"Isabella and I were talking. This doesn't concern you, Dane. This isn't Wednesday, you know." Andrew's gaze turned glacial as he glared over her head at Dane.
"If you had a problem with Izzy spending Wednesday nights with me, why didn't you do something about it? I sure as hell would have." Dane's fingers tightened on her hips, and she realized he was preparing to lift her out of the way. It wouldn't be much of a fight if they decided to act on the aggression filling the hallway. She didn't want Andrew hurt. This mess was partially her fault, and she knew it.
"Andrew, we don't have anything to talk about. I'm not even mad at you. You were right to be angry about my friendship with Dane. There was something there that I tried to deny, but you sensed it. I wasn't being fair to you and for that I'm sorry. We just weren't meant to be together. In fact, if it weren't for you throwing it in my face by cruising around with Maggie, then I might never have realized how much I love Dane." She felt Dane's fingers jerk against her hips at the same time as she realized what she'd said. Andrew looked shocked and angry. His jaw clenched as he aimed an accusing glare at her.
"I knew there was more to your little middle of the week get-togethers. How long have you been fucking Steroid Boy behind my back?"
"Hey!" Izzy barely caught Dane around the waist to stop him from lighting into Andrew. She glared at Andrew over her shoulder.
"You need to leave. Now!" She watched Andrew turn and slam out of the house. Silence descended as she turned her head to look up at Dane. Under her hands the muscles in his arms shook with tension. She wasn't prepared for the dark blue of his eyes. His hands lifting her up off the floor so his mouth could capture hers in a fierce kiss that tasted like a branding. Izzy dug her nails into the hard muscles of his shoulders beneath the gray sweater and reveled in the male dominance of his kiss.
The click and flash of a camera had them pulling apart. Izzy's eyes widened as Dane let her slide down to her feet, his hands still spanning her waist as he held her against him. Grams dropped the camera with a silly grin on her face.
"Look at you two taking advantage of my magic mistletoe. I'm sorry, but I just had to preserve that kiss." She sighed before pulling them to her for a hug. "You've both been here long enough. Dane, stop blinking at me and get this girl's coat so you can take her home. I'll make an excuse and say your goodbyes to the family." She sighed as they stood there dumbly staring at her. "Go for it. You're only young once, loves."
"Margerie, I love you." Dane grinned as he released Izzy long enough to grab both their coats. He helped her shrug into hers before yanking his own on.
"I best see you both for Christmas dinner, six o'clock on the dot." She pulled Izzy into her arms for another quick hug and then left.
Chapter Twelve
Dane didn't talk on the drive home, making Izzy nervous as hell. Her biggest fear was that he was upset with her for telling Andrew that she loved him. It was the truth. She had always loved him. She just hadn't let herself realize that she was in love with him. He had the power to hurt her, destroy her. She'd never given any man that power, but he'd taken it by just being Dane.
"You might want to slow down a bit, Dane."
"Izzy, don't talk until we get there. I'm having enough trouble keeping my hands on the wheel." His gritted teeth flashed as he sped up.
"You have a problem there. Maybe you should get a driver. Then we could cuddle in the back seat." She gasped as his hand left the wheel to slide up under the skirt of her dress. His fingers made slow circles on her inner thigh. His lips pulled into a knowing grin as she placed her hand over his to stop their slow journey upwards.
"Keep quiet, Iz. I don't want to stop here in the cold. Not when your place is warm and cozy." She clutched her seatbelt and kept silent as he expertly drove them through town and straight to her driveway.
After turning off the truck, he grabbed a wrapped gift from behind the seat. Izzy opened her door to find him there ready to lift her down to the ground. His jaw clenched as he stepped away and followed her to the door. Her hands shook as she tried to fit the key in the lock. Dane gently took the key from her and opened the door. She turned on her kitchen light and took her coat off as he set the square gift on the table to shrug out of his own coat.
"Do you want anything to drink?" She bit her lip as his eyes met hers. "Dane, what's wrong?"
"Come sit with me." He picked up the gift and took her hand to lead her into the living room. She sat on the couch beside him, feeling uncertain and scared. He angled his body toward hers, one strong thigh brushing against her leg as he did.
"Izzy, I've been your friend for a couple years. I—" He swallowed hard as he looked down at the gift on his knee. "Damn, here. I need you to open this." He handed her the gift.
"We don't exchange gifts until tomorrow, Dane."
"This one is special." His eyes were dark gray telling her he was stressed. She nodded her head and slowly unwrapped his gift.
"Oh, Dane." She stared at the picture frame. It held a photo of the two of them. They were smiling at each other, her staring up at him with stars in her eyes. She looked like a woman in love. Her cheeks heated as she realized anyone who saw this picture would know exactly how she felt about him. It was there for all the world to see.
"Your grams took this of us at my birthday party. She captured the exact moment when I gazed into your eyes and knew you were the one, I wanted to be with. You are the one, Izzy." He gently cupped her face and caught the tear that ran down her cheek with his thumb. "I love you, Izzy."
"You do?" At his quick nod, the last of her fear subsided. "But you were dating someone at the time. Olivia or something—"
"Mandy. If you remember right, I broke it off with her and came here to watch chick flicks with you for the rest of the night." He pointed out with a raised brow.
"That was over six months ago!" She glared at him.
"Have I dated anyone since that night?" Dane waited patiently for her to realize that he hadn't. Unknowingly, he'd been waiting for her to give him an opening, but he wouldn't come between her and Andrew for the sake of his own happiness. This man would never have pushed her into a relationship. He meant it when he said he'd waited a long time for her.
"I love you, Dane." She lifted her face for his soft kiss. There was a burning fire behind his kiss, but also a wealth of love in the way he pulled her to him. When he pulled back, she laughed and pointed to the mistletoe framed at the bottom of their photo. "I looked for this all morning. I thought Teeny took it."
"I swiped it. Your grandmother helped me preserve and frame it. She told me it would bring us a lifetime of good luck." He brushed a hand over her nape, sending a shiver of awareness down her spine.
"Grams and her magical ways." Izzy shook her head.
"It worked, didn't it?" She met his amber eyes with a feeling of intense longing.
"Yes, it worked. Remind me to thank her...tomorrow." She set the frame on her coffee table and launched herself into his strong arms, pushing him back onto the couch. "This is the best Christmas I've ever had." She kissed his nose before smiling down at him.
"Does this mean you'll decorate with me next year? Because I'd love to get a big tree, fill it with lights and ornaments. I'll buy us a soft tree skirt so I can lay you down on it." His eyes held a heated promise that had her lifting to stare down at him.
"A big tree, huh?"
"Huge! Which means we'll need to find a big house to put the big tree into. Oh, wait! I already have a big house with the perfect living room for a big, bushy Christmas tree." His boyish grin made her arms tighten around his neck.
"Are you asking me to move in with you, Dane Jordan?" Her breath caught as he shook his head at her.
"Nope. I'm asking you to marry me just as soon as I can go out and find the prettiest ring. You will marry me?" It was his turn to hold his breath as she blinked at him in startled delight.
"I don't know. I'm rather fond of Hump Day Lollapalooza. Can you promise me we'll still save Wed
nesday night for wine, chocolate, and movies?" She laughed as he let out his breath in relief.
"Absolutely, as long as it ends in our bed, and with you naked beside me." His expressive eyes glittered as his white teeth flashed with roguish intent.
"Well, then." She reached over and picked up the picture frame to hold it over their heads. "Let's seal it with a proper kiss under Grams' magic mistletoe."
"I wouldn't have it any other way, my lady." He cupped her cheek as he pulled her down for a kiss that curled her toes and had the potential to keep her in the Christmas spirit for decades to come.
***
Dear Reader,
Thank you so much for purchasing this book. Of all the couples I've written for Izzy and Dane are two favorites. They are two individuals who really understand and value the other's strengths and weaknesses. It was a pleasure writing this Christmas story and I hope you like them as much as I have.
My husband Josh and I share the love of several fur babies. There's Delilah Cocoa, a big dog who hogs our bed, Snowflake, a cat who runs the house, two bunnies, and some fish. Our house is filled with love and fur. You will find at least one pet in each of my books. I think they play an important role in my life and they help my characters in ways big and small. Please check out some of my other stories and you will see what I mean. Happy reading!
To contact me:
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To find more novels by me come check out my Amazon page
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