Hell on Heels Christmas

by A. P. Jensen

  “What happened?” Johnny asked Valerie.”

  “I think Allison was here.”

  “Who’s Allison?”

  “Brooks’ ex-wife.”

  “What?” Johnny shouted.

  A keening sound came out of Regan and Johnny made kissy noises and rubbed her feet sympathetically.

  “Oh baby. No wonder you’re pushing him away. When did Brooks marry?”

  Valerie sighed. “Six months after he asked Regan to marry him.”

  “What?” Johnny shouted again.

  “Brooks asked Regan to marry him. She said no and left and then Brooks married Allison. It was… awkward.”

  “And Regan knew this before she came back?” Johnny persisted.

  A pause. “Yeah. I don’t know how though. She thought he was still married actually.”

  Silence fell only to be broken by occasional hiccups from Regan. Valerie stroked back her hair and Regan fell into an exhausted sleep.

  Chapter Eight

  Johnny entertained Valerie with his celebrity lifestyle all the way to the lake which was an hour’s ride from White Mist. Regan cringed when Valerie asked which female stars he slept with. Johnny was happy to spill the beans on the long list of women who’d fallen for his beautiful voice and face. Regan rested her head against the cold window and stared moodily out at the beautiful landscape. She felt like crap which was partly due to the large amount of alcohol Johnny and Valerie poured down her throat to stop her emotional tantrum. She could still taste tequila and vodka on her tongue. She groaned and buried her face in her jacket. From her hazy memories from the night before she remembered Missy stopping by. Regan had been too deeply engrossed in emotional turmoil to appreciate the astonishment on Missy’s face when she saw Johnny playing nursemaid. While Valerie filled in Missy on the latest drama Johnny wrote a song titled, Men Will Be Men.

  Johnny started singing Wild Weekend and Regan kicked the back of his seat until he changed to another tune. She was so not in the mood to hear about more impulsive mistakes from her past. Regan felt her heart lift a little when they parked at the lake. She had fond memories of camping here in the summer and-. She clenched her teeth because most of her memories here included Brooks. She took a deep breath of cold air as they trudged down to the lake. She saw the quick sidelong glances Johnny and Valerie shot her way but they didn’t ask if she was okay which would have really pissed her off. She wasn’t okay and saying it out loud would only aggravate her more.

  They reached the lake and paused to take it in. The lake was surrounded by tall trees and a mountain range in the distance. The lake was so still it reflected the trees and mountain. Just for the hell of it Regan picked up a flat stone and tried to get the rock to skip across the surface. No such luck. It sank beneath the surface with a despondent plunk.

  “God, could this place be more beautiful?” Johnny whispered and held his arms out wide as if to embrace the world. “I feel so inspired that I could just-”

  Without finishing his sentence Johnny sat on a boulder and pulled out his guitar. Valerie sat on a picnic bench and pulled out her notebook and began to jot down notes for the store, occasionally stopping to listen to murmured lyrics from Johnny. Regan was too restless to sit and enjoy the magnificent scene. She walked along the shoreline with the crunch of gravel in her ears and hands in pockets, lost in thought. What was she doing here? She could do or go anywhere in the world and she was bumming at her mom’s house. Was she going through a midlife crisis? What possessed her to get involved with Brooks Hawking?

  She made a week in White Mist and walls she built ten years ago crumbled as if they’d never been. Over time she’d been so careful not to commit herself too deeply before she accepted Daniel’s proposal. She was so careful to keep space between herself and her friend/ lovers. Even when she left Daniel there was hurt but mostly relief that it was over. She came back to White Mist and within a week Brooks not only overcame her boundaries, he was chipping away at a heart she didn’t even know still beat for him. How could she have known their chemistry would knock her on her ass? All these years she lived thinking he despised her only to find him waiting. She paused. No. He wasn’t waiting for her. It just so happened that she came back and he was single and so was she. That didn’t mean he’d been waiting for her.

  She looked up as she walked along the shoreline and caught a glimpse of a cabin through the trees. The cabin was a part of the scenery and its clean, simple design made the beauty around it all the more stunning. Even as she paused a man came around the side of the house. Regan felt her chest seize as Brooks noticed her. He wore an unzipped wool lined jacket with a long sleeved flannel shirt beneath. His work boots weren’t laced and his face was set in hard lines as he watched her.

  Every feminine particle in her went on alert. Brooks was the one man she regretted leaving. Not because it hadn’t worked out for her in the real world but because he was the only one she had this connection with. As she got older she assumed it was a teenager thing but here she was ten years later and with one glance he could turn her into a melting groupie. Brooks was a man's man. He would protect and coddle his woman. He would demand everything from her- her attention, love, devotion and loyalty. The look in his eyes dared her to deny what was between them. She knew ignoring him wouldn’t work so she decided to brazen it out.

  She strolled over to him. “What’s up?”

  His eyes narrowed dangerously. “What’s up?”

  “What are you doing here?”

  “My cousin owns this cabin. I came to check out the power and make sure it was in good condition.”

  “How’s the power?” she asked lamely.

  He braced his legs apart and cut to the chase. “Valerie said you were sick. Is that true?”

  “No,” she said bluntly.

  “So what happened? Is it that damn rock star?” When she frowned in confusion a muscle ticked in his jaw and he rocked back and forth in his boots. “We were hot and heavy last night and then he comes and you start avoiding me?”

  She had a sudden vision of Brooks going after Johnny and she hastily said, “Johnny has nothing to do with this.”

  “Then what’s changed?”

  “I just needed some time that’s all.”

  “Time for what?” he demanded.

  She huffed out a breath. “To braid my hair and sing Backstreet Boys songs, what else? Geez, give me a break, Brooks. I have the right to take a step back if I think this is getting out of control.”

  “Since when are you cautious?”

  She crossed her arms. “Never, which is why I’m trying this “thinking before I jump” out.”

  “What are you afraid of?”

  I’m afraid of falling for you again, of not being able to settle down in White Mist and having history repeat itself. I’m afraid I don’t have it in me to go through this again. I’m afraid because I don’t know what I want.

  “I’m not afraid!” Regan snapped.

  He examined her rosy face. “Word is Allison stopped by your mom’s house.”

  Regan’s whole body went rigid. “How’d you hear that?”

  “So she does have something to do with this,” he said and ran a hand through his hair.

  His assumption, although correct, made her blood boil. “She doesn’t have anything to do about anything. I don’t give a rat’s ass about your ex!”

  “She remarried.”

  Why did it bother her that he said that? He could have said, “She was horrible in bed” or “I couldn’t stand her so we got divorced.” Why did he have to say she remarried, making Regan think Allison was the one to break it off, not him.

  She shrugged. “It doesn’t matter either way. I’m not staying”

  His eyes narrowed to slits. “Say what?”

  “I’m not going to stay.” Her mind was made up. She wouldn’t stay here and get more deeply entrenched. She had to get out of here. Now.

  “You agreed to stay for the holidays.”

&nbs
p; “I don’t think that’ll be a good idea,” she said coolly and turned back towards the lake. “I’ll see you around, Brooks.”

  “Oh no you don’t.”

  Before she took a step Brooks hauled her over one shoulder. She pounded on his back as he strode into the cabin and dumped her onto a bed that looked out at the lake. He pointed a threatening finger at her as he unbuttoned the top button of his jeans with one hand. Her body flushed with anger and desire.

  “You’re not doing this to me again, Regan Lee,” he warned.

  “What the hell are you doing?” she shouted as he unzipped his pants.

  She tried to roll off the bed but he straddled her and pinned her hands above her head. While she cursed and bucked he unzipped her jacket and ripped the buttons off her shirt. The sound of buttons bouncing off the wall onto the floor was the best foreplay Regan had ever had. She was torn between jumping his bones and running for the door. His eyes blazed down at her with such heat all she could do was watch him with heavy lidded eyes.

  “What are you doing?” she whispered.

  “You say stupid shit so I’ll let your body decide.”

  He released the clasp of her bra with one hand and stared down at her body for a long minute. Regan squirmed beneath him, not sure whether she wanted to tear off her clothes or cover herself from his penetrating stare. Her heart was pounding so fast she thought she might be on the verge of a heart attack. The moment she found out he was divorced she imagined them like this. The boy she knew had rocked her world. What would it be like with the man? Even as her mind screamed at her to stop this from happening, that this would complicate her life her body softened beneath his.

  Brooks leaned down and took a nipple into his mouth and sucked. Regan erupted beneath him during the first pull. Lust hazed her brain. Brooks was too busy keeping his mouth and hands on her body to care when she struggled against his hold. His big body pinned her into the covers and she gasped as he bit her neck in a spot he discovered in their youth. Past and present collided and Regan erupted beneath him. To hell with rationality. It stood no chance against her desire for Brooks Hawking.

  “Jeans off,” she hissed impatiently.

  Brooks smiled and slid down her, biting and licking as he unfastened her jeans and pulled them off her legs. Regan erupted beneath him and found the strength to roll him beneath her. She straddled Brooks and stared at him as she impaled herself on him. They both groaned and he tugged her down to take her mouth in a hot kiss that made her movements jerky as she rode him. She tunneled her hands into his hair and gripped. When she tried to rise he kept her pinned to him with his grip on her jacket. Their bared chests rubbed against each other as they rocked but it wasn’t enough.

  “Brooks!” she yelled.

  He rolled, using the jacket to keep her exactly where he wanted. Regan went wild beneath him as he gripped her hips and thrust. His hair drooped over his forehead as he stared down at her. Her hands twisted in his jacket and she clutched him desperately, urging him to go faster. Her eyes fluttered shut in ecstasy.

  “You’re staying,” he growled.

  Her eyes opened. “No.”

  He stopped moving and she grabbed his hips and tried to keep him moving in the rhythm she needed to get off. Her fingers scrabbled beneath his jacket and dug into skin. She hissed when he started to pull it out.

  “Don’t you dare,” she said hoarsely.

  “Promise me you’ll give me until the New Year.”

  She gaped at him. “You want to talk about this now?”

  His face was pained as he replied, “Can you think of a better time?”

  “Yeah, five minutes from now. Now, move!”

  Sweat beaded his brow as he held himself immobile over her. He quivered, his body like a tuned bow ready to let his arrow loose. He was pulsing inside of her and she bucked her hips upwards. He bared his teeth in a snarl and put his hand on her throat in a no nonsense gesture of possession and demand.

  “No bullshit. You stay with me through the holidays. No holding back. If you want to leave after the New Year, I’ll let you go.”

  She stared into his eyes, soaked in the cocktail of emotion and desire rushing through her bloodstream and wrapped her legs around his waist and locked them tight.

  “Okay.”

  Brooks made a sound halfway between a moan and a howl. He tucked his big thighs beneath her ass, gripped her shoulders and pumped. Her body curved backwards and all she could do was hang on for the best ride of her life. Brooks showed no mercy and she didn’t want it anyway. Her nails drew blood on his lower abdomen and a feral smile curved his mouth. Although he didn’t say it she knew what was going through his mind. You’re mine.

  When her climax ripped through her she screamed. Brooks pumped even harder, leaving her completely wrecked. The veins in his neck pulsed as he pushed himself as deep as possible and came. He slumped over her and they shivered together in the aftermath. Where their skin touched, sweat sealed them together. Brooks still wore his jeans and they both had on their jackets but she had no bottoms.

  Her legs dropped to the bed with a bounce. The zipper on his jacket dug into her breast but she didn’t care. When her brain cleared she found Brooks staring down at her.

  “Again.”

  She felt blissfully weak. She let Brooks Hawking wreck her twice. The responsible, mature part of her was banging her head against the wall. The impulsive hussy that was part of her wild side cheered and told her to try the table in the corner of the room. Brooks nibbled on her neck and smiled when she shivered beneath him.

  “I have to get back to work.”

  “Okay,” she said lazily.

  His hand brushed over her body, making her twitch and arch against him. He swallowed hard and kissed her.

  “I’ll pick you up after work.” He glanced at his watch. “Four hours.”

  He jumped out of bed and zipped his jeans and started to button up his shirt.

  Regan let out a dramatic sigh and widened her eyes. “I’m kinda sore.”

  Brooks looked stricken until he saw the devilish gleam in her eyes. He growled and spanked her ass hard. She yelped and rolled off the bed laughing.

  “I mean what I said Regan. No holding back, no games,” he warned.

  She pulled on her pants and tried to close her shirt. “What does that mean exactly?”

  He came over to fasten her jeans. “It means you don’t put Valerie or rock stars between us. Got it?”

  She sobered and looked up at him. “I really don’t know if I can do this.”

  “Too late now,” he said unsympathetically.

  She fidgeted. “You know I get restless, right?”

  He glared at her. “How can I forget? It’s what took you away the first time.”

  She tried to think of what she would do for a month and a half in White Mist.

  "What am I supposed to do here?" she demanded.

  He looked her up and down. "Lying naked in my bed with your legs spread is a good start."

  She glowered. "I'm serious."

  "People live here, Regan. They have jobs, hobbies. Jesus, you used to live here once upon a time. Your whole family lives here. Maybe you can take a load off of Max and Holly and watch the boys."

  She stared at him. "Are you crazy? I'm not watching those evil spawns!"

  "Whenever I'm not at work I'll be with you so for nine hours a day you figure out what to do."

  Over his shoulder she noticed a beautiful vase on a small table. She went over to look at it, tying the tails of her shirt together as she went. She knew enough about the design to know it was Allison’s. God, that woman was everywhere but Regan was adult enough to admire the work even though she wanted to kick the woman’s ass. It wasn’t the vases fault that the woman that made it was a stupid bitch. She picked it up and held it up to the light. It was a violet color with delicate flower etching around the top and bottom. She knew it was handmade and the time spent on such a design would take hours of concentration
.

  “You like it?” Brooks asked and rested his chin on her shoulder and wrapped his arms around her waist.

  “Do you know how the shop is doing?” she asked thoughtfully.

  “Mom doesn’t talk about it but Kerry told me she’s loaned mom some money a couple months back.”

  The wheels in her head began to spin. “The stuff in their store is great. If they put it online they could double their profits.”

  “You think so?”

  “I know so,” Regan said firmly.

  She set the vase down and briskly strode into the bathroom to see if she could untangle the knots in her hair and make herself look halfway decent. Her eyes shone in the light and she wasn’t sure if it was excitement due to her new plan or Brooks. Fantastic orgasms were a great reason to stay in White Mist but she knew she needed more and now she had it… Her fingers itched to fly over her laptop. Maybe her time spent in the business world was finally going to pay off.

  She was full of ideas that she was out of the house before Brooks caught up to her. He grabbed her around the waist and turned her around.

  “Remember me?” he said, half amused, half irritated.

  “Oh yeah.” She patted him on the head. “I have stuff to do. Thanks for the sex.”

  He glared at her. “What’s wrong with you?”

  “Nothing. I just want to start.”

  “Start on what?”

  “Putting the store online. I’m going to sell every piece before Christmas.”

  His brows rose. “You can do that?”

  She patted his cheek. “Baby, watch and learn.”

  He leaned down to kiss her. “Four hours. Be ready.”

  “Yeah. Sure. Whatever.”

  Regan nearly jogged along the lake since she was so eager to get to her mom. Brooks honked the company truck as he took off and she waved a hand in acknowledgement as her mind started building the website in her mind. During her time in the hotel business she learned how to make a profit, how to make an impact and how to sell. She could still feel Brooks’ hands running over her and it made goose bumps ripple over her skin. She felt possessed and branded and it was unfamiliar but not unpleasant. Daniel always gave her space and didn’t like to be crowded either. It was probably why they’d stayed together so long. Brooks was the opposite. Brooks would never accept coming in second which was a nagging fear in the back of her mind but she pushed that away.