Holiday Gifts

by Elena Aitken

  He could afford a few more nights, enough time to figure out what to do. And he would. He always did.

  Joe might be the best option for a job, but he wasn’t the only one. Shelter Bay was full of people all coming and going in a small cluster of buildings, and six large docks full of boats. But despite the non-traditional setting it was a vibrant community and the people, although definitely a mixed bag, were genuine. He’d figure something out.

  He pushed the heavy steel door to the stairwell open, letting it crash behind him leaving him in darkness.

  Archer shook his head. If Joe wanted to save money there were probably better ways than keeping the lights out in the stairs. And safer ways, too. He flicked the switch back and forth.

  Nothing.

  It took him one more flick that failed to produce light before he realized exactly why he was standing in darkness. Again. The fuse must have gone. Archer rolled his eyes. Obviously Joe was saving money—by not hiring an electrician. It was the third time this week. Not that he minded too terribly much, the last time he’d been stuck in the dark, he’d had company. Although, Archer was pretty sure that Joe wouldn’t appreciate the fact that it was his wife, Heather who’d helped him find his way in the dark. He was also pretty sure that Joe would definitely not believe him when he told him he didn’t know it was Heather he’d been kissing. No matter what Joe believed, or how good the kiss was, that information would definitely not help his chances of getting a job at Shelter Bay. That much Archer knew for a fact.

  He picked his way through the darkness to where he knew from experience the fusebox was located. Too bad he didn't know more about electricity or he'd likely be able to convince Joe to hire him on as a handyman. Or not.

  A shuffling sound and a slight cough, like someone was trying to muffle the sound caught his attention and he grinned.

  Heather.

  Another dark hallway rendezvous? He knew he shouldn’t. It was a bad idea. A very bad idea. But what the hell? Joe already hated him and it wasn’t his fault the woman clearly didn’t care for her husband. He moved along the wall where the sound had come from and moments later, bumped into something, or someone soft.

  Without giving her a chance to speak, he reached out and pulled her head forward, finding her lips with his. Only she didn’t yield the way she had in the past, this was different, more of a challenge. Archer used his free hand to find her cheek and stroked his thumb softly in circles as his mouth urged hers to open to him. And it did. She tasted different. Sweeter, hotter and something else he couldn’t quite identify. His body reacted hot and hard to her.

  Archer’s brain registered that it was not Heather he was kissing, almost at the exact second that she pushed him away, and raised her knee in sharp jerk only narrowly missing his already extremely aroused jewels.

  “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” The voice was shaky, yet strong and definitely not Heather’s.

  Crap.

  He stepped back, putting a healthy distance between him and the woman he’d unintentionally accosted. “Whoa.” He held his hands in front of him although there was no way she could see him. “Just give me a second, I’ll get the lights.”

  “Stay back.”

  “I intend to.” There was no doubt about that. He felt his way along the wall until he reached the fuse box. Using a book of matches he’d taken from the bar he used the glow of light to locate the right breaker and flicked it on, illuminating the tiny stairwell.

  "Oh."

  A female voice caught his attention and he turned around to see a very pretty and very startled woman in the corner, her hand over her eyes and her lips looking as if they’d just been throughly kissed, which they had. A fact his dick was still very aware of.

  "Hey. About that—“ He took a step toward her but she backed away and held her hand up in a pseudo-karate move. It was so cute that he would have laughed if she didn't look so terrified.

  “Don't take another step." Her voice shook, but there was steel behind her words, too and since Archer was no fool, he did as he was told. He’d been around enough strong women to know when to stand down. “I know self-defence and I'm not afraid to use it. One more step and I will drop you.”

  Then he couldn't help it. She didn’t look weak or helpless by any means. In fact, she looked downright hot with her tank top clinging to her breasts and her shorts exposing the kind of long toned legs he could definitely imagine wrapped around him. But the idea that she could possibly take down all six one and at least two hundred and ten pounds of solid muscle honed from his days in the back country skiing, hiking and hauling out game, was laughable.

  So he did.

  A move his sexy companion really didn't seem to appreciate.

  "What's so funny?"

  "You." He managed to get out. "Obviously."

  "You think it's funny that as I'm trying to get up to my room after a very long day, I'm thrust into darkness with no idea where I am or which way to go to get out and then assaulted by some beast of a man? The same big hulk of a man who continues to threaten me even though I've warned him to back the hell up? You think that’s funny?"

  She thrust her shoulders back and her chin out in a look of defiance that sent a spark of desire right through him. It was so unexpected his laughter died on his lips.

  "Look." He tried softening his voice. He took another step toward her and while she didn’t move away, she looked like she might make good on her threat to drop him. “Okay.” He held up his hands. "My name is Archer Wolfe and I'm a guest here. I won't hurt you and I swear I didn’t mean to kiss you. I thought you were someone else.“

  "You're a guest?" She narrowed her dark eyes at him. "Then how did you know how to turn the lights back on?"

  "Practice. It happens a lot. " He laughed again, but the look on her face told him in no uncertain terms that she was not amused, so he swallowed it. "I can show you how to do it if you like? I’d recommend it if you plan on spending any length of time here."

  Suddenly he wanted to know very badly if she'd be spending any length of time at the marina and if she might like to spend any of that time with him perhaps revisiting that kiss, because damn if his body didn’t react immediately and hard to the taste of her. Yes, he very much wanted to spend more time with her. Preferably not standing in the stairwell.

  “I don't think that will be necessary." Something in her voice told Archer that she really wasn't so sure. In fact, there was something in her voice that hinted at a lot more than uncertainty, so Archer forced himself to behave and not push the issue.

  “Well, for however long you plan on staying would you like me to help you with your bags? To make up for the kiss.” Her fingers flew up to her lips as if she was only now remembering that little detail. “I promise,” Archer continued, “I’m a really good guy. I have references."

  That made her smile, at least a little. And just that sliver of smile was enough for Archer to know he wanted to see more. Much more.

  “That’s not necessary.”

  "If you're sure…”

  "My name is Cass.”

  "Just Cass?"

  She raised an eyebrow. "Just Cass."

  To his surprise, she let him take her bag and together they started to walk up the stairs.

  "So, what are you here for, Cass? Catching a charter?"

  In the short time he'd spent at the marina he realized that if you weren’t a boat owner getting work done on your boat over in the yard, you were a traveller catching a charter out to the San Blas islands. Not many people stayed long term in the six rooms over the restaurant.

  “Aren’t you full of questions?"

  “Questions are the only way to figure out the answer.”

  For a moment she looked like she was going to argue with him and Archer wanted nothing more. It had been a long time since he’d sparred with a women and he liked it. And judging from the uncomfortable bulge in his jeans, his brain wasn’t the only part of him that appreciated her sass.

/>   Instead of saying whatever it was that was obviously on the tip of her tongue, Cass closed her mouth and nodded her head toward the door at the end of the hall. “I think that’s me. Room three.”

  On the exact opposite end of the hall from him. He carried her bag the short distance and set it down. “So you’re really not going to tell me what you’re doing here?” He crossed his arms over his chest, in no hurry to let her go.

  She must have sensed that he wasn’t going to drop it, either that or she’d finally decided he wasn’t a threat to her. Cass sighed. “I’m here for a little holiday,” she said, but the way her eyes shifted made it obvious to anyone who was paying attention that she was lying. And Archer was definitely paying attention. Before he could call her on it, Cass added, “And to sort out a few things of my father’s.”

  There was more than what she was saying but it was clear she didn’t want to talk about it and there was no way he could push without crossing a line. After all, they’d only just met, he couldn’t expect her to spill all her secrets. Which was fine with him, he liked a little mystery in a woman. It kept things interesting. When she reached past him to unlock her door, her breast brushed up against his arms sparking another reaction in his crotch. To keep his sanity, he stepped back to give her space and shoved his hands in his pockets to keep from reaching out to her when she picked up her bag, thanked him and walked into the room. Before she closed the door behind her, she turned and gave him the sexiest damn smile he’d seen which just concreted her place as the star of his dreams for the night.

  “Damn.” He shook his head and walked back to his room with a smile on his face because meeting Cass had just made things a lot more interesting in Shelter Bay. It was true he still needed a job to replenish his funds, but maybe, just maybe, he wouldn’t be in such a hurry to move on after all?

  * * *

  Secrets in the Sand will be available 2016! Make sure you visit Elena Aitken on her Facebook page for up to date information on the release of this new series.

  https://www.facebook.com/elenaaitken.author