Red-Hot Santa

“Can you give me a ride home later?”

It took a moment for her question to register. The fact that he was trying hard as hell not to look back at her breasts wasn’t helping matters any, either. “Where?”

“My aunt’s.”

He dragged the back of his wrist across his brow. Was he sweating? “You’re staying at your aunt’s?”

She nodded. “She dropped me off, but if you’re going out to your grandmother’s, well, it’d be easier than asking one of the girls to run me all the way back out there.”

He hadn’t planned to go to Gram’s tonight—there was a small apartment above the bar he rented—but the idea of spending uninterrupted time with Max so he could figure out what the hell was going on between them was too tempting to pass up.

“Sure. It’ll probably be late, since I’m closing.”

“That’s fine. I can wait.” She smiled that smile again and his jeans tightened. He adjusted the suspenders, happy for the first time that night to be wearing the blasted, baggy Santa pants. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”

“No problem.”

“Talk to you later, then.”

“Yeah … later.”

His response came after she’d already turned to walk back to her table, the view of her backside just as enticing as the view of her front.

There was chuckling down the bar. He glanced over at Winston and Pete.

“Hey, Jax,” they called out. “You finally going to take care of that little problem?”

They both gave him a thumbs-up as he turned to walk down to the other end of the bar where there were other customers waiting to be served …

2

MAXINE ENJOYED CATCHING UP with her old girlfriends from high school. She might be as different as light and shadow from them, but she was pleasantly surprised they were connected in a comforting way. She’d spent so much time fraternizing with the guys in recent years—partly because she’d believed them easier to be around, mostly because as a female in the military, guys were what you tended to be around most—she’d forgotten how nice it was to have a drink with girlfriends.

Patience Saunders had been a varsity football cheerleader and an unlikely but fun friend. Her athletic ability had extended beyond short skirts and pom-poms so she and Max had participated in many of the same sports. Max wasn’t surprised she was now a Phys Ed teacher at the same grammar school they’d once attended … or that she was married with two kids under two.

Julie and Jae Jennings were identical twins but had gone out of their way to disguise that fact even when their mother had tried to dress them alike as kids. When Jae had stumbled across goth fashion, she’d latched on to it tightly, and even now favored black nail polish and hinted at body piercings beyond the one visible on her left nostril.

Still, as much as Max was enjoying catching up with them, her gaze endlessly trailed to the man behind the bar, noting how’d he changed … and how her feelings had stayed the same.

“God, Jax is still as hot as he was in high school, isn’t he?” Patience said with a sigh, propping her chin in her palm as she watched the man in question.

“Is he ever,” Julie echoed.

Jae gave an eye roll and downed her third shot of Jaeger. “You guys always were about as subtle as a bulldozer.”

“What?” Patience asked, batting her eyes in feigned innocence.

“You don’t think he knows y’all are staring at him like a pack of bitches in heat?”

Julie nearly choked on the red wine she was in the middle of swallowing.

“Didn’t you two used to have something?” Patience asked, turning to Max.

Max knew a moment of panic, just as she always did when someone made a similar inquiry, afraid her expression or body language had given something away. Then she realized her friends weren’t being specific and relaxed. “Who? Me and Jax?” She shook her head. “Nah. We were just good friends. We still are.”

Jae snorted. “Right. That’s why the place nearly bursts into flames every time you two look at each other. I had to take off my jacket so I wouldn’t burn up.”

“What’s he doing now?”

Max followed Julie’s gaze to where Jax was putting on a Santa Claus coat and coming out from behind the bar. The waitress in the skimpy uniform took great pleasure in helping fix his hat.

“Looks like Santa’s about to give someone what they want,” Jae said drily …

CHUCK MADE THE announcement that Santa was going to take requests and have pictures taken for a $5 donation to the veterans fund. Jackson put the red jacket back on, but left it open; hell, he’d boil alive if he closed it.

Of course, Genie made him regret the decision when she sidled up to him, playing role of “helper” a little too overtly for his liking. She slid her hands inside the coat and gave him a sexy snuggle before reaching up to straighten his cap. Her flirty moves earned hoots and hollers from the guys, but all he could do was look beyond her to where Max was watching the display with an amused smile on her beautiful face.

“Hey, I wanna sit on Santa’s helper’s lap,” Pete shouted.

“That’ll cost you a hundred,” Chuck told him.

They all laughed as Genie pulled up a chair next to the jukebox and pushed Jackson back to sit in it. Given her moves, he was half afraid she was going to strip off what little of her holiday outfit she wore, but instead she turned and along with the other two waitresses, went around the room collecting money from the patrons.

For the next half hour, Jackson was squashed by several of the heavier guys, slobbered on by the drunken wife of another and then sat staring at where Patience Saunders stood behind a smiling Max. He thought the night would never be over.

Then, before he could prepare himself, Max was sitting in his lap. And evidence of his instant arousal was pressed against her hot bottom …

MAX WAS UNPREPARED for Patience’s none too subtle shove. She grabbed onto Jax’s shoulders to keep from sliding off his lap, the hard length of his manhood through his clothing telling her things he might not have revealed in any other way.

Okay, so maybe she’d had one brew too many. But he hadn’t had any. And the way he looked at her this up close and personal told her that Jae may have been a little closer to the mark than she realized: Jackson Savage wanted her.

The recognition was more intoxicating than anything this bar could offer.

Max caught herself licking her lips and stopped. She’d been here before, this mysterious place when her body betrayed her true emotions for the man beneath her. Awareness surged everywhere their bodies made contact swirling, through her bloodstream, tightening her nipples and dampening her inner thighs.

This was usually the point—where the spark of arousal promised to blaze into much more—when she would withdraw, physically and emotionally, putting much needed distance between them.

But this time …

She merely sat, holding his gaze, allowing the sizzling current to bond them in a way she never had before.

“So …” he said so quietly she nearly didn’t hear him, his hands hot on her hips.

She watched his pupils dilate in his blue eyes and the way his gaze seemed drawn to her mouth.

“What do you, um, want …?”

What would happen if she told him? If she said she wanted to be sitting on his lap, with no clothes between them? To feel his hard length inside her rather than pressing against her? To see if his mouth tasted as good as it looked?

To know if the longing she’d felt for him for so long was purely physical … or if it was much much more.

A flashbulb went off.

For a minute, Max thought it might be something of her own conjuring, but when she followed Jackson’s stare to the bar bunny waitress who’d just taken their picture, she knew it wasn’t.

She’d come home to Colorado to find the truth.

She’d either finally pursue her unspoken feelings for Jackson, or squash them altogether. It was time for her to move on, one way or the other. Still, she just wasn’t prepared to do that in front of God and everyone.

She also wasn’t prepared for what she felt for her to burgeon even further, nearly overwhelming her, blotting out all else until a camera flash snapped her back to reality.

Had she really nearly kissed him in the middle of a bar while everyone watched?

Yes, she realized, she had.

She moved to get to her feet. Jackson helped her, standing up, as well. She noticed the way he plucked at his suit even as she smoothed her damp palms over her jeans.

“Okay, everyone, that’s all for now. Santa’s got work to do,” he said.

And so did she, Max silently noted.

Because if he’d given away what he had in that one moment, she could only imagine what she had.

Then again, isn’t that what she wanted? For him to see how she truly felt?

Yes. It was.

But suddenly the prospect scared her more than anything she’d ever encountered … up to and including her stint in the military.

Whatever had she left herself open for?

3

MAXINE PRIDED HERSELF on holding her own with the guys when it came to drinking. So she was really surprised that by the time the bar closed, she was feeling a little woozy. She couldn’t remember having all that much to drink, but the way she was feeling told her that maybe she’d had one too many.

The girls had left a little earlier, smiling at her in a way that seemed to suggest they knew what was going to happen. Of course, that put them ahead of the game, because she wasn’t all too sure what to expect, herself.

She caught sight of Jax moving in her direction and straightened in her chair. This so wasn’t how she’d planned to feel during their first stretch of time alone together.

He, on the other hand, looked as actively hot as he had earlier in the evening. It was more than his thick shock of dark blond hair that always appeared in need of a comb, and his warm blue eyes that always made her think of summer skies and how much she craved the heat. He looked as if he was ready for anything and everything … especially a long, thorough roll in the hay.

Of course, his brief role playing Santa to all the girls in the place, including her and her friends, had left her feeling more than a little hot and bothered. She’d been so tongue-tied, she hadn’t been able to tell him what she really wanted.

“You ready?” he asked.

It took her a moment to realize he was talking about the ride he was giving her to her aunt’s house. Not her secret Santa wish. Damn.

“Oh. Yes.” She smiled.

As he got their coats from behind the bar, she was aware of the bar owner’s attention on them.

“Good night,” she called.

“Good night, Maxi. Nice to see you again. Will you be back here tomorrow night?”

She waved noncommittally and led the way out.

The early morning air was still and cold. She couldn’t remember a time she’d experienced such quiet. Perhaps because it contrasted so greatly with the riotous emotions roiling inside of her.

Her brief contact with Jax earlier, when she’d realized he wanted her—at least physically—left her breathless … and more than a little scared.

It was one thing to mentally decide on a course of action; quite another, indeed, to actually embark on it.

She started toward where his truck was parked in the lot but found he wasn’t behind her.

“I need to see to Cleo first,” he said.

She stopped dead in her tracks. Cleo?

He grinned at her. “I rent the place above the bar.”

“I don’t understand. This is where you live?”

“Most nights. When I have a day off, I go out to Gram’s, but this …” He gestured toward the wooden stairs leading up to a second story door. “This is my home away from home.”

She followed him up. “And Cleo?”

“You’re going to love her.”

Max winced. She was sure whoever Cleo was, she was not going to love her. She’d hated everyone Jax had dated before. What would make this one any different? Especially since she appeared to live with him.

Double damn.

“Why did you agree to take me home if you weren’t going that way?” she asked, trying to figure out what her options were. Truly, she’d preferred not to be stuck in a truck with him for a half hour if his heart already belonged to someone else.

“I haven’t seen you in two years. Did you really expect me to say no?” He took keys out of his pocket and unlocked the door. “Besides, it’s no big deal. I’ll just crash at Gram’s tonight.”

A soft breeze brought the tang of his aftershave to her nose. She took a deep breath; she’d always loved the way he smelled.

He held out a hand to stay her. “You may want to step back for a minute while Cleo greets me.”

Great. She was going to have to watch another woman throw herself into his arms.

He squared his stance and then opened the door. Max watched a female throw herself into his arms, all right. Or, rather, climb up into them.

She laughed as a black feline, more kitten than cat, climbed Jax like a tree, not stopping until she was safe in his arms and nudging her chin against his.

“Cleo,” Jax said, “I want you to meet Max. Max …” He turned and smiled at her even as he scratched the cat behind the ears. “This is Cleo.”

Max leaned forward, wondering if her relief was obvious, but not really caring. She was just happy Cleo wasn’t a six foot blonde with model good looks she’d have to add to the top of her Most Hated list.

“Hey, Cleo,” she said softly, holding her hand palm down so the cat could take a whiff of her. Then just as sweet as you please, Cleo rubbed up against the digits, her rumbling purr audible. Max ran her hand along her soft, warm fur.

“I would never have figured you for a cat person.”

“I’m not.”

Jax walked inside the apartment and Max followed. He switched on a light and closed the door behind them before placing the cat on the back of a chair.

“Long story short, Cleo is Gram’s. She’s just visiting while Gram takes a vacation.”

“Vacation?”

He grimaced. “Yeah. She went on a cruise and won’t be back until next week.” He walked toward the back and switched on another light to what looked like the kitchen.

“I’m surprised she didn’t leave her in the barn.”

“Yeah, well, Cleo isn’t a barn cat, exactly …” He adjusted what appeared to be a thermostat on the wall. “The heat shouldn’t take but a minute.”

“I’m fine. I’ve been through worse.”

He looked at her. “Yeah. We both have, I think. Easy to forget that sometimes.”

He disappeared into the other room. Max stared at Cleo who stared back, at least until she heard the sound of food hitting a bowl. Then she was off like a shot, skidding to a stop on the kitchen tile.

Max unzipped her leather jacket and looked around the place. Hell, it was neater than hers. And while the black, contemporary furnishings may have come with the place, the small touches did not. There were books in the case, a plant on the floor and photos in frames on the shelves. She stepped nearer, easily recognizing Jax’s grandmother and brother Jason in the pictures. And then she spied one of herself …

Her heart skipped a beat as she picked up the simple four-by-six-inch frame of a photo shot taken about five years ago while they were serving together. They were both in desert fatigues and Jax had draped his arm casually over her shoulders.

There was nothing casual, however, about the way she smiled at him.

She squinted at her expression. How was it possible he never knew?

Then it occurred to her he had known. He just hadn’t returned her feelings.

“Long time ago, huh?” he asked, coming to stand beside her.

“Huh?” She awkwardly put the frame back down. “Um, yeah. A different lifetime, it seems.”

He ran his hand over his hair. “Yeah.”

She stared into his face, wondering if she was just being stupid or if she’d been made that way. She started to ask if he was ready, when she noticed he’d taken off his coat, most likely leaving it in the kitchen.

“Maxi?”

“Huh?”

Jax grinned at her. “That’s what Chuck called you back at the bar.”

“Oh. Yeah.” Was it her, or was it suddenly warmer in here?

“I’m surprised it didn’t rate at least one of your famous sneers. It would have in the past.”

She laughed, remembering all the names she’d been called in elementary school, Maxi Pad being by far the worst. She doubted she had to remind him of that, since he’d fought right alongside her a couple of times.

“That was until I was arrested for assault.”

He lifted a brow.

“Joking. I’m joking.” She shifted on her feet, noticing the way he looked at the front of her jacket as if trying to see what lay underneath. “People seem to prefer to call me Maxi … so I let them.”

He didn’t say anything for a long moment and then he cleared his throat. “It suits you.”

“Yeah, well, that doesn’t mean you get to call me that. I’m still Max to you. Try calling me anything else and you’ll earn more than a sneer.”

They both laughed, but as soon as the moment passed, she became all too aware that they were alone. Together. In his apartment. After midnight.

Her heart beat an irregular rhythm in her chest and she swore she could actually hear her blood rushing through her veins like water through a pipe. How dumb she’d been to think a tight pair of jeans and push-up bra would be enough to get his attention when nearly twenty years of clothing changes had not.

She ran her tongue over her dry lips. “I guess we’d better get going …”

Jax met her gaze solidly and didn’t say anything for a long moment. She shoved her hands deeper into her jacket pockets and burrowed into the black leather.

“Listen, why don’t you spend the night …” he said, his voice trailing.

She looked around nervously. There was only the one bedroom that she could see.

“The couch is a queen sleeper.”

She turned back toward him.

“I know I told you I’d take you, and if you insist, of course, I will. But now that we’re here and warm …”

Warm …

No, she was hot. Sweltering hot. And her state had nothing to do with the temperature outside.

“Here,” he said. “Let me take your coat.”

He reached to presumably help her take it off. She automatically started to shrug off the attention, then instead took a deep breath, turned and allowed him to help her.

Was it her, or did his fingers linger just that much longer at the nape of her neck? Skim down her arms when no contact was needed?

She swallowed thickly and swiveled back to face him, every inch of her yearning to feel him touch her more purposefully, more meaningfully, starting with a kiss …

“Max?”

Her name was little more than a whisper. Her gaze fell to his mouth, a mouth she’d seen a million times before, but had never so badly wanted to feel it against hers.

She was sure if he didn’t kiss her right then and there she’d self-combust, leaving only the tiny particles that would scatter in the stiff winter breeze, leaving no hint she’d ever existed.

What scared her even more was that she was afraid the same might happen if he did kiss her …

4

JACKSON SWORE HE could still feel her hot bottom on his lap.

He grimaced and shifted uncomfortably, no longer wearing the Santa pants to hide the telltale signs of arousal. Her wiggling against him had left him far more turned on than he would ever have expected back at the bar. He wasn’t sure he’d completely recovered from the moment.

Who was he kidding? The only thing responsible for his mental meanderings now was the sexy woman standing in front of him. Someone who had once been very familiar, but now seemed more like a stranger.

It didn’t make any sense. Max had always been … well, Max. What in the hell had happened to her in the past two years to turn her into this tantalizing parcel of hotness?

One minute he’d been counting off the seconds when his brief stint as Barracks’ Santa would end and … the next, she’d stepped in front of him, hands on her curvy hips, and time had ground to a halt.

He’d had at least twenty women sit on his lap before her, not all of them innocently (Genie had wriggled so suggestively she’d nearly injured him). But the idea of letting Max climb on board had left him so tongue-tied, he’d barely been able to speak.

And now he’d just suggested she spend the night …

If he knew what was good for him, he’d grab his coat and drive her sweet bottom to her aunt’s place. Now.

But at that moment he didn’t care much about what was good for him. He was too focused on what he wanted. And right now, he wanted her …

She licked her full lips in the same way that had driven him to distraction earlier. He nearly groaned at sight of her pink tongue dipping out between her straight, smooth teeth, her actions causing the plump flesh to glisten.

“Are you sure this is a good idea …?”

The question was said so quietly, he nearly didn’t hear it.

But he had …

And his answer was to do what he’d been wanting to all night: kiss her.

OH … SWEET … SALVATION …

The last thing Max expected was for Jax to kiss her. She may have wanted it—wanted it? She craved it to the pads of her feet—but she’d somehow managed to convince herself that not only was he not interested in kissing her, he’d be offended if she kissed him.

Yet now his hot mouth pressed against hers, his tongue seeking entrance. Permission all too willingly granted.

Oh, yes …

His kiss was even sexier than she imagined it might be. And that was saying a lot considering she’d done a whole lot of imagining over the past decade and a half, her fantasy abilities growing with each chronological milestone she reached, every intimate experience she encountered.

This one kiss was better than all the kisses she’d ever enjoyed … combined.

What was that humming sound? Oh. It was her. And not only was she making strange, hungry noises, she was leaning into him …

Oh, was she ever leaning into him.

Max snaked her arms under his and made full-on contact, her fingers digging into the back of his denim shirt. If there had been any question of his physical awareness of her earlier, there was no mistaking it now: his hard length pressed insistently against her lower belly, telling her in no uncertain terms where he most wanted to be.

Exactly where she wanted him to be.

He caught her by the shoulders, as out of breath as she was. “Wait, wait, wait …”

She didn’t want to wait. She’d waited long enough.

“This is … crazy … insane …”

She nodded. It was.

“Where did this come from? We’ve never …”

She was incapable of words. Hell, just then, she was incapable of breathing worth a damn.

“We’re friends.”

She smiled at that. “Yes, we are.”

He was her best friend. The one person in the entire world she’d always known she could turn to if she needed anyone, someone to talk to about whatever was bothering her …

Until now. Now, she couldn’t have uttered a word if she tried.

“I don’t want … I mean, the last thing …”

He released her shoulders and she felt as if he’d just dropped her onto her face from a second story balcony.

She watched him pace away, then back again, running his hands through his hair again and again.

“This is nuts. We’re friends. I don’t want to lose that.”

“Who says we have to?”

He stopped five feet away and stared at her. “Is this a good idea?” he asked, searching her face.

“I don’t know,” she whispered. “But it feels …”

Good? Phenomenal? Incredible?

She barely heard his groan before he placed his hands on either side of her face and kissed her again, this time within an inch of her life.

Yes …

Red-hot sensation swept over her, making her feel everything, yet nothing at all except a deep, needful hunger for his tongue against hers. She tunneled her fingers under his T-shirt, running them along his sides before curving them against his back, holding tight. So good, so right. So hot …