Melody hurried after her daughter and Jake trailed behind. Within minutes the three of them were at the kitchen table with four saucers of cookies and four glasses of milk set out.
“This one is for Santa,” Libby explained as she pointed to the extra plate. “He loves Mom’s sugar cookies.”
“I can understand why,” Jake replied, and popped the last of a cookie into his mouth. For the next thirty minutes he entertained them with memories of Christmases from his youth.
Melody knew he was exaggerating facts and throwing in fiction for Libby’s benefit, who giggled again and again at his outrageous stories.
It all would have been perfect had he chosen to be here with them instead of being forced by circumstances out of his control. She’d dreamed of him being here for Christmas, sharing laughter and building on the foundation of a relationship she’d believed was magical.
By eight-thirty, Melody announced bedtime for Libby and reminded her daughter that the faster she fell asleep, the more quickly Santa would arrive.
When Libby was clad in her pajamas, she returned to the kitchen to announce she was ready for her tuck-in. “You can tuck me in, too, Cowboy Jake.”
The three of them returned to Libby’s room. Before she climbed into bed, she got the can of magic potion they’d bought from the Mistletoe Magic store and liberally sprayed her pillow.
She got into bed, and Melody leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. “Sweet dreams, Libby,” she said, then stepped back and watched as Jake approached the bed.
He leaned over and tucked the blanket around Libby’s shoulders. “Good night, princess.”
“You could kiss me on the cheek,” Libby said to him.
Jake leaned over and gave her a gentle kiss. Libby instantly slammed her hand over the place he’d kissed. “This is how I keep good kisses,” she explained.
Jake straightened, cleared his throat and left the bedroom.
“I can’t wait for morning to come,” Libby said. “But I feel bad for Cowboy Jake ’cause after Santa comes you won’t have any more time for him.”
“I think Cowboy Jake has more important things to do than spend any more time with us,” Melody replied, and tried to shove aside her heartache. “He’s just here now because he got lost in the snow and saw our big star. Now close those peepers and get to sleep and dream of all the magic and wonder of Santa.”
Libby dutifully closed her eyes, and Melody left the bedroom, dreading the next hour or so before she could gracefully escape to her own bedroom.
Jake had returned to the table and remained silent as she cleaned up their cookie dishes and glasses. She looked at him in surprise as she saw one Santa cookie missing, the second cookie on the plate with a distinct bite taken out of it and half the milk gone.
He shrugged sheepishly. “I just figured I’d make sure she knew Santa enjoyed his treat.
She nodded, silently cursing the man for being everything she wanted and yet knowing she obviously wasn’t what he wanted. “I’ll make up the spare bedroom for you,” she said.
“That’s not necessary. I can just bunk on the sofa for the night.”
“Are you sure? I have a nice guest bedroom,” she replied.
“The couch is fine. I can keep the fire burning through the night so that Santa is nice and warm when he arrives.”
“I need to get out the presents that Santa brought and put them under the tree.” They were so formal with each other, and she welcomed the distance as a shield against any emotions that might stir once again inside her for him.
He got up from the table and moved to the window. “I think it’s stopped snowing. I should be able to get back home first thing in the morning.” He turned to look at her. “Need help with those presents?”
“Sure,” she agreed. With two of them they should manage to get all the presents in a couple of trips. By herself it would take much longer to empty out the closet in the studio.
She led him through the kitchen and into the large room where she made her living. She flipped on a light, illuminating the large expanse of wooden dance floor, the mirrored walls with the ballet bars and, hanging from the center light, a long red ribbon with sprigs of mistletoe tied to the end.
Her students had loved the mistletoe accent, although there had been no kisses shared beneath it. Instead if students found themselves standing beneath the mistletoe, they had to perform an impromptu dance to entertain the other students. It had been fun for the students and a tradition she had decided to continue each year.
Jake followed her to the closet and she began to load him down with gaily wrapped presents. Once his arms were filled, she filled her own. They went back to the living room and carefully arranged the gifts beneath the tree.
It took them two trips to and from the closet to finish up. Everything was ready for Libby’s Christmas morning. Santa’s snack had been consumed, the gifts were under the tree, and although she had a feeling the special gift Libby was expecting wasn’t under the tree, she hoped her daughter would be thrilled with all the other presents.
“I think I’m going to call it a night,” she said. “Libby will be up early and she’ll be exploding with energy. I’ll just get you a pillow for the sofa if you’re sure you don’t want to sleep in the spare room.”
“A pillow would be great,” he replied.
She went into the spare bedroom and grabbed a pillow from the bed. She hugged it to her chest for a long moment, feeling like a heartbroken child who had just been told there was no Santa Claus.
A solemn distance radiated from Jake, reminding her that there would be no happily ever after for them.
She’d believed she’d found the man who would complete her family, fulfill her dreams, but Mistletoe magic had fooled her.
* * *
FROM THE MOMENT he had shown up on her doorstep, it was as if he’d stepped into Libby’s drawing. The fire had blazed, the air had smelled of cinnamon and spice and he’d somehow felt as if he’d finally come home.
The desire to belong here had been a physical ache inside him while they’d decorated the tree, shared cookies and milk and finally kissed Libby good-night on her sweet little cheek.
He’d felt Melody’s loving concern as she’d pulled him off the porch, placed him beneath the blanket and given him the broth to warm him. He’d watched her interaction with her daughter and his heart had grown even warmer.
Now he tossed and turned on the sofa, fighting what he knew to be true. The only light in the room was the flames from the fire that burned, not enough illumination to keep him from sleep. Only the burn of his heart and his racing thoughts kept sleep at bay.
He finally sat up on the edge of the sofa, and that was when he heard the faint music drifting softly in the air. He didn’t recognize the instrumental but knew it was coming from the dance studio.
Quiet as a mouse, he crept through the kitchen and paused at the studio door. The lights in the room were dim, but Melody was like a bright beacon, dancing with obvious emotion.
Dressed in a short gauzy blue skirt and a loose-fitting tank, she moved on ballet shoes as if floating just above the surface of the floor.
Jake’s breath caught in his throat at her graceful beauty. She leaped, she turned, and her movements were liquid and flowing from step to step.
She turned and gasped as she saw him. “Sorry.” Her cheeks dusted with obvious embarrassment. “Is the music too loud?”
“No, it’s just right.” He stepped out on the dance floor, wanting more than anything to take her into his arms. “Actually, I was wondering if I could have the next dance?”
He didn’t give her a chance to deny him. He took her in his arms in a traditional dance position and began to move them across the floor.
Her body was warm and she smelled like heaven, but her eyes wer
e wary as she gazed up at him. “I thought you only danced the two-step,” she said.
“I found myself inspired by watching you,” he replied, tightening his arm around her waist. “You dance beautifully.”
Once again the wariness was back in her eyes. “What are you doing, Jake?”
He spun her beneath the mistletoe and stopped moving, his gaze drinking in her loveliness. “I’m giving up the battle with fear,” he confessed. “You scare me, Melody. You scare me because I’m in love with you.”
She caught her breath and froze in his arms, her gaze searching his features. “Say it again,” she whispered.
“I’m in love with you, Melody, and I want to belong with you and Libby. I want you both to be in my life forever.”
“Oh, Jake, I want the same thing. I’m in love with you and I want you in our lives forever and always.”
His heart filled with all the emotions he’d tried so hard to keep in check. “You know we’re standing under the mistletoe.”
“I also know that you don’t believe in the tradition, that for you kisses are supposed to mean something,” she replied, her lips tormenting him with need.
“Trust me, this means something,” he said just before he lowered his mouth to hers. She tasted just as he’d always imagined she would—sweet and hot, giving and filled with love that washed over him, rushed through him and nearly stole his breath away.
His blood heated through his veins with the desire to take more from her, to give more to her, but reluctantly he broke the kiss, knowing now was not the time or place to make love to her.
Her eyes were misty as she once again gazed up at him. “Don’t ever be afraid, Jake. I knew Mistletoe would be a magical place for me, and I know in my heart that fate and a shining star brought us together for a reason, and that reason is love.”
“I thought I was dead inside, but you and Libby breathed life back into me, filled the past week with a joy I’d forgotten existed in the world.” He stroked a hand down the length of her hair. “I want you to be mine, and I want to be yours and I want Libby to be ours. I want it all, Melody, everything you’ll give to me.”
She stepped back from him, her features lit with the joy that had first drawn him to her. “Everything, Jake. You have my everything, but not tonight. We need to get some sleep, and we’ll have lots of time going forward.”
It was the most difficult thing he’d ever done to return to the sofa for the rest of the night, but he knew she was right. They could build on what they had, and for the first time in years, he couldn’t wait for his future.
He awakened the next morning to the scent of fresh coffee, soft Christmas music playing through the house and the tree in the corner already lit.
Sounds from the kitchen got him up and off the sofa. He found Melody there putting a turkey into the oven. She looked like a young, sexy Mrs. Claus in her red robe with a furry white collar.
As she closed the oven door, he stepped behind her and wrapped her in his arms. She turned to face him, her features glowing with happiness. “I thought last night in the studio was a dream,” she said.
“It was the beginning of the Mistletoe magic we’re going to share for years to come.”
She smiled. “I thought you didn’t believe in Mistletoe magic.”
“I met a beautiful woman and a sassy little girl who stole my heart and made me a true believer.” He kissed her on the cheek and then released her. “You’ve already been busy this morning.”
He poured himself a cup of coffee, and she did the same and joined him at the table. “I like to have things ready for the day before Libby wakes up, which should be any time now. Once she’s up, it’s impossible to focus on anything but her and Santa.”
“I’m sorry both you and Libby have nothing under the tree from me.”
“You gave me the best gift I could have gotten last night, and Libby will be so overwhelmed she won’t care. Besides, Santa didn’t drop off anything for you here, either.”
He reached across the table and she stretched her hand out to meet his. “I’m sorry, Melody. I’m sorry that I got scared, that I dropped you off here after the skating party and pretended that you meant nothing to me.”
She squeezed his hand. “All’s well that ends well.”
At that moment the sound of flying tap shoes came down the hallway. Libby slid to a halt in the kitchen. “Come on, it’s Santa time!”
She waited for them to get up, and then the three of them walked into the living room, where Libby danced and clapped her hands at all the presents that awaited her. She looked as cute as a bug wearing a pair of Christmas pajamas that were red and had white, dancing reindeer all over them.
As Melody gestured Jake to the sofa next to her, Libby looked around the room as if expecting to see something. She walked to the window and peered out. She frowned, but only for a moment, and then returned to the tree and sat down for the gift opening.
The first gift was a hit. She exclaimed in excitement as she opened a box containing a purple tutu. She promptly pulled it on over her pajamas and then continued with other gifts.
Each present brought a new squeal of joy and another trip to the window to look outside. Melody exchanged a worried glance with Jake each time Libby peered outside.
Finally all the gifts had been opened. “I love everything that Santa brought me,” Libby said, even as her lower lip began to tremble. “But he didn’t bring my special present and it was the most important of all.”
“What was it, honey?” Melody asked.
“It was supposed to be the man who’d be my forever daddy, and I think he brought stupid Cowboy Jake instead.” She whirled on her heels, sobbing as she ran for her bedroom.
“I need to go talk to her,” Melody said, and hurried down the hallway. When she’d disappeared into Libby’s room, Jake got up and crept down the hallway and stood just outside the door.
He knew he was eavesdropping on a private conversation, but it was a conversation that could potentially complicate his future with Melody and Libby.
“Libby, honey, talk to me,” Melody said.
“Santa was supposed to bring us a prince, not a cowboy. Santa made a big, stupid mistake. Daddy was a cowboy and he died. I don’t want to love another cowboy and just have him die.”
Libby’s sobs shot pain for the little girl through Jake’s heart and brought clarity to her reluctance to accept him.
He quietly crept back down the hallway and into the kitchen, wondering if this was really going to be a happily ever after or not.
CHAPTER NINE
MELODY PULLED HER daughter into her arms as she continued to cry, knowing that a coherent conversation would be impossible until Libby was finished crying and ready to listen.
She stroked her daughter’s hair, grieving over the fact that she hadn’t recognized Libby’s feelings toward “Cowboy Jake,” that she hadn’t realized that Libby equated Seth’s death with the fact that he’d been a cowboy.
The sobs slowly halted, but still Libby clung to her mother, her face buried in the crook of Melody’s neck. “I thought a prince would be nice for you to marry and to be my daddy,” she finally said.
“A prince might be nice, but I think Jake might be better,” Melody said, unsurprised when Libby stiffened in her arms. “Libby, your daddy wasn’t just an ordinary cowboy, he was a rodeo cowboy. He did dangerous things that Jake would never do.”
Libby raised her head and looked at Melody. “So maybe Santa didn’t make a mistake after all?”
Melody smiled. “I think Santa brought a snowstorm and Jake got lost in it. Then he saw the star on top of our house and followed it to be here with us for Christmas. I don’t know about you, but I don’t think Santa makes mistakes.”
Libby sat up and looked at Melody for a long moment. “Co
wboy Jake won’t ride wild horses and bulls?”
“Never,” Melody replied. “And maybe you should just call him Jake instead of Cowboy Jake. Libby, he’s a really nice man who cares about us a lot, and he just happens to wear a cowboy hat and boots.”
Libby tilted her head, her gaze quizzical. “Do you think he could love me like a real daddy?”
“Could you love him as a real daddy?” Melody asked.
“I think maybe I already do, but I’ve been scared,” Libby replied. “I didn’t want to love another cowboy who would die on us.”
“Sometimes you just have to open your heart and not be afraid.”
Libby scrambled off her mother’s lap. “I gotta go talk to him. I called him a stupid cowboy and maybe he doesn’t like me anymore.”
Melody followed her daughter out of the bedroom. They found Jake seated in the living room with an aluminum-foil crown on his head. In that moment Melody knew he was the man she would love forever.
* * *
JAKE FELT RIDICULOUS, but he would go to any lengths to win the heart of the little girl he wanted as part of his life. Melody and Libby stopped short at the sight of him, Melody’s gaze filled with love and Libby staring at him as if he’d grown a horn out of the center of his forehead.
He’d had a speech all prepared in hopes of winning Libby over with the idea that he could be the prince of a father she’d asked for from Santa.
Before a word fell from his mouth, Libby began to giggle. “You look like a total dork,” she exclaimed.
He reached up and pulled the makeshift crown from his head. “I was supposed to look like a prince.”
Libby sidled up next to him where he sat on the edge of the sofa and leaned into him. “I’m sorry I called you a stupid cowboy.”
“That’s okay. I know you didn’t mean it.”
She leaned closer against him, bringing with her the sweet scents of innocence, of strawberry shampoo and the hint of a burgeoning trust. “Do you think you’d make a good daddy?”
A Mistletoe Christmas: Santa's Mistletoe MistakeA Merry Little WeddingMistletoe Magic Page 8