A Mommy for Christmas
Page 5
“So, Madelyn,” Brice said, looking at the clock, “what are we going to do until it’s decent enough to show up there?”
“Oh, we can go now,” Maddie said. “Mom set her alarm, she is very excited.”
“You mean she is going to be up now? It’s 2:30 in the morning!”
“Well, like I said, I haven’t seen her in a year.”
“Well, if you’re sure.”
“Trust me, Brice, I’m sure. Look,” she said, pointing down the street. “That’s my road.”
“Lead the way.”
Ten minutes later they pulled into the small drive. Clearly everyone was home. Five cars lined the driveway, leaving no room for Brice’s pickup.
“What should I—”
“Oh, just turn around, we can park in the back.”
Brice maneuvered the truck to the back drive and he helped Maddie with her suitcases and her presents. He was hoping to have a little more time until he had to drop her off. Even though he was exhausted from the drive, he was still running on adrenaline. Maddie was an easy person to talk to. She held her own, conversation wise, the entire nine and a half hours it took to come home. He felt as if he’d met her years ago.
As he followed behind Maddie with her things, the door flew open and a woman with graying hair stepped out and grabbed both him and Maddie. “Oh, just look at my daughter! And you,” she said, squeezing Brice. You wonderful man. You brought my baby here, safe and sound. God bless you!” Brice smiled at the woman.
“Well, come on in. Brice, try not to look at the mess over in the corner. Bill is still trying to put that damn bicycle together! I’m Mary, by the way, and Bill is my husband. But I’m sure Maddie has told you all about us!”
“Yes, she has, thank you.” Brice looked over to Maddie and she smiled. “Where should I?”
“Oh, you can just take those into Madelyn’s room, Brice. She can show you the way!” Mary said, pointing down the hall. Brice nodded and waited for Maddie to stop hugging her father.
“We’ll be right back, Mom, Dad.”
“Oh, take your time, honey,” her mom said, winking.
Brice couldn’t help but smile. “Your mom seems really nice.”
“Yeah, she is,” Maddie laughed. “Can you believe the mess in the living room? Oh my God. Dad is terrible at building things!”
“He’s probably fine. Have you ever tried to put a bicycle together?”
“No, I’d just ask one of my brothers to do it for me.”
Brice followed Maddie into a purple room, flowers were on every surface. “This is it,” Maddie said, lugging her bag to her bed.
“Wow, now that’s a lot of purple.”
“Shut up, Brice!” she said, pushing him playfully. Brice landed right on her bed.
“Gees, Madelyn, you’d think you were Superman.”
“You look,” Maddie said, breathlessly. “Funny.”
“Ah, thanks.”
“I mean, you look funny with all of that purple.”
“Yeah, I gotcha,” Brice said, coming to stand. Maddie was directly in front of him. He wanted to kiss her so badly.
“So,” Maddie said, looking up into his eyes.
“So,” Brice repeated.
And then, of course, the door opened. Maddie’s mom smiled and cleared her throat. “Am I interrupting, you two love birds?”
Brice blushed and Maddie looked up. “No, Mom, what’s up?”
“Well, your father and I are tired. Now that we know that you two are safe, we are heading to bed. Brice, I put an extra pillow on the bed, and Maddie dear, we are just so glad to have you home. You, too, Brice.”
Brice nodded and then looked at Maddie when her mom shut the door.
“I’ll take the left side.”
Chapter Four
“So, I’m staying here?” Brice asked, unsure of what to think of her taking the left side.
“Well, I guess it’s okay, since mom suggested it.” Maddie didn’t look at Brice, she just started putting things away from her suitcase into her dresser drawers.
“Well, I thought I was going to…”
“Look, Brice, it’s so early. Can’t we just decide what we’re doing in the morning…I mean, when we wake up?”
“You want me to stay here?”
Maddie blushed. “Well, I…you know it’s just a bed. It’s not like we haven’t been in the car for the last million years. We’re going to sleep. We’re both adults.” Maddie looked like she was trying to convince herself, and if she were honest with herself, she already knew she wanted Brice to stay. He became something to her these last few hours.
“I find it kind of odd that your mother would allow a stranger to sleep with her daughter under her roof…”
“Well, not exactly,” Maddie winced.
“What do you mean, not exactly?”
“Look, Brice, don’t get mad. Mom thinks that you are Thomas.”
Brice’s eyes widened. “She thinks that I’m the guy that slept with a nineteen year old actress?”
“Shh! What if they hear you?”
“Are you kidding me right now, Madelyn?”
“My name is Maddie!”
“Why would you want to turn such a beautiful name into a nickname?”
“You think it’s beautiful?” Maddie said, downright happy.
“Focus, Madelyn. Your mom thinks I’m that lowlife?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did she call me Brice?”
“I told her your name was Brice.”
“I am completely confused. You said she thinks that I’m your boyfriend.”
“Yes, she does.”
“But your boyfriend’s name is Thomas.”
“Ex-boyfriend,” Maddie fumed.
“Okay, ex-boyfriend.”
“Yes.”
“Maddie, so you are telling me that she never knew his name?”
“Yeah, she didn’t.”
“And she never met the guy?”
“Nope.”
Brice was surprised. “You never brought him home to meet your parents?”
Maddie looked into Brice’s eyes. “He just wasn’t that kind of guy.”
“And I am?” Brice wanted her to answer. He waited for her to answer, and then she did.
“Listen, I’m going to get my pajamas on, I’ll see you in a few minutes,” Maddie said, grabbing some clothes and then shutting the door, leaving Brice to wonder just what kind of guy he was.
Once Maddie was in the bathroom she could have died. Brice was in her bedroom, under her purple sheets, lying in her childhood bed! A bed that a guy of two years dating never stayed in! The whole situation was enough to have her heart racing out of her chest. Not only was it strange, but she just met this stranger less than 12 hours ago, and already she was in love with him. Brice Reynolds, officer. Holy crap, I need my head examined!
***
When she walked into the bedroom, Brice was sitting on the edge of the bed. There was something wonderful about seeing him there, shoes off, trying to relax. You could practically see the tension in his shoulders.
“If you want to leave, I’ll understand.”
Brice looked up and saw the snowflakes on Madelyn’s pajamas and smiled. “I think I’m where I’m supposed to be. I just need to use the restroom, and then I’ll be back.”
“Okay, it’s just in there,” Maddie said pointing to the next room.
“I’ll be right back.”
***
A few minutes later, Maddie lay in the bed under the covers waiting for Brice to return. When he came out of the bathroom, his face looked fresh, and he wasn’t wearing a shirt. “I hope you don’t mind.”
“No,” Maddie said. “That’s okay.”
“Listen, if you want me to sleep on the floor, Maddie, I can.”
“Brice, I’m not going to make you sleep on the floor.”
“Okay,” he said, then sat on the bed and proceeded to take off his jeans. It was going to be a long nig
ht!
***
“Oh my God,” Maddie said, as she wrapped the blankets further around her. “You’re freezing!”
“I know! My feet are cold!”
“Where are your socks?”
“I can’t sleep with socks on!” Brice said, wrapping the blankets around his feet.
“Why not?”
“I don’t know, I just can’t…feels weird.”
“But your feet are freezing!”
“Hey, you’re not so warm yourself!”
“What?”
“I can feel your feet. They’re cold, too.”
“No, they’re not!”
“Are, too.”
That’s all it took. Maddie poked him in the side, and then he turned on his side and faced her. The part of the mattress that Maddie hated so much was now becoming her favorite. She dipped down and was practically on top of Brice. Not wanting to move, she sat still, hoping that he would kiss her. And then he did.
At first the kiss was slow, and then it moved on to something more passionate. “Oh, Brice,” Maddie said as she put her hands in his hair. He smelled fresh of soap and he tasted like mint.
“I’ve wanted to kiss you all night,” Brice whispered.
“Then why didn’t you?”
“I was hoping that you would make the first move,” Brice laughed. “I know, but I pulled you over tonight. I didn’t want you to think I was taking advantage.” Brice moved his arm so that she was now laying on it. He put both of his arms around her and was stroking her back.
“I feel like I’ve known you forever.”
Brice swallowed. “I feel that way, too.”
It was Maddie that kissed him next. Her body moved into his and she nipped his lips with her teeth. And then she was touching him. His body was heating up and hers was, too.
“I can’t believe we just met.”
“Me, neither,” she said, rubbing his chest with her hand.
She loved the feel of his body. “You are perfect.”
“You like me, huh?”
“Oh, yeah,” she said, going in for another kiss.
“This is turning out to be a great Christmas vacation.” Maddie smiled. “Merry Christmas, Brice.”
“Merry Christmas, Maddie.”
Chapter Five
The next day, Christmas brought the whole family together, kids were playing, music was playing and there was a whole lot of cooking. Maddie’s family was great. Brice watched the easy camaraderie between her and her brothers and sisters. He couldn’t believe that after such a short time of knowing Maddie how much he cared for her, how much he loved her.
If someone would have told him that love at first sight was a real thing, he would have laughed. But after meeting Maddie last night on his shift, he would never be the same. Life would never be the same.
As they sat around the tree and opened presents, Maddie couldn’t help but look at Brice. Her whole family seemed to love him as much as she did. It was ridiculous to think that she could fall in love so quickly, but she knew after spending so much time with Brice, seeing where he grew up, learning about him, his life, his goals and dreams, that she didn’t really love Thomas. She just loved the thought of him. And now that she was with Brice, she’d make sure that they would be together always.
“So, you two, how much longer do we have to wait?” Mary asked looking from Brice to Maddie.
Brice smiled and then took Maddie’s hand. “I was thinking New Year’s.”
Maddie’s eyes filled and she smiled. “Yes. That would be perfect. Yes, Brice!”
Brice stood up and kissed Maddie in front of her whole family, his new family and he made her a promise. “I will love you forever, Madelyn Makenna.”
“I will love you, Brice Reynolds.”
“It’s about time,” Mary said.
Brice smiled at Maddie thinking the same thing. “I’ve waited a long time for someone like Madelyn to come along. And all it took was a little speeding.”
“I thought you two met at school?” Mary said.
Maddie and Brice just laughed. “About that…”
Danielle Lee Zwissler was born in Dover, Ohio. A small town in North East Ohio. Her love of romance and cowboys took over in this novella. She is a big fan of William Shatner, Harry Potter, and all things Harlequin. Her first novel, “Her Last Chance”, debuted in 2010 with Firefly & Wisp Books. And then shortly after the sequel, “The Art of Seduction” came out. And then “Trio of Sin” with Books To Go Now! Came out in September of 2011.
Other books by Danielle that will be coming out this year:
The Christmas Bride
The Cookie Cutter Christmas
A Mommy for Christmas
The Christmas Bride: A Very Daniels Christmas
A Barefoot Christmas
Yuletide Bride
Cowgirl Up!
Cowboy Up!
Dakota Falls!
The Cowboy’s Graceland
The Stairs to Andeligh—a Fantasy, will grace the shelves in December of this year.
Thank you for taking the time to read this book, and don’t forget to review. To learn more about Danielle or her books, please go to her website at: www.danielleleezwissler.com or you can visit her author page on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/danielleleezwissler