The Ultimate Treasure

by Anne, Melody

  Leaning in, he took her lips, the snow encasing them. She was tense for less than a second before she reached for him and kissed him back with the same pent-up passion they’d been suppressing for too long.

  “Hey everyone, it looks like Lance has finally decided to bless us with his presence. Of course he seems to be a little distracted right now, busy in the front yard.”

  The voice carried over to them from the front of the lodge. Lance broke away with a growl. Why did he continue kissing her where it was bound to end badly for him just when it was time for the good stuff to start?

  He looked up to find the front porch of the lodge filling up with various family members, all of them smiling at him and Lexie, who once again looked a bit mortified.

  “Remember, you’re my girlfriend and this is natural,” he whispered in her ear before letting her go and sliding his fingers into hers.

  Uncle Joseph didn’t miss the hand-holding. Lance was counting on that. If he thought Lance was happy, then Lance might make it through a single holiday without being grilled on when he was going to take a walk down the aisle. Sooner than everyone might think if he didn’t manage to clear his head.

  “Hello, Uncle Joseph,” he said before pausing and looking around at the rest of the group, who were all eyeing Lexie. “And gang,” he added with a chuckle, “you all know Lexie, she’s Savs’s little sister. We just returned from our trip.”

  Lexie wasn’t saying anything, but he did notice how she snuggled closer against his side. He would like to think it was because she couldn’t keep her hands off him, but in reality he knew it was because his family was damn intimidating.

  “About time you brought a beautiful woman home with you.” This time the words came from Uncle George.

  “I thought you’d like that since I haven’t managed to do any Christmas shopping yet,” Lance said with a chuckle.

  “Let’s get inside before we freeze to death,” said his father, Richard, the only one who seemed to be reasonable.

  The second they stepped into the house, chaos was a surety. He could hear his nieces and nephews playing as they ran around and the chatter from many couples as they made their way through the lodge to the giant living room that miraculously fit them all.

  “It’s so good to see you again, Lexie,” Joseph said as he pushed his way in and grabbed her before she knew what was happening.

  Lance’s eyes met hers when Joseph set her back on the ground, and yes, he saw a little panic in her gaze, but he also saw wonder. Lance couldn’t look away as he watched a suspicious sparkle appear in her eyes before she managed to push it down. Their gazes connected, and he was lost in the little girl he saw hidden beneath the tough demeanor. She wanted to be a part of a family. She was so afraid of being hurt, but she did a damn good job of hiding how she truly felt.

  He hadn’t thought about that before. Maybe he needed to approach her from a whole new perspective, let her know he had no intentions of walking away from her. Maybe he needed to assure himself that he wasn’t going anywhere. Maybe it was time he stopped pretending he was so great on his own.

  “I’m sorry to barge in and interrupt your Christmas,” Lexie said as Joseph looked at her.

  “Nonsense, my dear,” Joseph said with a brush of his hand in the air. “The fuller this place becomes, the happier I am.”

  “Thank you,” Lexie said, her voice choked with emotion.

  Lance couldn’t stand not to comfort her. He slipped in beside her and wrapped her next to him as he addressed his uncle.

  “I know Lexie being here is like me bringing in a shiny new toy for you all to play with and quiz, but let’s give her a break for now,” he said.

  His uncle looked at him in surprise, making him realize he’d sounded a bit more possessive than he’d intended. He wanted them to think she was his girl, but he didn’t want their matchmaking antics to step up on the ladder. Sure, he was processing in his own mind not wanting to let this woman go, but it needed to be his idea, not the meddlers’.

  “Well said, my boy,” Joseph boomed, making Lexie squeeze in tighter to his side.

  “Where’s my sister?” Lexie asked.

  “She and Ashton ran into town. They should be home soon,” George told her.

  “Good, now everyone can get to know each other over the next few days. We don’t need a barrage of introductions immediately,” Lance said. “We came straight from the airport, and we’re tired.”

  “Do you want to head to your room now?” Joseph asked with too much enthusiasm.

  “I think we could use some food,” Lance told him with a grin. Of course, if Lexie was willing, he’d be more than happy to satisfy his other appetite that wouldn’t go away. He wasn’t going to say that to his family though.

  “Of course. How rude of us,” George said. “Why don’t we take your bags up to your room so you can settle in later?”

  “I can get the bags with the help of a couple cousins. Lexie doesn’t pack light,” he said with a laugh.

  “Well, of course not, boy. You guys were gone a full month,” Joseph admonished him. He laughed, but was glad when his uncle turned to leave.

  The room cleared out, leaving Lexie standing by his side. He was thinking he might have asked for too much, bringing her to this chaotic place his family liked to call a vacation.

  “Do you want to run away?” he asked her, terrified she would say yes. She’d barely gotten an inquisition, and they’d been there for ten minutes. It was going to get worse, although he didn’t want to tell her that.

  “I think I might adore your family,” she said shyly, knocking him back a step or two as he gazed at her.

  “And I think I might be liking you, Ms. Mills,” he said.

  He once again got lost in her gaze, but Lance wasn’t a fool. The next time he kissed her, it was damn well going to be somewhere they wouldn’t get interrupted.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Lexie felt as if she were in an entirely different universe. This mansion they called a lodge had so much space, but she still felt locked in. So many gazes were upon her and the laughter and chatter wasn’t something she was used to. In her small universe, family meant her and her sister.

  With the Anderson-Storm clan, family was endless. There were cousins, uncles, aunts, siblings. It went on and on and on, and she was afraid to get attached to the atmosphere. She watched as these incredibly wealthy, but still normal, people opened their hearts to her sister as if she’d been with them all her life.

  It was everything Lexie had dreamed about when she was younger, but hadn’t dared hope would come true. She had to keep telling herself she was simply a guest. She was there because Lance didn’t want his family to keep pushing him to get married. She was his fake girlfriend for the holidays.

  If she began to hope for it to be real, she would be lost. She couldn’t do that to herself. This was her sister’s world — Lance’s world. It wasn’t hers. But sitting next to Lance at the enormous table, as family members passed around the roast, potatoes, and so many sides she didn’t see how all the food would get eaten, drew her in.

  The outside of the house looked like an airport where she might be waiting for the CEO’s helicopter to land at any moment. But the inside was just as outrageous. There wasn’t only one tree set up, but four, with bright, colorful lights and ornaments in all shapes and sizes, including ones the grandkids had carefully made and hung in all different places, adding to its charm.

  With the snow falling outside, she felt like she’d stepped into a Hallmark movie — one she never wanted to end. Lexie hadn’t had much of an appetite for a full week, but soon she was stuffed as she continued to feed her face, which was better than answering the millions of questions shot her way.

  “I’m so glad you two found love while serving others,” Joseph said from the head of the table, his voice easily carrying down to her
, as well as to the other end, where his brother George sat.

  “Me too,” Lance agreed quickly, saving her from having to answer. If they quizzed her, asked her if she loved Lance, she realized it wouldn’t be a lie if she said yes.

  Lexie feared Lance would hear the truth in her words though, and then he would feel sorry for her, or run for his life. He hadn’t asked her to be his for life, he’d asked her to pretend to be his. Yes, she knew he wouldn’t mind some bonus sex. For that matter, she wouldn’t either. But if she took this fantasy too far . . .

  Shaking her head, she stopped her train of thought. She knew all the reasons she needed to pull back from Lance, but at the same time, she also needed to put on a convincing act and earn her place at the Anderson family extravaganza.

  Lance laughed next to her, and Lexie took the opportunity to study him. He was not the type she’d gone after before. Not that she’d been on the hunt for men. She’d been busy with other pursuits.

  But he was handsome to the point of being scary. Women would always hit on him with his dark hair, sparkling eyes, and square jaw. He even had perfect laugh lines around his eyes that spoke of happiness in his life. There was a rugged sexiness to him when he didn’t shave for a few days. He was too much for her to hold on to, even if he wanted or thought he wanted her to.

  Lexie had always been sure of herself. She could look in the mirror and be happy with the image that greeted her. She took care of herself, washed and lotioned her face, worked out, and was conscious of how she appeared. But she wasn’t vain. There were many prettier women out there . . . and hungrier. They would consider Lance a real catch, so if she wasn’t willing to reel him in, they certainly would be.

  Lexie was so intent on studying Lance, she jumped when he reached out and pushed her hair back from her face, his intense eyes focused on her. There was a question in them she didn’t know how to answer, so she smiled, trying to reassure him that everything was fine — she was fine.

  But Lexie wasn’t fine. She was terrified and wanted to run and hide. She didn’t see that happening anytime soon. As Lance touched her, she felt her insides stir, felt a deep connection with him she couldn’t push down. She forgot they were surrounded by his family.

  She wanted desperately to lean into him, feel assured by his touch, and tell him to take her for now or for always. But Lexie was better at controlling her emotions and feelings, and she did none of that.

  “Are you okay?” Lance asked quietly for her ears only.

  “This is a bit overwhelming,” she admitted.

  “My family is slightly insane, but they are good people,” he told her.

  “I can see that,” she said.

  It was just the two of them in their own little bubble, and she liked that as much as she liked being with his ginormous family. That urge to lean into him, to accept the offer in his eyes, was growing stronger by the minute.

  “What are you two whispering about?” a voice asked.

  It took a moment for Lexie to realize the question was addressed to her and Lance. She jerked her gaze away from him, feeling her cheeks heat as she looked around and noticed most of the family looking in their direction — including her sister who had a pleased smile on her face. Lexie gave her a look that didn’t need words, but that only made Savvy smile that much more.

  “We were just talking about how long a day it’s been,” Lance said, quickly saving her. His hand reached beneath the table and rested on her thigh to give her a reassuring squeeze.

  She was sure he had meant well by doing so, but his touch made her burn in a way she didn’t want to in front of his entire family. They’d lasted a month sharing a place with very little sexual interaction. That wasn’t doing her any good at the moment, because she wanted him so desperately she wished they were snowed-in at some cabin far away from society.

  Instead of moving his hand away, his fingers splayed wide, his pinkie coming far too close to her neglected parts. She began taking shallow breaths, hoping not to pass out or moan, or both.

  Lexie wasn’t even sure if Lance was aware of his fingers rubbing little patterns on the denim of her jeans, but she might as well have been naked for all the protection her clothes were giving her. Her skin was heating, and she wanted desperately to end this family dinner.

  But that meant she would be going to a room she was sharing with Lance. When she’d found out they’d been put in the same one, she’d wanted to protest. Her will wasn’t that strong. But she would have blown their cover if she’d done that, so she’d said nothing.

  And as much as she was afraid to go to that room with him, she was almost more afraid of sitting at a table with his family and falling more in love with all of them by the second.

  This was going to be a very long week, she decided. She might end up in a mental institution at the end of it, if she survived in the first place. Thank goodness her sister was there. But with so many people around, Lexie didn’t know if she’d be able to pull her sister away to have a heart-to-heart talk.

  “Of course you’re tired. Why don’t you go on up and get some rest? We have a lot of activities planned over the next few days,” Joseph said.

  A few people stood as everyone agreed it was late and time to turn in. Lexie watched in fascination as some of the couples who had been married for years looked at each other with hunger. She didn’t understand how their passion and love for each other had withstood so much time, but she was beginning to think love was possible with the right person.

  “Shouldn’t we help clean up first?” Lexie asked when Lance stood and held out a hand to her.

  “It’s all taken care of, dear. You go get some rest,” George told her.

  Reluctantly, Lexie allowed Lance to pull her away. They made it to the large doorway leading away from the dining area when a chorus of yells called them to a stop.

  “What?” she asked with panic as she looked around. Had she done something wrong? Was the house on fire? But as she looked at the faces smiling back at her she feared it might be something worse. She was right.

  “Look up,” Savvy, her traitorous sister, called out in a sing-song voice.

  Lexie was afraid to do just that, but she did, and then glared at the huge clump of mistletoe hanging from the arch. She then looked at Lance who was grinning at her.

  “You can’t pass under it without a kiss,” Lucas called out. He was Lance’s oldest cousin. She wanted to point out to him that he had a teenage daughter, and she was sure he wouldn’t be enforcing the rules if Jasmine were to walk under the mistletoe with some boy. But she bit her tongue and didn’t say anything.

  “We wouldn’t want to miss out on a holiday tradition,” Lance said with a chuckle as he pulled her close. Lexie gazed into his eyes feeling lost, her body trembling.

  “We can’t kiss in front of your entire family,” she whispered.

  “Ah, it will just be a little kiss,” he assured her.

  It would be a little kiss and then they would be traipsing up a bunch of stairs and closing themselves in a room together. Lexie wondered how much she could handle before she completely lost it.

  “When you lick your lips like that it drives me insane,” Lance told her. Lexie hadn’t even realized her tongue had exited her mouth. But she sucked it inside quickly as she continued to look into his sparkling eyes.

  “The damage is done,” he told her. “But when we’re in private you can use that tongue however you’d like.”

  Lexie’s core tightened as her body sizzled in anticipation. Maybe she should give in to the desire humming between them. They were both adults, both responsible. Why couldn’t she loosen the reins on herself and let it go? It would be so easy to do with this particular man.

  As she continued looking at him, she heard a chant behind them. Kiss, kiss, kiss . . .

  “We better do what the crowd is demanding or there could be a ri
ot,” Lance told her.

  Then he stopped talking and took over, a much wiser course of action. Reaching up, he cupped her face, then quickly closed the distance between them. The first kiss was soft and gentle, more a brushing of lips than a connection. It was enough to send a shiver all the way down her spine.

  The next touch was a bit rougher with his lips connecting and not releasing from hers. His hand shifted behind her neck and held her in place as he coaxed her mouth open for his tongue.

  With a sigh, Lexie forgot about his family and her sister sitting behind them, watching this incredibly intimate moment. She forgot about why she shouldn’t be kissing this man at all. She reached for him, her hands winding behind his neck as she held on and enjoyed the passion he brought out in her.

  His tongue slowly passed into her mouth as he tangled it with her own, and the burn inside her body ignited, threatened to singe her right there. She clung tighter to him as he played her mouth as expertly as he’d played her body earlier.

  When she heard a cheer go up Lexie realize their kiss was getting out of control. Her body was molded against Lance’s and her skin was flushed. Mortified, she buried her face against Lance’s neck as he turned to address his family.

  “Go away,” he said with a growl. “Better yet, we’re going away,” he told them. Laughter followed his words.

  Lexie didn’t look up as Lance turned them and practically ran away to shouts from his brothers. Lexie didn’t want to focus on what they were shouting to the two of them. She was too embarrassed to speak at the moment. She was shocked her legs were working at all.

  The lodge was so big that it took a little while to get to their bedroom. But when he opened the door and she stepped through, she felt like a fly entering the spider’s den. She was in trouble — real trouble.