Holiday Fling

by Victoria H. Smith

  He bit his lip, failing to hide his amusement. “All right, Ms. Reid, let’s see what you got.”

  She limbered up and the two went at it. Tarrah couldn’t help the smile she wore the whole time.

  Chapter Five

  A few hours later, Chase and Tarrah sat listening to “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer”…and she now had most of the deck.

  Chase sat back and rubbed his flat stomach with his minimal deck of cards. “You weren’t lying. You’re seriously kicking my ass.”

  Tarrah grinned. “What can I say? I had a lot of free time to play during my childhood.”

  “Yeah, that’s pretty crazy living in all the places you lived.”

  Tarrah slouched a bit, but tried not to let on how much his comment affected her. “Yeah, well, what about you? I still haven’t been to California. What’s it like there?”

  “Hot. Let’s get back into this.” He rubbed his palms together, gearing up for another round.

  Why did it seem like he just dodged her statement? Shrugging it off, she lifted her hand to start again.

  “Ugh, this is terrible.” Chase’s face contorted as he glanced up to the break room speakers. “Christmas music can be so cheesy when it isn’t the classics.”

  Tarrah crossed her arms. “I happen to like N*Sync.”

  He smirked. “Why am I not surprised? You and about every other twenty-something girl living in the continental United States. You sound like my cousin. She was obsessed with them.”

  “She sounds like a smart girl. My roommate and I adore them. In fact, we have one of their framed posters up on the wall.”

  His brows shot up. “Now you really sound like my cousin. I happened to be keen on Britney Spears during that time. The girl couldn’t sing worth a damn, but she sure was nice to look at.” He wiggled his eyebrows.

  She shook her head. “Such a guy thing to say.”

  His jaw dropped opened. “Well, what about you Ms. ‘Bye, Bye, Bye’?”

  “The fact that you know those lyrics tells me you followed them, too.” She winked.

  He grasped his cards in his hands and a sudden hungry expression took his face.

  Tarrah’s heart stopped as she gazed at him. What is he thinking?

  “I’m about to win this back and kick your tail.”

  She sighed and got into position like him.

  He won the next round. “What did I tell you? Okay, so where were you headed before you got held up with America’s Favorite Redhead?”

  She chuckled. “America’s Favorite Redhead is Ron Howard.”

  He laughed. “Seriously, where were you going tonight?”

  As Tarrah’s thoughts went to her and Swanson, her face blazed like fire. Would she get out of here soon? “I was going to stay with my roommate’s family. I stay with them every year since my parents are overseas.”

  He eyed her, crossing his arms. “Why do I feel like there’s more to it than that?”

  She held in a gasp. “What do you mean?” Her eyes shifted to the side.

  “Well, your cheeks went as red as my hair.”

  Goddammit.

  “Well?”

  She fumbled with her cards. “You already got your question.”

  “Okay. I’ll find out soon.”

  Like hell he was. She’d win this next round.

  Chapter Six

  Tarrah lost the next round. Chase now watched her with a smug grin on his face.

  “Well? We could be here all night, Tarrah.”

  She fidgeted. “You’re…You’re going to think I’m a ‘ho,” she whispered, her cheeks warm.

  His brows shot up. He obviously wasn’t expecting that to come out of her mouth. He controlled his shock after a few seconds, his expression becoming neutral. “I will not. Whatever you say, I won’t judge you. We’re strangers and probably won’t see each other again. No big deal. So go ahead.”

  She sighed. He was right. What did she have to lose? “Um, well, every Christmas break when I stay with my roommate’s family…I hook up with her cousin on Christmas Eve. I look forward to it every year.”

  He didn’t look disgusted at all. In fact, he gazed at her in a nonchalant way and Tarrah couldn’t help but like him just a bit more. “That’s not that big of a deal. You’re in college, Tarrah. I’ve heard worse. Hell, you should hear some of my undergrad stories.” He chuckled.

  Tarrah threaded her hand through her lengthy brown curls. He really was sweet. He didn’t make her feel ashamed or uncomfortable at all, and she liked that.

  “Anyway, next round,” he said.

  Tarrah won it, a huge grin on her face as she did. “What’s your ultimate Christmas wish?”

  He put his cards on the table and his red lashes flicked up. “To dance with a beautiful girl on Christmas Eve to my favorite Christmas song.”

  Tarrah put her cards down. “Oh? What’s your favorite Christmas song?”

  “Nat King Cole. ‘The Christmas Song.’”

  His words were so light she barely heard them, and her heart skipped a beat as the very lyrics of the song he stated played through the break room speakers. She glanced up to find Chase holding his hand out to her.

  “May I have this dance?” His smile was warmer than the sun.

  She slid her hand in his and he slipped his arm around her waist as she stood up. She had to tilt her head back to look up at him. He could have been a basketball player. Georgia and Swanson had height like his though, so she was used to it.

  Chase led as they swayed to the music, his sapphire eyes locked on hers. “How’s your head?”

  Tarrah removed her hand from his neck and touched her cut. She checked it out during one of their card-playing breaks and the cut was so small it would never be noticed behind her hair. “It feels fine, especially after ‘America’s Favorite Redhead’ came to the rescue.”

  He smiled. “No big deal.”

  “Yeah it was. And thanks for saving me earlier, even if it did result with you being stuck in here with me all night.” She laughed.

  “I can’t think of any other place I’d rather be.”

  Her cheeks went warm as Chase pulled her closer to him, their chests colliding. He slid his hand into her hair and her eyes shifted on his as she willingly accepted where this was about to go.

  “Hey, you two okay?”

  They both pulled apart to see a police officer at the door of the break room.

  Chapter Seven

  As Chase walked Tarrah to her car she couldn’t help but feel solemn. She was happy the robbers were apprehended and no one was hurt, but she couldn’t get what was about to happen out of her head. Chase was so close to her in that moment, his strong body warm against hers, and his full lips parted and awaiting… That almost kiss couldn’t have just been in her head, right? No. It wasn’t. Chase had been definitely about to kiss her, and now, she’d never know what that felt like. She knew she’d never see him again, and the thought made her heart heavy.

  “Well, Tarrah it’s been fun.”

  More than he knew. “Yeah. I hope wherever you’re headed…” Not able to find the words, she looked away. “I hope you have a great Christmas Eve.”

  He nodded. “Same to you. And good luck with your ‘fling.’ I hope it doesn’t disappoint.”

  She chuckled. “Thanks.”

  They shared one last long look, then Tarrah opened her car door.

  “Tarrah?”

  She shot around. “Yes?”

  He stepped forward, hands in his pockets. “Can I give you my email?”

  Tarrah’s insides exploded in excitement. She knew it was only an email address, but damn was she excited. “Sure.”

  Grinning, he pulled out a card and handed it to her. “It’s there on the card.”

  She tried to keep her hands from shaking as she accepted it. She was so excited that she didn’t even look at it before putting it into her dress pocket. She then leaned into her car in a frenzy, ripped off a random bit of paper from inside her pu
rse, and wrote her own email on it. “If you’re ever back in the Midwest shoot me an email,” she said as she wrote.

  “Of course.”

  She handed it to him and they both stared at each other for another long moment.

  “I guess this is it then, huh?”

  Tarrah fought to contain her sigh. “Yeah.”

  His lips curved into a small smile. “Merry Christmas, Tarrah.”

  “Merry Christmas, Chase.”

  *

  Tarrah’s usually raunchy tunes did nothing for her as she drove to the Stewart’s. She couldn’t even think about Swanson. Her mind was completely wrapped around Chase. How could she fall for someone so quickly? They’d only known each other a few hours, for Pete’s sake. She was frustrated beyond belief, but this time it wasn’t sexual frustration. This time, it was something more.

  She pulled up in front of the Stewart’s large country brick home. She gathered the presents for Georgia’s family, her own bags, then headed toward the wide wooden door with the large Christmas wreath on the front.

  She knocked, shaking in her heels from the cold, and the door opened.

  Georgia beamed when she saw Tarrah. “Good god, girl. We didn’t think you’d ever show.” She hugged her.

  “Sorry. The craziest thing happened. There was a robbery and—”

  Georgia pulled back. “A robbery? That’s so weird because—”

  She pointed her thumb behind her and part of the Stewart clan came to the door.

  Georgia’s little cousins tackled Tarrah.

  “Tarrah, Tarrah, you’re here!” One of the four-year-old twins hopped into her arms, making her drop her bags.

  Tarrah giggled. She loved these little rugrats. “Jessica-Anne, you’re going to wrinkle your holiday dress.”

  Jessica-Anne hopped down, then both she and her sister straightened out their little white angel dresses in synchronization.

  Tarrah couldn’t help but smile at the two. The little girls each grabbed an armful of gifts and Georgia helped them by carrying the rest of Tarrah’s stuff from the hall.

  After kicking the snow off her shoes, Tarrah stepped inside. She was hanging up her coat when Samantha, Georgia’s aunt and the host of the Stewart’s holiday weekend, entered the hall. She looked as fabulous as ever, wearing an elegant, tight black dress and matching heels. To complete her chic look, her glistening auburn locks sat on her shoulders in a just bumped under style. Never a hair out of place.

  “Tarrah, you’re finally here.” She gave Tarrah a hug.

  God, she loved the Stewarts. They were her second family. “Sorry, I got tied up.”

  Samantha held her out at arm’s length, rubbing her shoulders. “It’s fine. You’re here now. It’s going to be the perfect Christmas because everyone really is here this year.”

  What did she mean by that? Tarrah never realized anyone was missing before. She watched as Samantha gestured to the side of the room.

  “Chase, come meet Georgia’s roommate.”

  Chase?

  Tarrah then saw “Chase” and he saw her. The look of shock she shared with him, Tarrah knew could have been the perfect Kodak moment of the shittiest Christmas on the planet.

  “Tarrah, this is my son, Chase, Georgia’s cousin.” Samantha beamed.

  Chapter Eight

  There were a couple things Tarrah noticed in that instant. The first was Chase’s shirt. It was a deep red button-down that he had bunched at the sleeves. She knew that shirt well because she was pretty sure she’d ripped it off Swanson a few times. He must have changed it since her blood was all over his. The second thing she noticed was what was in his hands. It was a bowl of the famous Stewart Family Chex Mix…and it was now headed to the floor.

  Samantha stepped back and gasped. “Chase?”

  He tore his wide eyes from Tarrah. “Sorry, Mom.” He bent down and started scooping the mix back up into the bowl.

  Tarrah couldn’t have been more mortified.

  “Oh, honey, it’s fine. We’ll get that in a minute. You have to meet Tarrah,” she said.

  No, he doesn’t. No, he doesn’t.

  He stood up, his eyes locked on Tarrah’s again. They stared at each other, neither saying a word.

  Samantha gaze traveled between Chase and Tarrah and back again. “Honey, don’t be rude. Shake the girl’s hand.”

  Chase dusted his hands off on his jeans and held one out to Tarrah.

  She did the same, following his lead.

  “Nice to meet you, Tarrah,” he said.

  God, how awkward is this? “Nice to meet you, Chase.” For the second time today.

  They shook in a daze, staring at each other.

  “Great.” Samantha slapped her hands together. “I’m going to get Missy to clean this up.”

  As Samantha stepped off to find the Stewart’s housekeeper Chase and Tarrah’s hands still shook. After a few moments, they both awkwardly pulled their hands from each other. Chase stepped forward and opened his mouth to speak, but stopped—along with Tarrah’s heart—when Swanson rushed into the room.

  The well over six foot blond picked her up—by her ass—then set her down, nuzzling into her neck.

  Tarrah wanted to cry.

  She didn’t think it was possible for Chase’s eyes to widen any larger, but in that instant—they did. He now saw exactly who her ‘hook-up’ was, and by the look of his face, he wasn’t too happy about it.

  After Swanson was done groping her he turned, seeing Chase. “Hey, bro. You met my girl, Tarrah?” he asked, pulling her into him by her lower back.

  Bro. Of course. Brother. Oh God.

  Chase blinked a few times. “Yeah…bro. Your girl?” His brow arched.

  Swanson cocked his head from side to side. “Well, she’s not technically my girl, but we have an understanding. Don’t we, Tarrah?” He nuzzled his nose into her hair, grabbing her ass.

  Tarrah fought a whimper.

  Chase crossed his arms. “I can see that.”

  Tarrah wanted nothing more than to pull Swanson off her and explain herself to Chase, but really, what was there to explain? Chase already knew the truth. But she wanted to try anyway. She stepped forward to, but stopped as she watched Chase.

  “If you’d excuse me.” He forced a smile and stepped out of the room as Missy came in to clean up the Chex Mix.

  No time passed at all before Swanson was in her ear. “Hey, so I have our blankets and the space heater out in the shed. We just need to wait for the announcement of the fruitcake and we’re good to go.”

  She nodded, barely hearing his words.

  “Great.” He brushed his lips against her neck, grabbed her ass again, and then he was gone.

  Chapter Nine

  Tarrah scoured the house, looking for Chase. She didn’t know what she was going to say, but she had to say something to him. She found him in the large kitchen with the grandmothers, a few of Georgia’s aunts, and the help.

  She took in a deep breath at the door and as soon as she stepped inside, Swanson’s arm came around her waist.

  “What are you doing, girl? We’re watching the game.” He dragged her away and as she left the room, she noticed Chase’s eyes on her.

  Swanson brought her into the great room where seventy-five percent of the Stewart clan sat around two sixty-inch television sets, watching Swanson and Georgia’s basketball games. They all wore either Swanson or Georgia’s jersey numbers, chanting like they hadn’t already seen their games. They were reruns for pity’s sake! She was astounded by how obsessed the whole clan was. Even Samantha had slipped a jersey on over her dress!

  Swanson quickly slid on his number ‘25’ and handed a matching one to Tarrah.

  “That’s okay, Swan. I’m probably not going to sit in here long. You know I always watch A Christmas Story in the other room.”

  He shrugged and dragged her to a chair with him. He sat down and forced her on his lap. No one ever mentioned Swanson and Tarrah’s “friendliness” during the holi
days. That was just how b-ball crazy and distracted they were. Even Georgia never asked about the extent of Tarrah and Swanson’s relationship. Not that she would care, but she just never noticed.

  Tarrah was pretty much bouncing on Swanson’s lap in anticipation of a quick exit.

  “You sure are antsy, girl. What’s up?” Swanson asked, eyes never leaving the screen.

  “Um, Swan, I’m going to—”

  “BOOM BABY!” he shouted, lifting his hands to the play he just made on the screen like he wasn’t there when he did it. “Nothing but net!”

  Tarrah rolled her eyes, but stopped mid-eye roll as she watched Chase walk passed the door of the great room. Tarrah took that as a sign and escaped from the room just as the Stewarts chanted after another one of Swanson’s “stellar” plays.

  *

  Tarrah scanned the hall and lost the damn boy again. She noticed the family portraits on the walls and mantel. She’d seen them many times, but now realized something. Why hadn’t she noticed that Chase was a part of this family before? There was no denying the family resemblance. He looked just like Samantha, Swanson, and Swanson’s father, Clint. Not to mention Samantha’s red hair. It wasn’t as bright as Chase’s, but it was still red. Tarrah actually always thought it was weird that Swanson’s hair was blond because not only was Samantha’s hair red, but Clint’s hair was strawberry blond. So why hadn’t she made the connection? As she scanned the photos, she understood. They were pretty much all of Swanson and his basketball stuff, trophies and awards lining the walls. There were even some b-ball pictures of Georgia up there, but no pictures of Chase.

  She stepped closer to the mantel and looked around the photos and when she did, she finally found some of him. His were there—they just weren’t at the forefront of the ledge. He had awards, too, but they were for science. In the very back was his college graduation photo. She picked it up and noticed he went to UCLA. He lived in California, just like he said. Why was he living so far away? And why hadn’t he come to the annual holiday family get-together before?