Under the Mistletoe Collection

by Cindy Roland Anderson

  She held out her mug and gave him a steady stare. “Get us a refill.”

  Jonah sighed inwardly. Not a terrible dare, but she didn’t know how hard that really was for him. He tried to keep it light. “You just want to sit here warm by the fire while I serve you.”

  “You got me.” Her smile reached all the way to her eyes this time. “Do you accept the dare or not?”

  He’d come too far to back down now. “Sure.” His voice was nonchalant, but his hands were already starting to sweat. He got on his knees and pushed himself up. With a little hop for balance, he was standing. With two mugs in one hand and a flashlight in the other, he headed for the kitchen. He could feel her eyes on him, but he moved slowly and deliberately. No way was he going to screw this up. Jonah had always given dares his best effort, from eating a rose to giving himself a haircut. He wasn’t going to give any less now, prosthetic foot or not.

  Chapter Four

  Cami couldn’t see Jonah’s face, but she could feel his determination as he slowly walked across the room. In the darkness she watched his shadow and could see and hear a small shuffle in between his steps. Is his prosthetic bothering him? It was easy to see he didn’t want to do it, but she was proud of him for taking the dare. Maybe he was afraid he’d fall in front of her or something. For a second, she thought he might refuse to do it at all, but then he’d clenched his jaw and done it, just as she knew he could. Pride swelled in her heart. Jonah had always been innately sure of himself and what he could do. His injury might have hidden that from him, but it hadn’t destroyed it completely. In the brief second after he’d accepted her dare, she’d seen it in his eyes again.

  When he drew close to the fire with that little hesitation in his step, she could see how hard he was concentrating on not spilling the hot chocolate. She wanted to say how proud she was, but knew instinctively that wouldn’t go over well, so she stayed silent, focusing on the steam coming from the mugs. Gooseflesh prickled on her arms and she rubbed her hands over them. The fire and the dogs hadn’t been able to completely ward off the chill she’d gotten looking for Lola in the snowstorm, and she was really looking forward to something hot. “Thanks,” she murmured as she took the drink from him. She needed it to warm her from the inside, but wished she could wrap her whole body around the warmth of the mug.

  Jonah set his own drink on the fireplace and sank down heavily in front of her. She watched him as he grabbed the poker to stoke the fire. He looked pleased with himself, and a frisson of happiness caught in her chest. He did it and he’s as proud as I am.

  “Are you warming up yet?” He sat back, his hands hanging over his knees, his ever-watchful eyes missing nothing.

  “Not really.” Even as she said it another shiver raced through her. “Probably just caught a little chill. The hot chocolate will help in a minute.”

  He tilted his head down and then raised it to look her in the eye. “It’s my turn, right?”

  Cami nodded, her stomach flipping at the intensity in his face. “Yep.” Suddenly the room seemed very small. This dare sounded serious. He’d dared her to do some pretty crazy things in the past, but they’d been kids then. From the tone of his voice, whatever he was going to ask was way above wearing a clown nose to a restaurant or singing Yankee Doodle at the top of her lungs on a street corner.

  “Just to be fair, I’m going to ask, truth or dare?” He was holding himself still, but there was an energy zinging between them that made her antsy.

  She took a breath. “You know I have to take the dare if we’re using our old rules.”

  His gaze never left hers and he didn’t hesitate. “I dare you to let me help warm you up.”

  Several scenarios from the past raced through her mind. He used to let her warm up by putting his arm around her and holding her close to his side. Was that was he was thinking? Or did he mean get her another blanket? “What did you have in mind?” Her pulse rate picked up as she thought about what she wanted him to say.

  He grinned and shook his head slightly, as if he could read her thoughts. Cami flushed and hoped he couldn’t see it in the dark.

  “Before you go thinking my intentions are anything but honorable, I just thought that sharing body heat could help warm you up faster.” He held out his arms. “Just snuggle your back against me and with the blanket over us; you’ll be warm in no time.”

  Her shivering body wouldn’t allow her to say no even if she’d wanted to, which she didn’t. “Okay.” Her heart hammered as she scooted over between his knees, her back against his chest. Curling the blanket around them, she practically melted into him. “How are you always so warm?” she murmured.

  He ran his hands up her arms, leaving a trail of heat behind them. “How are you always so cold?” Wrapping his arms around her, he tucked her closer against him.

  Cami closed her eyes, her cheek against his chest, breathing in his clean laundry scent. Being in his arms was like coming home after an extended trip. All the fear and anxiety she’d been dealing with were suddenly far away. His heartbeat was in her ear, sure and steady, like him. It would be so easy to fall asleep if her thoughts hadn’t turned to how close his mouth was. What would it be like to kiss him? She shifted in his arms, moving closer, grateful he couldn’t read her thoughts.

  He rested his chin on the crown of her head, his hands still moving slowly up and down her arms. “I need to figure out a harder dare next time. I didn’t even have to say it twice.”

  “I know a good thing when I hear it.” She didn’t want to move as his body heat began to chip away at the ice in her veins. “You ready? It’s my turn.”

  “Well, since we just got comfortable, I pick truth.”

  Cami looked at the flames crackling next to them. Did she dare ask it? “What’s your biggest regret since you came home from Afghanistan?”

  His hands stilled and silence followed the question. “I should have picked dare,” he muttered.

  She backed up quickly, not wanting to spoil what was building between them. “Never mind. You don’t have to answer that if you don’t want to.”

  “No, I want to.” His arms tightened around her middle. “It’s not that easy to explain. The longer I sit here with you, the more regrets I have.”

  His words pricked her heart. She’d thought things were going so well, that he was okay with her being here. Maybe she’d pushed him too far. Or maybe he had more demons to work through than she thought. Cami shrank back a little. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean–”

  “No, no, that came out wrong. I just...” his words trailed off. “I look at you knitting a scarf for my dad and getting girl movies for my mom, and if I’m honest with myself, I’ve been pretty selfish over the past year.”

  “You went through something life-changing,” she said softly, turning in his arms so they could see each other. “You’re allowed to be selfish. Sometimes things happen that take us in a completely different direction.” Ben popped into her mind. She’d sacrificed so much for him, but she’d do it all over again.

  “You sound like you’re speaking from experience.” He took one of her hands, rubbing his thumb over the back of it. “Care to share?”

  “Hey, this is my turn to ask the question. You have to wait.” She knew his questions were coming, but didn’t mind putting it off a bit longer. “And for future reference, Pride and Prejudice isn’t just a girl movie, you know.”

  He gave her a “yeah right” look. “Definitely a girly movie.”

  “Just because I didn’t want to hurt your feelings on the cookie argument, doesn’t mean I’ll let you get away with that kind of statement. Have you watched it?” His silence confirmed her suspicion. “You do realize the entire movie is about judging someone before you get to know them?”

  “I don’t need to watch it. Colin Firth is in it.” He raised his eyebrow. “You said so yourself.”

  “That doesn’t mean anything. The man is an amazing actor who’s been in a lot of movies. If you don’t want to see the on
e with Colin Firth in it, you can see the one with Kiera Knightley in it. I think you’d like that one. And both of them have tons of fantastic dialogue.”

  Jonah groaned. “Dialogue? Are there any explosions? Swordfights? An awesome bad guy?”

  Cami nodded her head. “Mr. Wickham does some terrible things.”

  He made a face like he’d smelled something terrible. “Okay, he can’t be an awesome bad guy with Wickham for a name. It’s definitely a girly movie.”

  “No judgments until you’ve watched it,” she said firmly.

  “You’re being bossy again, but I’ll concede on this one until I’ve watched the show.” He touched her back and started rubbing slow, lazy circles around the center. “So, the answer to your truth or dare question is, I regret being selfish and,” he gave a loud sigh, “maybe a little judgmental about Pride and Prejudice.”

  It was getting harder to breathe, her heart tripping over itself the more his fingers moved over her back, leaving a trail of awareness wherever he touched. “You were dealing with something no one should have to deal with,” Cami said finally, leaning back against his chest so he couldn’t have access to her back anymore. “No one faults you for being wrapped up in your recovery.”

  “I know. But I could have been a little more grateful for my parents. A little more upbeat when my buddies called. And a little more welcoming to you.” This time he squeezed her in a hug. “I’m sorry.”

  His touch had started a firestorm inside of her that was warming her up from the inside better than a dozen cups of hot chocolate. “Apology accepted.” She looked up at him and he leaned down. Their lips were only millimeters apart. Was he going to kiss her? Did she want him to? “I think it’s your turn.” Her voice sounded breathless to her ears. “I pick truth.”

  The corner of his mouth quirked up like he was trying to hold back a grin. Could he read her thoughts? Was she wrong? His thumb ran over her shoulder in a slow circuit that calmed her racing thoughts.

  “Okay. Why are you still in Morgan? I thought you wanted to leave and be an Olympic runner.” His voice was quiet, but the question was like cold water on her head. She’d known it was coming, but it was still hard. She closed her eyes. Her Olympic dreams had been everything to her once upon a time. How could she explain and see the look on his face? She couldn’t bear his disappointment.

  “It’s a long story.” She pulled the blanket closer around her. The fire and their closeness had made her feel safe, but now all the emotions she’d been holding in came rushing to the surface. Anxiety surged over her like a tidal wave.

  His hands stilled on her shoulders. “You can trust me, Cam.”

  “I know.” She pushed her hair back behind her ear and fixed her gaze on her sleeping dog, finding it easier to talk if she wasn’t looking at Jonah. “I’ve always trusted you.” Gathering her courage, she took his hand. “I want to tell you about Ben.”

  Chapter Five

  Jonah’s heart rate picked up. Who was Ben? Her husband? Her son? Is he why she didn’t keep in touch with me after high school? Whoever he was, it was obviously difficult for her to talk about. She’d practically curled into a ball on his lap.

  She took a deep breath and let it out before she spoke. “Just after our high school graduation, my little sister found out she was expecting a baby.” Jonah remembered Hailey. Really social, not really concerned about classes. The opposite of Cami.

  “With no father in the picture and my mom in rehab again for her drug abuse, Hailey had no one to turn to, so I stepped in.” The room was so quiet, he couldn’t even hear the dogs snoring anymore. He didn’t break the silence, just held her hand and waited for her to continue.

  “I gave up my track scholarship to Stanford and went to community college so Hailey could get her GED before the baby came, and I don’t regret it.” Her hands clenched as if she thought he would second-guess her decision.

  “Why would you regret it?” He was genuinely confused.

  “I don’t want you to be disappointed in me.” She threw up a hand. “At first, I was so busy helping Hailey that I didn’t have time to answer your emails, but then when I heard how well you were doing, I didn’t want you to be disappointed with how things turned out for me.” Dropping her chin to her chest she said softly, “I told you I was getting out of here, away from my mom and all my family’s problems. That I was starting over. But I let it all go in a heartbeat.”

  Jonah turned her in his arms so she would see him. Hear him. “You said you wouldn’t let your mom’s addictions hold you back. And you didn’t. How could I be disappointed in that? Look at what you’ve accomplished. You helped your sister become a mother at a really young age and you were hardly older than she was. And yet you got your own degree and have a teaching job doing something you love.” A tear rolled down her cheek, and he wiped it away with his thumb. “You’ve always been so strong. I can’t even imagine how hard it was for you. I’m not disappointed; I’m proud.”

  She sniffed. “I didn’t feel strong. The past six years have been hard, but Ben makes it all worth it.”

  “Tell me about him.” He wanted to know everything and wished he would have tried harder to keep in contact with her all those years ago.

  Her face lit up as soon as she started talking. “Ben’s amazing. He was the most cuddly baby and filled all the empty places in my heart the moment I held him in my arms. He just started kindergarten this year and he’s so smart. When he stayed with me for track practice, the kids loved him.” She brushed away another tear. “Ben is our world.”

  Something had happened to Ben. Jonah knew it was coming and part of him didn’t want her to say it out loud. She’d already had so much heartache in her life with a single mom addicted to painkillers, and now she’d given up her dreams to help her sister be a single mom. If anyone deserved a break, Cami did. But she needed to get it out and he wanted to be the person to help her get through it. Whatever it was. “You can tell me, Cam.”

  She closed her eyes. “They were in a car accident three days ago. I’ve been at their bedside until tonight, when the nurses made me go home to get some rest.”

  Jonah tightened his arms around her, feeling the tension in her body and wishing he could take some of it away from her. “Are they going to be okay?”

  “My sister has a broken pelvis and several broken ribs. Her face is pretty swollen.” She turned her face into his chest and he held it there, his hands stroking her hair.

  “What about Ben?”

  She swallowed hard. “Thankfully he was buckled in his car seat, but even with that, he broke some ribs and his arm. It’s the head injury we’re all worried about.” Her voice was hoarse and uneven. It was obvious she was near her breaking point.

  Jonah went very still. “He’ll recover, right?”

  “They’re watching him closely, but the doctor thinks so. It’s just going to take some time. Ben was sleeping when I left, but there were so many tubes and machines around him.” This time she buried her face in his shirt and let the tears come. “I could have lost them both.”

  “Shh... You didn’t. He’s going to be fine.” Jonah continued stroking her hair to soothe her. When the tears had subsided, he turned her chin so he could see her face. “You’re going to be fine.”

  She brushed at his shirt. “I’m sorry I cried all over you.”

  He pulled her back against him. “I’m not sorry at all.” She lay against his chest again, the emotion taking any energy she’d had. They sat there quietly, listening to the storm outside and the fire crackling beside them. Sitting in the dark with her as a teen, usually staring at constellations in the sky, had been a cherished memory for him even after they’d lost contact. But now he’d found her again, and he knew this night was one he’d think about for years to come.

  “Cam, I spent a lot of time in the hospital and the holidays were the worst. I can’t imagine being a little kid in the hospital at Christmastime. Do you think we could visit Ben together? Maybe bring
some Christmas presents?” Jonah asked softly, not wanting to break the peaceful stillness surrounding them. Even the storm outside seemed calmer now. “If you think it’s a good idea, of course.” He surprised himself with the offer, but it felt right. He didn’t know Ben, and he hadn’t gone out of his house since he’d gotten home, but he felt a bond with the little guy already. Especially knowing how important he was to Cami.

  “That would be great.” Cami tilted her head back to look at him. “I know he’d love to hear all about your time in the Marines. He wants to be Captain America when he grows up, and that’s pretty close.”

  It really wasn’t, but he wouldn’t tell her that. The long, dusty patrols far away in Afghanistan had made him appreciate everything he’d had at home. “I’d like that,” he said. “Captain America toys are at the top of our Christmas list for Ben then.”

  They settled down again, watching the flames in the fireplace. She seemed lighter somehow, as if telling him had relieved her of a heavy burden. He ran a hand up her arm, wishing his presence could always take her troubles away. Just like she’s done for me. He hadn’t even thought about his own pain since she’d been in his arms. It was amazing how much less his own foot bothered him when he was talking about her problems and planning a hospital visit. Not that he was pain-free or anything. He was itching to take off his prosthesis. But, for now, just being with her was enough.

  He picked up his mug, careful to still keep her close, and finished off the hot chocolate. “Does this mean the game’s over?”

  She shook her head. “Not when it’s my turn.”

  He groaned. “Just remember I was nice to you last time we did dares.” And nice to myself. It felt right having her so close.

  She laid her hands on his forearms, as if bracing him for what she was about to say. “This one is sort of a truth and a dare.”