Mistletoe Kisses & Christmas Wishes: A Christmas Romance Boxed Set Book Bundle Collection

by Leah Atwood

  She should just tell him. “Um. I’ve never really done this before.” She swept a gesture to all the people miraculously still on their feet out there.

  Cannon grinned. “Nervous you’re going to end up in a heap?”

  She pulled a grimace. “In a heap with a sliced up something or other from someone else’s blades.”

  “Well the slicing and dicing is highly unlikely to happen. As for the heap.” He pumped his eyebrows. “You’ll just have to hold on to my hand and let me help you.”

  Anticipation heated her cheeks despite her continued reservations.

  “And don’t worry. I haven’t done this since college, so if we end up in a heap it’s likely to be together.”

  She refused to even contemplate the image of them tangled in a prone pile on the ice. “Oh now you are just instilling me with confidence.”

  He laughed. Winked. “I do what I can for the good of humankind.” He pointed to the skates. “Want me to help you lace up?”

  “No. I think I have it.”

  Despite her assurance, he finished with his shoes before her and sat waiting. She tried to work faster. “Sorry. I’m so sorry.”

  “What for?”

  “You’re waiting for me.” The laces seemed to tangle in her clumsy fingers.

  Cannon was down on one knee with his hands covering hers before she could blink.

  She froze.

  He looked up into her face. “You’re doing it again. Acting like you’re less important than everyone around you.”

  “I’m not. I just didn’t want you to have to wait, is all.” She turned her focus back to the boot, intent on getting it laced up as quickly as possible.

  “Chelsea.” He touched her chin, stopping her movements once more. “It really isn’t bothering me to wait. Don’t be so hard on yourself.”

  She pinched her brows together. Had Aunt Flo’s impatience and constant irritation really swallowed up so much of her? She thought she was just being kind and thoughtful – putting others above herself. Her teeth clamped gently on the skin inside her lip. Maybe this man was just a little too good to be true.

  He squeezed her hands. “I’m not going anywhere. Take as long as you need.” He let her go then, and with the pressure off, the laces seemed to cooperate better and she was done in no time. She stood tentatively, surprised that it wasn’t harder to balance on the blades.

  Cannon waited just inside the gate on the ice. He smiled and held out his hand. “Come on. I’ll help you. We’ll go nice and slow.”

  She swallowed, knowing by the gleam shimmering in his gaze that the man was talking about much more than skating.

  Chelsea’s hand fit into his with the precision of a baseball into a perfectly broken-in glove. He felt her hand tremble as she gingerly stepped onto the ice beside him. A kid whizzed by with the speed of a light-rail and her gentle grip turned into a vice. He couldn’t stop a chuckle. “Easy now. You ever skated before? On rollers, I mean?”

  She gave an uncertain nod.

  “Well this is real similar. You just push off with one foot and let the other one glide.”

  “Glide. Sure.” The words were barely a squeak of audibility and he wasn’t sure he had any blood flow reaching his fingers.

  He faced her and took her other hand as well, giving her a gentle tug. She slid toward him and he backed down the ice in front of her. The farther they went, little by little her death-grip eased and after she successfully navigated the final corner of the lap, victory ignited her heart-stopping smile.

  He returned it. “Okay, I’m going to skate beside you this time around and we’ll go just a little bit faster, alright?”

  Carefully, he let go of one of her hands and eased himself over next to her. Her death-grip on his hand returned in full force. He resisted a chuckle. But despite his levity with the current situation, lingering at the back of his mind was a concern over the way her aunt had treated her.

  Many things about Chelsea suddenly seemed to make so much sense. She had the heart of a truly compassionate servant. Someone who ministered to others simply because it gave her great joy. Someone who truly listened to and cared about other people’s problems. But beneath that thin veneer, a deeply seeded insecurity had been planted. Doubt about her abilities. And always a question of whether a compliment was sincerely given. He would give anything to change that. But first she needed to see her relationship with her aunt for what it truly was. He might be jumping to conclusions, but what he’d seen tonight definitely constituted emotional abuse in his book.

  Let it go, Jones. Just enjoy the evening.

  Another couple of times around the rink and she was finally relaxed again. They skated slowly and talked about everything from who their favorite football teams were to what their favorite Christmas present ever had been. He tried to push away his concerns over her aunt, but he couldn’t shake the compulsion to talk to her about it once more.

  Before he could figure out how to bring it up, Chelsea glanced at the clock on the wall and gave a little gasp. “Oh! I have to have the shop open by six. I really need to get going.”

  He was sorry to see the night come to an end, but had known it was getting to be about that time. “Why don’t you just head on home and I’ll give Dixon and Rayne a ride to their hotel?”

  She looked relieved and yawned hugely as she nodded agreement. She probably just wanted to get home and fall into bed. Still, he wasn’t willing to let her go without the parting words that had been weighing on him. “Chelsea?”

  “Yeah?” She skated toward the exit gate.

  “At least think about what I said about your aunt. You’re right that I just met her and might be misjudging her. But if she speaks to you like she did tonight all the time, that’s not right and you should say something to her about it.”

  With a little frown furrowing her brow, she sank onto the bench and reached to unlace her boots. He gave her the space she seemed to need and held his silence while he took off his own skates. But when the silence stretched all the way to the counter where they returned their skates and out into the parking lot, he began to worry he’d overstepped his place. “Chels—”

  “It’s okay, Cannon. I will think about it. I just want to be careful that I’m not being disrespectful. I know she’s really gone out of her way for me and I’m so thankful for that. But you are right. She does talk to me like that a lot. I don’t want to be one of those people who demands their rights and expects everyone to serve them, you know? I really don’t mind being the one who serves.”

  His heart melted and before he thought better of it, he leaned over and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “That’s because you have a heart of gold, Chels. You really do. But it bothers me that she doesn’t love you.”

  “She loves me!”

  He thrust his chin to one side. “Does she?” He ticked a list off on his fingers. “Love is patient, kind, does not boast, is not self-seeking, is not rude or easily angered. Sorry to be blunt, but none of those things seem to apply to the woman I met. And Chels…” He stepped closer and touched her chin to ensure he had her attention. “You deserve to be loved. God loves us perfectly, but we need human love too. I just don’t like to see you being mistreated and taken advantage of. I want better for you.”

  She dipped her chin, but smiled her thanks, which gave him a measure of relief. Maybe he hadn’t stepped too far over the boundary of their newly rekindled relationship.

  “I’ll be by for a mocha first thing in the morning.” He squeezed her elbow and then opened her door for her.

  She giggled. “Oh good. I like it when good tippers make a habit of coming in.” With a cheeky bat of her lashes, she sank into her seat and pulled her door shut.

  He shook his head and laughed as she backed out of her space and disappeared into the night.

  Chapter Seven

  Wednesday evening, Chelsea left Flo’s Coffee Shop and paused on the sidewalk to stretch the ache out of her back. One of her workers for the day
had called in sick so she’d had to cover her shift. She glanced at her watch. Which meant she had just enough time to get to church for Bible study before she had to be back here to close up the shop for the night.

  She started toward her car and stilled when she notice Cannon leaning casually against it, arms crossed. He was watching her with a soft smile on his face.

  He’d come in this morning for a cup of coffee but after he’d left she really hadn’t expected to see him again today.

  “Hey stranger,” he greeted.

  “Hey yourself.” She wished her heart would listen to all the reasons she’d given it for caution and not beat with such joy simply at the sight of him.

  “Where are you headed? Can I talk you into dinner?”

  She stopped in front of him. Despite all the fleeting reminders of why she shouldn’t agree, she said, “Dinner sounds great. Then I was headed to church for Bible study.”

  “Mind if I join you?”

  Mind? “Not in the slightest.”

  They drove in her car to her favorite Chinese place and Chelsea couldn’t believe how quickly the evening sped by. Before she realized it, the Bible study leader was closing out their time in prayer and she and Cannon were walking through the doors of the church toward her car.

  “Hey you two, how about some coffee and pie at The Pie Palace?” Havyn and Levi joined them in the lot.

  Chelsea glanced at Cannon, not wanting to answer for him. He might have had enough of her company for one day.

  He grinned. “I’m game if Chelsea is?”

  She nodded, pleased that she wouldn’t have to say goodbye to him just yet. “I do have to be done in about an hour so I can go close up the store.”

  Just then Pastor Chad poked his head out the doors. “Hey Cannon? Can I speak to you for a minute?”

  Cannon frowned indicating he couldn’t come up with a reason why the pastor would want to talk to him, but answered in the affirmative anyhow. “Sure.” He looked at her. “Can you wait for me a few minutes?”

  “Of course.”

  Levi clapped Cannon on the shoulder. “Havyn and I will just head to The Palace and get us a table. You two come along as soon as you are free.”

  “Sounds good.”

  With one hand at the small of Chelsea’s back, Cannon directed her return into the warmth of the foyer of the church. She sank into one of the plush chairs and for a few minutes she enjoyed taking in all the Christmas decorations that someone had placed around the foyer. Lighted wreaths decorated with sparkling red poinsettias and snow white doves. A huge Christmas tree that stretched the full height of the two-story building, where people could leave wrapped and labeled presents that would be delivered to homeless people by a team of volunteers on Christmas Eve. Soft carols still filled the room with gentle Christmas melodies.

  Weariness settled over her. She propped her head against one fist and closed her eyes. She would just rest for a moment.

  The next thing she knew Cannon was shaking her awake. “Chels, I’m here. Sorry that took so long.”

  She pulled in a breath and stretched, glancing around to get her bearings. Oh boy, she’d fallen asleep hard. She swiped at her mouth, hoping she hadn’t drooled or anything embarrassing like that.

  Cannon grinned at her and reached down a hand to help her up.

  “What did Pastor Chad want?”

  He didn’t let go of her hand once she was on her feet, but turned and tugged her toward the doors once more. “We’d better catch up to Havyn and Levi before Levi eats all the pie.”

  Curiosity piqued her interest. Had he not heard her question? Or did he simply not want to tell her what the pastor had wanted? She thought about asking again, but then decided that it was probably none of her business. If he wanted to tell her about it, he would in his own time.

  She glanced at her watch. “Listen, I hate to rain on the fun, but I really don’t have time to go for pie now. I need to get to the store and close up.”

  Cannon winced and seesawed his hands in a weighing gesture. “Pie and ice cream, or closing up shop with Chelsea.”

  She laughed and smacked his arm. “You can just drop me off and then go eat with the soon-to-be Mr. and Mrs.”

  He leaned close and tapped her on the nose. “Not on your life. But how about this… I help you close up tonight and you agree to find someone to do it for you one day this week and let me take you up to Leavenworth for an evening. Maybe tomorrow?”

  She bit her lip. It would have to be tomorrow because they had the rehearsal and dinner on Friday and the wedding on Saturday. Aunt Flo wouldn’t like her taking time away where she wouldn’t be available to close the shop. But maybe what Aunt Flo didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her? Anna had worked at Flo’s nearly as long as she had, and with just a couple pointers would do a perfectly fine job of closing up. “Okay. You’re on. Better text Levi to let him know our plans had to change?”

  “I’m on it.” He sank into the seat on his side of the car as she slid behind the wheel. He sent off the text then whimpered exaggeratedly. “Please tell me you at least have something sweet to eat at the shop?”

  She laughed. “I think we can find you a muffin. Maybe even a frozen one. That would be like eating pie and ice cream at the same time.”

  He groaned. “Not even close. The sacrifices I make for you, woman!”

  Something warmed inside of her at that. Not many people had made sacrifices for her in her lifetime. Not many at all.

  The next morning, Chelsea climbed from her car and stumbled her way through the back lot of Flo’s Coffee Shop. A yawn of colossal proportions stretched her jaw and her breath frosted the gray morning air. There was something criminal about having to be up before the sun – especially when visions of a certain handsome blond man had plagued your restless sleep all night long.

  She rounded the corner, intent on digging her keys from her purse, and was almost to the door before she noticed—”Ted! What are you doing here?”

  He shrugged lackadaisically. “Your aunt called me and told me to report for work today.”

  “She did not!”

  Another lazy lift of one shoulder. “Call her yourself. She said you had overstepped and that I still had a job if I wanted it.”

  Anger hotter than a steamed latte surged through her. She thrust her key into the door and then slammed through it, sending the bell above clanging a warning. Storming to the tiny cubicle of an office in the back, she dropped her purse onto the desk, banged the door shut, and grabbed her phone. She didn’t care what time it was, Aunt Flo could just wake up and tell her she had to continue working with the man she’d fired.

  “Hello?” Aunt Flo’s voice purred like a kitten with a belly full of milk, the picture of calm and not a hint of sleepiness. She’d obviously been expecting this call!

  All of Chelsea’s anger drained into a puddle of betrayal around her feet. “Aunt Flo, how could you?” She didn’t care that her pain was obvious in her voice.

  Aunt Flo tsked. “Chelsea, you are nothing if not impulsive. You obviously fired that boy on the spur of the moment and for no good reason. We can’t have him bringing a lawsuit against us for unlawful release.”

  “Did he threaten that? Because I can document my reasons. And it wasn’t only because he tried to kiss me when we were alone together in the store yesterday morning!”

  “I’m sure you must be mistaken, dear. No man in his right mind would want to kiss you. You really need to come to grips with that. Now stop whimpering like a babe who’s lost its pacifier and get to opening up the store.” An emphatic click signaled that Aunt Flo deemed the conversation over.

  The strength left Chelsea’s legs and she collapsed into the office chair that was thankfully right behind her. Sometimes Aunt Flo’s cruelty knew no bounds.

  Her mind flashed to Cannon’s pleas at the ice rink. Maybe he was right. She probably should… What? What would she do if she didn’t work at Flo’s? She’d been working here since her sophomore year
in high school. Had skipped college. Had no other skills. Who was she kidding? She couldn’t quit. She had nothing to fall back on.

  And besides all that. No matter the size of her bark, Aunt Flo really did depend on her. She would be lost if Chelsea up and walked away.

  She closed her eyes and allowed herself just a minute to dream of being free. Free from the constant pressure to perform to a level where she wouldn’t be put down. Free from the constant need to keep the shields around her heart in place. Because it was times like this – times when Aunt Flo seemed to barge right into her chest and knock all the shields down – that Chelsea really felt the painful impact of so many hurtful words.

  She blinked hard to keep the tears stinging her eyes carefully bottled up where they belonged. Mechanically, she went through the motions of getting the cash for the till out of the safe, putting the tray of scones prepped the evening before into the oven, and starting the mixer for this morning’s batch of muffins.

  Each time she had to pass Ted, he had a little smirk on his face, and a subtle, but definitely arrogant, glint in his eyes that made her shiver.

  When Cannon was the first customer through the door after Jim and Rose, she couldn’t have been more relieved.

  He took one look at her and stilled. “What’s wrong?”

  The emotions that had been riding so close to the surface all morning welled up and pooled in her eyes. The man had a way of reaching right down into her center and honing in on everything she tried to keep hidden. It was so refreshing to have someone actually care about her feelings. But—she blinked hard—this was not the time or the place to deal with it. And yet, at the same time, she didn’t know if she could go all day with all this confusion bottled up inside her.

  Thankfully, Ted was helping Jim and Rose, so that gave her a few moments to chat with Cannon.

  He leaned into the space next to the till and took her hand. “Chels, you’re breaking my heart. Talk to me.” His thumb stroked over her knuckles.

  “Aunt Flo hired Ted back.” She tipped her head to where he was frying eggs on the grill and spoke the words so low she wondered if Cannon would hear them.