Home for the Holidays: A Contemporary Romance Anthology

by Christine Bell

  12

  “If I tell you a duck can pull a truck, then shut up and hook the sucker up.”

  --Southern Expression (means “trust me”)

  Ryan woke to a dark room illuminated only by the light from the bathroom to find Ashley dressed and ready to leave. Already her place in his bed had cooled, and he wanted her back beside him.

  “Wait,” he mumbled in a sleep-roughened voice. “I’ll walk you out.” He tossed back the covers and pulled on the pair of jeans he discarded earlier. Turning to find her eyeing his body with interest, he couldn’t help his grin and laughed as she rolled her eyes.

  At the door she fished her keys out of her purse. He snuck in closer while she was distracted and snatched her lips in a long, lingering kiss when she glanced up.

  Reluctantly, he pulled back to another of her sweet smiles, the one that could bring him to his knees.

  “I’ll never forget tonight.”

  Her words sounded ominously like good-bye. “What do you mean by that?”

  The smile slipped from her lips, and confusion dimmed the light in her eyes. “Um. Did I say something wrong? I know this was only for tonight. I mean, after Christmas, I’ll be back in Dallas, and you’ll be here.”

  His heart plummeted. “You’re saying this was a one-night stand?”

  She glanced away from the accusation he knew reflected in his expression. “That’s not what I—”

  “Right.” Ryan clenched his fists at his side as impotent anger pumped through him—at himself, at her. He’d been a damn fool, believing, even for a second, that he meant something to her. “Of course. Being around Eric and Taylor must be hard. I’m glad I could help.”

  “That is definitely not what happened here.”

  “No?”

  Ashley blanked her face, every emotion hidden from him just as she used to do. “There you go ruining beautiful things again. I guess I shouldn’t expect trust or anything different from someone who walks away from his friends so easily.”

  She should’ve known better? What about him? He crossed his arms. “I think you should go.”

  She shook her head and jerked the door open. “Forget it. And forget the whole dating story. I’ll figure something else out. See you around, McAdams.”

  Ryan didn’t follow her out into the cold night air. Ashley had no right to be angry with him. At the same time, he didn’t want to admit that driving his fury was a gut-wrenching level of disappointment. Up until the last five minutes tonight, he’d hoped—

  Ryan banged a fist against the doorjamb as Ashley’s headlights flashed through the window before she sped away. He’d been an idiot to hope anything where Ashley Hughes was concerned.

  “Wakey, wakey, eggs n’ bakey.” Taylor’s sing-songy voice interrupted Ashley’s already fitful sleep.

  Ashley groaned, ignoring the hugely annoying invitation to wake up and, instead, rolled over, shoving her head under her pillow. After she’d finally got home last night, she hadn’t been able to sleep, thinking about the awful way she and Ryan left things. Why’d he have to be such an ass about it? At least she hadn’t blurted out an admission of Ryan’s superiority in the sex department. At least for her.

  Taylor shook her by the shoulder. “Wake up, sleepyhead.”

  “Go away,” she grumbled, her voice muffled by the pillow.

  “No way. I want to hear all about what happened at Ryan McAdams’s last night.”

  Ashley remained under her pillow, only now she was hiding. What had happened last night? Everything. Nothing. Taylor would know in an instant something was up.

  “Come on,” Taylor wheedled, flipping the pillow to the floor and dragging the covers back. “Talk.”

  Ashley flung an arm over her eyes. “Later.”

  “It’s ten in the morning. Get your ass out of bed, you lazy bum. Unless you’re still exhausted after a bout of blow-your-mind sex with Hottie McAdams.”

  How to get out of this? Before Eric and Taylor, Ashley would’ve told her sister everything. If she was honest with herself, she missed their closeness this last year. Would it be so bad, telling her this part?

  With a long-suffering sigh, Ashley lowered her arms and scooted up in the bed, blinking at the bright sunlight streaming into her room from the window. Apparently, Taylor pulled back the curtains. She held out a hand for her pillow, which Taylor handed over, and got it situated behind her back. “Great sex might be part of why I’m exhausted.”

  Taylor released a squeal of delight worthy of a teenager and hopped about on the bed, jiggling Ashley around. “I wondered. I mean, I know you two had that falling out, but the sparks lately.” Taylor whistled. “I’m thrilled you finally found happiness with the right guy.”

  Why, oh, why had she started that “Ryan is my new boyfriend” thing? Technically rumor had started it, fed by Ryan’s actions. But when he agreed to her plan, she might’ve texted Taylor and implied things. Things she couldn’t take back now. What was she going to do? Ashley closed her mouth and let her sister keep going.

  Taylor took her hand, gripping it hard. “I’ve been feeling so guilty. Stupid, I know. I mean, I know you don’t love Eric any more. But I want you to be as happy as we are, and this whole wedding thing with you unhappy…”

  Ashley reached out to grip Taylor’s arm and stop her right there. “I haven’t been unhappy.”

  Taylor cocked her head, a you can’t fool me glint in her eyes. “Of course, you have. I’m your sister. You think I didn’t know? You don’t like Dallas. I know you stayed away to give me and Eric a chance, time to figure things out.”

  Ashley shook her head. “I love my job.”

  Taylor crawled over and snuggled into her. “You want to work on a ranch. Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted?”

  Had she been that obvious?

  “But,” her sister continued, “If you marry Ryan, it’s perfect!”

  Ashley held up her hands. “Whoa! Slow down there, Tay. I’m not marrying Ryan.”

  “But…” Confusion and disappointment dimmed Taylor’s glowing happiness. “You had mind-blowing sex.”

  Ashley had suspected, but hadn’t known for sure until this moment, how much her happiness—right at this instant—would impact Taylor. She could see in her sister’s jubilation how Taylor needed her to be happy in a relationship in order to feel easy about her own.

  Despite months of assuring Taylor over the phone that she felt nothing but pleased for her and Eric—okay, so she’d left out not knowing her own feelings for Eric— Taylor’s soft heart meant she couldn’t accept it without proof.

  And Ryan McAdams was proof.

  Which meant she had to keep up the charade to help make her sister’s wedding as happy as possible. Could she manage it without Ryan? After last night, she’d have to. “We did sleep together. And he was…incredible.” That darn blush heated her cheeks. She never blushed. Grrrr.

  Taylor clapped, her happy glow back. “And?”

  Ashley sighed. Time to play it up. “I think I’d marry that man if he’d get his head out of his rear end.”

  The second the words were out of her mouth, she had the strangest moment where they felt true.

  “What do you mean?” Taylor interrupted her thoughts.

  Ashley bit her lip and ploughed ahead. “He thought I used him as a one-night stand, or maybe a stand-in for Eric. Of course, I didn’t.” See, still the truth.

  Taylor nodded sagely. “But you’re in love with Ryan?”

  Ashley hesitated. “I don’t know. I mean…he was my best friend, and the next day he was only ever mean.” Of course, he’d explained that a bit, and apologized.

  “All because he was jealous of Eric?” Taylor asked.

  Ashely sucked in an immediate denial. “Maybe. But since bumping into him at the bar, he’s been, well, nice. Like we used to be. I realized—” She cut off the words which felt too real.

  “You could fall for him?”

  Taylor’s easy assumption was hard to take.
“Something like that.”

  “I’m sure if you explain things, he’ll stop being a jerk about Eric.”

  Doubtful. Enough of her thoughts must’ve shown on her face, because Taylor clucked. “You have too much pride sometimes.”

  Ashley chuckled. “Maybe.”

  “So you’ll talk to Ryan?”

  She had to, if they were going to keep her lie going. Just, not today. She was still too mad at him. Or maybe she could fake it without him. The wedding and Christmas would keep her busy. She could make up some excuse for his missing the wedding. “Absolutely.” She’d tell Taylor after the wedding that things hadn’t worked out. No harm, no foul, and her sister could marry guilt free.

  “What on earth was all that squealing?” Eric poked his head inside.

  Taylor crawled off the bed and hurried to his side. “Ashley and Ryan.”

  He raised his eyebrows and turned a searching gaze Ashley’s way. “Oh?”

  Shit. He didn’t believe her. The doubt in his eyes was hard to miss. Of course, he and Taylor had witnessed the failure of her friendship with Ryan. But Taylor believed her, so why didn’t Eric? “It’s still early,” she hedged.

  “You don’t even like Ryan.” Skepticism filled every word.

  Every part of her rejected those words, but she pushed her reaction aside.

  Was this the strangest conversation ever? Sitting in bed in her pajamas, trying to convince her ex-boyfriend, who was about to become her brother-in-law, she was falling for the guy she had always hated after he stopped being her best friend? Sounded more like a soap opera than real life. “We had a chance to clear the air.”

  “That quick, huh?”

  Taylor elbowed her fiancé. “Give her a break. Anyone can see the sparks fly when they’re together.”

  Eric shook his head, giving his bride an amused smile Ashley could tell fell short of his eyes. He seemed almost concerned. Not in a possessive way but in a Doubting Thomas kind of way. He definitely wasn’t buying her story.

  “Well…Ryan’s a good guy.” Eric glanced at Ashley. “Is he coming to the wedding as your date?”

  After Ashley left, sleep had been as elusive as a jackalope sighting. Eventually, around four in the morning, Ryan gave up and started his day. Work for the day out of the way early, he decided to run errands in town rather than sit around his house and brood. What he needed was a stiff drink, but Ryan settled for grocery shopping instead. He was getting low on eggs.

  “Hi, Ryan.”

  At the sound of Ashley’s voice behind him, he slowly turned. Only the woman in front of him wasn’t Ashley, but Taylor. He’d always been able to tell them apart. Ashley’s voice was a little lower, with a sexy rasp to it, her grey eyes a tad lighter. And his body didn’t respond to Taylor like it did Ashley.

  Taylor was dressed like Ashley—white button down over designer jeans and flashy little boots, rather than Taylor’s usual jeans, sturdy boots, and sweatshirt. Maybe she came to town for wedding stuff. “Hi.”

  She shifted on her feet and flashed a nervous smile. “I wanted to apologize for any…misunderstandings last night.”

  Okay. Ryan was thoroughly confused. What was going on here? He crossed his arms. “Yeah?”

  Taylor cleared her throat. “Yes. I know you think I’m still in love with Eric, but we were over long before I ended it.”

  Clarity broke over him. Apparently, Ashley’s twin decided to step in and “help” her out. He’d heard rumors of them changing places in school. Most people couldn’t tell them apart, though the difference to him was as obvious as chocolate and vanilla.

  “I see.” What had Ashley told Taylor? And why was Taylor trying to patch things up between them? And what did he do now? Play along and see what happened? Or call Taylor out? Curiosity overruled his earlier anger with Ashley, and he reached a snap decision. Play this one out.

  She reached out and placed her hand on his arm. Only Taylor’s touch felt nothing like Ashley’s. No zing to his heart. Or other parts. “Do you really?”

  He placed his hand over hers. “I think so. You want our one-night stand to turn into more?”

  Taylor’s eyes lit up. “I wondered if we could at least give it a chance.”

  “I’d like that.” He would, if the woman in front of him happened to be Ashley. After she’d left, and he’d cooled down, he had to admit his inappropriate level of anger might have something to do with his feelings for Ashley. Finally, he got honest with himself and admitted he’d loved her this entire time. He’d spent most of the day trying to figure out what the hell, if anything, he should do about it. Thank god for interfering twin sisters.

  An imp of mischief made him lean down as if he’d kiss Taylor. Ryan tried hard not to laugh out loud when she hastily back stepped.

  “Maybe we should take it slow.”

  He grinned. “I guess kissing in a grocery store isn’t exactly romantic.”

  Again, he had to hold back laughter as relief flashed across her face. “Not particularly. Why don’t you come to the house tonight for dinner? Seven o’clock?”

  And spring this reunion on her sister? This would be interesting. “I’ll be there.” Wild horses couldn’t drag him away from the fireworks show about to go off in the Hughes’ home.

  13

  “Dear Santa, I’ve been really good this year… Well, I’ve been okay this year… Oh forget it, I’ll buy my own presents.” --Anonymous

  Ashley sat beside Taylor on the couch, comfy in her oldest, softest jeans and a well-loved—a.k.a. ratty—college t-shirt, and poured the ingredients for hot chocolate into yet another mason jar.

  “How many more until we’re done?” She was so over assembling wedding favors. Mental note. If she ever got married, her wedding favors would require little to no assembly.

  Eric, lounging in the overstuffed leather arm chair, grinned at her over the top of his book.

  “Only another twenty!” Taylor chirped.

  Taylor, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying herself. Of course, she was also the one who loved baking cookies to take to the neighbors, which was Ashley’s idea of torture. Not the neighborliness, but the time spent baking. Ugh.

  “Whose idea was this mason jar thing anyway?” Eric hid behind his book after asking the question, turning the page with a quiet rustle of sound. Ashley still caught the subtle shake to his shoulders as he was overtaken by silent laughter.

  “Mine,” she owned up.

  Tilting her head to send him a wide, fake-as-Mandy-Walker’s-diamond-ring smile, Ashley gestured to the table. “Feel free to join us. Three sets of hands go faster than two.”

  “I’ll pass.”

  Taylor tossed a ribbon at her fiancé. “Leave her alone, or you deal with me.”

  Eric lowered his book, his gaze, filled with laughter and love, focused entirely on her sister. Ashley glanced away, not wanting to intrude, and perhaps a tiny bit jealous. Not because of Eric-- she was sure her feelings for him were only sisterly now. But wouldn’t it be nice to be on the receiving end of a look like that?

  Ashley’s stomach rumbled as the hearty scent of Mom’s pot roast wafted through the house. She missed breakfast and hadn’t claimed much of an appetite at lunch. Now she was starving, and her protesting stomach wouldn’t let her forget it.

  The chime of the doorbell was a welcome excuse to stop assembling. “I’ll get it.”

  Before she could hop up, Taylor grabbed her by the arm. “I have a confession.”

  Panic widened her sister’s eyes. What on earth? “Okay?”

  Eric set down his book. “What’s going on?”

  Taylor swung to him. “Do you mind answering the door?”

  He glanced between them, a frown lowering his brows, before he levered up off the chair. “Sure. Far be it for me to get between you two,” he muttered on his way out.

  Taylor slowly faced Ashley, twisting her hands in her lap. “Um….”

  “Spit it out, Tay.”

  Taylor grimaced
, then confessed in a rush of jumbled words. “You know Eric and I met with the minister today in town, and I borrowed an outfit.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Well…I might have pretended to be you when I bumped into Ryan at the grocery store afterward.”

  Ashley froze. Even her heart decided pumping blood was overrated and stopped. “How?...Why?...”

  Taylor waved away the question. “Not important. The important thing is, he accepted your apology for any misunderstandings and wants to see where your relationship might lead.”

  Ashley could barely process the combination of elation and dread through her shock. What? Wait— “Who is at the door, Taylor?”

  “Ryan came for dinner.” Taylor flung out her arms, jazz hands and all. “Surprise!”

  Before Ashley could say another word, a watchful Eric and a delighted Mom appeared at the doorway, followed closely by Ryan.

  Discombobulated was a word Ashley always considered rather goofy. Who would ever use it, right? But now, the term totally described her. She stared up at Ryan, dressed in nice jeans and a navy button down, sleeves rolled up as usual, which had her lust kicking into high gear, and carrying a bouquet of flowers—roses no less. She loved roses. But she was still mad at him and he at her. Weren’t they?

  Brain still on blackout, she didn’t even think to stand up because all systems had short circuited.

  “Hi,” Ryan’s low tones skittered down her spine.

  Damn, she was in for a world of trouble. One word and she turned to jelly. Only, he came here under false pretenses. But he’d shown up. What did that mean? Of course, he’d also believed Taylor was Ashley, which hurt in a stupid way. Couldn’t the man tell the difference? Then again, even Eric and her father had trouble sometimes.

  “Hi,” she squeaked.

  “I’ll help you finish up dinner, Mom,” Taylor said. “Come on, Eric.” Her sister dragged their audience out of the room.

  Just like that, she and Ryan were alone.