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

by Crista McHugh

  And at that precise moment, Julie carried out the dress. The frothy cloud hanging over the designer’s arm was just like her mother’s wedding gown.

  James beamed at Julie and then turned to Maddy. “What do you think?”

  She smiled broadly. “It’s perfect.”

  Chapter Five

  Maddy touched the fabric reverently. She had never imagined anything more beautiful or wonderful.

  “The simple lace sweetheart bodice will enhance your curves, but the textured, layered organza of the skirt is perfect.” The quiet, understated woman’s mouth curved into a smile that reached to her eyes.

  “The neckline will work wonderfully with the pearl necklace that Aunt Aideen is lending Maddy for ‘something borrowed,’” James added.

  “Maddy shouldn’t wear anything in her hair. Pearls will be the perfect complement to the dress. The sheen of the pearls against her dewy skin will balance the whimsy of the skirt,” Julie said.

  Angie moved next to Maddy. “You’re going to look stunning. And I can’t wait to see Hunter’s face when he sees you in this dress. The tough woman who can decimate an enemy—all girly.”

  James looked at Angie. “Maddy isn’t going to be the only one who will look gorgeous. A short, red sheath hugging your drop-dead body? You’ll be devastating, Angie! But, Julie, I’m not sure about Angie’s hair. What do you think—up or down?”

  Maddy was surprised at how often James, brimming with self-confidence on everything fashion, deferred to Julie.

  Maddy was glad that he and Julie were both brilliant in design and fashion since she had no skill in that area. She gave the same kind of focus to her training. She was diligent about keeping fit and battle-ready with daily martial arts and firearms practice. When it came to things like which flowers would wilt or which whites looked good in candlelight, she deferred to the experts.

  Julie stepped back and stared at Angie as if she were a painting in the art museum. Angie propped a hand on her hip at the careful inspection. “Her hair should be pulled back in a chignon to showcase her cheekbones. I have the perfect dangling earrings for her, similar to the ones for Maddy. With Angie’s natural beauty and height, I’d like her to have straight but elegant lines as a contrast to Maddy’s soft, romantic look.”

  Now Angie’s face was turning a bright shade of red. Maddy sympathized.

  “The wedding isn’t about me. It’s Maddy’s day.”

  James put his arm around Angie’s shoulders. They were almost the same height. “Maddy is the bride, but there isn’t any reason for you not to have girlfriend fun. Besides, Hunter told me he has invited a lot of his Marine buddies. Which is why you and I both have to look scrumptious.”

  Angie snickered. “I’ve had enough of Marines. They’re all yours, James.”

  “You’ve had your fill of Marines? Interesting!” He raised a brow.

  Angie punched James in the arm.

  James rubbed the spot. “That hurt.”

  “No whining from you.” Angie poked his chest. “I know you work out every day.”

  Angie and James behaving like siblings made Maddy want to hug them close. She had a family.

  Chapter Six

  Hunter spooned the juices over the roasting chicken, which would soon be dried out if Maddy didn’t get home soon.

  Hunter had learned to cook after his mother split for unknown territory to never be heard from. Cooking was a matter of survival. Either endure his father’s meals—cold cereal, microwaved TV dinners—or learn to do for himself.

  When he enlisted in the Marines, it had been a toss-up of what was more appealing: the regular meals or a means to escape the old man.

  He couldn’t imagine Maddy wanting to spend a great deal of time in the kitchen. But with their future assignments, who knew what they might be eating.

  He had never regretted his choice of career as a Special Forces Recon Marine until after today’s meeting. He had no control over Maddy’s next assignment, and a hollow dread was pressing on him. The FBI wanted Maddy to work with them. Her skills as a Marine, coupled with her linguistic skills, were a highly valuable combination for infiltrating terrorist cells in the United States, as she had demonstrated with their takedown of the ISIS cell.

  His skill set of analyzing intelligence and planning tactical surveillance and reconnaissance might influence the higher-ups to assign him to work with Maddy again. But he also was highly trained to lead men into combat. With all of the global conflicts, there was a good chance he’d be deployed overseas again.

  He was a man who looked at challenges straight on, but he couldn’t reconcile how to handle his intense need for this one woman. His detached, hard-ass attitude developed from his childhood was crumbling at the idea of being separated from Maddy for months.

  Could he make a call to Brigadier General Thompson and request a stateside assignment? Would Maddy resent his interference? He needed to discuss the possibility with her, but he was hesitant. He didn’t know how to express his struggle about the pending separation. And it pissed him off to not feel in control.

  He closed the oven and checked his watch: 1900 hours and Maddy hadn’t returned from the shopping day with the ladies. How could the women and James shop all day? Not that he wanted to know or think about the topic, only that Maddy was excited by the prospect. And whatever made Maddy happy made him happy.

  Accepting that Maddy’s happiness was vital to his happiness was part of the rub. How could he see to Maddy’s happiness if he wasn’t with her?

  Stirring the rice on the cooktop, he heard a car pull into the driveway, doors slamming, and then Maddy’s infectious laugh. At the sound, his negative hangover from the FBI meeting lightened.

  Acting like a teenager in love, he hurried to the front door, filled with anticipation at seeing Maddy. But he had never been in love, either as an adolescent or as an adult, and he wasn’t sure if he would become accustomed to this burning need of another person.

  He stepped out onto the front porch. James was helping Maddy out of a black Prius. James drove a red Beemer. Then Hunter spotted a driver in the front seat and his sister in the back seat.

  Angled over Maddy, James was tugging on one of her blond curls. A wave of primitive jealousy lifted the fine hairs on his neck. He was a damn cliché. Jealous over a gay man’s affection. James was becoming a dear friend to Maddy. Treating her like he did Angie, a kid sister he wanted to pamper. But somehow, his possessive male DNA was firing.

  James tugged again on Hunter’s favorite droopy curl, the one he loved to push back to watch Maddy’s bright eyes darken in passion.

  Maddy was batting at James’s hand and laughing. Catching the way James swayed on his feet, Hunter surmised the reason for their late appearance and the lack of James’s car.

  James tittered, “It’s a sobriety test. That’s what the state patrol do when they stop you. Can your curls walk a straight line?”

  Angie, hanging out of the back window, tried to poke James in the back. Definitely plastered, Angie, a way too serious Marine, was giggling. “James, I'll bet you a Lemon Drop you can’t walk a straight line.”

  “Honey, why would I want to do anything straight?”

  Demonstrating his own attempt at a straight line, a drunk James was the first to notice Hunter.

  “Uh-oh.” James made a little wave with his fingertips. “I think we’re in trouble.”

  Angie snickered. “No. He always looks like that.”

  Maddy, finally catching on to his presence, twisted quickly and then listed toward the car. “Hunter. I’m home.”

  Damn it, how much had she drunk?

  “It’s my fault we’re late.” James stepped ahead of Maddy who was bent over the car, making her goodbyes to Angie. Whatever she said to his sister made the women crack up in laughter.

  James moved forward. “Maddy and Angie had never been to the bar in the Four Seasons. And they had never indulged in Lemon Drops. Definitely a problem that needed to be remedied.”


  Hunter took the two steps down the mid-level rental house Angie had found and waited for his fiancée.

  Finished with her goodbyes, Maddy rushed over unsteadily and hugged him. “I can’t wait to tell you all about our day.”

  Hunter held her tightly, pressing her body closer. He pushed away her errant curl and looked down into her sparkling eyes, basking in their warm welcome.

  Angie, still hanging out of the window, barked, “Have I been transported to another planet? The hard-ass Marine who never stops scowling is grinning. I should never have drunk that last Lemon Drop because I’m going to start to believe in love.”

  Hunter, with Maddy tucked next to him, chuckled. Angie was right. Before Maddy, Hunter maintained his need no one attitude securely in place. But somehow Maddy had broken through his defenses.

  He was glad James had befriended Angie. With his and Maddy’s return to Camp Pendleton, Angie would be in need of friends.

  James tottered back to the car and leaned in the window, oblivious to the waiting driver. “Darlin’, by the way the men were drooling tonight, you will have no problem finding love.”

  A chortling Angie mimicked James’s drawl. “Darlin, that isn’t love.”

  James held his hands up in surrender toward Hunter. “I think I’m a bad influence on your sister.”

  “Except for tomorrow’s headache, it looks like Angie is having a fine time. And I’m glad you all enjoyed shopping.” He shook James’s hand. “Thanks for all the help with the wedding.”

  “Are you kidding? I’m in heaven. With my own Marine harem, I get to watch all the males salivate over these two gorgeous women. Unfortunately, none were drooling over me.”

  Maddy pulled away from Hunter and swirled in a circle. “Everything has been perfect today.”

  Watching Maddy’s pure enjoyment did something to his hardened heart. His need for her was as essential as rations and ammunition.

  He lifted the twirling Maddy into his arms and held her against his chest. “Goodnight, James and Angie.”

  James sighed loudly. “Oh, what I wouldn’t do to have a macho stud sweep me off my feet.”

  Hunter heard Angie say something to James but paid no attention. Maddy wrapped her arms around his neck; her hot breath keyed up his awareness of the beautiful woman…his woman in his arms. “You’re not supposed to carry me over the threshold until our wedding.”

  “I can do both. I like carrying you.” His voice was gritty with emotion.

  She snuggled closer. “Being a tough Marine, I shouldn’t like it so much.”

  Chapter Seven

  Hunter kicked the door closed and carried Maddy into the living room.

  “What is that delicious smell?” Maddy sniffed along his neck. “You smell wonderful and I’m ravenous.” She took little love bites along his neck, ratcheting up his lust. “And you taste delicious.”

  His body couldn’t get any harder, but his muscles clenched around her sexy body. She was off-limits. He couldn’t press his needs on her when she was inebriated.

  “We better get some food and loads of fluids into you, or you’re going to have a whopper of a headache tomorrow. How much did you drink?”

  Maddy kissed along his jaw then her tiny tongue made forays into his ear. “I had a glass of champagne at the Four Seasons. That’s it.”

  His hands ran up and down her voluptuous curves. He couldn’t stop touching her, torturing himself in the process. “But what about the Lemon Drops?”

  “I had a couple of sips of Angie’s. I didn’t need anything to enjoy the incredible day.”

  “You’re a tiny thing, but you got drunk on one glass of champagne?”

  She leveled her hands against his chest to look into his eyes. “I’m not drunk.”

  “But you were spinning in the driveway?”

  “I’m happy, happier than I can ever remember. I love you, Hunter Hines. I love you for being the brave Marine, your loyalty, your toughness, and your fairness. And most importantly, your gentle and accepting loving of me and my past. How can I not be happy?”

  Hunter’s heart sprinted. His voice roughened as his hands tightened on Maddy’s warm, inviting body.

  “You’re not drunk?”

  “No, I’m plain happy, ecstatic happy. But do you know how I’d like to end the perfect happy day?”

  She took his mouth, her sweet tongue tangling with his. By the time Maddy finished her scorching kiss, he was shaking with desire.

  His breathing and heart rate accelerated into the danger zone. He hurried to the bedroom. “Do you know how damn difficult it was to concentrate at the meeting today when all I could think about was you, you like this, wanting me?”

  Lowering her against his body, he took her mouth, pouring out all his hunger for her. He lifted her against his erection, squeezing her womanly flesh as he thrust his tongue into her mouth, showing her what he wanted. “I need you, Maddy, right now.”

  Maddy responded with fervor, sliding her tongue along his, at the same time moving sinuously against him. “I need you too.”

  It was too hard to let her go. He grabbed behind with one hand and pulled his t-shirt off. “Need you naked now,” he growled.

  Maddy sat on the edge of the bed and tugged her boots off, then pulled her turtleneck over her head. The sexy black lace bra showcased Maddy’s perfect breasts and her puckered pink nipples.

  His heart pounded. And in a flurry of Marine ready, Hunter stripped out of his jeans and boxers.

  Maddy’s cheeks flushed when she stared at his erect and ready body. She giggled. “You are in a rush.”

  “Only to be naked with you. Get moving, Lieutenant.”

  A tittering Maddy leaned over to release her bra. And like a horny teenager, he went to rocket blast-off stage with her luscious breasts freed of the bra. He had to feel her against him.

  He pulled her to standing and took her breast into his mouth, sucking and trying at the same time to unbutton her blue jeans. Maddy was no help, throwing her head back, arching to give him full access to her breasts.

  “Maddy, let’s get you out of those damn pants.”

  Maddy squirmed against him, trying to pull down her jeans. The feel of her hot skin rubbing against him pushed him the point of no return.

  He couldn’t take much more. He lifted her to the bed, tugging her jeans off. His chest heaved as if he had done a 250-pound deadlift.

  Maddy stretched out on the comforter. Her skin was dewy and flushed. Her bright eyes darkened in passion as she stared at him.

  He yanked the jeans off, revealing blond curls barely covered by a tiny piece of black lace.

  He took a deep breath, trying to slow down, but the feminine scent of Maddy’s arousal pushed him out of control.

  He covered her with his body, rejoicing in the feel of Maddy under him, smiling into his eyes. Bracing his weight on his arms, he tugged his favorite curl away from her eye. “Maddy, I’ll make it up to you. I’m sorry, darling, but I can’t wait.” Without any finesse, he thrust into her liquid heat.

  A panting Maddy drew her legs up and around his waist and arched her back. “Perfect. It’s perfect. You’re perfect, Hunter.”

  He tried to hold on, but Maddy’s breathless husky voice and her fingernails raking his back drove them into a quick but wild ride into oblivion with Maddy screaming his name.

  If he weren’t drained by his tiny woman, he would have jumped out of bed and twirled in a big circle.

  Chapter Eight

  Hunter held Maddy close to his side, her head cushioned on his chest. He should feel guilty for his lack of control in making love to Maddy. But by her soft sighs and deep yawns, he didn’t feel he had to apologize. And hell, he’d already accepted his need for Maddy wasn’t going to lessen.

  Maddy traced little circles on Hunter’s chest. “You’re a furnace—my personal body warmer.”

  “I think you’re the hot one. Woman, you burned me to toast. You liked me begging, didn’t you?”

&nbs
p; During the second time they’d made love, Maddy had been the aggressor, using her luscious lips to push him right over the edge. And his alpha male didn’t mind one bit. Could a man ask for more than to have his woman desperate for him?

  “I wanted to help you relax. Something is bothering you.”

  Hunter’s hand tightened slightly on Maddy’s arm. He should’ve known he couldn’t hide the truth from her.

  She leaned up on her elbow to have a view of his face. “I assume that what’s eating at you is about the meeting today. You were in a fine mood when I left this morning.”

  Hunter tucked his arm behind his head and stared at the ceiling, away from Maddy’s inspection. In the dim light from the bathroom door, she’d have difficulty seeing his face. “Nothing is bothering me. How could it be after the ride you just took me on?”

  Maddy climbed onto his body, her legs straddling his waist. “This is better. Now I can see your face.”

  “Maddy, you’re killing me.” Her heat rubbing against his stomach. “I don’t think I’ve ever said this before, but I don’t think I can perform.”

  “You damn well know what I want—the truth, Hunter. What’s wrong?”

  Yeah, his Maddy was no fool.

  He squeezed her butt, his large hands covering her silky flesh. “I love your ass. You might be a fit Marine, but you’ve still got some soft womanly parts.”

  Maddy batted his hands away. “Hunter, tell me about the meeting.”

  “I don’t want to ruin your perfect day.”

  She bent closer to touch his face along his bristly unshaven chin. “How can I have a perfect day if you’re unhappy? If I were unhappy, would you be happy?”

  “Of course not, but—”

  “Don’t say anything sexist right now. Tell me about the meeting.”

  “We can talk tomorrow. You need to get some sleep.”

  Maddy twisted the wiry hair on his chest. “Tell me.”