Holiday Heat

by Janelle Denison

  Unfortunately, she didn’t join in.

  Holly had never been happy at someone else’s expense and she wasn’t about to start feeling that way now, but she couldn’t deny she’d been so darn grateful for the phone call that had distracted her from Dylan’s heartfelt words. Her heart pounded hard in her chest even now, as she filled out the last of the paperwork on Jason Hansen. The child had received stitches and had just narrowly missed hitting his eye on the table corner in his fall. He was one lucky little boy, she thought, signing her name and handing the clipboard in at the hospital desk.

  Dylan waited for her in the lounge, where she’d have to face him and their shared afternoon. She’d started by using sex and foreplay as a distraction. A means of avoiding more serious discussion that might lead to him telling her he needed to return to L.A. But her deliberately seductive move had turned into a completely emotional one for her.

  She’d wanted to give to him in a way he couldn’t possibly forget. She wanted to be indelibly etched in his mind forever just as she knew that moment would be a permanent part of her, heart and soul. And now she had to live with the consequences.

  She didn’t doubt he loved her. It was his ability to do anything about his feelings that she didn’t trust. His work would take him away from her, and the lifestyle in L.A. couldn’t possibly compete with small-town life in Acton, Massachusetts. Sure, he said he was tired of the throngs of people and fans, tired of the phoniness in his world, but he’d wither and die here. And she refused to be the reason or the one he grew to resent.

  Steeling herself for any discussion he might want to have, she walked back towards the small waiting room and strode through the double doors. There must have been a lull in traffic because the room was empty except for Dylan, who’d curled into the corner of the plastic couch and dozed off. A lock of his hair had fallen over his forehead, and his head rested against his balled-up leather jacket.

  Her heart turned over at the sight, and she knelt down next to the couch. “Hey, sleepyhead.” She nudged his arm and tried to wake him, but he’d always been a deep sleeper, so it took a few more tries before he finally jerked his head upward.

  “Hey.” He rubbed his eyes with his palms. “Are you all finished?”

  She nodded.

  “How’s the kid?”

  “Other than a few stitches, he’s really lucky. But I doubt he’ll be in the mood to wrestle with his brothers anytime soon.”

  Dylan laughed. “He’s lucky to have you as his doctor.” His voice sobered, and Holly sensed his serious mood, return. “I watched you in action, you know.”

  Embarrassed, she shook her head. “Once I get started in an emergency, I don’t see much else around me.”

  “I realized that.” Holly’s dedication and abilities hadn’t come as a surprise to him, yet his respect for her had grown tremendously. And in an odd way, seeing her work had validated his decision to leave her behind all those years ago

  He rose and stretched out his muscles, which were cramped from being in one position for so long. “Are you ready to head home?”

  “Uh, yeah.” She seemed surprised.

  They walked to the parking lot, and he slipped his arm around her shoulders. “I’m sure you’re exhausted.”

  She nodded. “I could use a hot shower and a good night’s sleep.”

  “Sounds like a definite plan,” he murmured, and in case she wasn’t sure what he meant, he nuzzled his lips against her neck and whispered what the two of them could do in that shower before she collapsed from exhaustion in her bed. With him by her side.

  She laughed with him, her sexy way of agreeing to his idea. But she still seemed wary.

  He guessed she was waiting for him to bring up his comment in her kitchen earlier. He didn’t plan on doing so. In fact, while alone here waiting, he’d decided to continue on as if nothing unusual had happened between them. He had little time before he had to return to L.A. for a meeting with his agent and a movie producer, which had nothing to do with superhero roles and everything to do with a part he was dying to tackle.

  He wished he had the luxury of time to lay things out for Holly a little more slowly and with more care than he’d shown by blurting out his feelings in her kitchen. But what he didn’t have in time, they more than made up for in emotional connection. Beyond that, Dylan had no choice but to let fate play itself out.

  After their eventful night, Dylan and Holly slept late. They woke, made love and fell asleep again. The day passed in a delicious way and then they arrived at Dylan’s mother’s house. Dinner at the Northwood house was just like being back in high school, when life was simple and everything seemed rosy and good, Holly thought. She’d called her mother and aunt to say hi before going over to Dylan’s. She missed her mother, but understood her aunt Rose had broken her hip and needed help and so Holly tried not to dwell on the emptiness of being without her own family during the holiday season. And once she arrived at Dylan’s house, that emptiness began to be filled.

  Dylan’s mother had cooked dinner, and the house smelled delicious, warm and inviting. His sister, Amy, and her husband, Tom, and their young son, a precocious three-year-old named Matt, sat in the family room in front of the big-screen television Dylan had purchased for his mother’s birthday. Typical males, Dylan and Tom talked football and took turns keeping the fire stoked and the room warm, while Amy and Matt provided the sounds of laughter and squabbling. Amy kept busy diving to keep Matt out of trouble near the hearth and away from an old black Lab that dozed in the corner and whose tail Matt liked to pull.

  Holly, after being thrown out of the kitchen for attempting to help, finally settled in beside Dylan, trying desperately not to like the feeling of being part of this family too much. But how could she not enjoy and feel welcome when every so often Dylan would reach out and massage her shoulders or idly twist her hair around his finger as he talked. His family all treated her as if she belonged here, as if she and Dylan had never broken up or been apart.

  But most defining for Holly was that here in his old home, Dylan’s stardom and fame didn’t exist, making it too easy for her to believe in a future. So much so that throughout dinner and dessert, she had to keep reminding herself that she’d succumbed to these fantasies once before and suffered nothing but heartache as a result.

  By the time Dylan drove her home, she was stuffed from the good food and overwhelmed by memories and desire. When he turned and asked if he could come in, saying yes came as naturally to her as breathing.

  Coming on top of the heavy-duty family scene, Dylan wanted to tread carefully now. Holly had relaxed in a way he hadn’t seen since his return, and he didn’t want to lose that mellow, comfortable mood.

  “That was so nice.” She dropped the keys onto the shelf in her front hall. “I love your family.”

  “Well, that’s good, because they love you too.” His gaze darted to hers, wondering if any version of the word love would put her on edge.

  “Can I get you coffee or something to drink?”

  He accepted the subject change with a nod. “A cup of coffee sounds great.”

  “Then make yourself at home.” She smiled and gestured to the couch in the family room.

  While she headed to make him coffee he didn’t really need or want, he readied the room for just one of the surprises he had in store for Holly.

  Thanks to a fast-brewing machine that made four cups of coffee at a time, Holly had coffee ready for herself and Dylan pretty quickly. She knew he liked his black, so she added milk and sugar for herself and walked back into her family room.

  Instead of the bright space she’d left behind, Dylan had transformed the room. He’d shut off the overhead lights and turned on a small lamp in the corner along with the multicolored bulbs on her Christmas tree. From her small CD player, uplifting holiday music filled the air around them, while Dylan sat on the couch with a small wrapped box in his hand.

  From across the room, she felt the heat of his stare branding he
r much like his heated touch. God, he was sexy. No doubt every woman who saw a similar pose from the pages of a magazine dreamed of him staring at her, wanting her, only having eyes for her.

  He was every woman’s fantasy, and for this short span of time he belonged to her. She was lucky, but she wasn’t deluded by his fame. She had enough self-respect to believe that for as long as Dylan was with her, he was lucky too.

  She walked inside and set the cups down on the table. “I like the atmosphere,” she said softly, grateful for the thoughtful gesture.

  He grinned. “I did the best with what I had.” He toyed with the ribbon on the small box, rubbing the satin back and forth between his fingers, in the same way he’d massaged certain parts of her body with gentle yet arousing care.

  She swallowed hard, searching for a distraction. “What’s in the box?”

  “Part of your Christmas gift.”

  “It’s early! I didn’t know we were going to exchange gifts tonight. Mine isn’t even wrapped yet.” She had something special for him when they’d separated the day they’d been in Boston. She hadn’t decided when to give it to him.

  He stood and grasped her hand, pulling her down beside him on the couch. “I want you to have this and I don’t want anything from you in exchange.”

  “Not even if its the watch you were eyeing in the store window?” She tipped her head to the side and looked at him through not-so-innocent eyes.

  He shook his head. “You noticed that? Man, you are something else. Want to know what my—what Melanie got me for Christmas last year?”

  She stiffened, but he held on tightly to her hands. “No, but something tells me you’re going to tell me anyway.”

  “She bought me a weekend for two at a spa. Seaweed wraps, facials and full-body massages.” He grimaced, his disgust with her gift evident even now, a year later.

  Holly burst out laughing, her nerves over the mention of Melanie giving way to complete shock and amusement. “She really doesn’t know you at all.”

  “No, she doesn’t. Not like we know each other.” He held out the gift box. “It’s sentimental, not expensive,” he said, his voice dropping low. His tone held a hint of embarrassment.

  She couldn’t help but smile. “I’m not looking for anything expensive. I wasn’t looking for anything at all.”

  “I know, but this is something I want you to have.” He rose and began pacing the room. Obviously something was on his mind, so she set the box aside until he could explain.

  “About a month ago, I dreamed about you. Nothing unusual—I always dream about you.”

  Her breath caught in her throat. “You do?”

  “Yeah. That time I dreamed about us exchanging gifts on Christmas Eve, and I was determined to make that dream come true again. As soon as possible.”

  Despite her resolve to remain strong, her throat swelled and her heart began pounding hard in her chest. “So you really came back for me?”

  “I told you I did.” He jerked his head towards his gift. “Open it.”

  She did as he asked, untying the bow and ripping off the paper. The white box was generic without a hint of what was inside. Curious, she pulled off the top and peeked inside. Her breath caught in her throat, and she lifted the gift gently in her hands.

  “The angel I bought your family for their tree,” she said, memories swamping her. “You’re giving it back to me?”

  He knelt beside her. “It’s all in how you look at things, babe. I want you to hold on to this and think of why I’d give it to you, okay? How it could impact us.” He took the angel from her hand and placed it on the table.

  Then he swept her into his arms and into the bedroom.

  Christmas Day, Holly awoke feeling warm and sated, and she tingled all over. She’d never felt as cherished and cared for as she had when Dylan had made love to her last night.

  She closed her eyes and let herself remember. His warm body melding with hers, his eyes warm and giving. Most of all, she recalled the absolute feeling of fulfillment as he came inside her.

  She rolled over to glance at the clock on the nightstand but the first thing she saw was her angel instead. They’d never put it on the tree, she thought. That was something they’d get to later on, she hoped, because she already sensed Dylan had left again this morning. Knowing Dylan, since he was home for a short visit, she felt sure he’d gone to see his mother.

  She felt just as certain he’d be back.

  Lying alone in her bed gave her time to think, maybe for the first time since Dylan’s surprise visit to her office. As she let all her feelings wash over her, her first thought wasn’t of Dylan, but of John. It wasn’t so much guilt she felt as a heaviness in her heart because he was a wonderful man. But there would be time to deal with her feelings for John soon enough. Right now, she had a rare morning off and she intended to enjoy it by lounging in bed and not thinking of problems or possible solutions.

  She reached for the television remote and turned on one of the morning shows, caught one segment, then dozed through the weather. She woke up again just as an entertainment reporter was dishing on the latest buzz from Hollywood.

  She watched the list of stars who celebrated birthdays and heard the latest scandals before a picture on the screen caught Holly’s attention. Actress Melanie Masterson’s beautiful face flashed before Holly’s eyes.

  Curious despite herself, and compelled to watch, she sat up straighter in bed and raised the volume.

  “Ms. Masterson issued a statement through her publicist announcing a New Year’s Day wedding to her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Dylan North,” the reporter said.

  Holly pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around her legs.

  “Neither Dylan North nor his representative was available for comment, but this reporter happened to see them at a party earlier this year and they were glued together. Whatever caused their breakup obviously wasn’t serious enough to keep them apart in the coming year. Diane, back to you.”

  Holly shook her head. “No way,” she said to the television screen.

  Melanie might be beautiful, but she didn’t understand Dylan, not the way Holly did. And though Dylan loved his career, he wouldn’t settle for a shadow of the type of woman he wanted. Then there was the fact that he’d been in Holly’s bed last night. Not Melanie’s. The other woman obviously had an agenda. Still, Dylan wasn’t here with Holly now, and this unsettling news did nothing to relax her.

  She’d lost her luxurious morning in bed, and she yanked the comforter down, rose from bed and headed for the kitchen. If nothing else, coffee would get her day back on track.

  No sooner had she reached the kitchen than her telephone rang, and she snatched up the receiver. “Hello?”

  “Hi, babe.”

  On hearing Dylan’s voice, her spirits soared. “Dylan!”

  “Good morning,” he said gruffly.

  She felt herself smile. “Good morning to you too.”

  “Do you have any idea how much I wanted to be there when you woke up?”

  His deep voice caused a distinct warmth to settle low in her stomach. “I think I can imagine. Why’d you leave so early?”

  “I went to see my mother. We have so little time, and I knew she’d appreciate a quick Christmas visit. I planned on being back before you even woke up. But—”

  She gripped the receiver tight in her hand. “But what?”

  “I got a call and I have to catch a flight to L.A. I’m at the airport now.”

  Her stomach, which had just fluttered with warmth and desire, now plummeted in disappointment. “Does it have to do with Melanie?” she asked coolly, deliberately keeping any emotion out of her voice.

  “Not in the way you think. It has more to do with the movie role.”

  Holly drew a deep breath and tried to understand. “The role you decided not to take? Or did you change your mind?”

  “No, I didn’t change my mind, but the director isn’t someone I want to alienate, and my agent sugg
ested we meet with him right away and discuss it fare-to-face. When I factor in travel time, I needed to leave today to make the meeting tomorrow.”

  She nodded. “And Melanie?”

  “Wants me to take the role, and she’ll do anything to get me back to L.A. to convince me,” he said grimly.

  “Including announcing a New Year’s wedding?” Holly asked.

  He muttered a succinct curse. “You know about that?”

  “It was on the morning news.”

  His voice was cut off by an airport announcement. “What did you say?” she asked.

  “My plane’s boarding. I said to remember what I told you about believing newspaper articles.” She heard the pleading tone in his voice.

  “I remembered.” She let out a strained laugh.

  “I have to go, but Holly?”

  She shut her eyes and leaned against the wall. “Yeah?”

  “I love you, and I will be back.”

  “Bye, Dylan.” For Holly, the trick was to find the strength and courage to believe him.

  Chapter Six

  Holly skipped breakfast and spent the rest of the morning playing Santa, dropping gifts off for friends and family, taking her time before returning home. When the doorbell rang, it caught her by surprise.

  “Hi, Nicole.” Holly forced a smile.

  “That’s a really grumpy ‘hi’ on Christmas! Good thing I came with something to make you smile.” Nicole strode inside, carrying a large shopping bag.

  “Let’s go sit.” Holly gestured towards the family room. “I stopped by your apartment, but you weren’t home,” she said as they settled in.

  “That’s because I was coming here.” Nicole curled her legs Indian style beneath her, making herself at home.

  Gesturing to the bag, she said, “I wanted to find a way to thank you for being so good to me since I moved here. So I made you this.” She reached into the bag and pulled out a gorgeous, handmade blanket in a variety of earth-tone colors to match Holly’s family room.

  “Oh I love it. Thank you.” Holly hugged her friend tight, “That was so thoughtful. I didn’t know you knit!”