Under the Mistletoe

“You’re going to have to show me a little more of the man who thinks two weeks is enough time to get to know someone.”

“Fair enough. I have a surprise for you,” he said, sliding his hands up her back and pulling her into his arms for a more thorough kiss. He took his time with it and she was struck with how good he tasted. It wasn’t just the fresh taste of his mouthwash; it was more than that. Something that seemed to stem entirely from Will.

He angled his head to the side and thrust his tongue deeper. She lifted her hands and framed his face with them. Spread her fingers over his five-o’clock shadow and then drew back.

“Where’s this surprise?” she asked, even though she wanted to pull him into a nice private corner and have her way with him. Keep kissing him until they were both so turned on that they could forget about everything except each other.

“Outside. Did you bring a coat?”

“I did,” she said.

She’d left it at the coat check and they walked over to get both of their coats. Then he led her out the door, which led to the ski slopes and outdoor area with fire pits and trails. A chill wind blew a light snow around them as they walked. Her neck was cold and she wished she’d brought a hat with her, but she’d forsaken it for vanity’s sake—so her hair would look good.

Warm sounded better than nice hair at this moment, however. She turned her collar up around the back of her neck and shoved her hands deeper into her pockets.

“Damn, it’s cold. We’ll be warm in a few minutes,” Will said. “Wait right here.”

She watched as he strode away in the lightly falling snow. She almost felt the first tingles of that same worry that had bothered her in the lobby but she pushed it to the back of her mind. She’d made her decision. She had two weeks of just being with Will before she had to deal with the fallout from it.

* * *

THE SLEIGH WAS big and looked like it had come from a scene from one of the Currier and Ives lithographs that had hung in her grandparents’ hallway when she’d been little. The driver introduced himself to them and as Will talked to him, Penny moved to the front of the sleigh to get a closer look at the horses.

She’d grown up back East in a fairly suburban area, but her best friend growing up had been raised on a horse ranch and Penny had always loved the animals.

“Ready?” Will asked.

She nodded, even though she felt a little nervous. Hell, after the way her last relationship had broken down who would blame her...but she’d made her decision and it was time to enjoy it.

“This is for you,” he said.

“I didn’t get you anything,” she responded, taking the long square box that was wrapped in plain brown paper and tied with a simple red bow.

“You can owe me,” he said with a wink.

“Have you done this a hundred times before?”

“It’s a little unflattering you think I’m old enough to have experienced a hundred Christmases,” he said flippantly.

“You know what I meant.” Penny held the package with one hand and just watched him, wondering if he’d been serious about not lying. She was sorely tempted to embark on a red-hot affair with this handsome stranger, but if he was going to hedge and evade questions, she’d call the whole thing off.

“I do. And to answer your question—no, this isn’t my normal MO. But I have had two-week affairs before. As I mentioned earlier, I pretty much don’t do long-term.”

She nodded. “Should I open this gift now?”

“Yes. The driver has gone to get the hot cocoa I ordered.”

Penny turned the box over in her hands. Her first present from Will. She untied the red ribbon and took a moment to slip it in her pocket. It was that soft fabric kind. Then she carefully undid the wrapping paper.

“I’ve never seen anyone take as long to open a present.”

She laughed. “Sorry about that. I like to savor things.”

He reached over, pulling off his glove, and touched the side of her face. His hand was warm against her skin. “Me, too.”

She leaned over and kissed him, just a quick brushing of lips before removing the rest of the paper. He took it from her and wadded it up in his hand and tossed the ball of wrapping into the nearby trash bin. “Open it.”

She took the lid off the box and pushed the tissue paper aside to reveal a pretty, thick wool scarf. The colors were soft and muted, almost like the sky just after dawn. The wool was so soft that she couldn’t stop touching it. It was an exquisite gift. “Thank you.”

He nodded then reached into the box and took out the scarf. He stepped closer to her and wrapped it around her neck, tying it carefully before pulling her hair from the back where it had gotten trapped by the fabric.

“I really like it,” she said.

He cupped her face and tipped her head up so that their eyes met. Even in the darkness his were still brilliantly blue. “I really like you.”

He kissed her then, slowly, as if they had all the time in the world. Passion built inside her as his mouth moved over hers. His tongue was gentle but firm as he thrust it into her mouth and she dropped the box to the ground to reach for him. Putting her arms around his broad shoulders, pulling him close to her, she reveled in his power and strength. His chest was solid against hers even through the layers of their winter coats. And the snow that fell lightly around them was a counterpoint to the heat they generated.

He wrenched his lips from hers and then dropped a series of soft kisses on her face before he stepped back and bent to retrieve the box she’d dropped. He walked over to toss it in the trashcan. As he slowly headed back toward her, she watched the way he moved, with that confident stride and the languid grace of a man sure of himself and his woman. His woman. She had pretty much agreed to be that. Penny rubbed her lips, which still tingled from his kiss. She was electrified from his touch. Couldn’t wait for him to kiss her again and to see how this evening turned out. What kind of lover would he be?

“Why are you watching me?”

“I like the way you move,” she said, getting more excited by the prospect of this Christmas romance. There was no pressure to be what he wanted so they could make things work out. There was nothing for her to do except enjoy her time with him. Something about him just made her feel warm inside. When he was just a few feet away, she leaped toward him and saw a look of surprise before he opened his arms to catch her.

She laughed as he hugged her close and spun her around. She threw her head back as the snowflakes fell on her face and she released all the past hurts and emotional baggage that she normally carried with her. For this Christmas, she was ready to let go and enjoy it.

He slowly lowered her down the length of his body and she kissed him with all the fierce desire building up inside of her. She couldn’t believe that it had only been this morning when she’d met him.

Savoring the moment, the feel of his lips ravaging hers, she marveled at how someone’s world could change that quickly. How a chance encounter could completely make her open her eyes to a world she had never realized existed until now.

“I guess you like the scarf,” he said wryly as he put her on her feet.

“I do. But I like you more. I think this is going to be the best Christmas I’ve had in a long time.”

“Me, too,” he murmured.

The attendant returned and the driver climbed into the front of the carriage while she and Will were seated in the back. The blankets they had for their legs were thick and woven in a traditional red, green and gold plaid. They were handed a thermos and two insulated mugs for their drinks, which were stowed in a small basket on the floor.

“Ready?” the driver asked.

They nodded and the sleigh took off, pulling them through the snow with only the sounds of their breathing, the bells on the horses’ necks and the whistle of the blades over the snow to accompany them.

4

WILL WRAPPED HIS arm around Penny as the sleigh traveled over the path in the moonlight. The snow had stopped falling and the trees on either side of them were all aglow with white lights that made the snow twinkle as they moved past it. The high back of the sleigh kept them protected from the wind.

He hadn’t expected his present to generate the reaction it had from her. She was cute and sexy and all signs pointed to her being everything he wanted in a lover. But he’d felt something else when she’d thanked him for the scarf.

A stirring of unfamiliar emotion that had been so intense he’d had to force it back down inside himself. He wanted Penny, he reiterated to himself. He was going to enjoy Christmas with a woman instead of by himself, but that was it.

“Do you know how to pick out any of the stars?” Penny asked, jarring him out of his thoughts. “I’ve always really liked looking up at them, but I’m afraid I can’t ever pick any of the constellations out.”

He tipped his head back, gazing up at the sky. “I know the basic ones. Like right there is the Little Dipper.”

He pointed to it.

She looked up. “Do you see the star the wise men followed?”

“I can’t really, but I bet we could find a bright star that would work.”

“Or we could each find a star that is leading us,” she said. “My mom used to do that whenever we couldn’t find an answer. Or if we didn’t have a tradition, she’d say let’s make up something we both like.”

He liked the sound of her mom. He’d come to terms with the fact that he’d never have that kind of family. His parents’ death in a car crash had left him set for life financially, but there were times when he was reminded of the stuff he’d missed out on. Penny made him want to have that. She was spontaneous, he realized. The phone throwing, the jumping into his arms...

Did she always leap like that?

“Have you ever followed something like a star?” he asked curiously. It seemed like something she’d do. “Just took off believing it would lead you to something special?”

“No... Well, that’s not true. One time I followed a dog I spotted after school. Every day after that, for a straight week, it waited for me outside of my classroom. I thought it was a stray and that maybe I could keep him.”

She turned to face him, her pretty gaze serious, and she licked her pink lips. His eyes tracked the movement and his blood flowed thicker in his veins. “What happened next?”

“When I approached the dog it sort of took off, not running but just heading somewhere. I had saved half of my sandwich at lunch so I could sort of bribe the dog. It was a cute little poodle and in my head I’d named it Fifi.”

“Sounds like you had a plan,” he said.

“And a big imagination. It’s part of the reason I’m good at creating events,” she said. “So I followed Fifi and she turned down my street. I was eight at the time so please don’t think this is too lame.”

“I’d never think you were lame,” he said, enjoying the way she told the story. Seeing how her eyes sparkled and hearing that note of excitement and joy in her voice was truly infectious.

“Okay, I was so excited. Fifi trotted past my house, but instead of stopping at my place, she ran straight past it. I followed her round the corner and saw her disappear through a redbrick house with a doggy door.”

“I’m sorry you didn’t get your dog,” he said.

She laughed good-naturedly. “I was so disappointed, but it wasn’t meant to be. I did have a fun adventure following the dog, though. And my mom got us a cute miniature dachshund when I told her the story.” He thought about Penny’s story. He’d never been that aware of his environment, sure he’d followed things on the internet, but in the real world he tended to just keep his head down and move forward. He couldn’t remember ever being different even as a child.

“That’s sweet.”

“Thanks,” she said. “She was good about making sure I had what I wanted. Not that I was spoiled or anything.”

His lips twitched with humor. “Sure you weren’t.”

“It’s hard to not be a little spoiled when you’re the only child,” she admitted with a cheeky grin.

“What about you? Spoiled? Siblings?” she asked.

“Only child, as well.”

She arched her eyebrow at him. “We both are used to getting our way, then. That could make things interesting.”

“I wasn’t spoiled,” he said. He left it at that. He didn’t want to talk about his parents’ deaths or being raised by distant relatives. It created an image that he wasn’t comfortable sharing with her. They were temporary playmates, nothing more.

“Did you ever follow anything home?”

“No. I’m usually very focused on getting what I want. Instead of following dogs or stars, I’d use my computer and do a load of research before starting out.”

She rolled her eyes. “Sounds kind of boring.”

“Perhaps, but I don’t waste time and I get my end result every single time. I try to eliminate all the variables so I don’t have to deal with surprises.”

“But surprises are the best part of life,” she said.

“That hasn’t been my experience.”

Shaking her head at him, she countered, “That’s not true.”

He gave her a look from under his eyelashes.

She punched him playfully in the shoulder. “You’re wrong. Today I bet you weren’t expecting an iPhone to come flying through the air at you.”

She had him there. She knew it, too—he saw it on her face. “That’s true.”

“Also you didn’t expect that I’d be so intriguing,” she said.

Right again. He definitely hadn’t expected Penny, and he was learning that even though he’d thought he’d managed all the variables with this Christmas liaison, perhaps he had forgotten something very important. The Penny factor.

* * *

SHE WAS HAVING FUN—despite the fact that after the past few months, the stress of quitting her job and hoping for a new one, she still hadn’t gotten the call she’d been hoping for today. But given that the East Coast was two hours ahead of them, she doubted they would be calling before tomorrow.

Her real life was still a mess but tonight that didn’t seem to matter as much. Will had wrapped his arm around her shoulder and tucked her against his side. He had gone quiet after she’d told him about Fifi but maybe he was thinking...who knew what. The bells of the horses rang across the empty fields as they continued their ride, and she felt the hope and joy of the season all around her.

Suddenly, she found herself humming the beginning of “Jingle Bells” under her breath. The song was stuck in her head now. Ugh. She couldn’t start singing. Wouldn’t let herself do that.

But there it was.

“Dashing through the snow,” Will said, under his breath, too.

She tipped her head back and started laughing. “Is that song also in your head?”

“It’s impossible for it not to be. We are in the middle of a freakin’ Norman Rockwell Christmas scene.”

“I would have said Currier and Ives.”

He shook his head. “You like to argue, don’t you?”

She thought about that for a long minute. She did have to always make sure she had her own opinion. “I never thought of it that way. I just want to make sure I’m standing on my own, not following someone else.”

“Me, too. And this is definitely Norman Rockwell. You’ll never convince me otherwise.”

“Are you sure?”

“How could you possibly? I’ve made my mind up and I never change it,” he said.

“Never? Are you sure about that?”

He nodded. “I can promise you I will never change my mind. Once a decision has been made I stick to it.”

“Duly noted,” she said. It was something that she might see as a red flag if they were going to date long-term, but for two weeks...what did that matter? “Jingle bells, jingle bells...”

He squeezed her close, putting his finger under her chin, and when he tipped her head back, she looked up at the strong line of his jaw. There was a tiny birthmark under his chin. Something she wouldn’t have noticed if they hadn’t been sitting so close. She reached up and touched it.

“Beauty mark,” she said.

“Beauty?”

“That’s what my mom always calls them. She has one that looks like a strawberry along her neck, and she says it’s a mark of inner beauty.” Penny missed her mom but she was in the Caribbean with her new husband celebrating the holidays. Exhaling softly, she stroked his neck. It was strong and had the tiniest bit of beard stubble on it. His light brown hair brushed the side of his face and she pushed it out of the way.

“No one has ever suggested there was anything beautiful about me,” he said gruffly.

She looked into those incredible blue eyes of his and wondered about this man. She had a bunch of questions about his past. What had shaped him into the person he was today? Why would anyone be satisfied with two-week relationships?

But she kept those questions to herself. “You have to know you are a very beautiful man.”

“Rugged maybe. And I get charming a lot...but beauty? Nah.” She understood where he was coming from. But there was something about his confidence and the way he pushed her to take him on his terms that contributed to what she saw when she looked at him.

Or at least what she saw now, on this magical snow ride. “Well, we can agree to disagree.”

“Which we’ve already established you like to do,” he said, winking at her.

She pretended to elbow him in the gut. Playing around to control her emotions so she didn’t let things turn too serious. “Keep it up and I’ll show you what a fierce competitor I can be.”

“Are you one?”

She shrugged. “I sometimes say it doesn’t really matter to me if I win, but it does. I hate losing. Not that I want to beat anyone else—I just like being right.”

She laughed and so did he.

“Me, too.” He rubbed his chin on the top of her head and held her lightly in his arms.

“What are you thinking?” she whispered.

Their sleigh ride was getting close to its end and the snow started to fall a little more heavily. They huddled together but the snow was cold as it fell on them. Will maneuvered around and pulled the blanket up over their backs and then their heads. She looked at him and realized how safe he’d made her feel tonight.

Not just physically safe, but emotionally. He’d listened to her and didn’t judge her. Just let her be who she was. Probably because they weren’t trying to impress each other. Though, frankly, he’d more than done that with dinner, the gift and this sleigh ride. She had relaxed her guard.

He kissed the tip of her nose as they returned to the Lodge. “Thank you for making this a very special night.”

She shook her head in bewilderment. “How have I done that?”

“By sharing your stories and that sparkle that I think might just be you.”

“I sparkle?” she asked with a giggle. “Did you really just say that?”

He freed them both from the blanket and stood up, holding his hand out to her. She took it and he helped her to her feet and then out of the sleigh.

She stood to one side as he thanked the driver and tipped him and then turned back to her. The snow still fell over him, making him look even more strikingly handsome, and for a moment she wondered if she might have made a huge mistake. This arrangement was just supposed to be about having fun, but she saw signs that Will might be the kind of man she wanted in her life for a lot longer than one Christmas.

* * *

TWO DAYS LATER, Will walked through the quaint Park City streets looking for some new ski gear. He and Penny had said good-night at her front door after their sleigh ride and he’d walked away without a kiss. But the ride hadn’t gone exactly to plan. He had meant it as a prelude to seduction but the truth was he liked her. She stirred things deep inside him that he liked to pretend he never felt and didn’t care about.

But that was a lie.

He’d always been one of those men who knew where he was going. When he’d gotten out of rehab, he’d made choices that had pointed him toward his future. He eliminated all the things that were enablers for him.

First order of business: he’d stopped partying 24/7 and started working. A part of him found it surprising that he had the golden touch when it came to making money. But he had found his niche and that was enough for him. However, two nights ago, he’d felt like that had begun to change. He hadn’t slept well since then and he wondered if he would again.

And it was all her fault.

As Will continued his stroll through the town, he paused at the corner where a mural of the Wasatch Mountain Range was on the side of Fresh Sno’s retail store. It was really well done.

“Nice picture, eh?”

He glanced over his shoulder to see Penny standing there. She had a Fresh Sno bag in one hand. Her blond hair was hanging around her shoulders under a pink knit hat. Her coat was a deep turquoise wool and she had it buttoned to the top with the scarf he’d given her wrapped around her neck.

“Yes, it is. Are you following me?” he asked with a grin. For the first time in a long time, he was struggling to keep his flirtations light. He knew that was a danger sign. It might be better for both of them if he just walked away now. They hadn’t even slept together. No harm, no foul.

“Following you? No, not at all. I decided I need a little retail therapy and my friend Bradley owns this place. He’s the guy half of my cutesy friend couple. I stopped by to get some new ski gear. Want to join me on the slopes?”

Just like that, she made it seem normal that he hadn’t talked to her in one entire day. They had only a limited number of days to spend together and he’d wasted one.

“Sorry about not being able to see you yesterday.” He’d sent her a note via the hotel concierge desk that he’d had to work.

“It’s fine. To be honest, this arrangement is harder for me than I thought it would be. But I understand about having work commitments so it’s not a big deal.” She spared him a look. “Of course, if we were a real couple, it might have bothered me. But that’s clearly not the case...”

Work had been a convenient excuse, but he’d needed distance and now he regretted it. He’d never been a coward— Ha! his conscience jibed. Alcohol had been his crutch a long time ago and now it seemed like Penny was.

“Any word from the people in New York on your new job?” he asked.

“Just that they were still weighing their options and would be getting back to me in the new year. So I have nothing else to do in the meantime.” She flashed him a coy look. “And the way I see it, I have two options here. I can either distract myself by having fun with you, or I can just relive my interview over and over again, trying to come up with all the things I could have done better.”

He was willing to bet she’d wowed them. Penny had that thing that made people notice her. Made her stand out.

“I don’t want to be responsible for all that misery,” he deadpanned. “So skiing? That’s your idea for today?”

“Yes. I’m not an expert at it, and I’m certainly not very daring, but I do like to spend a few hours on the slopes. Want to join me?”

“I would enjoy that. But I could use some new ski gear, too,” he said. “That’s why I’m here at Fresh Sno. I’ve heard about the brand and directed several of my investment clients toward them, so I thought I’d check out their retail space.”

“I’ll leave you to your shopping, then. Want to meet me at the ski rental at the Lodge in two hours?” She was being more cautious with him today. But then in the light of day that wasn’t too surprising. Night seemed to be the time for daring.

“Want to join me? Where else are you going?”

“That kitchen shop up the block. I need some sprinkles for cookies,” she said.

“I think the ones at the Lodge’s bakery come with sprinkles.”

She flashed a grin. “They do, wise guy, but I’m making my own. I mean you have to bake cookies at Christmas. I think it’s a law or something.”