A Tiara Under the Tree

by Carolyn Hector

  “I’ve got this.” Dominic grunted and spun the wheel of his iron to change the tire. “You can help me when my brothers come to town and it’s time to decorate the tree.”

  For a moment she imagined a Christmas tree at Dominic’s house decorated with spark plugs and lug nuts. She recalled the photo of the twins from Dominic’s wallet the first night they kissed. Heat rose from her collarbone from the memory. Focus on something else, Waverly willed herself. Not the way Dominic’s muscles rippled in the moonlight. For some reason, changing a tire meant having to take off his shirt. Not like she was complaining. Dominic’s shirtless frame was a sight for sore eyes. The man was a sculpted god.

  Waverly cleared her throat. “When are they coming?”

  “Probably in a week or so, when school gets out,” said Dominic. The wheel came loose and he made the change while he talked about Alisha taking classes in the spring. Waverly thought about the things she was going to miss as she focused on Miss Georgia. Listening to the Harveys today had left Waverly’s heart heavy. She wanted that kind of love, the kind that transcended history. But time wasn’t on Waverly’s side. The runoff, Miss Georgia and then Miss USA were right at her fingertips. Did she expect Dominic to wait that long?

  Waverly turned her head to the side and watched the muscles in Dominic flex. He cursed and grunted but finally got the old tire changed out to the new one. Pine needles were scattered across the top of the car. From the incident, the road rash had resulted in a half-bare tree.

  Standing, Dominic wiped his hands on the back of his jeans. His six-pack abs flexed and Waverly averted her eyes toward the tree. The timber was safe from getting run over, thanks to the back road Dominic had thought to take. His eyes followed hers. “I’m getting you another tree. We’re tossing this.”

  Before he took another step toward the road, Waverly reached for Dominic’s arm. His biceps twitched beneath her palm. “I don’t need a tree.”

  Dominic paused for a moment. Their eyes locked. Suddenly the tree was no longer in question. Waverly’s heart raced. Her feelings, jumbled with the longing for what the Harveys had and wanting it with Dominic, came to mind.

  “What is it you need, Waverly?”

  “I—I—” The words were lost but the action was not. Waverly leaped forward and threw herself into Dominic’s arms. He caught her and spun her body around, placing her back against the car. Waverly gave him a further answer with a kiss. Her mouth pressed against his, searching and finding that same desire she felt each time they touched.

  He yanked her skirt up her thighs. The material rolled farther up when he pulled her legs around his waist. Waverly moaned and broke the kiss, turning her face toward the sky. Dominic kissed her chin, earlobes and neck, and then nuzzled the valley between her breasts. Skillfully Dominic balanced Waverly’s body against his, pressing her back to the door while his fingers crept up her thigh and between her legs. The fabric of her panties was now moist with blatant desire. Unabashed, Waverly rolled her hips forward. Dominic slid beneath the cotton fabric from the side and pressed one finger inside her.

  “Jesus,” Dominic whispered. “I’m not going to be able to stop.”

  “So don’t.”

  The single word evoked a husky grunt. Dominic lifted Waverly in his arms and reached for his shirt, hanging from the door, then carried her over to the hood. Waverly placed several kisses across Dominic’s neck as he maneuvered around. He set her down. She realized he’d placed his shirt under her so her bare behind wouldn’t touch the cold car. Waverly bit the bottom corner of her lip and watched Dominic step backward. His belt buckle jingled in the air when he slipped his pants over his hips. His black boxer briefs slid down, and in the dim light a foil package of protection glinted. Waverly’s heart jumped with anticipation. She pulled her feet up onto the hood of the car. The height of the vehicle made it perfect for Dominic to hit his target. With one deep stroke he entered her. They both gasped.

  Waverly rolled her head back. Dominic feasted on her neck, earlobes and chin, and then cupped the back of her head and brought her mouth to his. In these woods, stranded on the side of the road and with a storm approaching, Waverly had never felt more protected. This feeling she experienced, this sensation, was more than just gratuitous sex. This was deeper. This was love.

  Moisture struck her face. Was she sad? Dominic’s hands roamed her body. Each tender caress he gave her swelled her heart with love. Waverly shook her head and broke the kiss only to realize clouds had rolled in and covered the moon. Darkness fell on them while the rain did the same.

  At the crack of thunder, Waverly was almost at her breaking point. Dominic spread her back against the car, slid her farther down on him and drove into her. With nothing to grip while her first orgasm broke, Waverly dragged her fingers through her hair, pushing her tiara to the side. Dominic threw her legs over his shoulders and banged into her...until he seemingly lost his breath for a moment. Through the flashes of lightning, she saw that veins popped out in his neck and forearms. Finally he breathed and when he did, the two of them combusted into dual orgasms.

  * * *

  The ride down County Road 17, which brought them into town, was filled with holiday music from the radio. Waverly had no idea what to say. She wasn’t filled with regret but more of a realization she’d opened up a whole can of worms. How was she going to be able to stop wanting Dominic now? Waverly distracted herself with the decorations in the suburbs, oohing and aahing with her face pressed against the window.

  Dominic’s hair was darkened with droplets left over from getting caught in the rain. “I’m getting you another tree.”

  They entered the covered parking garage to her condo instead of Dominic dropping her off at the front door for the doorman to let her in. Dominic pulled the Packard into a guest parking spot rather than the one assigned to Waverly or even his sister. Waverly wondered if that was so Alisha wouldn’t question what happened tonight. The two of them were still soaking wet and it would take no guessing what they had been up to, judging from their wet clothing.

  Being the gentleman that he was, Dominic opened the passenger door for Waverly. Their footsteps fell in unison along the floor of the parking garage.

  “I can bring the dresses over to Lexi’s in the morning,” Dominic offered. Their fingers brushed together.

  “Sounds good to me.” Waverly pressed the up button of the elevator.

  Waverly said a silent prayer for the elevator to be on a higher floor. The ding cut deep and the light from the PG sign lit up as Dominic pressed his lips together.

  “Did you say something?” Waverly asked.

  They stepped into the compartment. Would it be too much to ask for the elevator to get stuck?

  “I’m good,” he replied. “I just know if I ride in the elevator with you I can’t promise to keep my hands off you.”

  “You,” Waverly began with a mild clearing of her throat, “you understand my situation, Dominic, right?”

  Dominic’s eyes widened. “Seriously? After tonight, you’re back to the morality thing?”

  Waverly stiffened at the harsh tone. “I’ve been waiting all my life for this chance.” As the words rolled off her tongue, Waverly wondered what the this was. Love or the pageant.

  Without having to say a word, Dominic got his answer. He pressed his lips together and nodded. “All right.”

  The elevator arrived and Waverly reluctantly stepped out of the compartment. “Do you want to come in and dry off?”

  “Nah,” he said with a shake of his head. “I’ll get those dresses over tomorrow.”

  Chapter 9

  “These dresses are gorgeous.”

  Waverly craned her neck over the stack of ready Advent calendars. The top of Lexi’s blond head appeared in the break room. The dresses had been dropped off before Waverly arrived at work. She hated admit
ting her disappointment at not being able to see Dominic again. She didn’t like the way things had ended. Honestly, in her dream ending of their evening, they would have ended up in bed together. Clearing her naughty thoughts out of her mind with a shake of her head, Waverly leaned around, expecting to find the stroller with the baby prince, Kenny, inside.

  “Don’t look so disappointed because it’s just me.” Lexi frowned and then playfully poked her tongue out.

  When it came time for Waverly to get serious about pageants, Jillian had made sure she had the best pageant coach ever, and that was none other than Lexi Pendergrass Reyes—at the time. Now anyone with a camera who wanted to host their own social media show could claim they were the best pageant coach.

  “Aw, don’t get your feelings in a bunch.” Waverly laughed as she rose up from her seat. She crossed the hardwood floors of the studio in the four-inch heels she wore just to keep herself in constant training. It didn’t matter that the strappy black sandals were out of place with the denim shorts and turquoise Grits and Glam Gowns and Studios shirt she wore. “I am equally glad to see you.”

  “Don’t tell that lie.” Lexi laughed. The two old friends hugged.

  Lexi, graceful as ever, glided across the dance floor directly to the window. “Oh, look, the garage is opened.”

  There was nothing in Lexi’s monotone voice to lead toward surprise. Waverly followed her over to the window and crossed her arms and understood Lexi’s flat, teasing tone. “This is why I hate living in a small town,” Waverly said with a shake of her head.

  “What?” Lexi overdramatically gaped. She pressed her hand against her chest. “Are you implying that I came down here of my own free will, fueled by the gossip of the heated make-out session between you and Dominic Crowne at the Christmas Advisory Council the other night?” Lexi didn’t even fool herself with the innocent act. She collapsed on the couch to sober up her laughing fit.

  Waverly leaned against the cool glass. It was almost December and the weather showed no sign of changing from early fall. The air conditioner was the only thing bringing in the seasonal spirit. Last night’s storm only brought in the humidity.

  With the mention of Dominic, Waverly naturally cast a glance across the street. The garage doors were open. Two cars were in line to get checked out. Three workers came out to guide Miss Brittany Foley’s Jaguar. She stepped out of her vehicle in a pair of way too short shorts and a leopard-print tank top. Highly inappropriate for an elementary school teacher, Waverly thought to herself. Did the trollop think she was going to get Dominic’s attention like that? And where was he anyway? The several dozen times she’d already glanced out there, she hadn’t seen him at all. Was he that buried in paperwork?

  “Earth to Waverly,” Lexi said, snapping her fingers. “You okay, girl?”

  “Sorry.” Waverly recovered. She rubbed her neck with her right hand and moved away from the window. Any more glances out there and she’d reach stalker level. “What brings you in today? Besides this being your own establishment?”

  “Stephen was driving me nuts and the kids don’t get out of school for a few more weeks. I tell ya, I got spoiled with last week’s Thanksgiving break.”

  Lexi wasn’t fooling anyone. She loved having Stephen by her side. How many days had Reyes Realty next door been run by interns or Nate, rather than the head man himself?

  “I’ll believe you want a break,” said Waverly. She plopped down on the other end of the couch.

  “Tired of being Miss Southwood?” Lexi asked. “You’re about to change titles, especially now since you almost have your six months’ residency in.”

  Waverly shook her head no. “I love being Miss Southwood, but it was nice last weekend not to have to get dressed up for anything or travel.”

  “Yeah, speaking of travel,” Lexi said, pressing her hand against Waverly’s shoulder. Waverly glanced at her friend’s unmanicured nails. What a strange sight to see. Lexi was always dressed to a T, and now she sat here with an orange stain over her shoulder, a yellow splotch on her capri jeans. “You didn’t come over to the house.”

  “Lexi, I worked at the vet center in Black Wolf Creek serving Thanksgiving food.”

  “Oh,” Lexi cooed and reached for her phone. “I’m on an alert for any social media posts of you. Where are the photos?”

  “I didn’t alert anyone in the pageant circuit.”

  “What?” Lexi gaped. “No wonder I didn’t find you. Waverly serving at a vet center would be a great photo op to upgrade your image and secure everyone’s vote for the runoff.”

  “Nah,” said Waverly. “I didn’t let the committee know I was going. I just did it to go—it wouldn’t seem as sincere if I had cameras following me.”

  “Jillian must have had a fit.”

  “I didn’t bother telling her,” Waverly said with a shrug. “When I finished in Black Wolf Creek, I came home and curled up on the couch with some fried turkey and corn bread and stuffing wontons, and I washed it all down with a cranberry smoothie while I watched the recorded parade.”

  “That sounds disgusting.”

  “The disgusting part was not even changing out of my pj’s the rest of the weekend.” Waverly chuckled. “You know, I don’t think I even pulled a brush through my hair until Sunday night.”

  Lexi rolled her eyes. “And I thought I was bad.”

  “You at least have a reason for looking a mess.”

  “Hey now.” Lexi pouted and touched her blond hair. Women spent hundreds of dollars to get Lexi’s color—which she came by naturally. And she never looked a mess.

  Waverly leaned over and bumped Lexi’s shoulder. “I’m kidding.”

  “Make it up to me by telling me about this heat between you and Dominic.”

  Absentmindedly Waverly pressed her hand to her lips. Then she panicked. Had someone told her about last night? “Huh?”

  “The kiss at the Christmas Advisory Council.”

  “Oh, yeah.” Waverly breathed a sigh of relief. “Dominic was just being nice and saved me from Anson.”

  The mention of the mayor’s name evoked a drastic eye roll from Lexi.

  “Yes, the re-emergence of Dominic Crowne sent this man into several states of insecurity,” said Waverly. “Not like Anson had a chance. But you’d never know, the way he cornered me at the cookie table.”

  “Which one?”

  “Which table?” Waverly asked.

  “Which cookie?” Lexi clarified.

  “Miss Annie’s,” Waverly answered. She decided to ask Lexi later about the little shoulder shimmy Lexi did over the cookies. One should not be so excited about a cookie. “Anyway, so Anson was going on about how we’d be such a great couple.”

  “Ugh.”

  “I know. And did you know Dominic sent him an email over the weekend, asking to be on the agenda for a few minutes, and Anson acted like he never received it?”

  “Yet Dominic shared his plan for the parade and the floats?” Lexi inquired.

  Waverly went on to tell Lexi about the events from yesterday with the Harveys and the Christmas tree, but made it a point not to mention anything else.

  “So Dominic’s back in town for twenty-four hours and you’re getting all googly-eyed.”

  “What?” Waverly clamped her hand over her mouth to keep from laughing at Lexi’s terminology. “I’m not having this conversation with you.”

  “So if I were Jolene, you would tell me how you wouldn’t mind if he crammed his tongue down your throat?”

  Jolene would get the whole tea, but she wasn’t, so Waverly needed to figure things out on her own. For a bad boy, Dominic didn’t appear to like leaving what happened on the side of the road for what it was—a moment in time for them. One hot, passionate moment. Beads of sweat began to gather at the nape of Waverly’s neck. She lifted her l
ong hair and twisted it into a bun at the top of her head.

  “Jesus, girl.” Lexi fanned Waverly’s cheeks with her hand. She hopped up, jogged over to the kitchen and returned with two glasses of tea. “I haven’t seen you so fevered before since... Geez, I don’t know when. Who was the motorcycle boy you were in love with when you were sixteen?”

  “Why you gotta bring up the past?” The sugary beverage brought down the temperature in her body. Waverly tilted the glass further until she captured an ice cube.

  “You lost your chance to compete in a pageant.”

  Waverly didn’t need the reminder. It was her spiral down toward the big dethroning. “History won’t repeat itself. The Morality Committee made quite the impression.”

  Even though Waverly captured another ice cube, she caught Lexi’s eye roll. “The committee can’t keep you from having a social life, Waverly. You just can’t go out and have hot sex on the hood of a car in a park.”

  Waverly choked on the piece of ice in her mouth. She leaned forward and coughed.

  Taking the hint, Lexi sighed and changed the subject. “Fine. Just remember what I said—you’re still allowed a social life. Even when you win Miss Georgia or Miss USA, you’re still going to want to have a personal life once it ends.”

  “Not if I go on to Miss Universe.”

  Lexi snatched the material from Waverly’s hands. “Don’t make me hurt you, girl. Don’t be like me and wait until it’s almost too late.”

  “Let me get through this runoff.”

  Lexi patted Waverly’s thigh. “What’s your plan?”

  “Same as always—win.”

  “Just what I like to hear.”

  Waverly spent the rest of the afternoon welcoming in the mothers of contestants and customers of Grits and Glam Gowns and Studios. They sold every single Advent calendar as well as a few dresses. Some of Waverly’s students wanted to know what was in every box, but that would have spoiled the surprise. Some of the calendars were separated into boxes for the different genders, in case one of the boys receiving a calendar protested the idea of a free pageant lesson. She was truly touched by the way the Chamber of Commerce came together to donate physical calendars in the shape of downtown Southwood.