A Hero Grinch for Christmas (10 page)

Dani was gone.

The house was too empty without her feisty personality and spirited gibes.

Hunter stood in the kitchen starring out the window into the dark night. No sooner had he shoved thoughts of Dani away, than the image of her face raced back into his mind. How had she gotten under his skin so quickly?

Hunter downed his third glass of scotch feeling the burn all the way to his gut—just like the old days. The liquor hadn’t worked then and he didn’t expect it to help this time, either. Her image burned brighter and hotter than the scotch in his stomach. Large green eyes that always held a spark, fringed with long lashes. Skin so soft his hands clenched with want to slide over her velvety skin. Even now he could feel the silk of her hair as he’d smoothed his fingers through her thick strands.

Hope
. What a crock?

He felt empty. Lost.

Worse than when he’d signed his discharge papers with no destination in mind. The tragedy of his uncle’s death had not pierced him as much as watching Dani walk out his front door, knowing she was walking out of his life.

He poured another glass and carried it with him to the living room. He hunkered down and tossed a log into the fire. Sparks popped and smacked the stone, sizzling sounds came from the damp wood.

Dani had proven an irresistible temptation. For the first time in his life, desire went beyond lust. Beyond the need to just make love to a woman all night long. He wanted more of her. He couldn’t believe how openly she responded to his touch. With every kiss or caress he gave, a sigh escaped her. Dani was made for loving.

Odd how feelings for a female—which he never wanted to have—had so easily slipped in. He’d never had room in his life for a long lasting relationship. But, with Dani the thought took root. Soft, feisty, and radiating fire, she was everything he’d ever dreamed of. Dani was a woman who filled his head with words like family and future and forever. She made him
hope
.

A sudden image hacked his mind—his hands around her slender neck. He tossed back the rest of the scotch in his glass, his knuckles turning white from their grip.

What if it happened again?

He sat his glass on the stone hearth and sat on the floor. He held his head in his hands. Torture. Pure torture, trying to decide what to do, what would be the right thing to do.

He was unaware of how long he’d sat there before he climbed his sorry ass from the floor. He grabbed another log and tossed it into the fire. Then he walked to the recliner and sank into comfortable leather.

There was something powerful between them. Her kisses brought life to his dying soul. He’d never talked to anyone about his demons, not even the Army shrink. Dani gently coaxed him, convincing him that airing his burden would help. It did.

She showed him what his life could be like with the warmth of a woman. Dani mended his anguish, scaled his barriers, and slipped into his heart. He found the will to live again. Not just exist, like he’d been doing this past year. She jerked him back from the pits of hell, and gave him a reason to go on.

To want to go on.

Christmas. A season of dreams and miracles. And gifts like Dani—a treasure he didn’t deserve. Any time he’d been with a woman, he’d kept a clear head. Just the thought of touching Dani made him lose all reason. He lost himself in her, while he was buried deep inside her. Never had he thought making love would be like . . . making love.

How could a guy lose himself in her body and not fall in love with her?

Dare he believe in miracles? What had she called him? Grinch? Well deserving. She seemed to understand him, even when he hadn’t understood himself.

He loved her.

He wanted Dani in his life.

He leaned his head back against the soft leather and dared to dream. With a little Christmas spirit, maybe he’d get his miracle.

He wasn’t about to let Dani go.

“What did you say?” Dani asked.

“I said Denny’s nephew is leaving.” Clarice waved a hand in her direction. “Come over here and sit down. Bring one your newfangled coffee things.”

Dani couldn’t believe what she just heard. Sure didn’t take Hunter long to make up his mind. But when she considered the holidays were almost over, her anger simmered. In all fairness, she reminded herself, she would be going back to New York.

She joined Clarice and Fay at the cozy table. The snow had stopped, but the air was still cold. A fire blazed in the fireplace which kept the shop at a comfortable temperature. She glanced down into the foam of her cup realizing she’d not missed the special coffee during her time with Hunter.

He was leaving.

“Of course, I know.” Clarice bristled.

Dani had lost the conversation.

“He went to see Calvin at the newspaper,” Clarice continued. “Said he was leaving. I thought he’d stay.”

“He’s in the Army. He’s probably going to his next duty station.” Fay reasoned.

“No,” Dani answered. “He’s been discharged.”

“He what?” Clarice and Fay both were shocked.

“He served three tours in Afghanistan,” Dani explained. “He lost a lot of his comrades.”

“I see.” She stared at Dani like she wanted to say more.

“I doubt you do, Clarice. War can change a man. I’m sure Hunter has his reasons,” Fay said.

Clarice ignored her. “Tell me, Dani. You were at that cabin for nearly two weeks. Did—”

“Enough Clarice. Dani and Hunter’s business is just that—their business. Close as we are, I won’t let you grill Dani.”

“Well, I never.”

“Yes you have.”

Only good friends could speak to each other that way. And both women had a way of saying exactly what they thought.

“Now Dani, honey, why don’t you go take care of that special order?” Fay said.

“What order?” She spoke before thinking. Uh oh. She’d seen enough of Fay’s expressions to read the one on her face now.
Get out of here.

“Oh yes. I’ll take care of it right away.” As Dani hurried to the back room, the two women shouted loud whispers to each other.

When she heard the tinkle of the bell above the door, she knew Clarice had gone. Dani returned to the front of the shop.

“Aunt Fay—”

“Oh don’t worry about her.” Fay settled back into her chair. “Talk to me.”

“What do you mean?” Dani hedged.

“Girl. I raised you since you were knee high.” She held out a hand even with her knee. “You’ve been polite, but your spirit is gone. I don’t care for this moping around. It’s not you.”

“I’m not moping.”

Fay waved a hand toward a cup sitting on the table. “You haven’t even touched your cappuccino. That blasted machine was the highlight of your day only two weeks ago. I had to learn how to work the contraption while you were shacked up in the woods.”

“I was stranded, not shacking up.”

“There’s a touch of your spirit. Tell me what happened.”

When Dani opened her mouth, Fay held up her hand.

“Stop right there. I’ve not stuck my nose in your business. But by the time you get around to confiding in me, Hunter might be gone.”

Tears clouded Dani’s vision.

“Aww, Honey.” Fay slid a hand across the table and covered Dani’s. “I thought so.” Reaching behind her, she grabbed a box of tissues.

Dani snatched one and swiped at her eyes.

“Did you know he was leaving?”

“No,” Dani whispered, shaking her head. “I had no idea.”

“I thought he’d make a home in Wyattsville. That’s what Denny wanted.”

“Well, I never really believed he would stay.”

“But you hoped?”

Dani met her aunt’s gaze. “I hoped.” She took a deep breath. “Which is silly since I’m going back to New York.”

“Uh huh.” Fay had a gleam in her eye.

“What?”

“You’re going to New York. Did you think of that when you were falling in love?”

“I’m . . .” How could she even think of denying what she felt? Of course she loved Hunter. “Yes, I love him.”

“
I
knew it. Just making sure you did.”

Dani smiled. “I love you, too.”

“I know. Denny feared his nephew would get killed over there. There are worse things. Sometimes the ones who come home have seen more than they can handle.”

“He has recurring nightmares, maybe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. But we talked about everything. I’m sure he can manage his pain.”

“That’s good.” She patted Dani’s hand. “You have the type of personality that makes people feel better.”

“We had fun.” Dani remembered trying to make him laugh and how pleased she felt when he did.

“You’ve always tried to help people. I’ve never seen someone work so hard to make a person smile.” Fay’s forehead wrinkled. “Honey, are you sure you’re not feeling sorry for Hunter?”

“I think I know the difference. And believe me, I don’t pity, Hunter.”

“You can’t save him, Dani.”

She studied her aunt’s face. “Like one of my strays?”

“Exactly.”

“No,” Dani disagreed. “He’s special. Different from any man I’ve met. The few who were worth a second or third date, just didn’t have the sizzle.”

“Hunter has the sizzle?” Fays eyes lit up.

Dani leaned forward. “Yep. Sizzle. As in hot enough to burn.”

“Oh,” Fay said on a soft sigh.

“You’re the one who told me I should look for more in a man than stability and security.”

“Glad you were paying attention.” Fay slapped her hands flat on the table. “I think this calls for a drink. Something better than that machine you love over there.” She walked to the back room and returned with a bottle of Champagne.

“What have you got there? Holding out on me?” Dani teased.

“Been saving it for the New Year. What’s a few days matter? This discussion calls for a toast.”

“A toast?”

“Call it whatever you like, Dear. We’re talking about magic.” Fay unwrapped the top of the bottle, then popped the cork. “Christmas is the time for wishes.”

The Christmas spirit lingered. Dani’s favorite time of year. She tapped the rim of her crystal flute with Fay’s, and then she sipped her champagne.

“Now. I want to hear about the sizzle.”

“You promised not to ask.”

“Girl, if you’ve got sizzle, then that sounds like the real thing.”

Dani set her glass on the table. “He’s overwhelmed with grief. Not just from Denny, but from his last deployment. He lost his entire unit.”

“That’s sad, Honey.” Fay patted Dani’s hand. “I know you love the guy. What are you going to do about it?”

“You heard what Clarice said. He’s leaving.”

“Did you tell him you were going back to New York?”

Dani lowered her gaze. “No, I didn’t.”

“Well? Are you still going back to New York? Or are you going to stay and fight for your man?”

“Clarice said—”

“Bah. What does that old busy body know?”

“Evidently, quite a lot.” Dani ran her finger around the rim of her glass.

“He isn’t gone yet. There’s still time, if that’s what you want.”

Of course she wanted Hunter, and didn’t realize how much until now.

“Honey, let me tell you something. Al and I had a wonderful marriage. I liked to travel and he didn’t. I could come and go as I pleased. Might have seemed odd to some folks. But I loved that man so much. And he loved me. I wouldn’t trade one day of our lives together for another year on this earth.”

She covered Dani’s hand with both of hers.

“We had what most people search for their whole lives. If you have that with Hunter, you better think twice before giving up on him.”

Dani couldn’t bear the thought of never seeing Hunter again.

Hunter was going to leave unless she could convince him to stay.

Thinking about him leaving made Dani want to curl up in a ball and cry her eyes out. She understood his pain, but also knew if he ran away he would never recover. Unable to sleep after agonizing over her conversation with her aunt, she knew there was only one way to change things.

Are you going back to New York? Or are you going to stay and fight for your man?

Did she really want to go back to New York? To her daily, routine of work, her feet on the couch, lounging in her comfy PJs, curled up with a bucket of ice cream in front of the TV?

How was she supposed to forget she’d fallen in love?

Through the long night memories tormented her. Each time she thought of Hunter, she trembled remembering their lovemaking. His soft touch excited and aroused her. They’d enjoyed each other. She wanted a man to share her ups and downs, someone to love with her whole heart. And would love her just as much. Hunter was that man. She wanted a future with him.

Her mind tried to tell her it was too soon, that he wasn’t interested. Yet she knew his pain was the impediment between them.

He was strong, sensitive, and he cared for her, she knew he did. When he held her, his manner seemed almost possessive. If he ever allowed her inside, she knew they would have a love no other could compare.

But doubt still festered. Did Hunter care?

Not enough to keep her with him. Not enough to stop her from walking out of the cabin.

She jumped to her feet thinking of an idea. Maybe she could stop him from leaving. Did he want to stay?

Shit. Shit. Shit.

She paced the room and chewed on the end of her fingernail. She loved Hunter. She couldn’t let him walk out of her life.

No promises. No guarantees.

Her heart ached for him.

There’s only here and now.

December is the month for miracles. She was going to do it; take the plunge and live in the moment.

The clock on the mantel struck ten.

And if Santa decided to grant her Christmas wish, she better get a move on.

***

Dani slammed her hand down on the steering wheel.
Damn.
Of all the inconvenient—she needed gas. She swerved to the lane heading for the gas station. When the Jeep slid as she rounded the curve, she quickly took her foot off the gas. The last thing she needed was to wreck again.

She flung open the door and hopped out. She pulled her hood up to block the wind. After swiping her card, she grabbed the nozzle and pulled the lever.

“Hey, Dani.” She peered around the side of the pump.

“Hey, Pete.”

“Colder than a witch’s tit.”

Dani laughed. “Doesn’t that saying ever get old?”

“Stole it from Henry, so I reckon it is pretty old.”

“Thanks again for bringing my Jeep up to the cabin.”

He gave a blinding smile. Why hadn’t some girl snatched him up?

“Glad to do it. Hey, uh, I heard about Hunter.”

A sharp pang hit her chest, but she quickly shoved it away. He wasn’t leaving if she got to him first. She’d find a way to make him stay.

“I’m on my way to see him now.”

“I figured that when I saw you getting gas. Hope he’s not banged up too bad.”

She put the nozzle in the slot. “What?”

“Well, by the looks of the truck, he must have hit that tree pretty hard.”

She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Pete. What are you talking about?”

He frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“I thought you were talking about Hunter leaving Wyattsville.”

“Yeah. Heard that, too.” He shifted his feet. “Uh, Hunter crashed his truck coming down the mountain.”

The earth moved beneath her feet, and strong hands clasped her shoulders.

“Dani? Are you okay?”

When the fog cleared from her brain, she realized Pete was holding her up.
Hunter.
“What did you say?”

“Come on. You’re not driving anywhere.” He turned her around.

“I’m all right.”

“No. You’re not. There’s no way in hell I’ll let you drive on these icy roads.” Pete helped her to the passenger side of her car. “Get in.”

After securing her seatbelt, he strode to the driver’s side, jumped in, and cranked the engine.

“Where are we going?” Dani asked.

“To the hospital.”

She gasped. “To the . . . How bad is he?”

“Calm down. Don’t know for sure. For all I know, he could just have a bump on the head.”

Tears threatened, but she swallowed her dread. “How did you find out?”

“Came across the radio. Harper’s Garage towed the truck in. Hunter must have hit a patch of ice and slid into a tree.” Pete stared at her. “Sound familiar?”

“I didn’t hit a tree.”

“Thank God.”

She had to get to Hunter. She had to see for herself how badly he was hurt. “Hurry.”

“You want to end up in traction with him?”

“Traction?” Her eyes flew wide as she imagined him wrapped in white bandages from his head to his feet, one leg hiked into the air with a cable. “Oh my God.”

“Settle down. It was a joke. We’ll get there.”

Minutes later, when Pete pulled into the hospital parking lot, Dani unbuckled her seat belt, ready to bolt.

“Hold on. I’ll let you out at the ER entrance and I’ll find a place to park.”

“Thanks, Pete.”

When he pulled to the curb, she hopped out and ran through the double doors. The nurse at the desk was on the phone. Dani was ready to scream to get her attention. When another nurse came around the corner, she nearly tackled her.

“I’m here to see Hunter Armstrong. He was in an accident in the mountains.”

“Are you family?”

She knew the rules and unless she lied about being a relative, she’d never get any information.

“Yes.”

The woman studied Dani. “Down the hall, cubicle to the right.”

Frantic, Dani took off.

“He’ll need to keep that bandage on his head,” the nurse called after her.

Dani peered into the first room. Seeing no one, she rushed to the next. A groaning sound caught her attention. She paused in the doorway. A man lying on a stretcher moaned.
Bandage?
His entire head was wrapped up; she couldn’t see his face. Only his eyes and mouth were visible through the blood-soaked bandages.

Oh my God!

Her knees trembled, she slumped against the door, taking deep breaths to calm her racing heart. Why was he in this room alone? Where was the doctor, a nurse? Shouldn’t someone be here caring for him?

He moaned again.

Dear God.

She staggered to the gurney. Fear clawed its way from her chest to her throat and threatened to strangle her. She had to be strong, for Hunter.

Fay believed when someone was unconscious, they could still hear their loved one’s voice.

“I’m going on faith here.” My God, was that her voice? She took a deep breath and tried again. “I hope you can hear me. I love you. So very much.”

She wanted to hold his hand, but the blanket covered everything from his feet to his neck.

“I’m sorry for your friends. So sorry for your grief. But life goes on. And I want to share it with you.”

Maybe he could hear her. “Don’t leave,” she choked on a sob. “Don’t leave me.”

A tear ran down her cheek and she swiped it away.

“I was on my way to ask you not to go. I know you think my life is in New York. But I want to be with you.” Her lip trembled as she realized how true the statement was. The only thing she wanted was to be with Hunter.

“Did you hear me? If that’s in Wyattsville, great. If not, I’ll go with you. Wherever you want. I’ve never met anyone like you.” Tears streamed down her face.

“Please, Hunter. Don’t leave me.”

“Dani?”

“Yes.” She swiped the tears from her cheeks. “Yes. I’m here.”

“What are you doing?”

It took a moment for her to realize Hunter’s voice was coming from behind her and not from the man on the gurney. She turned and found Hunter standing just inside the door. She blinked, thinking her eyes were playing tricks on her. Her gaze shifted to the man she’d been pouring her heart out to, then darted back to Hunter.

“Hunter?”

“Yes.” He took one step and caught her in his arms.

“What are you doing in here?”

“I thought . . .”

“Who’s that man?”

“I don’t know.” She pulled back then saw the bandage on the side of his head.

“Damn rear view mirror flew off and hit me in the head. Couple of stitches.”

“Is that all?”

He flinched. “Is that all?”

“I mean . . .” Her heart skipped a beat again. “I thought you were . . .” She turned and pointed. “Him! I was so scared.”

“Come on.” Hunter took her arm. “Let’s get out of here.”