Hot for the Holidays (21 Holiday Short Stories): A Collection of Naughty and Nice Holiday Romances

by Anthology

  His grin widened and he tugged her as close as he could get her. "Can you imagine how much I adore you, Mrs. Taylor? How much I love you, and love sharing this house with you? How grateful I am every single day for our family, and that I have the chance to live my life with you?" It was the season for it, and he truly was counting his blessings. They’d both sacrificed a lot to get where they were. They had no regrets, only promises for the future.

  Allie pouted. "But someone insists on crashing my fancy Thanksgiving dinner."

  He let another chuckle slip out. She’d be over it as soon as she held her child. "Just one more place to set at the table. You ready to go have a baby?"

  The event she’d been planning and stressing over for weeks just got preempted by a wriggling bundle of impatience. Allie grinned as though it was no big deal. Her pains were definitely coming stronger than when he first arrived home, and things were getting serious now, but she’d relaxed and seemed calmer. Which was a good thing, since his stomach was flip-flopping, and his heart was about to pound out of his chest. He was long past his twenties; wasn’t even in his thirties anymore. What the hell made him think he was young enough to be a new father?

  He wrapped his arms around her and let the comfort of her hands on him seep into his soul. "I love you, sweetheart. And you’re beautiful. The most amazing woman I know, and one helluva mom. You’ve got this."

  Allie grinned again and laid her palms against his cheeks. His whiskers prickled him beneath her stroking thumbs. "You’re so sweet to me, Jake. The best guy a girl could ask for. And such a great daddy." She gave her head a decisive nod. "I think we should go now."

  She took a sudden gulp of air and clung to his shoulders as she doubled over and rode out the next wave of pain. As soon as she seemed able, he turned her around and got her headed toward the front door. "Good plan, babe. No more messing around."

  They emerged from the hallway to find Ryan just ending a call in the kitchen. The twins were still strapped in their chairs. Allie detoured toward them to kiss them good-bye, while Jake followed closely. He lifted a brow. "Was that Trey? Are they on their way?"

  Ryan lifted a shoulder and shook his head. He turned away to lower Aiden to the floor. "Nope. Tess. Seems she’s on her way down a day early and not entirely thrilled to discuss it with me."

  Any other time, Jake would drop everything and let Ryan rant. But right now he had bigger fish to fry. He retrieved his phone from the counter, moved away from the kitchen and closer to the front door, where Allie was struggling into her jacket. He held it for her so she could thread her arm through the sleeve.

  She paused at the threshold to call back to her brother, "Ryan, if you’re not okay staying here with the kids, just call Mom and have her come over."

  Ryan snorted. "You kidding? Tess might make me want to jump out of an airplane without a parachute, but Mom will push me if I make her miss this baby’s birth."

  Jake laughed. Yeah, he might be right. "I’d say good luck with the rug rats, but it sounds like you might need more luck dealing with your ex." He nudged Allie out the open door. "I’ll call you when we know something. You know where we’ll be."

  Chapter Six

  Jake propped himself wearily against the headboard of Allie’s hospital bed and pulled his wife into the crook of his shoulder. It had been an endless night of drama and emotion . . . and very little sleep, followed by a day of even more of the same. She leaned in and sighed, and lifted her face to offer him a quiet smile. The room echoed with distant murmurings, and softened light filtered in the window through textured curtains.

  From the bundle perched on Allie’s shoulder came a delicate sneeze. She smiled and let her knuckle graze the baby’s delicate cheek before she went back to patting his back.

  "What are we going to do, Jake?"

  There were old tears in Allie’s voice, almost gone now, but hovering.

  He yawned, then pushed her curls off her face. "We’re going to do exactly what the doctor said, and Tadpole here will be just fine. A couple of days hanging out under the sunlamp and he’ll be good as new."

  It would do no good to tell her not to worry. She was a new mama whose baby wasn’t perfect. Of course she was concerned.

  The steady footfall of rubber-soled shoes in the corridor announced a newcomer’s arrival only moments before she appeared in the doorway. The middle-aged nurse paused on the threshold and then entered with a grin and a quick step.

  "Hello there, I’m Sylvie, your nurse!" She stopped to write her name on the whiteboard just inside the door as she chattered. She picked up the red and yellow markers and added a few cheerful hearts and smiley faces.

  Jake leaned over to whisper in Allie’s ear, "I bet Sylvie knows where they hide the coffee. When she leaves, I’ll follow her." Allie giggled.

  He winked. The bubble of her laughter released much of the tension trapped in his chest.

  "You look like a mighty cozy little family. Been busy around here, hasn’t it? Hope you’re getting some rest." The woman buzzed about the room, arranging this and that. "Pretty hard to do, isn’t it, when you’re woken every other hour to feed the little one."

  The baby let out a loud belch. Allie chuckled and stretched out her newborn son on her drawn-up knees. "I manage a little bit here and there. Jake’s gotten pretty handy with a bottle."

  A clear plastic bassinette waited at the far side of the room. Sylvie pushed it closer to Allie’s hospital bed. She stilled to give Jake a considering look. "I heard rumor about a dad who takes his share of feedings in the nursery so his wife can sleep. Mature fella. Handsome as that McDreamy character on TV." She gave him a pat on the shoulder. "Good for you, dad."

  He grinned. "I got to be there for the fun part; I figure I better help with the rest, too. Besides, she pulled most of the weight."

  Allie rolled her eyes and smoothed her hands over her still distended belly. "Literally. And it better all go away."

  "You’ll be the hottest mom at PTA." He kissed the side of her head, then pulled back the thin flannel blanket to admire his son in his T-shirt and diaper. Wispy spirals on an otherwise bald head, ten little fingers, ten tiny toes. Eyes alert and searching.

  It was the yellowish tinge to his skin that had his wife’s eyes red-rimmed.

  Sylvie stepped to Allie’s bedside. "Okay, mom, time to take the little guy back to his tanning bed. Let’s match you two up."

  She took a look at first Allie’s and then the baby’s wristband, then lifted the infant into her arms and met his wide-eyed gaze. "Thaddeus Alexander. That’s a mouthful for such a little guy. But I would have guessed you two for a pair. All that red hair’s a dead giveaway. And don’t get me started on those beautiful curls of yours."

  Allie’s hand flew to smooth down her hair.

  Jake grabbed her hand and linked their fingers. "You’re gorgeous." Without Tadpole in her arms he was free to nuzzle her neck, let her hair float around his face and engulf his senses. Jesus, six fucking weeks. He’d never survive. He’d be counting the minutes before long.

  Sylvie popped up from laying Thad in his little bed and he froze—reminiscent of when he was a horny sixteen-year-old and his mom busted him feeling up Kelsey Slater in their darkened living room.

  Her eyebrows lifted. He shrugged. She was a nurse. She knew where babies came from. Sylvie chuckled and made a notation in Thad’s chart.

  Within minutes she had him wheeled out of the room for his treatment. Allie’s eyes followed them as they left the room and the door closed behind them. "I hate that he can’t stay in here with us. On the other hand, if everything was fine, we could take him home this afternoon."

  "Why don’t you go sit with him? It’s not as though he’s in quarantine. He just needs to be where the equipment is."

  Allie brightened and straightened to sit upright. "What will you do? They really only like one of us there at a time."

  Pass out on her bed. Go home and take a thirty minute shower. Both were tempting, but neither
were realistic. "I left my phone on the charger in the truck when we got here last night. I should get it and return some calls. If you’ve got everything under control, I could go to the office for a few minutes." She scowled at him and he scrunched up his nose at her in return. She shook her head and laughed, and he gave her a quick peck. "You’ve got me for the next four days, babe. You’ll be begging me to go back to the office by Saturday." It was the same old squabble, but with three babies in the house now, he should probably pass more of the workload to Nick . . . If he could get him to stick around on the weekends.

  The door crept open and Allie’s mom poked her head around to peer in. "Hello, darlings! I’m so happy to see you’re awake!" She rushed across the room and engulfed Jake in a hug, then threw her arms around her daughter. She was a petite thing, and had to stretch on her toes to reach Allie on the bed. "I just stopped by the nursery, and that Thaddeus is just the cutest little thing!"

  Good God, the woman was way too chipper! And, apparently, set on calling the tadpole by his given name.

  Jake hopped off the bed. "Katie, where are the twins? I thought maybe you’d bring them with you to see the baby."

  Katie pouted. "Poor Aiden woke up with a bit of a bug. Nothing terrible, mind you, just a little sniffle and a cough. I gave him a little cold syrup and then Addison started in—you know how she can get when someone has something she doesn’t have—so I put a dab on the spoon and let her have that. Now Sarah’s got them resting. Should be good as new in no time." She inspected her daughter from head to toe. "You look wonderful. Excellent! Now, tell me how you feel. You were so brave last night; a real trooper."

  Jesus, Addison would either grow up to be a self-entitled bitch or married to a prince. Neither was something he wanted to consider right now. "Well, you’re just in time to walk Allie down to the nursery to spend a little time with Thad." He loved his wife. Was quite fond of his mother-in-law. Was proud to be included in the birthing of his children. But no way in hell did he plan to relive the event every time someone new stepped in the room. All that moaning and grunting and screaming and tears…

  Maybe he was too old for this shit.

  His wife was beautiful. His children were precious. But the manner in which a seven pound newborn was expelled through a four-inch opening—he held in a shudder—disgusting. And that was a private opinion he’d take to his grave.

  Chapter Seven

  It was a clear autumn day, and Jake slapped his gloved hands against his arms for warmth as he strode across the hospital parking lot. It was hard to imagine that for a day and a half everything had been so out of control. It was the season to be grateful. And a guy couldn’t be any more thankful than he was that his wife was healthy and happy and that his new son was with them now and would be fine.

  He clicked his truck unlocked and retrieved his phone from the cup holder. What he wouldn’t give for a message from Nick saying he was on his way home. That’d be one hell of a halleluiah. He powered his phone up . . . nothing. Apparently, halleluiahs were reserved for Christmas.

  It had been a long night, and he’d told Todd he’d be there first thing to meet their new girl. He didn’t even care if the ink was still damp on her diploma, all he needed was her stamp on the edge of his blueprints and a few signatures, and he’d be ready to roll.

  He gave Ryan a call on the way home and learned Tess and the boys hadn’t stayed at his house after all. He managed to get home and take a shower without waking anyone. One small wonder in a day that would need a boatload of mid-sized miracles to work out the way he needed it to.

  He checked his watch as he headed downtown, where the office of Hernandez and Hanson, PLC occupied the second floor of a reclaimed historic building. The lobby seemed especially quiet. A phone rang somewhere in a back office. There was the low murmuring of a voice as someone answered it, and then only music streaming through computer speakers at a nearby desk. Classical, which was odd in this southwestern city where country western was pretty much a second language.

  The quiet tones of the melody were eerily familiar. At one time he had a passing knowledge of Bach—it was a time he’d rather forget. The harmony was soon overshadowed by the clackety-clack of high heels traveling across the narrow planked floors. The measured gait of feminine footsteps came from behind him and slithered up his spine. He closed his eyes. No.

  "Hello, Jake."

  Honeysuckle and magnolia seeped through her voice. Fuck no.

  He made a slow one-eighty and came face to face with the Wicked Bitch of the West. No wonder he hadn’t noticed her car. This one would have ridden in on her broom.

  "Michelle. Slumming these days?"

  She offered him a noncommittal smile and a shrug, and tap tapped her way closer to the unoccupied desk to turn down the volume.

  She lifted her gaze to meet his. "Don’t be ugly, Jake. Construction is down all over, you know that. I was lucky to have Todd bring me on."

  It was quite probable Todd was the one thinking he’d get lucky. If Jake had an ounce of respect for the guy, he’d take him aside, scare him straight. After all, Jake was the one who’d been one romantic vacation away from putting a ring on his relationship with this woman. The kindest thing she’d ever done was walk out on him before he had a chance to declare himself.

  But it was Thanksgiving. A time to be grateful. He was grateful to Michelle that he was living the life he wanted with the woman he’d loved since college. Michelle Lauder was a survivor. And she seemed to have smoothed her callous edge. He hadn’t wasted a thought on her in years. Why should he carry a chip on his shoulder?

  He let his lips turn up in a smile and found it was genuine. "I’m sorry things didn’t turn out the way you planned. You’re a go-getter, though. A real hard worker." And didn’t that sound sexy? Bet she wanted to hear that from all her exes. But grateful or no, it was the best she’d get from him.

  His eyes wandered around the office. Hers followed with a slight frown. The interior wasn’t a dump, but it wasn’t high-end, either. Nowhere near as nice as the office she had at her company that apparently went under. "Thank you. It’s not where I expected to be this year, but it beats sleeping in my mom’s guest room."

  She picked up the sturdy cardboard tube that his eyes had been flicking to since he walked in the room. She extended it to him. "These prints are all signed off. You should be clear to start your project on schedule."

  He reached for it and tucked it under his arm. It might kill him, but he’d wait until he was back outdoors to release a weighty sigh. "Thank you. You don’t know how much I appreciate your help." He was so relieved to have that disaster behind him, he didn’t even choke on the words.

  She had to know she’d held the power to sway the success of T-Squared’s new condo project, yet she waved him off like it was no big deal. "I heard you’re having a baby soon. Congratulations."

  "That’s right." He cleared his throat and let the grin that wanted to erupt spread across his face. "Thaddeus. We call him Thad. He was born last night."

  She wore that what if smile around the edge of her features, and he pretended not to notice. She’d saved his ass today, true, and right now he could kiss her bony toes. But he intended to protect the life he’d built with Allie, and the precious family they were creating together. In this season of gratefulness, he was thankful for so many things. Number one in this moment was that he could put Michelle Lauder back in his rearview.

  He made it to the parking lot without actually skipping. Kept his feet on the ground as he strode to his truck in long paces and climbed—leapt—onto the seat. The ridiculously deep sigh he’d wanted to let out since he first held the new blueprints finally burst forth. The incident had caused him so much stress over the past couple of days, and that powerful expulsion of breath felt so good . . . he did it again. Then he laughed out loud.

  He jammed the key in the ignition and checked the time on the lighted dash. Sarah would be with the twins by now, and Ryan should be at the off
ice. He’d want to know they were back on track. But first, Allie. A quiet sense of peace settled over him. When he felt this good, she was always the one he wanted.

  He engaged the Bluetooth and called his wife’s hospital room. No answer, but maybe she was still at the nursery. She wouldn’t have her cell phone with her, but he called it anyway so he could leave a message. At the end of her voicemail recording, he took a breath to collect his thoughts and then let them spill.

  "I wonder if I can ever show you just how much I love you. Not only because you make beautiful babies that you’re nice enough to share with me, but because you’re the kindest, gentlest woman I know. You’re what makes everything else in my life make sense. I’m almost done working and then you and the kids are mine for the rest of the holiday weekend, but more importantly…I’m yours. See you soon, sweetheart." It was probably over the top sentimental. She may even tease him for being corny. He could live with that. As long as he didn’t have to live without her.

  He cruised through morning traffic and was nearly to the office when the ringing of his cell phone interrupted him singing along with one of his favorite country artists.

  "’Lo." He answered absently as he changed lanes and exited the freeway.

  "Jake! What the hell, dude? I leave town for forty-eight hours and you’re on my ass like crotch rot. What’s so damn important?"

  Now he shows up? "Nick! Jesus, man, you take off and don’t tell me. Then I can’t reach you for days. I was getting worried." And pissed. But with one crisis averted, he’d settle for worried right now.

  Nick laughed. "If I wanted a wife, I think I could find someone prettier than you. Quit busting my balls. I didn’t have much notice myself before I needed to leave, and then I forgot my phone charger."

  "That must have been some booty call."

  Silence.

  Jake navigated the final turn into their parking lot and stopped in his reserved space. "Look, Nick. I’m sorry. I don’t know what you have going on and you don’t want to talk about it. Whatever floats your boat. But I have to know I can count on you being here."