Christmas at Bravo Ridge

by Christmas at Bravo Ridge (lit)

  Tabby shot upright, her face suddenly almost as red as her hair. "You cheap little two-faced bitch." Her hand shot out.

  Corrine caught her wrist before it connected. "Get out of my bar. Now. And please don't come back."

  Tabby tossed her red hair and held her chin high. "I will be talking to my father. And he will be talking to Davis Bravo—in fact, no. Wait. I'll talk to Davis myself. I've known him and the Bravo family since I was a child. You can believe he won't like what you've been up to."

  Corrine spoke gently. "Whatever you got, you go ahead and you bring it."

  "Let go of my wrist."

  Corrine spread her fingers wide. Tabby jerked her arm away. Corrine commanded, "Out."

  Perfect nose tipped toward the water-stained acoustic-tile ceiling, Tabby went. As soon as she cleared the doorway, Corrine swung the door shut and turned the lock.

  Then she picked up her phone and called Little Joe, her head of security.

  "Hey, boss. Whut up?"

  "A gorgeous redhead just left my office. Five-eight, pink top, tight black skirt. Giant purse and high-dollar shoes. Very hot. Make sure she leaves the Rose and doesn't come back."

  "You got it."

  Corrine disconnected the call and sank to the edge of her desk. Maybe she shouldn't have been so blunt with poor Tabby. And though Davis already knew what was going on with her and Matt, she really wasn't looking forward to learning that he'd gotten an earful about it from the jealous daughter of one of his country club pals.

  She knew what her mom would say: Baby, look on the bright side. Tabby Ellison won't be coming around asking you to help her out with Matt again.

  "That's right, Mom. Got any advice on how to tell Matt I'm pregnant? Again?"

  There was only silence from the Great Beyond.

  * * *

  When Matt got off the BravoCorp jet at Stinson Airport on Friday, it was ten past noon.

  He rode home in the limo the office had waiting and stayed there just long enough to haul his suitcase in and changed into chinos and a button-down sport shirt. He pulled on a jacket, got behind the wheel of his Lexus and headed for Corrie's.

  Timing-wise, he figured he had it about right. Kira had three dance lessons in a row after school. Corrie should have dropped her off at the studio by now. And, if he was lucky, gone on home.

  When he turned onto her street, her car was there, in the driveway, just as he'd hoped. He eased the Lexus in next to it and raced up the front walk.

  She must have heard him pull in because the front door swung open as he raised his hand to knock.

  He drank in the welcome sight of her in old sweats, with her shining face scrubbed clean of makeup. "You look amazing."

  "I look like crap." Her gaze kind of slid away and he wondered if something was bothering her.

  He said, "I've waited all week to see you naked."

  She grinned then. Slowly. He loved that grin of hers. He must have imagined the anxious look of a moment before.

  She wasn't anxious now. "Maybe you should come in first. My neighbors aren't real big on nudity."

  He didn't have to be told twice. He shot over her threshold and grabbed her in his arms. As he kissed her, she swung the door shut with an outstretched hand.

  He considered whether he should undress her right there at the door—or scoop her up and carry her to her room.

  So many choices. All of them good.

  "How was your trip?" She eased his jacket off his shoulders. It fell to the floor with a soft plopping sound.

  "Profitable." He got the hem of her sweatshirt, pulled it up and off. "What's this?"

  "Sports bra."

  "It's in my way."

  "Can't have that." She slithered it over her head and dropped it to the floor next to his coat.

  He brushed a hand against her breast. "So pretty…"

  "You always say that."

  "Only because it's true." He scooped her up then, tight against his chest, and turned for the stairs.

  In her bedroom, he dropped to the bed, taking her with him. She ended up on his lap, where she rocked back and forth, her lips locked to his and her tongue in his mouth.

  But not for long.

  She had plans. She slid to the side, grabbed his shirt and ripped it wide. Buttons went flying. She pushed it down his arms.

  He shrugged out of it as she was whipping his belt off and away with a slick, hot whisper of sound. He yanked his zipper open and shoved down the chinos, boxer briefs along with them, shucking shoes and socks at the same time. She got rid of those sweatpants.

  And that was it. They were both naked. They fell on each other, rolling, laughing, moaning.

  He was so hard for her it hurt. He settled between her soft thighs, positioned his aching hardness at the wet, pink core of her—and caught himself just in time. With a few muttered swear words, he reached for the drawer where she kept the condoms, had one out and on in a few seconds—which was too long, as far as he was concerned.

  He sank into her heat. She enfolded him, moaning his name.

  * * *

  Corrine dropped back on the pillow, panting. "Oh, my, yes…" She turned her head to look at Matt.

  He smiled at her. "It's good to be home."

  She rolled over and rested her head on his chest. He stroked her tangled hair and she listened to his heartbeat, swift and hard. Then gradually slowing…

  He said, "I almost messed up again. With the condom?"

  Oh, great. Contraception. Such an important subject. One she should have thought about more seriously back when it would have done some good.

  She considered opening her mouth and saying it, "Not a problem. I'm already pregnant."

  But she didn't. In the end, all she said was, "Um…"

  He went on, "I'm thinking we should look into some other method. If we don't, we're bound to slip up again, like we did in November. And like six years ago."

  "Um."

  "That would be beyond it, huh? You'd think we'd have learned our lesson by now."

  "Yeah. You would think."

  "So what do you say? The pill, maybe?"

  "I'll talk to my doctor." Well. It was true, as far as it went. She would be talking to her doctor, all right. When she went for her first prenatal visit.

  "Sounds good." He sounded lazy and content.

  She needed to cut the bull, and she knew it. She opened her mouth to give him the news. What came out was, "So, are you seriously in solar now?"

  He chuckled. The sound was a low, manly rumble under her ear. "You bet your beautiful ass we are."

  She realized the subject was changed. And she was way too relieved about that. "You're pleased with this deal, then?"

  "I am, yeah."

  "Meaning somebody else isn't?"

  "You know my dad. He's kind of old school. But he comes around, gradually. He was all for the wind energy project we got into with Jonas's group last spring. But he gets nervous when there's too much progress, too fast."

  "But it's happening anyway?"

  Matt shrugged. She felt the movement beneath her cheek. He said, "It's a good deal and he's given it the okay. That's what matters."

  Talking about Davis brought Tabby to mind—Tabby and her threats. She wondered with some dread if the crap would hit the fan when Tabby went crying to Matt's dad. At the very least, it was going to be embarrassing. And just when Corrine had more or less made peace with Davis…

  Matt squeezed her shoulder. "Everything all right with you?"

  I'm pregnant and your old girlfriend called me a cheap two-faced bitch. But other than that…

  Corrine sighed. She knew she had to tell him—about all of it. Tabby and the stick turning blue. All three sticks, as a matter of fact.

  "Corrie?"

  Reluctantly, she peeled herself off the front of him and sat up. Folding her legs in front, yoga-style, she grabbed her pillow and hugged it, seeking a comfort she didn't find.

  He sat up, too, dragging himself against t
he headboard, frowning now. "What's the matter?"

  "Tabby came to see me at the Rose last night."

  "What the hell? Why?"

  "She had some idea that I could help her 'get through to you'—you know, since I'm your best friend and all. She wanted me to convince you that you're being an idiot, that deep in your heart you know she's the woman for you."

  "Damn it, Corrie. I'm so sorry she did that. And I swear to you it's over with her."

  "I believe you. Too bad she doesn't."

  "I'll talk to her. I'll make it beyond clear that she and I are done and that she'd better not get near you again if she knows what's good for her."

  "I don't think anything you say will get through to her. That is one determined woman."

  "I'll get through. Watch." The words were a dark rumble. "And I promise you, there's nothing going on with her and me. I ended it with her just like I told you I did, weeks before that first night, when we had the wine, in November." He looked so worried that she might think he was cheating on her.

  She didn't. He had his flaws, but he was no cheater. "Matt. Come on. It's okay. I know you're finished with her."

  "Good."

  "And I also know that it's totally your call, if you talk to her, what you say to her. But I think we'd all be better off if you just kept clear of her. Way clear. Going up against her is only going to fan the flames. She's a mean girl—a mean girl with a mission. That's the scariest kind."

  "She had no damn right to bother you."

  "Like I said. Your call. But you ought to know her well enough by now to realize there's not a thing you can do, short of deadly force, to make her knock it off."

  "It's not right."

  Corrine could see there was no talking him out of it. "You should know the rest."

  "The rest? What else did she do?"

  "Not her, me. I told her I probably wasn't the one to make you 'come to your senses' and admit you're in love with her, since you and I are lovers and we've been having sex together since early November."

  He let out a surprised bark of laughter. "You're serious. You said that?"

  "I did."

  He grabbed her close to him and kissed her, hard. "That's my girl."

  "She got really mad then. Before I ordered her out, she said she would go to Davis about it."

  "I will deal with her, Corrie." His voice was hard as a slab of granite.

  Corrine grabbed her pillow again. "Okay. Now I feel like a total snitch."

  He reached out and dragged her back against him. His arms felt so good and strong around her—and so did the kiss he pressed to her temple. "What else were you going to do? Keep your month shut and let me find out from my dad that she went crying to him? She wants to pull crap like that, fine. It's a free country. And there are consequences."

  Corrine didn't like the way he said the word, "consequences," so dangerous and low.

  However, it was a free country and he had the right to confront his ex. If Corrine had wanted to keep him from doing that, she should have kept her mouth shut.

  She was on a roll with the revelations. Seriously, what better time than the present to tell him about the new baby? Let him start getting used to the idea that there would be another kid.

  "Matt."

  He tipped up her chin and kissed her lips. A lovely, soft, brushing kiss. "Yeah?"

  "There's something I need you to know…."

  Chapter Eleven

  "Tell me." He kissed her again.

  She kissed him back, pulling him over on top of her. It felt so good. She didn't want to stop.

  But he lifted away and captured her gaze. "What?"

  And she totally wimped out. "I'm…so glad you're home."

  His eyes held hers, so tender. So…happy. "That's what I like to hear." And he lowered his mouth to hers once more.

  They made love again. And then it was time to go get Kira.

  Sunday night, she silently vowed. She would do it then, after Kira was in bed. When it was just the two of them, with the whole night ahead of them and no interruptions.

  * * *

  That evening, while Corrie was at the Rose, Matt went to Tabby's place. Tabby wasn't home—which he probably should have expected given that it was Friday night.

  He called her cell.

  She answered on the second ring. "Matt? Oh, God. Matt…"

  "Where are you?" Probably some club. He heard music and chatter, loud, in the background.

  "It's so amazing to hear your voice," she cooed. And then she caught herself. Her tone turned sulky. "I shouldn't forgive you. You've been terrible to me."

  "We need to talk."

  "I…yes. We do. I know we do. Do you…I mean, now?"

  "Yeah. Now. How 'bout my place? It's quiet and no one will bother us."

  "Hold on." She must have hit the mute button. The background noise went silent. He waited. And then the party sounds were back. So was she. "Lianna says I shouldn't." So she was out clubbing with Lianna Mercer. He wasn't surprised. They were two of a kind. "Lianna says I should make you suffer the way you've made me suffer."

  "My place. Half an hour."

  "Oh, Matt…"

  "Are you coming or not?"

  "Yes. All right. Half an hour. I'll be there."

  * * *

  Matt took his time driving home. No need to hurry. Tabby never got anywhere on time. She was always having to change her clothes—again. Or freshen her makeup. Or make a few calls.

  An hour and a half after he called her, she finally arrived.

  "Matt." She breathed his name on a quivering sigh and swayed toward him—catching herself at the last minute with an anguished little moan and drawing herself up tall. "Oh, I'm such a fool. I can't believe I almost threw myself into your arms."

  Lucky for her she'd stopped herself. Because he'd had zero intention of catching her.

  He stepped back. "Come on in."

  She wore a low-cut party dress and a shawl across her shoulders. With a small, injured "Humph," of sound, she drew the shawl closer and followed him in. "I'll have a cran-tini." She waved her hand toward the wet bar in the corner as she settled herself in the center of the sofa. "And then, if you're very nice, I'll let you come and sit by me."

  He ignored her drink order and took a chair across from her, with the coffee table ottoman reassuringly between them. Had she always been so obnoxious? He wanted to believe she hadn't. It would make him feel marginally better about the fact that he'd dated her.

  Because, really, there were a lot of nicer women around who might have been willing to go out with him. He could have chosen one of them.

  Then again, Tabby had always looked good on his arm. And she knew everybody he knew. And though she'd probably believed they were headed for the altar, he'd known he would never marry her. In fact, being with Tabby had worked out great for him in a lot of ways. Yeah, he'd had to put up with her chronic lateness, her constant posing and her lousy personality. But once she was out of his sight, he never thought twice about her until the next time he needed a date for some party or business event.

  That had been convenient for him—dating someone he could forget about until the next time he needed her. Convenient, and completely unlike the way Corrie made him feel, which was wild and dangerous and…hungry. To hold her. To talk to her. To touch her all over. Even during all the years when they were strictly hands-off, he'd thought about Corrie often and looked forward to the next time he would see her.

  "Well?" Tabby crossed her pretty legs and fiddled with her sparkly shawl. "If you're not going to get me a drink, the least you can do is say something."

  "Last night you went to Armadillo Rose."

  Her expression went from snotty to tragic in under a second. "All right. I understand now. What did that little—?"

  He put up a hand. "If you call Corrie any names, I guarantee that you won't like what I do next."

  Tabby subsided into a furious pout. "I just don't get what you see in her, that's all."
/>
  "She's smart, she's got a big heart, she's sexy as they come. She's a fine mother. She's got a great sense of humor. She's hardworking. She'll do anything for a friend. Oh, and she's beautiful. Does that answer your question?"