Match Me by Christmas

by Armstrong, Lindzee

  “Only because you told me to make a move,” Natalie shot back. She folded her arms tightly, rubbing her hands up and down them to fight off the cold.

  “Yes, we’ve established that this is probably my fault.” Jase flashed her a grin, his teeth standing out against the darkening night sky. “So, did Shawn say something to upset you?”

  Natalie’s shoulders slumped as she replayed the disaster in her mind. She blew out a breath, deciding she had nothing to gain by refusing to tell Jase what had happened. Maybe he’d have some secret guy insight to the situation that would help Shawn’s behavior make sense to her. “It was more how he said it.”

  Jase chuckled. “That’s such a girl response.”

  “Hey.” Natalie slugged him in the arm, and he laughed again. “I’ll tell you, but only if you play nice.”

  “I’m listening.”

  She slowed her pace, and Jase shortened his stride to stay beside her. The dance played in her mind like a movie reel. He’d asked if she had a boyfriend. Pulled her close. They’d been about to kiss when suddenly he was on the ground. “I don’t know. Everything seemed to be going well, and then this couple bumped into us on the dance floor. Shawn fell to the ground, and the next thing I knew, he was giving me the cold shoulder and disappearing. I think he might be really hurt. He was limping pretty badly, but he wouldn’t let me help.”

  “Oh, that’s easy.” Jase ran a hand through his hair, looking like the quintessential 1920s dandy. Someone in Hollywood should really get on that and cast him in a period film. “He was embarrassed.”

  Natalie let out a disbelieving laugh. “What?”

  “Isn’t it obvious?” Jase glanced down at Natalie. “You’re a beautiful woman that he’s clearly attracted to. He fell and feels like an idiot. No guy wants to look weak in front of the girl he’s trying to impress.”

  She felt like her inner sixteen-year-old should be crying tears of joy that Jase Larson had called her beautiful, but she was too distracted by the possibility that Shawn had pushed her away because he was humiliated. “But that’s so stupid. It wasn’t his fault he fell.”

  “No, and he acted like a jerk. But Shawn seems like a good guy. I think he’s worth giving a second chance.”

  Natalie chewed on her lip, her heart still bruised by the way he’d pushed her aside. She’d been pushed aside by so many men. It was exhausting.

  “I bet he’ll apologize tomorrow,” Jase said, putting an arm around her shoulder and giving a gentle squeeze. “Don’t give up on him just yet. Honestly, I’m not sure I would’ve reacted any better if the tables were turned. He totally crashed and burned.”

  “And I was trying to help him,” Natalie said, her voice rising.

  “All I’m saying is talk to the guy, once he’s had a chance to cool down.” Jase dropped his arm and motioned to the lido deck below them. “How about we go for a late night swim? It’ll get your mind off Shawn.”

  “Thanks, but I think I’m just going to head back to my room.” Natalie adjusted her headband, suddenly feeling exhausted. “See you tomorrow?”

  “Tomorrow,” Jase agreed. “I’ll walk you back to your room.”

  “Oh, you don’t need to do that.”

  Jase held up a hand. “Wait a minute. Now who’s turning down help? There’s no way I’m letting you walk back to your room alone. It’s dark out.”

  He was right—she’d turned down help, thinking she could handle something on her own. And she could, but that wasn’t the point. Jase had offered to help, and so she should let him. “Okay. Thanks.”

  Had Shawn made a snap decision, like she’d just done?

  Back in her room, Natalie changed into her pajamas and collapsed into bed. She felt dizzy from the emotional whiplash of the last two days. Was this seriously only her second night on the cruise? Two nights almost down, and five left.

  A soft knock sounded at the door. “Room service,” an accented voice said.

  Natalie sat up, confused. Kendra wouldn’t be back until the dance was over—at least another hour or two—and Natalie certainly hadn’t ordered room service. She padded to the door and opened it, glancing up and down the hallway. But no one was there. Instead, a tray sat before the door, with a plate of three chocolate chip cookies and a large glass of milk.

  Natalie bent down and picked up the tray, her heart pounding her chest as she stared at the cookies and milk. Who had sent this?

  She set the tray on the small desk and picked up the card propped against the glass of milk, reading it quickly.

  To the woman who deserves better. I’m sorry. Enjoy your milk and cookies. Tomorrow is a new day.

  - Your Secret Santa

  She dropped the note and picked up a cookie. It was still warm, like it had just been pulled from the oven. She took a bite, her eyes closing as she encountered soft cookie and gooey milk chocolate chips.

  Who had sent the note? Both Jase and Shawn had overheard her joking that she wanted cookies from her Secret Santa. It could’ve been from either of them.

  She pulled the glass of milk close and dunked her cookie in it, taking another large bite. Surely Jase wouldn’t have had time to send this to her room. He’d just left not ten minutes ago. But Shawn had seemed too upset when he left.

  Well, if Shawn thought cookies and milk could pass as a poor excuse for an apology, he was wrong. Maybe Jase was right and Shawn had just been embarrassed by falling. But that wasn’t going to fly with her. Tomorrow, she’d talk to Shawn and demand an explanation for what had happened tonight, and an apology to boot. One way or the other, she was determined to get to the bottom of his behavior.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Shawn stumbled from the Dream Lounge and collapsed against a pillar. A large Christmas tree, trimmed in red and gold ornaments, would effectively hide him from view of anyone leaving the lounge. He closed his eyes, humiliation washing over him. His leg throbbed and he could feel his knee swelling, straining against the fabric of his pants, but it didn’t hurt half as bad as his pride.

  That dance… He’d been totally enchanted by Natalie. She wasn’t an especially great dancer, but she was enthusiastic and joyful, which more than made up for her lack of skill. For a moment he’d forgotten that he was eleven years her senior, that he was a soon-to-be-unemployed junior cruise director with no place to call home and a lackluster bank account.

  Flirting with Natalie was dangerous. He’d nearly kissed her tonight before that couple knocked him to the ground. And for what? She was leaving in less than a week. Had dreams of traveling the world while he couldn’t wait to put down roots.

  A door creaked open, and the music from the Dream Lounge momentarily filtered into the hallway before the door swung closed once more, muffling the sound. Shawn peeked out from behind the artificial pine tree and saw Natalie walking away, the fringe on her dress swishing with each step. But she wasn’t alone. Jase Larson was by her side.

  Shawn shrank back behind the tree, his idiocy washing over him once more. He’d been a total and complete jerk to Natalie. She’d tried to help him, and he’d pushed her away. And for what—hurt pride? While they’d danced together, Shawn had forgotten about his broken dreams, his injured leg, the fact that he was thirty-three years old and just barely figuring out what he wanted out of life. With Natalie, he’d felt whole for the first time in more than a decade.

  And then, like a moron, he’d ruined everything, while famous Jase Larson was more than happy to comfort her.

  Shawn waited five minutes to be sure Jase and Natalie wouldn’t return, then limped toward the elevator. His leg protested with every step, but Shawn walked determinedly back to his room and promptly collapsed on his bed. He was never leaving this room again. Couldn’t show his face to Natalie.

  He really owed her an apology.

  Shawn let out a groan and grabbed a pillow, covering his eyes. Every heartbeat pulsed through his leg, telling him loudly that he’d angered it and would pay the price for the next few days. He knew he need
ed to call down to room service and request a bucket of ice to try and combat the swelling, but he couldn’t bring himself to roll over and reach for the phone.

  He had to find a way to tell her just how sorry he was. She’d pulled away at his harsh words and her beautiful hazel eyes had darkened with hurt.

  An idea came to Shawn, and he picked up the phone and dialed room service. He knew just how to apologize to Natalie tonight. His in-person apology would have to wait until after the ship set sail tomorrow evening, since he’d be spending most of his morning and afternoon preparing for the gift delivery to the orphanage school.

  Shawn spent a restless night filled with dreams of Natalie staring down at him, a scornful laugh on her lips as he insisted he hadn’t meant to fall. He woke up the next morning feeling even more tired than when he’d fallen asleep. At least the swelling had gone down significantly on his leg. A night of icing and elevating it had done wonders.

  He swallowed hard and sat up, groaning as his leg ached in protest. Would kids notice if Santa had a serious limp? He hoped not. Today was about brightening their holiday, not crushing their illusions of Santa. The Toujour guests would spend their day wandering around the coastal town or enjoying shore excursions, meaning Shawn mostly had the day to himself. Yesterday, he’d been looking forward to it. Now, the pit that had lodged in his stomach when he fell wouldn’t go away. Hopefully Natalie had enjoyed his gift, but she deserved a real, face-to-face apology. And he’d make sure she got one tonight.

  It was nearly nine o’clock when a knock sounded at his door. The ship had pulled into port nearly two hours earlier, and Shawn knew there would be a long line of passengers waiting for the tender boats to take them to shore. Shawn dropped the present he’d just finished wrapping and slid off his bed, unable to hold back a groan as his stiff leg screamed in protest. He headed to the door, wondering if someone had gotten the meeting time wrong. He wouldn’t say no to company for the next hour, and help wrapping the last few presents. Anything to get his mind off Natalie.

  He opened the door, expecting to see Jorge or maybe Gage. Instead, he stared down into Natalie’s unblinking hazel eyes.

  Shawn sucked in a breath, his palms suddenly clammy. She’d pulled her hair up into a high ponytail today, and he loved the way it showed off the curve of her neck and shoulders. A light green cotton dress reached nearly to her ankles. Silver bracelets clinked on one arm as she placed her hands on her hips.

  “Hey,” she said, and there was a bite to her tone that made him wince. “Has your pride settled down enough to allow a woman to ask how your leg’s doing?”

  Shawn dropped his hand from the door, face heating with fresh humiliation. But he was glad she’d tracked him down. He wanted to apologize. No—he needed to apologize. And it was better that he didn’t have to stew about it until tonight. “I’m so sorry about last night, Natalie. I was out of line.”

  She glared, the gold around her irises flashing. “You bet you were, mister. That was totally uncool. I was just trying to help. How was I supposed to know you were some macho, independent type?”

  Her lips were pursed in displeasure, eyebrows raised as she waited for a reply. As Shawn faced down her fury, one word kept coming to mind—adorable. He’d never been so attracted to someone chewing him out. But he liked that she called him on his bad behavior. That she didn’t tiptoe around his accident or injury like everyone else he was close to. And yeah, that was because she didn’t know about either. But he had a feeling that knowing wouldn’t change her treatment of him. And he loved that.

  Shawn imagined gathering her up in his arms. Pressing her against the wall. Devouring her lips with his own. He would’ve kissed her last night if that couple hadn’t run into them. And he had a feeling she would’ve let him.

  He took a step back, feeling more relaxed than he had since last night, and held the door open a little wider. “If you’d like to come in and yell at me, be my guest.”

  She peered around his shoulder, still glaring. “Are you inviting me into your bedroom? Because let me tell you, I am not that kind of girl.”

  He chuckled and motioned behind him. “And I’m not that kind of guy. It’s a suite—one of the perks of being upper management. I promise I’ll never ask you to go anywhere but the living room.”

  “Oh.” Her hands dropped to her sides. “I guess that would be okay, then.”

  Shawn shut the door behind her, marveling that her fury had somehow made him feel okay about last night. He’d hated the idea of her babying him. After his accident, everyone had treated him like a child. He’d worried that falling would show her his weakness and make her treat him the same. But he’d been so, so wrong.

  “Here’s my floating home.” Shawn held out his hands, motioning to the cabin. It was barely three hundred square feet, with a living room and kitchenette combo in the front half, and doors leading to a cramped bathroom and bedroom in the back half.

  “It’s nice,” Natalie said, moving her neck back and forth as she took in the space.

  “It’s a definitely step up from the crew quarters.” Shawn sank into the armchair, his leg stiff and unbending, and motioned to the couch. “Please, sit down.”

  Natalie nodded and sank carefully onto the couch, her eyes never leaving his. “I’m mad at you,” she blurted.

  Shawn nodded, clasping his hands so she wouldn’t see them trembling. “I know.”

  “You really hurt my feelings last night. I was just trying to help, and you were rude.”

  “I’m sorry.” He hoped she could see the sincerity in his eyes. “If I could go back in time and redo last night, I would. It was never my intention to hurt you. Do you forgive me?”

  Her eyes fluttered downward, and her impossibly dark lashes created little half-moons on her cheeks. “I just didn’t understand what happened. Jase said you were maybe, you know” —she lifted a shoulder in a shrug— “embarrassed or something. But I wasn’t trying to insult you or anything. It seemed like you were really hurt, and I wanted to help.”

  Shawn’s neck heated and he scratched the back of it. He’d been starting to like Jase, but didn’t love that the movie star knew about his awkward fall and bad attitude. He didn’t want anyone’s sympathy. “I don’t like to look weak,” Shawn said finally.

  Natalie folded her arms, still not meeting his gaze. “That’s silly. Everyone trips sometimes.”

  “I trip more often than most.”

  Her eyelids fluttered to his stretched out leg, then up to meet his. Her cheeks were a rosy pink that made him to want to ravish her with kisses, but he stayed firmly in his chair. “I’ve noticed that sometimes you limp. Is your leg…?”

  Shawn folded his arms, the old defensiveness rising up, but he tamped it back. She hadn’t asked him for his social security number or blood type—just a simple question about an old injury. It shouldn’t bother him so much. “I hurt it thirteen years ago in a car accident. My leg’s more steel plates and rods than bones and tissue, and sometimes it seizes up and won’t support my weight. I should’ve told you when you asked me to dance.” He gave her a small smile. “I guess I was too distracted by the beautiful woman in front of me.”

  Her mouth formed a little o and he loved the blush covering her neck. She scooted to the edge of the couch and reached forward, her warm hands wrapping around his clasped ones. “And here I thought I’d hurt you the first time we met with my startling display of grace.”

  That made him chuckle. He turned his hands over, taking her warm ones in both of his. “No, that wasn’t you.”

  “I’m so sorry, Shawn.” The words were completely sincere, her eyes open and trusting. “I never meant to hurt you or humiliate you. If I’d known, I never would’ve asked you to dance.”

  “I’m glad you didn’t know, then. I was having a great time right up until I fell.”

  She gave his hands one last squeeze, then released them. He was glad the tension had disappeared between them, replaced by the easy conversation he’d
come to expect with her. “How is your leg today?”

  “Good enough,” he said.

  Natalie gave him a stern glare. “What did we just talk about? Stop being so dang prideful and stubborn, and tell me the truth.”

  He wasn’t used to someone worrying about him. It was nice. “Sore, but fine. The ice last night helped. Really, Natalie. Don’t worry about it. I just want to forget last night ever happened.”

  She bit her lip. “I don’t want to forget all of last night.”

  If he leaned forward, their foreheads would touch. Their lips would be within easy kissing distance. He inhaled a sharp breath, the electricity in the room unlike anything he’d ever felt or experienced before. “Me either.”

  A sharp knock echoed through the room, making Natalie jump back. He missed her closeness instantly and fought the urge to draw her back to him. Instead he stood, hating how awkward and ungraceful the movement was, and limped toward the door.

  Jorge stood on the other side, grinning widely. His white teeth stood out sharply against his dark skin, and he wore a cheerful red Hawaiian shirt.

  “Hey, Jorge.” Shawn stepped aside, allowing the man to enter. “Thanks for helping out today.”

  Natalie rose quickly, and Jorge came to an abrupt halt at the sight of her.

  “Well hello, Miss James,” Jorge said.

  She smiled at him, always so darn friendly. “Hi, Jorge. I was just leaving. I’m sure you two have work to do or something.”

  Shawn gently caught her arm as she moved to the door, pulling her to a stop. He wanted to spend the day with Natalie. Wanted it with a fierce intensity that scared him, but also excited him. “I wish you’d stay,” he said quietly.

  Natalie raised an eyebrow and looked pointedly at Jorge. “For a staff meeting? I’m not sure your boss would like that, and I don’t want you to get in trouble.”

  “This isn’t a staff meeting, Miss James,” Jorge said with a chuckle. “Mr. Erickson has arranged for us to take Christmas to an orphanage in the city.”