Free A Down-Home Country Christmas by Nancy Herkness

you’re the world’s best sister,” Holly said, wanting to change the subject that had somehow strayed away from her immediate concern.
    “That is very true and I can prove it.” Claire set her wineglass on the bedside table and reached down to pick up the shiny green shopping bag she’d carried in with her. It was embossed with name of an exclusive shop at the Laurels, the nearby resort hotel. “Look at what I brought you.”
    Holly slid her glass onto the table and sat down on the bed beside Claire. The bag was stuffed with gold tissue paper. She pulled it out and two wisps of deep red lace floated onto the quilt. When Holly picked them up, they unfolded themselves into a sheer bra and tiny bikini panties.
    “Those are for Saturday,” Claire said. “Wear a white blouse.”
    “I can’t do that.” Holly held the filmy garment up to her chest. “The red lace would show through.”
    Claire’s lips curved into a sly smile.
    “Oh!” Holly gasped as she caught her sister’s expression. She picked up the panties. “I refuse to wear a white skirt though!”
    “It’s winter, so that wouldn’t be appropriate,” Claire agreed.
    “Do you wear this kind of thing all the time?” Holly put her hand under the lace to see how transparent it was.
    “Only when I’m hoping for a certain reaction from Tim. And then I don’t wear it for long.” Claire got up and headed for Holly’s closet. “Now let’s see what Robbie is going to peel off you to get to the red lace.”
    Sheer panic closed up Holly’s throat at the realization that all this was supposed to end with her and Robbie in bed together. “I can’t…I don’t…oh, Claire!”
    Her sister backed out of the closet with a look of concern on her face. “What is it, sweetie?” She sat on the bed and wrapped her arm around Holly’s shoulders.
    “It’s been a long time since…” Holly waved her hand vaguely.
    “Since you had sex?”
    Holly nodded.
    “It’s like riding a bicycle. You never forget how,” Claire said.
    Holly felt her sister’s grip relax. “It’s more than that. It was only Frank for so many years.”
    “I’m sure Robbie will be better than Frank.”
    “But what if I’m not any good?” Holly finally managed to force out.
    “Oh, sweetie, why would you worry about that?”
    Holly stared down at the lace she’d crumpled into a ball between her hands. “That’s why Frank cheated on me,” she whispered.
    Claire’s arm went rigid across her back. “No, it’s not,” she said, fury in her voice again. “He cheated on you because he was a self-centered, lying, immoral pig. It had nothing to do with anything you did or didn’t do.” She softened her voice. “You are a beautiful, sexy woman. When Robbie sees that red lace peeking through your white blouse, he’s going to have a hard time keeping his mind on piloting the plane.”
    “Way to make me less nervous about flying.” Holly buried her face in Claire’s shoulder and said in a muffled voice, “I hope you’re right.”
    They stayed like that for a long moment. “Okay, back to clothing selection,” Claire said, sitting back and reaching for Holly’s wineglass. She put it in her sister’s hand and headed back for the closet. “Now let’s put together an ensemble that says ‘keep your hands on the controls of the plane, but rip off my clothes after we land’.”

 
     
    Chapter 8
     
     
    “You’ve gotten quiet,” Robbie said as he swung his SUV into a parking space in front of Sanctuary International Airport’s single terminal on Saturday afternoon. The low brick building sprawled across what had once been a pasture. Now the chain-link fence extending from the terminal surrounded a flock of parked aircraft rather than a herd of grazing cows.
    Holly had been hoping for a snowstorm, but the day had dawned clear, the air made crystalline by the winter cold. She rubbed her palms on the wool of the red skirt Claire had loaned her. Her sister had convinced her