Snow and Seduction (A Holiday Romance)

by Evelyn Moreau

  If it weren’t for Cade and Jordy, Luke would’ve been one of them himself. Though Cade was his first cousin, they had extremely different upbringings. Whereas Luke’s mother and father were hands-off parents that barely acknowledged his existence, Luke’s Uncle Beau and Aunt Maxine were full of warmth. That same kindness was passed down to Cade.

  Luke’s parents used money as a replacement for an emotional connection. Cade’s parents taught him the value of a dollar, never allowing his privilege to spoil into entitlement. Luke couldn’t even remember his cousin ever getting a temper. He had always been a good guy with a grin constantly plastered to his face. The difference between the cousins’ mannerisms had been night and day back then.

  Cade and Luke’s parents had money, but Jordy came to the prep school on an athletic scholarship. Standing at six-foot-five as a freshman, Jordy played every sport he could and excelled in all of them. He wasn’t as outgoing as Cade, but he was as genuine as they came. Jordy was tough guy, a bit rough around the edges. His bluntness matched his intimidating exterior, which came in handy for his job as an officer with the NYPD.

  Although all three of them varied personality-wise, they’d hit it off right away. During high school, they’d been thick as thieves. They flirted with women like it was a sport, but never let their shenanigans get in the way of their education.

  Luke was valedictorian, Cade was the epitome of prom king, and Jordy was the classic all-American jock. They all went to different colleges but kept in touch. Nowadays, they made an effort to see each other every other week over beers, brats, and an occasional round of bowling.

  Ever since freshmen year, they’d been as tight as the Three Musketeers. Luke didn’t see their relationship ever changing. He considered each one of them to be the brother he never had.

  Cade raised his hand to signal the waitress to the table. “Scotch neat, please.”

  The busty waitress in skimpy black shorts nodded. “You got it.” She fixed her gaze on Luke. “Anything for you?”

  Luke sank into the booth. “I’ll take an old-fashioned. And keep ‘em coming.”

  “Tough day?” Cade asked him.

  “Somethin’ like that,” he said, reaching for the basket for piping hot cheese fries in the middle of the table.

  Cade looked at him curiously. “Why so dressed up? You have to go to court today?”

  “Started initial negotiations for a high-profile divorce settlement,” Luke explained.

  “For the big-wig client you told us about?” Jordy asked.

  Luke rolled his eyes. “The one and only.”

  Cade ate some more fries too. “Okay, you’ve had high-profile clients before. What made this one different? I mean, you look like you’ve been through the ringer, bro.”

  Luke rubbed his chin. “It would’ve been like any other meeting except opposing council threw me for a fucking curveball.”

  “Someone you knew? I thought the world of divorce attorneys in the city was pretty concentrated.” Trust Cade to get right to the point.

  “Yeah. A woman,” he said, trying to be subtle hoping that no one would ask for details.

  Jordy chuckled. “I should’ve known a woman would be at the center of your problems.”

  Luke sighed and tried to explain. “Nah, it’s not like that. The attorney was someone I knew, from Yale. A friend.”

  “Let’s be real, you didn’t have that many friends in law school. In fact, I only remember you ever talking about one chick. The black chick. Kelly, or something like that,” said Jordy, stuffing his face with greasy appetizers.

  He quickly corrected his friend. “Her name is Kennedy.”

  Cade’s lips formed a slow grin. “Oh, shit. Your old study partner? I remember you sending me a picture of her. Jet black hair, great tits and an ass worth praying to.”

  Jordy grinned too. “Sounds hot. Reminds me of a sexy librarian.”

  Luke instantly regretted bringing up Kennedy’s name to the hornballs. His smile faded as he narrowed his eyes. “Knock it the hell off. She was a friend. Only a friend.”

  Jordy snickered. “She seeing anybody?”

  Luke took a long swig of his drink. “I don’t know, but she wasn’t wearing a ring.”

  He should never have flirted with her ass, but it was too late now. Her allure was too compelling to ignore, making him seriously wonder if she was a succubus in disguise. Their encounter had been hours ago yet, his thoughts were consumed with her. Where did she live?

  She wasn’t married or engaged, according to her bare ring fingers, but did she have a man? A lover? Did she finally find someone to open up to? Someone worth dropping her ice princess act for? A bitter part of him wondered why the hell she couldn’t have done that for him.

  The awareness of Kennedy’s had clouded his subconscious and he couldn’t help but wonder if she was thinking about him too. He chuckled darkly at that. The ice princess had probably forgotten him entirely. Again.

  Cade nudged his shoulder. “It’s about time you settled down anyways. Can’t do that if you’re addicted to work and suffocating the life out of marriages.”

  Luke chugged more of his drink while Jordy responded to Cade. “Just because you found the love of your life doesn’t mean that we have to be in a rush to be locked down.”

  Like himself, Jordy and Cade were both extremely career-driven. Cade was an author that had just self-published his fourth science fantasy book. He’d done quite well for himself, carving out his own niche in indie publishing.

  And Jordy was moving up the ranks in the NYPD. Where the three friends differed was that Cade was the only one in a stable, committed relationship. Jordy was completely allergic to any type of long-term commitment. Luke usually bounced between doomed relationships that topped out at around eight months.

  Still, he had hope that he would find get married and have a family of his own. A family that wouldn’t resemble his traumatic childhood in any shape or form. He just hadn’t found the right woman to settle down with.

  “And Christmas is around the corner. A quick bang under the mistletoe doesn’t count, right?” Jordy’s big ass mouth was starting to piss Luke off.

  Luke clenched his jaw and tried to convey how serious he was with a single look. “Get your mind out of the gutter, Reynolds. I’m not banging her. I’m not doing anything with her except wrapping up these ridiculous settlement negotiations. Case closed.”

  “Fair enough. Switching subjects since someone is so touchy. You spending Christmas with Uncle Marshall this year?” Cade asked, trying to keep the peace between his friends.

  Luke straightened his spine and ran a hand through his hair. “Why would I subject myself to that kind of punishment?”

  “Well, he’s your father and he’s all alone. The man can’t be all that bad.”

  He equated hearing his father’s name to the pain one must feel when swallowing razor blades. Marshall Simon was a miserable fuck. Old age had only made him even more insufferable.

  “The answer is no. I won’t be spending time with dear old dad.”

  “How’s your mom and Brittany? The last I heard they were both in California soaking up rays and torturing cabana boys.”

  Luke relaxed and smiled. At least he was on speaking terms with some of his immediate family. His mom hadn’t been the most maternal when he and Brittany were growing up. In fact, Luke was certain that she had only had children because his father wanted them. Some time when he was sister was in high school, Mom did a 180. That was right around the time she filed for divorce and took his sister to the west coast.

  Being six years older, Luke was already in college. Through some counseling and a fortune spent in Skype calls, Luke and his mother found a mother-son dynamic that worked for them. He flew out to see her and Brittany a few times a year.

  His father on the other hand, refused to see the error of his ways.

  Cade gave them both a sympathetic look. “Well, Lynn and I are starting our own little holiday tradition t
his year. You know you’re more than welcome to come through. Both of you.”

  Jordy answered first.“Can’t. Already requested overtime hours starting Christmas Eve. Might as well pick up some extra money and let the vets enjoy time with their families.”

  “My offer still stands,” Cade said.

  Luke grabbed his drink. “To be honest. I was thinking of planning a little getaway upstate, maybe even in Connecticut. I want a log fire, a good bottle of Johnny Walker.”

  Cade frowned. “That sounds…fucking lonely. Want me to see if Lynn has any single friends available?”

  “Nope. I want to end the year with a clean slate. No women until next year for me.”

  Cade lowered his eyes then stared at Luke. Something was on his mind. Something that Luke probably wouldn’t like. “Look, I have an idea that works with your self-imposed winter exile. Promise me you’ll hear me out before saying no, okay?”

  “I’m listening.”

  “So, Lynn has a friend in DC that’s sponsoring a unique competition.”Cade stole some of Jordy’s appetizers. “It’s catered towards extreme workaholics. You spend a week in some fancy-schmancy cabin, away from the city. There’s only one other person in the cabin competing.”

  Luke didn’t get it. “Competing for what exactly? A week in a lux cabin doesn’t sound like much of a hassle to me. Sounds about my speed to be honest.”

  Cade hesitated. “The catch is that there’s no tech allowed.”

  “When you say no tech, you just mean laptops and tablets, right?”

  “I mean everything that requires some type of signal. No 2G, 3G, 4G. None of that. I doubt there’s a cell phone tower in a twenty-mile radius. This place doesn’t even have WIFI.”

  Luke couldn’t even have a solo Netflix-and-chill? Luke shuddered. “How the hell am I supposed to pass the time? I guess I could watch TV.”

  Cade took a swig of his drink. “Nope, no TVs either. The point is unplug from the world and get to know someone new. You’ll have your own separate room in the cabin, but you’ll have to interact.”

  Luke was about to say no when Cade added, “Did I mention that there’s a six-figure cash prize?”

  Jordy choked on his food. “Six fucking figures for camping? Shit, I knew I should’ve waited to sign up for that overtime,” he muttered to himself.

  The prize didn’t impress Luke. “Money isn’t a motivator for me. Marshall made sure I was well-off in that regard, whether I wanted his damn money or not.”

  Both Cade and Jordy rolled their eyes. “True. The cash doesn’t hurt though. Think of it as a consolation prize in case you don’t find the inner-peace you’re looking for,” Cade said.

  He scratched his temple. “It sounds too good to be true to be honest. Let me think about it.”

  “I wouldn’t wait too long if you’re seriously interested.”

  The waitress sauntered over to get their attention. “Sorry to bother you boys. The ladies over there wanted to know if you wanted to play a couple of frames, three-on-three.”

  The group looked in the direction of the waitress’s pointed fingers. Three attractive women sat at a table just to their right. A buffet of varying ethnicities, each woman was gorgeous in that effortless New York city-chic kind of way.

  “I don’t know about you two, but my balls need something to knock down,” Jordy said.

  “Tell your balls to slow down a minute. Luke, you good bro?” Cade asked, trying to stave off his friend’s mischief.

  “Yeah, I’m fine. Besides, Jordy’s brain has already been overtaken by his cocktapus.”

  Cade turned to the waitress, “Thanks, doll. Would you mind telling them we’ll be right over?” He gave her a wink and sent her on her way.

  Luke flashed a quick smile at the table of women. He wasn’t remotely interested in any of them but no point in being rude. They were striking women but his brain, and his dick, were wrapped around thoughts of Kennedy Notyce. All he could think about was the curve of her full tits and the shape of her ass in that red dress she wore for him.

  That ass was a work of art. Perfectly chiseled globes that fit his palms exactly. The things he wanted to do with her current body only reminded him of the wild things he’d already done with her.

  Luke wasn’t a shy man nor inexperienced with the opposite sex. He did quite well with the ladies. He was currently single, but flirting was the furthest thing on his mind. Yet, for some reason, he couldn’t shake his desire to see Kennedy again.

  Luke, Cade and Jordy brought their drinks and food over to an open bowling lane. The ladies were all smiles and good sports as they suffered a humiliating defeat. Jordy’s balls were in rare form as he served up five spares.

  At work the next day, Luke did a decent job of not acting completely preoccupied. It was difficult to function when his dick kept wetdreaming about Kennedy. Fuck it. Cade’s opportunity could be exactly what he needed.

  He texted Cade. That deal still on the table?

  A week in a cabin would do him some good. He’d take a much-needed break from work and avoid having to think about a brown-complected goddess.

  Yup. You in? his cousin typed back.

  Luke responded immediately. Bet. I’m in like Flynn.

  Comp starts next Friday. Will send registration info.

  Chapter 8

  “Got everything?” Kai’s voice crackled in her ear as she loaded her suitcases into her rental car.

  “Everything except my brain cells,” Kennedy muttered to herself. “I can’t believe I let you talk me into this.”

  Kai tried to reassure her. “It’s going to be fine. You’ll see. If all else fails, you’ll still have a relaxing slaycation for approximately free dollars.”

  Kennedy groaned. One week in the middle of snow-covered bumfuck wilderness. Completely cut off from society. It was hell. Plain and simple. A hell of her own making, true, but hell nonetheless.

  Sad to say, her financial woes had left her no other option. If she won, the cash would be worth the precious moments away from abuelita. Buttering up the facility’s Director of Operations hadn’t bought her any extra time. The day after Christmas was still the deadline.

  She inhaled slowly, fastening her seat belt and turning the engine over. All she had to do was survive the week and not fuck it up.

  Easier said than done.

  “I don’t plan on returning home emptyhanded. That prize money is as good as mine.”

  “I like your optimism. Did you remember to leave your laptop and any other devices at home?”

  She plugged in the address for the compound into her GPS. Arietta, New York. Even with no traffic, she wouldn’t arrive until after dark.

  “Yup, everything except my cell. I’ll turn it off when I arrive.” Kennedy pulled the Jeep into the street to merge with traffic. “So, this is really happening?”

  “Of course it is, babe. Gotta run! I just saw a glimpse of my new client, and he is gorgeous. Hot sex on a stick. Or, maybe hot sex on a platter. Yeah, platter sounds much better.”

  “Okay, Kai. I get the visual. Loud and clear.” Boy, did she ever.

  She’d thought of nothing but hot sex thanks to a sexy divorce attorney. When was the last time she’d been on a date? Or just gotten laid?

  Not since before the WitTech case.

  Dating was impossible when she was too afraid of commitment. Recently, her libido only wanted another sampling of Luke Simon. And that was never happening again. Ever.

  Too dangerous. Too complicated. Too messy. She had enough problems. The last thing she needed was another distraction.

  “Love you and oh! Don’t forget your e-nasties.”

  Kennedy frowned in confusion as she cut off a reckless yellow cab. “My what?”

  Kai scoffed. “Your battery-operated naughty toys. Duh.”

  Kennedy only shook her head. She had already packed them. “Goodbye.”

  “Ciao lady.”

  “Here goes nothing,” she mumbled, turning onto the Geo
rge Washington Bridge and leaving her beloved Manhattan behind.

  Kennedy kept her weary eyes on the road, and her hands clutching at the steering wheel. The Jeep Wrangler crawled towards the gated compound bit by bit.

  The entire trip was a shit show.

  What had started as an intriguing adventure quickly morphed into six hours of pure chaos. She’d gotten lost three times due to a poor signal. She’d almost hit a deer, or an elk. Or maybe a moose. It may have even been Big Foot’s long lost relative.

  There was a reason why most people in the five boroughs left driving to the cab, Uber, and Lyft drivers of the city: it was impossible. Driving in snow was positively suicidal, an act that should only be reserved for the very brave.

  Arriving at a tall iron-wrought gate, she lowered her window to speak into the intercom. The right side of her face tingled from the cold. The kind of cold that immediately reminded her why winter vacations were never her top preference.

  Only a week. Just seven whole days. Then you can be back in your cozy apartment far the fuck away from here.

  “Miss Notyce?” a deep voice with the lilt of a European accent.

  Kennedy hesitated before calling out, “Yes?”

  “Very well. We were expecting you a few hours ago.” Her ears confirmed an unmistakable British accent.

  Her gaze narrowed at the intercom. Glancing at her wrist, the time read a few minutes past eight o’clock. True, she should’ve arrived a couple of hours ago. Except, if it was that important that she be on time, the company sponsoring the trip should’ve provided a private car.

  Her lips pursed. “Unfortunately, the North Pole wasn’t the easiest place to find.”

  Ignoring her sarcasm, the slightly perturbed voice crackled through the speaker. “Please drive through the gate and follow the path to the cabin. Oh. Would you like a cup of hot cocoa or a glass of wine?”

  Yep. Both, please. All of the hot chocolate and a full bottle of rosé for dessert. What she really said was, “The hottest mug of hot chocolate and a mountain of marshmallows would be wonderful. If it’s not too much trouble.”