Santa, Baby
Page 17
Baxter stood there, unable to breathe. Caron hadn’t betrayed him and, indeed, he was a fool. He’d let Jett and his betrayal taint his objectivity. He was crazy about Caron. He was in love with Caron.
His father’s hand came down on his shoulder. “Go get her, son.”
“I plan to.” Baxter was already on the move and in his car in a matter of seconds. He dialed the bookstore as he pulled onto the road, aware that Caron had stayed open late for last-minute shoppers and hoping to catch her. No answer. He dialed again. No answer. He considered calling her cell, but decided this was something better done face-to-face anyway.
He screeched into the parking lot but swore again when he found Caron’s car absent. But Kasey’s white Camry was there, and he rushed to the back door and pounded. Nothing.
“Kasey, it’s Baxter.” Damn. He ran around the building to the front. Knocked on the window over and over, until Kasey finally appeared.
She unlocked the door. “You just missed her. She’s gone straight to Sonoma.”
“What route?”
“She takes 101 to 37.”
He was already walking away as Kasey called out, “It’s about time you came to your senses.”
Baxter waved a hand in understanding. She was right. It was about time. And he was more than willing to spend a lifetime making up for it.
WITH HER HEART HEAVY, Caron drove toward Sonoma, thankful the day was behind her. The store had been packed; the customers arriving one after another. And they had been godsends, distractions from the growing ache of hearing nothing from Baxter. There had been a few moments of weakness, when she’d considered calling him. At other times, she called him all right—a jerk, a rich, snotty, arrogant…Well, the list went on. In the end, she didn’t think he was any of those things, but she acknowledged it had felt good to lash out. In the end, he was simply a man betrayed by a close friend, fearful of being betrayed again. She should have told him, she supposed, about the FBI, but beating herself up about her logic didn’t help matters.
For now, she simply wanted to get to her grandmother’s place. To drink hot cocoa and eat her grandma’s famous brownies—perhaps a few dozen or so would make her feel better. She began to fantasize about those sweet treats when the car behind her flashed its lights.“Everyone is in a hurry,” she mumbled, and changed lanes to let the car pass. But the car didn’t pass—it flashed its lights again. Caron frowned.
She dug her cell from the empty drink holder where she’d stashed it, preparing to call for help—just in case. It started to ring. She didn’t dare take her eyes off the road, punching the answer button. “Hello.”
“It’s Baxter, Caron.”
Her heart jackknifed. “Baxter?”
“Pull over, baby. The sign says there’s a rest stop at the next exit.”
“That’s you behind me?”
“Yeah,” he said. “It’s me.”
Caron started shaking and tears pricked at her eyes. Emotion overcame her; that valued control she so loved, gone. Baxter was here? On the highway? She could barely drive the half mile it took to get to the rest stop and pull into a parking spot.
It was seconds before Baxter was at her open door, dropping to his knee on the ground beside her as she turned to face him, her feet on the pavement. His hands went to her knees in that familiar way he always touched her, the wind caressing his dark hair, her nostrils flaring with that spicy scent she so adored and thought she’d never smell again.
“I was a fool, Caron. A complete fool. Jett had let me down, and I was taken off guard when I heard about you talking to the FBI.”
“I didn’t—”
He touched her lips with his fingers, and shivers raced down her spine with the intimate connection. “I know. You don’t have to say another word except that you forgive me. I know we haven’t known each other that long, but I know you’re the one for me. I love you, Caron. I love you so much. Spend Christmas with me. Spend a lifetime with me.”
“I love you, too,” she said, tears spilling from her eyes as he hugged her and then kissed her—a long, loving kiss that promised passion would come later.
IT WAS THE DAY AFTER Christmas when Caron finally had the opportunity to give Baxter the Christmas present she’d considered and reconsidered. Standing in Baxter’s bathroom—soon to be hers since she was moving in with him—she surveyed her red dress and the now infamous blond wig, with jitters in her stomach and a smile on her ruby-red lips. With a little thrill, she glanced at the emerald-cut white diamond sparkling on her finger. It had been her surprise Christmas gift.
She couldn’t wait to see what he thought of her plan to seduce him Marilyn-style, and for once, she didn’t think it was the bombshell, but Caron—that turned him on. She knew Baxter desired her, and that they could play a few bedroom games, without her feeling insecure. And that turned her on. She adored the idea of such freedom. Just as she adored Baxter.He’d been wonderful with her grandmother, who had surprised Caron by unveiling officially her own romance, just as Caron had suspected. And time spent with Baxter’s family had only proven them more likable than ever. But now, home with Baxter, ready to celebrate alone—that was what she’d been waiting for.
Caron turned on the stereo built into the wall and popped in the CD. The music started and she opened the door to the bedroom and posed in the doorway. Baxter lay on the bed eagerly awaiting her surprise. With confidence she never thought possible, Caron began her sexy striptease to the music, “Santa Baby.” A striptease that ended with the most passionate, wonderful lovemaking of her life.
Hours later, wrapped in Baxter’s strong, protective arms, she twined her fingers in the dark, sexy hair on his chest. “I think I should send the wig back.”
He lifted his head. “I like the wig.”
She grinned. “Oh, I know. So do I. But what if I’m keeping some other girl from having the night of her life? I know I would never have wanted to miss mine.”
“Send it back, then,” he said, tightening his arms around her. “And I can only hope it turns out as lucky for the next guy as it did for me.”
Epilogue
IT WAS NEW YEAR’S EVE and Josie stood behind the costume shop’s counter, with her boss nearby, pressing her to stay longer than she’d wished. She was eager to get home and get ready for her night out with Tom.
She was busy adding the day’s receipts when the door jingled and opened. To her happy surprise, Tom walked through the door, a package in his hand.“Last delivery of the night,” he said, winking as Josie’s boss turned away. “Headed home to get ready for my hot date.”
Josie grinned and waved as he left, wondering if the package was one of his “special deliveries.” They’d been blissfully dating for over a month, and he often brought her packages. Flowers. Chocolates. Sexy lingerie. Seemed he preferred her costumes to be of the tiny silk and satin variety, and Josie was having fun experimenting with what turned him from hot to hottest.
With eagerness, Josie ripped open the package and found the blond Marilyn wig. “What in the world?” She flipped open the enclosed card and read,
I considered keeping this, but decided not to be selfish. My night in the Marilyn costume turned into a lifetime of fantasy. Please make sure some other girl gets the same chance. Caron Avery.
Josie smiled, thinking about just how wonderful her night in the Marilyn costume had turned out, as well, when she noticed the red envelope she hadn’t seen at first. She bit her lip, a fizzle of excitement darting through her, certain it was from Tom. She slipped open the seal and pulled out the heart-covered card. Inside read,
My New Year’s resolution is to spend every New Year with you, Josie. Forever.
Joy filled Josie. Happy New Year, indeed. And to all, a silk and satin good-night.She was quite certain it would be for her.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones is the author of the highly acclaimed INSIDE OUT series. Suzanne Todd (producer of Alice in
Wonderland ) on the INSIDE OUT series:
Lisa has created a beautiful, complicated, and sensual world that is filled with intrigue and suspense. Sara’s character is strong, flawed, complex, and sexy - a modern girl we all can identify with.
In addition to the success of Lisa's INSIDE OUT series, she has published many successful titles. The TALL, DARK AND DEADLY series and THE SECRET LIFE OF AMY BENSEN series, both spent several months on a combination of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling lists. Lisa is presently working on a dark, edgy new series, Dirty Money, for St. Martin's Press.
Prior to publishing Lisa owned multi-state staffing agency that was recognized many times by The Austin Business Journal and also praised by the Dallas Women's Magazine. In 1998 Lisa was listed as the #7 growing women owned business in Entrepreneur Magazine.
Lisa loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her at www.lisareneejones.com and she is active on Twitter and Facebook daily.
More from Lisa Renee Jones
The Inside Out Series If I Were You
Being Me
Revealing Us
His Secrets*
Rebecca’s Lost Journals
The Master Undone*
My Hunger*
No In Between
My Control*
I Belong to You
All of Me*
Dirty Money Hard Rules
Damage Control (February 2017)
Bad Deeds (August 2017)
End Game (February 2018)
Careless Whispers Denial
Demand
Surrender (January 2017)*
Tall, Dark and Deadly Hot Secrets
Dangerous Secrets
Beneath the Secrets
Deep Under
Pulled Under (November 2017)
Falling Under (December 2017)
Secrets Exposed (Loosely connected book)
The Secret Life of Amy Bensen Escaping Reality
Infinite Possibilities
Forsaken
Unbroken*
*eBook only