Page 81 of Run, Run Rudolph
“Tamara’s not. Hop in.” I put her window up again.
Kade, grumbling under his breath, crawled into the back seat. He grabbed the sides of our front seats and scooted himself forward so he was practically between us. “So, the surprise is for me, right?”
“What fresh, new insanity are you talking about?” Tamara snapped, not even turning to look at him.
Yeah, she definitely didn’t want a second chance, unless it was to bury him up to his chin in the sand, sprinkle his hair with bird seed and let the magpies and crows go at him.
I think I’d want to help her, if it ever came to that. Because seriously? How did I end up with such a self-centred brother? Did he really believe this late-night shopping trip was related to the fake Christmas surprise in Tamara’s barn? And that it was all for him? It made me feel guilty that our parents passed along all the brains in the family to me before he showed up.
“I mean, you know I think vitamins are the bomb.” He gestured to Jannifer’s store. “And here we are, even though you believe they’re an overpriced farce.”
“I don’t think they’re a farce. I just think?—”
“And tonight you need vitamins for an emergency.” He sat back, pleased with the belief he’d figured us out. “So, it must be a surprise for me.”
Tamara scrubbed her forehead, as if her knitted toque was itchy.
I glanced at Kade in the rearview mirror. Would he be able to tell that Tamara and I had kissed tonight? I felt a slow smile, curious how he’d react when he found out. It almost made me want to tell him. Almost.
I valued Tamara too much to subject her to his possible temper tantrum, though, because that kiss…
I wanted more. A lot more.
It had been like touching a live wire of bright white energy.
I’d felt something. Something I hadn’t felt in a very long time.
Chapter 23
~ Tamara ~
I didn’t know what Haden was thinking—as usual—but he was sporting a slightly evil grin. He shot me an in-cahoots look so tender and filled with affection that, even though I didn’t know what he had in mind; I knew I was game. This man was quickly becoming my ride-or-die, and I couldn’t help but wonder what something deep, meaningful and long-term between us might look like. Because although we’d only kissed a couple of times tonight, I felt incredibly close to him, as if this was a step we’d always been meant to take.
Haden was quiet, but protective. Understanding, but also willing to prod me along when I got worried and started to seize up. And most of all, he wouldn’t let me deal with a crisis alone.
A true ride-or-die. And, to boot, his kisses were heavenly, and his woodsy scent was something I wanted to bottle and sneak sniffs of until the end of time.
I caught myself leaning in, angling for a kiss, flinching when Kade spoke. How had I forgotten he was in the back seat? Then again, I realized that when Haden was around, he had a subtle way of eclipsing everyone, my focus narrowing in on him like some sort of homing beacon programmed deep inside my DNA. No wonder Kade got so loud and demanding around him. And no wonder he’d tried to push us apart with a few strategic lies. Haden was the man I was meant to be with.
“Sure is cold.” Kade rubbed his bare hands together.
“Get some gloves,” Haden said mildly, a sting of irritation in his tone.
“Dude,” Kade said, arms out. “Seriously? It’s the season for being nice, and all that crap.”
“It’s called a blizzard. Dress for it.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
Jannifer pulled up before the brothers could escalate their bickering to fratricide. Eager to escape, I braced myself before opening my door to the full arctic blast called the great outdoors. Some Canadians loved to go out in the cold, and found it invigorating and bracing, but personally, give me a thick blanket, a cup of coffee, and a book or horse magazine any day of the year.
“Ready to pay way too much for a bunch of ground up plants in capsule form so we can save Christmas?” I muttered, dropping my feet onto the snow-covered street. A wintery blast hit me and, despite my layers, I shivered. The temptation to give into Estelle’s urging, and make a wish to be warm was like a tauntingly sweet devil on my shoulder.
Haden came around to my side of the truck, letting his shoulder brush mine. “Next year, let’s take a page out of Char’s book and go to Mexico for Christmas.”
Unable to help myself, I smiled, filled with hope that something like that might actually happen. I knew it was just a passing comment, but the idea that Haden could be thinking about there being an ‘us’ in twelve months—a strong, travel together on couples’ trips, kind of strong… Well, it did funny things to my heart and mind.
“I’m in,” I replied with a grin.
