He dropped his hands and looked at her. This was the woman who had enchanted him from minute one. This was the woman who had made him think crazy things about home and hearth and family. Within an hour of meeting her.
And her name was Kate.
And she was from San Francisco.
“You do look like Joe now that I know you’re his brother.”
In all fairness, she looked as stunned by the revelation about their identities. “Who were you supposed to meet?”
“Tucker Bennett. He’s from here. A local farmer. Dark hair, blue eyes. You?”
“Hailey Conner. Also from here. Mayor. Beautiful blonde in a red dress.”
“Wow.”
He studied her face. She was so beautiful. She was a city girl, presumably visiting for Christmas. She didn’t know how to make cookies and her family typically spent the holidays in Hawaii rather than in this quaint little town that he already felt getting under his skin. She wasn’t a sweet, homegrown girl who could make him change his ways and save his soul. But he still wanted her with an intensity that completely shook him.
It was just like him to get into some crazy situation—accidentally, of course—that was completely opposite of what he knew he needed. It was just like him to find all of his good intentions tested and to find his willpower crumbling within the first hour. It was just like him to look at a woman, know that she was going to be trouble and decide that consequences only mattered if you were out of money and charm. And he had yet to run out of either.
But he still backed away, shaking his head. “You know what? This is obviously a big mix up. We can straighten it all out tomorrow. I’m supposed to take Hailey to the formal and you’re supposed to go with Tucker. We’ll go talk to them in the morning and apologize for the mistake.”
Yes, that was the right thing to do. Hailey and Tucker might be upset, but they could smooth things over. One thing Levi was really good at was smoothing things over after screwing up. Practice made perfect after all.
Ha, he thought. Christmas ghosts thought they had me, but I’m still good.
The concussion had to be helping him here too, because this was completely out of character.
She nodded. “Yeah, okay. Maybe that’s a good idea. How will we find them?”
He laughed. “I’m guessing the first person we stop on the street will know them both and exactly where to find them.”
She smiled at that. “You’re probably right.”
“So we’ll…” God, she’s beautiful. “We’ll do that then,” he finished lamely.
She nodded. “Okay.”
She shoved the canisters of sugar and flour back into place on the counter and started for the door. He followed.
They crossed to the staircase and each had a foot on the bottom step before they realized—
“You’re staying in the guest room?” she asked.
“Uh. Yeah. I mean, I thought so.”
“Phoebe and Joe must not have known the other invited someone to stay.”
“I guess.”
Well, this was awkward. Or awesome.
Levi swallowed hard and gripped the hand railing. No, dammit. This was not an excuse to take her on that fancy quilt. He could easily walk upstairs, get his stuff and come back down to sleep on the couch. Alone.
A whiff of vanilla hit him and he almost groaned out loud.
Okay, not easily.
Still, he could pass this test. He needed to pass this test. The universe was putting temptation and justifications and a brain injury in his path to see what he was made of. He had to be made of more than expensive liquor, risqué behavior and regrets.
“I’ll get my stuff and crash on the couch.”
She opened her mouth to reply and Levi’s hand squeezed the banister. If she asked him into her bed, there was no hope for him to resist.
“Thanks,” she said softly.
They climbed the stairs without speaking and headed for the guest room. When Levi stepped through the doorway behind her, he looked around. “How did I miss your stuff already in here?”
She crossed to the dresser and pulled a drawer open. “I don’t know. My stuff is right here.”
He ignored the fact that the drawer she’d opened was full of a variety of soft colors, silk and lace. Or tried to. He cleared his throat and thought about the fact that she’d unpacked. “You put your stuff in drawers when you travel?”
She pushed the drawer shut and crossed her arms over her stomach. “It helps keep the wrinkles out and makes me feel more settled.”
He nodded and grabbed the bag he’d tossed onto the bed, stuffed the two shirts and a sock that were spilling out back into it and headed for the door. The sooner he was a floor away from her the better.
Maybe.
He was to the top of the stairs when she said, “Hey, Levi?”
He turned. “Yeah?”
“Tonight was…really nice.”
It had been.
He could pull off nice. Good to know.
“Yes, it was.”
“So…I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He gave her a nod. “You will.”
He turned and continued down stairs before he could grab her and kiss her and toss all his good soul-saving intentions out into the snow.
He would see her tomorrow. And then she would see Tucker Bennett.
That made his newly revived heart hurt.
And he thought maybe he remembered why he’d stopped using it.
Kate was awake at six a.m. and lying awake in bed debating the wisdom of going downstairs. Ever.
Tuck—no, Levi—was down there. The man that she’d made a total ass of herself over the night before. She hadn’t even known his real name but she’d been entertaining fantasies about how the next few days would go. And they hadn’t been limited to candy canes and sex by Christmas tree light. They’d included sleigh rides and cuddling by the fire and exchanging special gifts that represented something about their time together and even staying in touch after the week was over.
She was kicking herself. The fact that this Christmas disappointment hurt even more than the past three was her own damned fault. She’d built this thing up to being something so big, so wonderful, so perfect that it had been doomed to fail.
Finally, the need for the bathroom and coffee urged her out of bed.
She tiptoed to the bathroom with her clothes and toiletries clutched against her chest. She showered and blow dried her hair and by the time she was dressed and on the steps, she’d decided that she was going to treat Levi exactly the way she would have if she’d known he was Joe’s brother last night. She’d be polite, friendly—they had Phoebe and Joe in common after all—and they would then go to town and find Tucker. And Hailey. Just as he’d suggested.
The fact that she hated Hailey Conner and had never even met the woman didn’t mean anything.
She managed to get past the couch where Levi was still asleep without stopping.
The inching she’d done through the living room still technically counted as moving.
But she was only human. He was on his back, shirtless, wearing only black silk boxers. How could the guy be warm enough? It was chillier down here than it had been upstairs, but he still had only a light fleece blanket twisted around his legs. Most of his muscular right thigh showed as did both of his big feet. His upper half was completely bare, the contours of the muscles of his chest, abs and shoulders made her eyes widen. Seriously? She’d had no idea what had been hiding under his winter coat. His dark hair was mussed and dark stubble shadowed his jaw.
He didn’t even snore.
Damn.
She kept her eyes off of his boxers—pretty much—and she ignored all of the memories from his truck the night before.
Except when she looked at his hand and noted how long and thick his fingers were.
She flushed and hurried the rest of the way to the kitchen.
Caffeine.
That fixed a host of problems
.
Thankfully, Phoebe and Joe had a coffee pot and plenty of grounds.
She was almost through her second cup when she heard the knock at the front door.
Someone was at the door? Huh?
She started for the living room but heard the door open before she hit the carpet. Levi had the door open and was smiling at whoever was on the other side.
“Hi, I’m Adrianne. You must be Levi.”
“Hey, Adrianne. You got it.”
It was a woman. And Levi was still only wearing black silk boxers.
A shot of something that could have been jealousy—if she cared that he was mostly naked in front of another woman, which she did not—went through her. It was probably concern. He was mostly naked and it was cold outside.
“I brought these over for you. Welcome to Sapphire Falls.”
Levi reached for something and came back with a huge platter.
“Are these Christmas cookies?” he asked.
Kate felt her heart trip. Cookies. That would definitely help.
“They are,” the woman said. “I own Scott’s Sweets down on the highway.”
“Noticed your shop on my way into town,” Levi told her. “Had you on my to-do list while I’m here.”
The woman’s little laugh made Kate feel that same stab of jealousy—or concern. She stepped into the doorway, very much in Levi’s personal space.
“Hi, I’m Kate.”
“Nice to meet you, Kate, I’m Adrianne.”
Adrianne looked like a nice woman. She was short and curvy and blonde. She wore blue jeans, brown leather boots and a navy-blue coat.
“Thanks for the—” Kate’s attention dropped to the bright red ceramic platter with white snowflakes around the edge. The cookies were magnificent, “—cookies.”
Levi chuckled at her reverent tone, but she couldn’t help it.
Her mouth was already watering.
She lifted the edge of the plastic wrap over the top and snagged a snowman. She bit into it and groaned.
Levi cleared his throat and she looked up at him. There was heat in his eyes that took her breath for a moment and she could only stare. He lifted a hand and ran his thumb along her bottom lip. Her tongue traced the same path on her lip as he lifted his thumb to his mouth and licked the smudge of white frosting.
Holy…
“So do you both have everything you need?” Adrianne asked.
Kate jerked back, her gaze going from Levi’s mouth to the other woman. Then back to Levi…and his naked chest.
“Phoebe asked me to stop by and check in,” Adrianne added.
“We, um…we’re…”
“Good,” Levi said, his eyes on Kate. “We’re really good.”
Kate nodded dumbly. They were something, and it didn’t feel bad.
“Hey, Adrianne,” Levi asked. “I don’t suppose you know where Tucker Bennett lives?”
He moved his gaze from Kate to Adrianne and Kate could breathe again. She took another bite of cookie. Sugar and fat never failed her. She loved them and they were true.
“I do,” Adrianne said with a grin. “About three miles south of here.”
“I don’t suppose you know if he has his tree up yet?” Levi asked.
“Actually, I know that too. Yes, he does. He’s also decorated two outside in his yard.”
“And does he have any of these cookies of yours?” Levi pulled another cookie from the tray, a wreath with thick green frosting and red candy balls, and handed it to Kate.
Well, who was she to argue? She took it and bit into it.
Adrianne laughed. “No, not yet.”
“I’ll pay you a thousand dollars not to take any cookies to Tucker,” Levi said.
Adrianne looked from him to Kate. Kate somehow tore her attention from him to meet Adrianne’s curious, amused eyes.
“Tucker prefers my peanut-butter balls anyway,” Adrianne said.
“How about you, Kate? You like peanut butter balls?” Levi asked.
“Not as much as cookies,” Kate admitted around the bite of the one she’d just taken.
“Well, there you go,” he told her. “You can go meet Tucker, who has already decorated his tree and has no cookies, or you can stay here with me, help me pick, cut down and decorate a tree and have cookies. Your choice.”
Kate felt her eyes widen. She had a choice? As in, if she picked him, they would still hang out and he’d forget about Hailey? “What about your date to the formal?”
“I haven’t asked her yet, but I’m hoping she’s standing right here with me now.”
Kate’s heart tripped. Yes, yes, yes! But she didn’t let on that he could have whatever he wanted from her.
“You’re going to go cut down a tree for us?” she asked.
She noticed that he noticed the us.
“Yep.”
“Do you…” She had to be careful here and not tromp on his male ego. Even if it was a city-boy’s ego.
“Do you know how to cut a tree down?” Adrianne asked. Her grin said that she knew it might bruise his ego but that she had to ask.
“Chainsaw,” Levi said.
Adrianne nodded. “Can I make a suggestion then?”
“Sure.”
“There’s a Christmas tree farm not too far away. Take the highway eight miles east. There will be signs.”
“Got it. Perfect.” Levi turned to Kate. “You coming?”
The chance to not only decorate a tree but to actually pick it out, cut it down and drag it home. Hell, yes. But maybe she shouldn’t let on how much she wanted to do this. And that it had as much to do with him as it did with the tree.
He moved in a little closer, fully facing her now, holding the plate of cookies out of the way so he could press her up against the doorframe. “Hey, Adrianne?” Levi asked, his eyes still locked on Kate’s.
“Yeah?”
“Is there a place to get candy canes between here and the tree farm?”
Kate’s heart tripped again, and this time felt like it flipped over.
“A few places. The grocery store, the gas station, we have some at Scott’s Sweets. I think the diner even has some up by the register,” Adrianne said.
“Awesome.” Levi’s voice was gruff and it made heat swirl through Kate’s belly. “So what do you say, Katie? Wanna go get a tree with me?”
Katie. No one had ever called her Katie.
But she didn’t mind.
And at least he wasn’t calling her Hailey.
“Yeah, I do,” she said, her own voice husky.
Adrianne laughed softly. “Poor Tucker.”
For a second, Kate had forgotten she was there.
“Tell Tucker…” Levi trailed off as if not sure what exactly his message to Tucker was.
“That it’s nothing personal?” Adrianne suggested.
Levi lifted a hand and traced a finger down Kate’s cheek. “Oh, it’s definitely personal.”
“Right. Okay.” Adrianne cleared her throat. “Things are clearly good here. I’m going to go.” She was halfway down the porch steps when she turned back. “The tree farm thing. When do you think you might go over there?”
Levi stepped back and Kate pulled in a big breath. “An hour or so, I suppose, why?” he asked.
“Oh, good. You don’t want to wait too long,” Adrianne said. “It’s close to Christmas. The good ones might all be gone.”
“Thanks.”
Adrianne gave them a wave and headed for her car. They stood in the doorway as she drove off. Then Levi turned back to Kate.
“So you’re staying? With me?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“I should tell you that last night I was determined to stay away from you, to make sure you met Tucker and went to the dance with him.”
“Because?”
“Because I need to prove to myself that I can be a good guy and do something for someone else. Something that doesn’t benefit me at all. Maybe even something that hurts a little. And trust
me, you going out with Tucker would hurt.”
He lifted his hand and ran his palm down over her hair from her head to the middle of her back.
“But then I saw your face when you saw the cookies.”
Yeah, she’d been more excited than a grown woman probably should be about snowman cookies. “And?”
“I wanted to make you light up like that. I want to give you all the things you’re looking for this Christmas. And surely that makes me a good guy, right? Wanting to make someone else completely happy?”
She put her hand over his heart. “Why so worried that you’re not a good guy?”
“Because I’m not.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
He gave her a wry smile. “I’ll tell you about it, but not until we’re out cutting down a tree and decorating. You’ll be more forgiving of me then.”
She studied his face. There was something there, something hopeful, and something that looked like…fear. He was afraid that he could tell her something that would make her not want to be with him?
That should probably freak her out.
But it didn’t. Because he was worried about it. A true jerk, someone she couldn’t trust, wouldn’t care. And that was what she saw in his eyes. He cared. About what she thought and felt about him.
Besides, this was Joe’s brother.
“Okay,” she agreed. “Let’s go.”
He gave her a relieved grin and turned into the house, pulling her with him by the hand. “I’ll get dressed.”
“Okay.” She laughed. Talk about relieved. So he wasn’t the guy she was supposed to be spending this Christmas with. He was the guy she wanted to spend Christmas with.
He was dressed and at the door twenty minutes later.
Kate was through her third cup of coffee. And her sixth cookie. She quickly brushed the crumbs from her mouth and the front of her shirt while surreptitiously rearranging the cookies on the tray so it wasn’t quite so obvious she’d eaten half a dozen, then she turned to face him.
“Ready?”
He looked excited. And sexy.
His hair was still wet, even blacker than when it was dry. He hadn’t taken time to shave so his jaw was sexily scruffy. He was dressed in blue jeans and a blue T-shirt that made his eyes glow even brighter blue.
Damn.
“Don’t forget the candy canes,” she said as she made a beeline for the living room where her coat and gloves and purse were on a chair near the front door.
Home for the Holidays: A Contemporary Romance Anthology Page 46