Mistletoe & Kisses (16 page)

Deciding that a hot shower would help me shake off the melancholy feelings, I moved the bathroom and turned on the water. This Christmas was going to be different—even if it meant taking a few minutes to let myself deal with my emotions that way I could enjoy the company of the family and friends surrounding me. There were no need for feelings of guilt. I deserved to be happy.

Chapter Five

Tanner

THE TWO IDIOTS were still beating down the door as I made my way to the living room. With all the racket they were making, I was surprised that they hadn’t woken up my parents. Either way, I wanted to beat both of their asses for interrupting Danielle and me. That moment before the banging started was one of the most intense of my life. I felt like I could see into Danielle’s soul and, it was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I wasn’t sure how today would go—with all of the memories. I just had to hope that I could do enough to keep the smile on her face. Then again, I knew my gift for her would do that. I’d done well at keeping it hidden. Only the two morons beating down my front door had any idea what I had planned.

Grabbing the handle I opened the door to find both of them with their hands in the air, their fists balled.

“What the hell is wrong with you two?”

Greg smirked at me. “Why? did we interrupt something?”

Colin started chuckling next to him.

“Assholes,” I said, shaking my head. “Come on in. Dani will be out in a minute.”

With their hands full of bags, the two of them pushed past me, into the living room. Shaking my head, I looked down the hall to the bedroom, trying to see some indication as to whether Dani was almost ready to join us. The sound of the shower reached my ears, and I knew she’d be a little bit longer. At least she was getting ready. Colin must have noticed my preoccupation.

“Go check on her,” he said, lifting his chin in the direction of the hall.

I looked over to see him standing next to me, watching the bedroom door himself.

“Last Christmas was really bad, understandably. If you’re worried about her, trust yourself and go check on her. You’re exactly what she needs to have a better Christmas this year.”

He’d hit the nail right on the head, recognizing my fear. It was hard to not worry that some of her memories of last year would creep in and take her down a path that we’d worked so hard to pull her away from. I wasn’t naive enough to think that our life would be full of sunshine and roses. I knew there would be times when the past would come creeping back in, but I would always want to be the person who helped her fight off her demons. As time went on, it was my hope that those days would be few and far between. Even though I’d never be able to cure all of her fears, we would get through it together.

When I opened the bedroom door, the water was still running in the bathroom and I stepped into the thick fog that encompassed the entire room. The sheer beauty of Danielle as she stood under the spray of the shower practically stole my breath, and it took me a minute to remember why I was in the bathroom in the first place. Every graceful line of her body made me long to run my fingers across all of her delicate skin, and knowing that she was mine made all of the heartache we went through worth it. Now it was my job to not only protect her, but to protect her heart as well.

Stripping off my shorts and boxers, I quietly stepped into the shower behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist. Without a word she leaned into me, silently accepting the strength I was offering, the only sound in the room was the water hitting the shower floor.

“Do you wanna talk about it?”

Turning in my arms, she looked up at me. “You’re doing everything I need right now.”

Needing to offer comfort, I reached up and cupped my hand around her cheek. “You know I’m here to listen, right?”

She smiled. “I know. I just needed a minute. After all I went through last year, I want to enjoy this Christmas, and if that meant taking a minute to remember, then I could do that.”

“You’re okay?”

She snuggled in closer. “I am. I had my moment and now I’m going to let myself enjoy our first Christmas together.”

The way she was working hard to push the past back in her memory so that she could focus on the present made me extremely proud of her and all that she’d done for herself in the last year. Not many people could come back from what she had and still be a person whose smile could light up a room. It was just another thing to love about her. Knowing she was okay, I remembered where I was and what she was wearing—or should I say what she
wasn’t
wearing. Of their own accord, my hands slid from her waist, down to firmly caress her ass cheeks.

“Let me wash you,” I whispered in her ear.

“Mmm . . . I’d let you do more, but there’s not a chance of that with the wonder twins in the living room.”

I groaned, reminded that we had company.

“Besides, we’re lucky we didn’t wake your parents up the first time.”

“You’re going to make me wait until everyone leaves?” I tried the pouty lip. Even though we’d been together less than an hour ago, I still wanted her again.

“Don’t give me that face. You can at least wait until tonight when your parents go to bed.”

“But it’s Christmas.”

She stepped out of reach and picked up the loofah and shower gel from the side of the tub. “Which is exactly why we’re going to get showered and dressed, then spend the day with our family and friends, and appreciate every moment.”

Watching her wash was pure torture, especially considering all I could imagine was my hands in place of the loofah. I knew there was no way she was going to let that happen though. “Fine, but later you’re all mine.”

“I’m always all yours.”

Lifting her chin, I slanted my lips over hers, taking a quick taste to hold me over before picking up my soap and beginning to wash myself. With Dani standing wet and naked in front of me, it was hard to get my brain to work properly.

Yet, thinking about what sat under the tree waiting for her, sent butterflies through me. All I wanted was to give her what I thought was the perfect present. It was one of those gifts that no matter how long we lived, I would never be able to top it. All of it made me excited to get the day started. Her plan was to do breakfast first, giving everyone a chance to arrive.

When I was done I stepped out of the shower, leaving her to finish washing her hair. Throwing on a pair of jeans and a Henley, I made my way back into the living room. Greg and Colin had made themselves at home, turning on
The Christmas Story
marathon.

“Dani’s gonna make you change that,” I said gesturing toward the TV with a smirk.

“Why?” Greg drew his brows together.

“She hates this movie,” Colin laughed. “She’ll just have to suck it up and deal.”

Shaking my head I took a seat in the recliner. “They’re your lives.” Personally, I thought it was funny as hell, but there was no way I’d admit that to Dani.

“What the hell are you guys watching? This has to be the worst movie of all time.”

Taking a quick peek, I saw her standing at the end of the hall with her hands on her hips.

“You know you love it,” Colin said, trying not to laugh.

“Greg, you get a free pass. You two should know better,” she said, pointing between Colin and me.

I held my hands up. “Leave me out of this. They already had it on when I came out.”

“You know you love us,” Colin said, trying to give her puppy dog eyes.

She stepped up behind the couch and leaned in between them. “You’re lucky it’s Christmas.” She gave them each a kiss on the cheek and headed into the kitchen.

“Does that mean you forgive us?” Colin called.

“I’m making you breakfast, aren’t I?”

“What did you boys do already?” Mom’s voice called down the hallway.

“Nothing, Mom. Just watching a movie while Dani makes breakfast.”

“Let me guess, you boys are just going to sit here and let Danielle do all of the work.”

“We cook about as well as Tanner,” Greg spoke up.

“Don’t you start with me, Gregory.  I know that you are quite capable in the kitchen. Tell Danielle I’ll be out in a few minutes to help her.”

The bathroom door at the end of the hallway shut, and I let my focus return to the movie. At least, until Colin turned to me.

“Are you ready for today?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be. I just hope she’s not mad that I got it.”

Greg shook his head. “She won’t be.”

There was a knock on the door at the same time my mother emerged from the hallway. Getting up, I went to answer it. On the other side of the door was Dani’s brother, Liam, followed quickly by her parents. Liam held his hand out for me to shake.

“Merry Christmas,” he said, using his hand to pull me into a hug.

“Merry Christmas, man.” I returned his hug, appreciating how far Liam and I had come since I first met him. Christmas just seemed like the perfect time to reflect on those things.

“Tanner, come here and give me a hug,” Nancy, Dani’s mom, said.

Letting go, Liam rolled his eyes at his mom and stepped into the apartment to talk to Colin and Greg.

“Merry Christmas.” Her hug practically squeezed the life out of me. What was it with mothers and them ignoring the need for people to breathe.

“Merry Christmas, Mrs. Renton.”

She stepped back. “How many times do I have to tell you, it’s Nancy. There will be none of this
Mrs. Renton
stuff.”

“Yes, Nancy. Come in.” I led her over to where my mom was waiting patiently by the couch. “Mom, I want to introduce you to Danielle’s mom and dad, Nancy and Sean Renton.”

Sean joined us and held out his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Please call me Sean.”

“It’s so nice to meet both of you. My husband should be out in a few minutes. And please, call me Kathy.” Mom turned to Nancy.

“Nancy,” her mom said, also shaking her hand.

“I was just about to go and help Danielle with breakfast, since my son is no use in the kitchen.”

“Ah yes, we know all about Tanner’s cooking skills,” Nancy laughed, my mom joining in.

“I’d love to help. We can let the boys hang out.” Nancy glanced over in the direction of Greg and Colin.

“Merry Christmas, boys.”

“Merry Christmas,” they said at the same time.

Her gazed focused on the TV. “Oh, that has to be the worst movie of all time. How can you guys watch that?”

“Like mother like daughter,” Colin said.

Nancy rolled her eyes, and after depositing her bags into my hands, she followed my mom into the kitchen. The rest of us took seats in the living room, watching the movie. The conversation around me was mainly about presents and family, but my nerves were shot. If I could have given her the gift right away, I would have. There were so many questions in my head about whether or not I had done the right thing.

Dani came out of the kitchen a few minutes later.

“Hey, loser,” she said, walking up to give her Dad and Liam a hug.

“Look who’s talking,” Liam said, giving her hair a quick ruffle.

She tried to duck out of the way, but he was faster. “Keep that up and I won’t feed you.”

“You love me,” he said with a smirk.

“You’re lucky.” Rolling her eyes, she turned and went back into the kitchen.

With both of our moms and Dani working together to make breakfast, it didn’t take long for them to finish. It was a delicious meal, as always when Dani cooked. Pancakes, eggs, and bacon covered the table—and that wasn’t including the baked goods she’d made the last few days.

There was more than enough to feed the whole apartment complex. It was a good thing we’d invited Colin and Greg. Between the three of us, and Liam, we’d be able to take care of it all.

The further we got into breakfast, the less I tasted my food. Sweat began forming on my brow. Since breakfast had started, I’d done a pretty good job of not thinking about Dani’s Christmas present. Her birthday had been much simpler. She’d loved the white gold bracelet I’d given her. This time was different, and I knew I wouldn’t settle until she opened the little box I’d hidden under the tree. I needed to make sure it was the last present to be opened, just in case she flipped out.

By the time breakfast was over and we’d moved into the living room to open presents, I was in full-on panic mode. Thankful in her excitement, Danielle had no idea anything was different, but Colin and Greg noticed me fidgeting. Damn, I was acting like a girl. They both kept peering in my direction and smirking.

Assholes.

For crying out loud I was a freaking medic in the Army. In the field it was my job to keep my cool when everyone else was freaking out. Yet, the prospect of surprising my fiancée made me shake like a leaf. Besides asking Danielle to marry me, this was the scariest moment of my life.

Dani looked absolutely adorable. Sitting on the floor next to the tree, she’d taken it upon herself to pass out the presents to everyone. It was just like her to worry about everyone else first. We kept having to remind her to open some of her own things. Christmas had never been as much fun. Seeing Dani’s smile with every present she opened was everything Christmas should be. Then there was Liam, who would hold each box up to his head and try and guess what was inside. He had everyone in tears. It made me forget my nerves for a few minutes. That was, until I realized that everything else was opened and Dani had found the small box under the tree. It sat in the palm of her hand. Reading the tag she looked over at me and smiled.