by Various
Declan was right, she thought. Being naughty did feel nice.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
WHO knew a night could go so fast, yet every single second could be indelibly imprinted on his memory. Declan couldn’t recall ever waking up as happy as he had that morning, wrapped around the purring pleasure of Mari’s body.
After their tryst on the workbench, he and Mari had gone to his house for round two. Then three, four and five. He’d fallen asleep thinking that life was pretty damned good.
Now, a week later, he breathed deep the scents of hot coffee, cinnamon rolls and Mari filling his truck cab. All his favorite smells, he realized with an unfamiliar feeling of contentment.
“I told you the holiday committee would welcome your help,” she reminded him from the passenger seat. “Did you see how fast they jumped at your offer? If Mrs. Ramsey had her way, she’d have you rebuild the entire gazebo. Probably because she likes looking at your butt.”
Declan’s shocked laugh ended with a wince. He still couldn’t believe he’d let her talk him into stopping by holiday headquarters, otherwise known as the town hall, to offer a helping hand.
The only downside was that she’d spent the whole time pretending they were just friends, instead of a couple who’d spent the last several nights making each other sing the Hallelujah Chorus. But hey, she was trying to polish up her shiny rep. To make her mom proud and to build up a clientele. He got it.
And since it was partially his fault she had to do all that polishing, he should get over his irritation. Easier said than done.
“No more helping if you’re going to comment on old ladies ogling my ass,” he warned with a teasing smile.
“Well, it is a very nice ass,” she said with a wink. “And everyone was thrilled to have you join in.”
“Not everyone,” he remembered. There had been a few guys he remembered from high school who’d protested him pitching in. A couple others who’d held back, avoiding him as if contact could lose them their spot on Santa’s good boys’ list.
“What, you wanted universal love?” she teased, reaching over and curling her fingers around his.
No, he thought, turning his hand to hold hers. Mari’s was enough.
But then terror filled him—had he just admitted that he was falling in love with her? No. This wasn’t love. This was deep, heavy, intense … like with a whole lot of great sex. Not the L word.
Wondering if he was flat-out lying to himself or just delusional, Declan parked in front of his uncle’s house and gave the almost-completed display a careful inspection through the window. It wasn’t until the tension melted from his shoulders that he realized how concerned he’d been that someone would trash the decorations while he was off playing Good Samaritan. Or worse, while he’d been having yet another mind-blowing night with Mari.
It seemed Uncle Eric had been right. It was just some random vandal. Nothing personal.
Then Mari gave a gasping cry, throwing open the passenger door and flying from the truck. He jumped out, following her horrified gaze.
“Son of a bitch,” he muttered.
He hurried around the truck to wrap his arms around Mari, holding her tight as they took in the kicked-in gift boxes, broken candy canes and dangling strands of busted Christmas lights that had once been her holiday display.
Fury pounded through Declan, way beyond what he’d felt when the vandalism had been aimed at him. It’d been one thing to take him on.
But now? Now someone was going to pay. And pay big.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
THE tears burning her eyes pissed off Mari almost as much as the destruction of the holiday display. She bent over, gathering pieces of the kicked-in box that’d once had two stuffed turtledoves dancing over the bow and looked around. One of the doves was hanging from a tree limb. The other was nowhere to be seen.
She knew Declan was behind her. She heard him gathering broken candy canes and bits of paper that’d been ripped from the dozen gift boxes under the tree. But she couldn’t face him yet. Now she understood how he’d felt. Like someone had punched her in the gut then kicked Christmas-cookie crumbs in her face.
“Mari,” her mom said, hurrying down the stairs with a trash bag in one hand, a headless elf in the other. “I was hoping to get this cleaned up before you got back.”
Leave it to her mom to have it all under control. Despite the mess in the yard and the anger still churning in her stomach, Mari relaxed when her mom gave her a hug.
Then, with another quick squeeze, Marsha Madison set her daughter aside and stepped around to face Declan. Mari’s jaw clenched and she reached out to grab her mother’s arm, but she was too late. When she’d left a note saying she wouldn’t be home until morning, she hadn’t said who she was with. Not because she was ashamed of Declan, but because she’d figured easing her mom into the idea of rumor becoming reality shouldn’t be done by a note stuck to the fridge with a “Kiss the Cook” magnet.
Declan looked like he knew he was about to be gunned down and, from the stoic expression on his face, was willing to take it.
“Mom—”
“Declan Cole,” her mother said, ignoring Mari’s entreaty. “I’m so glad you’re here. I heard whoever did this ruined your display first. You poor thing, you deserve a much better welcome home.”
Engulfed in Marsha’s motherly hug, Declan shot Mari a confused glance. She just shrugged. Hey, if her mom wanted to accept him with open arms, who was she to question it? Instead, Mari wrapped her arms around her waist, tightly hugging the warm feeling in her heart at the sight of the two people she loved best playing so nice.
“Mrs. Madison …” Obviously at a loss, Dec’s words trailed off. Mari didn’t know if it was being called a “poor thing” that had him stumped or if it was the loving welcome of her mother’s hug.
“Well, now that you’re here, you can both come to the meeting with me,” Marsha said, handing Mari the trash bag and heading back up the porch steps. “I’ll get the cookies.”
As she held open the bag so he could dump in his armload of destroyed decorations, Mari exchanged a puzzled look with Declan.
“What meeting?” she asked.
“Amanda and Eric are coming over for cocoa and gingerbread. We’re going to figure out who’s behind these nasty pranks and put an end to them. We’ve all invested too much in this contest to let some bully keep us from the prize.”
Mari eyed Declan as he obediently followed her mother and wondered if she could keep her prize even if they didn’t win. Because she was growing seriously attached to him.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
STANDING at the back of the town hall while the mayor extolled the virtues of the various holiday displays, Declan eyed the townspeople suspiciously. After the destruction at the Madisons’, the vandalism had stopped. But even putting their heads together, the Madisons and the Coles hadn’t found a clue as to who was behind it.
He wished the mayor would hurry up and announce the winner so this could all be over.
Except he had no idea where the private bet between him and Mari stood. He’d already had—and given—the pleasure of making their rumor a reality. No matter the contest results, he’d already won. But if he lost, he knew Mari would make him go on stage and make that stupid declaration.
He didn’t mind, but he sure wished she’d stop letting other people’s opinions matter so much.
He glanced at her, adorably bundled up and standing a circumspect distance away. He wanted to claim her as his own. Here, now, in front of everyone.
He edged closer to her. “What d’ya say we renegotiate that bet?” he whispered into her ear.
Her naughty look made him way too hot for a public gathering. “Didn’t you already get what you wanted?”
“Not quite yet. How about if you win, the deal’s the same. But if I win, you get up there and announce that we’re a couple.”
Her eyes rounded. Was that horror in her blue depths? Declan’s grin faded.
&
nbsp; Before he could say anything, though, the mayor called for attention.
“Now to announce the winner of the decorating contest.”
The room fell silent.
“This year we have a tie. The Cole and Madison families!”
Declan laughed. Declan’s aunt and uncle whooped, hugging Mari’s mom.
Noise filled the room. But not everyone was bitching. Quite a few people came over to offer their congratulations. Some shot them knowing looks as they congratulated Marsha, Eric and Amanda.
Either excited or trying to apologize for the hurt she’d seen on his face, Mari gave him a tight hug.
He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her to his side. His eyes met Sylvie’s across the room. He blinked at the furious jealousy in the redhead’s gaze.
Realization hit. He slipped his arm from Mari. Sylvie must have read the intent on his face, because she whispered to the woman next to her then scurried toward the door.
He followed, catching up with her before she could leave the hall.
“Finally realized what you were missing?” she teased when he grabbed her arm.
“You trashed our displays,” Declan accused.
“Why would I waste my time?” she said, not bothering to lower her voice. People started staring.
“You said it yourself,” Declan told her. “You always win. But this year you were afraid it was the end of always.”
“Like I care about some little contest? I’m having more fun watching you ruin Miss Perfect’s reputation again.”
The way she said that made Declan narrow his eyes. “Again?”
Mari joined him. He could feel the fury trembling through her as she pressed against him. “Are you the one who started that nasty rumor years ago?”
“All I had to do was say I saw you plastered against stud-boy, here, and the rest was history.” Sylvie sneered. “You should have learned that no good ever comes of being involved with Declan Cole. He’s trouble. He always has been. He destroyed your reputation in high school and if you stick with him, he’ll do it again.”
Declan’s fists clenched as Mari shook her head, but he saw her hesitation. He knew the words were hitting home.
“And it’s not as if he’s going to stick around,” Sylvie continued. “He’ll be gone by New Year’s. Even if he isn’t, he’s gonna end up just like his daddy. Everyone knows that.” She arched a brow, meeting Declan’s eyes. “So why would I bother sabotaging anything? All I have to do is wait around and you’ll ruin everything all by yourself.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
MARI wanted to smack Sylvie for spouting such vile accusations, but she was too worried about Declan. He’d frozen at Sylvie’s words, like he actually believed them. Or believed that Mari believed them.
Before she could figure out how to reassure him without denting his pride, his uncle was at his shoulder. “C’mon, Dec. Let’s take a walk. We’ll deal with this after you’ve cooled off.”
As soon as the men left, Sylvie gave a loud sob, throwing herself into the arms of the nearest guy. Mari saw the look of triumph she shot her friend Robin, though.
“That was bull,” the guy holding Sylvie growled to the crowd. “Cole has no place making accusations. I already told the cops Sylvie was here working with us those days. She didn’t mess with his display or the Madisons’. What a bunch of crap. The guy is a loser. Always was. He should get the hell out of here.”
Furious, Mari started to give him a piece of her mind. But everyone started talking at once, drowning out her tirade. Frustrated, she stomped off to find Declan. Before she’d taken two steps, though, she saw the satisfaction on Robin’s face as the other woman made her way out the door.
Ignoring the argument raging behind her, Mari hurried after the brunette, waiting until she reached her car before calling out, “Robin!”
The other woman turned reluctantly. Eyes wide, she looked up then down the street like she was trying to find an escape. Seeing none, she lifted her chin and hitched the strap of her purse higher.
“Do you have a second?” Mari asked.
“Not really. I have to go. I have, um, a thing. I have to get to a thing.”
Mari’s stomach sank.
“Why?” she asked quietly, not bothering to elaborate.
Robin hesitated. Her eyes said she knew she was busted, but she shook her head like she was clueless.
“Why’d you try and cause so much trouble for Declan and me?” Mari elaborated. “What’d we ever do to you?”
Robin’s mask disappeared. No longer so timid she faded into the background, the brunette looked like she could chew rocks.
“Do? You keep getting in the way,” Robin accused. “Both you and Declan. You think you can move back to town and steal the glory from people who have always been here. People who actually matter.”
Mari blinked, wondering if the mousy little woman had always been such a bitch. Suddenly it was clear how she and Sylvie could have been friends for so long.
“It was a holiday contest,” Mari pointed out with a baffled shake of her head. “Not some popularity vote.”
“It’s Sylvie’s contest. She’s the one who deserved to win.”
“But she didn’t. And trashing the displays only trashes her reputation, not ours,” Mari said, puzzled. “And after all of that, you still lost.”
“Maybe,” Robin confirmed. “But you’re the one who’s really going to lose in the end.”
Mari frowned, not understanding. Then Robin continued.
“Your poor mama,” she said haughtily. “She had to live with your disgrace—not to mention her own—long after you’d left town. Now you’re here less than a month and you’re already in the middle of another drama. This is going to hurt her, and it’ll kill your business if you don’t learn to stay out of Sylvie’s way. You really should reconsider moving back, Mari. It’s obvious you’re just as much bad news as Declan Cole.”
Mari stared. Was this what happened when you obsessed over other people’s opinions? Mari vowed to pole-dance naked on the giant candy cane in the park before she’d let herself become like these women.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
DECLAN hated this. Torn between turning heel and walking away from Ponder Hill and crossing the parking lot to comfort Mari, Declan clenched his fists. He’d caught the tail end of her confrontation with Robin before the other woman had taken off. The other woman had echoed the same sentiments as Sylvie, the same grumbling mutters he’d heard when he’d been in the hall looking for Mari.
If he stuck around, this was a slice of what she’d have to deal with. He could handle it. People had been talking smack and giving him sideways glances all his life. The son of the town drunk was a hard label to ditch. And he’d never tried. Never cared to.
But now that label was rubbing against Mari’s soft skin. And it was hurting her.
That wasn’t okay.
As if she sensed he was there, Mari turned around. She sighed and lifted both hands as if to say, What are ya gonna do?
Grimacing, Declan knew exactly what he was gonna do. And he hated it.
Steeling himself, he walked over to her.
“Now that the contest is over, I’m leaving. I just wanted to say goodbye before I went,” he said as soon as he reached her. He needed to get the words out before he gave in to the need and hugged her tight. He knew if he touched her, he’d never let go.
Mari froze.
“Look,” he said, pulling the words out like rotting teeth, “we had fun. But this just proves that naughty and nice don’t mix. Sylvie was right about that. And about the fact that I’m short-term.”
She just stared at him, her blue eyes clear, like she was waiting for him to finish before she decided how she felt about his declaration. It made him nervous. He wished she’d rant or rave. Punch him. Anything besides that curious expression.
“I gotta go,” he declared. “I thought I could make it work here, but obviously that’s not gonna happen. I�
�ll have a crew come in and finish the repairs on the old man’s house so it can be sold.”
All she did was arch one perfect brow.
He swallowed then continued, “We knew it couldn’t last. If we tried, sooner or later you’d end up hating me. You heard what people are saying. I’m trouble, and you’re in trouble by association. That’s not fair. I don’t want my rep hurting you or your mom. Not again.”
She crossed her arms over her chest, giving a tiny little shake of her head. But that was it. Not a word. No change in her expression.
Declan shoved his fists into his pockets and gave her a dark look.
“Will you please say something?” he demanded, unable to handle her silence.
Tilting her head, she wet her lips. His body reacted like she’d swept that pink tongue over his naked flesh. He clenched his teeth to keep from groaning.
Then she stepped forward. She placed a hand on either side of his face and stared deep into his eyes. Declan steeled himself, knowing this was goodbye.
“You are so full of crap,” she said.
CHAPTER TWENTY
DECLAN’S jaw was still scraping the ground when Mari turned on her heel and stormed back toward the town hall. She didn’t bother to check and see if he was following her or not.
Letting her anger propel her, she weaved through the crowd to step up to the podium at the front of the room.
She looked out at the crowd and gulped. Wow, there were a lot of people out there. She twisted her fingers together to hide their trembling. Maybe she didn’t have to make such a grand gesture.
Then she saw Declan, just inside the doorway. The group of guys surrounding Sylvie sent him collective glares and a few people stepped away as if he had cooties or something. He looked like he was about to leave.