THE NEXT MORNING, I work out for two hours before showering and heading to the tavern at eleven. The first thing I notice is the transformation the place has gone through. Christmas decorations are everywhere. An enormous decorated tree stands in an alcove by the fireplace. It depresses me. Christmas always depresses me.The first Christmas after my mom died was hard. Joel and I made frozen pizza and watched games on television. No tree or decorations. My mom loved Christmas, and spoiled us no matter how old we were. Losing her in a car accident took the holiday spirit right out of us, and pizza and ball games became the norm. Joel and I kept up the "do nothing" tradition until two years ago, when Cami came into his life. I stayed in my room and let them have their holiday together, only coming down for the dinner Cami prepared. I ignored the minimal decorations that Cami insisted on, and went back up to my room as soon as I could. Last year, they invited me to their house, but I didn
DICK-FACE DECIDED NOT TO press charges, so there was no bail. My brother and sister-in-law are on a list of people who are not speaking to me, Danny being at the top of that list.I work out Saturday morning and run into several teammates. They can barely control themselves, and laughter breaks out every few minutes. I'm not laughing. I have no idea what came over me the night before. I barely remember my fist connecting with Dick-face's face. I do remember Danny yelling at me.How many times can one guy fuck up?I'm betting on a million, so I have a long way to go.I head home and swim laps in the indoor pool. My brother and I loved this house, or at least we did until my mother died. The love for the place returned slowly for me, but, by that time, I was an adult and the only running around I did was on a rugby field.Thinking about my mother doesn't help my current state. A twenty-seven-year-old man who seriously misses his mommy is pathetic. Punching a guy in the face is pathe
I DON'T HEAR FROM Danny the whole the weekend. When I arrive at work on Monday morning, I'm in good spirits. An hour after I open our headquarters, I walk out of my office in time to see Cami carrying Lilly in one hand and a large bag in the other. Joel, holding a fake Christmas tree, is right behind her. I recognize the tree. I'd given the two of them some of Mom's decorations when Joel moved out. The tree was the one that went in the pool house, for the winter swim party we always had when we were boys. I'm guessing it's now the team's tree.I walk over and hold the door wider for Joel."Thanks," he says after he's inside. He rests the tree on the floor. "Where should it go?" he asks Cami."Here, by the window," she tells him, and places the bag on the counter. She unbundles Lilly from her pink coat and hands her off to me. I remain silent as I take my niece and give her a kiss on the cheek.Joel hefts the tree again and moves it to Cami's designated spot. Cami opens the bag that
THROUGH TEXT MESSAGES, I arrange my date with Danny. I plan to take her to a steakhouse out of town, because my brother and I own the one in town. I don't need to impress Danny with the knowledge that I'm a business owner, because she's fully aware of it. Hell, the only thing I think she's ever been impressed with is my accomplishments on the rugby field. Having a date where the end product is a kiss at the door is different altogether.Neither of us work on Friday, so I'm taking her out Thursday night. As the week progresses, the weather turns nasty. It's not much better on Thursday. It heats up about ten degrees, which brings it to the low forties. This just about guarantees that the first snow of the season is moving in.I arrive at Danny's door ten minutes early. The sun, or what there is of it, is going down, and things on the weather front aren't looking good. The forecast said the snow would hold off until tomorrow, so I'm trusting that they know what they're talking about.D
AFTER WE ARRIVE AT the restaurant, I help Danny out of the Rover and place my arm around her waist. She insisted on leaving her jacket behind, and I don't argue. We have about twenty feet to walk and it will be warm inside. Even so, I take my sport coat off and wrap it over her shoulders. It's not much, but I don't want her freezing before we get inside. She's a bit wobbly on the heels and this makes me smile. I like that she went out of her comfort zone tonight.The steakhouse is warm and Danny hands the jacket back to me. The place is decorated for Christmas and I do my best to ignore it. The restaurant isn't crowded. I reserved a nice table in the corner, but we pretty much have our choice."Do you mind if we sit at a table by the window? I love the snow," Danny says as she gazes at the tables by the windows.I know she loves the snow, but I'm not sure exactly why. I'm more of a spring-summer guy. My dislike for being cooped up is one of the reasons, and the holidays are the othe
DANNY'S IS BACK TO being uncomfortable as soon as we enter the room and have a few feet separating us. I set the wine on the table and take the cake from her."I need a few minutes," she tells me as she turns to the bathroom door.I snag her hand and she looks back over her shoulder. "Wine, dessert, and only as far as you want to take this. I'm glad you're here, but there's no pressure."The panic in her eyes fades a bit, and then she gives me a grin that goes straight to my dick. "Don't worry, lover boy; I'm putting the pressure on you."I release her hand and watch her enter the bathroom and close the door. I grab two water glasses and carry them to the table. This is how my dates usually end, but this is Danny, and there's so much more at stake. She comes out of the bathroom, minus her shoes, which she's holding by the straps in one hand.She lifts them slightly. "I couldn't it take anymore."I gaze from her lips to her bare feet and walk closer. "You look beautiful in the dre
"Are you sure, Danny girl?"She nods. That's it. She doesn't speak. I slowly lower the bra straps on each arm and watch her eyes go soft. I step back and take the bra with me. She releases her grip on the waist of my pants. I bend slightly, and move them down until I can kick them off. My boxer briefs go with them.I move one hand to her neck and slide her hair aside, while my other goes to her breast. Both places are softer than fuck. Her eyes are large and dark, and she isn't looking away from me. I lower my lips to her neck, where it meets her collarbone. It's one of the many places I've wanted to taste all night.I breathe her in before I taste. Sweet honey and the silkiest skin I've ever run my lips across. "God, Danny." I kiss the skin and tighten my other hand on her breast. At her moan, my dick hardens. A slow throb settles in my balls, pounding to the beat of my heart. Her fingers grip my arms and her nails dig in. My lips travel upward, across her jaw, and finally to her m
WHEN I CAN FINALLY move, I situate us so we're laying in the right direction on the bed, with the covers pulled over us. Danny's head is against my shoulder, and I'm playing with her hair. I'm not thinking about tomorrow or making a quick escape. I'm thinking about how to keep her.I know she's awake. I'm afraid if I say anything, I'll entirely fuck this up. I keep it simple, "You okay, Danny girl?""Mmm," she whispers.I roll. Her head slides off my shoulder, and I rise on my elbow so I'm looking down at her. "Mmm's not a good enough answer." I pick up a chunk of her hair again, and let it slide slowly through my fingers.Just the sides of her lips tilt up. "I'm not as good at this as you are, Van."I tighten my fingers around the strand, and use it to turn her face toward me. "If you were any better, I'd be comatose." For some reason, I want to talk. I've never fucking wanted to talk. Fuck some more, maybe, but not carry on a conversation. "Thank you for wearing a dress for me."