A CHRISTMAS PROPOSAL: Best Friend to Lovers Romance

by Lindsey Hart

  Cam ran a hand through his hair and nearly groaned at the movement. How was he ever going to make it through breakfast or the whole of Christmas day?

  After a painful journey down the steps, Cam entered into the kitchen. No surprise, it was just Lana and her mother awake. Lana sat, legs dangling from one of the wood barstools at the kitchen island. Like the rest of the house, the kitchen hadn’t been redone since the place was built. It was still nice, if outdated. The cabinets were blonde oak, the island matched. The countertops were laminate in a dark mossy green.

  “Cam!” Jocelyn spotted him and offered a wide smile. “No one else is up yet. We didn’t expect anyone until at least noon.” Lana’s mother wore a bright red and green sweater with a cheerful Christmas tree peeking out from under the edges of a festive apron.

  Lana spun around and the minute her eyes chanced on him, he felt the burn start. Even in his hungover condition it was proof that she lived in his bloodstream, right alongside the alcohol he was sure was still pumping through his veins.

  Christmas music played softly in the background, drifting through the house. Lana’s eyes were a little red-rimmed from lack of sleep. The guilt started in on Cam’s conscious, burning and pounding through the minute part of his brain that wasn’t already hung over. Jocelyn, on the other hand, was bright eyed and well rested. She was currently hovering around the kitchen putting together what looked like the makings for pancakes.

  His stomach rolled, threatening to revolt at the thought of food.

  Lana must have understood. She slid slowly off the barstool and indicated the kitchen table off to the right with a slight incline of her head.

  “Have a seat. I’ll make you some mint tea and give you a glass of water.”

  “Thanks,” Cam mumbled before he took a seat.

  He was reminded, yet again, of the many memories that table held for him. His own parents had moved after he graduated. For him, their home, smaller and more compact, held almost no memories. Coming back here, to Lana’s parent’s house was different. It was like entering a time warp.

  A few minutes passed. Jocelyn continued to hum and buzz around the kitchen. Lana eventually pulled out a chair beside him and set down a mug of steaming mint tea and a full glass of water.

  “That should help. You’ll be up for pancakes before you know it.”

  Cam nearly groaned. “Uh, sorry again about last night,” he mumbled.

  “Yeah. I know. It’s okay.”

  He couldn’t pretend like he wasn’t touched by her gesture of tea or the concern on her face. They were friends. They’d been the best of friends before he took off to South America to escape the way she haunted him. What he saw in her eyes went deeper. He hadn’t been mistaken the night before. Something had changed.

  “The sheets washed okay then?”

  “I told you they would. Drink your tea. It’s probably cool enough now.” Lana smiled gently before she stood, pushed in her chair and went to help her mom prepare breakfast.

  Cam did as she asked. He took a sip of the tea and didn’t find it half bad. He downed the glass of water and the pounding in his head eased just a little. After a few more sips of tea, his stomach calmed. He almost found it fascinating to watch Lana and her mother buzz around the kitchen. They worked in tandem and he soon realized they weren’t just making breakfast. They were starting to get everything ready for Christmas dinner.

  He tried not to think about what it would be like to watch Lana hover around their own kitchen, start their own dinner, day in and day out, not just on the holidays.

  The old, familiar, fierce ache rose in his chest. He was no stranger to the feeling. In fact, he had traveled so very far away to escape it. He’d found out the hard way that he could run, he could put distance between himself and Lana, but he couldn’t escape himself.

  A noise from the hall pulled Cam out of his distracted thoughts. He was gratefully for the distraction, even if it did come in the form of Jason and Dale.

  Neither of them looked like they truly wanted to be awake. They looked as rough as Cam had felt almost an hour ago when he emerged from his own room.

  “Two more stragglers. That just leaves your father.” Jocelyn dried her hands on the tea towel hanging from the stove’s door handle. “I’ll go get him up.” She turned to her son. “Have a seat at the table or in the living room. Lana can get you some water or juice or toast. Whatever you need.”

  Jason made a sound that was half a groan, but Dale sent a sidelong glance at Lana. His eyes lingered on her chest, not her face. They had that feral glow to them, like he was some kind of animal about to devour his prey.

  Cam’s hackles rose big time. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up and rage choked his throat. He wanted to cross the kitchen and throttle Dale. The guy was an asshole. He’d always been an asshole and it was clear that time hadn’t done a single thing to change him. If anything, he was worse. Cam didn’t honestly understand what Lana saw in the guy.

  Maybe she doesn’t see it anymore.

  After the football game and the way Lana had berated Dale after he’d hit him, Cam had to wonder if maybe things had changed.

  He felt a stab of satisfaction that it was him sleeping beside Lana, not Dale. Even if it nearly is more torture than I can bear. It was clear that the other man was jealous too, which only served to make Cam feel even better, though he knew he was being overly territorial when he didn’t truly have a right to be. It was like a pissing contest that neither man truly should have entered into.

  “Water would be great.” Jason pulled out one of the stools at the island and sat heavily.

  Dale thumped down beside him. His long blonde hair was ruffled and askew, his eyes red-rimmed from lack of sleep and too much whiskey the night before. He still looked better than most men had any right to, even in a rumpled t-shirt and jeans that had clearly been slept in.

  Jealousy rose, hard, hot and ugly in Cam’s gut. He nursed the rest of his tea and tried to keep his gaze and thoughts elsewhere.

  Lana served her brother a large glass of cold water and gave Dale a cup of juice. Cam noted that neither of them were offered mint tea. She didn’t look at Dale with concern or compassion in her pretty blue gaze.

  She reserved that just for me.

  The kitchen was soon cramped as Jocelyn and Frank entered. Surprisingly, Lana’s dad looked better than all three of the younger men who were half his age.

  “What’s for breakfast?” He pulled out the head chair at the table and glanced eagerly towards the island where Lana and her mother were back at work whipping up breakfast.

  “Pancakes with whipped cream and blueberry sauce.” Jocelyn smiled eagerly, and Frank patted his stomach with just about as much eagerness.

  Cam nearly groaned. The tea was helping, but he didn’t think that he was up to actually shoveling anything into his mouth anytime soon.

  Surprisingly by the time breakfast was served, Cam’s stomach was rumbling with hunger. Lana served him just one pancake and left the toppings up to him. She took the chair beside him and the way she flashed him a sidelong glance and a tiny smile made his insides clench up. She either pointedly ignored Dale, who was sitting right across from her, staring openly at her, or she was no longer interested. Cam really couldn’t say. He hoped very much that it was the latter. Although, if the goal was to make Dale jealous to notice her, she’d certainly succeeded.

  Maybe this is all part of the plan.

  The thought soured him inside, so he turned his mind back to concentrating on his breakfast.

  “Do you want syrup? My mom’s blueberry syrup is the best.”

  “I know.” Cam recalled a couple other times he’d stayed for breakfast over the years. “Sure.”

  Lana passed the gravy boat, which contained the syrup and berries mix. Their fingers brushed as she passed it. Cam felt the contact buzz right up his arm, into his chest. The warmth lingered with him long after her hand was gone.

  They somehow all got throu
gh breakfast without an incident. Cam chalked it up to the hangovers. It was a pretty silent affair.

  Afterward, Jocelyn, a huge smile lighting up her face, announced that it was time for gifts. She was so enthusiastic anyone would have thought that they were all kids again, not adults in their early thirties.

  Lana helped clear the table, then shockingly, she stood before Cam, hand extended. He was reminded that for the time, they were supposed to be dating. He slowly slipped his hand into her dainty one. The heat and tingles and violent shivers were almost instant.

  He allowed her to lead him into the living room where the tree was. Jocelyn, as always, had done an excellent job. He knew Lana’s mother pretty much lived for Christmas. Their house was always the most festive growing up.

  “My parents bought you gifts too, since I told them you were coming,” Lana whispered. She plopped down on the loveseat and Cam took the spot beside her.

  Her shoulder rubbed against his, sending another hard volley of desire racing through his body. He ground his teeth and took a breath, trying to control the raw, base, natural reactions. He didn’t exactly want to spring a noticeable hard-on in front of Lana’s entire family.

  It was a good thing at that moment Lana’s parents swept into the room. Dale and Jason dragged in behind them. When everyone was seated, Lana’s mom started handing out gifts. It was pretty much a time of tearing wrap and excited murmurs after that.

  He was a little embarrassed at the gifts Lana’s parents had so thoughtfully picked out. They’d bought him a couple of t-shirts, socks, a new coffee mug. Just little things, but he liked it all. He would have picked it out for himself. Which meant they knew him well.

  It was a good thing that he and Lana had chosen their gifts together. At least he felt he was contributing something back.

  He’d slipped his own gift for Lana under the tree the night before. He watched her puzzled expression as she received the small box.

  Her hands trembled as she opened the wrap. Her eyes flew to his face when she revealed the small purple velvet square. The fire there, the nervous anticipation, the question in those blue eyes that locked on his, undid him. His own hands started to tremble. It was hard to even breathe.

  Lana slowly opened the box. Her sigh of relief was tinged with a little wonderment. Her eyes flew to his face.

  “What? Were you afraid it was a ring?” He whispered as he leaned in, so no one else could hear.

  It was a mistake, getting so close to her. She’d dabbed on a little bit of perfume or perhaps it was the clean fresh scent of her laundry soap or her shampoo that went right up his nose as he inhaled. Whatever it was, his head swam. He felt drunker than he had been the night before, just on that soft, feminine scent of hers.

  Lana giggled. It was a little higher pitched than normal, which indicated that she was nervous. “Of course not,” she whispered back. She turned her head and her lips were so close, so full, so inviting, he was damn near tempted to kiss her. She seemed to realize just how intimate their proximity was and pulled back just a little. “I’m just surprised you actually listened. I didn’t know guys did that.”

  “We were shopping. Just had that latte and we passed by the jewelery store and you said, as though you really didn’t think I was listening at all, that there was this necklace you wanted forever. You said it had a sparkle ball at the end which was blue and green and purple, like a peacock and a silver chain. You said it was ridiculously overpriced and totally a fad, but for some reason you wanted it.”

  Her smile was radiant. She was absolutely beautiful. No, beautiful didn’t even begin to describe those glistening eyes, full pink lips and the delicate blush that settled over her cheekbones. She looked like an angel.

  Now that is a hundred percent sap.

  Cam didn’t care. He just sat back and enjoyed the moment. Every cent of the three hundred dollars he’d spent on a necklace that wasn’t even real gold or silver was worth it a hundred times over.

  “Thank you,” Lana whispered. “Half the time, I don’t think anyone hears me. But you always do. You always have.”

  Her lips parted in silent supplication. The urge to lean forward and kiss her nearly killed him. He leaned forward at the same time she did. He smelled the sweet hint of blueberries on her breath.

  “What do you have there Lana?”

  Whatever spell between them was shattered. Lana whipped her head to the side to face Dale, who was leaning forward in his own chair. Too far forward. He was far too close and far too interested in a damn necklace for Cam’s taste.

  Lana gently passed over the necklace. “I’ve wanted it forever. Cam got it for me.”

  Dale’s eyes swiveled to Cam’s face and the pale grey orbs shot daggers. Cam was a little taken aback at the unexpected hostility. The guy had an entire lifetime to notice Lana.

  He handled the necklace roughly, jerking it off the little cushion in the box. He let out a startled groan a second later. “Oh no, Lana, I think I broke it.”

  “What?” Lana snatched back the box and inspected the necklace. Sure enough, a link in the chain had come undone. “Dale! Why were you so rough with it?”

  “Sorry, Lana. It’s not my fault if it’s not built to withstand a little tug.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” Lana growled under her breath. “They give you a year warranty. The card is at the bottom of the box. I’ll take it in and get it fixed.”

  “Or get a new one,” Dale said, almost taunting.

  Cam’s hands balled into fists. He would love to crush Dale’s face. The instinct to violence startled him. He’d never been giving to settling things with his fists or in a rage. He was even-tempered and level-headed most of the time.

  “No,” Lana said firmly. “I want this one.” She glared at Dale. “You can be a real asshole sometimes.”

  Sensing the mounting tension, Jason stood and clapped his friend on the back. “She’s got you there, Dale. Right on the money.”

  “Whatever,” Dale ground out.

  “How about a rousing game of crib?” Jocelyn cut in before things got out of hand. “We can have a tournament. I have three boards, so we can all play.”

  Lana smiled up at her mom. She shut the box and gripped it tightly in her right hand. “No thanks mom. Or maybe later. I’m going to take a walk.”

  “A walk?” Jocelyn raised a brow in surprise.

  “Yeah. I’m just a little too full from breakfast. I thought a walk would be good.”

  “Okay, dear, maybe later. Thank you for all the gifts.”

  “Yes, thank you.” Frank walked up and slipped an arm around his wife’s waist. He nodded towards Lana and then Cam. “You both picked out the perfect gifts. I love the shoes.”

  “No problem,” Cam mumbled, a little embarrassed.

  “Cam picked those out,” Lana said, overly loudly. She shot a look at Dale before swiveling her head back to her parents. “I think we’ll go for a walk together, actually.”

  “Sure,” Cam breathed. Somehow, he’d become the luckiest man in the world.

  He rose at the same time Lana did. They walked together to the front door, slipped on their shoes and their sweaters, which were hanging in the entranceway closet, and escaped outside.

  Though he was still burning up inside about what Dale had done to Lana’s gift, it was her hand tucked in his, his, not Dale’s. She was the one who had initiated the contact, though no one was watching. She was at his side, falling into step beside him, walking briskly, like she had a purpose in mind.

  It was absolutely the best Christmas gift he’d ever received.

  CHAPTER 10

  Lana

  Lana’s whole body responded to the feel of Cam’s hand tucked safely in hers. Her breath was a mess. The little raspy, half panting spurts didn’t sound like her normal cadence at all. She wondered if Cam noticed how off she was. Is his body doing the same crazy clenching thing? Is his heart nearly pounding out of his chest? Is his pulse racing and his blood white hot?
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br />   She didn’t dare turn to face him. She just walked, side by side, hand in hand, matching his long stride with her own. They turned down several streets, the way they had played football earlier and wound up back at their old school. The old brick building had stood for over a hundred years. It had been expanded with portables and additions over the years.

  “It feels like a really long time ago we were there,” Lana whispered. She still didn’t look at Cam and didn’t slow her pace.

  “I know. It’s hard to believe we spent twelve years there.”

  “Thirteen if you count kindergarten.”

  “Thirteen then.”

  “It’s crazy to think we’re adults now. I used to think they were the ones who had everything figured out. Now I realize that no one ever does.”

  “Kind of like how people shrunk.” Lana laughed along with Cam as soon as she said it.

  “That’s funny, I never would have thought of that until you said it, what, when we were in grade nine or something?”

  “Yeah, I think so. It’s so true though. When you’re small, everyone seems so big and then you grow up and get just as big and it never feels very big at all. No one is a giant anymore.”

  “Not even Dale?”

  Lana took a deep breath. Something had changed between them. She sensed it now more than ever. She was willing to take a chance. She turned, stopped walking, and stared into Cam’s dark eyes.

  “Yes, even Dale. You’re right, he used to be my giant. My unreachable, unattainable goal. My crush for so very long. Then all of a sudden I grew up and I saw through it. I don’t… I don’t even want it anymore.”

  “What do you want?” The ragged words sounded dragged from Cam’s throat against his will. His eyes burned into hers.

  She was sure, in that moment, that he felt it too. The same thundering heartbeat, the pulse stabbing at the side of her neck, the twisted up flood of emotion in her chest and lungs and stomach, the heady echo of those sensations so much lower.