Meet Me Under the Mistletoe

by Stacey Kennedy

  “They’re all brothers, aren’t they?”

  Darryl glanced at Penelope, finding her watching the group. “Yeah, good people too.”

  She tipped her head to the side and gave him a knowing look. “Isn’t everyone here good people?”

  “Most yes, but not all.” He paused then explained, “Being a cop means seeing the worst in the people sometimes. And the worst can, at times, be dark.”

  “I suppose that’s probably very true.” She dropped her head onto his shoulder and sank deeper into his hold, letting him guide the way through the dance as Dalton, the lead singer of the Kinky Spurs band sang his heart out like he was putting on a big show in a stadium. The man could sing. There was a story there. Dalton could’ve been famous and was nearly signed, but his sick mother kept him at home.

  Darryl felt for the guy, hoping something good came to Dalton soon. He turned his attention back to Penelope and dropped his head into her neck, giving her a soft kiss there.

  “If I ask you something, will you tell me the truth?” she asked a moment later.

  He met those pretty eyes again. “That’s all I know how to do.”

  “Do you do all this community service during the holidays because it keeps you from being alone?”

  He pressed his lips to the top of her head. “Who’s the mind reader now?”

  “I learned from the very best.”

  “I’ll take that compliment and wear it proudly,” he said, leaning back to meet her gaze, and then he dug into that place he wasn’t very fond of going. “To answer your question, yes, I like doing things for others during Christmas. I didn’t volunteer as much when I was married because Natalie didn’t like to be in the public that way, but my mother loved volunteering. It’s a good way to honor her every year. Of course, this year is a little different. All these events are new, and I’m heading them up for a purely selfish reason too.”

  “Which is?”

  “To look better for a possible promotion.”

  She studied him a moment. “Nothing wrong with trying to further yourself.”

  He gave her a little kiss for that. He dropped his head into Penelope’s neck again, liking being right there, drawing in her sugary aroma.

  Tomorrow she’d have Christmas with her cousins and then she’d be leaving the next day. He’d done the laidback thing with Natalie, trying to make her happy, even though he knew it was hard. He couldn’t be that guy anymore. And feeling like this thing with Penelope was the best thing that happened to him in years, he asked, “Have you put any thought into what we talked about last night?”

  Her eyes softened, as did her voice. “Darryl, it’s just…”

  “Complicated,” he said, pulling her soft curves against him tighter.

  He felt the clamminess of her palm against his. “I really like you and this…but I’m not this girl.”

  He matched the rhythm of the song, swaying his hips to the beat, watching her carefully, trying to understand. “What’s that? The girl who’s got people who care about her? The girl who’s doing great things for others? The girl who’s happy with me?” He tried to take the sharpness out of his voice and failed.

  “I like traveling, being free.”

  Bullshit. That was a cop-out, and they both knew it. “Maybe it’s time to do something you wouldn’t normally do.” He dropped his mouth to hers, knowing this wouldn’t be an easy decision. They had five days together. How could he even dare ask her to uproot her life for him? “I know this is hard. I know what I’m asking is a little bit out there.”

  Her brows rose. “A little bit?”

  He chuckled, brushing his lips across hers. “Okay, a lot a bit,” he whispered against her mouth before leaning way. “But it doesn’t change the fact that I don’t want you to go. Your spontaneity has made me realize there is value in that. I want to be ‘out there’ too. With you. I see you. All of you. We got a second chance at this again. I refuse to waste it.” He noted the tightness rising in her expression. “We have tonight, and I’ll enjoy it, but here’s an idea: If you decide to stay, at midnight, meet me under the mistletoe. If you’re not there, then I’ll know tonight is all we’ve got, and I’ll respect that.”

  “Just like that?” She looked doubtful.

  He gave a firm nod. “Just like that.” Because he wouldn’t be on the list of people who didn’t support and trust her to make her own choices. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever.

  An hour later, with Darryl handing out another round of gifts, Penelope headed outside. Whoever made this velvet dress wasn’t thinking comfort. She needed cool air in a big bad way. Just out in front of the double doors, she pulled down her long winter jacket over her butt and dropped onto one of the hay bales set outside for decoration that only had a sprinkling of snow covering the top. She slipped her aching feet out of her heels, the brisk wind brushing against her toes. The band belted out a Jason Aldean song back inside, and she heard the crowd cheering. She’d danced, given out gifts, and laughed so damn much, she couldn’t recall every having such a good night when she hadn’t had some liquid happiness to help her along.

  The snow fluttered down in big snowflakes from the dark cloudy sky. She held out her hand, and a chilly snowflake landed on her palm before melting away. Tonight was perfect in every which way, but as much as River Rock had been a replacement for a normal Christmas with her family, it wasn’t her mom and dad, and as much as she’d been trying not to think about it, she was wishing they were here too.

  It occurred to her that maybe it was time for her to be the better person. She reached for the cell phone that was tucked into the pocket of her elf dress from the costume store. She found her mom’s name in her contacts then dialed the number.

  “Hello.”

  Penelope cringed at the high-pitched sound of her stepsister’s voice. She was five years younger and didn’t know the meaning of hard work. “Hey, Lizzy, can I talk with my mom?”

  The phone dropped on something hard.

  A beat later, there was shuffling on the line, then Mom said, “Hi, Penelope, how are things?”

  “Good,” Penelope said, shifting back against the hay bale until her aching feet were dangling. “I’m in River—”

  “Yes, Eric,” Mom said. “Yes, that one. Sorry, what was that, Penelope?”

  “I’m in—”

  “I’ll be the hat, Brandon,” Mom interjected. “Sorry, Penelope, we’re playing Monopoly. Things are good, then?”

  Penelope’s chest squeezed. All the things she’d hope to say, wanted to say, suddenly faded away. “Yeah, things are good. Just calling to say Merry Christmas.”

  Don’t hang up. Say something. “Same to you, Penelope.” A pause. “Best I go now, everyone is ready to play and they’re waiting for me.”

  “Bye.” Penelope forced her voice through her tight throat.

  “By—” The line went dead before she could even finish.

  Penelope dropped her head, staring down at her cell phone. She inhaled and exhaled deeply, keeping it together, her breath a thick fog in front of her. Okay, so that sucked. Maybe her mom was just busy. That did happen. Penelope gave her head a little shake, blowing off the sting of rejection. She could handle this. Darryl was a total put-together guy that didn’t seem to let his deadbeat dad shake his confidence. She found her father’s contact information then hit dial.

  He answered on the third ring. “Penelope, what’s wrong?”

  “Nothing,” she said, putting as much Christmas cheer into her voice that she could possibly find. “I’m calling to wish you a Merry Christmas.”

  “Oh, Merry Christmas to you too.” He hesitated, clearing his throat. “The accountant called and said you spent some money. Did you buy yourself an early Christmas gift?”

  Of course, he went straight to money. That was typically all he ever talked about, and most of the conversation was his demanding that she use what he gave her. “Something like that.”

  “Well, that’s what it’s there for.
” Another heavier pause.

  But in that pause, she heard the laughter and voices in her father’s family home. Part of her wanted to ask, Why did you lie about traveling? Why don’t you want me with you? The other part of her refused to go there.

  “Now don’t spend it stupidly, Penelope,” her father added with his firm CEO voice. “I hope you’re being smart about things.”

  Come home. Come here. Be with us. We want you here.

  All the things she hoped he’d say never came. Darryl had found a way to be the bigger man. To prove his deadbeat dad couldn’t impact his life. She wasn’t nearly that strong. The rejection stung, opening old wounds that could never heal. “I—”

  “You what?”

  More laughter. More celebrations, all of which didn’t include her. And she didn’t know why. She never knew why. “Nothing. Just…Merry Christmas.”

  “To you as well.”

  She caught a voice in the background before her dad said, “Listen, gotta go, kid. Talk soon.”

  The phone line went dead. Yeah, she was an adult, not needing her parents as much, but she still needed them a little, something they seemed to forget. She stared down at the blank screen, her eyes stinging. Maybe she’d had blinders on lately. Hell, maybe it was Christmas cheer that got in the way. For four days, she had tasted what life would have been like had her parents never dragged her away, went through a brutal divorce, and then got themselves a new family to love. For four days, she forgot that emptiness that lived deep in her chest, the hole that never seemed healable. For four days, she remembered who she’d once been when she was seventeen years old and kissed a cute boy.

  But that wasn’t real life.

  And there was a reason she didn’t go to these warm places in her heart. Because those warm places lied and hurt.

  “Hey, it’s the girl from the fountain.”

  Penelope jerked her head up, finding a group of six people standing around her. She didn’t recognize any of them. The girl who showed up to River Rock would’ve jumped up and laughed her way through her embarrassment, but that seemed impossible to do now. “Yep, that’s me.” The woman who’s nothing but trouble, a hassle to anyone she cares about.

  “You were so awesome that night,” the pretty blonde said, wrapping her arm into the guy standing next to her.

  They looked around Penelope’s age, maybe a little young. “Thanks. I have a special talent when it comes to skating in high heels.”

  The group laughed.

  “Up for some more fun?” another one of the guys said, staring at Penelope like she was on the menu tonight. His menu. “We’re going to get some drinking in here, then heading over to Kinky Spurs.”

  Kinky Spurs—the bar where she’d gotten in trouble, where all this began.

  The emptiness in her chest split wide open, a heaviness sinking in deep into her bones. She wasn’t this woman Darryl made her believe she could be. And maybe it was time they both realized that. “I doubt I’ll leave with you,” she said, pushing off the hay bale, sliding back into her high heels. “But the drinks sound like exactly what I need.”

  Darryl finished handing out the final gift then set the Santa bag onto the table next to him. The party was in full swing. Everyone looked to be having fun, dancing and drinking, and celebrating Christmas in grand style. It occurred to Darryl that for all the trouble he thought Penelope was going to be for him, it turned out, she put him in a better light with his bosses than he could have put himself in. He’d always played things safe, but damn if he didn’t like stirring things up these past couple days with her.

  He liked this life. Going back to a world without Penelope in it didn’t appeal in the least. Now he simply needed to get her to see that her place was here, with him.

  “Darryl.”

  Someone had yelled his name over the music. He glanced through the crowd, and when he heard his name called a second time, he spotted Maisie pushing her way through the people and waving at him.

  He met her halfway.

  “You have to help me before something really bad happens,” she said when she reached him.

  “Of course,” he said. “What do you need?”

  She grabbed the sleeve of his Santa suit and weaved him through the dancefloor full of people. Someone pinched him on the ass and said something about a Naughty Santa, but Darryl stayed focused on Maisie as she led him toward the bar. When he got there, he understood the problem immediately.

  Penelope was dancing on the bar in a suggestive manner to a rowdy group of men cheering her on. Darryl took note of the mayor watching her who clapped along, obviously enjoying her dance, and his captain, who was clearly too in love with her now to see anything but how good she’d been to the people in their town. Darryl turned back to Penelope and sighed as he watched a mirror image of her dance on the fountain that first night he saw her again. Only this time, Amelia was also there yelling at her to get down. “What happened?” he asked Maisie. “The last time I saw Penelope, she was fine.”

  Maisie shrugged. “I have no idea, but by the looks of this, something bad.”

  Yeah, Darryl agreed. Because now he knew when this wild side of Penelope came out, it was because she was hurting. The past four days with her had told him that. And for once, the cop didn’t come out when he stared at her, the man did, and seeing her break apart made him want to hurt whatever or whoever was hurting her.

  “Clara is out in the car waiting for us,” Maisie said, bringing Darryl’s attention back to her. “Help. Please. Before she does something she can’t take back.”

  Darryl doubted anything she did could ruin the town’s perception of her now. He nodded anyway then approached the men, not blind to the jealous heat that rushed through his veins at the way they gawked at her. “Move along,” he told the men firmly, who were regulars on the bar scene. “Now.” He tried to erase the bite in his voice and failed miserably.

  Each man frowned his way before heading back onto the dance floor.

  Darryl pushed a stool out of the way then got closer to the bar and slowly glanced up. “Penelope.”

  “Oooh, there’s my sexy Santa,” she practically purred, hands in the air, dancing her heart out.

  Damn she was beautiful.

  She waggled her eyebrows at him. “Why don’t you hop up here and we’ll give ’em a real good Christmas show.”

  “Penelope,” he said softer now. Before when he saw her this way at the fountain, he thought she was reckless and wild and pure trouble. Now…well, now he saw her heart bleeding in her glossy eyes. And that was the endgame for him. That pain, he wanted it gone. Plus, from the glossiness of her eyes, he suspected whatever shots she’d downed had only begun to hit her. “It’s time to come down now, sugar.”

  She rolled her hips. “You wanna go down on me?”

  Yeah, most times, he did.

  But this was taking a downward direction. Fast. Before this went from fun and games to something embarrassing, he grabbed her around the legs until he had her over his shoulder. The crowd cheered her on as Penelope burst out laughing. To keep everything light, Darryl turned to crowd, purposely glancing in the mayor’s and the captain’s direction. “This elf is calling it a night. She apparently helped with the cause a little too much.”

  The captain smiled. The mayor laughed. The bullet had been dodged.

  Darryl followed Maisie and Amelia out to where Clara was waiting outside the car, her arms crossed, her lips in a thin line. “Give me a minute, all right?” he asked her cousins.

  Clara frowned at Penelope then nodded at Darryl. “Yeah, all right.” She moved behind him to join her sisters.

  Darryl slowly lowered a laughing Penelope down, then helped her into the back seat of the car. He squatted next to the open door and waited for her to acknowledge him there. She finally did and turned her head, her eyes beaming. “Are you planning on tucking me into bed too, Santa?” she asked playfully. “Want me to be a bad girl this Christmas?”

  Did he ever.<
br />
  Also, not the right time to indulge those thoughts.

  He tucked her hair behind her ear, staring into the sweetness of her soul. For all the time he desperately worried about his promotion and making sure everything was perfect, he realized that none of it really mattered when Penelope was sad. “What happened tonight?” he asked.

  “I danced.” She smiled. “And…maybe…had a shot or two.”

  She’d run from this conversation. He knew she wanted to. She’d proven good at dodging things that left her exposed. For some reason, he couldn’t let her do that anymore. He took her chin, capturing her gaze. “What happened that made you take that first shot?”

  She jerked her chin away.

  “Penelope.” He waited for a moment then gently turned her chin back to him, not letting her run. Not anymore. “What happened?”

  Her eyes welled and her chin quivered. “I called home.”

  Those three words told him everything he needed to know. The pain was written all over her face. The rejection. The loneliness. Something terrible had happened on the phone call, and he didn’t doubt that something had to do with her shitty parents. “Penelope,” he said softly. “Talk to me. Please.”

  “I can’t.” She shut her eyes, but not before a tear escaped down her cheek. “I don’t want to think about this. I just want to go back to my cousins’ house.”

  That he understood. He’d dealt with rejection for years as a kid when his father came back. And the loneliness when his mother passed away and his father still never made contact. Until Darryl realized he was better without him. Sometimes the pain was too hard to deal with, especially when you couldn’t control how others acted. Sometimes you just had to deal with the shit that life threw at you the best you knew how. And that’s what she had been doing for the last ten years—surviving. But Darryl knew a better way.

  Before he could show her that way, she needed to be sober.