Mission of Christmas

by Candice Gilmer

  The sooner we got what he needed, the sooner we could get out of here and I could go back to watching my non-holiday movie marathon.

  “So what scent does she like?”

  “Vanilla.”

  I glanced at him, a little freaked out at his immediate answer. “And why do you know that? I mean, there wasn’t even a pause in your response time.”

  “You’ve met my sister, right? She always smells like vanilla. I keep expecting her to pull a cookie out of her pocket.”

  I snorted. Now that I thought about it, he was right—I had thought once she used vanilla extract for perfume.

  It didn’t take us long to find vanilla. What bath store wouldn’t have a bazillion different kinds of vanilla scented lotions? We started looking through them, and I found one on the front shelf. It was a Spiced Vanilla—a special holiday scent.

  “What about this one?” I asked him, rubbing some of the lotion on my hand and sticking it in his face.

  I could feel his exhaled breath across my fingers as he took in the aroma. When he looked me in the eyes, my stomach dropped right out onto the floor. His eyes were dark—really dark, like totally heady and strong and masculine, and all my girly parts immediately squealed.

  I yanked my hand back. “It’s not a piece of candy.”

  A slip of a smile ran over his face. “Sorry. Yeah, I think that will work.”

  We picked up a couple bottles of the lotion, a bottle of the hand soap, and a bottle of the little essential oil stuff, all the same scent. When we took it to the front, the lady—who made the usual doe-eyes at Andrew—offered to wrap it for him in a special gift basket.

  He didn’t seem to notice her attention.

  I shook my head as we started to walk out. “You should have asked for her number.”

  “Why?”

  “She was all about you.”

  “I wasn’t interested in her.”

  I turned and looked at the gal as we headed back into the swarm of customers. “Why not? She’s cute. All perky and firm in the right places.”

  “I’ve had firm and perky. I’m more interested in soft and sullen now.”

  I snorted. If I didn’t know better, I might have thought he was talking about me.

  I snuck a glance at him. He wasn’t looking at me.

  Good.

  No need to screw up a good thing.

  We climbed back into his car, and he started pulling out of the parking lot.

  “Thank God,” I muttered. “I didn’t think I could take much more Christmas shopping.”

  “I’m not done,” he said, turning north out of the parking lot. Not south; that would take me back to my place.

  “What now?” I muttered, sipping on my now-cold coffee.

  “Gotta stop at Barnes and Noble.”

  I let out a sigh. At least that place I could somewhat handle. I was a reader, and there was this new series I wanted to pick up.

  And they had coffee.

  “What did you need at Barnes?” I asked, watching the traffic. The sideways snow hadn’t stuck to the road, thank goodness. Instead everything was just wet this morning.

  Which was good. No frozen roads.

  Hawkins slammed on the brakes because an idiot cut him off to pull into a shopping center on the way.

  “Dickhead!” I screamed.

  “Ahh, the Christmas spirit is in full force today,” he said, then smirked.

  “Glad you’re driving. I might have hit him.”

  “You need a new car. I don’t.”

  “True,” I said, smiling.

  He let out a sigh, driving a little farther. “I gotta get my mother a Nook case. Guess Dad bought her one for Christmas, and I told him I’d buy the case for it.”

  “That’s mighty nice of you.”

  “And I think I’m going to get her a gift card too.”

  “We can get that at the grocery store,” I said.

  He merely smiled. “You like the bookstore.”

  “Yes, I’ve been meaning to go there anyway.”

  After all, I didn’t do Christmas. So no one bought me presents. I bought my own. But I didn’t fiddle with wrapping them. I could go home tonight, curl up with a new book, and veg out.

  No Hawkins allowed.

  Chapter Three

  Saturday

  Andy led Erica into the bookstore, and she still wore her totally Scrooge-ish scowl. While he knew she loved getting books, she loathed Christmas shopping. Probably why she walked at a tortoise pace behind him.

  Maybe he ought to get her a Nook as well.

  But then she’d have yet another reason to stay home on her couch.

  They hadn’t been in the store more than a minute when Erica disappeared into the science fiction and fantasy section.

  He remained rooted by a John Grisham display, watching her walk away.

  Her hips swayed with every businesslike step, and as she turned the corner to the aisle she wanted, he got a great shot of her body’s curves. Her dark hair dangled out of the stocking cap she wore, swaying with her steps. Even with her big coat on, he could see the roundness of her breasts.

  His groin tightened at the sight. He had to remind himself this was Erica, not just anyone. Unfortunately, that happened a lot when he spent time with her as of late. Not exactly what he wanted in their relationship, but like an addict, he just couldn’t stay away from her.

  They were always together as kids, and as teenagers they’d been pretty good friends even though they’d been in different cliques at school. While married, they hadn’t hung out much because of their significant others.

  Then Erica got the job at Inventive Proposals. And the last few years were almost like high school again. They spent almost every weekend together if one of them didn’t have a date. Though the more time passed, Andy didn’t want to go out with anyone else.

  He wanted to be with her.

  Hell, the whole office thought they were banging.

  Not that he’d complain…

  He shook off his thoughts. He wasn’t here to think about Erica. He was on a mission of Christmas. He browsed the Nook cases, checking his text from his dad about the type to get, and found a red one. His mother loved all things red.

  On his way to the checkout, he picked up a fancy metal bookmark with the initial K on it for his Secret Santa gift tonight.

  “What’s with the bookmark?” Erica snuck up behind him while he stared at the rack of the latest bestsellers behind the counter. Just the sound of her voice made him smile. He turned around to see three books in her arms.

  “Secret Santa gift. I have Katherine Davis.”

  She arched an eyebrow, framing her dark brown eyes. “She’s the elderly lady running the mail room, right?”

  “Yep.”

  “She an avid reader?”

  He shrugged. “Not sure. But it’s the kind of thing I think she would like.” The line started to move forward. “Who’s your Secret Santa?”

  She turned away from him. “I opted out.”

  He grimaced. “Why would you do that? You won’t get a gift tonight at the party.”

  “I’m not going to the party.” When she met his gaze this time, there was determination in her face. She had no desire to participate.

  Well, that wasn’t going to happen.

  “Yes you are.” He grabbed the books she was carrying and put them with his. “If I have to carry you over my shoulder, you’re going.”

  “Hey!” She tried to reach for them, but he held them out of her reach.

  “Get over it.”

  The clerk waved him to her counter, and when he handed over his pile, Erica tried again to snag her books back.

  “Knock it off, Hawkins,” Erica said. “And I’m not going to the holiday party. I couldn’t care less about it.” When he wouldn’t let her by, she tried to sneak a twenty to pay for her books.

  He pushed her hand back and handed the clerk his credit card instead, telling Erica, “You’re going to the par
ty.”

  She growled at him as his stuff was bagged. They made it to the door before Erica tried for the sack. “Give me my damn books.”

  “No.”

  “Why not?”

  “You have to come to Mom’s to get them.” It hadn’t been his intention to blackmail her with presents, but it would work. He couldn’t explain how much he wanted her to come to the Christmas festivities. Just that it had to be.

  “You’re just plain evil.”

  She pouted as they headed out into the cold.

  “I hope you’re about done,” Erica said as they pulled into the Best Buy parking lot.

  “This is the last one, I promise.” Andy climbed out, and Erica followed.

  “You seriously are buying me lunch after this.”

  “Anything you want, my dear.”

  She raised her eyebrow at him, a strange look on her face.

  Man, she’d heard that. He looked away, hoping she didn’t see the embarrassment. He’d sounded like a horny jock, and he wanted to kick himself.

  He knew better than that. Erica was not one to be seduced by typical guy stuff. She wanted…

  Hell, he wasn’t sure what she wanted exactly. But he needed to figure her out.

  That was the weird thing about their relationship. They knew everything about each other, except how to be more than just friends.

  Uncharted territory, and all that.

  Well, not completely uncharted.

  There was that time, back in high school, where they drank a little too much out at the lake…

  They didn’t have sex or anything, though Andy would have jumped on that if Erica hadn’t held him back.

  But they did make out. Kissing for almost two hours under the stars, hands groping, all those fumbling things kids did together when they got alone.

  Yeah.

  A good night.

  Andy and Erica walked in the front door of the electronics store.

  “What are you thinking about?” Erica asked him.

  “Hanging out at the lake,” he said.

  She let out a long sigh. “Yes, that would be awesome. Lake, hot warm sun, splashing water. Smores.” She got this big grin on her face.

  “Beer. Stars. Campfires,” he added.

  They glanced at each other, and he wondered if she remembered what he remembered.

  Her cheeks went pink, and he knew she did.

  He grinned. “That was a happy time.”

  “Yeah. Uh-huh.” She took a few steps away from him. “What did you need to get in here?”

  He sighed. Damn, he thought he had her there. “A video game for my brother-in-law. Some new Star Wars game.”

  “Your brother-in-law is a geek.”

  “Yes he is. Has to be. He married my sister, the ultimate nerd.”

  “I don’t know, I could probably give her a run for the money,” Erica said as she browsed the video game titles.

  He smirked. “I know my sister would love your Avengers dolls.”

  “Do not mock the Joss.”

  He laughed. “You are such a geek.”

  “Gotta love me anyway,” Erica muttered.

  “I try to,” he whispered, more to himself than her.

  “What was that?”

  “Nothing,” he said, and picked up a game. “I think this is it.”

  “Yeah, okay, I’m gonna go look at movies.” And Erica darted out of the aisle.

  He turned to follow her, and ran smack into Tawny and Mandy Sue. They were decked out in the latest Christmas fashions with low-cut sweaters and boots that couldn’t be good walking on anything slick.

  “Oh, hello,” he said, painting on a smile.

  “Why, I told you that was Andrew,” Tawny said, grinning at Mandy Sue.

  “Yes, you did. Why Andrew, what are you doing here?”

  He shrugged, waving the game in his hand. “Just last minute Christmas shopping, of course. What about you ladies?”

  “The same. Have to pick up a few stocking stuffers for my little guy.” Tawny stepped over to the display of new Nintendo games. “My boy wants this, uh, what’s it called? Some new Mario game.”

  “They have a lot of them,” Andrew said.

  “So we’ll be seeing you tonight,” Mandy Sue said, smiling at him.

  “Of course,” he replied. “I never miss a party.”

  “Me either,” Tawny replied, her gaze running over Andy like he was a buffet. She held a video game in her hand, one that wasn’t even Mario. And did not look suitable for the little boy that Tawny went on and on about at work.

  God, get me out of this.

  “You bringing a date tonight?” Mandy Sue asked.

  “Yes, I do have a date,” he replied, smiling, hoping the barracudas would back off.

  “Too bad,” Tawny said. “I’d be happy to let you ride with me.”

  “Thank you, but I’m good,” Andrew said. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to find Erica.”

  “Erica Jones?” Mandy Sue said, rolling her eyes. “Why in the world do you hang out with that grumpy gal anyway?”

  He merely smiled and slid away, letting the barracudas think what they wanted.

  Chapter Four

  Saturday Evening

  “One drink, that’s it,” I said as Hawkins pulled me through the doors to the Christmas office party at the old hotel downtown.

  I refused to wear anything festive, but Hawkins wouldn’t let that happen. He pinned a little broach on my black dress that looked like it came right out of Avon: a green glittery Christmas tree.

  A surprisingly lovely addition. Though I’d never tell him that.

  I didn’t want to know where Hawkins found it. As far as I knew, he hadn’t left while I was getting ready, and from the way the water pressure dropped off during my shower, I assumed he’d jumped in the little box realtors dared call a shower on the main floor. He was now clean, polished and devilishly handsome.

  The office had booked a party room at the old Broadview Hotel downtown. It had been bought by so many different companies I had no idea which conglomerate owned it now. It was a lovely establishment, shiny and pretty, decked out in more Christmas garlands, trees, and Christmas spirit than I like to see in a month, but hey, it was a hotel.

  “You should have at least three drinks,” Hawkins said as he snagged two glasses of champagne off a passing tray.

  “Why is that?”

  He shrugged. “Might make you somewhat bearable tonight.”

  “Ass.” I took a sip off my champagne.

  He’d been in a strange mood when we left Best Buy, not exactly pissy but not really happy, either.

  I guessed it might have had to do with bumping into a couple ladies from work—I saw them an aisle over, and that was when I made my exit.

  I refused to cock-block him.

  The dude seriously needed a date. I mean, I loved his company, but hanging out with me all the time wasn’t going to get him anywhere.

  I knew Andy. He wanted that whole family package. With the Christmas tree and the dozen rugrats running around.

  We just weren’t built for that. Not together anyway. They say “know your limitations.” One failed marriage and I figured out I wasn’t the family type. I was better off being the spinster gal.

  Besides, men didn’t know what to do with a practical gal like me. I don’t do flowers, and if I want chocolates, I buy them. I don’t do sentimental crap.

  That was why Andy was so awesome. He was my friend, we could hang out, but there was no pressure, no tension.

  Nothing strained.

  Yet, glancing at him out of the corner of my eye, something different was there. Like when he hooked that pin on me.

  I couldn’t put my finger on what it was.

  Even now, standing so close to him, I could feel it. Something had changed. Or was changing. And I wasn’t sure I liked that very much.

  He leaned into me like he was going to tell me something. His breath grazed my shoulder, and for a sec
ond…

  “Did you just sniff me?”

  My Coco Chanel perfume lingered in my clothes. It was the only luxury I allowed myself. His breath grazing my shoulder made the eighty dollar investment worth it. I felt it all the way down. Didn’t matter that we were in a room of a hundred plus people.

  People who already think we’re sleeping together.

  “Would you mind?”

  “I would think it was freaky.”

  “Then no, I didn’t.” Yet he took another breath, raising the hairs on my neck.

  So why oh why did I get these strong sensations all the way down to—well—below my tummy, when he did that?

  I glanced at his large hands, holding the delicate champagne flute. Would those hands have applied my perfume for me if our relationship was what the rumors claimed? Would he stroke my cheek? Brush my hips? My cheeks flushed at the thought, and I took a much bigger swig off my champagne than I should have.

  “What is running around in that brain of yours?” he asked, arching an eyebrow at me.

  “Um…”

  A grin spread over his face. “That interesting, eh?”

  “You don’t want to go there.” I couldn’t take my eyes off his hands. My brain ran on overdrive—imagining, thinking and generally getting all worked up.

  From the way he watched me, I had a feeling he knew exactly what I was thinking.

  Code red brain… Change the subject. Change it now.

  What the hell was wrong with me?

  When he grabbed my elbow to work through the crowd, I thought I might incinerate. “I really need to, uh, powder my nose.”

  He didn’t say anything, but before he let go of my arm he whispered in my ear. “This better not be an excuse for you to duck out and get a cab.”

  I had to laugh. “Dude, it would take two hours for a cab to get here.” We had the worst cab service in the world, and unless one booked a cab to pick them up at a specific time, they always took forever.

  “Point taken.”

  I smelled his cologne, not intentionally. I didn’t take any purposeful whiffs of him or anything, but it was there—a scent that was all Andy. Warm. Earthy. Woodsy.

  Kinda like campfires…

  And thanks to him, I’d had campfires on my mind all afternoon. Especially that one time…