by Melody Grace
“Not so fast.” I spin her around suddenly, bringing her in against my chest. Her body is warm and soft through her padded coat, and her eyes sparkle with excitement as I graze my thumb slowly over her lips. “I’ve got plans for you,” I murmur, loving the heat that flares in her eyes, and the way her mouth falls open against my touch. “Hot, sweaty, scream-the-roof-down plans.”
Sophie shivers. “I think I could—”
But her reply is lost under my kiss. I claim her mouth, searching, teasing, licking gently at her lips to taste before I slide my tongue deep, gorging on her sweetness. She melts against me, clutching at my jacket and kissing me back with a fevered enthusiasm that makes my blood boil. God, her passion is incredible, the eagerness of her lips, her hands…
That sinful body.
I’m drowning in the feel of her, when suddenly, she pulls back. “It’s snowing!” she exclaims, her face lighting up. She tips her head back, looking upwards at the cloudy sky. “Look!”
Sure enough, tiny wet snowflakes are tumbling all around us. Sophie spins around happily. “I can’t believe it snowed on Christmas!” She laughs. “I got my perfect holiday after all!”
She closes her eyes and sticks her tongue out to catch the snowflakes. And suddenly, I realize that the holidays won’t be enough with this woman. I want to see her face light up like this on New Year’s Eve, on Valentine’s Day. Summer vacations and Thanksgiving feasts. We haven’t talked much about the real lives waiting for us after this trip is over, but I want to.
I want to make a plan, make this real somehow. More than just a random perfect weekend. More than two strangers finding each other at exactly the right time and place.
I want this to be the beginning with her.
Back at the hotel, I tell Sophie to go up to the room ahead of me. “I have one last surprise,” I tell her, handing her my keycard.
She gives me a devilish grin. “Me too.” She leans closer, to whisper in my ear. “And it maybe involves some new lingerie I never got to wear…”
My blood surges. “Damn, woman.” I pull her in for another searing kiss. “How am I supposed to function with that image in my head?”
“I’m sure you’ll find a way.” Sophie ducks away. “Don’t take too long. I might have to start without you…”
My jaw drops.
“The movies,” she says, teasing. “Whatever did you think I meant?”
With a wink, she spins on her heel and heads for the elevator. I take a moment to get back the power of thought, then detour via the hotel restaurant. It’s almost empty, so the bored busboy clearing plates just gives me a nod as I go to display of Christmas trees in the corner. Even the smallest one is about the same size as me, but I manage to hoist it over my shoulder. I look a pretty strange sight carrying it across the lobby, but I don’t care. It’s not a real holiday without a holiday tree.
And we may not have any gifts tonight, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be unwrapping Sophie, one layer of clothing at a time.
It takes me forever to haul it into the elevator and down the hallway to my room. I struggle to tap on the door.
“Sophie?” I call. There’s no reply. “You better be taking off all your clothes right now,” I grunt, reaching to knock again. But the door swings open, it was left on the latch.
“Taking off all your clothes, and running a bubble bath,” I add, dragging the tree into the room. Ornaments tumble to the ground as I set it down in the corner and look around.
“Sounds like a good idea to me.”
The voice comes from behind me, but it’s all wrong.
I spin around. No.
It’s Anika, strutting towards me in a silk robe—and not much else.
I panic. “How long have you been here?” I demand, looking around. “How did you get in?”
“The bellboy got me a key,” she coos, reaching me. She runs her hands over my chest. “Surprise!”
I wrench away. “I thought you were in Miami for the holidays.”
“I got a red-eye, like you said.” Anika bats her eyelashes at me. “Aren’t you happy to see me?”
There’s an edge to her voice that makes my blood run cold. “Where’s Sophie?” I ask flatly.
Anika pretends to think. “Sophie, Sophie…” She taps a blood-red nail to her jaw. “Hmmm.”
“Don’t mess around with this,” I growl, pacing away. I check the bathroom, and the bedroom too, but the suite is empty.
And Sophie’s things are gone. No high heels scattered on the floor, no dress from last night, no coat hanging over the chair.
Shit.
I return to the living room, where Anika is sprawled over the couch. Her limbs are draped seductively, covered in silk and satin, but I couldn’t care less. “Where did she go?” I demand, my heartbeat racing with fear. “Tell me right now!”
“That mousy girl you had up here?” Anika sneers. “I thought she was your assistant.”
“Dammit, Anika—” I stop, fighting to keep my temper. “What did you tell her?”
“The truth.” She gives me a smug little smile. “That I was your girlfriend. She seemed rather upset. I guess someone’s been telling lies.”
“We were never like that,” I exclaim. “You were the one who wanted to keep things casual!”
“Well, I changed my mind. That’s why I’m here,” she smiles. “I don’t mind about that girl. I forgive you, I know she doesn’t mean anything to you.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.”
I turn on my heel and hurry back out of the suite. The elevator takes too long, so I take the stairs instead, racing two at a time down to the lobby as the sick feeling in my chest grows tighter.
Where did she go? How can I get her back?
I burst into the lobby and head for the desk. There are people there checking out, but I impatiently edge them aside. “I need to know a room number,” I demand, “one of your guests. Sophie…” I stop. I don’t know her last name. “Sophie something, it was the second floor.”
The clerk stares back, stony-faced. “I’m afraid we can’t give out that information.”
“Dammit!” I slam my hand against the desk, then catch myself. “I’m sorry, but I really need to find her.”
“Austin?”
I turn. It’s the friendly receptionist, Patrice. “Thank God.” I go to her, desperate. “The woman I was with, Sophie, do you know her room number?”
“I…yes…” Patrice gives the clerk on duty a quick look, then turns us away from him. “But you’re too late, she just checked out.”
My heart falls. “That’s impossible!”
“I’m sorry.” Patrice looks anxious. “But she was just here. She came tearing through, she seemed upset. She went out front to catch a cab.”
I look to the exit. “How long ago?” I demand.
“A couple minutes, maybe? But—”
Patrice’s answer is lost as I sprint for the front doors. I burst outside, looking wildly around. The sidewalk is busier now, cabs and traffic clogging the street.
“Sophie!” I yell, scanning the crowd. “Sophie, wait!”
But there’s no sign of her. I search in vain, but it’s too late. I’m too late.
She’s gone.
Sophie
New Year’s Eve
“You’re no longer necessary…”
The words echo in my mind, as fresh and painful as if they were yesterday even though it’s been almost a week since I fled New York City in tears for the comfort and safety of Beachwood Bay.
What were you expecting? A voice taunts me. You knew what he was doing when you met him. Did you really think you were different from all those other girls he tried to call?
I gaze out at the ocean, feeling the tight burn of rejection slice in my chest as I remember walking in on Austin’s perfect girlfriend.
She was lounging in a silk robe and lingerie like she owned the place when I let myself into the suite. I stopped dead, wondering if I’d let myself i
nto the wrong room by accident, but she didn’t even seem surprised to see me, she just quirked one eyebrow at me and gave a little sigh.
“Oh, of course,” she said. “Boys will be boys. I can’t leave that man alone for a second without him finding some distraction.”
Her green eyes drifted over me, and I became painfully aware of my red nose and bulky winter coat. She was gorgeous: the kind of face you only see in glossy magazines, dewy skin and honey-colored limbs stretching down from the scraps of silk that barely covered anything. She didn’t seem self-conscious, she didn’t even close her robe as she got to her feet and slowly sashayed across the room to greet me. “I’m Anika,” she said, extending one perfectly-manicured hand. “Austin’s girlfriend.”
My heart froze.
“I…” I stuttered, feeling humiliation burn hot in my cheeks. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know… He didn’t say anything—”
“They never do, darling.” She smiled, and I realized to my horror that it was sympathy in her expression. “C’est la vie. I was out of town for a few days, but I see he’s been keeping busy.”
Humiliation crashed through me. I couldn’t believe I didn’t see this coming. I wanted so badly to believe that what we shared was real, that I was special somehow…
But it turns out, I was dumber than the rest. I fell for his charm and gorgeous face, and forgot everything my instincts told me the night we first met.
“It’s alright, darling,” Anika added, patting my shoulder. “It happens all the time.”
That was even worse. I felt tears stinging my in my eyes, so I quickly turned away. “I’m sorry,” I said again, and then fled the room before I could make even more of a fool out of myself.
It didn’t take me long to grab my bags from my room and check out, but as I sat in the backseat of a cab on my way to the airport, I realized I didn’t have anywhere to go. My room back in LA was sublet through the holidays. I’d been planning to go with Matt to his parent’s place through New Years.
Dumped by two men in two days, that had to be a record.
But then I remembered my friend Tegan, who volunteered with me at the crisis helpline. She invited me and Matt to her family’s big New Year’s party, said a whole bunch of people would be staying with them through the holidays. The more, the merrier.
So here I am in the small beach town: sleeping in one of the guest rooms of her brother’s gorgeous beach-front mansion, surrounded by amazing, interesting people all preparing for an incredible party tonight.
And I feel like my heart is breaking in two.
“There you are!” Tegan’s voice makes me turn. She steps out onto the back deck carrying two cups of coffee. She’s bundled in a sweater, with her dark hair pulled back in a braid. “How are you doing this morning?”
Ouch. “Do I really look that bad?” I reply, taking a mug from her. She gives me a sympathetic smile.
“It’s only because I know you,” she says, moving to stand beside me. “Believe me, I’ve done my share of wistful gazing out at this view.”
“About Ryland?” I pause. “I thought things were great with you guys.”
“They are,” Tegan beams. Even the mention of her boyfriend makes her whole face glow with happiness. “But we had plenty of bumps in the road. So, I’m sorry things didn’t work out with Matt. I know how much you cared about him.”
I take a sip of coffee, feeling guilty. I told Tegan how things had ended with Matt, but I didn’t say anything about what happened with Austin. It seems wrong, somehow, that I’m more devastated over a guy I barely knew twenty-four hours than the man I was with for months.
“Come eat something,” Tegan urges me. “You know there’ll be no bacon left if we leave the guys alone with it for five minutes.”
I smile, glad for an excuse to stop wallowing over a man who probably hasn’t given me a second thought. “You don’t need to ask twice.”
We head back inside the house, to where everyone is collapsed around the huge dining table, eating breakfast and groaning over their hangovers. Technically, the house belongs to Tegan’s brother, Dex, and his fiancée, but a whole bunch of people are crashing here for the holidays too. It’s been fun staying in the middle of all the activity. With Tegan’s brothers, and Dex’s bandmates, it’s been a frat house kind of feel: late night drinking, movies, and impromptu music sessions, enough chaos to keep me distracted from the hollow ache in my chest. And tonight should be even more hectic: a big blow-out New Year’s Eve party that half the town seem to be invited to.
Suddenly, Dex’s fiancée, Alicia, lets out a shriek. She bounces up, clutching her phone. “It’s here!” she cries happily, “Oh my god, it’s happening!”
“Now?” Dex looks over from the kitchen.
Alicia nods. “Now! They were on their way over, and her water broke. They’re heading to the hospital now!” She rushes to find her coat, and Dex grabs for his sweater, pulling it on over his tattooed torso.
“What’s going on?” I turn to Tegan, who’s already frantically texting, a huge grin on her face.
“Carina went into labor,” she beams. “Our friend. And my future sister-in-law. At least, I think that’s how it works.” She frowns for a minute, then shakes it off. “Either way, this is big. She was due around Christmas, and they’ve been doing everything they could to make it come.”
“A New Year’s baby, that’s great.”
Alicia rushes back in, looking breathless. “I was going to run to the store for party supplies, but could you—”
“Don’t worry about it,” I reassure her. “We’ve got it covered.”
“Thank you!” She pulls a list from the counter. “We just need plates, paper napkins, that kind of thing. It’s not exactly glamorous…”
“That’s fine,” I smile, taking the list. “I’ve helped run fundraisers for the help-line before, so I know the drill.”
“Angel.” Alicia hugs me quickly, then turns back to Dex. “Keys?”
“Right here,” he says, holding them up. “But aren’t you forgetting something?” he adds with a grin.
Alicia looks blank.
“Shoes, sweetheart.” Dex laughs affectionately. “You’re not going to get very far like that.”
Alicia locates some sneakers and they head for the door. “Text me the minute you have news!” Tegan calls after them.
Tegan drives us into town in a beat-up old pickup truck. I look out the window at the quaint Main Street and small clapboard houses and smile. “I never would have guessed when we met you’d wind up out here. You seemed LA through and through.”
She laughs. “Tell me about it. But, this place is home to me now. There’s just something about it. Plus, Ryland has his family here, and I guess I do too now.”
“That must be nice,” I say, a little wistful. My mom is in Arizona with her third husband now, and my dad moved to Canada after the divorce. Our family gets by on long-distance calls and the occasional holiday visit, but it’s not the same, and I know it.
Tegan nods. “It’s funny how things can change, in just a split second. One minute, I was alone at a bar in Vegas, and the next, I saw Ryland. And that was that.”
“You really think you can fall in love that fast?” I gulp. I’ve been avoiding thinking about the “L word” since leaving New York.
“I think some people are just meant to be together,” Tegan says simply. Then she glances over. “Oh, crap, I’m sorry. Here I am going on about love and destiny, and you’re the one nursing a broken heart!”
“It’s fine,” I lie.
“Have you heard anything from Matt?” she asks.
“Just voicemails,” I sigh. “I don’t want to talk to him yet. Or ever again.”
“So, it’s a good thing!” Tegan declares brightly. “You can move on, and find the guy you’re really meant to be with. Maybe you’ll meet him tonight. There’ll be plenty of men at the party. Hell, you can take one of my brothers off my hands if you like.”
I laugh.
“Thanks, I think.”
“Seriously,” Tegan adds. “Ash has such a stick up his ass these days, he could use some fun. And Blake needs to quit dating those Hollywood airheads and find a real woman for once. You guys would be perfect together!”
Tegan’s older brothers are about as gorgeous and charismatic as they come, and any other woman would be falling over themselves for a set-up, but to me, they don’t come close to Austin.
“I think I need to take a break from dating for a while,” I tell her. “Figure out how to avoid making the same mistakes all over again.”
“Simple,” Tegan says darkly. “Don’t date a coward who can’t get it up.”
I burst out laughing. “Tegan!”
“What? It’s the truth!” She gives me a mischievous grin. “OK, so if dating’s off the table, how about a New Year’s kiss? My best friend Zoey is flying in later for the party. Between the three of us, we should be able to find you a hunk of delicious man candy to chew on for the night.”
“OK, OK,” I agree, wanting to change the subject. “Whatever you say.”
As Tegan chatters about her plans for tonight, I can’t help but think of Austin, and the way he looked standing in the snow that night. As much as I want to curse him for being a lying, cheating charmer, I can’t forget the tender moments we shared; the way he made my Christmas dreams a reality, just to see me smile. Careless playboys don’t get up early to set up a cookie-baking station; they don’t take you ice skating, and break into a secret park for a midnight stroll. Everything Austin did during our time together said something about what kind of man he is: someone thoughtful, and spontaneous; someone playful, but sincere.
The kind of man who would make life an adventure.
My throat gets tight, and I realize I’m on the edge of tears. Not just for the memories that are tainted by his girlfriend, and the betrayal that I can’t understand, but more than that, the future we’ll never have together. It may seem crazy to feel this way after barely spending a day with him, but I believe what Tegan says.
Sometimes you just know. And with Austin, I knew.