Christmas Affair

by Ginny Frost

  Cursing his stupidity, he paused. She hadn’t moved an inch or responded an iota.

  Fuck.

  He’d screwed it up. He gazed at her, waiting, wanting to throw her over his shoulder and run her to his room.

  Her eyes opened, looking a little wild, and her gaze locked on his mouth. In a lightning move, not unlike a cobra strike, she grabbed the back of his head and crushed her mouth to his. Walls crumbled in that kiss. No more hesitating. No more guilt for seeing her wet in her bathrobe.

  Damn. It's on…

  Then the staff door smacked him in the ass, driving him forward, right into Jo. He threw his hands out, wrapping one around her waist, the other out to catch the wall. His shoulder smashed into the doorframe opposite, sending red sparks up his arm. But Jo remained cradled and safe in his grip. Her feet slipped out from under her, but she didn’t hit the floor.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  A voice sounded behind them. “That you, Brett? Stanley said you’d be down. Whatcha doing making-out in the hallway?”

  Ah, Ernie.

  Good guy, but not the sharpest tool in the chest.

  “Hey, Ernie,” he said, setting Jo on her feet. Her face flushed scarlet again. He loved that. “I was looking for you.”

  Ernie snorted. “Yeah, sure you were.”

  Brett stared at him stone-faced, and Jo hid behind him. He let her, though he hated her not bold in the face of idiocy.

  Ernie’s grin disappeared in a heartbeat.

  “Trouble with the power?” Brett clipped his words to inform Ernie he would not bullshit around here.

  Ernie’s hands dropped into his pockets, his expression sobered. “Yeah, the ballroom ceiling leaked and tripped a breaker. I’m trying to find the source of water. Probably an ice dam, but it’s making the lights spark in that section.”

  Brett nodded. I should duck into the ballroom to view the damage. Jo’s hand squeezed on his arm as if she’d read his mind. “Bad?” He crossed his arms, hating that the action removed her hand.

  Ernie shrugged. “I got time to figure it out, so…” His slack expression said he didn’t plan to work hard to remedy the situation.

  “So,” Brett said, scrubbing his chin. “You have an ice dam—roof work and sparking electrical that needs time to dry. You shut off the electricity to this part of the building.” He waved at a dark light fixture.

  “Eh, it’s noon. Plenty of time.” Ernie snuffed, gesturing to the room he just exited. “That bitch won’t know nothing.”

  Jo stiffened.

  Anger and disappointment flared in Brett’s chest. Never bad-mouth a client. Never blow off work because you’ve “got time.” Nine times out of ten when fixing something, an additional problem sprung up. A good contractor, a good repairman understood the delicate nature of the universe, and how any job could turn to shit at any second. So attack and hope the problems aren’t worse than you expected.

  “Let me introduce you to Jo Lockwood, the bitch’s daughter.”

  Ernie’s face fell.

  “So, maybe you want to get on the ballroom problem ASAP, huh?”

  Ernie dashed into the staff room and ran back out, tools in hand. He flew down the hallway at breakneck speed and slammed through the double doors.

  Jo pressed against his arm. “You think he’ll fix it?” She sounded distant. Not amazed or awed by Brett’s authority, but wistful.

  “You don’t want to go to the party?”

  She shook her head. “But I also don’t want Mom mad the room isn’t perfect, or…” She waved away the words, and a single tear ran down her cheek.

  Brett caught his breath. “Damn, I’m sorry. Let me grab a sandwich, and I’ll make sure the room is perfect by the time…”

  Placing a hand on his arm, she stopped his speech. She leaned her head against him. “No, don’t kill yourself for this. When she’s not happy, it can get ugly. I don’t want her taking it out on either you or Ernie. Mom doesn’t understand shit happens.” She giggled as she swore, putting delicate fingers over her mouth.

  “But the party… it seemed kinda important. The staff has been hustling…”

  “For a woman with a big budget.” She glanced at him, gray eyes rolling in their sockets. “Let’s fix the Wi-Fi so the entire hotel can have internet access. Let Ernie take care of the items for the party.” Her smile didn’t hit her eyes.

  “Come on,” he said. “The ‘server room’ should be in here.” He opened the door to a dark room full of electrical cables, machines, and tools. “Shit,” he remarked. “There’s no power in here either.”

  Jo entered the room. “I got this. First, we find the cable modem and move it.” She flipped her flashlight app on.

  “The what?” He understood the basics of computers, like how important it was for business. He could wire a kitchen, call up a picture of a contract on his phone, but websites, routers, and such were beyond him.

  Jo shone her flashlight here and there, touching one machine or another. “I can see why they think it’s the server room. Someone set up a mancave, probably Ernie.”

  “Mancave?” A word he knew. How did it apply to computer things?

  Jo giggled, raising her arms to the side to indicate the entire room. “There’s an MMO station here.” She hit a key on a still-running machine. “This one’s on battery power.” She clicked a few things and smirked.

  “What?” He hated not knowing things, especially for electrical stuff. His dad held a state certificate and taught him everything about wires and power.

  “That same someone has been playing internet games while on break. But it’s no server room. The hotel’s not in the data business. But that’s a nice-looking cable modem. The building has repeaters throughout.”

  She crouched in front of a box that looked as dead as a doornail. “We’ll just move it.” She picked up the box. Its cables didn’t have much slack. “Can you unhook this?”

  “Uh, I guess.” He touched his tool belt, unsure.

  “Just a few co-ax cables.”

  Co-ax? Now she was talking his language.

  ***

  Jo studied the machine. Easy to move. She stepped back, allowing Brett access to the device.

  His concerned expression disappeared as he pulled a wrench from his tool belt. “So we unhook this. Then what happens?”

  “Where can we hook it up? Any cable access will do.”

  “So, it’s just… another co-ax in? Nothing magical or computery?” He looked mystified.

  Jo hid a smirk. People always thought the computer universe was mystical. In reality, it was just wires, electricity—ones and zeros.

  He handed her the liberated modem, doubt in his expression.

  “Trust me, Brett.”

  He shrugged. “What’s next?”

  That simple statement stole her breath away. Every fiber of her being wanted to kiss him again. Kiss him until they both exploded. He trusted her. No coddling, no telling her “women don’t understand these things.” Not saying she couldn’t know something he didn’t.

  She’d never met a man like him. Every guy Mom paraded in front of her tried to control her, run her life as Mom did. They always assumed she was a fragile flower on a pedestal. Someone who required special care, with no brain of her own.

  Tears filled her eyes. She placed a hand over her mouth, afraid a sob or hysterical laughter might erupt from her lips.

  His brow furrowed. “Did I break it? Man, I’m sorry. I thought it was like any other cable connection. Fuck.” He slammed the wrench into his tool belt.

  “No, no. Nothing like that. We need the router, too.” She pointed to the device. “And the cables connecting the two, an ethernet cable.”

  Brett looked at her dumbly, and she patted his arm. She reached over, unplugged the machine from the outlet, and unhooked the ether cable. She wound the cords and glanced around, making sure they grabbed everything.

  “Now to hook it up.”

  “You tell me where, because
I have no clue.” He held his hand out for the router and cables. She didn’t want to give them up, but Brett was being chivalrous. She let him.

  “How about Stan’s office?”

  “Oh man, he’ll love that.”

  They headed from the “server room” to the lobby. The giggle twins disappeared from the desk, replaced by a stout middle-aged woman. She raised an eyebrow at the two of them and all the computer equipment.

  “Can I help you?” she asked, skepticism darkening her words.

  “Can we get into Stanley’s office?” Brett asked, holding up the modem. The clerk didn’t seem impressed.

  “No,” she said flatly. “Mr. Frasier is out, trying to deal with the roof leak.” The phone next to her rang. “You can wait there for him.” She pointed to a bench as she grabbed the handset.

  Jo glanced at Brett, who shrugged. Oh no, we're not giving up that easily. She tapped on the registration desk, examining the room as she listened in on the call.

  “Yes, we are aware of the internet issue. The roof has a leak… Well, I’m not sure how it stops the Wi-Fi. I’m aware it’s down… Yes, ma’am. As fast as we can… no, we won’t compensate.”

  Jo leaned over the desk. Two dozen messages littered the space. Most labeled with “No internet.”

  “Psst,” she hissed at the clerk, who gave her a startled and annoyed look. “Let us in the office, and we’ll fix the Wi-Fi.”

  The clerk’s mouth dropped open as her hand slackened on the phone receiver. “Really?” she asked, the handset pressed to her chest. “Don’t screw with me here. I got a million calls about…”

  Jo placed a hand on the counter. “We need access and five minutes. You know Brett.” He gave legitimacy to their request. Jo figured her presence would cinch it. “I’m Josephine Lockwood.”

  The woman fluttered, dropping the handset. “Oh, quick, please.” She gestured toward the closed door of Stanley’s office.

  Jo grinned as she rounded the desk and opened the door. “Cable access?” she asked Brett, who hustled in behind her.

  “Oh, he has a cable hookup here somewhere. Who do you think previews the adult films?” He waggled his eyebrows.

  “Eww.” She scrunched up her nose, stepping away from the counter.

  “Eww, indeed.”

  In two minutes flat, Jo set up the cable modem on Stanley’s desk with the router next to it. The lights flashed and blipped for a second before falling into a steady rhythm. Brett looked at her expectantly.

  A bead of sweat rolled down her neck. The installation of a cable modem amounted to a simple thing, but a pressure built in her chest, regardless. It seemed like her entire relationship with Brett depended on the Wi-Fi running correctly now.

  A slight nervousness floated over her as she pulled out her phone. “Guess we should check, huh?”

  He shrugged. “I usually test the reliability of my work. But you do what you need.” He winked at her. His confidence rolled over her like a warm blanket. He believed in her. He let her fix the problem without chastising, giving advice, or doing it for her. With a sigh of relief, she clicked phone settings and hit the login for the hotel Wi-Fi.

  And it worked.

  One click, and she was in. She hit her browser and searched for a few random topics to be sure new content came through. The pages loaded every time.

  She beamed. “Seems to work. How about you?” She regretted the words as soon as they passed her lips. She’d broken his phone with the run-in. “Wait, never mind…”

  Brett shook his head. “One little crack. Seriously? Calm yourself.” His words made her laugh, genuinely laugh. With Brett, she didn’t need to adhere to strict high-society rules, to formality and uber-politeness. He took her at face value every time. And the kiss… she couldn’t think about the kiss.

  Her thoughts trailed off as she gazed into Brett’s eyes. A new light shone in them.

  “Damn, you did it. Well done. We’ll check with the clerk and find out if the system is up building-wide.”

  “We should go to my room and check my laptop,” Jo said in a dreamy voice.

  Brett’s gaze snapped to hers. “All right.” The words came out on a cool breath, his eyes turning dark. Didn’t have to hit the guy over the head when trying to seduce him. He got it in one.

  Chapter Ten

  Josephine could not believe her audacity. Inviting a man she’d just met to her room for they both knew what. They hurried by the reception clerk, telling her the internet access was back, and rushed to the elevator.

  Brett paused at the closed door; his gaze raked her body up and down. One edge of his lip curled in a half-smile.

  She wasn’t used to such scrutiny. Usually, she hid in the corner, away from the spotlight. But Brett’s gaze stirred something deep inside. She looked at him—really looked.

  He was hot and kind of goofy. Sweet, too. He never played the stud, not to her or the giggle twins at the desk. He was a gentleman when he rescued her. The memory of his hands on her as he carried her to the tub sent a thrill down her spine.

  The elevator slid open, and they stepped inside. Once the door closed, Jo inched toward him, and he met her halfway. Their arms around each other, their faces millimeters apart. He paused, and her lips ached to touch his.

  “You sure?” he asked, breathy, his baritone vibrating her body.

  She closed her eyes and let it all sweep over her. This day, this man… “Oh, yes,” she moaned, and his lips fell on hers.

  Electricity danced across her skin as his lips first brushed hers, then pressed. A kiss so perfect, so careful, and wanting at the same time. He let her lead. She tried to hold back, be a lady, but inside her, an animal roared. She opened her lips and devoured him.

  The elevator dinged, and the door opened. Reluctantly, Jo broke the kiss, her gaze rolling up to his devilish grin. She needed to get him in her room, fast.

  The distance down the hall to her suite seemed a thousand miles, but also a single step. At the double door, she fiddled with the key, her fingers trembling.

  “Here, let me,” he said, taking the card. The simple brush of his fingers against hers sent vibrations throughout her body. Her knees weakened, and she clutched his arm for support. More contact sent more tingles.

  He swiped the card, ushered her inside, and closed the door behind them with a snick of the lock.

  She and Brett—alone in her room. My God…

  Jo pressed her lips, glancing at the floor.

  “Everything okay?” he asked.

  “Yeah, random thought.” She stepped toward him, wanting to tell him how much she desired him. She stood before him, hands on his shoulders.

  “Brett,” she said, breathless.

  His gaze raked over her face once more before he lowered his lips to hers. Slowly, he nudged her backward until her legs hit the bed, and she sat.

  He stood over her, staring with a heat that put goosebumps on her skin.

  Her lips parted slightly. She wanted to say… say what?

  Gazes still locked, he pulled his shirt off, his head cocking to the side as he dropped the garment to the floor. His chest was romance-cover perfect. Men built muscles from either hours of working out, or a life of hard work. Jo guessed Brett did a bit of both.

  A flutter of nerves coursed up her skin. He was perfect, too perfect. Doubt and trepidation raced in her brain. She frowned.

  It was a terrible idea. She hardly knew him. He could be a raging alcoholic, or a Republican.

  Teeth gritted, she pushed those thoughts aside. Brett had been nothing but nice. One night with him might help put her life in perspective.

  “You okay?” His voice sounded husky, but Jo noted he asked permission. And considering his pants were getting tighter by the second, Jo gave him full points for gentlemanliness.

  Plus, yay for thin khakis.

  “One second.” He dashed back toward the door and knelt by his tool belt. Jo got a delightful view of his tush in those tight pants. Beautiful. She coul
d eat breakfast off that butt.

  Turning back, he flashed a foil package.

  “You keep condoms in your tool belt?”

  “You got a better place for them?” He walked over to the bed and tossed it on the night table. He towered over her again, and a streak of heat coursed through her body. Tall, handsome, and a little intimidating.

  She sat up, feeling brave enough to pull off her top. With a twist and a turn, and some assistance from Brett, she shed her shirt. After giving him a long blink, she flopped on the bed on her stomach, feeling a little exposed. Then she realized her mouth was inches from his crotch. Heat seeped into her cheeks, but she opted to go with it. Tipping her head back, she gazed at him.

  A small smile touched his lips. His eyes locked on hers, he unbuttoned his pants and let them drop to the floor.

  Jo swallowed hard. It was too much, but Brett was… well, he was every fantasy come true. Every romance hero, every superhero, every dream man wrapped into one. She wanted him, but perhaps she asked for too much, too fast.

  She met his gaze, and a softness blurred over his expression.

  He pressed his lips and cocked his head. With a gentleness no man with such a ripped chest should possibly have, he stroked her hair, and she shifted. It was too much. How could I ask for this? How could I want this kind of intimacy after just a few days? How could a man like him want a woman like me? What was I thinking?

  He read the balk in her body language. “Jo…” The word held understanding and accommodation, with lust coloring its edges a deep crimson.

  Something inside her opened up. She deserved wild passion. She deserved Brett. Something clicked in her head, and she transformed into another woman, a bold one who took want she wanted from her lover.

  Before he could move away, she reached over and grasped the elastic of his jockeys. Letting it snap back, she said, “Don’t leave yet.” She pushed as much sexy into her voice as possible.

  “Well, now…” He grinned and lowered his underwear, the back first, letting the fabric in front cling to his erection rather seductively.

  A flutter of fear and excitement passed over her, like nothing she’d ever experienced before. Usually, sex occurred in the dark with a blueblood idiot who was too eager or too scared. Brett was pure confidence, all man, and she wanted him, wanted to do things she’d never done before.