Never Christmas Without You

by Nana Malone

  “You can stop grinning like a possum eating a sweet potato, Mama.” He took pleasure in using one of her favorite phrases on her. “Nothing happened.”

  “Didn’t say it did.” She took the folded quilt from him. “Though, someone seems as jumpy about it as a long-tail cat in a room full of rocking chairs.”

  “Not funny.” Dash followed the aroma of coffee to the kitchen. “I see what you’re doing here.”

  “Me?” She poked a thumb to her chest, feigning innocence. “Whatever do you mean?”

  “I’m serious. It’s not like that between us, so stop it.”

  She washed her hands in the sink. “No clue what you’re talking about, son.”

  He might as well have been making his plea to a brick wall.

  Chapter 15

  “She’s a doll.” Dash’s sister Kendra watched Maddie playing with her son, Kai.

  “You’re only saying that because she looks just like you at that age.”

  “You’re welcome,” Kendra teased. “Besides, I can’t take all the credit. Maddie looks a lot like you around the eyes and nose. She’s a Williams, all right.”

  Dash nodded his agreement. “She’s an amazing kid. Smart as a whip. Sweet as pie. Curious. Says exactly what’s on her mind. It’s the craziest thing. Two weeks ago, I didn’t know I had a kid. Today, I can’t imagine my life without her.”

  “So what happens next?” Kendra’s brow furrowed with concern.

  “We haven’t discussed the details yet, but one way or another I will be part of Maddie’s life. I can’t be an absentee father. We both know what that does to a kid.”

  After a decades-long strained relationship with their father, Kendra had forged a tentative relationship with him. Something Dash had no intention of doing.

  “So what are you going to do?”

  Dash glanced toward the stairs. Mikayla had gone to her room to take an emergency phone meeting with a client. He lowered his voice.

  “Not sure. I’m weighing my options.”

  Kendra shook her head. “It’s a tough situation for both of you. I hope you two can come to an amicable agreement without involving the courts.”

  “Me, too.”

  “Why don’t you two just admit you belong together? That’d make this so much easier.”

  “You’re as bad as Mama.”

  “Doesn’t mean I’m wrong. Or are we still pretending Mikayla hasn’t been in love with you since the day you met?” Kendra folded her arms at his wide-eyed response. “Wait, you seriously didn’t know that? Why do you think she spent so much time here?”

  “We were best friends.”

  “So were Nate and I before we got together. What’s your point?” Kendra’s expression fell somewhere between amusement and incredulity.

  “She never said anything.”

  “Friendship was all you were offering her. She’d rather have that than not have you in her life at all.” Kendra shook her head. “Seriously, Dash, you can’t be this oblivious. I saw it in her eyes then, and it’s still there today. She’s in love with you.”

  “Why didn’t you say something?”

  “I called her your girlfriend.”

  “Thought you were just trying to get under my skin.”

  “And when I warned you that dating her stepsister was an epically bad idea?”

  “Mikayla’s the one who set us up.”

  “She didn’t set you up. She introduced you to her stepsister because she was in love with you. Thought the moon hung around your neck and the stars floated around your feet. She wanted Jess to see for herself what an amazing person you were. She had no idea Jess would make off with you.”

  Dash kneaded the tension in his neck. “Should’ve been more direct. I’m a dude. You have to spell things out for us.”

  Kendra smiled. “You’ve got a point there. But you were so into Jess. If I’d told you your geeky best friend was in love with you, would you have done anything differently?”

  “Maybe not then, but at least I wouldn’t have screwed things up last night.”

  Kendra raised a brow. “What’d you do?”

  Dash sighed. “I kissed her.”

  “Shut the—” she glanced over at the children playing “—front door. You didn’t.”

  “I did.”

  “Did she kiss you back?” A grin spread across Kendra’s face when he nodded. “Is that all that happened?”

  “Yes, and I wouldn’t tell you even if it wasn’t.” He’d made a messy situation more complicated.

  “If you’re just friends, why’d you kiss her?”

  A question he’d been asking himself.

  “I’m attracted to her, obviously.”

  “Why?”

  He stood, pacing the floor. “Have you seen her?”

  “If this is just about...S-E-X—”

  “It isn’t. I loved her as a friend. Now she’s all those things I adored, wrapped in this incredibly enticing package. And then there’s the way she makes me feel.”

  Kendra leaned forward. “How does she make you feel?”

  “Furious for what she did. Happy she brought Maddie to me. Angry with myself for ruining our relationship. Excited we’ve reconnected again.” He shook his head. “Part of me wants to hate her and part of me wants to...” His words trailed, his face hot.

  Kendra grinned. “Guess Mikayla isn’t the only one in love.”

  Dash balled up a napkin and threw it at his sister, who batted it back at him.

  He might be in like. Definitely in lust. But there was no way he was in love with Mikayla Mitchell.

  * * *

  Mikayla quietly closed the bedroom door. She hadn’t intended to eavesdrop on Dash’s conversation, but she’d heard Kendra tell him that she was in love with him.

  Less than an hour with Kendra and the woman had read her like an open book.

  Do I reek of desperation?

  If Kendra picked up on it so quickly, Ms. Anna surely had. Finding her splayed all over her son half-naked hadn’t helped.

  Mikayla sat on the edge of the bed, her head swimming. The room felt like a sauna and her sweater suddenly felt tight and itchy.

  She needed to get back home to Philly. Create some distance between them. Until then, she’d pretend she and Dash hadn’t kissed and that she hadn’t enjoyed it so much when they had.

  Chapter 16

  Mikayla waved to Maddie from the porch as she left with Kendra, Kai and Ms. Anna for their all-day Christmas adventure, leaving her and Dash alone.

  She’d brought Maddie to Pleasure Cove to spend the holidays with her father and his family. That didn’t mean they had to stay under the same roof. She and Maddie could grab a room at a nearby bed and breakfast. She’d even allow Maddie to stay with her dad and his family, if that’s what she wanted. But she needed some space from Dash Williams. Now.

  Mikayla returned to her room to pack her things. She’d find a room at a hotel. Explain to Maddie when she returned.

  Dash tapped on the open door. “I’ll be ready in half an hour.”

  “For what?”

  “Last night you said you’d help me pick out Maddie’s gifts.”

  There was apparently a lot she didn’t remember about last night. “I’ll text you a list.”

  “I’d rather you come along, unless you’ve got work or something...” His height permitted him to see beyond her. Brows knitted, he stepped inside, staring at her open suitcase. “You’re packing?”

  Not exactly how I planned to tell him.

  “I’m not leaving town, but I thought it would be better if I stayed at a hotel. If Maddie wants to stay...I’m fine with that.” She forced herself to say the words. She definitely was not fine with leaving
her little girl behind. Not even with her dad and Ms. Anna—whom she adored. “I don’t want to intrude on your family’s holiday. I’m sure I can find something available here in town or maybe in Wilmington.”

  “You’ve always been family. No one wants you to leave.” He stepped closer. “Is this about our kiss last night? Because I’m really sorry I—”

  “It’s not.” She didn’t need to hear again what a mistake the kiss had been. “It’s just better if I go. I’ll come back in time to help with Christmas Eve dinner.”

  “Actually, there’s been a change of plans. I was going to talk to you about it while we were out.”

  “Is the party moving to Kendra’s?”

  “Yes, but not their place at the beach. Nate’s team is playing their final home game of the season on Christmas. He and Kendra are flying both sides of the family to Memphis. We’re having Christmas Eve dinner there. Nate’s treat.”

  “Memphis?” Her heart beat faster. “Maddie and I should leave. I’m sure Nate didn’t expect to pay for two more people.”

  “They didn’t expect I’d be here, either, remember? I’ve already argued the point. Nate and Kendra insist they want to do this. Besides, my father will be there. Maddie’s excited to meet her grandfather. She’ll be devastated if she can’t go.” He softened his tone. “So will I.”

  “Dash, leaving will only get harder the longer we stay.”

  “For her or for you?”

  “For all of us.” She stepped backward until her legs bumped the end of the bed.

  “Be straight with me.” Dash stepped toward her. “Why the sudden need to leave?”

  “You really are oblivious, aren’t you?” She wished she could take the words back as soon as she’d uttered them.

  His eyes sparked with recognition. “You overheard us talking.”

  “Yes.” She’d showed her hand. Might as well own it. “I heard Kendra say she thought I was in love with you. So I turned around and came back to my room.”

  Dash rubbed his forehead. “Is it true?”

  “Get over yourself.” She forced an incredulous laugh, her heart racing. “It was a teenage crush. Ancient history.”

  The corner of his sensuous mouth curved in a grin that did things to her. Made her want to do things to him. “If it’s ancient history, why’d you kiss me last night?”

  “I didn’t.” Her cheeks stung with heat and her defiance faltered. “You kissed me.”

  “It was definitely a two-person operation.” He stepped closer, leaving little space between them. “Don’t recall you complaining about it.”

  “God, I forgot what an arrogant ass you can be sometimes.” She shoved her hands into the solid wall of his muscular chest.

  He didn’t budge.

  The arrogant son of a bitch smirked.

  Which only made her angrier. And more turned on.

  Seriously, does he live in the gym?

  Her hands had a mind of their own. They remained planted on his chest as she raised her eyes to meet his.

  Dash dropped his gaze to her mouth and leaned in, his heartbeat thundering against her palms.

  Heat radiated off his skin, suffocating her. Each breath took more effort than the last. She needed space and a fresh supply of air, absent his clean, citrus scent that made her want to plant hot kisses on his neck and chest, working her way down until...

  No. Stop it. Stay strong.

  Mikayla dropped her hands from his chest. “If you expect me to fall into your arms and confess my undying love, you bought tickets to the wrong show, pal, because—”

  He cradled her face in his strong hands and captured her mouth in a kiss, silencing her protest.

  Dash Williams had a lot of damned nerve.

  She had every intention of telling him that, but he was an amazing kisser.

  Mikayla’s eyes drifted closed and the tension in her muscles eased. She melted into him as he claimed her mouth in a kiss that made her skin tingle and filled her body with heat. A kiss that promised something more.

  And she wanted more.

  More of this. More of him. To finally answer the question that had burned in her head for so long.

  What would it be like to have Dash Williams in her bed? For him to make love to her, as he had so often in her dreams?

  His velvety tongue glided against hers, deepening the ache that had worked its way down her spine and ended in a persistent pulse between her thighs.

  Knees shaking and her hands trembling, she wrapped her arms around him and pressed her fingertips to his back.

  This is what it means to be kissed senseless.

  It was a phrase she’d always abhorred, but now...now it made perfect sense.

  The kiss was everything she wanted, but the last thing either of them needed.

  But she wanted him. This was her chance to satisfy her curiosity, so she could finally move on.

  She’d spent her entire life being passive when it came to love and sex, and where had it gotten her?

  Alone.

  Mikayla tugged Dash’s shirt from his jeans and slipped her hands beneath the fabric. Tracing up the strong muscles of his back, she grazed his skin with her fingernails.

  Dash responded by gliding his hands down her back. He palmed her bottom, pulling her tight against him. An informal introduction to his shaft, hardened against her belly.

  Her body was strung tight with a need so palpable she ached with it. Blood rushed in her ears and her core pulsed.

  She couldn’t bear a repeat of last night. Him playing the gentleman, leaving her empty, in anguish.

  They were consenting adults. No reason they couldn’t satisfy this urge they shared. With the tension released, things might be better between them.

  Open and honest.

  Mikayla pulled her mouth from his, both of them breathing heavily. She met his gaze as she slowly unbuttoned his shirt.

  Dash didn’t stop her. The glint in his eyes and the flare of his nostrils hinted at his arousal.

  Mikayla grinned inwardly, her heart racing. She’d made her intentions crystal clear. She wanted more than friendship, if only this once.

  Mikayla slipped the garment from his shoulders, letting it fall to the floor. When she lifted the hem of his undershirt, Dash tugged it over his head and tossed it.

  He sucked in a sharp breath as she pressed kisses to his chest.

  She’d wasted so many years, afraid to tell Dash how she’d felt, what she’d wanted.

  No more.

  Today she’d make him an offer he couldn’t refuse.

  Lifting onto her toes, she whispered in his ear, “Dash, make love to me.”

  Chapter 17

  Dash’s heart beat like a tribal drum.

  Of course he knew where this was headed. He was half-naked, gripping Mikayla’s bottom as they stood inches from the bed. Still, hearing the words rasped in his ear, hungry and raw, cranked his desire up from a tacit, manageable flame into a raging fire. Consumed all his common sense and control.

  Smoldering sensuality lay beneath Mikayla’s cool exterior. A sensuality she seemed determined to unleash.

  Her hands drifted to his belt, loosening it, as her warm tongue flicked over his nipple.

  Needing to taste her warm mouth again, he tangled his fingers in her messy waves and dragged her mouth to his. His tongue caressed hers and traced the warm cavern of her mouth.

  Mikayla groaned, digging her fingernails into his back. His need for her moved and pulsed like a living, breathing, insatiable thing.

  His brain was keenly aware of the dangerous territory they were venturing into, but his raging desire for her was winning the battle.

  He needed her, and he had no intention of letting Mikayla walk away without
a fight.

  Dash stripped off her sweater and helped her out of her jeans. Admired the pretty, black-lace bra as he removed it.

  Mesmerized by her firm, pert breasts, Dash cursed beneath his breath and wet his lips with his tongue. He looked forward to kissing every inch of her brown skin. Teasing her body until she called out his name. Until she wanted to stay.

  Dash grazed one tight bud with his thumb. She shuddered, whimpering. The sound increased the tension in his shaft, already wound as tight as a bow and arrow.

  He lay her down, shoving aside the clothing on the bed. A reminder she intended to leave. He lowered his mouth over one pebbled peak, sucking it and then caressing it with his tongue.

  Her breath came faster.

  Damn she was beautiful. Eager. Hungry.

  He trailed his fingertips along her side as he kissed a pathway down her trembling belly. Ran his tongue along the raised skin of a scar just above the lacy edge of her matching black panties.

  Dash hooked his thumbs underneath the silky fabric and Mikayla lifted her hips to allow him to remove them.

  Mikayla’s eyes widened when Dash kneeled on the floor and gripped her thighs, dragging her bottom to the edge of the bed.

  “Relax.” His voice was low and gruff as he trailed soft, slow kisses up her inner thigh. He pressed a kiss to her center then tasted her there with his tongue.

  “Dash.” Mikayla squirmed, her body tensing as she clutched the bedding.

  He continued to lavish her with slow, languid strokes of his tongue until her knees fell open.

  Mikayla whimpered, digging her fingers into his hair as her head fell back and her legs trembled.

  She was close.

  He licked and sucked the firm bundle of nerves.

  Her voice broke on a plea. She was at the edge, eager for release. He wanted nothing more than to give it to her. To hear her call his name again in that breathless voice that made him hard as a steel rod.

  Dash slid two fingers inside her wet heat, curling them until her eyes widened and her back arched.

  Mikayla cursed then called his name so loudly he was damn glad they were the only ones home.

  Mikayla Mitchell, quivering as she rode the waves of her orgasm, was the most erotic thing he’d ever seen. He sank his teeth into his lower lip and focused on the sensation, willing his body to stay in control.