Dare Me (Take Me 2)

“So you’ll stay?” she more cheerfully asked. “I mean, they’re not until later. First, we have breakfast. Then we trim the family tree—this is just our official showoff tree.” She indicated the enormous spruce in the foyer.

With a fractured laugh, Nikki total her, “The showoff tree is gorgeous. But I bet the family one is even prettier.”

“It has tons of ornaments that Nana says have been with the Castillos for decades.” She emphasized the last word as though meaning to say, since the beginning of time. Then she added, “And there are some from Nana’s side, too. After we’re done, we get our big Christmas Eve feast ready, stuff the stockings and then choose one gift to open. Just one.”

Mads pulled her hand from behind her back and thrust it toward Nikki. She held a small box with rainbow wrapping, a white satin bow and a cutout unicorn head dangling from the ribbon.

“I want you to open this one tonight,” Mads told her.

Nikki felt the sting at the backs of her eyes again.

“I also made you a stocking for the fireplace—to go with all of ours.”

Nikki blinked back the tears.

Mads continued on, as though she really weren’t shredding Nikki from the inside out.

“You see, Uncle Damen’s never brought a woman home. That must make you really special. And Nana and I both think that when you met special people, you should consider that your gift.”

“Oh, my God,” Nikki whispered. And the fat drops crested her eyes and tumbled down her suddenly flushed cheeks.

“Mads.” Damen’s low, warm timbre came from behind his niece.

Nikki’s gaze snapped up to meet his and he mouthed sorry.

She gave a slight shake of her head.

Mads asked, “Did I say something wrong?”

“Not at all,” Nikki was quick to tell her, her attention returning to Mads. She left her suitcase and her laptop bag where she’d been standing and crossed to the little girl. She leaned down and assured her, “You said everything perfectly right. It’s just that, you’re so sweet. So incredibly kind and thoughtful, that it touched me. Deeply. So…thank you.”

“Does that mean you’ll stay?”

Christ…what else was she to do? Of course, she’d have to stay. For one more night. Only.

Accepting the box Mads still held toward her, Nikki said, “I’d be honored to. And I really want to open your present for Christmas Eve—and see the stocking you made for me.”

Now, Mads beamed. She adorably sighed with relief and a comical hint of drama. “Phew. I thought you were going to leave.”

Nikki felt a tinge of guilt and regret when she told Mads, “I do have to be somewhere else. It’s my job. But…I’ve already sent a lot of people in my place, so one more day will be all right, I suppose.”

“Awesome! Let’s eat pancakes!” Mads took Nikki’s free hand and dragged her through the oversized archway and toward the formal dining room.

As Nikki passed by Damen, he muttered, “Thank you.”

She gave a shrug. “How could I possibly have said no to her?”

Damen followed behind them.

When they reached the dining room, Mads made the rounds with Nikki and explained all the buffet-style stations and various offerings.

Though, when she was done, she drew up short and stared in mock-horror at the butler. “Wait! Something’s missing! The most important thing of all—the pancakes!”

She appeared duly stricken.

Nikki shot a look at Damen, who grinned. He said, “We’re trying something different this morning.”

“No, no, no!” Mads chanted, clearly panicked. She released Nikki’s hand and turned to her uncle. “I have pancakes when I’m on school break. It’s what I look forward to when I’m on school break!”