Mischief and Mistletoe (3 page)

“Because your daddy and I were talking.”

Candace made the exact same face she normally reserved for green vegetables. “Sometimes we eat where your butt is.”

Charlotte pointed to the door. “Child, get your juice and go.”

Candace frowned but made her way to the refrigerator just the same. “I’m just saying…”

“Less saying and more juice getting.”

“Fine,” she muttered as she yanked open the door and pulled out two Carpi Suns. “Wait until I tell Aunt
T’mara what you two was doing. She’s going to be so grossed out.”

Ty shook his head and just waited it out. It was the only way he’d figured out how to deal with Candace when she was…verbal like this. He definitely blamed Charlotte for his little princess being such a dictator and he told her so as soon as Candace left the room. “That’s all you.”

“No. Don’t even try that.”

“Apparently I can’t try anything.” He gestured between the two of them. “Without getting caught.”

“Hey, I was the one who said we should get a puppy. You were the one who insisted on a baby.”

“Really,” he deadpanned. “That’s the way you remember it?”

Charlotte hopped down from the island. “It’s my story and I’m sticking to it.”

“I got something I want to stick in—”
A knock at the door cut off the rest of his raunchy comment. “Looks like the guest of honor has arrived,” he said instead.

“Should I go warn Tamara?”

“Now, honey, where would the fun be in that?”

“That’s why I love you.”

It wasn’t the only reason, but he’d take it for now.

Chapter Two

After distributing the juice pouches,
Candace climbed up on the bed next to Tamara and scooted down until she was lying on Tamara’s breasts with her mouth next to the top of Tamara’s belly so she could talk to the baby during the commercials. Halfway through
Rudolph
, between sips of her Capri Sun, Candace began a dialogue with baby that had Tamara in tears. Not because she was sad, but because she was so freaking amused. Little Miss Priss was just talking to the baby as if he were talking back and having a good old time with it. It was sweet and comforting and entirely too endearing.

Love Charlotte as she did, there were days when Candace was one conversation away from being Tamara’s new BFF. The little girl was the light of her world and she just adored her to pieces. Every time she left the Dollar Ranch, Tamara tried to think of a way to whisk the little tyke away, but with a daddy like Ty, Tamara knew she wouldn’t get very far. So instead she had to settle for being the best
aunt in the world. It wasn’t an easy job, but someone had to do it.

Candace l
ifted her head and looked up at her aunt. “So did you get Pinkie Pie lots of presents?”

“I think that’s between Pinkie Pie and Santa.”

A shadow of annoyance crossed Candace’s cherub-like face. “Really, Aunt T’mara. Santa?”

Tamara feigned outrage. “Don’t tell me you don’t believe in Santa?”

“Do you?”

Tamara wasn’t big on lying but she refused to be the adult that ruined Good Old Saint Nick for any kid. People who did that were destined to shovel coal in hell. “I’m all about the jolly old elf. Plus I get everything I want every Christmas. If it’s not Santa doing it, th
en who is it?”

“Uncle Rusty,” she said as if there w
as no doubt in the world.

Tamara laughed. Candace had her there. “He is pretty good at present buying.”

“And Mom says he spoils you rotten.”

“Does she now?” Tamara filed that little note away for a future conversation she’d be having with her
bestie.

“Yep. She thinks we’re all a little spoiled.”

Tamara frowned at that description. “Well, I wouldn’t necessarily agree to that.”

“You wouldn’t
, huh?” Russell said from the open doorway. His eyes were cold and his demeanor was less than welcoming. From the way he was looking at her, Tamara wasn’t sure whether it was warmer outside or in.

Truth be told, Tamara didn’t care that he looked mad enough to spit nails or that just a few hours ago she was highly contemplating putting Nair in his shampoo. All that matter
ed was he was here, safe, with her. He’d made it in from the storm, so it didn’t matter to her that there were dark clouds brewing in his green eyes. The fighting would come later, of that she was sure, but for right now, she was just going to look at her handsome man and do what she did every night. Thank the Good Lord he brought this stubborn cowboy into her life.

“Uncle Rusty.” Candace rose to her feet then leaped from the bed with the trust of a well
-loved child knowing she was going to be caught even though Russell was nowhere near the bed when she jumped. And of course he stepped up and caught her before she even began to come down.

He spun her around one good time before plopping her on his hip and focusing all his attention on his niece. “How’s my favorite girl?”

“Good.” She cheered, as if being happy was an amazing accomplishment for a four-year-old.

“That’s what I like to hear. So what are you up to
, Princess Annie Oakley?”

Candace giggled at the nickname that only Russell called her. “Just hanging with Aunt
T’mara and talking to Pinkie Pie.”

Russell frowned. “Pinkie Pie?”

“The baby, silly.”

“The baby’s name is,” Russell looked over at Tamara who could only shrug in reply, “Pinkie Pie?”

“Yes.” Candace placed both her hands on Russell’s cheeks, so he was forced to look directly at her. “And no matter what Aunt T’mara says it’s a
boys
and
girls
name,” Candace said firmly.

“Of course it is,” he replied as if it w
ere foolish to consider anything else, which brought a big smile to Candace’s face.

“Thank you. I knew you’d get it.”

“I always do.” Russell dropped a soft kiss on her forehead then set her down on the floor. “I need you to run off for a bit because Aunt Tamara and I need to have a talk.”

“A
grown’d up talk,” she said with a sigh.

Russell looked over at Tamara
, who tried to sink into the bed and out of his line of sight. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Should I get the naughty word jar?”

Russell frowned. “I would never curse in front of a lady.”

“Oh no,” Candace said. “It’s for the mommies.”

Tamara stifled a laugh. Charlotte might be the size of a woodland fairy but she had the mouth of a Hells Angel. “I think we’ll be fine,” Tamara said as she eased up into a sitting position and let out a deep breath. She’d been lying down way too long and the baby had pressed down her lungs.

“Oh okay, I’ll come back and let you know when dinner is ready.”

“Thank you, princess.” He bowed regally. “That would be lovely.”

At the mention of dinner, Tamara felt a glimmer of interest, which was followed quite quickly by a douse of reality. Russell looked fit to be tied
, and if his demeanor was anything to go by, they might not make it down to dinner.

“Later
, Aunt T’mara.”

“Later
, baby girl.” Tamara waved forlornly, knowing she was losing her last and only ally.

Candace skipped out of the room as if she didn’t have a care in the world. The same could not be said for Russell, who walked like a man with a purpose over to the door and locked it.

The sharp click echoed throughout the room like a gunshot. Round One had begun. Before he had the chance to turn around, she started in. “Hi, honey. Did you have a good day at the office?”

“Oh wonderful
, dear.” Russell shrugged off his thick lambskin-lined coat then tossed it carelessly onto the chair Tamara had occupied just a couple of hours previously. His Stetson quickly followed, allowing him to run his hand through his thick black hair that was cut and tapered to his nape. “I mean flat-out perfect.”

Tamara walked on her knees over to the edge of the bed then she sat back on her heels. “Oh. Tell me more.”

“Let me.” With each word his sarcasm thickened. “After almost coming to blows with the manager of the feed store who decided to use this little snow storm to raise his prices through the roof, I stop at the grocery store and picked up some supplies. Nothing pressing, mind you. I just knew my wife had been craving cheddar and sour cream chips, so good husband that I am, I picked up a few bags for her, because, heaven forbid, she get trapped at home without her favorite snack.”

“That was nice of you.” Going into this
, Tamara knew it was highly likely she might be the one who ended up apologizing before the night was over, but some decisions were worth an ass chewing, and she made hers so she was willing to handle the consequences.

“It was.” Russell pulled his buttoned
-down flannel shirt out of his jeans and began to undo the buttons, one at a time as he came closer and closer to the bed. “And I was hoping as a reward my loving wife would pepper my face with kisses. Maybe, cuddle up with me in front of the fireplace with nothing but the lights from the Christmas tree for our entertainment.” The final button came undone as he said the last word, which spared him a remark back from Tamara who was far too busy drooling at the sight of her husband’s bare chest.

It was ridiculous how turned
on she could get just from seeing bits and pieces of his body. It hadn’t always been like that. Okay, it had been like that a good portion of the time, but being pregnant, she was ten times more likely to jump him just because he bent over to put on a shoe.

“But what did I find instead?” Russell continued, drawing her attention away from his chest and back to what he was saying. “An absentee wife. A wife who was instructed not to leave because of the snowstorm coming.”

“I left a note and I made it here just fine.”

“I asked you not to leave. I would have driven you over later tonight if the snow let up.”

“No, you told me,
told
.” She made sure she emphasized the offensive word. “And I left in plenty of time. It was barely snowing when I arrived here.”

“That’s not the point
, Tamara.”

“No, it kind of is. You’re not the boss of me
, Russell Crichton.” It had been their biggest argument since she’d told him of her pregnancy. It seemed for every inch she grew he became just a tad bit more overly protective. He was taking the supportive husband thing way too far and driving her insane in the process.

“No, you’ve made that extremely clear again and again, but there’s something you’ve forgotten.”

“The capitals of all fifty states?”

His lips twitched like she’d hoped they might, but he stayed strong and pressed on. “No, you forgot that although I might not be able to boss you around, I have squatters rights on this.” He placed his hand on her belly and the baby responded with a sound “
Hi, Daddy” kick. “I get you want to be Little Miss Independent. Which is fine. I didn’t marry a doormat, and I don’t expect you to turn into one, but, Tamara, it’s not just about you anymore.”

“I know that,” she grumbled, hating like hell when he used logic against her. That
was what she got though, for marrying a former lawyer.

“Then why did you come?”

“Because I’m lonely. It’s Christmas Eve and I need to be with my family.” She knew it sounded pathetic and sad, but damn it, that was how she was feeling.

“Hey
.” Russell took her left hand in his and ran his thumb over the ring that bound them by law and love. “I’m family.”

Tamara could hear it in the background. The sounds of the ice around her heart unthawing. She let out a sad sigh and squeezed his hand. “And you’re out there doing what you have to do to support us. I know this and I love you for it. But
, Russell, if I had to sit one more second in that house alone, unable to work because of the baby, I was going to go insane. I needed some girl time. I needed some Candace time. I needed some space.”

He looked hurt by the last statement. “Are you saying I’m not giving you space?”

She frowned and crossed her arms over her ample breasts. “I’m saying that I noticed that you activated the tracking device in my phone.”

He tossed his hands up as if to say,
So what?
“That was just in case something happened and I had to find you.”

“Tracking. Device.” No matter how he tried to explain it she was pissed. She wasn’t a car that needed to be
LoJacked.

“Safety,” he countered.

“Smothering,” she yelled back, angry he couldn’t understand her side on this.

“You’re acting like I’m trying to throw you down a well with a dog name
d Precious and a bottle of lotion.”

“I wouldn’t put it past you.”

“I’m not that bad,” Russell insisted.

“Tracking. Device,” she said the words soft and slow, but very distinctly.

“It would have been necessary if the storm had kicked up to the level it’s at now while you were on the road. You want to be free and I just want to know you’re safe.”

“You know what I want. My chips. You brought them
, didn’t you?” Tamara knew Russell loved her and that’s why he did the things he did. He was just going to have to accept she was going to do certain things to thwart him. And then they both needed to let it go. No one was going to come out the winner in this fight, so she might as well get her eat on.

“Yes, but you aren’t getting them until you admit you shouldn’t have left like you did.”

Tamara opened her mouth to argue the point then slammed it shut. She wanted chips more than she wanted to be right. “Fine, now gimme.”

“That didn’t count.”

She furrowed her brow. “It’s the best you’re getting.”

“Is it? Because I could have sworn
cheddar and sour cream are Candace’s favorite chips as well.”

“Oh you play dirty.” She
frowned. “Fine. I, Tamara Crichton, used faulty reasoning when I escaped.”

“Tamara…”

“Left my prison.” She substituted in a sing-song voice.

Russell growled menacingly. “Tamara!”

“Home, left home, and I won’t do it again.”
When it’s about to snow
, she added silently.

“Thank you.”

“Until next time.”

“You little brat.” Russell swept her up in his arms, causing her to gasp and grab on to him as he lowered her back down to the bed. As soon as her head hit the mattress
, his lips covered hers. Even though it had only been a few hours since they were last together, it felt like years. Tamara wondered if she would ever get over the way he made her feel with just a touch, but she didn’t want to. Kissing Russell was like coming home. She was so completely his and she wanted him to know it, even if she might not ever be able to say it with words, so she put all her love and desire for him into the embrace and put everything she was and everything he’d help her become into it. Russell responded happily, deepening the kiss for a few seconds more before breaking away from her mouth and moving his lips down her jaw to her slender neck. He licked at the pulse pounding underneath her skin then nuzzled his way up her neck to her ear. “You know if you weren’t pregnant, I would have spanked your bottom by now.”