Wrapped In Red: Mistletoe Mantra / White Hot Holiday

His lips tipped up at the corners. “We’ll talk about it later. Right now, your taxi service awaits.”

She had a sinking suspicion he wasn’t going to let it go. But she was hungry and needed fuel for that kind of fight.

For breakfast he took her somewhere she’d never been, just on the outskirts. Even though it was still somewhat early, the place was full of tourists, but at least there wasn’t a line out the door. If this were LA, there would be at least an hour wait.

While they waited for their food, she studied him. “You know, I realize I don’t know you that well. Even back then, I didn’t really know you. All I know is you run an excellent taxi service and you were sweet enough to offer a girl a lifeline when she needed one.”

His laugh transformed his face, making him appear more open and, if possible, more handsome. The sound rolled over her, making her warm from the inside out despite the chill outside. “I’m an open book. Ask me anything you want to know.”

She widened her eyes. “Anything? You realize that as a journalist, my whole job is to ferret out the story I’m looking for. This is a dangerous proposition for you.”

“I think I can take it.”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you. No evading, Porter. You have to answer honestly.”

He shifted in his seat a little, but his gaze never wavered from hers. “Do your worst. Just remember, turnabout is fair play.”

She weighed her options. She had no life to speak of besides the magazine, so he could ask her whatever he wanted. “Fine.”

He leaned back to make room for the waitress bringing them their coffee. “Shoot.”

She opened her mouth, but decided to take a sip of coffee first. Sighing in contented bliss, she put her cup back down. When she looked at him again, he was staring at her, his green eyes now hot and dark.

“What?”

“That look on your face. It’s sexy.”

She blushed, but would put down money saying he couldn’t see it. “I see you’re starting with the flattery.”

“Or truth.” He shrugged.

Nomi laughed. This felt like...flirting. Or maybe you’re woefully out of practice. “You were super smart. I figured you’d go off to law school or something, like the rest of the prep school set, or bum around Europe. What are you doing back in Faith?”

He opened his mouth, then a light flush stained his cheeks, but he answered her. “I did all that. Transferred every AP credit I could and busted my ass to graduate from Carnegie Mellon in three years. Travelled some, came home. Not much to the story.”

“Now, why don’t I believe you?”

Her flashed her another grin. “I did graduate from CMU. Have the diploma to prove it.”

“You know what I mean.” She changed tactics. “You could do anything. Go anywhere, be with anyone. Why here?”

“Dad got sick, and the way I figure it, there’s plenty of time for me to go do other things. Mom has needed more help at the winery.”

“Are you happy?”

A shadow drifted across his face, but then his good-natured smile was back in place. “Right in this moment, yeah. Good food in the company of a beautiful woman.”

Her heart rate picked up in response. Easy does it. We’re here to work. Not flirt. For the rest of breakfast, she kept things on safer topics—catching up on some of the people she’d known, local gossip, her job and their favorite places to travel.

He relaxed her and made it easy to forget where she was, but a flash of red hair outside the window was all the reminder she needed. Amber. She was going somewhere in a hurry, and Nomi didn’t have time to sit here on a leisurely breakfast date. “I see my competition is already up and at ’em. Do you think we can head to Jilly’s now?”

He made a poor attempt at hiding his smile. “Sure, let me get the check.”

“Oh, I can’t let you do that. You’re doing me the favor, remember?”

“I insist. I’ll add it to your tab. Why don’t you get the car warmed up.”

While he flagged down the waitress, she headed out to start the car. She climbed into the passenger seat of the SUV and leaned over to stick the key in the ignition. Maybe if she’d been more alert, better mentally prepared, or hadn’t wasted part of the morning pretending she was on a bed-and-breakfast date, she would have noticed the woman coming out of the post office four doors down.

With her smooth chocolate skin and high cheekbones, she was the picture of Nomi in another twenty years. Nomi froze, not sure what to do. She hadn’t called her parents and hadn’t planned to. But still, she couldn’t ignore the twinge of pain in her heart at seeing her mother again.

Adrenaline spiking through her blood, Nomi knew she had to make a decision. If she didn’t move, then her mother would see her.

For several loud, pulsing heartbeats, she stayed like that, but then her brain kicked in. Just as her mother was about to look up from her bag, Nomi ducked. She’d call home. Just not right now. Later. Maybe tonight. Maybe tomorrow. Definitely before she left...maybe.

The driver’s door swung open and Linc laughed. “What are you doing?”

Sheepish, she sat up. “I, uh, thought I lost an earring.”

His brows rose. “Did you find it?”

“Yep.” She pointed at her ear. “Put it right back.” She could tell that he didn’t believe her, but she did not want to get into some long conversation about why she was hiding from her mother.

By the time they reached Jilly’s gallery, she felt more at ease. Linc’s sister had always been exuberant. It was no wonder she’d been a part of the pep squad at school. “Nomi! It’s so good to see you.” She bounded up to her and enveloped her into a warm hug.

Nomi squeezed back and let herself settle into the feeling of being home. She’d missed Jilly. Her bestie had been out to LA frequently to see her, or they’d met in places like New York, DC or San Francisco.

“Oh my God, Nomi, you have to tell me everything. Start talking. I’m so sorry I couldn’t be there yesterday, but Linc came to the rescue, right? He wasn’t late, was he?”

“No, Linc was perfect.” Damn, why did her voice sound so husky? She cleared her throat. “I didn’t recognize him at first.”

“He’s changed a lot, huh? Sometimes I can’t even believe it. You would think he’d have a girlfriend, but for some strange reason he doesn’t. If you ask me, he’s carrying a torch for someone.”

Linc’s brows rose, then he coughed. “Enough, Jilly.”

Nomi resisted the urge to shiver while she glanced between brother and sister, trying to figure out what the sudden note of tension was about. “Jilly, we have so much to catch up on.”

Her friend squeezed her hand. “We will find a way to make time before you go, okay? In the meantime, I know you didn’t come all this way for a snow fix. What do you need?”

“Even if it’s at midnight. We’ll figure it out. So, your gallery has showed some work of one of my favorite photographers.”

Jilly nodded, understanding. “Nolan Polk.”

“Is there anything you can tell me about him? What he looks like? Any places he might frequent? Even better, where he lives? It’s important I get a hold of him.”

Jilly bit her lip. “Have you tried his agent? She might know how to reach him best.”

Nomi rolled her shoulders. “Yes, repeatedly. I’ve tried everything. I keep getting the ‘Mr. Polk doesn’t take unsolicited requests’ message. I’m sort of desperate. We’re looking to put his photographs in our twentieth-anniversary issue featuring beauty around the world. I think some of the portraits he’s done around the world would be ideal.”

“Well, he is extremely talented. No doubt about that. But unfortunately, I can’t tell you much about him.”

There was something about the way Jilly slid her gaze away when she said that. “Look, I get it. You’re protecting your relationship with him. But anything you can tell me would be helpful. What does he like, where might I look next? I’m sort of running out of time.”

Jilly slid a glance toward her brother and sighed. “Okay, fine. First place you might look is Faith Woods. He used to do a lot of photos out in the woods. Rumor is he has a cabin there. Then tomorrow night, there’s an auction at the country club. Every year for the past three years, he’s donated a piece. I doubt he’ll be there, but it’s worth a shot.”

The country club? One of the last places she wanted to go. But if it meant a chance at Nolan Polk, then she’d better pull out her little black dress. But first, she and Linc were going to the woods.

Chapter 6

This was insane and Linc knew it. But, as he was quickly learning, there was no deterring Nomi from something she wanted to do. She was too damn stubborn.

“You know, you didn’t have to drive me.”

He slid her a glance. “Yes, I did.” It was the only way to keep her out of trouble. “The roads are a mess out here from the last snow, and you don’t actually have a car, so what were you going to do, walk?”

“If it meant getting here ahead of Amber, then yes.”

“What is the competition thing with that girl anyway?”

Nomi sighed and wiped away the fog on the passenger side window. “She’s hated me since I started at Sassy.”

He would never understand the dynamics between women. “Girl jealousy bullshit?”

She shrugged. “Something like that. I know I can come off a little strong, but she hated me on sight.”

“You? Come on strong?” he teased. That earned him a shove in the shoulder.

“I know I’m driven and that puts people off.”

“I dunno. I think it’s sexy. You know what you want and nothing stands in your way.” It also scared the shit out of him, because if anyone could find Nolan Polk, it was her. Hell, they were here, at his cabin.

So stupid. He couldn’t risk her knowing who he was just yet. His contract with Melanie was up in a little over a week. He had that long to determine if Nomi could be trusted. If she hung around that long.

He couldn’t wait to live his life again without Melanie clouding every decision he made. That was if he even felt like picking up a camera. It had been months. Though, sitting here with Nomi, with the sunlight streaking in, highlighting the reddish tones in some of her braids, he itched to capture it.

Her laugh was low and throaty. “You would be the only man on the face of the earth that finds my relentlessness sexy. Sometimes I feel like I repel guys. It’s okay, though. I’m about to be the youngest senior editor in the history of the magazine if I can pull this off.”

His gut clenched. The way she said it—as if it was the thing that would make her whole life—a part of him wanted to give it to her. “I think you’re wrong, but it’s a moot point. Anyway, we’re here.”

She sighed. “It’s kind of peaceful.”

“Don’t tell me the city slicker girl is missing her small hometown.”

“Don’t get it twisted, I love the city. The hustle and bustle. Los Angeles has a way different energy than Virginia does. But I do like my quiet moments. It must be easy to be creative out here with all the solitude. Nothing to do but listen to your imagination.”

It was peaceful. That was why he liked it. He could get away from the noise and just be himself. Granted, he hadn’t been here in a while. No need.

Nomi opened her door and a gust of icy wind blew in, chilling him to the bone. Right about now, LA didn’t sound so bad. He’d never been. An added bonus—Nomi lived there. Sap.

He followed her up the front stairs of the cabin, her tight ass sashaying in front of him in her leggings. She’d tossed the impractical boots she’d worn yesterday, and opted for flat ones with sheep’s wool lining.

Nomi knocked on the door and waited as patiently as she could. After only a brusque knock, she was peering into the windows.

He ignored the twinge of guilt. He knew no one was coming. “Looks like no one is home.”

She tsked at him. “Linc, you give up way too easily. Where is your determination?” She hopped down the stairs and started around the back.

“Where are you going? You need to be careful.” He could only imagine how pissed she’d be if she slipped on some ice and twisted an ankle.

“I’m fine. I’m not some west coast rube who’s never seen snow or ice before.”

“Still, it’s a long time since you’ve been here, Nomi.”

She shrugged. “Last I checked the stuff doesn’t change. Cold, slippery, wet.”

“Suit yourself.” He couldn’t help the smile as she had to check her balance more than once.

At the back of the house, she looked inside the windows again, then frowned. “I don’t see anything.”

“Nomi, the guy’s not home.”

“Yeah, but maybe he’s fallen down and can’t get up and he needs our help. Listen.” He stilled and she added. “You can almost hear him calling out.”

He rolled his eyes. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Surprisingly not the first time I’ve been told that.” She scooted around him. “Come on, I need a better view of the whole place.”

Linc stared at her. “You can’t break in.” Not to his place she couldn’t. “Nomi!”

Her laugh rang from around the corner. “Relax, I’m not breaking in. Think of me as more of a Peeping Tom.”

He joined her at the side of the house and cursed. She was trying to climb a stack of slippery logs to look inside. Linc stepped up behind her and dragged in a breath of chilly air. I’m just giving her a lift. No need to get all excited. It’s only for a second. The problem was getting his hands on her was all he could think about.

Nomi looked over her shoulder. “What’s the matter? I swear, I only want to have a quick look around. See if there’s any indication he’s been here or if this is even his cabin.”

Linc knew she wouldn’t find anything. He’d paid Hanna, the owner of Faith Woods Cabins, for a cellar to be added. Hell, he’d even brought in the crew and paid for all the work as a donation so he’d have somewhere to store all his equipment and files. “Fine, let’s get this over with.”

It wasn’t the safest move in the world to touch her since it was all he’d been thinking about since he’d picked her up from the train station. He might not be able to stop.

Nomi planted her hands on the sill and he hoisted her up easily. She might have been tall, but she didn’t weigh much. And, added bonus, she smelled heavenly. Like chocolate and something else. Something spicier. He gritted his teeth. All he had to do was not breathe in. “Do you see anything?”

“No,” Nomi panted. “Freaking nothing. For a photographer, there isn’t a single camera lying around, or even a photo. No photography books, no nothing.”

“Maybe we have the wrong cabin. Or maybe he was never a guest here at all.” He hated the disappointment he heard in her voice. A snake of guilt slithered over his skin.

“I’m starting to think I’m on a wild-goose chase.” She sighed. “Okay, coming down.”

It would have been an easy task to bring her down slowly. Should have been. It would have been no big deal. Should have been no big deal. It should have been simple. Should have been. But she let go of the windowsill and her shift in weight unsettled them.

Next thing he knew they were falling backward and Nomi gave a little squeak of surprise. Linc wrapped his arms around her and cradled her inward to protect her body as he landed on his back on the snow-packed grass. His teeth clinked together as he took the brunt of their fall.

“Oh my God, Linc. Are you okay?”

He did a quick mental check as his teeth rattled and a jolt of adrenaline spiked his blood. His back had a residual ache he’d likely feel for days. But for the most part, he could feel all his fingers and toes. He was fine. Except...Nomi was now plastered against his body. Her ass nestled right in his lap. He wasn’t sure if he was in heaven or hell—either way, his body loved it.

Chapter 7

Nomi wanted to melt into the molten heat surrounding her body. Relax into it and nestle there forever. Except she couldn’t. Linc was the source of the heat, and right now, she was on his lap.

He sat up abruptly, bringing her with him, and she gasped. Through his jeans and her leggings, she could feel the insistent pulse of an erection. A very large erection. Shit.

Behind her, a wall of muscle braced her upright. In her attempt to scramble up, all she managed to do was rub against him, making her pulse quicken and her breath hitch as heat pooled between her thighs.

Linc planted both hands on her hips, his voice low and gravely as he squeezed gently. “Stop moving, Nomi.” He sounded like warm whiskey on a cold night. She stilled.

“W-what?” She could barely force the two brain cells she had left to cooperate enough for speech.

“It’ll be easier if you let me pick you up.”

Right. “Oh.”

Gently, he lifted her and set her next to him on the grass.

Despite the cold of the grass and the whipping air, Nomi flushed. Not only did Lincoln Porter have the devil’s tempting smile but apparently, he had the power to turn her bones to liquid too.

Just having him hold her on his lap was enough to make her brain conjure all sorts of interesting scenarios about him naked. Nomi cleared her throat in an attempt to dissipate the imagery. What was she supposed to say? “I couldn’t help noticing you were working with some serious equipment. Can I help you with that?” No.

She wasn’t here looking for a fling. She was here for work. And Linc was doing her a favor. He didn’t want her, current erection notwithstanding. She had pretty much given the poor man a lap dance.

Lucky for her, he took all the fumbling words out of her mouth and stood smoothly before extending a gloved hand to her. Swallowing hard, she placed her hand into his. When he spoke, his voice was low. “Tell me, Nomi, are you done with your adventures in B and E now?” He pulled her to her feet easily.

“Yeah. It’s clear he’s not here. If he ever was to begin with.”

He watched her with those intense eyes of his and she shifted on her feet under the weight of his scrutiny. “You giving up on me?”

She lifted her chin. “Nope. There’s still the auction tomorrow night.”

His smile was fleeting. “There’s the Nomi we all know and love. Come on, let’s head into town.”

The drive back to town carried an undercurrent of tension. None from Linc’s side apparently, as he chatted with her about happenings in town.

But she felt the tension. Every time he touched her. Every time he slanted a grin at her. It was damned inconvenient.

After three more hours searching through the town and a false trail with his post office box, followed by coming up empty-handed with Jilly’s contact at the bank, she was losing hope. Her feet hurt. Her back hurt. And to make matters worse, she was still hyper aware of Linc.

He pulled into the guesthouse entrance and she was surprised to find a car in the driveway. One she recognized. Her mother’s.

She came out the back entrance before Linc had a chance to even park. Whistling low, he said, “You want me to stay with you?”

Nomi shook her head. She couldn’t hide forever. Eventually she’d have to deal with her parents and now seemed as good a time as any. “No, I got it.”

They both climbed out of his car and he headed straight for his room and she for her mother. Her mother’s no-nonsense stride hadn’t changed in the five years Nomi had been gone.

“Nomi Adams, do you want to explain to me how you come to town and you don’t even tell your parents?”

She sighed. “I’m sorry. This was supposed to be a really quick trip.”

“Nomi,” her mother admonished.

Nomi clenched her jaw. She hated that tone. Hated how it made her feel like a misbehaving teenager. Never mind that she’d called her mother weeks ago and had yet to get a call back. But she hadn’t come to fight, and no doubt Linc and his mother in the main house could hear them. “I’m sorry. I came for work. I should have come by the house. I didn’t think it through.”

“That’s an understatement. Is that why you were hiding from me in the parking lot this morning?”

Damn, she’d seen her. “I wasn’t hiding, exactly.” She sighed and opted for a little honesty. “I panicked. If I’d had my way I wouldn’t have even come back to Faith. And seeing you was sort of a shock to my system.”

Her mother added more quietly, “When do you leave?”

“I’m not sure actually. I still haven’t finished what I came to do.”

“Why would you come stay with the Porters when you could have come home?”

What? And have them on her case all the time about how she never came home and how they couldn’t possibly make it out to California for some reason or another? Her mother had spent her career following Senator Porter around, but now she claimed she didn’t like to travel. They’d only been to see her twice. “It’s a long story. The hotel was overbooked and Linc helped me out.”

“You could have come home.” Her mother softened her voice. “Since you’re here and the holiday is only a few days away, you should come to dinner, see your father. Christmas Day?”

“I...” The last thing she wanted to do was go home. But she didn’t want to do the same thing she accused them of. “If I’m still here, I’ll come.”

Her mother squared her shoulders. “I know it hasn’t been easy. But we haven’t seen you in a year and you haven’t been home in ages. It will be good for all of us, don’t you think?”

What she thought was that it might be torture. But there was no way out. Apparently, coming back to Faith also meant going home.

Chapter 8

The following night at the auction, after a fruitless day of searching, Nomi was tense. After last night’s showdown with her mother, it was bound to happen. But when she located the Polk piece for auction, all the tension rolled out of her body. Normally, she was down for a fancy party. The auction was just part of the itinerary for this event. But tonight, even the nicest champagne wasn’t making her any happier.

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