'Tis the Season for Love: A Charity Box Set

by Maggie Dallen

  “Well we did go on a date...” he murmured over her lips, continuing the kiss with a few flecks and nips. “What are your plans for tomorrow?”

  “Bachelorette party.”

  He grunted, lips still on hers, his firm grip massaging her shoulders. “Day after?”

  “Wedding Rehearsal.” Collette rested her ear over his heart. Yeah, she could hear his heart beating rapidly. There was no faking it. “My plus one is currently digging himself out of his mess. He probably won’t make it. You like free food, right? I wouldn’t mind having a close friend by my side.”

  “A close friend?” Jesse’s smirk stretched, challenging the statement. Collette smiled in their kiss. Misreading the situation, he licked her teeth. Oh. The kiss wasn’t going there. Oops. His bad. “Who do you want as your plus one? Jesse or Damien?”

  “Both. I underestimated you.” She wiped her lips, laughing.

  “For our next date, if there’s anything good on, Tuesday’s cheap night at the theatre if you’re interested?”

  “I’m very interested.” Collette peeked out the window, “I can’t believe he proposed. That’s so...”

  Jesse hushed her, “No talk about exes or other guys, period.” One point with his thumb and she caught on. He was the jealous type.

  “Good thing I still had that plus one for Kaylee’s wedding,” Collette said with Jesse seated beside her at one of the thirty round tables. Hidden under the cloth, he had his hand on hers, as her anchor in all of this. Her dreams of marrying first shattered, so his presence put her at ease. If a wedding was in their future, it would be a while.

  They agreed on taking baby steps with their relationship. It would take longer than she hoped for her parents to come to terms with her dating someone in a lower income bracket.

  His coat was draped on the back of his chair, and the shirt was not the standard long sleeve button-up. With the short sleeves, she could admire the ink along his arms. Thank goodness he didn’t own a tux; he was already devilishly handsome in his cheap suit.

  “Good thing I like free food.”

  “You’re not here for the free food.”

  “No, I’m not.” His attention turned to the bride, Kaylee, stabbing into her risotto. She blinked. Panting, her tongue wagging like a dog in July heat, she fanned her face. Her makeup was in danger of ruin. Beads of sweat beaded on her skin.

  Jesse slid out a near empty bottle of hot sauce and squirt a few droplets on his dish.

  “That’s not why you joined me either.” Collette grinned. She shouldn’t have basked in the sweet vengeance, not on her cousin’s special day. But did Kaylee have to flaunt her diamond ring and sweet dreams to that extent? Collette accepted the prank as his way of wordlessly admitting he was thinking about her. Kaylee gulped her entire glass of wine, water, anything she could get her hands on. Her husband rushed to her aid.

  “No. It’s not.” Jesse gave her his lazy grin, “It’s because I love you a Lottie.”

  “Are you ever going to call me Lettie?”

  He thought about it for a moment then shook his head, “Nope.”

  Collette smacked his shoulder, pausing at the tattoo. “Is that a butterfly?”

  “Yep.” He pulled up his sleeve, leaning in closer to show it off. All this time she figured it was a bird, but no. Her co-worker—no he was more—had a butterfly permanently etched on his body.

  He kissed her, gradually moving his lips to her ear as he motioned to the newlyweds, “You know, one day this could be us.”

  She turned to him, uncertain if he was serious.

  “Do you love me?”

  “If I say yes, will you stop stapling invoices to the ceiling?”

  “No guarantees.”

  Yep, he was husband material. She had to respect a man who was honest with her.

  There was a depth to his eyes as he admired her. His love was uncompromising—like his pranks, they were reserved just for her. Perhaps she wouldn’t have to wait much longer to confess her feelings, because she knew the second she would, he’d bend the knee with a ring-pop, pouring himself out in a cringe-worthy poem. Or worse, he would pull out a guitar from nowhere and sing it to her. Regardless to how, one day, the answer would be yes.

  But on this day, she had a surprise for him.

  “Good thing, your girlfriend comes from a wealthy family.” Collette peeked around his shoulder and nodded.

  “Good thing, I don’t care about...” his gaze followed hers, turning to the figure behind him. Jesse’s eyes widened, as his brother gave him a gentle tap on the shoulder.

  “Jaxson?” His baby brother was in a suit, the first time he had ever seen him in one since their mother had passed.

  Collette’s grin widened, but Jesse was flabbergasted with them. “You bailed him out. Thank you... I...” he was speechless, confused to whether he should hook his arm around his brother’s neck or kiss his girlfriend. “You didn’t have to...”

  Collette smirked, “It’s a good thing I wanted to.”

  Epilogue

  “Hey man, take a deep breath.” Jaxson gave his older brother a concerned look, as Jesse gripped the wheel. They had been parked by the waterfront for over a minute, but he was sweating from more than the July heat. Months had passed since Collette bailed Jaxson out of jail, but despite how easy it was to love her, the ring burned a hole in his pocket.

  “What if she says no?” In his head, one scenario flashed after the next.

  “Your girlfriend wouldn’t have gone the extra mile for me, if it wasn’t for you. She loves you, man.”

  “You went the extra mile for Nessie and look what happened there.”

  “Genesis and I are in the past. I’m a new man and I will find love when it’s ready to find me. I’m going to work hard this time, from the bottom to the top.”

  Jesse exhaled, but refused to step out of his car. He, instead, stared out to the lake. On the site, there were sheltered tents, tables, and chairs he, Ezekiel, and the summer staff had set up hours earlier. While Sophia insisted this be a proper staff appreciation event, Rowan still found ways to cut costs, like using his own stock. Thankfully, Collette had a say in the details, so the venue would be officially booked and would actually happen according to plan.

  “Coward,” Jaxson hissed playfully, as he hopped out of the car. He flicked on his shades to combat the blinding sunlight.

  Jesse hesitantly followed him. He needed his plus one for today’s event. “Just because she bailed you out, it doesn’t mean her family is going to put up with me. When I asked for her dad’s permission he laughed, then wished me the best of luck. Laughed, can you believe it?”

  “Uh yep. I work for him remember?” Jaxson picked at his lip as he distractedly peered off to the distance. They were headed towards the rest of the party, following the sweet barbeque aroma. Whatever was grilling smelled like it had been marinating all night.

  “Jax?” Brooklyn squealed from the distance. Before he could respond, her hug jostled him, knocking the shades off his face. “Oh how exciting! Hey, I know you just cleaned the pool, but I was wondering if you would want to join me later tonight.”

  He picked up his sunglasses, “You realize, I am your sister’s boyfriend’s brother, right?” Hooking them onto his shirt, he added, “And we’re at a lake.”

  Jesse elbowed his gut, the second Collette passed by preoccupied with meeting the requirements of her clipboard’s checklist. No hints.

  Jaxson gulped, “You know, I think they need help on the grill.”

  Jesse elbowed him again, “That was my excuse.” They hustled toward the food station, but Collette halted them, hand out in front of Jesse’s chest. She fought her smile, but Jesse caught it creeping up the corner of her lips.

  “No one is flipping any burgers. I hired a catering company, and the teens will be the ones packing up tonight.” She placed the clipboard on a nearby table. “You and I are going to kick our feet up and enjoy this.”

  Jesse raised an eyebrow, widen
ing his stance.

  “Well I’m impressed. You really nailed this event planning thing, huh?” Normally he would use this chance to tease her more, but his nerves had him clammed up. During their dates they had mentioned a life together, bringing her cat to his place, and how adorable their babies would be if they had any. He wanted them. However, he doubted her commitment to those same dreams when he remembered how often he had frustrated her prior to their relationship.

  “Anything we can help with?” hollered Ezekiel from the parking lot. His plus one, stopped dead in her tracks, when she recognized Jesse’s brother.

  “Jaxson.”

  “Genesis.”

  They both swallowed uncomfortably. With an arm wrapped around her waist, Ezekiel pulled his girlfriend closer to his side, but her attention was unshaken.

  “You look good.” Her lips rubbed together, but Ezekiel gripped tighter, attempting to fight this uphill battle.

  “Thank you.” Jaxson’s eyes gave the impression he was caught up in a daydream.

  “Have you... are you adjusting well? Are you with Jesse or—” Genesis had already started her plans on moving out, when Jesse found out about Ezekiel. So by the New Year, she was sharing an apartment with other girls her age. He assumed the push was finding out about the bail.

  Jaxson coughed into his fist, “Collette set me up with a job for her parents. There’s a house for the caretakers. It’s actually bigger than Jesse’s place. I like it.”

  Brooklyn waved in the distance.

  “Sometimes.”

  “No more stealing?”

  “Sometimes,” he repeated bashfully. “Only when this woman cooks something up.” He nudged Collette, “I’m going to miss her.”

  “Why?” Collette spoke up.

  Jesse wove his hand with hers and glared, unimpressed with his younger brother, over her head. “The decorations are lovely, why don’t we take a break? Shall we?” This was after all, supposed to be their staff party, the type where they could let their hair down and relax for once. In sandals, he led her to the dock, where they could choose between admiring nature, or their hard work from afar.

  Collette had been much happier in the months they’d dated. Jesse took her out for scenic walks around town and other activities they wanted to do. Without realizing it, she had lost the stress weight she had been carrying, but held onto her prominent curves, radiant in her summer dress. This day she fussed less over her makeup and left her hair free to be caught up in the gentle breeze.

  He gulped, staring at his bride. There was no second-guessing his feeling towards her and it was time to invite another woman into his life permanently. Like the message tattooed on his skin, ‘take the risk,’ he couldn’t back down now. Jesse kept his outfit casual with a white button up, showing off many of his tattoos. He smiled when he caught his girlfriend ogling.

  “Christmas in July, huh?” He scratched his trimmed beard. Turns out, she never had an aversion to facial hair, she had one to face bushes. In fact, this look paired with his short hair, was deemed too hot to handle, or so he teased.

  “It’s dumb,” she chided. “It’s not dark enough for the lights, there’s no snow, and—” he interrupted her critical thoughts with a kiss. “Thanks. I needed that.”

  He glanced up to the mistletoe bundle he held over their heads. When she smiled, he pulled her in for a deeper, more meaningful kiss, much like the first one they shared together.

  “I meant it, when I said you’re great at this. You could become a wedding planner.”

  She cackled, “That’s not my job. Why does everyone think I’m a wedding planner?”

  “Maybe because you could be?”

  “But...”

  Jesse dropped the plant, crouched down to one knee, and held out a simple band. There was one stone, but it was a fake. However, it wasn’t the materials that made this moment precious.

  “It’s my mother’s,” he whispered, struggling, since his tongue was tied, tangled with mixed emotions. “Would you like to plan our wedding?”

  Collette’s eyes brimmed with tears of joy.

  “I know it’s not much. I understand I won’t be able to provide the way I wish I could, so you’ll have to let me spoil you with extra hugs and kisses instead.”

  “Hugs and kisses sound nice.” She held her hand out for him to slide the ring on.

  Her comment boosted his confidence, but he took a deep breath anyway.

  “Will you marry me?”

  “Only if—” Jesse’s smirk cut her off. It was no surprise to him she would attempt to add conditions. A quick glance at her, and she swallowed her words. “Yes. But could you stop putting things in my coffee?”

  He slipped the ring on her finger, and hoisted her in the air, twirling with joy. Lowering her to the ground, he replied, “Too late, you already said yes.” His hearty laughter increased when she wrinkled her nose at him, “Yes is yes, just like forever is forever.” He puckered his lips and mouthed, ‘I love you.’

  “And I miss Mr. Wright,” she teased, bopping her finger on his nose, “but I love you too.”

  Want more holiday cheer, check out Evan and Bethany’s love story. Think church pageant chaos and matchmaking, that’s Love and BethleMayhem: A Christmas Novelette.

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