Hell on Heels Christmas

by A. P. Jensen

  “After all we’ve been through you still haven’t made a choice?”

  The anger mixed with hurt made her insides bleed. “Brooks, I-”

  “You what?” he snapped.

  “I love you.”

  Something flashed in his eyes but he didn’t speak. She put her hands on his chest. She was happy back in White Mist and being able to help her mom gave her a sense of worth and purpose but Brooks made her feel alive and adored. She couldn’t lose him and she was done with running. She wouldn’t be her father. She wouldn’t desert her family.

  “I love you,” she repeated and let out a long breath. The scariest sentence in the world just came out of her and it was heartfelt.

  Without a word Brooks dragged her outside while she screeched as her bare feet sank into the snow. He faced her in the slowly falling snow and with a threatening look on his face went down on one knee. Her breath seized as he reached into his jeans and held up a sparkling ring that winked in the morning light.

  “We’re gonna do this one more time and you better give me the right answer this time.”

  He held her anchored by his side with one hand while he held the ring up to her, daring her to take it. She looked at his face. God, Brooks was demanding. He wasn’t content just to have her. He wanted all of her- mind, body and soul. Legally. He would never let her retreat and he would always stand toe to toe with her. He would beguile her into having their own brood of kids and when that restlessness came… then what? Brooks would sit on her until it passed. She had no doubt about that.

  “Take. It,” he said through gritted teeth.

  He was growling at her and still on his knees which made him look ludicrous. When she didn’t take the ring he grabbed her left hand and jammed it onto her ring finger. She didn’t struggle and the ring winked devilishly at her. Married to Brooks Hawking? Could she really do this? How could she not?

  Brooks let out a hiss and rose, hands going up to clasp her face in steady, hot hands. He looked into her eyes and kissed her once on the lips and then feathered kisses over her face. He was being very gentle but she felt him tremble.

  “I need you here with me. No one else will do. I’ll do anything for you except let you go. You should’ve known that once you walked back into town, there’s no way in hell I’d let you leave.”

  She chuckled and felt him relax. “Are you sure about this?”

  “More than I have been about anything else.”

  She leaned up and kissed him. It wasn’t one of those polite kisses that couples gave when someone proposed and the whole family took pictures and screamed and shouted. This was a raunchy, claiming kiss that had Brooks hauling her into his arms and scrambling back in the house. He laid her in front of the Christmas tree and followed her down. Their hands were clumsy from the cold but that didn’t stop him from getting her clothes off in record time. He pinned her hands above her head as he slid into her.

  “Say you’ll marry me,” he demanded.

  “I’ll marry you,” she obediently parroted.

  His eyes narrowed. “Say you love me.”

  “I love you.”

  “Then why didn’t you answer when I proposed? You like to see me down on my knees?”

  She brushed his hair back from his face and tightened inner muscles which made his eyes cross. “I was just imagining my life if I took that ring. You’re never going to give me space, always going to demand more than I think I can give and love me through it all, aren’t you?”

  He grunted in response and released her hands to grasp her hips. Lust fogged his brain. He was gone. He pumped into her and she let herself enjoy the ride. When they both climaxed and he slumped over her he grasped her left hand. She felt him playing with the ring on her finger and cracked open one eye.

  “By the way, Merry Christmas,” he muttered.

  She laughed until tears streamed down her face. “Merry Christmas Brooks Hawking.”

  “You mean it, don’t you?” he murmured. “You love me. You’ll marry me.”

  “You know this isn’t going to be simple, right?”

  “I don’t care as long as you stay with me.”

  She rolled towards him, threw a leg over his hip and kissed him. She put everything into it. “I’m staying. I love you. I’ll marry you.”

  The grin that covered his face made her heart melt. Brooks got up to make breakfast since he didn’t trust her without Valerie directing her. Regan watched the snow fall outside and felt her insecurities melt away. She chose her path and that fear of the unknown was suddenly gone. They ate breakfast and sat in front of the tree and gave each other their gifts.

  She got Brooks a much needed pair of work boots and jacket which he tried on immediately. He got her a new pair of leather stiletto boots which laced up the front. She stared at him, speechless.

  “I talked to Missy and I like how you look in those boots,” he said.

  Regan jumped him and they spent most of the day making love in front of the tree, pretending the outside world didn’t exist. Their phones beeped with voicemails and texts from neighbors and family which they ignored. It was a terrible shock when Brooks jumped up and reached for his clothes.

  “What are you doing?” she demanded.

  “We have to get ready for the party at your mom’s house.”

  Regan went cold with horror. “You still want to go to the Christmas party?”

  “Instead of having me call everybody, all you have to do is show up and tell everyone we’re engaged. Plus, we have everybody’s gifts here.”

  She felt almost ill with panic. Face all of her relatives and the town all at once and announce she was engaged to Brooks Hawking? She knew she would have to eventually but… all at once? Her ring caught in her tangled hair and she yelped.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Do we have to do this tonight?” She heard the whine in her voice but she didn’t care. “This is everybody and I’m…”

  He laughed in her face and leaned down and kissed her. “You’re a flight risk, I know, but I forgive you.”

  She shoved him away. “It’s not that. It’s the questions and the oohing and aahing and the when’s the date?”

  He cocked his head to the side. “Well, when do you want to get married?”

  “I have no clue! I’m not that type of girl!” she said, throwing her hands up in the air.

  “What type?”

  “The type that loves to plan everything and wants to fuss over who’s going to be a bridesmaid and shit.”

  He smiled. “So you want me to handle it?”

  She paused. “You want to handle the wedding?”

  “Our wedding,” he corrected. “And I don’t want to handle it but if I let you handle it, it may never happen so… I’ll do it.”

  She stepped into the shower and was disappointed when he didn’t join her. She said she’d marry that ass, the least he could do was coddle her since she had to go to the stupid party. As she showered and did her hair and makeup because she knew there would be family photos and despite it all, since she hadn’t been in one for ten years she wanted to look good. She planned to take a lot of pictures tonight and make albums and… She smiled at herself in the mirror. Everything would be fine because she was meant to be home, meant to settle down with Brooks. Restlessness would have to move onto someone else. She realized she was tapping her hand on the sink and froze when she heard the sound of metal and she saw the ring again. Her chest locked, a mixture of happiness, excitement and trepidation held her hostage.

  Brooks pounded on the door. “Why is the door locked?”

  She blew out a breath and unlocked it. “Habit.”

  “You better unlearn that habit. I don’t like locked doors.” He came in behind her, wrapped his arms around her and bit her neck. “You ready?”

  He was dressed in his new jacket and jeans. Brooks held her hand and gave her a pep talk as they loaded up the truck with everyone’s presents. He talked easily on the way to Valerie’s ho
use but it only made her more nervous. When they pulled up to the curb Max and Wade came out to haul in the presents. She kissed them and said an absent “Merry Christmas” as she stepped into the house and everyone rushed her. She took the cowards way out and pulled her left sleeve over her hand. After hugs, kisses and small talk one of Brook’s aunts stole her jacket and she saw Jean Charles and Johnny surrounded by a crowd of women. She made her way through to kiss and hug them both.

  “What are you guys doing here?” she demanded.

  “Well, since you’re celebrating Christmas and neither of us claims our family we decided to bum on your Christmas,” Jean Charles informed her. “Your mom gave us a key to the house so we can come whenever we want. She’s great.”

  “I can’t tell you guys how happy I am to see you!” Regan said and all of a sudden it felt like Christmas. Everything was right in the world.

  Johnny kissed her. “You listen to my demo?”

  She gave him a mock glare. “I’m not going to tell you now but you have no idea how much shit you got me into with that CD.”

  “Spanking?” JC asked with interest.

  She slammed their heads together and escaped to the kitchen where she knew her mom would be. She wanted to tell her first and she’d never been more nervous in her life. She paused when she saw Missy but that couldn’t be helped. Missy and her mom worked in a methodical, military like fashion during these events and everything was timed to a tee.

  “Guys?” Regan said uneasily.

  “Yeah?” Missy bit out.

  “I’m engaged.”

  They both froze and their eyes whipped up to her face and then her left hand. Valerie let out a whoop and Missy’s mouth dropped.

  “Hallelujah! I knew Brooks could do it!” Valerie hollered and hugged her, jumping up and down.

  Missy still couldn’t speak and Regan’s worst nightmare happened. Allison appeared in the doorway with Kerry and started screaming. People poured into the kitchen and the inevitable questions began with Missy finally finding her voice and pushing her way to the forefront with a legal pad and pen ready to take notes.

  “What’s your favorite season?” Missy demanded.

  Regan stared blankly at her. “Winter. I guess.”

  “Umm hmm. Okay. So we can plan for next Christmas.”

  Regan felt a trickle of panic. A whole year of Missy dogging her ass, wanting to make this into some kind of fairy tale wedding? No thank you.

  “I don’t want to wait,” Brooks said, making his way through the group of women. “Y’all know I’ve been waiting for Regan for years.”

  The women sighed and some brushed away tears. Regan couldn’t stop the grin that crossed her face as she watched him come towards her. He was sexy and hers and he was all kinds of slick.

  “So I was thinking we could do it tonight.”

  Gone went everyone’s smile, including her own. Tonight?

  “You’re serious?” Missy sounded as if she was being strangled.

  “Tonight?” Regan parroted.

  “Why not?” he challenged, draping an arm around her. “Everyone’s here. We don’t have to manage anyone’s schedule and we have a pastor here.”

  Even as Missy and her mom spluttered Regan began to see the appeal. Just get it over with. No bridesmaids dresses, no time to panic… She looked up at Brooks and found him waiting for her answer.

  “Okay,” she said.

  Brooks let out a whoop and kissed her hard before he walked to the entrance of the kitchen and hollered to the rest of the house, “She said okay. I’m getting hitched tonight!”

  The men’s cheers and relief was followed by the protests and whine of the women.

  Two hours later, Regan walked down the porch steps towards Brooks who stood beneath the tree where he proposed to her on Christmas ten years before. Max and Uncle Al escorted her to Brooks who stood straight and tall as Johnny played on his guitar and his voice filled the hushed silence. Regan wore her new laced stiletto boots with jeans and a leather jacket much to Missy’s horror but this was her wedding and as much as she loved her sister she couldn’t do the traditional wedding. She wanted it just like this. Casual, quick and on Christmas.

  JC danced around, taking pictures as Max and Uncle Al kissed her cheek and handed her over to Brooks who took her hand and squeezed. She felt him tremble and smiled up at him.

  “Dearly beloved,” the pastor began.

  The ceremony was quick and they said their vows beneath the slowly falling snow. It was magical and right and when they walked back into the house they ate the most delicious Christmas dinner. Regan sat in front of the tree and watched her nieces and nephews rip apart their gifts and throw themselves at her in thanks. There was a lot of smiling for pictures, Ron Kenoly playing in the background and Brooks by her side. She wanted to remember every detail of this night forever.

  When she and Brooks walked out to the truck she leaned into him. “I’m so glad we did that.”

  “No regrets? If you want, we can have a reception later,” he offered.

  She grinned. “That was exactly what I wanted. That was perfect.”

  “I called Max before we left my house and told him to invite Father Pat. If you didn’t marry me tonight I was gonna get your mom to give you the guilt trip about making me wait all these years.”

  She wasn’t surprised. Brooks didn’t waste time. Two months ago she walked into town, not knowing if she was going to stay or go and now here she was, married to her high school sweetheart and Brooks wouldn’t be satisfied with nothing less than forever. She had never met her match when she went out into the big world- he was always waiting for her at home.

  Brooks carried her over the threshold to his house and to her surprise, set her down in the living room under the glow of the hulking Christmas tree. He threw some pillows on the ground and got several heavy blankets to make a nest for them and dragged her down on the ground with him.

  “This is where you want to spend our wedding night?” she said with a raised brow.

  She didn’t mind but she was curious.

  “I’m hoping the Christmas tree is good luck,” he said as he unzipped her leather jacket.

  “Good luck with what?”

  “Making babies.”

  She slapped at his hand. “What?”

  “You’re fertile, right?”

  She gaped at him. “Did you just ask me if I was fertile?”

  “How many times do I have to tell you that I’ve been waiting forever for you, woman? God, I’ve been in this empty house for years waiting and I’m done. I have you and if you just so happen to get pregnant on our wedding night that would be awesome.”

  She held a hand against his chest. “What if I want to wait?”

  He frowned. “Wait for what?”

  “I don’t even have a job or-”

  “I have a great job, healthy savings and good insurance. I think we should have kids as soon as possible.”

  She wanted to be mad but she ended up laughing. “You won’t stop until you get what you want, will you?”

  He took her top off. “Nope. I want it all.”

  “You’re not going to wait and see if I’m a horrible wife, if I nag you all the time and I get restless?” Her question ended on a gasp when he sucked her nipple into his mouth.

  “No,” he muttered, the vibration of his voice sending shudders through her.

  “Oh. Okay then.”

  Epilogue

  It was Christmas again and Ron Kenoly still played in the background. Ripped gift wrap was strewn everywhere and Luke pounded Bobby with his new sword. Angel walked through the crowd, singing to herself while Sophie tried to figure out which pair of shoes to wear first. The same people floated in and out of the house and Regan craned her neck, trying to keep track of her three month old son who was being passed around like a money basket at church.

  “He’s fine,” Brooks said, rubbing her back.

  “I know but,” she fretted.

&nb
sp; “But nothing,” he chided.

  Regan rolled her eyes when she saw her son’s godfathers, JC and Johnny fighting over him. Her son’s green eyes were alight as he listened to them argue. He pulled on Johnny’s earring which caused him to yelp and JC whisked him away. Missy was pregnant with her third child and Guy was watching warily since her temper was a thing to be feared. Holly was slapping a cookie out of Max’s hand because she didn’t want to be with a “chubby man.” Regan narrowed her eyes as she watched Father Pat and her mom in the corner. Valerie was blushing.

  “Hey, I need to talk to you,” Brooks said and dragged her outside.

  No one was outside because the temperature was around thirty degrees but it didn’t bother either of them. He pulled her beneath the tree they were married beneath the year before.

  Regan made Valerie & Paula’s a resounding success. Paula and Valerie kept their store open in town for the locals but made most of their money through the internet. Allison was very much in demand and couldn’t be happier. Regan was in the process of getting other stores in White Mist online and loving every challenging bit of it. She was scared shitless when she found out she was pregnant but the birth of her son was the second best thing that had ever happened to her. Brooks was a great husband and dad.

  “I love you,” he murmured as he swayed her gently back and forth against him as they turned in a slow circle.

  “We are not doing it by the Christmas tree!” she said, knowing where he was going with this.

  “Oh come on! Don’t you want another one?”

  “Maybe next year,” she murmured as he brushed kisses over her face.

  “You’re scared of the power of the Christmas tree, aren’t you?”

  “Hell yes. No one should ever mess with the power of Christmas.”

  They laughed and swayed beneath the tree as it began to snow. People mingled in the house, content to be together and celebrate this time of year and all the frustration and love that came with it. Regan had finally found her place in life and it wasn’t routine, easy or predictable but it was where she wanted to be. Regan wanted to be right here with Brooks and her family and she was content. The restlessness hadn’t returned.