Dax the Halls (A Bad Boy Dax Christmas Novella) by Shannyn Leah

Author:Shannyn Leah
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: novella, christmas story, sweet christmas, bad boy romance, small town romance, small town chrsitmas, small town christmas
Publisher: Shannyn Leah
Published: 2017-12-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

7 Years Prior

STANDING AGAINST THE doorframe, Dax sipped his beer and admired the tree they’d set up in the corner of his dad’s living room. All the ornaments from his childhood adorned the tree, and his dad had even used the tree skirt with his child handprints which had been marked on each year. If he closed his eyes he could almost envision this house as it had looked before his mother died, when they’d spent Christmas together as a family.

His dad slapped him upside the back of the head as he walked by. “I’ve been calling you. That beer turn your ears off? Here.” Rowdy tossed his son a deflated inflatable mattress. “That one’s yours.”

“For what?”

Rowdy frowned. “What do you think?”

“I’m not sleeping under the tree. I’m a grown man.”

“You’re my boy.”

“Dad—”

Rowdy set the air compressor on the floor with a loud thud. Without looking up, he said, “Son, I’m not doing this without you. I can’t. So bring your damn mattress over here and let’s get it inflated.”

Dax set his beer on the end table as he walked to his dad, untying the string at the end of the bag. He pulled the mattress out, found the inflatable end and let the rest roll out on the floor. “Are you even going to be able to move in the morning after sleeping on the floor, old man?”

His father scoffed. “Old man. I could whip you.”

“You could try.”

“I taught you all you know boy.”

Dax laughed.

They moved the coffee table into the dining room and rearranged the remaining furniture to position the mattresses closer to the tree. When his dad looked satisfied, he started up the stairs. “Hey, get that box would you?” he shouted without looking back at his son.

Dax fetched the box from the hall bench where he’d left it and carried it to the dining room table. His fingers skimmed the top of the wood as a wave of emotions coursed through him. Expecting the feeling to mirror in his dad, he peeked into the kitchen.

Ava looked up from containers of takeout food she was dishing onto platters and into bowls. “The three of us aren’t going to be able to eat all of this food.” She waved the spoon in her hand across all the assorted foods. “There’s enough here to feed everyone in this town.”

“Yeah, I think my dad got a little carried away.”

“You think?” Her head whipped up after her snarky tone and a smile spread across her face. “Your dad really out does himself. You know that saying, ‘go big or go home’? I think they were referring to your father.”

Dax chuckled.

“I’ve never met anyone who puts themselves after everyone else like he does. All your dad has done is work around me, fit me in.”

“He’s a good guy.”

“He’s a great guy. Amazing.” Her smile fell. “I’m never going to be able to repay him.”

“He’s not looking for compensation.”

She sighed. “Can I be honest with you?”

Dax stuffed his hands in the pockets of his pants.

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