Jingle Spells (21 page)

Chapter 7

A
lmost the entire clan was in Gingerbread, making merry and serving mind-wiping cocoa to the entire population, Noelle thought as she looked around her room. Dark wood glowed with a warmth so inherent to the place that it seeped into every nook and cranny.

She was going to miss it. The realization startled her, although she wasn't entirely certain why. Whenever she'd thought back on her life at the lodge, it had been difficult to remember anything other than the painful memories.

Today all the good ones flooded in instead. The few memories she had of her mother, a soft, lilting voice that trickled over her like the melody of a babbling brook. Comforting arms and shocking blue eyes that matched her own.

Moments with her father, his gruff exterior hiding the heart of a teddy bear. She was still angry with him, but Dash had been right. What he'd done had been out of love, even if he'd gone about it the wrong way. But, now that her anger had burned off a little, she could admit some of it was her fault. She could count on one hand the number of times she'd seen him in the past eight years. Whatever had happened between her and Dash, her father hadn't deserved to be punished for it.

And whatever happened now, she made a vow it wouldn't continue that way.

Turning her back on the life she once had, Noelle wheeled her suitcase out into the empty hallway and headed downstairs.

Her chest ached with the force of holding back the tears that wanted to slip free. There was a sense of déjà vu. The memory of leaving eight years ago melded with now. The difference was that today hurt more.

Why did it hurt more?

It was difficult to see through the sheen of unshed tears. And she was so lost in her own misery that she wasn't paying attention.

Her body slammed into something soft and solid. A high-pitched squeak blasted into the air. Noelle wasn't sure if she'd made the sound or if the person she'd nearly bowled over had.

Automatically, her body shifted to compensate for the change in her center of gravity. Reaching out, she steadied the woman, finally realizing she'd run into Merry.

The older woman blinked up at her with wide, unfocused eyes.

“Noelle, dear, what are you doing here? I thought everyone was in town.”

Noelle shook her head, and for some reason the kindly eyes moving softly over her from head to toe were her undoing. Everything she'd been holding back spewed out in a choking sob. Huge, fat teardrops flowed down her face.

Without thought, the other woman reached for her, wrapping Noelle tight against her short, plump body.

“Oh, sweetie. Everything's going to be fine.”

Noelle couldn't force words past the gurgling, shrill cacophony of her breakdown, so she just shook her head.

Merry's arms tightened around her. Her hands slipped comfortingly up and down Noelle's spine. She rocked them back and forth as if Noelle was a child and hummed a soothing melody beneath her breath.

Noelle had no idea how long they stood there, but eventually her sobs began to fade. The heavy weight of her grief and fear eased from her chest, leaving nothing but a hitching hiccup.

When the crying jag was finally over, Merry held her at arm's length. She looked deep into Noelle's eyes and smiled. “Better?”

Noelle nodded, not sure what else to do or say. She'd known Merry her entire life and liked the woman immensely. Who wouldn't? She was sweet and kind and Mrs. Claus, for heaven's sake. But they'd never been overly close. Until today. For some strange reason, Noelle wanted to spill her guts to the woman who reminded her of the grandmother she'd always wanted and had never had.

Merry's gaze dropped to the suitcase at her feet. “Going somewhere?”

“I'm leaving,” Noelle croaked out.

“That's a shame. Everyone's going to miss you, Noelle. Especially Dash and Gabriel.”

She shook her head, an echo of her earlier anger slipping back. “My father lied to me. He's been well enough to resume his job for weeks. Dash knew and didn't say anything.”

A sad smile flitted across Merry's lips. “Sometimes we do hurtful things to the ones we love, Noelle.” Plump fingers slipped across her cheek. “Lying to you was wrong, but maybe they had good reason. And at the end of the day, you have to decide what's more important. Are you going to let one mistake destroy everything? Are you going to let your own fears and insecurities come between years of history and love?”

For some reason, Noelle thought maybe Merry was talking about more than her relationship with Dash and her father, but she didn't understand enough to untangle the undercurrents flowing beneath the words.

“Do you love Dash? Do you want a life with him?”

Noelle swallowed and nodded.

“Then what are you doing standing in the hallway with your suitcase? You're a strong woman, Noelle Frost. You've forged and fought. You stand toe-to-toe with anyone who gets in your way. Why are you walking away from what you want without a fight? Again?”

Goose bumps spread across Noelle's skin. Merry was right. She'd looked some of the most dangerous criminals in the eye—murderers, terrorists and spies—without flinching. Why did the thought of opening herself up to Dash make her want to run and hide?

Not anymore.

* * *

The smile hardened across Dash's face. He'd been wearing the expression for what felt like days, but was probably only a couple hours. The lie hurt. When would this torture end?

He desperately wanted to get to his hot shop. Not so he could bury his misery in something creative, but so he could smash anything he could get his hands on into tiny, irrevocable shards of glittering glass.

But he had a job to do first. Beside him, Cole and Taryn had their heads bent together as they whispered to each other. Ethan was laughing and Lark was giggling like a schoolgirl. Their happiness scraped across his last nerve.

And Belle...his little sister was nowhere to be seen. The little shit had disappeared barely fifteen minutes into this PR farce. Her untimely disappearances were really beginning to piss him off. He was stuck here, miserable, so why the hell wasn't she?

Dash stared at the gathered crowd. The street was filled. The air rife with happiness and good cheer. Apparently the cocoa had worked, because not a single citizen mentioned the flying car. Although, he'd never doubted. Noelle was one of the most powerful witches he'd ever met.

Just the thought of her had him fighting the urge to double over in pain. He'd lost her. Again.

Determination twisted through his gut. The difference now was that he wasn't willing to let her go. If he had to follow her to D.C., camp on her front porch and tail her on every single job, he'd do it. He'd give up everything for her. Because she was the one thing he couldn't live without.

He was about to tell Cole he was leaving, but before he could, a disturbance erupted at the edge of the crowd. The sea of humanity split. People leaped out of the way as a swirling dynamo forced her way through. A few people grumbled. A couple squeaked protests.

Noelle didn't seem to notice. She had a destination in mind and she was getting there. God, he loved when she was on a tear. His body reacted even as he worried all that seething energy was about to be pointed straight at his head...and not the one that was excited to see her.

As if she could sense his scrutiny, her head jerked up and her gaze slammed into him. Her eyes roiled with emotions, but she was too far away for him to decipher the mess. Her skin was flushed pink and her shoulders were tight and straight.

He held his breath as she approached the platform a couple feet off the ground. Cole and Ethan had both spoken, expressing their appreciation for Gingerbread's support of Evergreen Industries and offering a toast—and a sizable donation—to the entire town. The PA system was now turned off, and they were hobnobbing with the important people.

Without even bothering with the steps, Noelle pressed her hands to the floor and vaulted up onto the platform. God, she was gorgeous.

Every eye was trained squarely on the mesmerizing vision of her. Not that he blamed any of them. He couldn't force his gaze away from the petite dynamo that halted in front of him either.

Noelle glared up at him, her eyes flashing in a way that had dread settling thick and heavy in his belly.

At least she'd bothered to tell him she was leaving this time. Not that that offered him any comfort.

Dash braced. But while he waited for her to utter the words sure to slice straight through him, the anger slowly drained from her face. Placing a soft hand against his face, she went up on tiptoe and pressed a gentle kiss to his lips.

That was not what he'd expected at all. His heartbeat stuttered in his chest, hope blooming even as he tried to tamp it down.

Pulling back, Noelle stared up at him, attempting to fill her expression with a harsh sternness, but failing miserably. “If you ever lie to me again, Dash Evergreen, I'll hurt you. And we both know I can back up that threat.”

Dash simply nodded, biting back a grin he knew would earn him some form of punishment.

Apparently satisfied, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her body tight against his.

“I love you, Dash, and have ever since you found me curled up on the sleigh. Do you remember?”

How could he ever forget?

He'd gone into the barn, already in the process of learning the job he'd one day take over. The place had been quiet and, he'd thought, deserted. Until he'd looked inside Santa's sleigh and found Noelle curled up asleep on the seat. Her skin had glowed perfect and pale in the faint light. Her dark hair fanned out across the dark red velvet.

He'd had to touch. He'd only meant to wake her. At least that was what he told himself. But the moment her warmth trickled into his body he hadn't been able to stop himself. The curve of her shoulder, the slope of her collarbone, her cheeks and eyelids and lips. He'd wanted to touch all of her, even back then. The need had been an interminable ache.

And when she'd opened her eyes, so vivid and blue...he'd been a goner. Especially when she smiled at him, all drowsy and flushed and tempting.

He'd started falling for her in that single moment.

“I love you, too, Elle,” he whispered, his voice gruff with choked emotion.

“You don't have to lie to me to get me to stay, Dash. All you have to do is ask.”

“Please, Elle. Don't leave me. Not again. I don't think I can survive without you.”

Brushing her lips against his ear, she whispered, “You don't have to,” and then punctuated the words with a sharp nip of his lobe.

He groaned and tightened his arms to crush her harder against his body. Damn all the people.

Somewhere behind him someone giggled. Someone sighed, a kind of perfectly happy sound. Cole and Ethan clapped him on the back. Gabriel's voice boomed, “You better damn well marry the girl again, Evergreen.”

Dash pulled back and grinned down into Noelle's perfectly blue eyes. “I don't have to. We're still married.”

The shocked expression on Elle's face was priceless.

“Elle didn't rescind her vows before she left. And I sure as hell didn't. I knew there'd never be another woman for me. The year and a day is long gone, so she's stuck with me whether she likes it or not.”

Her fingers tangled in the hair at his nape and tugged. “Oh, I like,” she said, right before her lips found his. The kiss left them both breathless. A cheer went up around them, followed by a loud cough when it went a little too long for public consumption.

“We'll discuss you keeping that piece of information to yourself, Mr. Evergreen, as soon as we get home.”

“Whatever you want, Mrs. Evergreen. I rather like it when you lose your temper.”

Elle made a rude noise in the back of her throat, passion and the promise of retribution glittering in her gaze. Her mouth thinned, and he knew she was about to start the argument early, but he didn't give her the chance.

Sweeping her into his arms, Dash stalked to a dark corner and apparated them both home.

He took his time undressing his wife, cherishing the way she looked at him, lust and love, comfort and hope all twining together in her gorgeous blue eyes. Dash felt the echo of those emotions pumping erratically through his own bloodstream.

She reached for him, slipping her soft hands beneath his clothes, searching for skin. The feel of her sizzled through his system.

Slowly, deliberately, she popped each button free, her gaze devouring every inch of his skin she revealed. No one but his Elle had ever been able to make him feel this way, desperate and deliriously happy at the same time.

Bending down, Dash used his mouth to worship her, memorizing and discovering every inch of her body until they were both panting, need held barely in check.

They'd been hot and desperate for each other for days. But tonight, now, was different. Better. Deeper.

Entwining their fingers together, Dash pressed their joined hands into the bed beside Noelle's head. She arched up to him, opening herself and offering him everything.

With the easy, deliberate glide of hard flesh into soft, Dash reclaimed his wife. Noelle met the moment with a soul-deep sigh of acceptance and wonder that did everything to make him feel invincible.

This amazing woman was his.

They came together slowly, milking each stroke, caress and kiss until they were both drowning in sensation, their bodies quivering with release.

“I'll never get enough of you,” Dash reverently murmured against her skin.

Hours later, weak sunlight was seeping around the dark curtains when they finally fell asleep, blissfully tangled together.

* * *

A loud pounding startled them both awake long before their exhausted bodies were ready. Dash groaned and rubbed at his scratchy eyes. Noelle vaulted out of bed. Her bare feet landed silently on the floor even as her hand groped uselessly at her side.