Mistletoe Wishes: a holiday standalone Read online

  “It made me think of you. Made me feel close to you.”

  “Baby.”

  “Then, the more I watched, the more what you said at the park repeated in my head. How I had somehow let you think I was trying to break up.”

  “I should have asked. I didn’t take it all that well—”

  “It was my fault.”

  “That made you go crazy and decorate the living room with four trees?” I blurted out.

  “I needed to make a grand gesture.”

  “You do grand pretty great, Rolly.” I shifted, leaning more of my weight against him, and he happily took it. He might not be all about the PDAs, but he loved to cuddle when we were home.

  “Though I gotta be honest, Rolly, I don’t want this beautiful gesture to drive you nuts, and Christmas is still a week away.”

  “What would drive me crazy?”

  “Umm, the mess,” I pointed out. “I love everything you did, baby, I do. And I don’t want to sound ungrateful because I’m not. What you did… This was beyond even a Hallmark movie,” I gushed, hoping I was making sense.

  “But?”

  “But… I don’t want you uncomfortable for a week, so you can give me this.” I wrapped my arms around his waist. Our fronts now touched. Me in his tee, which fit loosely and fell to about mid-thigh. Rolly in nothing but unbuttoned jeans.

  “Do you know what I kept thinking about last night?” he oddly asked.

  “No.”

  “I kept looking around this place and noticing how this wasn’t my place anymore. How cold my place was before you.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “The basic stuff was here. Couch, TV, DVD stand. But everywhere I looked, I saw your hand. Your stamp, I guess.”

  “I don’t follow, baby.”

  “I’m like the house, Veronica. The core of me is here. I’m still just me; you don’t need me to change. But I’m a better version of myself with you because with you by my side, it’s home.”

  “Rolly,” I whispered. “I think that’s the sweetest thing I have ever heard anyone say.”

  “Good thing it’s also true, then.” My eyes burned with unshed tears. As if sensing it, he brought his face lower, giving me a sweet kiss on the tip of my nose.

  “Come here.” His hand in mine, we moved to the father tree. This one had white twinkle lights and red and gold ornaments. A plush throw blanket and pillows were sexily thrown on the floor.

  “I need to have you again, but this time, we’re taking our time and you’re going for a ride,” he whispered, his hand sliding up my thigh. My breathing hitched.

  “What about the mistletoe?” I asked, and he grinned.

  “Left it in the bedroom.”

  “Go get it, baby. I have some mistletoe wishes I have to make.” I winked and laughed against his lips when they crushed to mine. All I could think about was how Roland Baxter knew exactly how to take a girl’s breath.

  Thank God, he was all mine.

  Epilogue

  Roland

  Two and a half years later . . .

  I WALKED INTO THE house, and the moment my eyes caught her napping in the living room, I tried to walk around quietly. Veronica had texted about how rough her morning had been and then about going to work late, but that she had a surprise for me later. Stepping into our room, I quickly changed. Comfortable in a sweater and jeans, I stepped out and headed toward the kitchen to start breakfast when a brightly gift-wrapped box caught my attention.

  Grabbing it, I saw the tag was addressed to me from my girl.

  “Open it,” she called from the living room as she sat up and put her hands on her lap.

  “You sure?”

  “Yeah. It’s for you.” I carefully opened it and heard her say, “It’s for Christmas.”

  “It’s July, baby.”

  “I know. But… I couldn’t help it. I saw it and figured you would think it was perfect. Something to go with all our trees.”

  “Perfect, huh?” I tore the paper and as I looked down at the box, I scowled trying to make sense of the small box containing a tiny Christmas tree.

  “Tiny tree?” I huffed under my breath before turning to look at her.

  “A tiny tree,” She repeated, but I could see the warmth and amusement in her eyes shining back. My heart stuttered, and a lightbulb turned on. Is she saying what I think she is?

  It wasn’t a tiny tree.

  It was a baby tree.

  A baby tree.

  I licked my lips and walked toward her. Slowly. I saw her in a brand-new light.

  “Are you saying—“ The words drifted away because there was no need for them. She simply nodded her head, a big smile on her face. I closed the space between us, picked her up off the couch, and spun her around. Her giggles rang out as her hands held on to the back of my neck.

  “Thank you, baby.”

  “Thank you,” she mumbled, and I knew she was crying.

  My girl felt a lot and heavy. I knew they were happy tears but tears nonetheless. Tears I completely understood.

  We had been trying since we’d tied the knot, and nothing had happened. Until now. Looking at her, imagining how her body would ripen with my child, made me want to jump for joy and fall down to my knees and thank whatever higher power had put Veronica and all her beauty in my life. Because without her, I would have still been living my monotone life.

  “Jesus, babe. A kid? You’re making me a daddy?” I asked into her neck, and she nodded. “You made all my mistletoe wishes come true, baby. What are we gonna do now?” I asked her, nuzzling my nose over the sweet spot on her neck that drove her crazy.

  “Make new ones,” she sighed, giving me space as a sweet familiar purr escaped from her throat, and I knew exactly how we were going to celebrate the good news. “I love you, Rolly.”

  “I love you more, Veronica.” And fuck if that wasn’t the truth.

  Veronica Baxter was every dream and wish I could have ever thought up and wrapped up in nothing but surprises. With her by my side, life was sweeter and brighter than I had ever thought possible.

  The End

  Books by Mayra Statham

  Right Men Series

  LIE

  STEAL

  CHEAT

  DRINK- coming 2019

  Six Degree Series

  Crown’s Chance at Love

  Etched in Stone

  Carried Away

  Davenport Harbor

  Never Too Late Series

  Longing For You

  Wishing For You

  Lucky For You

  Beech Grove Series

  Donut Tucker Out

  Burning Bridges

  Knoxed Up

  More than a Knight

  Quite Frankly- Coming November 2018

  Kissing Gabe- Coming December 2018

  Standalones

  Already Home

  Cookies & Kismet

  Something Worth Saving

  Zaiden- A Scrooged Christmas

  Acknowledgments

  My babe and my babies: Thank you for always being my cheerleaders and being so patient!

  Julia Goda, CP Smith, Kelly Tucker, Tracie Douglas & Winter Travers: Thank you for your endless encouragement and support. Without your friendship and sisterhood, I don’t think I would be where I am today. I love each and every one of you guys. You make my days being at a computer brighter!

  Statham’s Sexy Stars: Thank you for your endless support and kindness! I love you, babes!

  Reader: Thank you so much for taking a chance on this short and sweet holiday story! Hope you enjoyed

  Rolly & Veronica as much as I did!

  About the Author

  Mayra Statham resides in southern California with her three kids and husband. When she isn’t writing or hanging with family, you can find her hidden behind a romance novel while enjoying a highly caffeinated drink.

  She loves hearing from readers. Connect with her on social media platforms @mystathamwrites or em
ail her at [email protected]