by Anthology
Grabbing the handle I opened the door to find both of them with their hands in the air, their fists balled.
“What the hell is wrong with you two?”
Greg smirked at me. “Why? did we interrupt something?”
Colin started chuckling next to him.
“Assholes,” I said, shaking my head. “Come on in. Dani will be out in a minute.”
With their hands full of bags, the two of them pushed past me, into the living room. Shaking my head, I looked down the hall to the bedroom, trying to see some indication as to whether Dani was almost ready to join us. The sound of the shower reached my ears, and I knew she’d be a little bit longer. At least she was getting ready. Colin must have noticed my preoccupation.
“Go check on her,” he said, lifting his chin in the direction of the hall.
I looked over to see him standing next to me, watching the bedroom door himself.
“Last Christmas was really bad, understandably. If you’re worried about her, trust yourself and go check on her. You’re exactly what she needs to have a better Christmas this year.”
He’d hit the nail right on the head, recognizing my fear. It was hard to not worry that some of her memories of last year would creep in and take her down a path that we’d worked so hard to pull her away from. I wasn’t naive enough to think that our life would be full of sunshine and roses. I knew there would be times when the past would come creeping back in, but I would always want to be the person who helped her fight off her demons. As time went on, it was my hope that those days would be few and far between. Even though I’d never be able to cure all of her fears, we would get through it together.
When I opened the bedroom door, the water was still running in the bathroom and I stepped into the thick fog that encompassed the entire room. The sheer beauty of Danielle as she stood under the spray of the shower practically stole my breath, and it took me a minute to remember why I was in the bathroom in the first place. Every graceful line of her body made me long to run my fingers across all of her delicate skin, and knowing that she was mine made all of the heartache we went through worth it. Now it was my job to not only protect her, but to protect her heart as well.
Stripping off my shorts and boxers, I quietly stepped into the shower behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist. Without a word she leaned into me, silently accepting the strength I was offering, the only sound in the room was the water hitting the shower floor.
“Do you wanna talk about it?”
Turning in my arms, she looked up at me. “You’re doing everything I need right now.”
Needing to offer comfort, I reached up and cupped my hand around her cheek. “You know I’m here to listen, right?”
She smiled. “I know. I just needed a minute. After all I went through last year, I want to enjoy this Christmas, and if that meant taking a minute to remember, then I could do that.”
“You’re okay?”
She snuggled in closer. “I am. I had my moment and now I’m going to let myself enjoy our first Christmas together.”
The way she was working hard to push the past back in her memory so that she could focus on the present made me extremely proud of her and all that she’d done for herself in the last year. Not many people could come back from what she had and still be a person whose smile could light up a room. It was just another thing to love about her. Knowing she was okay, I remembered where I was and what she was wearing—or should I say what she wasn’t wearing. Of their own accord, my hands slid from her waist, down to firmly caress her ass cheeks.
“Let me wash you,” I whispered in her ear.
“Mmm . . . I’d let you do more, but there’s not a chance of that with the wonder twins in the living room.”
I groaned, reminded that we had company.
“Besides, we’re lucky we didn’t wake your parents up the first time.”
“You’re going to make me wait until everyone leaves?” I tried the pouty lip. Even though we’d been together less than an hour ago, I still wanted her again.
“Don’t give me that face. You can at least wait until tonight when your parents go to bed.”
“But it’s Christmas.”
She stepped out of reach and picked up the loofah and shower gel from the side of the tub. “Which is exactly why we’re going to get showered and dressed, then spend the day with our family and friends, and appreciate every moment.”
Watching her wash was pure torture, especially considering all I could imagine was my hands in place of the loofah. I knew there was no way she was going to let that happen though. “Fine, but later you’re all mine.”
“I’m always all yours.”
Lifting her chin, I slanted my lips over hers, taking a quick taste to hold me over before picking up my soap and beginning to wash myself. With Dani standing wet and naked in front of me, it was hard to get my brain to work properly.
Yet, thinking about what sat under the tree waiting for her, sent butterflies through me. All I wanted was to give her what I thought was the perfect present. It was one of those gifts that no matter how long we lived, I would never be able to top it. All of it made me excited to get the day started. Her plan was to do breakfast first, giving everyone a chance to arrive.
When I was done I stepped out of the shower, leaving her to finish washing her hair. Throwing on a pair of jeans and a Henley, I made my way back into the living room. Greg and Colin had made themselves at home, turning on The Christmas Story marathon.
“Dani’s gonna make you change that,” I said gesturing toward the TV with a smirk.
“Why?” Greg drew his brows together.
“She hates this movie,” Colin laughed. “She’ll just have to suck it up and deal.”
Shaking my head I took a seat in the recliner. “They’re your lives.” Personally, I thought it was funny as hell, but there was no way I’d admit that to Dani.
“What the hell are you guys watching? This has to be the worst movie of all time.”
Taking a quick peek, I saw her standing at the end of the hall with her hands on her hips.
“You know you love it,” Colin said, trying not to laugh.
“Greg, you get a free pass. You two should know better,” she said, pointing between Colin and me.
I held my hands up. “Leave me out of this. They already had it on when I came out.”
“You know you love us,” Colin said, trying to give her puppy dog eyes.
She stepped up behind the couch and leaned in between them. “You’re lucky it’s Christmas.” She gave them each a kiss on the cheek and headed into the kitchen.
“Does that mean you forgive us?” Colin called.
“I’m making you breakfast, aren’t I?”
“What did you boys do already?” Mom’s voice called down the hallway.
“Nothing, Mom. Just watching a movie while Dani makes breakfast.”
“Let me guess, you boys are just going to sit here and let Danielle do all of the work.”
“We cook about as well as Tanner,” Greg spoke up.
“Don’t you start with me, Gregory. I know that you are quite capable in the kitchen. Tell Danielle I’ll be out in a few minutes to help her.”
The bathroom door at the end of the hallway shut, and I let my focus return to the movie. At least, until Colin turned to me.
“Are you ready for today?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be. I just hope she’s not mad that I got it.”
Greg shook his head. “She won’t be.”
There was a knock on the door at the same time my mother emerged from the hallway. Getting up, I went to answer it. On the other side of the door was Dani’s brother, Liam, followed quickly by her parents. Liam held his hand out for me to shake.
“Merry Christmas,” he said, using his hand to pull me into a hug.
“Merry Christmas, man.” I returned his hug, appreciating how far Liam and I had come since I first met him. Christmas just seemed like the perfe
ct time to reflect on those things.
“Tanner, come here and give me a hug,” Nancy, Dani’s mom, said.
Letting go, Liam rolled his eyes at his mom and stepped into the apartment to talk to Colin and Greg.
“Merry Christmas.” Her hug practically squeezed the life out of me. What was it with mothers and them ignoring the need for people to breathe.
“Merry Christmas, Mrs. Renton.”
She stepped back. “How many times do I have to tell you, it’s Nancy. There will be none of this Mrs. Renton stuff.”
“Yes, Nancy. Come in.” I led her over to where my mom was waiting patiently by the couch. “Mom, I want to introduce you to Danielle’s mom and dad, Nancy and Sean Renton.”
Sean joined us and held out his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Please call me Sean.”
“It’s so nice to meet both of you. My husband should be out in a few minutes. And please, call me Kathy.” Mom turned to Nancy.
“Nancy,” her mom said, also shaking her hand.
“I was just about to go and help Danielle with breakfast, since my son is no use in the kitchen.”
“Ah yes, we know all about Tanner’s cooking skills,” Nancy laughed, my mom joining in.
“I’d love to help. We can let the boys hang out.” Nancy glanced over in the direction of Greg and Colin.
“Merry Christmas, boys.”
“Merry Christmas,” they said at the same time.
Her gazed focused on the TV. “Oh, that has to be the worst movie of all time. How can you guys watch that?”
“Like mother like daughter,” Colin said.
Nancy rolled her eyes, and after depositing her bags into my hands, she followed my mom into the kitchen. The rest of us took seats in the living room, watching the movie. The conversation around me was mainly about presents and family, but my nerves were shot. If I could have given her the gift right away, I would have. There were so many questions in my head about whether or not I had done the right thing.
Dani came out of the kitchen a few minutes later.
“Hey, loser,” she said, walking up to give her Dad and Liam a hug.
“Look who’s talking,” Liam said, giving her hair a quick ruffle.
She tried to duck out of the way, but he was faster. “Keep that up and I won’t feed you.”
“You love me,” he said with a smirk.
“You’re lucky.” Rolling her eyes, she turned and went back into the kitchen.
With both of our moms and Dani working together to make breakfast, it didn’t take long for them to finish. It was a delicious meal, as always when Dani cooked. Pancakes, eggs, and bacon covered the table—and that wasn’t including the baked goods she’d made the last few days.
There was more than enough to feed the whole apartment complex. It was a good thing we’d invited Colin and Greg. Between the three of us, and Liam, we’d be able to take care of it all.
The further we got into breakfast, the less I tasted my food. Sweat began forming on my brow. Since breakfast had started, I’d done a pretty good job of not thinking about Dani’s Christmas present. Her birthday had been much simpler. She’d loved the white gold bracelet I’d given her. This time was different, and I knew I wouldn’t settle until she opened the little box I’d hidden under the tree. I needed to make sure it was the last present to be opened, just in case she flipped out.
By the time breakfast was over and we’d moved into the living room to open presents, I was in full-on panic mode. Thankful in her excitement, Danielle had no idea anything was different, but Colin and Greg noticed me fidgeting. Damn, I was acting like a girl. They both kept peering in my direction and smirking.
Assholes.
For crying out loud I was a freaking medic in the Army. In the field it was my job to keep my cool when everyone else was freaking out. Yet, the prospect of surprising my fiancée made me shake like a leaf. Besides asking Danielle to marry me, this was the scariest moment of my life.
Dani looked absolutely adorable. Sitting on the floor next to the tree, she’d taken it upon herself to pass out the presents to everyone. It was just like her to worry about everyone else first. We kept having to remind her to open some of her own things. Christmas had never been as much fun. Seeing Dani’s smile with every present she opened was everything Christmas should be. Then there was Liam, who would hold each box up to his head and try and guess what was inside. He had everyone in tears. It made me forget my nerves for a few minutes. That was, until I realized that everything else was opened and Dani had found the small box under the tree. It sat in the palm of her hand. Reading the tag she looked over at me and smiled.
“I thought I’d opened all of my presents from you.”
“Not yet.” I got up from the couch and moved to sit in front of her on the floor. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Caressing her face, I nodded toward the box and held my breath.
“Tanner, are you okay?”
“Yes, just please . . . open it.” The words rushed past my lips.
She looked back and forth between me and the box. My throat tightened and I pleaded with my eyes for her to open it. It seemed to take years for her to remove the paper and grasp the lid. Her brows drew together, looking at the key in the box. Slowly she lifted it up. She glanced up at me.
“I don’t get it.”
“Look at the keychain.”
Picking up the key chain, she read the word printed on both sides.
Home.
It took a moment for it to register, but her eyes widened and her head snapped up. “Is this what I think it is?”
The way her voice cracked made my hands shake. At that point I had a feeling that every eye was on me, the silence in the room settling over my nerves like a blanket of electricity.
“Yes.”
I tried not to flinch at my words, still unsure how she felt about it.
“Holy shit!” She launched herself off of the floor and into my lap. “I can’t believe you did this. When do I get to see it? Where is it? Did you buy it, or rent it?”
For the first time in at least an hour, I was able to draw a full breath into my lungs. I had to concentrate to keep us upright, much less pay attention. The questions rolled off her tongue so quickly that there was no time to answer.
“What’s going on?” my mom asked.
With the largest smile on her face, Danielle turned to her. “Tanner got us a house.”
“You did what?” her mom shrieked at me.
“I bought a house for Dani and me.” I looked over at Danielle. “It’s a fixer upper, but I figured we could work together to make it perfect for us.”
She jumped up, hands clasped in front of her, bouncing on the balls of her feet. “Can we go see it? Now?”
Standing, I pulled her into my arms. “We can do whatever you want.”
“Let’s go.”
* * *
We packed everyone into a few cars and left for the new house. Danielle was so excited that she was bouncing around the car, anxious to get there. The new house wasn’t far from where we were currently living and Danielle absolutely loved it. It was a small Cape Cod style house, with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. While the master bedroom was perfect with its own bathroom, one of the best features of the house was the fully remodeled kitchen. There wasn’t much I could do with that room, Danielle would have a blast in there. It was the only room that had been completely done prior to being put up for sale.
Another great feature was the fenced in back yard, already set up with a deck. All we would need would be a swimming pool. Roaming from room to room, oohing and aahing, our parents joining in the admiration. When everyone had had a good look around, we headed back to the apartment and enjoy the rest of Christmas day.
Later that night while lying in bed, curled up against my side, Danielle whispered, “I still can’t believe you bought me a house. You have no idea how much that means to me.”
“I�
��m glad you like it. I was worried that you’d be mad that I did it without you.”
She lifted her face to look at me. “You picked everything I love, how could I be mad? This has been the perfect Christmas.” She smirked up at me. “Well . . . almost.”
Before I could ask why, her mouth was on mine, her tongue slipping inside. Instead of trying to talk, I decided to help her make it the perfect Christmas.
Chapter Six
Danielle
AFTER MONTHS AND months of planning, preparation, and moving into a new house, the day we’d been waiting for was finally here. Everything was done, and everyone was in their place. Standing before me in the mirror, was a woman who was ready to tie her life to the man she loved more than life itself.
But while she may have looked calm and serene on the outside, the honest truth was that she was nervous as hell.
The white strapless dress, cut in at my waist, only to flare out again in layer upon layer of gracefully flowing silk, was the perfect dress, and so different from the last one I wore. It was simple and elegant all at the same time. With all of the butterflies dancing around my stomach, the woman in the mirror looked a lot calmer than I felt.
The silence of the room was interrupted by a knock on the door. It opened a crack to reveal Marissa, poking her head around the door. “You look positively gorgeous. Tanner’s gonna shit himself when he sees you.”
“Thanks . . . I think.” I laughed. Sometimes she had such an unladylike way of putting things.