The Nutcracker Reimagined: A Collection of Christmas Tales

by Le Veque, Kathryn

  Damn she was gorgeous.

  “I brought wine.” Kennedy held up a bottle. “Got glasses?”

  Rick smiled. “Yep, I think so.” He motioned for her to enter.

  When they reached the small kitchenette, she put the bottle down on the counter and looked up at him.

  They were so not going to drink any wine.

  Although Kennedy expected sex with Rick to be off the charts, what she wasn’t prepared for was the strength of the jolt at his first touch. He came up behind her as she placed the wine down. Pulling her back against him, he slid a hand down the front of her jeans. Heated breath and the trail of his tongue down the side of her neck were enough to almost finish her off.

  She threw her head back and gasped when his fingers delved between her folds. Need grew exponentially. Urgency and want blurred together. Kennedy wanted to prolong this portion, the foreplay between them, as long as possible.

  By the huge bulge pressing against her butt, the man was well endowed. She pushed back gratified at the low moan in her ear.

  His teeth grazed over the sensitive area just below her ear and Kennedy turned her head so he could take her mouth with his.

  With his free hand, Rick took Kennedy’s jawline holding her in place and pushed his tongue past her parted lips. Damn it how she wanted another part of him in her mouth.

  It wouldn’t do to wait, no matter how much she fought the urge to prolong the moment, when his fingers moved to her most sensitive part, she shuddered and cried out.

  Her legs shook and her knees threatened to buckle. Thankfully Rick scooped her up and carried her to the small bedroom, closing the door with his foot.

  Snow began falling outside, the flakes falling against the glass panes. Absently, Kennedy wondered if she’d remember the fact later.

  In between kisses and caresses, they undressed, clothing strewn all over the room in their hurry.

  The man was built like a dream. Outside of daydreams, she didn’t remember ever seeing someone so hunky. Definitely not in person. Although Steve was in good shape, no one she’d been with compared to Rick.

  His lips curved as if reading her mind. “I don’t have much to do, so I spend a lot of time working out. By the way you’re looking, it was worth it.”

  Like a predator, he stalked closer. “Yeah, definitely worth every damn minute.”

  Kennedy kneeled on the floor. “Come closer.”

  Although his eyes narrowed, as if unsure, he did as she requested and Kennedy chuckled. “I won’t hurt you, I promise.”

  “That’s not what I’m afraid of.” He didn’t elaborate and although she wanted to ask, her attention was taken when Rick leaned forward, cupped her face and took her mouth with hunger.

  The man knew how to kiss, his lips traveling over hers as he sucked her bottom lip while his tongue outlined the upper. He nipped at the corners of her mouth ensuring to pay attention to every inch.

  “Rick,” Kennedy gasped out this name looking up at him. She took his length in hand and stroked him. The skin was soft, silky almost over the hardness, the contradiction a total turn-on. She hoped he was prepared, because she’d not wanted someone this bad in so long.

  He bucked into her hand, a low groan escaping. When she bent forward and licked the underside of him and then pulled the head of his cock into her mouth, Rick stiffened. “Augh.”

  He took her hair and held her steady and slowly slid deeper into her mouth until she gagged. Kennedy relaxed her throat. Rick pulled back and then surged back into her mouth until hitting her throat. She held on to his thighs allowing him to make love to her mouth.

  Definitely a new experience for her and the most sensual encounter ever.

  His hips moved forward and she took inch after inch until his breathing became ragged.

  “The bed now.” Rick lifting her into his arms and rushing toward the bed followed his guttural command.

  Chapter Nine

  The Mustang stood out in the small dirt and snow covered parking lot filled with vintage Beetles, Prius’ and other cars too ugly to take inventory of.

  Rick climbed out and adjusted his baseball cap to keep the sun off his eyes. Although he wore sunglasses, the high sun reflecting off the bit of snow made it hard to see, so he’d reached for the ball cap.

  First he looked toward Bruce’s aunt’s store, but then decided to go to the stationary place first.

  The smell of patchouli outside the store reminded him of younger days. Chimes jingled overhead and he pushed beads out of the way to enter the shop.

  A pretty blonde with braids greeted him with a wave. She wore what looked to be about twenty bracelets on each wrist and colorful rings on every finger. “Good morning,” she said studying him. “How can I help you?”

  “Looking for Bruce.”

  Her brows lowered. “He’s not here.” Her gaze moved past him to the street. “I helped him make a beautiful gift for his fiancée. I bet he’s gone back there to give it to her.”

  A gift? Rick looked around the small shop not finding anything remotely interesting. Definitely nothing his sister, who preferred classically cut clothes and conservative pearls, would wear.

  “Interesting. Can you tell me what he made?”

  The blonde shrugged. “I suppose it doesn’t hurt to show you.” She went to the back wall to a dusty glass display case and Rick followed.

  “Something like this. Except, he wrapped the wire around a beautiful miniature gold toy soldier, to commemorate their first date. He said they went to see The Nutcracker.”

  Displayed on black velvet were pairs of intricate gold wire earrings, necklaces and matching bracelets. The wire was wrapped delicately around different colored crystals and stones of various sizes. One stone, a soft white loose stone nestled in a nest of black velvet got his attention. For some reason, it reminded him of Kennedy.

  Moments later with a package in hand, Rick walked out. He felt silly holding the brown bag with brightly colored tissue, so he hurried to the Mustang to deposit it.

  Just as he closed the car door, Bruce crossed the street toward his aunt’s shop.

  If he’d purchased a gift for Clara, why wasn’t he taking it to her? It made no sense for him to remain there longer. Perhaps the guy was dumber than Rick thought.

  Rick jogged to cut Bruce off just as he reached for the door. The guy’s widened eyes met his and then looked toward where he’d come from.

  “Instead of running, why don’t you just tell me what you plan to do?” Rick kept his attention on Bruce’s hands in case the guy tried to deck him again.

  “Why are you still here?” Bruce took a step back and crossed his arms. “You’ve made your point. You don’t want me to marry Clara.”

  The guy swallowed visibly. “I have made a decision. You can kill me if you want, but I’m going to marry your sister and there isn’t a damn thing you can do about it.”

  There wasn’t one sign of vulnerability and Rick couldn’t help but wait to see what else the guy had to say.

  Bruce swallowed again, a noticeable flush colored his face.

  Tapping on the window caught their attention. Bruce’s aunt smiled widely and began spraying white onto the glass.

  “She’s going to try to spell Merry Christmas backwards. Always get’s it wrong,” Bruce muttered.

  “I was wrong for what I did to you.” Rick let out a sigh. “I apologize.”

  “Unfortunately, I’m the coward. I freaked out and ran.” Bruce lowered his arms and looked across the street in thought. When he returned his gaze to Rick, his jaw was set. “Look, I’m not all bulked up and big like you, but I’m man enough to stand before you and tell you that I don’t care if I have to crawl on my hands and knees and ask Clara to forgive me. I am going to do it. I love your sister.”

  “She loves you too.” Damn if he didn’t feel two inches tall. “It was Clara who sent me to bring you back.”

  Bruce’s eyes widened. “Why didn’t you say that to begin with?” He glance
d toward the parking lot as if calculating how quick he could get to his car.

  “You sucker punched me.”

  “I did, didn’t I?” For the first time, Bruce smiled. “Didn’t see that comin’ did ya?”

  Rick shook his head. “No, and I deserved it.”

  “I’m going back home,” Bruce told his aunt, who’d sprayed “Merry” with the “e” backwards. Before Rick could say another word, Bruce was already across the street. Had to give it to the guy, he was fast.

  “Hey Bruce,” Rick called out and jogged toward where Bruce stood next to his car. “Why didn’t you call Clara and explain?”

  Bruce let out a huff, his cheeks expanding. “I left my cell there at our place. Plus what the hell would I say? Sorry for being a coward and letting your brother scare me off?”

  “Want me to call her?”

  “No,” Bruce said shaking his head. “I have to do this in person.”

  As the Prius sped off, Rick remained rooted to the spot. He glanced at his cell before dialing his sister.

  “What do you want?” Her voice was hollow at his ear. “You better have good news.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Yeah, well that’s not good enough. You ruined what was supposed to be the best day of my life.”

  “I’ll help you make the wedding even better.”

  “How the hell are you going to do that?” Her voice pitched with emotion. “Stop screwing around. Did you find Bruce?”

  “Just talked to him. Sis, don’t be hard on him. It’s my fault.”

  Clara was silent so Rick continued, “Ever consider a Christmas wedding?”

  “No, I didn’t. The reason we planned our wedding when we did was because I didn’t want our anniversary overshadowed by Christmas.”

  “A Christmas Eve wedding?”

  “No.”

  “New Years?”

  “Hell no.”

  He was running out of ideas, but was enjoying that through the banter, she sounded more like her usual self.

  “The twenty-sixth. The day after would be good.”

  “Everyone will be too tired to come.”

  “Shit Clara, the twenty-second then.”

  “That’s in a week. We can’t put together a wedding in a week.” He thought he heard a chuckle. “Just face the facts, I won’t get married this year. You ruined it and now you have to live with it. I’m hanging up on you now.”

  The blonde from the shop ambled across the street toward the ugly clothes boutique and walked in. Rick jogged back to the shop and entered.

  Bruce’s aunt was in spray paint heaven, can in hand, she turned to him with a smile. Upon recognizing him, she frowned. “Oh, you’re still here.”

  With raised eyebrows, the blonde looked between them. “Is he a bad guy?”

  Good grief, where the hell were these people from? Mars?

  “I wanted to invite you to the wedding. It’s going to be on the twenty-second.”

  Bruce’s aunt looked to the blonde as if to confirm what he said before nodding slowly. “Nice choice, on a Thursday, that’s unconventional. Where?”

  “You want me to do what?” Kennedy stared at him as if he’d grown a horn between his eyes. “A wedding? Here? In six days?”

  “I’ll help.” Lucy, her friend clapped. “How fun. You guys barely did the deed and now you’re getting hitched.”

  Rick’s eyes widened and he choked on his own spit. “Ugh…no…”

  Relief flooded when Kennedy giggled. “We’re not the ones getting married Lucy.”

  “Oh darn,” Lucy frowned and stalked to Rick. “But you are going to marry her. Mark my word. I’m never wrong about these things.”

  Not sure what to say, Rick cleared his throat and looked to Kennedy for help. She shrugged and rolled her eyes. Damn if she didn’t look enticing in her weathered jeans and tight sweater. He took a moment to look her over before realizing Lucy stared up at him. “We’ll see.”

  “That’s what people say when they’re indecisive,” Lucy replied obviously not liking his answer. “But anyways. Wedding?”

  “What if you go through all the work and expense and your sister says no?” Kennedy, the reasonable one of the three, pointed out. “It takes a lot of work to pull something like this together.”

  “I’ll have to take the chance.” Rick walked to the large picture window and peered out toward the stables. “When we were kids, Clara always talked about a barn wedding. She hated that her horse could not attend a regular wedding.”

  “Horses are invited?” Lucy lifted her cup and met his gaze. “Awesome.”

  Chapter Ten

  Clara

  She couldn’t just accept him back. Although every part of her being screamed for her to allow Bruce back into her life, he’d hurt her deeply.

  As much as she blamed her brother for ruining the wedding, it was Bruce who’d made the decision to not show up. He’d left her alone on the most important day of their relationship.

  For the third day, flowers arrived joining the now overflowing collection that included stuffed animals, balloons, and fruit baskets. If he kept it up, she would be able to open a shop of her own.

  He’d come to her doorstep several times a day and she’d yet to open the door. Each time, she’d cried afterwards, not sure what to do.

  “My God.” Her mother walked in, letting herself in with her key. “He is really going overboard.”

  “Not enough to make me reconsider marrying him. I thought I wanted to, but what if anytime we face something hard, he runs?”

  “That’s a valid question.” Her mother went to the kitchen and pushed a fruit basket out of the way to reach the coffee maker. “But we both know you and Bruce are the once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing. You have loved each other since elementary school.”

  “He left me standing at the alter. He didn’t show up.” A tear slid down her face and she swiped it away. “He’s a butthead.”

  “That he is,” her mother agreed. “Got any creamer?”

  “Mom! Why are you acting as if it’s nothing to get stuck with a twenty-thousand dollar wedding bill?”

  “There it is.” Her mother reached for the creamer and stirred it into her cup. “Honey, the money is spent. Besides, Bruce already paid us back. He sent apology flowers to us too. The flower shop must love him.”

  Clara wanted to choke her mother. “Why didn’t you tell me? He did?”

  “You’ve got enough on your mind.” Her mother waved at the flowers. “Let him stew a couple more days. Then take him back.”

  Sinking into a chair, she was glad when her mother began boiling water for tea. “You know, I hate living here alone. I miss him so much.”

  “Rick told me you nixed a New Year’s Eve wedding.”

  Sarah wished she had magical powers. She’d appear wherever Rick was and slap him. Just for the heck of it. “Yes. Besides, why should I have to go through all the trouble to plan another wedding? If anything, Rick should be doing it. Although, I’d be terrified of what he’d come up with.”

  “A cow and Mustang theme would be my guess,” her mother said with a chuckle, and Clara couldn’t help but smile.

  “I don’t think I’d look good in a camouflage dress.”

  Her heart skipped when the doorbell rang. “More flowers?”

  “I’ll get it,” her mother exclaimed. “Maybe it’s one of those cut up fruit baskets. I’d love that.”

  “Mom, it isn’t not a game.” Clara gave up trying to stop her mother and instead sipped her tea not bothering to see what size this bouquet would be.

  For a moment it was silent, then soft voices could be heard as her mother accepted whatever it was and signed for it. Goodness, how much more would be delivered? She’d already decided to load some into her truck and deliver them to the old folk’s home nearby. Maybe she’d drop some off to the clinic and her church too.

  “Clara.” Bruce’s voice made her spit out her tea and cough. “Your Mom let me in.”
>
  Unable to do more than breathe, Clara struggled not to cry. Her first reaction was to kick him out, the second was to throw her arms around him. Instead, she stared straight ahead until a bouquet of roses was lowered in front of her.

  “More flowers?”

  He snatched them back.

  “I don’t know what else to do? I did send your favorite pizza the other day.”

  She’d eaten it with gusto, thinking her parents had sent it. “You did?”

  “And I also sent a box of butterflies, but then I realized you were out of town and came over to rescue them. I let them go. Hope some hung around.”

  Pressing her lips together not to laugh, she turned to face him.

  He held a necklace up. A nutcracker dangled from a dainty chain. “I made this for you.”

  Her handsome Bruce. With a five o’clock shadow and tussled hair, he looked as handsome as ever. He’d moved back to stand by the kitchen island. The man had good instincts. If the mood wasn’t right, she’d beat the shit out of him with the roses he was holding and choke him with the necklace. Okay so she’d not damage the necklace perhaps.

  “You didn’t show up. How could you do that to me?” Her voice hitched and she set her jaw. “Asshole.”

  When he took a step forward, she stuck out both hands. “Don’t come any closer. I will beat you with the flowers you’re holding.”

  With a thud, Bruce placed the vase on the counter. “I am the worst coward. I let your brother intimidate me. I am willing to do anything you ask, to convince you to take me back.”

  “Fine.” Clara lifted her chin. “I’m not going to let you walk back out the front door until we come to a decision. Either we’ll accept that we’ll never get over this, or we’ll make up and get married.”

  He swallowed and nodded. Clara wished she knew what the right answer was. At the moment all she wished for was for it to be Christmas. She’d either be nursing a broken heart, or happily married.

  Chapter Eleven

  Kennedy stretched out her sore arms. Between getting the ranch prepared for the winter and all the decorations and such in the barn, it had been a hard three days. The worst part was Rick had not informed his sister yet.