A Little Christmas Cheer

by Roberts, Laylah

  “Sorry to scare you,” he said in a rough voice. As though he didn’t use it a lot. “I didn’t mean to intrude.”

  “Who . . . who . . .” Very verbose, Sunny.

  He closed his eyes briefly on a wince. “Shit. Fuck. I should have led with that. Uhh, shit. I shouldn’t have fucking swore.” He fisted his beard, tugging at it. “Urgh, crap. Did it again.”

  To her shock, she found herself giggling. Sugar. Where did that come from? There was nothing amusing about this. Except someone who’d broken in to rob her wasn’t going to worry about their language, right? And it was kind of endearing the way he kept trying to stop and couldn’t.

  Besides, she’d figured out who he was.

  “Not too good at this social crap. Umm, stuff. I’m Sav. You’re Sunny.”

  “Yes. I am. Nice to meet you. Where’s Duke?” She pushed herself up. He took a half-step forward then seemed to think better of it and stayed where he was.

  “Some woman cornered him outside. I snuck in. She was giving me strange looks.”

  “Like she was intimidated by you? Oh, not that you’re intimidating or anything. Well, you kind of are. Just a bit.”

  Son-of-a-peach. Stop babbling, Sunny.

  His expression didn’t change but she thought his brown eyes might have filled with amusement. Maybe?

  “Nah, she was looking at me like she wanted to eat me.”

  “Oh, that’s that bitch, Paisley.” She slapped her hand over her mouth.

  He actually did smile at her this time. “Yeah?”

  “Yeah. I didn’t call her that.”

  He held a finger to his lips. “Your secret is safe with me.”

  “What secret?” Duke asked.

  She visibly saw Sav tense as Duke walked up behind him, his hands clenching.

  Duke must have seen his reaction too. “Sorry, man. Didn’t mean to sneak up on you.”

  Sav shook his head and stepped into the room so Duke could walk in. “Gonna take some getting used to, not always being on my guard.”

  “You know I’ll always have your back,” Duke told him.

  “I know. Just not used to trusting anyone anymore.”

  “Once you join the Iron Shadows, you’ll have all of them at your back too.”

  Sav nodded, but she didn’t think he looked convinced. “Might take me a while to trust in them.”

  “I can watch your back too,” she blurted out. Then she felt like an idiot as both men turned to her. Like he needs you at his back. Look at him then look at you. He looks like he could eat you for breakfast and still be hungry.

  But Sav smiled at her. “I’d be lucky to have you at my back, Sunny.”

  She straightened up, smiling at him. “Really?”

  “Really.”

  “You can trust me.”

  He just nodded, but it was enough. She could tell he wasn’t a big chatter.

  “You two seem to be getting on. How long was I stuck outside with Paisley?” Duke asked.

  “Too long,” Sunny said with a frown. “What did she want?”

  “Just the usual crap. Complaints about Hatter leaving little presents in her front yard. He’s such a good dog.”

  He was indeed.

  “What secret were the two of you talking about?”

  “Can’t tell you, man. That would be breaking a pact,” Sav replied.

  Duke looked from her to Sav but she could tell he wasn’t too put out. Then his gaze went down to Sparkle Pony and the mess of glitter and oats on the floor. “What happened here?”

  “Umm.”

  “Looks like the unicorn was having himself a feast,” Sav replied.

  “He must have gotten into the reindeer food. Naughty Sparkle Pony.” She waggled her finger at the unicorn.

  “Right,” Duke said dryly. He turned to Sav. “We’re making pizza and watching Christmas movies this evening. If you want to join us?”

  “Ahh. No. That’s okay. I’ll just head into my room.”

  “Okay, man. We’ll tell you when the food arrives. You just help yourself to whatever you want.”

  Sav nodded. “Thanks.”

  Moving on instinct, Sunny stepped closer to Sav. She could tell he wouldn’t be keen on her touching him, even though it looked like he could use a hug.

  “You really are welcome here, Sav.”

  His face softened. “Thanks, Sunny. And don’t go trying to hide who you are for me, yeah? One thing jail taught me is that life is too short. You need to seize each moment.”

  Duke squeezed her shoulder briefly as he walked past to show Sav to his room.

  When he returned ten minutes later, she was trying to scoop up the reindeer food from the floor.

  “That Sparkle Pony was very naughty getting into the reindeer food,” Duke commented.

  “Such a bad unicorn,” she agreed.

  “Come here.”

  He opened his arms and she flew into them. “Thank you for letting Sav stay here.”

  She squeezed him tight. “Of course. He seems like he could use all the friends he could get.”

  “Well, he’d be lucky to have you on his side. Thank you for loving me, Sunshine River. My life wouldn’t be complete without you.”

  * * *

  In the early hours of Christmas morning, Sunny woke up desperately thirsty. She stumbled out to the kitchen and poured herself a glass of water. She frowned. Was that the sound of bells?

  Crazy. She had to be hallucinating.

  Yawning, she turned to tiptoe out through the living room. She didn’t want to wake Sav. He’d come out to eat dinner with them but retreated into his bedroom soon afterwards. She hoped he didn’t feel like he was intruding.

  She also hoped he liked the gift she’d gotten him. She’d managed another trip to the mall with Duke’s help. They had decided to look for a therapist in the new year. Finding one who could fit her in any earlier would have been impossible.

  Turning back to the bedroom, she peered into the living room and froze.

  Was that? Nope. No way.

  “S-Santa?” she whispered.

  Hatter looked up from his basket and yawned at her before going back to sleep.

  Santa turned and raised his finger to his lips. He pointed down the hallway to her room. Was he telling her to go back to bed? Or was he saying not to wake Duke? There wasn’t enough light to see him that clearly.

  She rubbed her eyes. Why wasn’t she more scared? She should be screaming in fear right now. There was a strange man in the house.

  A strange man who was pulling gifts out of a sack and placing them under her unicorn-themed tree.

  “Is this a dream?” she asked. That had to be it. She sighed in relief as Santa nodded. Then he mimed sleeping.

  Silly, Sunny.

  Of course, this was a dream. Eyes half-closed, she walked back to bed and got in. Duke drew her in close, snuggling her tight.

  * * *

  “Daddy! Wake up! It’s Christmas!” Sunny whisper-yelled at Duke, not wanting to wake up Sav.

  She grabbed his shoulder, shaking him. Why wasn’t he waking up? What was wrong with him? She knelt on the mattress and leaned over him, placing her finger under his nose.

  Still breathing.

  She placed her ear on his chest.

  Heart still beating.

  “Wake up, Daddy!” She shook him again.

  Suddenly, he reached up and grabbed her. She shrieked in fear as he rolled her over onto her back and started tickling her.

  “Daddy! Daddy, no! Stop!”

  “You woke me up, now you pay the consequences. Scream for mercy, little one!”

  “Daddy! No!” She shrieked with laughter. “Mercy! Mercy!”

  He grinned at her and rolled away, sitting up and pulling her onto his lap. “Merry Christmas, little rebel.” He kissed her.

  “Merry Christmas, Daddy.”

  “Now, shall I go make us some breakfast and coffee?”

  She jumped off the bed. “Screw breakfast! I w
anna open presents.”

  “Oh you do, do you? Well, you better give Daddy some more sugar first.”

  They didn’t leave the bedroom for another ten minutes and she was kind of dazed as she moved into the living room. So dazed, she didn’t notice that there were some extra gifts under the tree.

  Hatter jumped from his basket, bouncing his way over to her. She gave him some pats.

  “Sunny, did you get up and put more presents under the tree last night after we went to bed?” Duke asked.

  She frowned, looking at the expertly wrapped boxes “No. Do you think they came from Sav?”

  “I don’t see how he would have bought them.”

  “Morning.” Sav walked in, dressed in T-shirt and sweatpants.

  She suddenly wondered if she should have changed out of her flannel pajamas which were covered in reindeer.

  Nah. It was Christmas. Besides, he’d said not to change for him.

  “Sav, you know anything about some extra gifts under the tree?” Duke asked.

  “No, man. Didn’t have time for shopping,” Sav replied. “Nice tree by the way, never seen a unicorn Christmas tree.” He winked at her.

  She grinned. “I know. It’s unique.”

  “It sure is.”

  Duke shook his head. “We didn’t expect you to buy us anything. It’s just these gifts weren’t here last night.”

  “What are you saying?” Sav asked. “That someone broke in here and left presents?”

  “Santa,” Sunny breathed out.

  “Sunny, baby, I know you like to believe in Santa but he—”

  Sunny slammed her hand over Duke’s mouth before he could spout blasphemous words. “I know you weren’t gonna say what it sounds like you were going to.” She glared up at him fiercely.

  With wide eyes, he removed her hand gently.

  “Dumbass,” Sav said with a snort.

  She gave him a shocked look and he winked at her. She grinned. Oh, she had a feeling having Sav here was going to be fun.

  “What I was saying is that I had a dream last night that Santa was here and laid gifts under our tree. But maybe it wasn’t a dream.”

  “Are you saying there was a man in our house and you didn’t scream? That you didn’t wake me up?” Duke gave her an incredulous look.

  “I thought it was a dream!” How was she to know it wasn’t? It seemed too crazy to be real.

  “Wouldn’t the dog have barked?” Sav asked.

  Duke gave Hatter a skeptical look. He panted, his tongue lolling out as he happily stared up at them. “He ain’t the best guard dog.”

  “Why don’t we take a look at them,” Sav suggested. “Maybe they left a note.”

  Sunny took a step forward, but Duke grabbed her hand, shaking his head. “You sit on the sofa.”

  She sighed. “They’re hardly going to be bombs.”

  “Sit,” he said sternly.

  With a pout, she sat. She watched as both men looked over the gifts. There were about six in all.

  “Fuck. That fucking shithead, motherfucking son-of-a-bitch,” Duke swore as he looked at a small card attached to the largest gift.

  Sav raised his eyebrows. “Thought we weren’t supposed to swear around Sunny?”

  “You’d swear too if some fuckhead was sending your woman gifts!”

  What? Who? Oh God! “The Fox! He sent me presents?”

  She realized she sounded a bit too happy about that as Duke turned to frown at her.

  “Umm. I mean, oh no, that naughty Fox sending me gifts. Bad Foxie.” She pretended to scowl.

  Duke didn’t look like he bought her act.

  “Who the fuck is the Fox?” Sav asked.

  “He’s an assassin for hire,” Duke told him.

  Sav looked from Duke to her then back to Duke. “Is that some kind of joke?”

  “Nope. I fucking wish. The guy fucking kills people for a living, but for some reason, he loves Sunny,” Duke said.

  “Hey, I’m very lovable.”

  “Of course you are, baby. I didn’t mean it like that,” Duke said hastily.

  “Not that sort of love,” she reassured Sav. “I think he sees me as family or something close to it.”

  “An assassin?” Sav said skeptically.

  “Yep,” she said.

  “Who broke into your house?”

  “Seems that way,” she replied.

  “Dressed as Santa?”

  She rubbed the side of her finger against her chin. “That is a new one.”

  “To leave gifts,” Sav added. “Has the guy not heard of a doorbell? Or the postal service?”

  “Too simple for the Fox,” Duke muttered. “No, he has to make a grand entrance. Fucking dressed up as fucking Santa. Fucking hell.”

  “To be fair, he can’t have known I was going to see him.”

  Duke turned to her with a glare. “You’re never to get out of bed without waking me again.”

  “Duke—”

  “And if you ever see the Fox or any other man in our house, you’re to scream murder.”

  “Okay,” she soothed as he stood and walked over to her. “I will. I promise. But you know he wouldn’t hurt me.”

  “Don’t fucking care.” He pulled her up into his arms. “You’re mine.”

  “What kind of gifts does an assassin send?” Sav asked curiously.

  “Don’t know. But I’m gonna need fucking coffee to deal with it.” Duke stalked into the kitchen. “I’ll let the dog out.”

  Drat. She didn’t want to wait for him to put the coffee on. Sav winked at her and walked over with one of the gifts. “Quick. Open it.” He sat in an armchair to watch her.

  She giggled as she opened up the box to find a long, blue jewelry box. Inside was a gorgeous charm bracelet. She gasped as she pulled it out and took in each of the charms. There was a flower sitting in a flower pot. Reference to the way she used to leave her key under a pot on her porch, she was sure. There was a top hat, she figured that was for the Mad Hatter from her favorite book. There was also a motorbike. And a puppy. The last one was, of course, a Fox.

  “Does that have real diamonds for eyes?” Sav asked.

  “Most likely,” she said.

  “Fucking asshole,” Duke said, coming back in with their coffees as Hatter danced around at his feet. Somehow, he missed tripping over him.

  Sunny tripped over that dog at least five times a day.

  “I won’t wear it if you don’t want me to.” She wouldn’t do anything to upset Duke. She placed it back in the velvet box. But suddenly, Duke’s hand was there, keeping the box from shutting.

  He grabbed hold of her chin with his other hand. “No, I’m being an ass. It’s a gorgeous gift. But I will be adding my own charms to it.”

  She smiled up at him happily.

  “Come on, open the rest,” Duke told her as he sat next to her.

  By the time she finished opening the gifts, she had a Fox onesie, a pair of fluffy Fox socks, a pair of Alice in Wonderland ballet shoes that had Alice on one shoe and the Cheshire Cat on the other. But her favorite thing besides the charm bracelet was the set of Alice in Wonderland teacups. Each cup had a quote and a picture on it.

  “We’re all mad here,” Sav said, reading one cup. “Well, truer words were never spoken, huh?”

  Sunny looked over at Duke with a grin. He sighed and shook his head. “You got that right.”

  Jumping up, Sunny grabbed the gift she’d bought for Sav. “This is for you.”

  He stared at her in shock. Then he looked over to Duke, who gave him a short nod.

  Sav took the gift, staring at it like he thought it was a bomb that might explode. She started to worry she’d made a mistake. She shifted her weight from side-to-side. She glanced over at Duke. He gave her a reassuring smile.

  “Sav, man, Sunny just wanted to make you feel welcome.”

  Sav cleared his throat. “Thanks, Sunny.”

  “I wasn’t sure what you’d like. So it’s kind of just a silly
gift. You know maybe you won’t like it. I should take it back.” She reached for it but he shook his head, moving it away from her.

  “Nope. You gave it to me. No taking it back.” He started to unwrap it and she felt herself blushing. Duke reached over and pulled her to sit next to him.

  Sav drew the wrapping paper off the basket of items she’d put together. He drew out a pair of blue slippers and a robe. On the back of the robe was the image of a Harley Davidson motorbike.

  “So you’ll be comfy,” she explained.

  Next was a book of jokes.

  “Small talk ideas.”

  He nodded. Next came a box of chocolates.

  “For when you get hungry for something sweet.”

  Next were some noise-cancelling headphones.

  “In case Duke and I are too loud.”

  Sav raised both eyebrows and looked to Duke with a grin.

  What was that look about . . . oh sugar!

  “Not like that!” she squeaked out.

  Sav let out a small laugh. The next item was a key-ring in the shape of a motorbike, with a key attached.

  “Key to the house,” she said, her cheeks still burning.

  Slowly, he replaced all the gifts and stood with the basket in his hands. “I’ll go put these away.”

  He turned away and she bit her lip worriedly. Then he turned back. “Thanks, Sunny.”

  She nodded and he disappeared. She hoped he didn’t feel like he had to leave. Duke squeezed her hand and kissed her gently. “You did well, little rebel. Don’t worry, he’s just giving us a minute.”

  Reaching into the gifts, Duke brought out one for Sunny. “This is for you.”

  She ripped off the wrapping paper and found a brochure for an Alice in Wonderland experience. She sucked in a breath. In England.

  “What’s this?”

  “Well, the reason I’ve been working such long hours is so I could take a few weeks off.”

  “Do you mean . . . are we going to England?” she asked, her eyes growing wide, her hands starting to shake.

  “Yes, baby.”

  She just gaped at him.

  “Do you like it?”

  “Like it? I can’t even . . . I mean . . . oh my God.” She flung herself into his arms. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”

  “Baby, you don’t ever have to thank me. All you have to do is love me forever.”