A Hero Grinch for Christmas (4 page)

“With sarcastic comments?”

“You asked for it.” She stuffed the food into her mouth and chewed.

Chewing never looked so sexy. “Hmm.”

“Is that a good hmm, or a bad hmm?” she asked.

“It’s good.” He speared another bite. All his favorites were here. She even brought pie.
Apple pie.
He hadn’t had a home-cooked meal in what seemed like forever.

He peeked in her direction. She ate silently. So it took food to shut her up?

Several minutes later as he swallowed his last bite, he decided he preferred her chatter. She stood and carried her plate to the kitchen. He shoved his chair back and picked up his plate. Before he grabbed his silverware, she was back.

“You set the table and warmed the food. I’ll clean up.” She began to clear the table.

“I can clean up my own . . .” The words died on his lips when she spun to face him and slapped a hand on her hip

“You’d be amazed at the increase in temperature in here if you’d take that chip off your shoulder.”

“I thought we were getting along. We just had an enjoyable meal.”

“I could tell you enjoyed the food. And I guess you enjoyed the silence after you told me to shut up.”

“I
asked
if you ever did. There’s a difference.”

“You don’t like me.”

“I never said I didn’t like you.” He felt like an idiot standing here holding a plate arguing with a woman.

“You’re not only impolite, you’re cold to me.”

He leaned toward her. “You want me to get all warm and cozy with you?”

She seemed surprised at first. Then she smiled. “Well, now that you mention it . . .” She let her voice trail off.

His gut stirred. All he had to do was reach out, grab her, and haul her to his chest. Stopping himself cost brutal effort. He stepped around her and walked to the kitchen sink. As he rinsed off his plate, he heard her whisper.

“Chicken.”

But he wasn’t sure if she was referring to him or herself.

Talk about a pain in the ass. Dani closed the cabinet door and shook her head. Why in the world did she allow the man into her head? He was grumpy, testy, and rude.

Even so, he attracted her. The hollowness in his eyes made him appear lost, lonely. She never could pass up a lost puppy. She just hoped his bark was worse than his bite. He didn’t want her here. Although, she couldn’t be sure. Sometimes, his body language didn’t match the words coming from his sexy mouth.

She looked in the next cabinet. “Crap.”

“What are you looking for?”

The deep voice behind her made her jolt. Her cheeks heated as she wondered if he could read her thoughts. “Wine?”

“Follow me.”

Anywhere.

He opened a door she thought was a broom closet, and switched on a light at the top of a stairway. As they descended, she noticed the air held a significant chill. At the bottom, she looked around, surprised.

“A wine cellar,” she exclaimed in delight.

He grabbed two bottles and handed them to her. She glanced at the labels. Merlot.
A nice fruity taste. She wondered if this one had any chocolate flavor. And Zinfandel. Hunter swaggered down another row searching for something. “Here.” He lifted a bottle, read the label, and then picked up another. “This should do.”

“Are we having a party?”

“Why trot down the steps every time we want a glass of wine?”

Sounded good to her. “Nice cellar. Your uncle has a lot of wine down here.”

“Denny liked his wine, but most of what he drank came out of a box. A buddy of mine talked him into building this.”

Hunter’s mood had relaxed somewhat. At least he hadn’t said anything else about her leaving. As for the tension between them, she felt most of that was sexual. But he kept his distance and he still acted like a bear caught in a trap. Maybe the wine would loosen him up.

Once upstairs, he pulled two crystal glasses from a cabinet and the wine bottle opener from a drawer.

“So which one are you going to open?” Dani asked.

“I think I’ll save the
Pinot Noir
for tomorrow. This evening, we can be more daring.”

More daring?
Open that bottle.

“What do you consider more daring?” She knew very little about wine, other than burgundy and white.

“Sauvignon Blanc
. Since we had chicken this evening, I thought a fresh, crisp, aromatic wine is called for.”

“Whatever you say.”

He chuckled.
Actually chuckled
. Her own body relaxed at his pleasant mood, but the sound of his rumbling laugh did funny things to her.

He poured a splash of wine in a glass, then swirled the liquid around, inhaling the aroma. Her last date had done the same thing, intending to impress her. He couldn’t hold a candle to the sexy man who was unintentionally charming her now.

When he touched his lips to the rim, she couldn’t take her eyes from his mouth. She watched him take a sip, following the movement of his throat as he swallowed. Warmth rushed to her center.

He poured a generous amount into another glass and offered it to her. Their fingers brushed and she took a large gulp. If she thought the drink would relax her suddenly frazzled nerves, she was wrong. The wine was delicious, but his blue gaze heated her body temperature several degrees. Being stuck in a cabin with a man was igniting all sorts of sensual feelings.

***

Hunter added another log to the fire. A peaceful mood had settled between them. Every breath he took made her more aware of his presence. A man she knew she couldn’t resist if he decided to make a move.

Dani sat on the floor with pillows behind her back, leaning against the couch. Hunter settled beside her. As he spoke, she stared into the fire, taking quick glances at his profile. His face seemed softer in the firelight. Wisps of blond hair touched his ears, her fingers itched to smooth the strands from his cheek.

“My uncle moved to the mountains after his third divorce. His wife found a man with more money. The divorce court said she was entitled to half of everything. Denny got so mad, he fired up a chainsaw. Said half was exactly what she’d get. He climbed on top of the house and ripped into the roof.”

“He did not.”

“He did.” Hunter rested his forearm on his knee, the wine glass dangling from his hand. “He actually tried to cut the house in half. He hit wires, damn near electrocuted himself. Neighbors called the fire department. His wife called the cops.”

A comical picture formed in her head. An image of Denny on the roof with bolts of electricity shooting through him like a cartoon character. She chuckled. “Sorry. I guess it’s not funny if he got hurt.”

Hunter shrugged. “That was his nature. Tough old bird. He’d give the shirt off his back to anyone. But he had a temper, too.”

“He was proud of you.” She stretched her legs out, which had started to tingle from sitting on them too long.

“He died while I was in Afghanistan. I never even made it to the funeral.” Hunter’s fingers tightened on the stem of his glass. “He was in the ground before I found out about his accident.”

She wanted to comfort him and wasn’t sure how. “He didn’t linger. Henry talked to him on the radio every day except Sunday. Denny had dinner with Aunt Fay on Sundays. When no one heard from him, someone came out, and found him.”

“Why haven’t we ever met before?” He shifted.

She wasn’t surprised by the change of topic.

“About the time Denny moved here, I’d just finished college. Now I live in New York. When I came back for the holidays, I never saw you either.”

“That’s a shocker.

She turned to him. “Why do you say that?”

“New York is one giant step from a small village. Wyattsville’s population is what? Less than a thousand? You were raised here. Yet you decided to stay in the big city.”

The bright lights of the city had seemed exciting, once. As a young girl with big dreams, eager to see the world—well, it seemed so long ago. The thrill of her accomplishment had worn off. There were days when she thought, maybe she’d lost her mind for staying there.

“You make me sound like a snob.”

He shrugged. “If you prefer a mad house to this quiet place.” He took a sip of wine.

“I come back when I can, and I always spend December with Fay.”

“No wonder we never saw each other. My visits were between tours, whenever I was stateside. Usually in the summer.”

Unthinkingly, she placed her hand on his thigh. His head bent, and his eyes locked on hers—dark and mysterious, he seemed torn. More than his uncle’s passing bothered him.

“Will you tell me about it?” she asked.

“About what?” His voice sounded like gravel being crunched under his feet.

“What’s bothering you?”

Tension ensued, where his gaze turned from anguish to searing hot, then a harsh grunt sounded from deep in his chest just before he rose to his feet. His back muscles flexed as he braced one arm against the stone ledge above the hearth.

Dani took a deep breath. A comfortable moment where he almost acted like a human being, then she ruined it by pushing him. She knew she shouldn’t let it bother her. After all, he was entitled to his secrets. But when she saw someone in pain, she always tried to make them feel better. There were times when he infuriated her, Every time she got close, he moved away from her. Not anymore. She shot up, the wine sloshing in her glass.

“Are you always this unpleasant?”

“
Un
pleasant?” His jaw tightened. He placed his glass on the mantle and shoved a hand though his gorgeous hair.

“We’re drinking wine, talking, and then you go all quiet and turn your back on me.”

“You’re asking me personal questions.”

“We’re having a conversation.”

“Personal. As in
too
personal. And I have no intention of answering them.” He retrieved his wine glass and stepped past her. “Time to hit the sack.”

That’s it. Run away.
From her? Or his dark thoughts? She couldn’t resist another attempt to get him out of his bad mood. “Are you hitting on me? Inviting me upstairs?”

His heated gaze slowly and thoroughly scrutinized her. “If I invite you to my bed, sweetheart, there will be no guessing. I’ll ask outright.”

Dani’s fingers tightened on her glass.

As she watched his tread upon the stairs, she slowly released her breath. He was one sexy man. And his suggestive tone had butterflies dancing in her stomach. Hunter was not immune. The thought had crossed his mind.

Why was he fighting it so hard?

The smell of coffee hit her like a homing beacon. Umm. There was nothing like the first cup of coffee in the morning. She climbed out of bed, jerked on some clothes before she got cold, and did her morning ritual. Smoothing her hair, she followed the aroma of fresh caffeine. Hunter was busy at the kitchen counter, intense concentration on his face. Even with that grimace he looked damn good.

“Can I help you with breakfast?”

“I’ve got it.” He glanced in her direction, then grabbed a mug. “Want a cup of coffee?”

“Have any latte around here?” If possible, his frown deepened. “Just kidding. Yes, please.”

Grouch.

“You don’t laugh much, do you?”

“Don’t have reason to.” He shoved the mug across the counter.

“It’s Christmas.” And he was acting like a Grinch.

“Life is just fun and games to you, isn’t it?”

Where did that come from? Something was seriously bothering him. His mood shifts puzzled her, and brought out her nurturing instincts. When she was young, she spoiled her animals, and pampered every stray cat or dog she found. Hunter didn’t know it, but he needed some TLC.

“It can be,” she said cautiously.

His mouth tightened, making his jaw look like rock.

He’d just have to get used to her. She poured a dab of milk in her coffee and picked up a slice of toast. “This is plenty for me.”

Hunter leaned his jean clad hips against the counter, folded his arms, and studied her. She hated being under a microscope. When she looked at his eyes, they persisted. She took a sip of her coffee which burned her throat. Refusing to acknowledge her discomfort, she broke their stare and padded to the table, facing the windows on the back side of the cabin.

“Storm looks worse,” Hunter said. “You can’t see anything out there.”

“Maybe I should radio Henry again, just to let him know I might be here a while.”

He groaned. Or it could have been a growl. Who knew with him? She set her cup down.

“Don’t you ever get tired of frowning?”

He didn’t answer.

“My aunt always said, ‘If you see someone without a smile, give them yours.’”

“Looks to me like you didn’t take her advice.” he said.

“Huh?”

“You’ve still got it.” He leaned forward. “And it’s damned annoying.”

“Why should my smile irritate you?”

“You’ve got this happy-go-lucky thing going on. No one is that cheerful all the time.”

She should be annoyed at his loutishness, but she was getting used to his moods. And she’d already decided she’d cure him of his scowl. On impulse, she stuck out her tongue.

He choked, although it sounded strangely like a smothered chuckle.

“I heard that,” she said.

He pushed from the counter and turned his back.

“Don’t ignore me.” She stepped closer to him. “I heard that sound you made.”

“Nothing wrong with your hearing,” he muttered.

“No, there’s not. What’s the point of being miserable? You do that to yourself, you know. We all have problems, but you need to let them go once in a while. Good grief, it’s Christmas. Look at this place.” She glanced about, indicating the vast room. “Not a single ornament in sight.”

“I like it just the way it is.”

She placed her hands on her hips. “Of course you do,
Scrooge
.”

His hands fisting was the only sign of his temper. Then he just turned around and strode off.

Dani didn’t know whether to be disappointed or relieved.

***

“Look what I found.” Dani pulled a box labeled ‘Christmas’ from the top shelf of the closet nearly dropping it on her head. Excitedly, she flipped open the cardboard flaps and found an assortment of decorations. The ornaments looked old, nothing you would find in stores today. If she guessed right, these were family heirlooms. She carried the box into the spacious living room.

“If we’re going to be stuck here for the holidays, we at least need some decorations. And, there’s two more boxes in the closet.”

Hunter glanced up from where he was squatted by the hearth. “Knock yourself out.”

“Such enthusiasm,” she said. From his earlier attitude, she figured he wouldn’t allow her to decorate. She pulled gold and red ribbons from the box.

“Look at these.” Gold candelabras with white candles. She returned to the closet, dragging out the other boxes.

“What are you doing?”

The hair stood on the back of her neck at the sound of his voice so close to her ear. His breath shot a tingle down her spine. She’d love to lean into him, feel his strong body against hers. “I told you. There’s two more boxes.”

“I’ll carry them.”

“You get the big one. I can handle this one.” She grabbed the smaller one—something to keep her hands from grabbing his shirt and crawling all over him.

There were lights in the second box, and she pulled a strand out. “Wish I could hang the lights outside?”

“Besides the blizzard, have you seen how far the roof is from the ground?”

“Ever hear of ladders?” She shot back.

“Since you won’t be decorating outside, whether or not we have a ladder isn’t a problem.”

“Then I’ll just have to hang them in here.”

“You’re not serious?” At least he wasn’t yelling.

“A tree would be nice.”

He stood, that unhappy face as attractive as ever. “It’s freezing and you want a tree?”

“Yes.” She crossed her arms, accidently squeezing her breasts together.

His gaze dropped to her chest, then jerked back to her face. “You can forget it.”

She never used female assets to get her way. But with Hunter, she couldn’t resist. She gave her best pouty look, wetting her lower lip seductively. “You want to kiss me, or kill me with that ferocious scowl.”

He took a threatening step forward, but stopped as if he changed his mind. His molten eyes met hers. “I’m going outside.”

“I’ll keep the fire burning, and I’ll warm you up when you get back.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she realized how they sounded. He shook his head again, looking a tad confused, and cautious. She didn’t know what else to do. The man simply needed to let go of all his pent up frustration.

What would it take to make this guy crack?

Two hours later, she’d arranged the lights so the whole lower floor of the cabin glowed with Christmas spirit. She’d even hung red ribbons over the deer antlers with a strand of sparkling white lights, and above the hearth, greenery with bright red bulbs. The candelabra with lit candles sat on the mantle, giving the room a touch of grace.

The front door opened. Hunter stomped in, snow flying everywhere. He slammed the door and huffed out a breath.

“Here’s your damn tree!”

Her heart flipped. He did that for her?

God, he was handsome. His cheeks were red from the wind, snow covered his wild blond hair, and that adorable scowl obscured his face. She wanted to kiss him.

Instead, she burst out laughing.