One Night at Christmas
Tressie Lockwood
One Night at Christmas
Copyright © December 2018, Tressie Lockwood
Cover Photo Copyright:
golubovystock/123RF Stock Photo
baks/123RF Stock Photo
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No part of this book may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, distributed, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, without express written permission from the author, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes.
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This book is a work of fiction, and any resemblance to any person, living or dead, or any events or occurrences, is purely coincidental. The characters and story line are created from the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously.
Also by Tressie Lockwood
Hired Hearts Series
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The Way Back
With His Touch
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The Johansson Brothers Series
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Ice in His Veins
His Brother’s Keeper
The Right One
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The Marquette Family Series
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Creed
Damen
Stefan
Duke
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www.tressielockwood.com
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Also by Tressie Lockwood
About the Author
Chapter One
Bryson peered into the screen and flashed that amazing smile that always had Charon’s belly fluttering. He was so beautiful and sexy and a million other adjectives that described physical perfection. “What are we having for breakfast today?”
Charon pretended his smile didn’t set her knees quivering. She leaned on her kitchen counter and straightened the tablet she used to connect with Bryson. “Whatever you want, but usually you ask for eggs and bacon.”
“I know, but today my sweet tooth is acting up. I felt it when I woke up. I’m thinking Charlie’s Restaurant for lunch.”
“The cheesecake?”
“Mm, yeah.”
She laughed. “What do you have it like once every other month? You’re like clockwork. I don’t get you. If I don’t have my daily chocolate, I’m liable to kill someone. In fact, I wonder if something in the chocolate itself doesn’t calm the beast.”
“You don’t look like a beast.”
She rolled her eyes toward the ceiling. “Don’t you start, mister. If you get to flirting with me, you’re going to be late going into the office, and I’m going to skip working on my art before my afternoon shift.”
His voice dropped an octave. “Come on, Char. You know you want it.”
“Stupid.” She cracked up, a ploy because when he talked like that, it got her wet. He probably knew what he did to her. Bryson looked good enough to have had a hundred women in his bed. She didn’t know if that was true because he didn’t brag about it. Maybe he left that information for his male friends. The two of them, they talked about everything else, including the direction they chose for their lives.
“Char.”
She left the tablet where it was and hurried to the refrigerator to gather a few ingredients. “Would you stop calling me Char? Jeez, you white people shorten everything.”
“You say that because I’m white.”
She snorted. Bryson was never offended when she pulled race on him. Normally, he just shot it back, teasing her to no end. She loved it. They were free and easy with each other, although she couldn’t imagine why. No two people could be more different.
“That’s right, so get it straight,” she told him. “How would you like it if I called you Bry?”
“My great aunt twice removed calls me that.”
“Liar.”
“If I had one.”
“Uh-huh.” She set a carton of eggs on the counter. “Okay, I’ll make raspberry goat cheese crepes. How’s that sound?”
“Delicious.”
She watched for a moment as he carried his laptop into his own kitchen and pulled the ingredients from it that she called off to him. This was their ritual every morning. Bryson would make a request for a particular breakfast, and she would cook it at her place while instructing him on how to prepare the food on his end. Over the last year or so, Bryson had learned to cook decently. At least it seemed so from the looks of the food and his moans of pleasure when he ate it.
They both cracked eggs into a bowl. She handled hers with one hand and watched his strong hands fumble just a tiny bit. Bryson was big at six foot five inches. Not only was he tall, but his broad shoulders and massive chest could intimidate anyone. He told her he played football in college, and she imagined the other players must have cowered in fear when he came charging down the field.
“That’s going to turn out even better than last time.” She watched his progress and approved.
“I’d rather eat yours.”
She flushed. The innocent statement gave her ideas, which she dismissed. “When you invent the teleportation device that can send food five hundred miles, we’ll try each other’s dishes.”
“We’re not so far apart, you know. There are modern conveniences such as the airplane, the car…”
She said nothing, concentrating on fixing breakfast. They had the conversation many times before. During some of them, she suggested they meet in real life. In other conversations, he suggested it. They never followed through despite speaking with each other every day and many nights for a little over two years.
Then there’s the problem that I love him.
“I was only teasing, Charon.” His voice was low, but he wasn’t attempting to sound sexy.
Her heart beat faster, and her breaths came out noisy and erratic. She worked on calming down.
“I’m sorry,” he said softly.
She licked her lips, head lowered.
“I don’t know why I’m apologizing,” he went on. “I keep thinking about it. I want to see you. We said we wouldn’t.”
“It might ruin everything.”
“How?” he demanded, and she looked at the screen. His blue eyes flashed slight anger. She couldn’t love him more just staring into his handsome face. Maybe it was about his looks, and that’s why she felt she loved him. Maybe she was vain.
The thought almost made her laugh, and her emotions calmed somewhat. “Okay, I’ll remind you since you seem to have forgotten.”
He folded his arms over his chest. The crisp white shirt he wore pulled at his bicep. His routine was to put on his suit jacket only when he was ready to walk out the door. She was glad he hadn’t put it on. He gave her a nice view she often kept in mind as she went to work at the pizza restaurant.
“You have your whole life planned out. Ever since you can remember, you’ve wanted one thing—to be rich. And you’re doing all you can to get there. Including marrying a rich and powerful wife. Or did you forget her too? Your fiancée?”
“I’m not engaged yet.”
“But you might as well be.”
“But not yet,” he insisted. “The negotiations haven’t been settled, and I haven’t of
ficially asked. She and I both know it depends on how things turn out with the Wolman deal.”
Charon frowned in disgust. “See what I’m saying? You don’t even like Gretchen from the way I’ve heard you talk about her. The two of you haven’t dated, unless you count working dinners. It’s all about the money and connections. I’m not like that. Nor can I ever be like that. Money means nothing to me. All I want—”
“Is love.”
She glared at him.
“Oh sorry. I thought that was what you were going to say.”
“You did not.”
His expression softened. “I know. You want an ordinary boring life.”
“Ordinary. Not boring. Why do I talk to you again?”
“Boring life?”
“Bye, Bryson.”
“Wait!” He held up his hands. “I apologize. I’ll behave. Don’t go. The best part of my day is talking to you.”
The butterflies came back. She looked away from the screen. “Don’t talk like that. Anyway, as I was saying, you want one thing. I want another. Meeting in real life would complicate the works.”
“Alright, forget I suggested it. What about you? Is he still around?”
She didn’t want to answer. Bryson knew all about her boyfriend Morris, the guy who came closer to being a match for her in terms of goals but who she didn’t love. Morris had actually asked her to marry him six months ago. She turned him down.
Since the proposal she and Morris were on again, off again. Last week, he broke it off, pissed because she wouldn’t commit to him. She hadn’t heard anything since, but she was pretty sure he would call soon. The question was, would she go back to him. Christmas was the day after tomorrow. They had spent the last two Christmases together, and if he didn’t call she would spend this one alone, having no family.
“If by he you mean Morris, then …yes.” She only hesitated a little. When she realized she loved Bryson, she started keeping her real feelings about him and about Morris to herself. Bryson believed she cared more about her boyfriend than she actually did. It was her way of protecting herself.
“So you got back together? You said last week you were taking a break.”
Crap!
She forgot she had blurted it out. Bryson knew they had issues, but so did every couple. Although he didn’t seem to like Morris, he had always encouraged her that everything would be fine. He tossed out compliments as easily as breathing. He’d say as beautiful as she was, her ex-boyfriend would be a fool to blow the relationship.
She refused to admit the problem was her more than Morris. Not that Morris was perfect. Hell, if he were, she wouldn’t find so much pleasure in her friendship with Bryson. Besides she and Bryson were friends long before she met Morris. How could she give Bryson up when one of them got married? It seemed impossible, but she had vowed she wouldn’t keep pining after a man when one of them tied the knot. Her value system didn’t allow for it.
And yet you haven’t told Morris about Bryson.
“Bryson, have you told Gretchen about me?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
He held up a bite of crepe, and she held up hers. They toasted each other with the food and ate together.
“Mm, good. You’re a great cook.”
She scoffed. “You made that.”
“But I’m imagining it was you.”
“I don’t know how to take you sometimes.”
“Well, I am a big guy, so that’s understandable.”
“Bryson!”
“Okay, I haven’t told her because she’d not interested in knowing about you or knowing you personally.”
“Meaning I’m nobody.”
His beautiful eyes narrowed. She could tell she had offended him, even though the insult was aimed at her. “You’re far from nobody. Don’t say that again.”
She concentrated on her plate, shifting the food around needlessly so he wouldn’t see how pleased she was at his emotion.
“You’re my best friend,” he admitted. “We’ve been through a lot together, even though we’ve never met in person. Sounds nuts but true.”
“I agree.”
“Gretchen is marrying me because it poses an advantage for her, nothing more.”
“That’s what you think.”
“She’s not interested in my friends unless that friend can get her what she wants. She’s cutthroat with business, the same way that I am. You don’t believe me.”
“I believe you. I just know there’s another side to you. And if you let that guy out in public, he could change the world.”
He made a gagging noise.
“Okay, you’re also an ass.”
He grinned and then grew serious. “I wouldn’t want her to meet you. She would devour you as a potential threat, and that can’t happen.”
“I’m not a threat.” Her heart ached. “You’re not willing to let go of your ambitions.”
“And neither are you.”
They were silent for a few minutes. She sighed. He was right, but she didn’t have any special dreams. All she desired in life was to have a simple and peaceful one. Her tiny apartment was enough, although she dreamed of having a house. The house probably wasn’t forthcoming while she worked at a pizza joint and hadn’t learned to be more disciplined in the money department.
When she shared her ideas for life with Bryson, he had truly gagged in disgust. His reaction mirrored her own when he flat out said he would be rich and powerful no matter what. He’d even said he would do anything to reach that goal. By thirty-five, he wanted to be president of a big corporation. The marriage to Gretchen would put him right where he wanted to be. Charon couldn’t even imagine such a goal.
“I’m glad I see you like this,” she said.
“How?” He was fishing.
“Sweet, kind, funny, playful…”
He gestured for her to continue, grinning.
“Too into yourself…”
“Hey!”
She laughed. “How can you be such a contradiction?”
“It’s a skill.”
He wiped his mouth on a napkin and rose from the island where he sat on a stool. Charon’s kitchen wasn’t big enough for an island or a table. Her tiny dining table was a bit scratched but cute. She’d picked it up secondhand.
“Charon, I was thinking.”
“Yes?”
“Call me tonight.”
“What do you mean? I always do, if you don’t call me.”
“No, I’m saying I want to talk to you about something. It’s important. We have to talk tonight.”
“You’ve got me curious. What’s it about?”
He appeared nervous. It was the one emotion that rarely showed on his handsome face. Bryson exuded confidence most of the time. And why shouldn’t he with so much going for him? Whatever was on his mind, though, he wasn’t completely confident about it. She didn’t want to wait until that evening, especially since she wouldn’t get off work until eleven.
“I don’t want to say what it’s about yet. But… he’s not around, right?”
She wrinkled her nose. “I’m here alone of course.”
“No, I mean, you’re off right now.”
“I didn’t intend to tell you that, but yes. It’s temporary.” A part of her hoped it wasn’t, but that was the part that loved Bryson. She should commit to Morris—or somebody—to force herself to let go of the feelings for her friend.
Bryson nodded. “Tonight. See you later, beautiful.”
The stubborn man wouldn’t tell her more. “Fine. Talk to you later.”
He leaned in closer to his screen and gestured throwing her a kiss. She sucked in a breath, but before she could respond, he was gone. What did he want to talk about, and what did it matter if she was with Morris or not?
Chapter Two
Charon’s feet were killing her. She slogged into the apartment and kicked her shoes off beside the door. Her cell phone rang, but she didn’t have the energy or the will t
o answer. Of course, being after midnight, she couldn’t imagine who it might be.
Her stomach growled, and she found a little extra energy to head into the kitchen. On the way home, she had stopped by her favorite Mexican food place that stayed open until three in the morning. Funny how she worked at a restaurant but preferred the cheese and bean ladened nachos she bought. The meal was so heavy it could easily weigh a couple pounds. She couldn’t eat it all in one sitting, but she sure tried.
When she had stuffed a couple nachos into her mouth, her cell phone rang again. She fished it out of her purse and checked the screen. Her heart stopped. Morris was calling. This was it. She chewed her lip for a minute, debating whether to answer. Something told her to wait for Bryson’s call.
“You can’t base your whole life on what Bryson does, Charon. He’s getting engaged soon, and after that, it’s going to be too late.”
For so long, she had hoped he would have a sudden change of heart and see things her way. He’d said as much to her, that she should change her focus. Not that he’d asked her to be with him, but it was always below the surface with them. They flirted and teased. They were really as close as too people could be separated by a few states. Both of them knew if things were different and no barriers were in the way, they would be a couple. It didn’t seem real. Someone like Bryson wanting her.
“He never said he loved me though.”
She thought about him. There was no way he loved her. He couldn’t because if he did, he would… She abandoned the idea. It tormented her to think about. If she loved Bryson the way she claimed, would she live the life he lived? Hobnobbing with the upper crust? The mere thought sickened her.
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