Sweet Holiday Surprise (Indigo Bay Sweet Romance Series)

by Jean Oram

  She swung it away from him as though denying him the right to change the topic. “Is Desmond coming?”

  “No clue.” Cash picked up Alexa’s overnight bag and opened the door more fully. “Why don’t you come in? I have sweet tea, biscuits and strawberries from Sweet Caroline’s. They were for my uncle, who requested I keep snacks on hand, but it seems he’s stood us up.”

  Alexa’s eyes narrowed. “You mean he’s set us up.”

  “He thinks he’s a master matchmaker,” Cash said casually, noting that Alexa’s face flushed again. It wasn’t news that Des thought she was Cash’s perfect match, and had been trying to get them together since the company’s Fourth of July company picnic. There was something about a bright-eyed cowgirl that won people over. Cash included.

  Back in the office he looked forward to their flirtatious games, knowing she’d never take him seriously enough to get either of them in hot water. But with her here, and having Desmond’s possible blessing, not to mention the fact that Cash would be leaving Cohen’s in a few weeks, as Luke was due to return…well, he was curious if their attraction was something that might be real and whether she’d be up for a little exploratory survey to find out.

  Alexa muttered something under her breath as she entered the small cottage, ditching her dress on the couch. “I booked up just about every room in town for this party.”

  “You’re welcome to sleep with me if space is at a premium.”

  “It’s a two-bedroom cottage.”

  “Right. Sleeping with me in the cottage. What did you think I meant?” He couldn’t help smiling once more. There was nobody he’d rather be rooming with, and given the way she’d blushed again—this time down to the neckline of her blouse—he found his attention straying in a way it shouldn’t. But it was impossible not to relish the way her glossy brown hair brushed the tops of her breasts, emphasizing her lusciously full figure. And how those long-legged Western-style jeans she wore most Fridays, despite the ribbing she received from the other staffers, who trotted around in designer, made her look strong and sexy. He knew without Alexa turning around that the denim cupped her buttocks, the back pockets decorated with what he could best describe as highly distracting bling.

  “I promise to be good,” he said in a low rumble.

  “Of course you will. You’re my boss.” She gave him a stern glance, but he noticed her own lingering gaze had an edge of hunger.

  Ditto that, cowgirl.

  She was staring at him, her breathing more rapid than usual.

  Was this that moment he’d fantasized about after joking with her while waiting for the office printer? The moment where they finally let go? He took a step toward her, their eyes locked, the air between them laced with longing. His phone broke the silence with a disco ringtone and Alexa inhaled sharply, leaning back, the trance broken.

  Mentally cursing, Cash dug his cell from the pocket of his worn 501s and checked caller ID before answering.

  “Des? Where are you? Everything okay?”

  “Sorry to cancel on you,” his uncle said cheerfully. “Una from bingo finally asked me to a family dinner. I’ve been waiting on her for almost a year. Can’t say no. Not at my age. Might not get a second chance.”

  Cash found himself eyeing Alexa. “I understand completely.”

  “Oh, and Alexa should be arriving soon,” Des said.

  “She’s here.”

  “Take good care of her. Enjoy the strawberries. Champagne should be arriving shortly. See you in January, my boy.”

  “Wait. You’re not coming?”

  “No point making the drive. I’d get there in time to turn around and come home to Charleston again.”

  “This is your chance,” Des added theatrically.

  “Merry Christmas to you, too.” Cash sighed and ended the call. He said to Alexa, “Sounds like we’ve been ditched.”

  “Una?” she said hopefully.

  “He told you about her?” Cash asked in surprise.

  “I may have given him a bit of advice.”

  “Yeah? What was that?” Maybe it would help him, too.

  She shook her head, dismissing the topic as she shifted into business mode. “I’m not telling Luke your uncle isn’t coming to the party. And as for you and Thailand—”

  “I’m a big disappointment, yeah, I know. But Des needed me. What was I going to do? Say tough luck, old buddy, but money calls?”

  Her expression softened with what he knew was reluctant approval. She said with a hint of affection, “It’s lucky your competitors haven’t clued in to what a sucker you are.”

  “My assistant does a good job of playing the bad cop for me.”

  She gave him a playful scowl. “Just because I can say no. Unlike those other women of yours…”

  “I have no other women.” Not since he’d started working with her, oddly enough. Although his lack of women could be due to the fact he could barely afford his debt payments, let alone the cost of wooing anyone. He propped himself against the back of the couch, arms crossed over his chest. “And you never say no to your charming CEO boss.”

  She sashayed closer, giving him a sly smile that sent blood rushing south. “I get paid to say yes.”

  Oh, woman. Yes. Yes, indeed.

  He pushed away from the couch and took up the space between them. “Then say you’ll be my date tonight, Miss Montana.”

  Alexa had said no to being Cash’s date. He was used to getting what he wanted—women included—and once he had his fill, he moved on. Alexa had dated a man like that and learned that as fun and as flattering as the attraction might happen to be, it would never lead to anything other than heartbreak.

  How could she possibly say yes to more of that?

  “Don’t do something stupid, even if he is irresistible,” Alexa whispered to herself. She subtly fanned herself with a menu card that had fallen out of its holder on the hors d’oeuvre table set out in the beautiful old Portia House, the mansion where the reception for Luke and Emma was being held. The ceremony had ended thirty minutes ago, the ballroom quickly transformed by the experienced staff from rows of seating for five hundred into a splendid dining room where guests could enjoy the open bar and appetizers before dinner.

  Her gaze caught Cash’s from across the room and she turned away, fanning the card faster. He was simply devastating in his deep black tuxedo, which had obviously been created for him and him alone.

  She was going to make a mistake tonight. She could feel it.

  She needed space, air. Anything. Something. The way he would place a warm palm on the base of her back and listen to her like she was the only woman on the planet was doing her in. Before the ceremony he’d leaned close and murmured something low in her ear, and she’d just about melted into him as her resolve to not get involved took a punishing hit.

  It was the attention. That was all. The feeling of being Cash’s sole focus.

  Alexa fussed a little more over the table, then waved to J.J., a man who’d been a godsend during her many road trips over to Indigo Bay as she’d organized tonight’s party. He’d not only convinced the fabulous Indigo Bay Chocolate Emporium to create party favors for tonight, but had saved the entire event with one phone call to a cousin, persuading the mansion administrator to take a booking the day before Christmas Eve, when it was discovered the previously reserved August date wouldn’t work.

  “Save me a dance later,” J.J. said, sweeping by and placing a champagne flute in Alexa’s grip before clinking his glass against hers.

  She smiled and agreed. Once he was gone, she sipped the beverage and placed the menu card in its holder, while looking for something new to fuss over. There was nothing, which meant she had no further way to avoid Cash like she had for the past twenty minutes. No further way to avoid getting swept up in believing that their attraction might be something real.

  An arm slipped around her waist as a warm voice spoke her name, evoking shivers of anticipation. It was the man himself, Cash Campbell.
He slipped the champagne flute from her grip, then linked his fingers through hers.

  “I planned on drinking that,” she protested.

  “You like Budweiser, not champagne.”

  True. And sweet of him to remember.

  “Who was that guy?” he asked.

  She turned in his loose embrace, trailing a finger down his chest. It was thrilling to be in his arms. Dangerous, too. “Are you jealous?”

  “If you allow anyone to kiss you tonight, let it be me.”

  “This…” she waggled a finger between them, the spark in his eyes along with his words making it difficult to inhale fully “…doesn’t include kissing.”

  “Okay, beautiful.”

  She resisted the need to look at him from under her lashes. There was something about him that made her want to act helpless, let him take charge, shelter her.

  Which told her how wrong this was.

  Cowgirls did not preen. They flirted: they grabbed men by the scruff of their neck and dragged them onto the dance floor. They took control, did not give it away.

  “Sit beside me at supper,” he urged.

  “Maybe I rearranged the seating chart so you’re on the opposite end of the room.”

  “You didn’t.” He had a hint of a smile, as though enjoying the challenge she was giving him in terms of pursuit.

  “You’ll just have to wait and see, won’t you?”

  “But not for long,” he said quietly, as dinner was announced. He slipped a guiding hand to her back, slightly too low to be proper, but so low she could call him on it. Not that she wanted to. It seemed the longer she was near him, the more helpless she was to his charm. Months ago, he’d snagged her with his proverbial lasso, as though she was the mare he intended on taming. He was giving her a long rope, letting her believe she had freedom, choice. She could run, kick, frolic, but with each circle she took of her corral, with each flirtatious comment, he was slowly pulling her closer. Settling her, taming her. Drawing her in as she began to trust him.

  Part of her wanted to be tamed, to give in.

  Cash led her to a round table that seated eight. Uncle Desmond’s name card was still beside hers.

  “I knew you wanted me at your side,” Cash murmured, the heat from his body radiating through her gray dress.

  She laughed off his comment, the sound catching as he trailed his fingers across the opening in the back of the garment as he pulled out her chair, seating her.

  His eyes locked on hers, the outside world slowly fading from view. In the office one of them always carefully looked away when their gazes met for too long. Stepped back when they drifted too close.

  Tonight neither of them was doing that, and it made her catch her breath in anticipation of what might happen next. It felt like she was facing down a wild stallion. Eventually she would either have to swing up onto his back or step aside so she wasn’t trampled.

  She had a feeling she would choose to swing up, try to tame the untamable, which meant she was in trouble, because he was still pulling on that rope that connected them, her circles shrinking as she came closer and closer, trusting him.

  One of them would be tamed, but who would it be?

  Finally she looked down, the first to break eye contact as she tried to appear unaffected.

  “Alexa?” he whispered.

  She turned to face him, all too aware of how near he was, how handsome. If she continued to look at him she knew her gaze would stray, stick, suck in every gorgeous detail, storing them away for hot and heavy dreams she’d surely be having that night. She kept her eyes from meeting his, certain they would tell him everything he was hoping to find.

  “I always get what I want,” he said, low enough that only she could hear.

  “You’re a spoiled, handsome thing, aren’t you?” she said, her voice sultry despite her best intentions. She focused on placing her red linen napkin across her lap before daring to glance at him. His smile was slow and lazy as he took her in, obviously pleased with the compliment.

  “And here, for the past eleven months, I feared you were either blind or immune to my charm.”

  She choked on a laugh.

  “Ah, yes. There’s the woman I know,” he said warmly. “Laughing at me.”

  “You make it easy.”

  Cash sidled closer, perched near the edge of his seat. He gently braced himself by placing a hand on the back of her chair, his subtle aftershave drawing her in. Her heart was beating not from fear, but from anticipation, as she found herself face-to-face with the man who was taming her.

  “I promised Luke I wouldn’t do this,” he said in a husky voice just before his mouth closed over hers.

  Her lashes fluttered as she gave in to the marvelous firmness of his lips, automatically resting her palms against his shoulders. He was as muscular as she’d dreamed, only better, because he was real, present, and for tonight…possibly her mistake to make.

  Cash didn’t want to stop kissing Alexa. The moment her lips touched his an electric pulse had begun, charging his body as if he was a solar-powered unit seeing the sun for the first time. It was only when someone bumped Alexa’s chair in the busy ballroom that he remembered himself. He drew away, taking in her dreamy smile.

  “Hey,” she said softly.

  “Hey.”

  Her brow furrowed. “Why would you promise Luke not to kiss me?”

  “It’s a rule. Don’t get involved with the company’s most valuable employee. Even if she’s rated a ten out of ten on the irresistibility scale.” Cash ran a finger down the slope of her cheek.

  Alexa toyed with one of the buttons on his shirt. “It’s a smart rule.” Her attention drifted to the milling crush of guests still finding their seats.

  “I’m not like Anthony,” Cash blurted, referring to her old boss—the one he’d heard about from Luke. The man who had sent Alexa to Cohen’s after their intimate working relationship had soured.

  Alexa faced him in surprise and Cash took her hands in his. “I’m sorry,” he murmured. “Luke told me.”

  “Never mix business and pleasure,” she said lightly, but he could see the hurt in her eyes, the betrayal of having the story of her heartbreak spread behind her back.

  But kissing her had unleashed a possessiveness Cash had kept on a choke chain for months, and seeing the pain in her expression made him want to slay every man who’d ever hurt her.

  “I won’t take advantage of my position.”

  There was a hint of hesitation in her expression. “You also won’t be sticking around. This isn’t real, Cash.” She gave him a tight smile and pulled her hands back.

  “It was only a kiss,” he joked.

  Her shoulders, which had lifted as tension settled upon her, relaxed. “True. It’s not like we’re getting married.”

  “Did I hear you two are getting married?” asked an older woman as she settled into the vacant seat to Alexa’s right.

  Lucille Sanderson, the biggest busybody in Indigo Bay. Cash had spent many childhood summers vacationing here with his cousins and still recalled the woman’s legendary nosiness—as well as all the ways he’d tried to avoid it. Go figure: she’d managed to wrangle an invitation as she always had to know everything about everyone.

  “Luke told me you were single, Cash Campbell,” she said accusingly, snapping her linen napkin open before laying it across her lap.

  “Miss Lucille, I believe you’ve been placed at table nine,” Alexa said, shifting in her seat to face the woman.

  “Are you two an item, Cash?” Lucille pressed, ignoring Alexa’s comment as she settled into the chair.

  “I’m not single,” Cash said, giving Alexa a patent pleading look that usually led to success.

  Lucille had set her handbag at her feet and a small black nose peeked out.

  “Is that a dog?” The fluffy white head gave a tiny bark. “And does its collar match your shoes?” Cash added in surprise.

  “Princess likes it when we coordinate.”

&n
bsp; “Dogs aren’t allowed in the dining area,” Alexa said.

  “Think of it as an accessory,” Cash muttered.

  “Your cousin told me you’d like to meet my niece, Maggie,” Lucille said. “She’s single and as sweet as pie. But I can’t have her dating a taken man.”

  “Miss Lucille,” Alexa interjected, “would it be all right if we put your dog in the coatroom until after dinner?”

  The woman gave her a dark look of disapproval, while Cash scooted his chair against Alexa’s, then kissed her temple. He swore she shivered and leaned into him, causing him to linger. “Miss Lucille, you’ve met my fiancée, Alexa McTavish?”

  Alexa turned to give him her best glare.

  “Of course we’ve met,” Lucille said. “I asked J.J. to assist her with things around town since she isn’t a local.”

  “Thank you for helping her, Miss Lucille,” Cash said.

  The woman’s spine straightened as she gave a sniff. “You were always a fast mover. I still remember when you were seventeen and had a new girl on your arm every weekend. That would hardly do for my Maggie. Whatever was I thinking?”

  “Only because I hadn’t met the right woman for me yet,” Cash said, wrapping his arms around Alexa. “But now I’ve found a good thing and I don’t plan on letting her go.”

  Alexa snorted and Cash shot her another pleading look, even though he didn’t deserve her help, and she sighed, starting to soften. “Better remember that, buster,” she said drily, “or I’ll tie you up and drag you behind my horse.”

  Cash grinned and lifted her hand to his mouth, gently grazing her knuckles with his lips. “I expect no less.”

  The air between them turned heavy as their eyes met. Cash had a feeling that it didn’t matter how much time Alexa gave him, it would never be enough to do more than scratch the surface of his growing obsession. Without thinking, he claimed her mouth with his, wondering why either of them had ever felt it wise to play by the rules.