“Because, they’ll think I’m crazy for moving in with a guy I just met. Or worse a slut,” she says anxiously.
“I’m the one who asked you to move in. So what does that make me?”
“A man!” She says, now sounding like she’s on the verge of becoming hysterical.
Wait. Is she nervous?
She must be, but why?
“Why are you nervous?” I ask confused. “It’s only going to be my family.”
“Exactly! They’re your family!” She exclaims, and then taking a deep breath she adds softly, “I want them to like me, not think I’m some skank who goes on holiday and boffs the first guy I meet.”
“But, wasn’t I the first guy you met?”
“Tom!” She cries exasperatedly.
“Right, not the point.” I wrap my arm around her shoulders and pull her closer, kissing her forehead gently.
Alight, June may have a point. I don’t want my family thinking she’s that type of girl, either. It’s no wonder she changed her outfit five times this morning, and asked me how she looked at least a dozen times more. Jeans can never be too tight. I’m actually relived that she’s only nervous. I thought June was being, well−June. It’s good to know I won’t have to go through that every morning.
“Relax June Bug. It’s only going to be my family. Karen’s family won’t be here today. So it will just be Pete and Karen, who you already know, their crazy but cute little monsters, and my parents. And I promise, they will love you,” I say, hugging her tightly.
“All I have are these crappy boxes of drugstore candy to bring,” she rants, not listening to anything I’m saying and becoming hysterical.
“June,” I say sharply, finally getting her attention. “They’re going to love you. You’re smart, caring, funny, and fuckin’ hot. And trust me, those are Mom and Karen’s favorite chocolates.”
“Okay. But can we please wait to tell them?” she asks again, leaning in and looking up at me pleadingly.
How can I say no?
“Fine, but I’m introducing you as my girl,” I argue back.
“You better,” she says, smiling now.
Thank God!
Grabbing the front of my jacket, she pulls me into a heated kiss that quickly has the windows fogging up. It may have been her ass that attracted me first, but – God I could kiss this girl forever.
I reluctantly pull out of the kiss, not wanting to be caught making out in the driveway like a couple of horny teenagers. Fuck, I feel like one though.
Jumping out of the truck, I walk around and hold open the door for her, waiting as she reapplies her lipstick. I’m not sure why she bothers. I’m just going to kiss it off again later. When she’s done, June climbs out with an overly large purse on her shoulder and clutching the boxes of chocolates in her hands.
“Do you really think I’m hot?” She asks coyly, grinning at me.
“You know I fuckin’ do,” I tease, making her laugh. “Now be careful, the walk might be slippery.” Taking her hand, I lead her slowly up the walkway and into the house.
As we enter through the backdoor and into the mudroom, we’re greeted by the familiar smells and sounds of home, good food, and laughter. We are also greeted by my parents’ energetic black and white husky lab mix.
“Hey Thumper. How you doin’ buddy?” I ask, her tail wagging happily and her tongue hanging out the side of her mouth in a lopsided smile. I bend down, kiss the top of her head and give her body a good rubdown. She wiggles and licks appreciatively.
“Tommy!” Mom calls loudly, running in to greet us.
“Merry Christmas Mom,” I say, standing and welcoming her hug. Pulling back, I wrap my arm around her shoulder and introduce my girl. “Mom, this is June.”
“Merry Christmas, Mrs. Allen,” June says sweetly, petting Thumper who is now rubbing her body against her legs.
“Merry Christmas, and it’s Martha, dear.” Mom says, smiling widely at June and giving her a welcoming hug.
“These are for you and Karen.” June shyly hands over the chocolates.
“Thank you. That’s so thoughtful of you.” Mom says, brightly taking the boxes. “These are our favorites, how did you know?”
“A little bird told me,” June replies. I give her an I told you so look behind Mom’s back, which she chooses to ignore.
“We’ll just hide these from the boys, so us girls can enjoy them later,” Mom says conspiratorially.
“Hey! That’s not fair.” I object, pouting as I hang my jacket on the hook by the door and begin unlacing my boots.
They’re my favorite chocolates, too.
“You’ll live,” she replies, smiling. “Don’t worry Sweetheart, I made molasses cookies just for you.”
“My Mom loves me,” I laugh, hugging her and giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. Next to me June is giggling, all her nervousness seemingly vanished.
“You know I do,” Mom replies. Turning to June, she says with a smile, “Now take off your coat and boots, and come on in. We’re in the kitchen.”
As I walk into the warm, delicious-smelling kitchen, two little monsters run up and grab hold of each of my legs, yelling, “Unkie Tom, Unkie Tom!” excitedly at the top of their little voices.
“Merry Christmas,” I say, crouching down and wrapping my arms around them.
“Mewwy Whrismas!” They parrot loudly, both hugging me tightly as I stand, holding one in each arm. Matt gives me a sloppy kiss on the cheek, while Jack buries his face in my neck. Spending time with these little guys is what I’ll miss the most when I go back to Orlando next week.
“Was Santa good to you?”
“Yes,” Jack says happily, nodding his head enthusiastically.
“I got a big twuk,” Matt says excitedly, holding his arms out as widely as possible, illustrating just how big his new truck is.
“Really? I heard you both got coal,” I tease.
“No!” They chorus loudly, shaking their little blonde heads.
“That’s not what I heard. I heard you both got coal.”
“No! You did!” Matt yells, scowling at me adorably.
“Me?” I ask innocently. “I’ve been a good boy all year.”
“I find that hard to believe,” June laughs. Turning at the sound of her voice, I return her playful smile.
“Can you say Merry Christmas to June?”
“Mewwy Whrismas,” Jack says, with his face hidden in my neck and his soft voice barely audible. Jack has always been the shyer of the two.
“You pwity,” Matt the extrovert says, extending his arms out to her.
He’s got good taste already!
“Hey! Stop flirting with my girl.”
“Come here, handsome.” June says brightly, taking him into her arms. “What’s your name?”
“That little flirt is Jack and this is Matt,” I answer, intentionally mixing up their names.
“No. I Matt,” he says loudly.
Followed quickly by his brother’s, “I Jack.”
“Oops, my mistake.” I grab Jack’s tummy and tickle him. His happy laughter could be heard reverberating throughout the kitchen.
“If he wets himself Tommy, you’re cleaning it up.” Karen laughs from the other side of the kitchen where she’s chopping vegetables.
Eww!
“We don’t want that happening, do we buddy?” I ask, as I quickly cease tormenting him. Jack shakes his head, still laughing.
Looking around the kitchen, even though Karen has slowly changed the décor over the years, everything feels the same as it always has. There may be a different table, but there’s still one tucked into the breakfast nook where Pete and I used to do our homework every night while Mom cooked dinner.
Growing up, our golden retriever, Bambi slept in the corner by the door, on her large bed. Thumper now happily resides there, where she intently watches everything that’s going on. This may be Peter and Karen’s house, but it will always feel like home to me.
“Tommy,
you’re finally here!” Peter says cheerily, entering the kitchen.
“Merry Christmas to you, too.” I say sarcastically, giving him the finger behind Jack’s back.
“Merry Christmas June. It’s great to see you again,” Peter says, ignoring me and greeting June brightly.
“Merry Christmas.” She smiles, swaying Matt naturally in her arms.
She’d make a great mom.
Fuck! Where did that thought come from?
I’m soooo not ready for a family.
Peter interrupts my disturbing thoughts by turning to me and saying, “Now that you’re here, you can help Dad and I finish the shoveling. He said he’d meet us outside once he was done.”
I groan in annoyance. I’ve already spent time this morning clearing the snow off the truck and re-shoveling the walk at the inn. It’s one thing that I don’t miss living in Orlando, the months upon months of cold and snow.
Why do you think I moved?
“We elp Daddy,” Jack says excitedly, bouncing up and down in my arms.
“I couldn’t do it without you, buddy,” Peter replies, taking hold of his son.
“Where is Dad?” I ask, realizing he’s missing.
“He’s down in the apartment wrapping my presents,” Mom says, rolling her eyes.
“The apartment?” June asks quietly.
“When they’re not in Florida, Mom and Dad live in the basement apartment,” I answer. Turning to Mom I ask excitedly, “When are we opening presents?”
“Tonight, after the boys go to bed,” Karen answers for her.
“What!”
I have to wait all day.
“I have to wait all day?”
“How old are you?” Peter asks, rolling his eyes at me.
“I’ll always be younger than you,” I remark.
“Boys, hurry up and get outside. Dinner will be ready shortly,” Mom says, tossing the salad in a large bowl.
Turning to June, I ask, “Are you going to be okay while I help Pete outside?”
“She’ll be fine,” Mom answers for her.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be fine,” she agrees. After putting Matt onto the floor, she gives me an all to quick kiss on the cheek and whispers in my ear, “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For being you,” she says. Her grey eyes have grown soft and are filled with an emotion I can’t quite place.
For being you?
What the fuck does that mean?
And how do I duplicate it?
By the time Pete and I have the little monsters all bundled up against the cold, I can hear my girl’s laugher coming from the kitchen, sounding completely at ease. She’s no longer nervous. She’ll be fine. Mom and Karen will probably know her entire life’s story by dinner.
As we shovel the heavy snow off of the back porch, Pete and I watch the boys run around the yard. Dad and Thumper soon join us and, instead of helping, Dad begins a snowball fight with Matt and Jack. He and Thumper chase them through the snow and their laughter echoes through the cold air, warming me from the inside out. I smile, thinking that spending time with family should always be filled with laughter.
Once a majority of the snow is no longer threatening the structural integrity of the porch, we move onto the front of the house where we begin quickly shoveling the short walk to the front door.
“I met your girl, Tommy. Can’t get much sweeter or good looking,” Dad comments, and then adds almost to himself, “A good set of teeth.”
“Dad. She’s not a frickin’ horse,” I laugh, shaking my head. Peter chuckles loudly from where he’s shoveling the last of the snow off the steps.
“Do you know how expensive dental work can be? Your mother just cost me several thousand dollars for crowns on her chompers.”
“I wouldn’t let Mom hear you,” Peter advises, carrying over a large bag of rock salt. I look over and see the twins lying in the snow, laughing and making snow angels. Much better ones than June and I made yesterday.
“June’s the type of girl you’re supposed to find. Not those damn barn cats who always seem to have their claws into you,” he says, grabbing some rock salt and tossing it down on the walkway.
“Barn cats?”
“Those girls who just want to use you and have nothing to offer.”
“But they do keep the mice population down,” I chuckle, and Dad gives me a reproachful look.
“We’re going in,” Peter announces, balancing a twin on each hip and moving towards the side of the house to enter back into the mudroom.
“We’ll be in, in a minute,” Dad calls, after him. He then thrusts the bag of rock salt into my arms so I can carry it while he distributes it evenly over the walkway.
“I agree Dad. June’s exactly what I’ve been looking for. She’s smart, funny, and sweet. Not to mention gorgeous.”
“Just don’t fuck it up,” Dad advises with a smile. “I like this one.”
I roll my eyes. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
Entering back into the warm house, the delicious smells of our upcoming feast make my stomach grumble hungrily. After stripping off our outerwear and boots, Dad and I enter into the kitchen to see everyone congregated there.
“It’s time to eat,” Mom announces, beginning to hand out plates.
After several minutes of chaos, we are finally all settled into our seats around the large, circular dinning room table. Once grace is said, I can finally dig into the pork pie, garlic mashed potatoes, bread stuffing, carrots, green beans, and gravy that are all piled onto my plate, waiting for me to devour them.
My parents, who are sitting opposite each other, are having a silent battle of wills across the table as to who will say the blessing.
“You say it, Honey,” Mom says, placing her napkin on her lap.
“No, you can say it,” Dad counters, straightening his cutlery, ready to dig in.
“That’s alright, you can do the honors,” Mom replies.
The staring contest continues as my dinner begins to get cold. June looks at me confused, and shaking my head I roll my eyes at them.
“I’ll say it,” Peter announces, breaking silence.
It is his house, after all.
After Peter quickly says the traditional blessing that we’ve been saying as long as I can remember, there is silence as we all dig in. The only sounds are the clinking of silverware on our plates and the soft thuds of glasses being placed back onto the table.
“Should I take a picture of you and your dinner, for your sister?” I ask June quietly, knowing she’s been obsessively documenting her meals for her.
“No, thanks. Jessica will just have to believe me when I tell her how delicious it is,” June laughs, giving me a dazzlingly happy smile.
There are several more moments of silence, where everyone is happily munching away.
“So, June,” Dad says, taking a sip of his beer.
“Yes,” she answers politely, using her napkin to wipe her mouth clean of nonexistent food.
“Which hospital is it do you work at, again?”
“Orlando Regional Medical Center,” she replies sweetly, taking a sip of water.
“Tommy, isn’t that were you were stitched up?” Dad asks me.
“Yup. I have a feeling we would’ve met eventually,” I say, turning to smile brightly at June.
It’s fate.
“You need to be more careful, Sweetheart,” Mom says sternly.
“I’m a cop, Mom. It comes with the job.”
“I know. I wish you’d have become a horse trainer or something less dangerous.”
“Working with horses isn’t always safe either,” Dad puts in. “One good kick, and it’s all over.”
“Yes! And he does both. It’s no wonder I worry,” Mom argues back.
I look cautiously over at June. I have never given any thought to the idea that my job could scare a girl away. Would she want to be with someone who’s job is potentially life threatening?
&nbs
p; I need to touch her.
Reaching beneath the table, I take her hand and place it on my thigh. She squeezes mine in return, giving me hope.
“I know the feeling Martha. I worry about my brother, too,” she says despondently. “But he wouldn’t be happy doing anything else. It makes me proud to know he’s helping others.”
Fuck, she’s the perfect girl for me.
“You should be proud of him,” Dad agrees.
“You know we’re proud of you. Don’t you, Sweetheart?” Mom asks, seeming concerned.
“I do.”
“June, do you ride?” Dad asks, effectively changing the subject.
“Ride?” She asks confused, and I can see her blushing slightly.
“Horses,” I answer her, chuckling at the naughty thoughts I know are running through her head. Letting go of her hand, I reach out and run it along her thigh. She grabs it hissing, “Tom!” I chuckle and reluctantly pull my hand away.
“What? That was Thumper,” I say softly, blaming the sleeping dog under the table and attempt to give her my most innocent look, but fail miserably.
“I guess that’s a no,” Peter smiles, none-the-wiser.
“Tom promised he’d take me when we get home,” June says brightly, her face heated from my touch.
Home!
God, I like the sound of that.
“You boys never told me how your night out with the guys was,” Mom says, interrupting my happy domestic thoughts.
Turning to June I explain, “The other, night Pete and I had drinks at Royal’s Pub and Brewery in Pinetree, with some guys from high school. One of my classmates, Frank, his Dad owns it and his older brother, David, is the master brewer.”
“Once Tommy remembered he isn’t a cop right now, and controlled the urge to arrest anyone, we had a pretty fun time,” Peter snickered.
“Pete, you’re the one that didn’t want to go. I told you we’d have a good time,” I remind him. “Although, it’s true, I would’ve felt better if Joey had been there.”
“Tom, that’s Father. O’Neill. Show some respect,” Mom admonishes.
“Why aren’t you a cop right now, and why would you want to arrest your friends?” June asks confused, giving me an uncertain look.
“I’m still a cop, but I’m on medical leave. So I had to give up my badge and gun. As for wanting to arrest my friends, let’s just say the Royal’s have had some questionable business practices in the past,” I explain.
Whispers of Winter: A Limited Edition Collection of Winter Romances Page 120
