Mistletoe & Cocoa Kisses

by Stacy Eaton

  “That’s a treadmill. You can run in the water, too. Matt likes to use that.”

  “You’re kidding!” she gaped at me. “A treadmill in a pool?”

  I chuckled, “Yeah, pretty cool, huh?”

  “Do you use this or just Matt?” She walked around the edge checking out every aspect of the pool.

  “I swim at least thirty minutes to an hour every day, sometimes longer if I’m trying to work through a problem with a program.”

  She turned to study me, her eyes resting on my shoulders and chest. “No wonder your shoulders are so wide. It’s all the swimming that you do.”

  “I’ve been swimming since I was about seven. Started competing when I was about nine and didn’t stop until I graduated from college. Now Matt and his friends compete. Even Geri is learning to swim really well. She uses the pool a couple of times a week—helps burn off some of her energy.”

  “I thought I’d seen everything, but this pool,” she glanced around the glass enclosure, “no, this room and the rest of this house are absolutely amazing.”

  “I’m glad you like it.”

  “Like it? You’re going to have to evict me to get me to leave,” she joked as she turned to look out the glass and over the back of my property.

  I approached her from the side. “Not sure I could figure out how to do that kind of paperwork, or if I’d even want to.”

  She hesitated, “I didn’t mean it like that.”

  I shrugged so she could see it from her peripheral vision. “Well, I did.”

  “Chris,” she turned sideways to face me, “you don’t know me, and I don’t know you, so please don’t say things like that.”

  Maybe I just needed to go lie in the cold snow and chill out. This woman brought something out in me that I’d never felt before. How could it have been less than a day that we’d known each other?

  “I’m sorry, Robin. I know what you said earlier, but I can’t stop thinking that you fit so perfectly here.” I stared down into her beautiful eyes. “I mean, even your eyes match the pool water.” I reached up and ran my knuckles over her soft cheek. Meanwhile, the logical part of my brain screamed at me to back the hell up and keep my trap shut, but, nope, the emotional side of my brain had taken over—or maybe it was the sexual part of my brain since it seemed fascinated with her and wanted nothing more than to sate itself with her.

  Her eyebrows rose, “So because my eyes match the water, I belong here, with you?”

  “Sounds stupid, doesn’t it?” I laughed while Mr. Logic groaned and stepped back from her.

  “No, actually, it’s one of the sweetest things that I have ever heard.” She turned and worried her bottom lip between her teeth.

  “I’m sorry I made you uncomfortable,” I sighed and started to walk away, but she grabbed my arm to halt me. The sexual side of my brain screamed, Yeah, baby! and clamped a hand over logic’s mouth.

  “You didn’t make me uncomfortable, Chris. We barely know each other, and here I am falling in absolute love with your home and your children, and I haven’t even been here a day. It kind of freaks me out a bit, no, actually a whole lot.”

  “Yeah, me, too,” I agreed, “but there’s something about you, Robin, something about us when we are in the same room together. I felt it last night when you opened your eyes and looked up at me. In those brief seconds, I felt this pull toward you, and it’s only grown stronger the longer I’m next to you.” I cupped her face between my hands. “I’ve never been the type of man to jump into relationships, and I just got out of one—actually I’m still dealing with the aftereffects of it—but you,” I leaned closer to her, “you make me want things, things that I haven’t thought about wanting in a long time.” I leaned in, and ever so gently touched my lips to hers. “If this is what I feel like in one day of knowing you, I can’t even imagine how strong it’s going to feel in a few days.”

  “Chris,” she began to say, and I saw something off to my right side and turned to find four pairs of eyes watching us through the glass.

  I dropped my hands and stepped away. “Sorry, Robin.”

  She followed my gaze and snorted in a rather unladylike manner and said, “Aw, crap.”

  Robin

  When Chris looked at me like that, my insides melted like semisweet chocolate on a hot summer day. That single touch of his lips to mine made my toes curl, and for the first time in my life, I wanted to throw my arms around a man and toss my foot back like so many of those famous photographs.

  The snow couldn’t have doused the sparks between us better than finding four children closely observing us; two boys with their mouths hanging open and his kids sporting happy little grins. Damn.

  “I’m sorry. I should have realized they would come down here,” Chris said to me as we turned to exit.

  “It’s okay. It’s not the first time I got caught kissing a boy.”

  “A boy, huh? Bet none of those other boys had endless pools,” he joked.

  “Robin, all your things are in your room,” Matt told me as I joined them in the weight room.

  “Thanks, guys,” I replied. “I guess I should go unpack a few things.”

  I waved goodbye and headed for the stairs. The door was closing behind me when Matt said to his father, “Way to go, Dad!”

  “Matt,” I heard Chris say in a warning tone, but the rest was cut off as the door sealed. I grinned like an idiot as I meandered back to the guest room.

  The first look into my room brought me to a standstill. In the corner were all my things—and I mean all of my things—piled in a neat pile. My favorite blanket was folded at the end of my bed beside my purse and cellphone.

  I stared at suitcases, boxes, and bags, wondering just how much I should unpack. It would only make sense to take some things out and put them in the dresser. Chris had said it was probably going to be snowing for another three or four days and then another day or two before the car got dug out, plus add another day or two to get it fixed. I was looking at about a week, so I’d unpack enough for seven days, if I stayed much longer than that, I really might not want to leave.

  I went about unpacking some things and finding my toiletries. There was a small private bathroom en suite, and I couldn’t wait to slip into the shower. I was setting up my toothbrush and some other things when I glanced in the mirror.

  Holy crap! I looked like hell! How could those boys think I looked hot? My hair was tousled and knotted at the ends, and I had circles under my eyes from lack of sleep and leftover makeup.

  First things first: shower. I made sure the bedroom door was closed and then shut the bathroom door to get undressed. After I pulled the sweatshirt over my head, I paused. Sadly, I didn’t have a reason to wear it anymore. I’d never been the type of woman to wear a man’s clothes, but I’d loved wearing Chris’s sweatshirt.

  I took a nice, long, hot shower, stretching sore muscles under the hot water. When I got out, I wrapped a towel around my head and another one around my body and opened the bathroom door to find a young lady sound asleep on my bed.

  Geri was curled up on the pillow with my grandmother’s blanket covering her. Someone is wiped out, I thought as I tucked the blanket snugly around her. A knock came from the door, and I glanced at Geri to make sure it hadn’t disturbed her before I opened it.

  Chris dropped his eyes down to my towel and then stepped back from the door before returning his attention to my face. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you, but I’m trying to find Geri.” His voice was huskier than what I had heard before, and I held back a shiver at the delight it brought to my senses.

  I pulled the door open a bit further and tried to step behind it. “She’s asleep. I came out of the shower to find her there.”

  “Ah,” he said softly, “I’ll move her.”

  “No,” I blocked him with my towel-clad body, “let her sleep. She’s fine, unless you want to move her.”

  Chris stared down at me, his eyes flipping back and forth between mine for a
few long seconds, “As long as you don’t mind.”

  “Actually, I was considering lying down for a few minutes myself. It’d be nice to have the company.” Talk about putting your foot in your mouth.

  Chris’s eyes darkened and fell down over my towel again and then he flicked them over to the bed. He took a hasty step back, and I almost laughed at how hard he was trying to control himself.

  “That sounds like a good idea.” His voice grew huskier, if that was possible.

  I nodded, not sure what else to say and started to close the door, but Chris threw his palm out to stop the door before he closed the distance between us.

  “Robin, if you want me to keep my distance, please don’t answer your door in a towel or any kind of sexy clothing. In fact, I should probably give you one of my extra snowsuits so you can cover yourself up completely.”

  I was amused at the image of me walking around the house in a snowsuit.

  “Don’t laugh, I’m totally serious.” I had no doubt that he was, and before I could say anything, he spun and disappeared into his room.

  I closed my door, towel-dried my hair, and brushed it out before I slipped on yoga pants and my own sweatshirt, and lay on the bed with Geri. The minute I was settled, she wiggled to my side and curled up against me. I fell asleep with a smile on my face.

  I awoke to a hand on my shoulder. “Robin.”

  “Um,” I groaned and stretched, and heard an explicit groan from the side of the bed. The room had darkened distinctly from the time I had lain down. “Sorry, I can’t believe I slept that long. What time is it?”

  “It’s half past four. I didn’t think you’d want to sleep much longer, or you’d have trouble sleeping tonight.” Chris was seated on the side of the bed.

  “Thanks. Give me a second to wake up, and I’ll be out. Where’s Geri?”

  “She’s in the family room. She woke up about an hour ago.”

  “Okay,” I murmured and yawned. “Is there any way I could have some coffee?”

  “Absolutely, I’ll put on a fresh pot. I could use some myself.” Chris left and I sat up trying to blink myself back to the present while I curled my back and stretched the sore muscles.

  I’d slept for over three hours. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d taken such a long nap—or any nap for that matter.

  After brushing my teeth and hair, I pulled on thick socks and wandered out to the family room. Matt was lying in a chair with his feet over the arm reading a book, and Geri was on the floor coloring. Soft rock music played from speakers hidden somewhere in the room while the smell of coffee filled the air. Comfort engulfed me.

  This is what a real home looks and feels like, I thought as I stepped further into the room.

  “Hey, she lives,” Matt called out.

  “Can’t believe I slept as long as I did.”

  Chris entered the room and handed me a cup of coffee. I could tell by the color that he’d put a little bit of cream in it, and I smiled my thanks. Someone had paid attention at breakfast.

  “You hog the covers,” Geri stated without looking up, and the rest of us laughed.

  “I’ll have to remember that,” Chris spoke for my ears only. He shot me a wink before he went back to the kitchen.

  “Well, you sleep in other people’s beds,” I retorted playfully to Geri. I tickled her side with my toe and she giggled.

  “I’m Goldilocks,” she announced.

  “Then who am I?” I asked as I got myself comfortable in the corner of the sofa.

  “Momma Bear, of course.”

  I caught Matt smiling, but he shook his head and went back to his book. Momma Bear, I liked the sound of that. Too bad fairytales weren’t true.

  “You wanna color with me?” Geri asked.

  “Sure.” I set my coffee down on the side table after taking a sip and lay down on the floor with her.

  “You can color the animals, or you can color the flowers, which one?” She held up two more coloring books.

  “Hey, these are adult coloring books, not for children,” I said as I leafed through them.

  “So it doesn’t say you have to be a special age to use them. I think they’re better than kids’ books. There’s more to color.”

  “That is true, smart little girl.” I decided on the animal book and chose an image of two foxes by a stream in the woods. “You going to share those pencils or do I have to go find my own?”

  She giggled and put the box of colored pencils between us so we could share.

  “I’m gonna be an artist when I grow up, but before that I’m gonna be a swimmer like my dad and Mattie, and then I’m gonna be a cooking person like you.”

  “A cooking person, huh? They are called chefs. You sure are gonna do a lot when you grow up.”

  Geri shrugged, “Daddy says you don’t get anywhere if you’re lazy.”

  “Your daddy is very smart.” I remarked out loud and then finished in my head, and sexy.

  We colored in silence for a while, and when we both heard a song playing on the radio, we began to sing softly. I stopped to listen to her, surprised at such a beautiful voice coming from a young child.

  “Hey, Geri,” Chris called out from the arch of the kitchen, “do you want to help make dinner or am I doing this myself?”

  “I wanna help!” She tossed her pencil into the box and jumped onto the couch.

  “What’s for dinner?” Matt asked.

  “Pizza, Geri said that’s what she wanted tonight.”

  “Need any help?” I asked as I stacked the coloring books and put the box of pencils on top.

  “Nope, Geri and I have dinner tonight. You can help tomorrow night.” He turned and let Geri clamber onto his back before they disappeared into the kitchen.

  I scooted to the couch and curled at the end, glancing around the room. Pictures of the kids were scattered everywhere, along with another older couple that I could only assume were Chris’s parents. I loved the fact that he had so many of his family around the room, and I’d seen more in other rooms, especially his office.

  The feeling of family was so strong in this house; it reminded me of the way things had felt at my grandmother’s. We had laughed a lot there, cried too, but we were always a family.

  As I looked around the room again, I thought about how much I wanted a family now. Even dreaming of this being my family was too much to ask. This place, this family, resembled a modern-day fairytale. Someday I hoped to have something half as wonderful as this.

  Chris

  “Way to go, Dad.” Matt held his hand up for a high five.

  “Matt, I swear you are just like I was at your age,” I held back the grin I wanted to share with him, “but please don’t make more out of this than there is.”

  “What? We saw that.” Matt shrugged with a laugh.

  “Yeah, Daddy, we saw you kiss Robin. Is she gonna be our new mom now?”

  “Whoa, there, little guppy.” I scooped her up, “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. She was just saying thank you for us being nice to her. You kiss me and Matt sometimes when you say thank you, don’t you?”

  “Not like that, I hope,” Wade said under his breath, and I gave him a stern look. I wasn’t angry. They had walked in and seen what they’d seen. I just didn’t want the kids to get any ideas in their heads, like a woman in the house permanently. Although I had had a few random ideas myself about her being in my bed for extended periods of time.

  “Yeah, I do,” Geri stated disappointedly.

  “Let’s go upstairs and let the boys get a workout in.” I carried her to the door and threw over my shoulder, “Be safe, guys.”

  “We will, Mr. Landry,” Mike assured me, and Matt and Wade waved.

  I set Geri down when we got to the top of the stairs and went into the kitchen when I heard my cellphone ring. On days when I was working, I carried it with me all the time, but since it was a makeshift holiday with the kids home, I wasn’t quite as inclined to do so. None of my current projects wer
e in the critical stage, and things had been quiet, so I could afford a slack day today.

  A client with a question was on the line, and I ended up in my office for about thirty minutes. When we were finished, I checked my email quickly and found another loathsome email from Molly. That woman just didn’t get it. We were done.

  Why did she think she could change my mind? We’d dated a few months, and then I’d introduced her to my kids. She’d been nice to them, but hadn’t really interacted with them. I’d had to run Matt out one afternoon to pick up something, and she had stayed at the house with Geri. When I’d returned two hours later, she’d been in a fit. She’d let Geri drink three juice boxes and eat half a bag of cookies. Geri had thrown up all over the kitchen floor and on Molly’s expensive new shoes.

  The evil witch had had the gall to blame it on me. She didn’t know the first thing about kids, and I’d found Geri cowering in her room, afraid I would be mad at her. I wasn’t, of course. I was pissed at Molly and when she stomped out to her car to leave, barefoot, I waved from the door and said adios. That was the last time I had seen her. I called her a few days later and told her that it wasn’t going to work, and ever since then, she’d been calling, texting, and emailing me, telling me I’d be sorry if I ended it with her.

  It had been three weeks since the vomit incident, and the only thing I was sorry about was meeting her in the first place. I’d known she was prissy, and egotistical, but she had lured me in like a siren with a body that rocked, and at that time, that was all I had wanted.

  Now, all I wanted was to keep my kids happy and safe. I wasn’t looking for anything serious, and I sure as hell wasn’t looking for a wife.

  That thought made me wonder where my daughter was, and I went in search of her. She was not in the family room, her room, or the game room. I knew she wouldn’t bother the boys, so that left one possible location, Robin’s room.

  I knocked softly when I didn’t hear anything on the other side of the door and thought my heart was going to stop beating when she pulled it open. Robin stood before me wrapped in only a gray towel. It was a large towel, and covered her completely, but I knew that there was nothing under that stretch of material, and memories of stripping her clothes off the night before were fresh in my mind.