The Christmas Sneak: Hope’s Turn Holidays

by Marie Harte

  “I love when you don’t sleep.”

  She smiled. “It’s not so bad when I have such a warm pillow.”

  “I run hot in bed.”

  “You sure do.”

  He chuckled. “I feel so good with you, Nora. You make me laugh.”

  “Laughter is good.”

  “So are orgasms. And your pussy.”

  She blushed, glad he couldn’t see because he’d tease her for it. “Flatterer.”

  “Hey, I like the way you taste.”

  “Would you stop?”

  He laughed. “I know you’re blushing. After just fucking me dry, you’re embarrassed. Man, you’re cute.”

  “It’s dark. How can you tell?”

  “I just can. I have superpowers.”

  “A super cock, maybe.”

  “It is pretty awesome. Want to hold it?”

  She giggled, feeling as immature as a teenager and having fun. “I am holding it.” She clamped down on him inside her. “Feel?”

  “Fuck. That’s so good.” He groaned. “Is it bad that I want to keep loving you until I just can’t get it up anymore?”

  Loving you could mean many things to many people. To Nora, it had always meant the emotion. Affection, care.

  “The day you can’t get it up is the day we’re done,” she teased, telling herself to mean it. After all, she and Deacon were just casual. Just in it for the sex. Right?

  He snorted. “As if that will ever happen. Guess that means you’re stuck with me.” After a moment, he wrapped an arm around her back, hugging her. “Relax, my tiny Amazon. I know. I know. You just want me for my body. I’m to be used and abused.”

  “Abused?”

  “You just mauled me with your vagina. I’m your helpless slave.” As if to emphasize that fact, he arched up into her, nudging inside her.

  Where they remained connected, physically. And emotionally—at least, for Nora.

  “Just remember that.”

  Yeah, Nora, remember it’s only about sex.

  He chuckled. “Sure thing, baby.”

  She had the sense he was just humoring her. But as the pleasure settled into her bones, she found her peace and relaxed into his arms, finally able to sleep.

  Chapter 15

  Monday afternoon, Nora sat in Becca’s house and stared without seeing at her niece in Becca’s arms.

  “Hello? Earth to Nora. Are you going to wrap that, or do you want to hold Ava so I can?” Becca asked.

  “Huh? Oh sure. I’ll hold her.”

  “That’s the easy job,” Becca complained, though she wore a smile, glowing with contentment.

  “Where’s Mitch?”

  “Helping Roy at River Rip Brewing. When Deacon was out due to the snow, Mitch offered to help Roy out until you guys got back.” Becca shot Nora knowing look and handed off her baby.

  “What?”

  Becca raised a brow. “You blush anytime I mention his name.”

  “Who? Mitch?”

  “Oh please. Deacon Flashman. Ha! See? Right there. Your face is red.”

  “Shut up.”

  “So what happened up at the cabin? I swear, Mitch won’t tell me anything.”

  “Nothing to tell.”

  “Liar. I know what happened.”

  “What?” Nora looked down at Ava, who looked around her with wide eyes and didn’t make a fuss. So beautiful. Nora thought again to Deacon’s hand over hers on her own belly.

  Nope. Not gonna happen. When I have kids, I’m going to have the husband first. That’s the plan.

  Yet the plan was sucking, because she had no husband or baby. And probably never would while stuck in Hope’s Turn.

  “You and Deacon had sex,” Becca announced at the exact same instant Mitch, Deacon, and the dog entered the living room.

  Mitch stared, wide-eyed, between Nora and Deacon. “What?”

  “You told her?” Deacon asked with a frown.

  Nora glared at the big mouth. “No, I did not tell her anything. But you just did.”

  He blinked. “Oh. Sorry.” Then the lug smiled. “But it was good, right?”

  “I swear to you, right now, Deacon Flashman. If you high-five your brother, I will kick you in the nuts. Hard.”

  Mitch subtly lowered his hand.

  “As if I’d do that.” Deacon huffed. “I’m thirty-nine years old, Nora.”

  She saw him hold his hand behind his back and heard a slap. “I saw that!”

  “It was a low five. You said no high five.”

  Becca shook her head at her husband, who approached Nora to take his daughter into his arms. “Honestly, Mitch. Grow up.”

  “Hey, you’re the one talking about her sex life.” He cuddled his daughter. “I was with this guy all day, and he said nothing.”

  To which Deacon shot Nora an accusing look.

  To her chagrin, she knew she had only herself to blame for letting Becca badger her about the cabin.

  Nora and Deacon had left yesterday, driving home and parting as friends. They’d agreed to remain private about their time together, knowing their family would prod and make their own assumptions. Which Becca had.

  “What Nora and I do is no one’s business,” Deacon said firmly, shocking Nora that he’d put a stop to any questions before she could. “We’re friends. That’s all you need to know.” He watched his brother. “Kid or no kid, I will put a hurt on you if you say whatever’s on that tiny brain of yours.”

  Mitch opened and closed his mouth. “Right. So, ah, do you want lunch?”

  Becca frowned. “What are you doing home? I didn’t hear you come in.”

  Mitch shrugged. “We got finished earlier than we’d thought, so we headed back here. Deacon wants to swim. I thought you’d be at Nora’s.”

  “I was going to, but I figured this would be a perfect time to wrap Simon’s presents while he’s not here.”

  Deacon crouched down to get a look, and his proximity made Nora’s mouth water. He smelled like a subtle blend of pine and spice. She wanted to lick him up. In jeans and a Seahawks sweatshirt, he looked handsome as sin.

  Fortunately, he kept his attention on the video games Becca was wrapping. “Oh yeah. Those are all the kids were talking about during the season.”

  “Please. You know you want them too,” Mitch said.

  “Well, yeah. How can I trounce Simon if I don’t have the latest games?” Deacon grinned.

  Nora’s heart continued to run laps in her chest.

  “What about you, Nora? What do you want for Christmas?” he asked as he turned to watch her.

  They faced each other, only a few inches of space between them.

  The charged silence evaporated when Mitch cleared his throat.

  “Oh, ah, turkey sandwich for me, Bro,” Deacon said, still watching Nora.

  “Not what I asked, but Becca and I will go make some.”

  “We will?” Becca asked. “Okay. Join us in the kitchen when you’re done staring at each other.” She snickered and left with Mitch.

  The open floor plan gave the couple a clear view of Deacon and Nora, but Nora didn’t care. She hadn’t seen Deacon in a whole day, and now she felt normal, being near him again.

  “Hi.” He smiled.

  She smiled back. “Hi.”

  He glanced over his shoulder then stole a quick kiss. “Been wanting to do that since forever,” he whispered. “Sorry the cat’s out of the bag about us.”

  “That was my fault.” Us? What us is there?

  “So, um, I know you wanted to go back to normal. But I’m lonely at home.” He made a sad face.

  “Yeah, right.” A pang of jealousy struck. “I’m sure you’re busy fielding calls from lonely, single women.”

  “Nope. Just waiting for one smart-mouthed brunette to call.” He sighed. “She still hasn’t.”

  Nora couldn’t hide her grin. “You miss me?”

  “Like crazy.” He stood and pulled her up with him. “Come over tonight?”

  “For
what? A booty call?”

  “Nope. For dinner.”

  She frowned and kept her voice low. “No sex?”

  “Why? You desperate for me already?” he teased.

  Yes. “No. But dinner isn’t sex.”

  “No, it’s two people eating food together,” he said slowly, but she saw the twinkle in his eyes. “Are you afraid of me, Nora?”

  “Please.” She huffed. “I’m afraid of no one but Simon when he’s visiting and there’s no food in my house.”

  “We’re all afraid of that,” he agreed. “Teenagers need food. He’s a right little bastard when he’s hungry.”

  She laughed, because Simon could get pretty cranky. “Dinner, huh?

  “I’m buying.”

  The smart move would be to nix this idea of hanging out. They would meet for sex and only sex and keep it simple. So Nora said, “Well, okay. Because you if you were going to cook, I’d have to say no.” Why do I never do the easy thing?

  “That’s so mean.” He smiled. “I love that about you.”

  She hated that her heart raced like crazy when he used the L word. “Quit flattering me and let’s get sandwiches. And if your brother keeps giving me that look, I’m telling your mom on him.”

  “Good call. Brenda Flashman is savage when her favorite is getting bullied.”

  Mitch heard him and frowned. “I’m Mom’s favorite.”

  Deacon snorted. “You keep thinking that.”

  While they argued, Becca pulled Nora aside and said, “You and I are going to talk later, missy. Bet on it. Or else.” She dragged a finger across her throat.

  Nora sighed. At least she’d have a decent dinner to make up for what was sure to be an uncomfortable interrogation later.

  “Here, hold Ava,” Mitch said to Deacon. “Becca, darling, come help me make lunch.”

  “Okay, but we can’t take too long. Simon will be home soon, and we have to wrap and hide the presents.”

  Mitch smiled. “No problem. I got you covered, babe.”

  While the married pair flirted, Nora watched Deacon handling Ava and blurted, “You’re going to make a good father someday.”

  Fortunately, her cousin and Mitch didn’t hear her.

  Deacon’s eyes widened, then a blush covered his cheek. He gave her a shy smile. “I think that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me, Nora.”

  “Don’t let it go to your head,” she grumbled and stroked Ava’s fine hair. “She’s so pretty.”

  “Someday you’ll have one just like her.” Deacon held Ava’s tiny fist wrapped around his finger. “Baby Nora. I bet she’ll be adorable, just like her mom.” He looked into her eyes, and she quickly backed away, confused at what she saw.

  And what she felt.

  Love.

  Deacon sighed and downed his beer. Wednesday evening, he stood with Roy at the bar, overseeing the staff and the crowded pub. “She’s avoiding me, Roy.”

  Roy groaned. “Are we talking about Nora again?”

  “I was holding Ava and looking into her beautiful eyes.”

  “Ava’s?”

  “No, Nora’s. They’re brown, so pretty. Dark and deadly, that’s Nora.” He sighed. “Man, she’s amazing.”

  “So, how did you manage to blow it this time?”

  Deacon shrugged. “No idea. Maybe she saw that I’m falling for her.”

  “Fallen, you mean.”

  “What?”

  “Nothing.” Roy coughed. “So, she’s nervous because you’re coming on strong?”

  “She’s trying to keep our relationship all about sex. But I want more. I invited her to dinner. She said yes then called later to cancel. I haven’t seen her in two days.”

  “Do you think she’s just not into you?”

  “No. I know she likes me. Maybe even more than just ‘likes.’ But she’s scared.”

  “I’m scared of you.” Roy met Deacon’s gaze. “You have a resting bitch face.”

  “That’s a girl thing.”

  “Yep, like I said.”

  “Ass.” But Deacon laughed. “Nora has mean down to a science. Roy, man, I think I love her.”

  “Shit. That deserves a second round.” Roy got them two bottles of the special IPA and toasted him. “To you and Nora, may you one day not scare off the love of your life.”

  “That’s a little much.”

  “Nope. It’s not. Nora’s great. Jess and I like her. She doesn’t take your shit, and you’ve never been happier than when you’re with her or talking about her. She won’t see you? Go make a move. Call her on her bullshit.”

  “She’ll dump me.”

  “So she’ll dump you. Make her see how miserable she’ll be without you.”

  “How do I do that?”

  “Hey, do you see a crystal ball anywhere? No? Me neither. I’m just the idea man. Make it happen on your own dime.”

  “Some friend you are.”

  “Hey, I covered for you while you played in the snow for a week.”

  “Technically I played in the hot tub.”

  Roy glared “Yeah, that detail makes it so much better.”

  Deacon chuckled. “Seriously, thanks for covering for me.”

  “You did your share with the invoices online. And thank Mitch. He helped a ton. But even without him, we would have been okay. I got you, man.”

  “I know. You’re always there for me.”

  “Remember that this Christmas. Jess wants to take extra time to go down and see the family in Texas.”

  “You got it. I owe you.”

  “Nah. We’re even. Now go figure out how to win back Nora while I deal with Ericka.” He made a face. “She’s the worst bartender we’ve ever had.”

  “I know. Which is why I told you not to hire her. But you fell for her sterling resume. All her T’s and A’s crossed.” T’s and A’s—or more to Roy’s level, her tits and ass.

  “Whoa, whoa, now. I’m a married man.” Roy looked offended.

  “Whatever. She batted her eyes and you, a sucker, told her with a little training she’d be just fine. You hired her, you fire her.”

  “I know, I know. And for the record, it wasn’t her T’s and A’s,” Roy muttered. “More like her soft voice, baby blue eyes, and her screwdriver. She really knows how to make a good one. But yes, I know, I’ll take care of it.” He paused. “Okay, maybe it was a little T, but not one word to Jess.”

  Deacon smirked. “I knew it. Hey, I noticed them too. But I didn’t hire her.”

  “Go home.” Roy stomped away to deal with Ericka, and Deacon texted Simon for a favor.

  The smart-aleck had no problem giving him Nora’s address—as well as notice of now two ‘favors owed.’ Deacon couldn’t wait for the teen to call them in.

  Amused despite himself, he drove to Nora’s house, testing out one approach after another and deciding to wing it.

  With any luck, he’d round to first, slide through second, and keep going for a homerun.

  And Mitch said he didn’t know baseball.

  Chapter 16

  “Sorry, slick. I’d say you just struck out.” Nora stood in the front doorway, eyeballing an incensed Deacon.

  “You won’t let me in? Come on, Nora. We know each other” He lowered his voice to add, “Really know each other.”

  “This is my home, and I’m sorry, but it’s sacred.” Yes, she was being childish, but she didn’t think she’d sleep any better with memories of him in her place. She already couldn’t sleep because she couldn’t stop remembering him in the cabin—now forever associated with Deacon and a snowbound week of nonstop pleasure.

  “Fine. Can we talk at my place then?” He continued to sound reasonable.

  Which annoyed her. Shouldn’t he be missing her to the point of wondering about his sanity? Shouldn’t he be thinking hard over how bad it might not be to date? Nora missed him like crazy, and it had only been two days since they’d last been together. And no, it hadn’t been all about missing sex, either.

 
She missed Deacon’s smile, his sarcasm, his sense of humor. She missed touching him, seeing his joy in the little things. Watching him fall in love with his niece every time he held her…

  “Why are you here?”

  Deacon sighed. “Nora, the one thing I like best about you is that you don’t bullshit. You’re all about honesty.”

  “I am.”

  “Can’t we be honest with each other…off the street?” he asked quietly.

  He had her there.

  “Yes, we can.” She stepped aside. “Come in.”

  He entered her cute cottage and looked around, seeing the small space just as it was. Colorful but tiny, with a fluffy couch, a console table behind it, and coffee table in front of it, facing a wall with a small flatscreen TV. The adjoined kitchen was big enough to cook in but not large enough to host Deacon and Mitch side by side if she stood with them. Off the kitchen, there was just enough space for four chairs and a table.

  Down the hall was a bathroom, and farther down her bedroom, which fit her queen size bed, a few bookcases, and a nightstand. And that was it. Home sweet home—all she could afford on her meager income in the small town which continued to see real estate values rise.

  “You work in there?” he asked, pointing to the kitchen table, where her laptop sat.

  “Yep. My office slash restaurant.” She grinned and waved down at her clothes. “We’re not fussy about who we feed there.” Her overlarge sweatshirt hung off one shoulder, showing the strap of her fitted tank. She wore baggy shorts and long socks and looked like a runway tragedy.

  But she had a warm apartment, so she didn’t much care what she looked like, only that she was comfortable while staring at her laptop screen, suffering from writer’s block and Deaconitis—a need for the big man standing before her.

  His eyes warmed as he looked her over and his gaze caught on her hair pulled back into a ponytail high on her head. “You look like a college grad.”

  In a breathy voice she asked, “Oh, is it fantasy-time?”

  “I wish.” He sighed. “Okay, let’s talk.” He moved past her to the kitchen and sat down with a glance at her screen, his eyes narrowing.

  Remembering she’d been researching about pregnancy and hormone levels for her book and not wanting him to get the wrong idea, she closed her laptop and blurted, “It’s research for my book. Not about me.”