Romancing the Holidays: Twelve Christmas Romances - Benefits Breast Cancer Research

by Crista McHugh

  Hollie poked her with an elbow. “It took me a while, but you’ll get used to being part of the doc’s family.”

  Maddy tried to imagine how it would feel to be part of a family again. She hadn’t forgotten her parents’ love and the happy memories of them together. Now the only family she knew was the Marines, and they were nothing like these warm, sophisticated people.

  “It’s just hard that everyone knows my past when I’ve tried to put it behind me.” When Maddy had to suddenly disappear while on her first assignment in Seattle to keep her cover, Assuming Maddy had returned to her life on the street, Angie had enlisted her friends to search for her. Because of their involvement, Dr. Walters had been targeted and kidnapped.

  “All they know is our parents died in a car accident when you were fourteen, leaving you alone to cope. And I’m assuming you ran away from a bad foster home. I was in two bad foster homes—one with a creepy older brother and another with a drunken father—before I decided I’d do better on my own.”

  “Yeah, pretty much the same for me. But I really like these people, and it’s embarrassing to have them know how I messed up.”

  “Yeah, you sure messed up. You joined the Marines and became some kind of Lara Croft character.”

  Maddy looked into Hollie’s exotic black eyes, which tilted at the corners. “Honestly, becoming a Marine was easier than living on the street. The expectations, structure, and gaining the respect of my unit really helped me get my head back together.”

  “It’s hard to find your way when you’re all alone. There are no easy decisions when you’re just trying to survive.”

  Maddy always felt wretched, knowing her parents would have never wanted her to suffer the hardships caused by their unexpected deaths. Oddly, talking with Hollie didn’t resurrect those painful thoughts. “I’ve never met anyone who I could talk with about living on the streets.”

  “Sometime you and I can compare stories. Hey, we were just kids. Look at you now. You are a fricking Marine who kicks ass. I bet you give Hunter, one scary Marine, a run for his money.”

  “Kind of.” Maddy grinned, thinking of how much attitude she had given Hunter as her commanding officer and fake husband. They’d originally met when they were involved in breaking up an ecoterrorist cell in Seattle. Because of their success, Colonel Dawson, their commanding officer, had directed them to go undercover as husband and wife to look for a possible ISIS cell. During the few weeks they’d pretended to be married, the hardened Marines found they couldn’t resist each other. For some reason, Hunter, rigid and by the book, saw right through her tough attitude. He didn’t judge her past. He just loved her.

  Thinking of her impressive fiancé, Maddy tried to repress her dreamy “I’m in love” smile.

  Hollie poked her in the ribs again. “You’re ruining my take on your Wonder Woman persona with that goofy smile. You know we think Hunter is beyond awesome for rescuing Dr. Walters.”

  Returning from the kitchen, Angie scooted next to Maddy on the other side of the couch. “What’s this about Hunter?”

  Even with his back to the room, conferring with the caterer, James immediately turned at the mention of Hunter, “Yes, do tell us how the handsome brute proposed.” He lowered himself into a sling-back leather chair. “Come on, give Uncle Jamesie all the deets.”

  As blossoming heat spread from her chest to her face, Maddy resisted placing the cool champagne glass against her burning face. She couldn’t admit that Hunter’s proposal had been in his usual gruff way.

  “Yes, how did my brother propose? He probably commanded you. ‘Second Lieutenant Maddy Jeffers you’re marrying me,’” Angie jested.

  Maddy laughed, the bubbles from the champagne tickling her nose. “Pretty close. I can’t speak about our last assignment, except to tell you we were undercover as a married couple.”

  “Now we have to know about the proposal.” James sat forward.

  “Well, Hunter said something like, ‘You and I as a married couple works. We should keep it up.’”

  Everyone laughed, and Maddy relaxed against the couch, savoring this moment before the holiday and good feelings disappeared with her and Hunter’s return to Camp Pendleton and their possible separation.

  In an unspoken agreement, they hadn’t discussed their next assignment or their careers as Marines. Like Hunter, she was struggling with the overwhelming sensation of needing another person. Both had learned from an early age to depend on no one. They let you down. Taking this big step left them both open to a lot of heartache. They both performed dangerous, life-threatening jobs in places most people had to Google. How could they build a normal life, believe in a future? It left self-reliant, controlling Marines feeling unsure and vulnerable.

  Dr. Grayce Walters stood and lifted her glass. “Maddy, James and I want to thank you for your service to our country. Neither of us had any idea of the personal risks you and Hunter take to protect all of us. To Maddy and Hunter.”

  Dr. Walters’s gaze probed deep into Maddy as if she perceived Maddy’s troubling thoughts about the future. “We want only the best for you both. You will always have a Seattle family, no matter where your assignments take you.”

  Angie stood with her glass raised. “Maddy, you’ve always been a sister of the heart. But by marrying my brother, you are now my sister in every way. Who could have known our geeky language skills would bring us together in Afghanistan?”

  Everyone raised their glasses toward Maddy and waited for her to sip. Overwhelmed by the praise, Maddy gulped her champagne.

  Hollie turned toward Maddy. “Language skills? You and Angie are Marines.”

  “Angie and Maddy were sent to Afghanistan because of their linguistic skills in Pashto and Dari,” James said.

  “I had no idea. Lara Croft with a brain.” Hollie winked at Maddy. “Awesome.”

  “Maddy and I didn’t know each other until we were sent to Afghanistan. Men aren’t allowed to speak with Muslim women, so we were sent to talk with them. We were there to build relationships and offer aid,” Angie said.

  James snorted loudly. “They were spies, trying to gather intel from the women.”

  Angie shook her head. “I don’t know where you come up with your ideas. We were there to build trust.”

  James crossed his legs, revealing red-striped socks. “That is always what spies say. I watch TV.”

  Maddy couldn’t contain herself. She burst into laughter. James’s description sounded like she and Angie were out of a Bourne movie.

  “And why is that funny?” James asked.

  “I don’t think Maddy is used to champagne, and the idea of us as spies might be a little dramatic,” Angie added.

  “James, dramatic? I don’t believe it.” Then Hollie popped one of the red concoctions into her mouth from her plate. “I’m sure you picked the food to match your shirt.”

  “Be careful, missy, or you won’t get your Christmas present.” James shook his finger.

  Angie raised her glass again and cleared her throat. “Oorah, Maddy!”

  Looking at everyone smiling back at her, Maddy felt the sting behind her eyes. She never cried. She was a Marine. “I really appreciate what all of you did, searching for me when I was undercover. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”

  Dr. Walters beamed at Maddy. “Tell us about your and Hunter’s wedding plans.”

  “Nothing fancy. We’re going to the courthouse on Christmas Eve with Angie and her mother. Then we’ll have dinner somewhere.”

  “What?” James’s voice raised an octave. “You don’t plan to invite us?”

  “James,” Dr. Walters said in a warning tone. “Maddy, you don’t have to invite anyone you don’t want to.”

  James continued to stare at Maddy. “Of course, you’re going to invite all of us. We’ve adopted you as family, and we’re not letting you pretend otherwise.”

  Family. She shifted on the couch, not knowing where to look or what to say. Her only family was her fellow Marin
es.

  Hollie smirked and elbowed Maddy. “I told you so.”

  “I didn’t think you’d want to…” Maddy struggled to find words but was given a reprieve by the chiming of the doorbell.

  The caterer opened the door for Aunt Aideen. Maddy was grateful for the interruption and hoped it would be the end of the wedding discussion.

  Aunt Aideen’s brusque voice echoed in the high-ceilinged space. “What have I missed?”

  “We just started discussing Maddy and Hunter’s wedding plans,” James said.

  Maddy found herself sliding down on the couch. Like a darn Marine sergeant with new recruits, James wouldn’t give up until he’d shaped up everyone.

  Aunt Aideen, with raven-black hair and strong, angular features, was decked out in a bright red caftan with a dark green necklace and dangling earrings.

  Angie, Hollie, and Maddy all rose when the woman entered the room. “Sit down, girls. No need to act like I’m visiting royalty.”

  Hollie and Angie laughed and sat down again. Maddy followed their lead.

  James handed a raspberry-garnished flute of champagne to Aunt Aideen.

  Aunt Aideen took a big gulp before handing the drink back to James. “What are you thinking, giving me this girlie drink? Where’s my Scotch?”

  “Well, you’re ruining one of my Christmas surprises.” He pointed to a colorful foil-wrapped package under the Christmas tree.

  “Do I have to wait the two weeks until Christmas day to drink my Scotch?”

  “No, of course not.”

  James nodded to the caterer standing behind the well-polished kitchen island. She immediately brought out a glass filled with a rich, amber-colored liquid. It seemed James had anticipated and prepared for Aunt Aideen’s insistence on Scotch.

  James sat back down in the chair and crossed his legs. “Maddy just announced that she and Hunter are going to be married at the courthouse on Christmas Eve.”

  Maddy wanted to disappear between the couch cushions.

  Aunt Aideen turned her impressive size and personality toward Maddy and wagged her finger. “Your marriage must be celebrated at my home on Christmas Eve. And my friend, Judge Thompson, can marry you if you don’t have a military person available to do the service.”

  Maddy had thought about asking Colonel Dawson, who had been very supportive of her, treating her almost like a daughter, but it was the holidays, and she couldn’t ask him to fly up for the ceremony.

  Aunt Aideen focused her steely gaze on Maddy. “I have a giant house with plenty of room for all the guests.”

  Aunt Aideen’s authoritative presence and powerful will reminded her of Colonel Dawson. Not someone to ignore or naysay. “But, ma’am, we don’t have any guests.”

  Aunt Aideen guffawed and took a big swig out of her glass. “I predict a real crowd.”

  “You have all of us.” James gestured with his long arms. “And then Hunter will want to invite his friends as well.”

  Maddy felt like a ship off its mooring, floating on a sea of unfamiliar emotions—caring, acceptance, belonging. She took a big gulp of champagne. Hunter never said whether he’d like to invite his friends, only that he planned to marry her as soon as he could. And he wanted this time together, just the two of them. He wanted her all to himself before returning to base.

  Angie, the traitor, added, “It would be great to include our group from the VA hospital.”

  Dr. Walters leaned forward on the couch. “Maddy, don’t let them railroad you into anything you don’t want.”

  Angie chimed in. “My brother and Maddy are Marines. They don’t know the first thing about planning weddings.”

  Since Maddy had never discussed her childhood with anyone, Angie had no way of knowing she’d always dreamed about her wedding. All she had left of her parents was their wedding picture. Her mother was beautiful and ethereal in a flowing white gown with her father tenderly smiling down at his bride.

  “Hunter and I were planning to get married in Seattle so Angie can be with us. We have to report back to San Diego for reassignment after the New Year. Besides, no one can plan a wedding in two weeks.”

  James puffed up. “Oh, ye of little faith. Listen, honey, I can do a wedding in two days if need be. And two weeks is hardly a challenge. But with the holiday…” His eyes shone with anticipation as he rubbed his hands together.

  “Tut, tut.” Aunt Aideen sat back in her chair. “James will do the flowers and the wedding clothes. I’ve got a great caterer. Marcello can do anything. What kind of food would you like?”

  Maddy’s heart raced at full speed, priming her to bolt off the couch, out of the condo—away from the party, away from the overwhelming feelings of everyone treating her like she deserved special treatment.

  Her voice came out shaky. “I’ll need to talk with Hunter.”

  “Hunter doesn’t strike me as the type to care about wedding planning…more like the wedding night.”

  Flashing on last night with an insatiable and tender Hunter, her face flushed, and she mutely nodded at James.

  Everyone stared at her, watching her face turn the color of James’s shirt.

  Needing to make a speedy exit but aware of her champagne buzz and the instability of her high heels, Maddy stood carefully and headed to the bathroom. She needed a little breathing space, away from everyone’s interested inspection.

  Chapter Two

  In the bathroom, Maddy splashed cold water on her bright cheeks, trying to cool her face and her agitated feelings. Everything in her life had changed in the last few weeks, churning memories of another happy time. Swallowing against the panic, she reminded herself she was no longer an orphan. But she had no idea how to react to the unexpected love and care surrounding her. First Hunter’s proposal and now people who wanted to share her wedding. It would take some getting used to for a woman who had been alone since she was a teenager.

  When she exited the shiny, black bathroom with its fragrant candles and matching towels, Dr. Walters was waiting for her in the hall. “I sensed you need a break away from the group and their plans for your wedding. How about we go into James’s study for a few minutes?”

  Maddy let out a breath she had been holding since preparing herself to face everyone again. “That would be great.”

  “Maddy, this is your wedding. You can have it any way you want. James means well. He and Aunt Aideen like to have their own way, though.”

  “They are both very generous.”

  Dr. Walters laughed, a laugh that exuded kindness. “That they are.” Dr. Walters opened the door next to the bathroom. The room was sunny and warm, with lemony yellow walls, unlike the black-and-metallic living room. “This is James’s man cave.”

  There was a large TV on one wall and two soft leather loungers in a light, buttery color. Bright-colored art of all shapes and forms covered another wall. No sports posters on any wall for James’s man cave.

  Dr. Walters spun one lounger toward Maddy and sat on the other

  “What do you really want for your wedding, Maddy?”

  “Honestly, I haven’t had much time to think. Everything has happened so fast with our reassignment. We want to get married as quickly as possible, so we aren’t separated by our next tour of duty. As a married couple, we may be given special consideration. Or that is what we’re hoping for.”

  “Then a fast wedding makes sense.” Dr. Walters smiled at Maddy. “Angie said since you’re a Marine you’re not interested in weddings. Is it true?”

  Maddy smiled back. “I wasn’t always a Marine. I was like all girls—dolls, coloring, dress-up. My mother painted my toenails and fingernails, brushed my hair, took me shopping. My father doted on me as his ‘little princess.’”

  “Your parents sound loving and wonderful. I’m sure they would be proud of the man you’ve chosen. Of course, I might be a little biased since Hunter rescued me from the kidnappers.”

  Maddy nodded. “My parents would have loved Hunter. I think they would have been hap
py by my choice of a challenging career and husband.”

  Dr. Walters gazed at Maddy. “You remind me of my sister. All energy and ready for a dare. I lost Cassie about the same age as when you lost your parents. She was my best friend and confidante.”

  “Hollie did tell me that you and your mom volunteer in honor of your sister. So generous of you.”

  “Volunteering is healing for both of us. So would sharing your wedding. We’ve become attached to you by all the stories Angie shared about you and her in Afghanistan when you were missing. And we all feel very indebted to Hunter for his timely rescue. None of us are military people, but we’ve had a small glimpse into your devoted service. And we would like to help in our way.”

  “But, but…” She shifted in the comfortable chair. Usually, she wasn’t the squirmy type, but today she was like a downed live wire, flicking and flittering.

  “I understand about not making a big deal about the wedding—to avoid any thoughts of ‘if only.’ No time to dwell on missing your parents on the very special occasion.”

  Maddy wasn’t avoiding anything. There was no need to stir up old feelings of never sharing her wedding, or any part of her life, with her parents. She just wanted to marry Hunter.

  “Have you thought about what your parents would have wanted for your wedding?”

  Maddy swallowed hard. She had never shared any memories of her parents before. They had been all tucked inside her heart, never to be opened so they wouldn’t come tumbling out and crush her with grief.

  “It’s hard to trust the future after your whole world falls apart,” Dr. Walters said.

  Maddy fought the lump swelling in her throat. “It’s hard to remember what my life was like before my parents died. I’ve only one picture of them on their wedding day.”