A Visit from Santa by Jena Galifany Chapter Two

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Chapter 2

In the ten minutes it had taken for them to drive to the hall, Lou had completely changed his countenance. He was smiling and happy, as if nothing had happened. Jayme felt like she’d been left out of some great adventure that he was enjoying without her. She was afraid to be left out of his world but was unsure how to get back into it after the apparent foolish assumptions she’d made earlier.

At that moment, he reached for her hand and kissed her fingers. “I’m sorry for the things I’ve been doing that upset you. I promise, I’m not doing anything you have to worry about.” He cut his eyes to her as he pulled into a parking space. Once he’d cut the motor, he turned to her. “Can you forgive me for upsetting you? Especially on Christmas Eve? No one should be upset on Christmas Eve. Santa might not show up at our house.”

“I’d really not like that to happen.” Jayme gazed into his eyes. “Did I ever tell you what I really want for Christmas?”

Lou’s mouth twitched and his lips curled ever so slightly. “No, but don’t you think it’s a bit late now? It’s only four hours away.” He toyed with her hand.

“I miss getting up in the morning and finding something under the tree that wasn’t there the night before. I guess I miss Santa Claus.” Jayme gave a nervous laugh, expecting him to laugh at her for her childish wish. He didn’t.

“I’ve never realty thought about it but, yeah, I do, too. It’s been a long time since he gave me what I really wanted.” He pulled her across, and lightly kissed her on the lips, “I’ll see what I can do about that.”

Jayme smiled. “You do that.”

He sat back in the seat, his attention on the brightly decorated entrance to the hall. “So, do you forgive me?” He adjusted his jacket before turning to her again.

“How could I not. Lou, I do love you.” She caressed his face.

“I love you, too, Jayme.” He climbed out of the car, and came around to help her out. “I hope we both have a great time tonight. No worries, only fun. Got it?”

Jayme saluted. “Yes, sir.”

“Good.” He held out his arm to her and she hooked her arm through his as they strolled up the steps to the brilliantly lighted dining hall that spilled forth holiday music.

 Jayme sipped her drink as she stood at the side of the room, her gaze following Lou. He talked with a gathering of fellow business associates but his gaze kept drifting to Kelsey. He shared a smile with her when their eyes met, and then abruptly, his attention switched to Jayme as if he’d only just remembered she was there. He gave her his brightest smile and silently toasted her with a raise of his glass before taking a drink and turning back to his conversation. She returned his salute and emptied her glass. This party was not the happy diversion she’d thought it would be.

As she thought about him, watching him mingle with the others, she noted that his attention continued to stray to Kelsey. Sure Kelsey had a killer body and she knew how to dress to attract but did Lou have to be so obvious about it? Shouldn’t he be spending his time with Jayme? After all, they were a couple, weren’t they? They’d been together over a year but she hoped her earlier doubts didn't make him think the relationship was a mistake.

She wandered to the bar for a refill. Taking the refreshed drink from the bar tender, she turned to find Lou standing behind her. “There you are.” She smiled at him.

“Here I am.” He returned her smile. “Are you having a good time?” He reached around her to set his empty glass on the bar for a refill. As the bar tender mixed him a new gin and juice, he wrapped one arm around Jayme. “I forgot my cell. I’m going to dash home to grab it. I don’t want to miss any calls, you know. Could be big business.”

“I’ll go with you.” Jayme set her glass down. Lou placed his hand around hers on the glass.

“No. You stay hear and enjoy yourself. I’ll be right back. I promise.” The million dollar smile surfaced again.

“If you really want me to.” Jayme felt abandoned. “Hurry back, though.  I don’t know that many people here. It’s awkward.”

He kissed her forehead. “You’ll be fine. Twenty, thirty minutes tops.”

Before she could protest the length he predicted, he’d downed his drink and melted into the crowd of party-goers.

* * * *

Twenty minutes stretched into thirty and then forty five. Jayme was getting a little upset when Lou finally strolled through the door, a smile and a touch of color that looked suspiciously like Kelsey’s on his lips. Heat flared up her spine as she looked around for Kelsey. She wasn’t in the room. Jayme wondered how long she’d been gone. She wondered but figured it was probably around forty five minutes. She fumed as Lou walked toward her.

Jayme decided not to make a big deal out of it in the presence of so many people she didn’t know. She didn’t want to cause a scene and mark herself as a drama queen. She might have the opportunity to work with these people professionally in the future. Better not to make a public display of the fury and hurt she felt. She turned to the bar and collected a napkin, turning back to wait for Lou to reach her.

He reached for her hand and moved in for a kiss. He was met with a napkin over his mouth. The puzzled look in his eyes would have been comically if it hadn’t been such a painful moment. He grabbed the napkin to complete the motion of wiping his mouth. His gaze on Jayme, he asked, “Was there something on my face?”

Jayme nodded as she took a long sip of her drink. She looked around the room again, and noticed that Kelsey had returned. “It’s not your color, either.” She remained calm on the outside though her insides were boiling.

Lou looked at the napkin, his eyes cutting from the evidence to Jayme’s face. “I…”

Jayme held up a hand. “Let it go, Lou. Not here. Finish up your party and let’s go home… if you still live there.”

Lou stuffed the napkin into his pocket. “I was hoping to make this a great holiday for you. I guess I blew it.” He turned to the bar tender and requested a gin. Jayme blinked hard to keep tears from forming.

“You could say that. This isn’t what I wanted for Christmas, Lou.”

“Me either.” He took a long drink. “I only wanted to make you happy.” They both stood with their backs to the bar, eyes sweeping across the crowd. “Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?”

Jayme felt the bark of laughter trying to escape. She held it back. “Sure. Give me that one wish that I’ve long wanted for Christmas.”

“A visit from Santa?”

“Right.” Jayme finished her drink and went in search of her coat, Lou following silently behind.

* * * *

The ride home was slow. Lou didn’t seem to want to get there. Jayme wanted nothing more than to get home, get into her warmest night gown and curl up with a blanket to hold off the cold that ate at her. The snow on the ground wasn’t the only chill in the car. Though the heater blasted warmth, it didn’t make much difference.

She wanted to say something but was afraid anything she said would only make the night worse. It was their first Christmas in the house. She thought about the gifts she’d purchased for him that were gathered under the tree. He’d deposited several for her and the tree looked wonderful, sparkling with lights and ornaments. The sudden memory of the empty space now beside it marred her attempt to cheer herself up. She’d forgotten about the missing furniture and clothing. At least now she knew why.

They pulled up, waiting for the garage door to rise. Lou looked straight ahead, and tapped his fingers on the wheel. When they’d pulled in and the garage door closed, Lou killed the engine and sat back, his gaze remaining on the wall before them. “I think we need to talk before we go in.”

Jayme groaned. “It’s cold out here.” She hugged her coat close around her shoulders.

“That’s okay. This will only take a minute.” He turned in the seat to face her. “Jayme, we’ve been together for a long time. I don’t want to break the trust we’ve built. I’m not going to lie to you. Kelsey kissed me.”

“That was obvious.” She rolled her eyes.

“The point is I didn’t kiss her.”

“Where were you when this assault on your person took place? If you’d been with me, she wouldn’t have had the chance.” Didn’t he see that he’d made the opportunity for Kelsey by being with her instead of with Jayme? Did he really need his phone that bad or was that only an excuse to be some where else?

“That’s what I need to tell you. We were here.” He looked away.

A Visit from Santa by Jena Galifany Chapter One

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Chapter 1

She only had one wish for the holidays. Each time someone asked her what she wanted, she felt foolish. It was something small but she missed it so much it put a damper on her holiday spirit every December 25^th.  That was only a few days away and she didn’t know if she should tell Lou or be resigned to another disappointing Christmas morning.

At the age of twenty-four she thought she should be over childish things. Besides, there were more important things to worry about. Lou had recently been acting strange. He was preoccupied, even secretive, but not in a holiday surprise kind of way.  He was hiding something, she was sure.

Fine. She accepted that he was developing other interests. She knew she was kidding herself about their relationship, especially after the things he’d been doing. When she arrived home early from work, she heard him talking on his cell.

“You know how important it is that she not find out about this,” he’d been saying. “It’ll ruin everything if she did, Kel.”

Jayme stopped in the entry, unsure what she should do. Why was he talking to Kelsey? He didn’t even like her, or so he’d said.

Lou had made negative comments about Kelsey while driving home after attending Thanksgiving at her spacious, and completely white, condo. She had white carpet, white walls, white draperies with white sheers, a white grand piano in the living room furnished with white sofas and wing-backed chairs beside the white brick fireplace. The only obvious color beside Kelsey’s creamy chocolate complexion was the aurora borealis crystal chandelier which hung in the dining room, a priceless bauble acquired from husband number three.

Lou smirked on the drive home that night. “I thought I was in a blizzard. Her place is harsh on the eyes.” He shook his head. “She’s a man-user. She’s wealthy but only because of several divorce settlements that worked in her favor. She’s a gold digger, and marriage is only a career move in her book. No commitment, only a business transaction.”

“I thought she was a friend of yours,” Jayme commented as she stroked her hand over his where it rested on the gear shift.

“We had some business some months ago. She had me do an appraisal on the properties husband number four or five, I don’t remember which, owned. She was working up to a divorce and wanted to know what her fair share should be.” His dark eyes cut to Jayme. “That’s how I know what kind of woman she is. I guess I did her a favor with the assessment. That’s why she invited us tonight.”

“I don’t think she liked me.”

Lou smiled and raised her hand to his lips to place a light kiss on her knuckles. “I like you and that’s all that matters.”

Jamie smiled. “I’m wondering what she’s doing with a grand piano. Does she know how to play it?”

“I think it’s for show. More than likely, she got it from one of her ‘business transactions’. Who knows?”

“She seems to be all show. I don’t understand people who have things that they can’t use just to look good.”

“Maybe you two can get to be best friends and she’ll have you over to give her lessons. Just don’t let her give you lessons on how to handle men.”

Jayme laughed. “I don’t think so. We don’t move in the same circles. I don’t think she’d care to learn, in any case.”

He pulled the car into the driveway, and pressed the garage door opener. He pulled in and cut the motor as the door closed behind them. “I wonder if her bedroom looks as virginal as rest of the place?”  Jayme had chosen to ignore the comment but planned to do her best to make sure he forgot all about Kelsey and her ‘virginal’ condo. He turned to her and pulled her toward him, his eyes communicating what was to come. “It’s her loss. All I care about is you.”

The kiss was long, deep, and raised her core temperature to near boiling in anticipation of what the night would bring. He caressed her cheek, and looked into her eyes. “It’s early. Let’s get in the hot tub and see what trouble we can get into.”

* * * *

Jayme thought back to that conversation. With a sinking feeling in her middle, she now wondered if Lou planned to find out the answer to his question, or perhaps he already had.

Jayme pushed the thought from her mind. She didn’t want to jump to any conclusions or suspicions that were unfounded. She had to deal with her own insecurity and low self-esteem issues without damaging her relationship with the man she loved, the man that she hoped truly loved her.

It’s not that he didn’t show his affection. He actually showed it more than she was sure was genuine. Sometimes he was over the top with the things he did for her. She’d dated men like that before, who went out of their way to pampered her only to keep her from knowing they were stepping out behind her back. She tried to leave the old baggage behind but sometimes it crept into her thoughts. She had to stop comparing Lou with those who’d hurt her before.

Lou was different, she was sure. He committed to live with her, moved them into a beautiful ranch-style home complete with pool, spa, walk-in closets, and a housekeeper during the week. He paid for it all, too, which was far different from the men she’d known in the past. Since she owned a successful graphic design business, she seemed to attract men who planned to reap the benefits from her hard work. Lou refused her offer to pay half from the beginning. They dated for just over a year before he offered to buy them a home to share.

“It’s not that I don’t want to marry you, Jayme,” he’d explained as they walked through the house with the realtor. “I just want you to be sure I’m what you want before you need to make that decision. You won’t truly know me until you live in the same house with me.”

“If you want me to sleep with you, Lou, wouldn’t it be cheaper to rent a hotel room?” She made the joke, surprised at his comment concerning marriage. The subject had never come up before and hadn’t since.

“You can have your own room. I don’t mind and I don’t want you to do anything you’re uncomfortable doing.” He shared a bright smile, perfect teeth made whiter by the rich tan of his complexion.  

Now, standing alone at a party were she was virtually unknown, she shook her head to clear the suspicion from her thoughts and carried her empty glass to the bar for a refill.

 “What happened to your wall unit?” Jayme was shocked when she walked in from work earlier that evening. What had he done with his most prized possession, his entertainment center? The large empty area was far from unnoticeable when she came into the living room. It appeared that half of the furniture was gone.

Lou shrugged as he lounged on the sofa, a drink in his hand. “It was taking up too much room. I thought you’d be happy to see it gone.” He frowned.

“Well”, she hesitated. “What did you do with it? All of your music? The big screen? How will you watch your games?” She eyed the glass in his hand and wondered why he was drinking so early in the day.

He shrugged. “I’ll watch at a friend’s house. No problem.”

Something had to be wrong. He lived for sports. Now only a lone sofa and a sparkling tree decorated the large living room. It looked bare and sounded hollow when she crossed the room, her heels clicking on the hard wood surface.

“Lou, are you moving out one item at a time?” Jayme hugged herself as she stood with her back to him. She braced herself for what she was sure was to come.

The long silence ended when his arms wrapped securely around her. His lips lightly brushed her ear. “I’m not moving out. Why would you think that?” He kissed her neck.

“Your closet suddenly seems to have more room, for one thing.” Jayme had noticed this morning and wondered what was going on. “And why else would your entertainment system be gone?”

He held her. “I had Elise take out the older clothes and donate them. Besides, don’t you think it looks cleaner in my closet and in here now?”

“I’m not keeping the house uncluttered enough?” Jayme wrapped her arms over his to keep him close against her back. She blinked away the tears that threatened to fall.

“You keep things perfect, Babe. No worries.” He turned her to look at him. “Why are you so worried about us? Did I do something wrong?” He brushed a tear from her cheek.

The memory was driving her crazy and she had to ask. “Why were you talking to Kelsey? What should I not find out about?”

Lou froze for a moment, a long moment, too long of a moment. “I… I didn’t want you to find out she called. I know you don’t like her and I didn’t want you to worry about me talking to her.”

“What were you talking about? Why did she call? She doesn’t have another husband yet. What did she need to talk to you about?” Jayme waited, searching his face as he obviously worked to formulate an answer. Before he could answer, she pulled from his grasp. “Unless she’s expecting you to be number six or what ever number she’s on.”

Lou laughed. “Are you kidding?” He laughed again. “Like that would ever happen. I don’t make enough money for Kelsey to be remotely interested in me.”

That didn’t make her feel any better and the laughter made Jayme’s tension rise. Was she reading things into the situation that weren’t there? “I don’t know what to think. You’re talking to the Black Widow. You hang up the phone when I come in. Now you move your things out. Do you see what I’m seeing, Lou?”

He dropped his hands to his sides and frowned. “No, I don’t.” He turned and left the room. Jayme watched him go, not knowing what to say. Had she just caused the damage she thought was already done?

“Lou?” She hurried to follow him to the room they’d shared for months. He pulled his shirt off and tossed it in the hamper. He kicked off his shoes, and sat on the foot of the bed before he looked up to where she stood in the bedroom door. 

“I’m getting a shower and forgetting about this conversation. It’s Christmas Eve and we have a party to go to. I won’t let this kind of foolishness ruin our evening. There’s nothing going on, Jayme. I love you and I’d hoped that by now you’d know it. Just let it go, okay?”

That’s where it had been left. They both showered and dressed separately. No words were exchanged. He looked like he was afraid to say anything and Jayme was afraid to ask. Kelsey would be at the party tonight. Jayme would see how they reacted to each other. That would surely tell her something.

Mistletoe Wish - Chapter Three

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Chapter Three

She wanted to bite back those words, but it was too late. His lips had already turned up in the most adorable way, making his entire face extremely…kissable.

“Gorgeous?” He popped the yellow gummy bear she’d given him into his mouth. The motion of his lips hypnotized her as he chewed. God, it was easier to be angry with him when he was just a memory. “I could say the same about you, Kat. You’re even more beautiful than I remembered, and trust me, I pride myself on not having forgotten a single detail about you.”

Shiver and swoon. Shit.

“So, are you hungry?” he asked again.

Good God, yes!

“How about you cook me that omelet thing you used to make? Remember it?” What was she doing? She was supposed to be going home to wrap presents she wouldn’t be delivering until next week when her family came back. She was supposed to be alone tonight.

She was supposed to be mad at Reade Collins.

“I remember. I can make you something far more complicated than that now.”

Kat shook her head. “No. I’ve tried to recreate that omelet and can’t do it. I want the recipe.”

Reade laughed. “So you missed me then?”

“I missed your cooking.” She looked out the windshield as he navigated through the steadily falling snow. What do you know? He actually was a good driver.

“Well, I’m mature enough to admit, I’ve missed you, Kat. A lot.” He turned onto Swan Pond Road.

“You still live here?” She’d always loved his little house with the waterfront view. They’d spent so much time hanging out on Adirondack chairs by the pond, sharing beers, laughs, kisses…and more. She’d talked herself into believing he had never returned from Europe. Never once drove by his street. Avoided it actually.

“Yeah. I’m head chef at Italia down in Providence. This house is close enough yet far enough, you know?”

Kat nodded. Italia was Providence’s most expensive restaurant. Her salary didn’t allow for meals there, but she’d read reviews about it. All of them were positive. None of them had mentioned the head chef’s name. Had she known…

“Guess that time in Europe was worth it.” She unlooped her scarf. The heat in Reade’s car must have been really pumping. Yeah, that was it.

“On some accounts it was worth it.” He glanced at her with sad hazel eyes. “On some accounts, I’d do it all differently.” He sighed. “What about you? What have you been up to?”

“I’m a social worker at Old Creek Road School in Seafield. Been there for about six years. It’s good work. I moved into a house about five minutes from the school.”

“You always did hate to drive more than three miles from your home.” He pulled into his driveway, a single light by the front door illuminating falling snow. It sparkled like fairy dust, and Kat wondered if there wasn’t some magic afoot as the car eased into the garage.

“I still like having a driver.” She gathered her handbag, her hand on the passenger door.

He stopped her from getting out just yet with a hand on her forearm. His fingers were strong and warm through her coat, and her insides felt as if someone had let loose a flock of birds, their wing feathers tickling as they flew around.

“It was my pleasure to be your driver tonight.” He smiled, released her arm, and got out of the car.

She followed him inside the house, closing the door behind her. Once inside, Reade turned around suddenly and backed her up against the door with a hand on either side of her shoulders. She’d forgotten just how tall he was, how his body always seemed to fill a room, how he constantly smelled of something just delicious.

“I have to kiss you.” His voice was a low whisper, almost a growl, as his eyes combed over her face.

“You gotta do what you gotta do.” She gripped the sides of his open jacket and pulled him down to her level.

When their lips met, that same fire they’d shared ten years ago exploded. Coats, shirts, shoes, jeans, lacy underthings, and boxers fell to the hardwood floor in the kitchen and hallway, all the way down to the bedroom.

Naked and perfect, Reade scooped up Kat in muscled arms and gently deposited her onto the bed. He crawled up the length of her, and she quaked with need, with molten desire for him, only him. Kissing a trail along her neck to her shoulder then to her mouth, he brought back everything that had made them so right for each other, made them soul mates.

“Oh, Reade…” She pushed herself up against him, felt his wanting, mirrored it.

“I’ve dreamed of this moment, Kat. No one has ever made me feel like this. No one but you.”

“Good.” She grinned and what they made together while the snow fell silently outside could only be described as love. A love returned. A love rekindled.

When they finally collapsed in a heap of entangled limbs, soft caresses, and lingering kisses early Christmas Eve morning, Reade twirled one of her curls around his finger. “I should have slammed into your bumper years ago.”

She laughed and poked him in the stomach. He squirmed away but was back snuggled against her in an instant.

“There were probably easier ways to get back to this.” She dropped a kiss on his forehead as he burrowed even closer, his cheek resting on her shoulder.

“Like some mistletoe maybe?” He raised his head to look at her. “I was wishing for some when we were leaving Tom’s garage.”

“Looks as if your mistletoe wish came true without the mistletoe.” She turned to wrap her arms around Reade.

“Best Wish Ever.” His arms slipped around her waist and gathered her close, possessed her, claimed her.

Best Holiday Ever.

Kat Graves had only one wish for the holiday. That wish involved a remote for the Universe in which she could pause this moment for an eternity.

Hope you enjoyed Mistletoe Wish. I had an absolute blast writing it.

Happy Holidays!

Buy my other holiday stories, Midnight Mistletoe and In the Nick of Time at www.christinedepetrillo.weebly.com.

Toodles,
Chris

Mistletoe Wish - Chapter Two

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Chapter Two

 

“Well, look who doesn’t know how to drive a car? Reade Collins.” Kat put her hands on her hips and gave him a disgusted once-over.  

Reade knew that look. He’d seen it before. Didn’t especially care for it. 

But still…Kat Graves is standing right here.

He almost couldn’t wrap his mind around that notion. The fact that she was still magazine cover beautiful didn’t help to clear his head any either. Black leather boots traveled up her long, jean-covered legs. A copper-colored ski jacket covered her torso, and a fluffy scarf looped around her neck. A neck he remembered smelling like peaches from lotion she used to make. He hadn’t been able to eat a stupid peach without thinking of her. Damn annoying.

Wavy, blond hair fell about her shoulders under a knit hat. Her cheeks had a healthy blush, and her eyes were a bottomless blue. She resembled an advertisement for winter fun. She’d always looked amazing no matter what she was wearing…or wasn’t wearing.

God, it had been at least ten years since he’d seen her. It felt like longer.

“How have you been?” He took a step closer, pulled off his ball cap, and ran his fingers through his floppy black hair. He hoped he didn’t smell too heavily of garlic or salmon from the restaurant at which he was head chef. With any luck, the fragrance of tiramisu had chosen to stick with him instead. 

“I was great until some idiot banged into my car.” She gestured a gloved hand toward the crinkled bumper of her Mazda.

Shit.

“I’m sorry, Kat.” He walked past her to inspect the damage more closely, not that there was a damn thing he could do about it here in the middle of a shopping center. His buddy, Tom, could take care of it at his garage just up the street.

“I guess your attention span has not improved.” Kat folded her arms across her chest. “I mean really, Reade, we were basically parked and you hit me.”

Yes, and thanks for the reminder of my stupidity and incompetence.   

This was not the reunion with Kat he had pictured many, many times in his mind. He looked like a fool. Not a good start. Not at all.

“I said I was sorry.” He held up his phone. “My brother was in one of his emergencies and…oh, never mind.” He exhaled and a cloud of vapor trailed out of his mouth. The temperature was dropping fast, and those falling snowflakes were picking up speed. His gaze went to the flakes that had settled momentarily in Kat’s hair. They went well with the icy look she was giving him right now for hitting her.

Why didn’t I take some tiramisu home with me tonight?

That would have definitely defrosted Kat. If he remembered correctly, the first time she’d eaten his tiramisu, she’d nearly had an orgasm.   

A horn beep made both of them jump.  

“Look, let’s avoid the police ordeal and holding up this traffic, okay? The damage isn’t that bad. I’ll pay for it to be fixed. You know where Tom Westin’s garage is?” He pointed toward the exit and to the right.

“Yeah.”

“If we get out of here in the next millennium, pull into his place. I’ll be right behind you.”

“Not too close behind me, please.” She pointed a finger at him, and though he was supposed to feel as if he were in trouble, that finger had a magnetic pull instead. He wanted to race toward it, let it touch him as it had so many years ago.

He held up a hand as if taking an oath. “I promise to pay attention.”

She let out a puff of breath indicating she didn’t believe he was capable of paying attention. Little did she know. Now that he knew she was the driver in front of him, all he’d be able to do was pay attention. He didn’t plan to let her out of his sight.

Not again.

She may have looked at him like he was completely brainless, but he wasn’t going to let that stop him. He loved a challenge.

After what seemed like hours of staring at the back of Kat’s head and keeping a light foot on the gas, Reade pulled into the lot of Tom’s garage next to her car. A good dusting of snow was on the ground now with a guarantee of more on the way. Good thing his parents were in Florida for the winter or else he’d have to rush off and plow their driveway. With that obligation out of the picture, he was free to…to follow wherever the night may lead him. And he had some ideas on where he wanted to be led.

 “Pull her into the bay!” Tom hollered as soon as Reade got out of his car.

Kat gave a thumbs up that she’d heard Tom and did as he’d said. When she got out of the vehicle, Reade had this instant urge to stand right next to her.

So he did.

She cast him a sideways glance, no trace of those sexy grins he had enjoyed when they’d spent nights together.

“Hey, Tom,” Kat said, throwing her arms around the man.

Wait a minute.

At Reade’s raised eyebrows, Tom said, “Kat is my wife’s cousin.” He kissed her cheek.

“I see.” I’d much rather see her hugging me. This would have been way easier if he hadn’t looked down to his phone in the car. Damn Kevin to Hell for calling me. His brother was getting a karate chop to the neck for this one. Maybe two.

If Reade hadn’t hit Kat, but saw her in one of the stores, perhaps they would have had a cordial chat, followed by a lovely dinner, and ended up rolling around naked like in the good old days.   

“What’s the trouble?” Tom angled his head toward Kat’s car.

“I tapped the bumper,” Reade said.

“Tapped?” Kat whirled around to face him, and his heart beat double time over the full force of her arctic gaze. “It was more than a tap.”

“It was not. I barely touched you.” Now he was a little too close to her. You know, within slapping range. He took a half-step back.

“My bumper looks more than tapped wouldn’t you say, Tom?”

Tom put his hands up in a time out gesture. “Okay, kids. Let’s not get all riled up.” He followed Kat to the rear of the Mazda and smiled. “Gonna have to side with her, Reade.”

“That figures.” Who in his right mind would side against Kat? “Can you fix it?” He jammed his hands in his coat pockets to keep them warm and to keep them from pulling on one of Kat’s damp curls.

“Of course I can fix it.” Tom kneeled to get eye-level with the damage.

“Right now?” Kat interlaced her gloved fingers and held her joined hands under her chin in a begging manner.

“No. Not right now.” Tom ran his grease-covered index finger over the bumper. “I’ll have to order paint from the manufacturer to get rid of these scrapes.”

Kat groaned.

“Hey, what did I tell you?” Tom said. “You had to have a purple car, and now that special order silliness is biting you in the patoot.”

“Aw, shut it, Tom.” Kat cuffed him on the bicep. “I love my purple baby.” She pressed herself against the driver side of the car in an embrace.

This was the one and only time Reade wished he were a little purple Mazda.

“Let’s see. With tomorrow being Christmas Eve and Christmas right after that…” Tom twitched his lips to the left then right. “I’m afraid I won’t have the paint until the 26^th or 27^th at the earliest.”

Kat turned a sub-zero glare on Reade, and his insides should have frozen up solid, but instead he felt all melted. Even a furious Kat Graves was something to behold.

“I’ll bring the car back after the holiday then,” she said through clenched teeth. She threw herself into the driver’s seat with an exasperated sigh, and something inside Reade snapped. If she started her car and drove away, that’d be it. They’d managed not to bump into each other all this time. He’d probably never see her again.

He grabbed Tom by the oil-stained shirtsleeve and yanked him down to the bumper.

“What the hell are—”

“Shhhh.” Reade clamped a hand over his buddy’s mouth. “Tell her she can’t take the car. It has to stay here.”

Tom pulled Reade’s hand away and whispered, “What? But the car is drivable.”

“Dude, no, it isn’t.” He opened his eyes real wide, hoping to communicate psychically with Tom. “Help me out, will you?”

“Oh, gotcha, but you’re going to owe me, big time. I’m thinking full filet mignon dinner with dessert.”

“Anything you want.” Reade jerked Tom back up to standing as Kat started her car.

“Whoa, whoa!” Tom waved his hands, and Kat shut off the engine.

She rolled down the window and stuck her head out. “What’s the matter?”

“Well…” Tom shook his head and made a few humming and hawing sounds. “Thing is, Kat, the dented bumper seems to have put your tires out of line.” He dropped to the floor and snaked himself underneath the car on his back. “Could be your brakes have been compromised.”

Oh, he’s good. Reade almost believed what Tom had said. From the wrinkle between Kat’s brows, he could tell she was buying it too, and if she hadn’t suddenly become an expert in cars, this could work.

“Are you saying I can’t have my car back?” She got out of the vehicle and met Tom and Reade at the bumper.

Tom shimmied back out and shook his head, giving Reade the quickest of glances. “It wouldn’t be safe, Kat. You’d better leave it here until I can properly inspect it.”

“Wonderful. Just wonderful.” She paced away, and Reade thoroughly enjoyed how her jeans showcased her perfect ass. “Well, can you give me and my gifts a lift home, Tom?”

“Ummm, I could do that,” Reade said. Bait launched.

Slowly, Kat’s eyes focused on him. She stared at him for a few seconds then looked back to Tom. “I’d really rather have you take me, Tom.”

Bait tossed back. Damn.

“Can’t.” Tom shook his head.

Kat tapped her booted foot on the cement floor. “Why not?”

He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “Kids are expecting me to help them decorate the tree. I’m already late.”

Oh, pulling the kid card. Brilliant! Time for bait relaunch.

“Again,” Reade said, “I can take you. I do have a valid driver’s license.”

“Shocking, considering the way you drive.” She angled a foot at her damaged bumper.

“It’s snowing harder,” Tom said. “Just let him take you, so I don’t have to feel guilty.” He gave her pleading eyes, and her shoulders slumped in what Reade hoped was defeat.

“Fine.” She stomped to her car, ripped open the back passenger door, and collected her bags.

Bait accepted!

“Thanks, man.” Reade clapped Tom on the back.

“Happy Holidays, friend.” Tom pantomimed cutting into and eating a hunk of steak then turned toward his office. “I’ll give you a call when your car is all set, Kat. Merry Christmas.”

“What’s so damn merry about it?” Kat mumbled. She came to stand in front of Reade with her arms full of purchases. When he didn’t move, she said, “Are you going to help me with these or what, Prince Charming?”

“Oh, yeah.” He immediately took her bags and dumped them into his trunk.

You’re slicker than this, man. Get it together.

Kat waited at the passenger side of his car for him to unlock the door. When he did so, he accidentally brushed up against her, and they both froze. Was he the only one who felt that electric shock zip through his body?

“Let’s go,” she said, though something had thawed in her tone.

Thawing was good. Reade could work with thawing. Some mistletoe wouldn’t hurt either.

He slid in behind the steering wheel, and soon they were pulling out of the garage’s parking lot. “Are you hungry?”

“I have gummy bears in here somewhere.” She pulled off her gloves and shuffled around in the purse on her lap.

“Gummy bears aren’t dinner, and I know you haven’t eaten, because you were in that shopping center traffic as long as me.”

“Does that mean you don’t want any of my gummy bears?” She held up the package and shook the remaining bears.

He held out his hand if only to get a part of him onto her side of the vehicle. He hated gummy bears, but he’d consume an entire army of them if it meant her fingers might touch his palm.

“What color?” she asked.

“Don’t care.” Didn’t they all taste like plastic?

“You were always so passive. No opinion on anything.”

“Ouch. Look, maybe I’m not the same guy you knew in the past, all right?”

A flash of anger whipped through him. Okay, he’d broken up with her when he went to Europe to study cuisine ten years ago. Okay, he’d dented her bumper an hour ago. Couldn’t she forgive and move on? In both cases, he hadn’t intentionally meant to hurt her. In fact, the break-up was meant to give her some freedom. He hadn’t wanted her to sit around waiting for him and besides, he’d asked her to come with him first.

“Us ending wasn’t all on me, Kat. I wanted you to come to Europe.”

She pointed to the left when they came to an intersection. “And what was I supposed to do, Reade. Paint on the banks of the Seine while you pursued your career and mine sat stagnant? That wouldn’t have been fair. Breaking up was the right thing to do.” She popped a gummy bear into her mouth.

“If you agree, why are you giving me a frigid shoulder tonight?”

“Because you busted my wheels and…” She shrugged and stared out the windshield.

“And what?”

She turned to look at him and said, “You’re still flippin’ gorgeous.”

Join me tomorrow for Chapter Three, the final chapter of Mistletoe Wish.

Buy my other holiday stories, Midnight Mistletoe and In the Nick of Time at www.christinedepetrillo.weebly.com.

Toodles,
Chris

Mistletoe Wish - Chapter One

 Jump to the first story

                                  Mistletoe Wish                                  

By Christine DePetrillo

To anyone who’s ever been afraid

to ask Santa for something really special…

Chapter One

She had just one wish for the holidays. That wish involved a remote for the Universe in which she could fast forward directly through this damn holiday.

Most Wonderful Time of the Year?

Bleck.

“More like Most Miserable Time of the Year,” Katherine Graves grumbled as she waited in a long line of cars all dying to get out of the overstuffed parking lot at Seafield Crossings. She’d had to elbow through an ocean of shoppers to finish buying gifts for her parents and sisters who weren’t even going to be around for Christmas. They’d all decided to go on a Caribbean cruise for the holiday. Of course Kat had been invited to join them, but she’d be the only single person. The only one without a spouse.

The only one who was apparently unmarriable.  

Her parents had been happily hitched for a million years, and her two sisters—both younger, gasp—had tied the knot in a lavish double ceremony three years ago. Their husbands were romance novel gorgeous and doted on Jessi and Ariana as if they were royalty. It was cute at first, but it got sickening real quick. Kat swore she had an allergy to seeing such lovey-doveyness.

So while her entire family was off sunbathing on a white sand beach, she was freezing her ass off in Rhode Island and battling aggressive shoppers hungry for a deal.

“This is what you get for waiting until December 23^rd, dummy.” Kat squeezed the steering wheel of her little purple Mazda and growled in frustration over the lack of movement in traffic. She swore she’d spent at least forty years creeping toward the shopping center’s exit and it still didn’t seem any closer.

She flicked on the radio, but quickly snapped it off when “The Twelve Days of Christmas” blared through the car’s speakers. She needed twelve days of adult beverages just to make it past Christmas. With a mountain of snow forecasted, empty shelves at the grocery store, and her tiny house where she’d spend the holiday completely, utterly alone, this was definitely shaping up to be the Worst Christmas Ever.

Kat’s cell phone chimed in her purse, and she reached over her purchases to locate her handbag. After digging past her wallet, a half-eaten package of gummy bears, peppermint lip gloss, and something sort of sticky, her fingers closed around the phone. She yanked it out and glanced at the screen.

“Hey, Dad.”

“Hiya, Kitty Kat. Where are you?”

I’m imprisoned in a never-ending parade of cars. Send food.

“Just leaving Seafield Crossings,” she said instead.

“Bet you regret that decision.” Her father chuckled.

“You’re a mind reader, Dad.” She rolled her eyes up to the ceiling of the car, noted a piece of red lint stuck there, picked it off, and tossed it down by her feet. These were the things you noticed when you were trapped in your vehicle with no end in sight.

“Did you buy me something wonderful?” Her father was always like a kid around the holidays. He’d don the Santa hat, pass out candy canes to absolutely everyone, and decorate the lawn in a Walt Disney World fashion. There were lights, music, and last year he even added a snowman who recited ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas whenever you crossed its path. It was all pretty tacky, but seeing how delighted it made her father always made Kat smile. Her mother had to use every tactic available to get the man to go away at this time of year. Maybe Kat would go by the house to see the set-up he had on a timer while he was gone.

If you ever get out of this abominable parking lot…

“I got exactly what Mom told me to get you,” she said.

“The cordless reciprocating saw with the forty different blades?” Her father’s voice had risen in excitement.

“No, the fifteen piece stainless steel cookware set. You know, for all those dinners you’re going to cook now that you’re retired.” She threw a look over her shoulder at the reciprocating saw box in the back seat and grinned. Teasing Dad was one of the small joys in life.

Her father whined into the phone. “Aw, c’mon, Kat. I don’t want pots and pans.”

“We’ll have to let Santa decide then. Something tells me there’s a black mark next to your name.”

Her father laughed, and suddenly Kat wished she’d gone on that stupid cruise. What was she going to do all alone over the next few days?

“I’ve been a perfect angel. You can even ask your mother.”

Kat heard the phone change hands then her mother said, “He actually has been an angel, Kat. I think the drinks with little umbrellas are doing wonders for him.”

Her parents sounded so…so happy. Why couldn’t she be like that?

“Are you having a good time?” she asked. Stupid question.

“The best. Wish you were here, Katnip. You should have come. There are a lot, and I mean a lot, of nice looking young men on this cruise. I showed your picture to one of them last night, and he said you were the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. He liked that you were a school social worker too. Should I give him your number?”

Oh, good God. Her mother was not scoping out potential mates for her in the Caribbean, was she?

“Kat?”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah, give him your number?”

“Umm, no, Mom. Please don’t.” If she started going out with guys her mother had hand selected for her, she’d have to do something drastic.

Like drink poison.

“He’s awfully cute. I saw him by the pool this morning, and you should have seen the abs on him.” Her mother whistled.

“Still, I’ll pass. Thanks.” Kat popped a red gummy bear into her mouth and imagined it screaming for mercy as her molars pulverized it. Why did she want to be that gummy bear right now?

“Okay. Your call, sweetie. Oops. Your father and the rest of the family are dragging fingers across their necks telling me to cut this short. We’ll call you again on Christmas morning. Bye-bye, Katnip.”

Her mother was gone before she had a chance to say good-bye. Kat shut off her phone and dropped it back into her handbag, stealing another gummy bear in the process. Could a person survive on nothing but gummy bears? Looking ahead at the motionless traffic, she thought she just might get an answer to that question today.

Then, miraculously, it happened.

The car in front of her rolled ahead a whole fifty feet! Kat let up on the brake and closed the distance.

Ah, sweet victory.

It felt amazing to move even that small distance. She hunted for another gummy bear, craving an orange one this time, when...

BANG!

Kat jolted forward when the nose of the car behind her slammed into her back bumper.

“Son of a bitch!”

Her eyes immediately went to the rearview mirror. What kind of a moron would hit her in barely moving traffic? Unfortunately, the driver in the car behind her was looking down to his lap, a ball cap covering his head.

Stupid punk. He was probably texting his parole officer.  

She threw her car into park and nearly kicked open her door. She marched to the car behind her, ready to use every foul word she knew. It was damn frosty out and snowflakes were already falling. She just wanted to get the hell home and put on her pajamas, but now she’d have to call the cops and go through all the nonsense involved when some ignorant ass hit your car. 

Happy Friggin’ Holiday.

The other driver opened his door, and when he stepped out of the car, Kat skidded to a stop, her black boots sliding a bit on the wet road.

“Kat? Kat Graves?” He smiled, and Kat remembered everything that came with that smile.

Join me tomorrow to read Chapter Two!


Buy my other holiday stories, Midnight Mistetoe and In the Nick of Time at www.christinedepetrillo.weebly.com

Toodles,
Chris