“Well, your father and I had a lengthy conversation about life that day on the beach. He told me his name, Daniel Coates. He told me how beautiful Aspen was in the winter, and that if I ever found myself there, to look him up. I didn’t think twenty years was too long, but apparently it was.
“I didn’t have an address, but believe it or not, there’s only one family in Aspen with the last name Coates.” He watched her absorb the information. It was odd, he’d give her that, but she took it in stride. “Did you also know that when you search for your last name and Aspen in the same search bar, you get a nice little website profile from First Class Escorts? It sounded interesting, so I made a profile.”
“Then you used a picture of an old man.” She shook her head and slapped his chest lightly. “You had me dreading the weekend.”
“Well.” He wrapped her up and flipped her on her back in one quick motion, grinding himself against her, creating just enough pressure for her eyes to roll back and her bottom lip to be sucked into her mouth.
It was a beautiful mouth with soft lips that went perfectly with her facial features. “I hope I shattered your disappointment.”
“Into a million pieces.” Her eyes fell to his lips and he felt the heat rising.
Pull up, dude. Pull up.
Chapter Eleven
He wanted to kiss her.
After the bombs subsided and the ash fell around her, he wanted to kiss her and make it all better. She could tell by the way he looked at her lips and wet his own, but she hadn’t kissed any of her dates.
Ever.
Her emotions were heightened by the story he told, and she debated telling him her father was alive, not well, but alive. She didn’t though, it wouldn’t make a difference. He couldn’t respond and Tucker was leaving back to Texas in a day or so. No need to make everyone teary eyed with a last goodbye and sour the mood.
Because of all that, she didn’t know if she was ready for a kiss, for an all too intimate gesture. He was still a date. He was still the job.
Mostly.
Is he though, Coates? Is he a date? Does he feel like a date still?
Yes.
No.
Fuck, why did her brain want to play tricks on her?
Was he truly different? Did she want to kiss him? Deep down she knew the answer, but they’d have to burn her at the stake to get her to talk. She was Fort Knox, and her lips were the secrets that lay beyond its heavily guarded gates.
Was she trying to convince herself of that fact or lie to herself?
He pulled up, lowering his gaze before clearing his throat. Thank God. Evin wasn’t prepared or in the frame of mind to sort out all her issues on kissing him in that moment. And if she were honest, she didn’t think he was either.
“We have a big day today.” He stood from the couch and held his hand out, to which she took and stood in front of him. “The party starts early and ends late.”
Right, the fucking Christmas party.
Dammit.
“I’ll go shower.”
He looked at his watch while she skirted by, rounding the couch. “You have appointments starting in one hour.” He gave her a wink and she furrowed her brows at him. “I may have booked you hair and makeup, in the comfort of the cabin of course, just so you’d have two less things to worry about.”
She shook her head, unable to hold back her smile. No one had ever gone above and beyond like that, and she was more than excited to have professional hair and makeup done. In a fit of excitement, she pranced down the hall and into the bathroom.
* * *
Holy shit. She looked like a million bucks.
Gone were the dark circles and lifeless hair, replaced with bouncing curls, currently being tucked into a tasteful updo, and bright makeup to play up her face. She felt...beautiful.
No ifs, ands, or buts about it.
A few moments later the young woman, Bonnie was her name and thankfully no one she’d ever met, stepped back to admire her work.
“It’s perfection.” She tossed her hands in the air. “Wait! I forgot something.” She reached in her bag and pulled out a handmade hair piece. “I was told to make something extra special for you tonight. What better than holly and an accent of Fir?”
“It’s beautiful, Bonnie.” Her eyes went misty, and she felt ridiculous crying over a makeshift hair piece. But it wasn’t the hair piece, it was the sentiment behind it. “Thank you.”
Bonnie slid it into the top of Evin’s bun and stepped back once again. “Now it’s perfection.” She gave herself a chef’s kiss and beamed.
“Can you help me get into my dress?” She could do it on her own, but her hands were feeling shaky and she didn’t want to ruin everything Bonnie worked so hard on.
“Absolutely!”
They left the bathroom and Evin quickly stepped into the fire red dress she’d died over in the store. It still gave her the same feeling as the moment she saw it.
Once over her shoulders, Bonnie went to work with the zipper. It fit her like a glove, and she lit up when she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror.
She was a completely different person. Not truly, just the version of herself she used to be, before life happened.
Slipping on her heels, then the white gold and diamond earrings Tucker bought at the jewelry store, Evin did a final spin, just for herself.
“You look perfect.” Bonnie did a silent clap and smiled. “You’re going to knock his socks off.”
One could only hope.
“So, where did you two love birds meet?”
Evin’s stomach sank, and she tried to recover quickly, but nothing came to mind besides, ‘I’m a whore and he bought me online.’
“The beach.” A deep, husky voice came from the open door and Evin darted her eyes his way. He smiled, the kind that went straight inside her and lifted even the heaviest heart. “We met at the beach.”
Once again, he saved her from embarrassment.
“I’m so jealous.” Bonnie collected her things and loaded herself up. Once she was done, she gave Evin one more look before dropping her shoulders with a sigh. “You are one hot babe. Well, you two have a great night!”
“Thanks, Bonnie.” They said in unison.
Tucker gave Evin a wink and called over his shoulder. “The driver has your money and will take you home.”
“Thank you, Mr. Matthews!” The woman called from beyond the living room.
Tucker pushed off the wall and stepped into her room. He looked more handsome than ever in a classic black suit, tailored just for him, and a crisp white button up beneath it. “She’s right, you know.” He stepped closer, and she could feel the heat coming from him. “You are stunning.”
“It’s amazing what concealer can do.” She smiled, baiting him.
“Then how come I felt the same excruciating hard on earlier when your face was red, and you got snot all over my shirt?” He cocked a brow, his baiting much more effective than hers.
She was horrified and knew her face said just that. “I did not!”
When he smiled, she wanted to smack him. “Maybe not, but the sentiment is there. I’d find you stunning no matter what you wore.” His finger found her cleavage and he bit his bottom lip as he stole a peek. “Or didn’t wear. I think the dress can go. The earrings can stay though. Just the earrings.”
“Mr. Matthew’s,” she playfully smacked his finger, “we have a party to go to.”
He cocked and brow and wrapped a strong arm around her waist, dipping her back slightly. “Couldn’t it wait?” His lips on her throat felt sinful and heavenly at the same time. It most definitely could wait if he kept touching her like that.
“No, it can’t.” She lifted her head to meet his heavy lidded gaze. “I turn back into a pumpkin at midnight.”
He let out a sigh and brought her back up. “I’ll let you out of it this time.”
“And next time?” Heat flooded her, pooling in places she wanted dry.
“Next tim
e I catch you, you’re mine.”
That was a promise she felt to her bones. Next time, if she wasn’t careful, she’d give him something she’d never given any date. Just the thought had her lips tingling.
“I relent. We can go. But remember my promise.” He released her waist and stepped to the side. “Ladies first.”
Chapter Twelve
The lodge was magnificent.
Fresh garland was strung along every wall, classic white string lights wound tastefully around pillars and wreaths. Massive ornaments hung from the cathedral ceiling by more garland. There were boughs of holly and perfectly decorated trees in every corner.
It was a Christmas dream, and for the first time in her life, she didn’t feel like the whore in the room. No one here knew her or what she did for a living. It felt freeing to pretend to be just Tucker’s date for the night.
His hand grazed her lower back and her attention returned with a smile. He leaned in and whispered in her ear while he made a discrete gesture to the man in front of her.
“That’s my boss.” The heat from his words drowned her in memories of him from the night before.
Evin glanced up at Tucker, her eyes narrowing. “Is that a hint for me to mind myself?” It was obvious they didn’t run in the same kind of circles, his a higher league than even some of the things she’d been too, but she could mask the trash better than anyone.
Not that she thought herself trash, but she knew the difference between herself, and them.
“On the contrary.” He brushed a kiss on her hairline and pulled back. “He’s an egotistical ass with a penchant for being inappropriate with who he views as ‘the lesser sex.’ Give ‘em hell.”
It was impossible to hide the smirk. She could do that.
Tucker cleared his throat and led Evin forward by the arm. “Mr. Hanscome?” He took a sip of whiskey to hide the amusement on his face.
The man turned and smiled when he saw Tucker, then arched a brow when he caught sight of Evin, as if she were some buffet and he was starving.
Yep, she could give him hell.
“Mr. Matthews. Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas.” Tucker inclined his head to his boss, then to the woman Evin assumed was the newest Mrs. Hanscome, judging by the big rock on her finger and brand new, shiny, abnormally firm tits. “I hope your holidays are treating you well.”
The man’s hand snaked around his bride’s waist and pulled her into his side, proving to everyone she belonged to him…in some capacity.
Evin stopped her eye roll and held her hand out in greeting to the Mr. and Mrs. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Evin Coates. You must be Mr. Hanscome’s daughter. I’ve heard so much about you.”
Both the Hanscomes went rigid and silent like the dead as Evin’s brows rose, waiting for the answer.
“Kinsleigh Hanscome.” The young woman finally recovered, a more than embarrassed wide eyed look on her overly tan face. Of course that was her name. She radiated Kinsleigh energy from her very core. The woman smiled, but nothing else on her face moved, as if frozen in time. Botox was not for everyone and the woman had to be at least five years younger than Evin was herself. The vanity of beauty. “Mrs. Hanscome.”
“Oh, I apologize.” Evin turned to Tucker who kept his poker face in check. “Tucker must have been talking about someone else.”
Mr. Hanscome had a similar immobile smile and flashed a set of expensive looking veneers. But just before he opened his mouth to speak, he gave his attention back to Tucker. “Mr. Matthews. I thought you came to Aspen alone.”
Her smile dropped, right along with her stomach. She was going to give this guy hell but now she couldn’t even speak.
They know.
They could tell she was a whore. Her anxiety peaked and her hands clammed up as her body went rigid. Just then, Tucker boomed a laugh and looked at her.
“Yes, I came alone so I could reminisce with an old friend.” He gave her a wink, setting her at ease. Why did he always have to come to her rescue? “Ms. Coates and I go way back.”
“Well, that’s excellent.” Mrs. Hanscome beamed and grabbed her husband’s arm. “Come on, sweetheart. Let’s let them find their own fun.”
With that, the two were gone and Evin let out a haggard breath.
“Would you stop worrying?” Tucker tickled her rib and stroked his gaze around the expansive room.
No. She, broke as a joke Evin Coates, most definitely could not stop worrying. She was in a room with wealthy, snooty bankers, and every time she turned around she was scared all over again about being found out.
Did it matter? Not really. She was who she was. But Tucker was in a room of colleagues, of big wig bosses, and she cared about his reputation a whole hell of a lot. For some fucking reason.
“Did you hear me?”
Evin shook her head and once again came back to the room. “No, I’m sorry.”
It was obvious Tucker tried to make her feel better with a smile, but it felt forced, and he looked worried instead.
“You sure you’re okay?” He lightly tugged on a tendril of hair and watched it bounce back. “We could go back to the cabin and find our own fun like little Kinsleigh said.”
Oh, God. She huffed a private laugh. The two Hanscomes were an odd pairing. They looked like father and daughter, not husband and wife.
“I’ll be fine. I just need to get warmed up.”
“Then,” he grabbed her hand and twirled her around, bringing her back in close. “Why don’t we dance?”
And they danced, just like that old Brad Paisley song. She wasn’t any good at it, but neither was he. That was okay, they enjoyed themselves and she didn’t notice a single person in the room after that.
By the time he dragged her onto the dance floor the fourth time, twice after two good glasses of mulled wine and one spicy hard cider, her legs were exhausted, and her heels were discarded.
He’d beamed, dragging her out there. The entire world faded away and there wasn’t a single care in life except having his hand on her waist while he twirled her around.
Now, she stood on the side of the dance floor, a hand still on her waist. And she was happier than she’d been in so long. It was a real bummer none of it was real and she’d go back to being her normal self soon enough.
For the first time that year, she didn’t want Christmas to come.
But of course, like all good things, they must come to an end.
Again, with just a graze, Tucker pulled her out of her thoughts and intimately leaned in. “Do you mind if I leave your side for a moment? Privacy calls.”
She looked around the room eying her surroundings. “Of course.”
He brushed a kiss over her temple and left her side. That moment she realized she actually had become comfortable. She was a no one passing as a someone, and not a soul knew the truth.
Her glass empty, she took a stroll around the ballroom, heading straight for the refreshment table to give herself another boost of confidence.
Smiles filtered her direction, laughs and conversation melded in her ears. The woman behind the table, dressed in a crisp, white button down and a black vest ladled out the cider into a new glass and handed it over.
“Thank you.”
She inclined her head.
“Ms. Coates?”
It wasn’t the cold tone. It wasn’t that the voice had malice or ill intent. It was that she’d just been made out.
Her stomach dropped into her ass. Oozy tendrils of anxiety melted her spine into nothing but a black puddle in the floor.
An overly plump and white haired Barney stepped in front of her, blocking any escape she could make.
She swallowed down a lump and gave her best customer service smile. “Hello.” She knew the confidence was too good to be true. Fate was a bitch, and there was nowhere she could go in that town where someone wasn’t going to know her dirty backstory.
Tourists or not.
“Well, well. I see you’ve come
to the festivities.” He ran a knuckle along her jaw as she maintained eye contact, hoping and praying to stay on his good side in public. “If I’d known you cleaned up so well, I would’ve brought you here myself.”
Oh fuck. Fuckfuck.
“Mr. Littleston.” Another very familiar voice came up on her right.
Evin melted that much more into the floor. It was her worst nightmare, but she wasn’t asleep, and it was all too vivid.
“I see you’ve met Mr. Matthews’s little dove.”
Barney gave her a smile, maybe it was dark, maybe it was simple amusement, all she knew is she didn’t want to be under his eye anymore. All she could think about were his lips on her toes while she jerked off his tiny excuse for a cock.
That, and everyone else knowing.
As Mr. Hanscome moved closer, she felt caged in, unable to escape.
“Yes, I’ve met her.” His eyes raked over her body and she felt naked. “Though, she was a little rougher around the edges two nights ago.”
Mr. Hanscome looked at her too, more interested in the conversation than before. “Is she the one you told me about?”
The conversation was like something out of a documentary where wealthy men thought they could do anything, say anything, and get away with it, despite how uncomfortable the audience was.
A knuckle ran down her right arm and in that moment, Evin felt sorry for young Kinsleigh. Lechery was a disgusting trait, and Mr. Hanscome gave her no doubts of his depravity.
Why couldn’t Tucker show up and stop all this? She’d wondered before why he always had to come to her rescue, but it was then she realized she wasn’t cut out for his world, that he was protecting her from those he knew could swallow her whole. Whether his actions were intentional or not.
She wanted out. Needed out.
“Stockton,” Mr. Hanscome called to her horror. “Come here.”
Evin darted her eyes to the left as another older man stopped his conversation to enter theirs. “Yes? Oh, hello lovely.” His voice was anything but pure, as were his eyes as they raked down her body and back up.
“Mr. Littleston was just telling me about this beauty here.”
Stocking Stuffers: A Five Story Christmas Anthology Page 35