Chapter 12

Danny grunted when a curvy body snuggled against his under the comforter, her ass fitting perfectly in the cradle of his hips. He tightened his arm around her, breathing in the subtle strawberry scent of her hair and kissing her neck sleepily.

“I think we should get up,” Mel mumbled through a yawn.

“Why? This is comfortable, and I enjoy being comfortable,” he grumbled, nuzzling her neck until she squealed and squirmed against him. He tickled her sides as she cackled, struggling to break free of his grasp, but he didn’t let up until she begged him to stop and nearly whacked him in the eye with her flailing. He rolled them over, pinned her to the bed, and kissed her soundly. “You sure you want to get up?”

She pointed past his arm, and Danny looked over his shoulder. “I think they’re hungry.”

Three sets of black eyes watched them from the foot of the bed, their tails thumping on the floor and ready to pounce. Danny tried to slowly break eye contact, but too late. Xena barked, and all three hounds leapt onto the bed, laying across their bodies as they licked their faces. Mel spluttered and grabbed hold Xena, scratching her behind the ears as Danny lay trapped beneath the other two.

“You just had to make eye contact,” she mused. She whistled, and all three jumped off the bed.

“I didn’t know that would trigger them.” He sucked in a breath as he lay flattened on the bed. Xena hurried over and nudged his head with hers, whopping him in the chest with her massive paw until he pursed his lips at her. “I’m fine, girl, I promise.”

“Your parents are probably up by now, too.” Mel dug around in the suitcase for clothes. “Why couldn’t you have a bathroom in here?”

“I just, you know, opened the window back in the day,” he teased.

Mel smirked as she tugged on her dressy dark jeans, red sweater, and black boots and tossed clothes at Danny when he didn’t get out of bed fast enough. He wasn’t going to complain. She was happy, ecstatic even, on the morning of a holiday she used to hate. If she managed to stay in a good mood the whole day, he’d call it a miracle and a job well done. A good mood today meant that tomorrow, when they flew back to New York and he told her the truth, she could remember the past week or so and realize he had the best intentions. People did crazy things for love. Waking up this morning with her in his arms, his body completely sated from the night before, there was no hiding from it any longer.

Danny loved Mel and would do anything to spare her from being hurt.

“Ready?” Mel asked after he finished slipping into his boots.

“Let’s go see what Ma cooked up this morning,” he growled.

Mel opened the door and the dogs took off first, sprinting down the steps to wait by the barn door until Danny slid it open for them to race out into the open fields. The crisp morning air barely affected him as Mel curled against his side and they strolled to the back door.

“Merry Christmas!” he called out as they entered, the dogs quickly following and begging Mel for breakfast. She grabbed the food his parents had bought for them and poured it into their bowls as Delcie rushed into the kitchen, wiping her hands on a plaid apron.

“I thought I was dreaming,” she said, pressing her hand to her forehead and over-exaggerating, clutched at her chest with the other. “But it’s true! My long-lost son is home!”

“Really? How much longer do you think you can guilt me?” he said as he hugged her close.

“As long as I can,” she said and hurried around him to hug Mel. “Merry Christmas, hon. Did you two sleep well?”

Mel laughed quietly as Delcie winked. “We slept perfectly. Thanks for the wine, by the way.”

“My pleasure. Now, coffee’s already out in the living room, and the cinnamon rolls are almost ready.” She took a hand towel and shooed them both out of the kitchen. David hunched over a small stack of presents under the tree when they entered and stood as Danny reached him. Father and son embraced tightly as Delcie called out from the kitchen, “No peeking!”

“Who are you warning?” David yelled back.

“The both of you,” she replied. “I know who’s in my house!”

“One time, Ma,” Danny whined. “One time, I peeked.”

Mel took a cup of coffee from the table and settled in on the couch. “What did you do?”

“I might have tried to open and then rewrap my presents one year,” Danny said with a shrug. “It would’ve worked too, but Ma’s got a damn eagle-eye for detail.”

“Damn right I do,” Delcie shot back from the kitchen, and Mel snorted into her coffee, covering her mouth as Danny planted his hands on his hips and glowered at her. “David! Sort out the presents, would you? Rolls are finished!”

David sighed and picked up several small packages. “If I didn’t love your ma so much, I’d have lost what’s left of my mind by now.” He handed a small one to Mel from him and Delcie then another to Danny. He held three more that he set in a pile he said was for Delcie, and then planted his butt in his recliner as Danny picked up the bag he’d brought in from New York. He set one on the stack for his parents then handed two more to Mel.

“One of these is from Cindy.” He sat on the floor by her feet so Delcie could have the other half of the couch.

“I hope it’s nothing like what she got me last night,” Mel whispered.

Danny’s arousal grew instantly, and he shifted his legs so no one could see. He had to make sure he picked up a few things when they got back to Westbend. He cleared his throat, and Mel cackled. “You’re going to get it later,” he promised.

“Rolls!” Delcie announced and hurried into the living room.

Danny dished one onto a plate for Mel and took one for himself. As they dug into their food, Mel and Delcie talked about Westbend and the inn she owned. Delcie wanted to visit, and Mel told her to wait until springtime when she could get out and enjoy the grounds more.

“I have access to several paths running back through fifty acres or so,” she said. “The lake is big enough to take a canoe out on, too, if you like to fish.”

David perked up. “Fishing, eh? We might have to make this trip after all.”

“I’d be happy to have you,” Mel told them both, squeezing Delcie’s hand.

“Right, enough chit chat,” David said and downed the rest of his coffee. “Dig in, everyone.”

Mel waited until Delcie opened her first one and Danny urged her to go ahead and tear into the first package, the gift from Cindy. She opened the box and held up a metal calla lily attached to a keychain with an inscription on it. Mel read it, and when Danny asked to see it, she tucked it away.

“Inappropriate,” she whispered when he tried to grab it.

“Fine, open this one next,” he said and handed her his. He had bought women he’d dated jewelry and trinkets all the time, but his hands never shook with trepidation, wondering whether they would like it. He chewed his cheek as she tore at the paper and popped the box open. Mel’s eyes widened and her lips parted as her fingers traced the glass pendant delicately. “You like it?”

“It’s beautiful,” she whispered, the words thick in her throat. “Can I wear it now?”

He grinned and took the pendant hanging from the thick black cord carefully from the box. She turned around, lifting her hair, and he draped it around her neck. “I thought it suited you.” He spread her hair over her shoulders, and she turned around.

She cupped his face and kissed him. “Thanks,” she whispered and kissed him deeper until Delcie cleared her throat and they broke apart, flushing. “Sorry,” Mel muttered, but Delcie shook her head.

“Don’t be, darling. I’m just wondering why you two are acting like there’s nothing serious going on here,” she stated. “Clearly, you’re both ready to march down that aisle and be done with it.”

Mel’s face slackened, and Danny held his head in his hands. “Really, Ma? We’re not exactly there yet.”

“That's not what it looks like to me,” she argued.

“We’re taking it slow.” Mel tried this time, but it was no use.

Delcie and David grinned madly from the recliner they shared, a picture of old love that had lasted decades and stood the test of time. Danny had always admired the bond between his parents, and if he closed his eyes, he saw a different couple sitting in a recliner by a fire, holding each other closely as their hair turned gray and their skin wrinkled. Without thinking, his hand reached out and held Mel’s left, running his thumb over her naked ring finger. He raised his gaze to hers and a glimmer of the same love flooding his body reflected back at him.

In time, she’d be ready to admit it out loud, and he would give her that time, however much she needed. Danny had found the future Mrs. Stone, and he might have to go through hell to keep her, but their love would be worth the burns.