightly with an affection that seemed to grow every day. Never had she thought she’d be blessed with such happiness.
He glanced at the ceiling. Leah’s gaze followed his to a sprig of mistletoe.
Her eyes widened. “You put that up?” she whispered.
“Naturally, I can’t spend Christmas in this house with my beautiful wife and not have mistletoe.” He arched a brow. Bending to her, he gave her a quick kiss.
“I saw that,” Frankie shouted and pointed a finger at them.
The corner of Zeke’s mouth curved in amusement. The other children made faces.
The adults laughed.
“This is proof we’re not going to get away with much once we welcome our new addition,” Leah said, and smiled.
“Because that little one will keep us hopping.” Bryg gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
He led her to one end of the table. The children watched as he held the chair for her. When Bryg sat at the opposite end of the table, he offered a hand to Carl on his right and one to Zeke on his left. Everyone else fell silent, held hands and bowed their heads.
Bryg’s deep voice broke into the quiet with thanksgiving for the meal and blessings for all present.
Leah closed her eyes and soaked in the sound of her husband’s voice. Something stirred in her stomach, and she soaked up the warmth filling her.
This life growing inside her was part of her and part of the man who prayed earnestly for everyone present. The love she felt filled her to overflowing, and she breathed deeply to still the emotions tumbling through her chest.
As a child, she never thought she’d leave Mardale. When she left for college, she knew she’d only return for holidays until her parents left.
Now, because of the man who sat at the head of the table, she had a life she never thought possible. In five months, she’d hold the child they created.
Gratitude filled her. The Moores had taken a kid off the street, discovered his strengths and guided him not to be just a financial success, but one who loved the Lord and would be a role model for their children and the other children they’d welcome into their home. She silently offered thanks for the sacrifices the Moores made and what her own parents had given to her and David, to the boys sitting around the table and the ones who had lived in their house over the years.
The four boys here now were on their way to being admirable young men, despite their differences. They had the wisdom to let go of the past and welcome the future. Zeke’s acceptance of his new life had been the most welcome victory of all.
Everyone murmured amen and the serving dishes moved around the table. Conversations rose and fell as everyone discussed the joy of the holiday, the new baby, and what the new year would bring.
When they finished dessert, they gathered around the Christmas tree. The boys and David’s children barely contained their excitement as they gratefully accepted beautifully wrapped gifts and delighted in the warm jackets and technical gadgets. At the evening’s end, Bryg helped everyone pack the gifts into their cars, then he and Leah huddled in their coats on the front porch until the cars disappeared down the driveway.
They stepped into the house now filled with quiet.
“It’s too quiet,” Leah whispered. Though she was tired, she wished the evening could go on forever. She lifted her gaze to Bryg’s brilliant blue eyes filled with love.
“We’ll see everyone at your parents’ house tomorrow.” Bryg’s smile reassured her. “Until then, we can celebrate our first Christmas together.”
“That’s the greatest gift of all.” She laid a hand against his chest, felt the beat of his heart.
He slanted his face over hers, his lips tasting her, loving her. He brushed her hair back over her shoulder and trailed kisses down the curve of her neck. He released a ragged breath. “Let’s go upstairs,” he murmured against the base of her throat.
She took his face between her hands and kissed him, breathed in his subtle scent, then slipped a hand in his. His fingers closed around hers, and she let him lead her up the stairs where she would love and be loved by the man with whom she would share her life for as long as they both shall live.
Merry Christmas, dear Reader!