No Ordinary Christmas

by Belle Calhoune

  “Am I missing something?” he asked, scratching his jaw. “An inside joke?”

  Lucy’s fingers were itching to do something naughty. It was such a strong impulse. Normally she was very restrained. Calm, cool, and collected at all times. Over the years she’d perfected the art of pretending as if she didn’t have a care in the world. It allowed her to nurse her hurts on the inside and not become an object of pity. She’d mastered the art of holding her head up high.

  There had always been something about Dante that made her want to walk on the wild side. He’d been the devil sitting on her shoulder and tempting her to veer off course.

  Before she could give in to temptation, she stood up abruptly from the table, grabbing her coat and purse in the process. The only way to resist was to get as far away from Dante as her legs would take her. Escape was her sole option.

  “I-I have to go,” she blurted out, dragging her gaze away from Dante. “I’ll call you later, Stella.” Before she changed her mind, she darted toward the exit and pushed the door wide open. Once she got outside, Lucy took a deep, cleansing breath of fresh wintry air. Snow was falling all around her. For a moment she closed her eyes and lifted her face up toward the sky. This type of weather always gave her a feeling of serenity. Breathe, she reminded herself.

  “Wait, Luce!” She heard Dante’s voice calling after her, using the old nickname he’d uttered a million times in the past. Lucy didn’t stop walking. Why should she? It had taken him all this time to even remember she existed. Not once had he tried to explain things in person. Nothing he could possibly say to her mattered in the slightest bit.

  Suddenly, Lucy felt herself slipping and sliding in her boots. Strong arms gripped her, preventing her from wiping out on the snow and sludge. “I’ve got you,” Dante said, holding her up by her arms. Lucy waited until she had both feet solidly on the ground before pushing him squarely in the chest, managing to make him stumble. Dante’s quick reflexes saved him from falling over.

  Dante narrowed his gaze as he stared at her. “That wasn’t very friendly of you, especially considering I just stopped you from landing on your butt.”

  For a moment she felt badly about shoving him, but it had been better than bombarding him with ice cream. If he only knew how close he’d been to getting up close and personal with an ice cream sundae.

  He folded his arms across his chest and regarded her. “So back there in the diner I had the strangest feeling you were thinking bad thoughts about me. Am I right?”

  Lucy avoided eye contact with Dante. Now that the moment had passed, it seemed really childish. What was it about this man that brought out the teenaged version of herself? “I might have had a passing thought about dumping my ice cream on top of your head,” she confessed, looking down at the ground rather than gazing into his intense brown eyes. “But I thought better of it.” Thank goodness for smart older sisters and cooler heads prevailing.

  “Something tells me you’ve been waiting a long time to do something like that.”

  “You have no idea,” she said, lifting her gaze to meet his. Seeing Dante brought back all the hurt and sleepless nights, the tears and recriminations. To this day he had no idea how badly he’d wounded her. She wasn’t sure he even cared.

  “Okay, maybe I had that one coming,” Dante admitted, making a face. “Maybe I have a lot of things coming.”

  “Maybe?” She let out a frustrated sound and turned away from him. They had planned to leave Mistletoe together and he’d left without her. In her eyes he was no hero.

  “Lucy, wait! Please. Talk to me.” His voice trailed after her.

  Lucy stopped in her tracks. She felt Dante’s gentle touch on her arm. He turned her around so they were facing each other. She shrugged off his touch, knowing she was defenseless against him. Lucy didn’t like the churning in her stomach or how it made her feel to hear the rich timbre of his voice as he said her name. And he was standing way too close to her for comfort.

  Being in Dante’s orbit was dangerous to her equilibrium. He was like a fiery comet blazing across the sky. It was hard not to be mesmerized by him. And before she knew it, Lucy would be scorched by his flame.

  “Don’t, Dante. It’s all water under the bridge.” His deep-set brown eyes were intense as they gazed into her own.

  “Is it? Because it doesn’t feel like it. We never had closure. Not really.”

  “Whose fault is that?” she asked, throwing her hands in the air.

  He made a frustrated sound. “It’s mine, Lucy. All mine. I was the one who left, who ran away without telling you goodbye face-to-face.”

  “Yes, Dante. It was all you! I can’t believe the first words out of your mouth to me weren’t an apology. Back there in the diner you acted as if we parted on good terms.”

  “If you remember, I tried to apologize to you back then, but you refused to take my calls or see me.” He massaged the bridge of his nose. “You’re right. I should have pulled you aside and apologized. I owe you that.”

  “What bothers me the most is you blowing into town as this megastar who’s done no wrong. And the whole town is ready to fall at your feet.”

  “I don’t view it that way. I’m making a film here and they’re grateful for the boost to the local economy.”

  “I just hope you keep your promises to the town,” she said, jutting her chin out.

  Dante made a frustrated sound. “What are you angrier about, Lucy? Not getting an apology or the fact that I achieved superstar status?”

  Lucy’s mouth hardened. Nothing had changed between them. Dante still didn’t get it. He was still the same selfish, entitled jerk who had broken her heart all those years ago. He had no idea how devastated she’d been after his abandonment or the way in which it had wrecked her self-esteem. Perhaps he had just been toying with her the whole time. Maybe she really hadn’t meant anything to him. That knowledge hurt her more than it should. After eight and a half years, Dante should be nothing more than a faded memory. A footnote in her life story.

  “I see you haven’t changed,” she said through gritted teeth. “Someone should have told you to check your ego once you hit the town limits.”

  She turned on her heel and stormed away from him, muttering under her breath the entire way. This time Dante didn’t call after her, nor did she expect him to. He had shown her his true colors when he’d bailed on her and Mistletoe. Not one single thing had changed, except that he was now a movie star, one who seemed to hold the entire town in the palm of his hand. From the looks of it, she was the only one who didn’t think Dante West walked on water.

  * * *

  Dante watched Lucy as she stormed away from him. She was making her way gingerly, as if she was worried about slipping again. He wanted to run after her, but he realized there would be no point in doing so. He would probably just make things worse. She was so angry at him he could practically see steam coming from her ears. So much for coming back to Mistletoe and making things right with Lucy.

  Why did he always put his foot in his mouth with her? Old habits died hard, he supposed. During his years in Hollywood, Dante had learned the fine art of being charming. It had helped him immensely in the business of becoming a movie star. But something about Lucy made him revert back to the lanky teenaged boy who’d allowed nerves to take over in social situations.

  Dante muttered angrily to himself. He should have told her why he’d left town all those years ago. But in order to do so Dante would have to tell her about his fractured relationship with his father. Growing up in the West household had taught him to keep family matters inside the West home. He didn’t like to talk about their falling out or the regrets he had about not coming back to see his dad before he’d passed away. Lucy had grown up in an idyllic household, so he’d never imagined she could relate to his situation.

  But he should have told Lucy the truth back then. She hadn’t been like anyone else he’d ever known. She’d been his best friend and his girlfriend all rolled into one. They
had made plans to leave Mistletoe together, yet he’d blindsided Lucy by packing up all his belongings and abruptly leaving town after a huge blowup with his father. The fight had almost gotten physical, which had emotionally gutted him. He hadn’t wanted to stick around and run the risk of another volatile argument between them. All he’d left by way of an explanation for Lucy had been a brief note and a promise to stay in touch. He’d been a coward not to tell her the news face-to-face, but at the time he’d felt as if he might implode if he didn’t leave.

  Dante hadn’t lived up to any of the things he’d written to her in his goodbye letter. No wonder she thought so poorly of him.

  Dante shook his head at the grim reality of what had transpired after he’d left town and arrived in Hollywood. It had taken every ounce of his focus just to keep his head above water in Los Angeles. Even though he’d planned on keeping in touch with Lucy, it had gotten harder and harder to fulfill that promise with each and every passing day. He’d been broke and jobless, sharing a studio apartment with four other wannabe actors. Things had quickly spiraled out of control when one of his roommates had stolen the rent money and used it on drugs, leading to their eviction. As a result, he’d been homeless and sleeping in his car. He hadn’t even been able to afford a cell phone. When he had finally reached out to her months later, she’d told him off and refused to answer any more of his calls. And it had completely destroyed him.

  Losing Lucy had been like allowing a little bit of magic to leave his life. He wasn’t sure he’d ever recovered from it. If he tried to tell Lucy about his clashes with his father and his fear that he might give up on his dreams if he’d stayed, she would probably laugh in his face. After all these years, he wouldn’t blame her. It was way too late to smooth things over.

  Dante headed back into the diner. All eyes were on him as he entered the establishment. He wondered if everyone inside had noticed him running after Lucy. From what he remembered, this town had big eyes and ears. He forced himself to smile as he walked over toward Mayor Finch, his mother, and the rest of the party, who had been seated at a large table during his absence.

  Dante hated how much he cared about what people thought of him. He knew it had everything to do with his profession and the harsh glare of the media spotlight. He always had to stay alert and on his toes. It was a shame he had to feel this way even in his hometown.

  “Dante! We were wondering what was taking you so long,” his mother said, patting the seat beside her.

  “I was just catching up with an old friend,” he said as he sat down next to her. Images of Lucy flashed before his eyes. She had grown into a very beautiful woman. She’d always been really pretty, but she was an absolute stunner now. Her jet-black hair hung about her shoulders in loose waves. Her skin was the color of almonds. Lucy’s heart-shaped face showcased amazing cheekbones. Although she hadn’t smiled at him, Dante knew firsthand how dazzling it could be when she laughed or grinned. Her smile had always knocked him off his feet.

  “If I remember correctly, you and Lucy Marshall were a lot more than friends,” Mimi said in a teasing voice. His mother’s comment drew smiles and nods from the other people at the table. Small towns like Mistletoe had long memories, he realized. He felt a sudden stab of discomfort at the thought of Lucy being the object of the town’s pity all those years ago when he’d left her in the lurch. His actions back then were born out of desperation and ambition, but Lucy and his family had suffered because of them. Shame threatened to swallow him up whole at the idea of wounding so many people he cared about.

  Even though he was struggling with his emotions, Dante put on a smile. “Lucy has always been amazing.” It was the truth. She’d always been extraordinary, which was why he’d never been able to forget her or the precious moments they had shared. He felt the heat of his mother’s gaze, but Dante didn’t look at her. He was too afraid of her seeing straight through him.

  The ding of the bell heralded the arrival of more diners. Dante swung his gaze up and froze at the familiar frame entering the diner. Troy. He hadn’t seen or spoken to his brother since their father’s funeral. Dante knew he’d hurt his family by staying in town only long enough to see his father buried, but he’d been overwhelmed with guilt about not being present during his dad’s illness. He’d beat a fast path out of Mistletoe so he didn’t have to face up to his actions.

  Wasn’t that the very same thing he’d done when he’d left his hometown the first time? Running away seemed to be his signature move. Suddenly, his throat felt tight and he struggled to keep it together. He’d been in town for less than twenty-four hours and he was already falling apart at the seams. For so long he’d been ignoring the broken pieces of his life, but being back was dredging it all up again. He’d made so many mistakes with Troy. Could he ever bridge the chasm between them?

  When the man turned in his direction, Dante realized he’d been mistaken. It wasn’t Troy at all. Although they shared the same physique and complexion, their faces really didn’t favor each other. His mother reached out and tightly squeezed his hand. Her eyes radiated motherly love and compassion. She seemed to know exactly what he’d been thinking.

  Dante didn’t know what was wrong with him. Normally, he prided himself on being stoic and keeping his emotions at bay. Coming back to Mistletoe was a game changer. Suddenly his feelings were resting right on the surface.

  Dante let out a deep sigh. He hadn’t just come back to town in order to film a movie and get closure with Lucy. When he’d left Mistletoe, Dante had unknowingly fractured his relationships with his family members. And judging by the fact that his siblings hadn’t shown up today at the celebration in his honor, things were a far cry from being fixed.

  His reasons for coming home were way more personal than making a film in his hometown and receiving a hero’s welcome. He was back in town to make things right with the people he’d once wronged and to fulfill a promise he’d made to himself after nearly losing his life.

  Chapter Three

  Lucy was having a fabulous dream. She was dressed to the nines in a long, flowing red evening gown and a man in a tuxedo was twirling her around the dance floor. There was a crowd of people clapping and cheering them on. As the tempo increased she found herself being spun around at a frenetic pace. She felt breathless as she looked into a pair of deep brown eyes flecked with gold.

  “Lucy!” The singsong voice blaring in her ear served as the ultimate wake-up call. It also meant her beautiful dream had been cut short. It was a shame, considering she usually dreamed about missing library books or being caught out in public wearing only her underwear.

  She opened one eye, then quickly shut it once she saw her little sister standing next to her bed. All she wanted was a few extra hours of sleep and another glimpse of the darkly handsome man from her dream. Clearly she was asking for way too much.

  This, she realized for the umpteenth time, was the problem with living right next door to her family. When she’d bought the newly renovated farmhouse it had seemed like such a brilliant idea. She’d been filled with a heartwarming feeling as soon as she’d seen the finished product. The place had been transformed in a matter of months from an abandoned wreck into a cozy house that was the perfect blend of modern and classic. Lucy had made an offer on the spot.

  At times like this, when her ten-year-old sister was staring at her as if Lucy were an exhibit at the science museum, she wished she’d bought the fixer-upper on the other side of town. In a moment of sheer madness, she’d forgotten about the benefits of privacy.

  “Tess, I’m sleeping in this morning,” she said with a groan. “We’ve talked about this before. Boundaries!” She needed to sleep off last night’s encounter with Dante. She felt conflicted about her behavior. On one hand she truly believed Dante deserved her salty attitude, while another part of her wished she’d kept her cool as Stella had advised.

  Lucy felt a jab in her chest. She squealed. “Ouch!”

  “Aren’t you going to be late for work?�
�� her sister asked.

  “It’s Saturday and I’m not working today. I do have a hair appointment and some errands to run though,” she explained. “How did you get in here anyway?” she asked, hoping she hadn’t left the door unlocked. Mistletoe was a low crime community, but you could never be too careful. After binge-watching Forensic Files, she wasn’t taking any chances.

  “I made a copy of your spare key when I was dog sitting Astro for you.”

  Her beagle, Astro, who’d been lying at the base of her bed, raised his head and let out a little noise at the mention of his name. Even he seemed outraged by Tess and her lack of boundaries.

  Lucy groaned. “Tess! You can’t do something like that without asking.” She didn’t bother to remind her little sister about boundaries again. It would fall on deaf ears. Tess was the type of kid who wielded her status as the baby of the family like a sharp sword. She poked first and asked questions later.

  After a few moments of silence, Lucy closed her eyes. Maybe Tess would get the hint and beat it. Was it too much to ask to be able to sleep in on Saturday morning?

  “I need to ask you something.” Her sister’s voice penetrated the quiet. Lucy peeked her head out from under her pink-and-white-rose-adorned comforter. It was one of the only items in her house she’d truly splurged on after discovering it at a local vintage store. Although the price tag had made her gasp, Lucy hadn’t been able to leave the store without purchasing it.

  Tess was still standing next to her bed looking as adorable as ever with her wide brown eyes and curly mane of hair. Lucy knew she should just accept that she wasn’t going to get any more shut-eye.

  “It better be important,” she said, frowning.

  Tess was biting her lip. “Is it true you used to date Dante West?”

  “Wh-who told you that?” she asked, sputtering. Surely no one in town even remembered their high school romance. But then again, people in small towns never forget a thing.