Page 99 of Run, Run Rudolph
“Nerf guns?” I dared.
“Definitely.”
“Good, ‘cause that bow and arrow definitely sucked. Little Johnny would’ve been very disappointed.”
“Then, for the sake of Christmas, we’d better test something else.”
“Speaking of Christmas, we should also give Mrs. Claus ample time to cool down before we head back,” I added.
“I like the way you think.”
We ditched our winter coats, and Haden pulled on my hand. “Nerf guns are over here.”
Giggling, I followed him to the toy section, loving that I could see everything. Within minutes, we were armed and ready for battle, hiding behind shelves on opposite sides of the store.
“Ready?” he called.
I was already moving. I crouched low, my thighs burning, heart pounding.
I heard the release of his Nerf gun’s spring and the plastic chunk sound as a foam bullet fired. It hit my calf, just above my winter boot, stinging with the impact.
How did he move so fast? He was a blur of green. I caught sight and began firing, hoping for a hit.
He opened fire in return. Foam darts nailed me, and I rolled to the floor, splaying onto my back like I’d been taken down.
Haden knelt beside me. “Tamara! Are you okay?”
I kept my eyes closed before realizing he couldn’t see them through the goggles.
“TM?” he whispered.
Oh, swoon. He was shortening my Trademark nickname again. I felt like I was falling, my heart singing, my spirit lighter than it had ever been in my life.
“I think I need CPR,” I whispered weakly, pushing up my goggles. I cracked an eye to quickly peer at him before shutting it again. I couldn’t see his eyes through his goggles, or really anything, after using mine.
He let out an amused huff, then swept me into his arms, and said in a dramatic voice as he brushed the hair from my face, “Don’t go towards the light!” He rocked me in his arms like I was truly dying, and his act warmed my heart. Honestly, I’d never had as much fun as I was having right now, faking my own death. “Stay with me.”
“Give me something to live for,” I whispered just as dramatically.
“It’s too soon,” he crooned.
I opened one eye and said feebly, “Haden? Is that you?”
He pulled off his own goggles, his lips lowering to mine.
And then we were kissing.
I could feel the press of his mouth against mine, his arms holding me against his broad chest. His warm hand slipped under the hem of my green Christmas sweatshirt with the faux cross-stitch of a horse, and then my T-shirt, gliding across my lower back and sending delicious shivers through my torso. I fought the temptation to suck in my belly so that I felt like someone else under his touch. Someone slimmer and fitter. Someone worthy of making it to the top of the pyramid-like food chain of women who’d been scrambling for his affections.
As his hand roamed across what I knew to be obvious love handles, a low growl of satisfaction rumbled through him, and his kiss grew more urgent. I shoved my insecurities aside, determined to enjoy this sacred moment. He smelled like snow and fresh straw, and in the darkness, I could release my fears and believe that he wanted me as much as I wanted him, and that come morning, we would be the couple I’d never allowed myself to dream we could be.
Chapter 28
~ Haden ~
Tamara’s fingers slid into the hair at the nape of my neck, pulling me close for another kiss and sending electric fireballs down my spine.
Her lips drifted from mine.
