Page 61 of Run, Run Rudolph
“He’s…” I swallowed, unable to say his brother’s name after the way Haden had bared himself without even showing me anything. “He’s going to think we’re up to something.”
Haden’s voice was low, steady, and clear. “Is that a bad thing?”
I crossed my arms, feeling pinned by his heavy gaze. “You know what I mean.”
“You’re too good to him, and for him.”
I bit my lip, a little wobbly inside. I felt bad for the easy way I’d fallen into old habits, building Kade up, putting him first. I’d once thought that was how relationships worked.
I hugged my arms around my gut, feeling like a failure for not figuring things out between us sooner and for trying to placate Kade tonight. I wanted Haden to think good things about me. I wanted him to see me as more than just that much younger, too eager to please, naive girl I’d once been.
Haden was still standing too close, watching me as though he could read me.
“What?” I asked, an edge to my tone. Quite frankly, I hated what The Book of Tamara might be telling him right now.
He moved further into my personal space, and I forced myself to hold my ground. Everything this man did, he did with reason.
Gently and slowly, as if he was afraid to spook me, he brushed a strand of hair off my cheek.
“I think you’re amazing.” His right hand, warm and thick, found mine. He gave my hand a squeeze. “I don’t know how you do it.”
“Do what?”
“Hold on to your patience. You’re so kind, and strong, and generous with everyone. I literally have to clench my fists so that I don’t throttle him when he treats you that way.”
My lips parted, the words stuck in my throat. He made fists because he wanted to protect me? Stand up for me? Not because he thought I was frustratingly incapable of fighting my own battles?
His head tipped toward mine, our lips slowly lining up for what would I knew would be a spectacular kiss.
“TM, why didn’t I meet you first?”
I melted into his chest, completely overcome by the sincerity and depth of emotion behind his words. Our lips were drifting closer, and my heart swelled at the idea that Haden had a regret in life, and that it was about missing a chance with me.
The barn door slammed against the wall, and Haden and I jumped. A low, gruff voice carried across the room, “Santa! I have a report to file on these humans and their mistreatment of magical beings, including myself! I told Mrs. Claus and I’m going to tell you, too!”
Our would-be kiss was forgotten as the most annoying member of the North Pole entourage reappeared after a blissful absence.
Haden had sheltered me with his body when the door slammed, ready to protect me. Now we stood side by side gawking at Hugo. “Is that the elf?” he asked.
“I’ve been saving the best for last,” I said, my tone expressing just how peeved I was by the unwelcome guest’s interruption. “Meet Snarky.”
“That’s not my real name!” the elf snapped as he marched past me, coated in a layer of snow, and clearly near freezing.
“Snarky, meet Haden.”
“My name is Hugo!”
Using my best educational assistant voice, I said, “If you’re going to join us, you have to be nice.”
“I told Mrs. Claus you locked me up,” Snarky told me, brushing the snow from his pants.
“You could have gotten out at any time! And why are you half snowman?”
“I was hiding.”
“Where?”
“Under the sleigh that just crashed because of you!” He glared at me, waltzing across the barn as though he owned the place.
