Never Christmas Without You

by Nana Malone

  Saturday-morning feasts at Dash’s had given her the sense of belonging she’d craved since her father had passed.

  The lilt of Maddie’s voice and her joyful laughter indicated that Maddie felt it, too. The sense of family and contentment that was always present at the Williams’s table.

  “I’ve said it before, Ms. Anna. You should own a restaurant.”

  “Thank you.” She beamed. “Always been a dream of mine.”

  “I never knew that, Mama. Why didn’t you ever say anything?” Dash studied his mother.

  She shrugged. “Back then, my primary concern was keeping food on the table and a roof over our heads. No time for nursing pipe dreams.”

  “And now?” he asked.

  “Starting a business is a young woman’s game.” She stood abruptly and gathered dishes from the table. “Besides, there are plenty of restaurants in town now. No need for one more.”

  Thoughts seemed to churn behind Dash’s dark eyes, but he didn’t push the issue. He turned his attention to Mikayla.

  “Speaking of this Pleasure Cove Renaissance, I thought I’d spend the day exploring town with Maddie. Show her where we grew up. Maybe have lunch in town. Any objections?”

  Mikayla chewed silently.

  She’d brought Maddie to Pleasure Cove so she could spend time with Dash. So why was she so uneasy about sending Maddie off with her dad?

  “Maybe Mikayla would feel better if she came along on this first trip,” Ms. Anna suggested.

  Mikayla’s eyes offered silent thanks. “A day in town sounds fun.”

  “Sure.” A subtle frown hinted at Dash’s annoyance. “You coming, Mama?”

  “Can’t. Got six dozen cookies to bake for the holiday bazaar and errands to run.”

  “Then I guess it’s just us.” Dash nibbled on his bacon.

  Maddie cheered and Mikayla nodded casually, despite the thudding of her heart and the fluttering in her belly.

  She and Dash were spending the day together with their daughter.

  No big deal.

  She could handle this, but first she needed to lay some ground rules. For starters, not thinking about last night’s kiss.

  * * *

  Dash emerged from his bedroom in a warm coat with a skull cap pulled down over his ears. “You two certainly look ready.”

  Maddie stood near the door in a puffy, pink coat and a white-and-pink aviator-style ski hat that resembled a bunny’s head. Two long bunny ears hung from the top corners of the hat and the ear flaps hung loose on either side of her face.

  “C’mon, Daddy. We don’t have all day.” Maddie was definitely a Williams woman. Punctual like his sister Kendra and no nonsense like his mother.

  He turned to Mikayla who busied herself with zipping her black parka. She wore an animal-face hat, too—a black-and-white panda.

  That was the quirky girl he’d always known. The one whose entire clothing collection consisted of T-shirts emblazoned with sci-fi characters. The girl who spent her allowance on Star Wars action figures while her counterparts spent theirs on makeup and miniskirts.

  “What, no animal hat for me?”

  Mikayla’s warm smile transported him back to the good times they’d shared. Days spent on the back porch doing homework and sharing a plate of his mother’s cookies. Afternoons at the arcade.

  “No, Daddy.” Maddie’s adorable little laugh shook him from his memories. She grasped his hand. “You’d look silly.”

  “Maybe you’re right.” He squeezed her hand as his attention drifted back to Mikayla.

  Too bad the parka masked how consummately Mikayla’s fitted jeans hugged her ample bottom.

  She’s the enemy. Totally off-limits. Don’t forget what she did.

  Dash led Maddie to his rental car.

  “We should take my car.” Mikayla rubbed her hands together and blew on them, causing steam to rise in the air.

  “Why? My car is right here.”

  “Mine has the booster seat in it.”

  He’d rented a muscle car and had intended to drive it every chance he got. He missed the freedom of hitting the open road. “We can transfer it to my car.”

  “My car is safer,” she countered, arms folded and her chin tipped.

  If she hadn’t been wearing a hat topped with a panda face and ears, her bravado might’ve been convincing.

  “Fine.” He held out his palm. “I’ll drive.”

  Mouth twisted, she handed him the keys. “C’mon, Mads. Let’s get you into your seat.”

  “I have to teach Daddy how to do it,” Maddie said matter-of-factly.

  Dash laughed. “Guess today’s as good as any to begin Daddy 101.”

  Chapter 10

  Mikayla stood on the Riverwalk a few feet away from Dash and Maddie. Her daughter was smitten with Dash Williams.

  Unfortunately, so was she.

  Dash was attentive, kind and patient with Maddie. He obviously adored her. But playing daddy for the holidays was easy. What would happen once the novelty of being a father wore off and the reality of being a parent set in?

  Uneasiness skittered along Mikayla’s spine, settling in the pit of her stomach as she contemplated another possibility. What if Dash wasn’t content to be a part-time father? She’d given him ironclad proof of his paternity. Would he use that information to challenge her custody of Maddie?

  The thought hadn’t occurred to her when she’d wrongly believed that Dash had voluntarily relinquished his duties as a father.

  “Did you see the boat, Mommy?” Maddie pointed to a fishing boat on the Cape Fear River.

  “I did.” Mikayla squeezed Maddie’s small hand through her pink gloves. The two middle fingers were white, mimicking bunny ears. “He must be freezing out there. How about you, pumpkin? Ready to go?”

  “No. Daddy says we can walk the beach.”

  Sandwiched between the Atlantic Ocean and the Cape Fear River, Pleasure Cove accessed both bodies of water, but the winds were unseasonably cold.

  “Don’t know if I like that idea.” Mikayla wrapped her black scarf snugly around her neck and then tightened Maddie’s. “It’s colder than I expected.”

  “She’s bundled up, and we’ll keep moving.” Dash flipped up his collar to fight off the biting wind. “If it gets too cold, we’ll move the party indoors.”

  Mikayla huffed quietly, falling into step with Maddie and Dash as they headed toward the car.

  “What a lovely family.” An older woman beamed, wishing them happy holidays.

  Dash and Mikayla thanked the woman, neither launching into the complicated but more accurate response.

  They were both Maddie’s parents, but they definitely weren’t a family.

  “I have a family.” Maddie whispered the words to herself like a wish made while throwing a penny into a fountain.

  Mikayla’s gaze met Dash’s then she quickly glanced away, neither of them commenting as they piled into the car and drove to the beach.

  “Where’s the beach?” Maddie asked as Dash took her out of her seat.

  “Down those stairs.” He pulled out his phone, checking it again.

  Maddie bolted across the nearly empty parking lot, headed for the stairs.

  “Maddie!” Mikayla called after her, but she was already descending the stairs.

  She took off after Maddie, catching up with her on the beach.

  “Don’t ever run off like that.” Mikayla tried to catch her breath. “You know better.”

  “But I wanted to see the water.”

  “Doesn’t matter. The rules are for your protection. You have to follow them, young lady. Understand?” Mikayla’s mind reeled with the awful things that could’ve happened.

  “Relax.” Dash sauntered
over, his tone condescending. “Everything’s good.”

  Mikayla narrowed her gaze at him, one hand on her hip. She stepped closer, her back to Maddie, and lowered her voice. “Daddy 101, Lesson Two...never undermine the other parent, especially in front of your child.”

  “I’m not undermining you. I’m simply pointing out that you’re freaking out over nothing. Maddie’s fine.”

  “This time.” Twenty-four hours of daddyhood and suddenly he was a parenting expert? “What if a car had whipped into the parking lot as she darted across it? What if a rabid fox was roaming the beach? What if a predator—”

  “I get it.” He raised a gloved hand, his tone contrite. “There are rules, and I need to learn them.” He turned to Maddie, squatting to her eye level. “Listen, baby girl, your mom loves you very much. She’d be sad if anything happened to you. So you need to follow the rules, even when you’re excited, okay?”

  Maddie nodded, her brown eyes sorrowful. “I’m sorry.”

  Mikayla kissed the top of Maddie’s head. “Come on. Let’s go see the water.”

  They strolled the beach, their feet shifting on the sand as Maddie gripped both their hands.

  Mikayla plopped down in the sand while Dash and Maddie explored the water’s edge.

  He took off one of Maddie’s gloves and held her hand as she reached down to touch the icy waters of the tide. She squealed then tried to capture more of the water in her hand before it receded into the ocean.

  Dash chased Maddie across the beach, her little legs running as fast as they could carry her. His long legs easily catching her, he tossed her in the air as she shrieked with delight.

  They’re both so happy.

  Philly was a short drive from New York, so Dash could easily visit Maddie whenever his schedule allowed. Still, after this week, it would be hard for Maddie to adjust to Dash being a part-time father.

  Her daughter would be heartbroken, and so would she.

  Maddie’s fit of giggles drew Mikayla’s attention back to the two of them. Sand kicked up in Maddie’s wake as she chased Dash all over the beach.

  Her boots were probably filled with sand. It didn’t matter. She was enjoying herself. Making memories that would tide her over until she could be with her dad again.

  “Help me, Mommy!” Maddie gasped for breath between laughter and the physical effort of chasing Dash with his long, lean legs. “Daddy’s too fast.”

  Dash zigzagged across the sand, staying out of Maddie’s reach. “Your mom used to be fast, but that was a loooooong time ago.”

  “Don’t get it twisted, City Boy.” She pointed a finger at him. “I’m still fast enough to catch your behind.”

  “You’re smart, beautiful...” He smirked. “You don’t need to be fast, too.”

  Mikayla charged across the sand and Dash took off with Mikayla and Maddie in hot pursuit, all of them laughing.

  Dash tried to double back, but got sandwiched between them. He grabbed Mikayla and swung her around twice before setting her on her feet.

  “No fair!” She held out both arms, trying to steady herself. The waves crashing against the shore intensified the swaying sensation.

  “Me next!” Maddie jumped up and down.

  Dash spun her then set her down, giggling as she tried to find her feet.

  “Okay, you two.” He huffed, hands on his knees as he caught his breath. “It’s time for lunch.”

  Maddie cheered then headed toward the stairs, venturing no more than a few feet ahead of them.

  Dash fell into step with Mikayla. “Maddie’s an incredible kid. Smart, well-mannered. You’ve done a hell of a job raising her alone these past few years.”

  “Thanks.” She smiled; her heart full. “Two compliments in less than ten minutes. I’m on a roll.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  She grinned. “I’m pretty sure you called me beautiful.”

  Chapter 11

  “Dash Williams, is that you?” Josephine Hazelton pressed a hand to her chest as they entered Sweet & Savory Pies—the restaurant she and her husband Ed had owned for years.

  “Yes, ma’am.” Dash surveyed the place.

  The expansion of Pleasure Cove had evidently been good to the Hazeltons. The place bore no resemblance to the little dive where he’d hung out after school. Now a high-end café, more than doubled in size, the place was filled with customers, even in the off-season.

  “The place looks incredible, Mrs. H.”

  “We’ve done all right.” She grinned, her hair all gray now. “Got a place in Florida we’d love to retire to, but neither of the girls is interested in taking the place over. Would hate to sell it to a stranger.” She turned her attention to Mick. “Mikayla Mitchell? You certainly have filled out.”

  Mikayla’s cheeks flushed. “Good to see you, Mrs. H.”

  “And who is this precious angel? Is this your little girl?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” She curled a protective arm around Maddie.

  “And this is my daddy,” Maddie piped in.

  Mrs. H’s eyes grew as wide as the saucer she’d placed on the counter. “Dash, your mama didn’t tell us you two finally got together. I always expected you would, but—”

  He turned to Mikayla. “Maybe you should take Maddie to the restroom.”

  She gave him a grateful smile and headed toward the neon restroom sign.

  He told Mrs. H the bare minimum. Maddie was his biological daughter and Mikayla’s adoptive one. The woman’s eyes lit up, as if she had a secret she could barely contain.

  News would be all over town by sunset.

  She showed him to a booth, and he waited for Mikayla and Maddie to return.

  He should’ve been prepared for the inevitable questions, but with his life turned inside out, he was off his game.

  “There’s Daddy!” Maddie’s eyes lit up.

  The joy that filled his chest when he saw her face...it was like nothing he’d ever felt.

  His heartbeat quickened as his gaze shifted to Mikayla. She’d loosened her ponytail. Her dark hair fell to her shoulders in soft waves. With the parka folded over her arm, her delicious curves were on full display.

  Maddie sat across from him in the booth and Mikayla sat beside her.

  “I’d ask if I have spinach in my teeth, but I haven’t eaten yet.”

  He was staring at her. Again. Dash studied the menu, not acknowledging the jab. “Hope you two are hungry.”

  Mikayla surveyed her menu. “What looks good?”

  You.

  The thought surprised him.

  “There’s a lot more on the menu now.” A statement also applicable to Mikayla’s amply “filled out” body, as Mrs. H had put it. “And everything looks good—”

  “But you’re going to order the chicken pot pie anyway.” Her teasing lilt elicited a reluctant grin. He’d missed her. Missed them.

  And that damned smirk. It was like he remembered, only a dozen times sexier. Made him want to taste her lips again. This time it would be slow, sweet and deliberate.

  “I know what I like. Is that a crime?”

  He held her gaze a little too long. Mikayla’s cheeks flushed. The mood had shifted. Their playful teasing had turned into verbal foreplay.

  “Then I want chicken pot pie, too.” Maddie, preoccupied with coloring her place mat, broke the mood.

  “Since we’re being nostalgic, I’ll get the shepherd’s pie.” Mikayla signaled the server.

  “Something wrong with nostalgia?” Dash asked after their orders had been placed.

  “I don’t find it particularly useful.” Her gaze didn’t meet his. “Things are never quite as good as we remember.”

  “Or as bad.” He sipped his sweet tea. The jolt of sugar was a sho
ck to his system.

  Mikayla laughed. “And sometimes they’re much sweeter than we remember them.”

  He studied her brown eyes twinkling in the sunlight. “Sometimes they are.”

  Chapter 12

  Mikayla shifted under the heat of Dash’s hungry gaze. A familiar feeling stirred low in her belly. She gulped more of the sweet tea, but it did nothing to relieve her parched throat.

  Something she couldn’t explain was happening between them.

  Since the day she and Dash had met at that coffee shop two weeks ago, Mikayla had been on an emotional roller coaster. She was on edge, unsure of what came next. Anger. Regret. Longing. Admiration. Affection.

  Love?

  The dissolution of her unwarranted resentment of Dash was like the removal of a hardened callus, which exposed raw, tender flesh underneath.

  Her unresolved feelings for him.

  She chided herself for entertaining such thoughts. They had a convoluted history, a complicated future, and a little girl whose best interests must remain their focus.

  Now wasn’t the time to suddenly grow a spine and openly flirt with Dash. Not when so much was at stake.

  Mikayla assessed the figures Maddie had sketched on the back of her place mat. “What are you drawing, hon?”

  “Our family. That’s Daddy and that’s you. Next I’ll draw Nana and then me.”

  “It’s beautiful.” She smoothed Maddie’s hair.

  “Is that for me?” Dash beamed.

  “We can put it on the refrigerator at Nana’s so we can all see it.”

  Mikayla’s belly churned. Maddie was blissfully unaware of what was to come.

  An awkward silence stretched between them. They hadn’t broached the subject of how they’d deal with life beyond the artificial bubble they were creating for Maddie over the holidays in Pleasure Cove. It wasn’t a discussion she was prepared to have yet. It didn’t seem Dash was, either.

  “So, you moved back to Philly,” Dash said once Maddie’s attention was focused on her masterpiece again.

  “Jess had a difficult pregnancy. Spent most of it on bed rest.” Mikayla tapped her fingers on the table. “She’d already asked me to be Maddie’s godmother, and I’d been considering leaving my firm in San Diego and striking out on my own. I volunteered to move in with Jess and help out for a while.”