12 Christmas Romances To Melt Your Heart (16 page)

M
ia Davis
she closed her eyes, conjuring up Carmen’s pretty face. Her smile had been contagious. She’d talked about her little brother all time, about how proud she was that he’d participated in gym class without having a meltdown or had said thank you without being prompted. Things Mia took for granted.

Her heart hurt for Hunter. He was out there in this freezing cold, snow falling off and on, alone and scared. And on Christmas Eve, of all days. She shuddered and hugged herself.

“His name is Hunter Ramirez.” It made sense for Kat, the head of TREX’s Search and Rescue unit, to take point, her husband Spencer at her side. She pointed at the large flat screen in the den. The image of a kid with oversized front teeth and an awkward smile on his face took up the entire TV. “Twelve years old. Brown hair and eyes. He struggles with social cues and is scared of strangers, so you may have to speak to his beagle, Buster, in order to get Hunter to talk. Call for Buster when you’re out there. Hunter won’t answer if you call for him. Now, I’ve set up the grid to start here.”

“We’ll find him,” JT assured Mia and pulled her into her arms, holding her close. “I promise, Mia. It’ll be okay.”

Why did TREX insist on making promises they’d never have the power to keep? It wouldn’t be okay. Not for Carmen, who now lay in the morgue. Not for Hunter, who might soon join his sister. Mia buried her face against JT’s shoulder and fought the tears threatening to break her.

“Let’s go.” Spencer gave the order. The TREX agents scattered, leaving Mia standing there, numb and helpless. Wayde had already left to join his SBI unit at the scene of Carmen’s death to comb for clues and rule out murder. It was routine for a team of homicide agents to make an appearance at all scenes.

The den, now dark and eerily silent, closed in on her. She didn’t want to stay in this room and left to find something warm to drink. Absentmindedly rubbing her belly, protecting the baby growing inside her, she walked into the kitchen to find the oldest of the McKoy kids already there, heating water in the kettle.

“Hey, I’m making tea.” Charis smiled at Mia, something she always did.
Smile
. With dark brown hair and deep indigo eyes—traits she shared with all her siblings—she’d hit the gene pool lottery. Charis and her twin Chris got the curls. While her brother kept his hair short, Charis let hers grow long and wild. “You and Bethany get decaf for obvious reasons. Kat prefers OJ.”

“Thank you,” Mia whispered, not having the strength for anything else. One of the women they’d risked their lives to rescue had just taken hers. Tea wasn’t going to make this situation any better. Nothing would.

“That didn’t take long,” Spencer said loud enough for everyone else to hear. He poked his head into the kitchen and rested his attention on Mia. “Wayde found him and is on his way here.”

“Here?” A jolt of surprise rocked her. Why would he bring the boy here?

“It’s Christmas Eve,” Charis pointed out and handed her a steaming cup. “The chances they’ll find a social worker are slim to none, let alone one with the skills to handle a special needs case.”

Kaylee McKoy walked into the kitchen and grabbed a Diet Pepsi out of the fridge. “Even if they did find a case worker, they’d never find a place to house him tonight, not even temporarily. Foster care is tough enough without adding a kid who thinks differently.” She cracked open the soda and took a long drink.

“What kind of special needs?” Mia asked. Before anyone answered, the front foyer erupted with shouts. There was a crash and a scream. Spencer disappeared, as did Kaylee. Mia and Charis hurried after them and skidded to a stop.

A kid covered in dirt and grime, his lips blue and teeth chattering, thrashed against the men trying to subdue him. He screamed over and over, the sound heartbreaking and frightening at the same time.

“Stop it!” Kaylee shouted. When no one listened, the petite and youngest McKoy shoved her way into the frenzy of testosterone, not hesitating to use her fists, elbows, and whatever else she needed to get to Hunter. “Can’t you see you’re scaring him? Stand down! Stand the hell down!”

Hunter shrank into the corner, his wide gaze jumping from man to man before resting on Kaylee. When she eased forward a step, he pushed himself tighter into the corner. She froze and asked, “Where’s Buster?”

“Right here,” Wayde answered as he walked in, a beagle in his arms. The dog squirmed and jumped down, immediately rushing to Hunter’s side and standing between his master and the strangers surrounding them.

Hunter seemed to calm as he lowered to his knees and stroked Buster’s head. To Mia’s shock, Kaylee did the same and petted the dog. They didn’t say anything, just knelt facing each other, running their hands down the beagle’s back.

“Do you have any idea what’s happening?” Wayde asked Mia.

“Buster is Hunter’s therapy dog. I remember Carmen mentioning it during one of the group sessions. She thought having a therapy dog might help some of the women cope with what they’d been through.”

He wrapped his arm around her and casually placed her behind him. “Why don’t you fix him a plate of leftovers?”

“I can do that.”

“Buster, too.”

She nodded and returned to the kitchen. By the time she had a plate heaping with turkey and all the trimmings, Kaylee had Hunter at the sink washing his hands and face. She didn’t touch him, instead demonstrating what she wanted him to do. They still hadn’t said one word to each other.

Mia set one plate on the table and the other on the floor. Once Buster made a beeline for the food, Hunter took a seat at the table and grabbed the fork. Wayde tensed behind her.

“Relax,” she said for his ears only. “He’s not going to take out a room full of TREX agents with a fork.”

“I didn’t know where else to bring him.”

“You did the right thing. He’s safe here. So are we.”

He kissed the back of her neck. “Lawson is on his way over with a couple unis to question him.”

“Call them off,” the special director said as he finally made an appearance at his own party, his attention on Hunter. “The boy isn’t about to talk to anyone in a uniform. Look at him.”

“He’s not on display.” Kaylee glanced over her shoulder, addressing the crowd that had pushed into the room. It was a large kitchen, but then again, TREX guys weren’t small. When no one moved, she grabbed Buster’s plate. “Come on, Hunter. Let’s eat out there where we won’t have an audience.”

Without a word, Hunter followed her, plate in hand, head down. Weber snagged Wayde’s gaze. “Do you want to tell me what the hell that was about?”

“The kid had nowhere else to go.”

“So you bring him to a TREX briefing? Are you mental?”

“Is that what this is?” Wayde challenged. “A briefing usually involves one party telling everyone else what’s going on.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“You invite everyone here and then disappear. I don’t know why you even bothered if you didn’t plan to take part.”

“You don’t know why because it’s above your paygrade, Agent Davis.”

“I’m not Agent Davis right now, and I’m not about to let you call the shots. Not in my own house. What aren’t you telling us?”

The director stormed out, leaving the rest of the agents all exchanging confused glances. As the silence grew, so did the tension. The looks of confusion transformed into glares and hardened expressions. Charis and Mia exchanged nervous looks and both retreated a step.

“I’m going to check on the boys,” Charis said and left the room.

“Typical,” Wayde growled.

“What did you just say?” David Snyder stepped into Wayde’s personal space. “Do you have a problem with my wife?”

Wayde didn’t back away. “Not your wife. I have a problem with your BFF, Weber. Once again, the special director is keeping something from the rest of us. Not exactly the best way to run things.”

“Watch what you say about him. Holiday or not, he’s still your boss.”

“As am I.” Spencer stepped between them before one of them threw a punch. “Stand down, both of you.” He sighed, looking tired. “That’s an order.”

“Figures you’d defend your pet project.”

Now Spencer faced David. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Wayde isn’t spec ops material, and you know it. Weber never even wanted him in TREX, and I trust our director’s judgment.”

“Over mine? Is that what you’re saying?”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying. You’ve been going against him for a while now. Trying to get him to step down on that find by invoking Rule #202 like he’d lost his goddamn mind was another nail in the coffin.”

Spencer stiffened as his features turned to stone. He then recovered and defended his position. “He’s gotten worse, and you know it.”

“It’s because recruiting all these new people is diluting the agency. That’s why Weber is so selective over who he lets in. You need to trust him. He’s the director for a reason.”

“Yeah, because the last director died.”

David’s spine went ramrod straight. His usually jovial expression immediately hardened, as did his eyes. “You know what a piece of shit Donovan was. Who the hell are you to insinuate Weber took him out to get his job?”

“Boys,” JT said softly and stepped between them. “Spence isn’t insinuating anything.” She gave him a warning look. “Isn’t that right?” Spencer nodded curtly. She regarded David. “Why are you so upset about this?”

“I can’t believe you’re taking his side. He’s considering having Wayde replace Chris on TREX Team Two.”

“What else is he supposed to do? He needs a complete team.”

“Are you saying I’m not a complete man?” Chris demanded, his jaw set. He used the forearm crutches to pull him closer. “Just because I can’t walk without help doesn’t make me any less of an agent.”

“That’s not what I said.” JT shook her head. “I don’t even know how you made that leap. If you have a problem with the man you are now, deal with it, but don’t pretend you’re fine and then take it out on everyone else.”

“Just because you’re sleeping with the boss doesn’t give you the right to talk to my brother like that,” Bailey cut in.

“Excuse me?” JT turned to her. “He’s not the boss to me. He’s my husband.”

“I hate this agency,” Mitch, the only McKoy kid not in TREX, snarled before jumping his gaze around to the others.

“That’s only because you can’t get into it,” Spencer fired back.

“Now just a damn minute.”

“Let’s just calm down,” Mia said, but it had already escalated. They all grew louder and louder as the insults got more personal. JT and Bailey looked ready to draw claws. David defended Chris while Spencer defended Wayde. Mitch spewed venom about how much he hated TREX. Seth and Logan were the smart ones and had already left the room.

“Screw this!” Wayde shouted above everyone else. “I want you all out.”

“Wayde!” Mia’s jaw dropped. “It’s Christmas Eve.”

“And I’m done with this bullshit. Why force us all together if it’s obvious we don’t get along?”

“For once, I agree with Wayde.” David thrust out his chin. “As soon as I can find a hotel, we’ll be out of here.”

“Get Bethany and me a room, too. I’m not sticking around to listen to any more of this shit.” Chris pulled himself out of the kitchen behind David.

Kat, who’d remained silent the entire argument, approached her husband. “It’s not that long of a drive back to Olympia. I’ll wake Emily if you get Jack ready. Are you okay to drive?”

“I’m a little tired. Let me talk to Wayde.” Spencer kissed her forehead. After she left, he regarded Wayde. “Overreact much?”

“Sorry, Spence. I’m just so damn tired of the bickering. We’re all adults. Can’t we act like it?”

“And you thought tossing everyone out on Christmas Eve was acting like an adult?”

“Touché.”

“Should I bring everyone back in so you can yell at them again? This time you can just shout a single apology.”

“No,” Wayde chuckled and shook his head. “I was a global asshole. I’ll make my apology a little more personal.”

“Before you go, there’s something I want to discuss with you.” He drew in several breaths and ran his fingers through his hair. “I guess the cat’s out of the bag. I had hoped to do this under better circumstances. I’d like to offer you a spot on Team Two.”

“Isn’t that special operations?” Mia asked, not bothering to hide the worry in her tone. TREX’s spec ops teams put themselves in the most danger and were gone for weeks at a time. She liked having a husband.

“There’s a lot of training involved before he’d be field ready,” Spencer explained. “We’re expanding spec ops by four more teams.” He looked at Wayde. “That’s why the directors brought us here. They wanted us to work together on the dynamics of the new teams.”

Wayde lowered his head. “A lot of good that did us. All it did was prove we can’t work together at all. Forcing a bunch of hardheaded men and women together without telling them why was a disaster waiting to happen. Add one little twist in the form of a terrified kid…”

“Instant explosion,” Spencer finished and sighed.

K
aylee sat
at the table with Hunter, petting Buster and rolling her eyes as insult after insult flew from the lips of TREX agents scared of a kid. Give them guys with guns, weapons of mass destruction, terrorist threats. No problem. Give them one little boy they couldn’t reach with threats and they were out of their element.

“Buster thinks it’s too noisy in here. Why is everyone yelling?” Hunter asked as he kept his focus on the dog.

“Because they’re all dumb.”

He nodded. “Were they always dumb like me?”

“You?” Kaylee blew out a breath and smiled play down his comment even though deep inside she seethed. So, his mind may not work like everyone else’s. So, he needed a dog to help him communicate. That didn’t make him dumb. She hated labels. “You may be the smartest person in the room.”

“I’m not smart.”

“You’re not dumb,” she countered sternly. “Adults turn dumb when they grow up. That’s why you’re the smartest one here.”

“What happens when I grow up?” His mouth fell open as he blinked rapidly. Just the thought of growing up, growing
dumb
, clearly terrified him.

“Don’t grow up.”

His jaw dropped lower as his eyes rounded. “Is that possible?”

“Anything is possible. Look at me. I’m never growing up.” And she meant it. Age was just a number. She refused to turn into Mrs. Apron and Pearls. If she ended up with a house on the hill, it would be turned into an animal shelter. She embraced her future of being the neighborhood crazy cat lady. And dog lady. And any other four-legged-friend lady.

It irritated her to no end how society labeled Hunter as dumb or an idiot simply because he didn’t learn at the same pace as someone else. Fish couldn’t climb trees. Monkeys couldn’t swim. Forcing them to do something so unnatural made no sense, but swap the two scenarios and they were animals in their element. That was Hunter. He was a monkey who just needed to find the right tree instead of being forced to swim.

If only humans were as compassionate and tolerant as animals.

“I’m never growing up,” Hunter repeated her words and followed his statement with a nod. More yelling, this time from Bailey as she called her on-again, off-again boyfriend several four-letter words. She stormed off and slammed a door, the phone firmly plastered to her ear. Hunter stared at the door. “Everyone looks mad.”

“They’re always mad.”

“At me.” It didn’t come out as a question, which only irritated Kaylee more. This kid had zero self-esteem, more than likely due to person after person labeling him as dumb, slow, or an idiot all because he learned differently. She hated people.

“Nope. They were mad before you got here.”

“Why? It’s Christmas. Buster thinks being mad on Christmas is like hating your own birthday.”

“Because of the presents?”

He shook his head and rubbed the beagle’s chin. Buster sighed contently and closed his eyes. “Presents don’t matter. They get lost or stolen. Not family. Sisters still hug you after you break the new TV. You still get a piece of pie even if you didn’t eat all your dinner. That’s because it’s Christmas. That’s why no one should be mad.”

“See?” Kaylee smiled wide, absolutely head-over-heels for this kid. “You really are the smartest person here.”

He grinned and nodded sheepishly. “I’m just Hunter.”

Her brother Seth joined them, followed by her brother Logan. Seth sat closest to the kid. “Looks like someone was hungry.” Hunter didn’t respond. Kaylee knew he wouldn’t, not until he had something to say. “Hunter, do you know what Asperger’s is? Or High-Functioning Autism? Has anyone ever used those terms with you before?”

Oh, hell no. Kaylee was fine until Seth started in with the terms to define Hunter. It immediately ticked her off. Who was he to slap a label on anyone? Sure, he was a doctor, but that didn’t give him the right. It didn’t give any doctor the right.

Doctor after doctor had tried to define what caused her to not speak until she was almost five. She didn’t pick up on social cues as any
normal
child would. She hated to be hugged. She hated to be touched. Period. That didn’t make her any less
normal
.

When the doctors diagnosed her with Asperger’s, her mother refused to let it define anything. Not a damn thing. Kaylee hadn’t received any special treatment growing up and didn’t expect any as a TREX agent. Years of behavioral therapy, of all the doctors telling her to do more of this and less of that, still drummed in her brain after all this time.

And still she wasn’t anything closer to
normal
.

It was unfair, the labels society placed on anyone outside the acceptable norm. She refused to let another kid go through too many years of being told he wasn’t normal, that something was wrong with him. They’d put him in special classes instead of teach him the way he learned. They’d write him off as mental all because they couldn’t understand him. Asshats.

“He may not understand what’s really going on,” Seth explained.

She’d had enough and snapped, “How would you know?”

“This isn’t the same thing as what you have.”

“Again, how would you know?” She stared him down, something she’d always been able to do. What she had?
Please
. He had no idea what it was like growing up and failing every social encounter. Everyone loved Seth. Everyone thought Kaylee was weird. “You’ve said like two dozen words to him. That’s hardly enough for a diagnosis.”

“Come on, Kaylee.” Logan defended Seth. Of course. “He’s just trying to help.”

“Sure,” she laughed hollowly and rolled her eyes. “By labeling him?”

“It’s not a personal attack,” Chris explained after joining them at the table. “This has nothing to do with you or what your doctors said. Seth isn’t labeling anyone. He’s not that kind of doctor. Do you remember what I call normal?”

She eventually nodded and dropped her attention to her lap. “It’s just a setting on the dishwasher.”

She might have a great stare down, but Chris owned it. That stare also calmed her down enough to realize she’d missed yet another social cue.

“That’s a big tree.” Hunter asked and nodded at the gigantic tree in the corner of the living room. “Lots of presents.”

“It’s Christmas,” Chris explained. “Do you celebrate Christmas?” Hunter nodded slightly but said nothing. “Have you ever had a tree?”

He shook his head. “Buster is scared of squirrels. They hide in the trees like in that movie.”

“What movie?”

Hunter didn’t answer.

“It’s okay,” Kaylee urged. “You see all these big, ugly guys sitting at the table with us?” Hunter quickly scanned and nodded. “They’re my brothers. That guy off in the corner pouting is also my brother. The woman with the curly hair is my sister.”

“Her babies look the same.”

“They’re twins. I’m a twin. So is that one.” She nodded at Chris. “In fact, he’s my sister’s twin.”

Hunter twisted his expression as he studied Chris. “He’s a boy.”

“Boys and girls can be twins, too. They don’t have to look alike.”

Hunter looked up, holding her gaze for a few seconds. It was the longest he’d looked at anyone so far. “Is yours a boy?”

Kaylee grinned. “Nope. I have another sister.”

“Seven,” he muttered. “Big tree for a big family. Ten aren’t family. Even more kids.” Hunter smiled. “Need a bigger tree.”

They all laughed, causing Hunter to grin even more. The McKoys got what it was like growing up with a special needs sibling. Kaylee had struggled, but with the help of her brothers and sisters, she’d had all the support she needed.

She nodded, understanding Hunter a little more every time he talked. Most people with Asperger’s had at least one thing that set them apart, at least one thing that scored off the charts. For her, it was protective instincts. For Hunter, it looked like the power of observation. He didn’t talk much and didn’t need to. He was too busy watching.

“Well, that’s awesome. There’s no vacancy anywhere,” David announced as he paced in front of the tree. “I’m half-tempted to drive back to Montana tonight.”

“You’d be driving by yourself.” Charis sat cross-legged in the playpen and helped her boys build with blocks. “We aren’t going anywhere.”

“Charis, sweetheart.”

“Don’t sweetheart me,” she sang and set a block on top of the stack. “You lost your temper. You fix it. Don’t drag us into it.”

David set his jaw. “You don’t know what Wayde said.”

“I don’t care what he said,” she countered. “We are guests in his house and will remain that way until we leave the day after tomorrow. Find a way to kiss and make up.”

“That’s not going to happen,” Mitch grumbled. “Snyder doesn’t ever admit when he’s wrong.”

“Because I so rarely am.”

That comment earned groans and eye rolls all around.

“You were in the wrong,” Chris said to David.

“I was defending you, asshole.”

“Doesn’t make what you said to Wayde anywhere closer to right.”

David muttered something about ungrateful bastards and blew out a long breath before joining his wife and kids in the playpen. He immediately smiled when one of his boys backed up into his lap. That was more like it. She preferred happy humans to what so many had turned into tonight.

Dan stormed up the stairs, his wife on his heels. The director didn’t look happy. “We’re not leaving, JT. That’s final.”

“You’re not listening.”

“You’re right.” He stopped and whipped around. When she ran into him, he grasped her shoulders. “I’m not going to break up the team.”

“We’re not a team. David is being a complete ass.”

“I’m right here,” he growled and narrowed his eyes at her.

JT ignored him as she continued to vent to her husband in front of everyone. “I think we should go.”

“Not happening,” Dan snapped and stormed off into the den. She followed him and slammed the door.

“The adults don’t sound happy.” Hunter pointed out the obvious when the tense silence grew too much.

“I don’t think any of the adults are happy,” Mitch commented.

“Are you an adult?”

He wiggled his eyebrows. “Only when I have to be.”

Hunter grinned. “Buster has to pee.”

“I’ll take him out,” Logan offered as he stood. “I could use some air.”

“I’ll take Hunter,” Mitch added without skipping a beat and stood as well. “Come on, little man.”

Hunter tensed and leaned toward Kaylee. She nodded in reassurance. “He’s my brother, remember? And he’s a cop, which means he’s one of the good guys. Don’t worry, buddy. We’ll all still be here when you’re done.”

“Promise?” He shot her a quick look, pleading with her to not leave him. It broke her heart.

“Promise,” she whispered, not trusting her voice.

“Carmen promised and she’s gone now.”

That comment broke her. She dropped her gaze before the emotions swelling in her eyes gave her away.

“We’re not going anywhere, buddy.” Mitch nodded for Hunter to follow. He’d always been able to talk to Kaylee, too. Tolerance and patience must go with the badge. “Except the bathroom. Come on. You can clean up a little, too. Sound good?”

Hunter went with Mitch while Seth went with Logan to take the dog outside, leaving Chris at the table with Kaylee. He studied her before saying, “You connect with him.”

“Because I’m not scared of him.” She related with him. She knew how terrifying it was to not understand when to say something and when to remain silent. She knew the struggles of not comprehending social cues or when someone was joking. She knew what it was like to grow up being the weird kid no one wanted to pick for their group. If she could make a difference in Hunter’s life, make sure he felt wanted if only for the here and now, she’d do it.

“I’m not scared,” Chris defended quickly. “Why would I be scared of a kid?”

“He’s different. God forbid you relate to that.” She glanced at the crutches leaning against the chair.

“Low blow, brat.”

She smiled sweetly. “I only speak the truth.”

“One of your many annoying traits,” Bailey teased as she sat next to her twin and leaned her head on Kaylee’s shoulder. “He asked me to be his plus one again.”

“And you turned him down.” She didn’t have to ask. Her sister was her own worst enemy with her rigid rules and the way she pushed people away. Jason loved her. Everyone knew it, even Bailey. It was the thought of being with a field agent that scared her. Too bad. They were actually great together. He didn’t put up with her shit.

“He knows better,” she whined in a huff. “We agreed to keep it casual. No strings.”

“Sounds like he wants strings. Who knows? Maybe you’ll use them to string a guitar and make beautiful music together. Would strings be so bad?”

“Yes.” Bailey was the only one Kaylee didn’t mind hugging her. Being stuck in the womb together for nine months and out for twenty-five years had gotten her used to her sister’s touch. “I can’t get serious with a frontline agent.”

“What’s wrong with a frontline agent?” Chris asked, offended.

Bailey lifted her head and stole a quick glance at the crutches. Shaking her head, she dropped her gaze behind a curtain of hair.
Chicken
.

“It’s fine.” Wayde spoke into his phone as he walked out of the kitchen. “Mia wants Hunter to stay. Trust me, Lawson. She gets whatever she wants. Happy wife…”

“Happy life,” Chris and David finished along with Wayde. They all chuckled.

Wayde went on. “I’ve got a house full of TREX agents. Hunter will be safe here for the next day or two. Give the social worker the night off. Who? I’ve never heard of Miles Anthony. Is he someone famous? No kidding? Right here in Seattle?”

“Miles Anthony?” Charis perked up. “What about him?”

“You know who that is?”

“We have several of his prints.” David glanced up as well. “He’s right up there with Ansel Adams with his black and whites. It’s too bad he doesn’t do them much anymore. I guess he owns a modeling studio now. Still shoots in black and white, which is weird since all the model crap is in color.”

“It’s not crap,” Bailey defended. “Miles Anthony is all about capturing the inner beauty. He dresses down his models. Makes them plain. Which, in turn…”