by Vivian Arend
“Can I bother you to take that to the back storage?” Ryan asked as one of his staff came forward with an urgent question.
Mack hefted the canister onto his shoulder. “No problem. Just tell Brooke where I went when she gets back so she doesn’t think I abandoned her.”
“Yeah, you don’t want that. She might exchange you for a different model.” Ryan was back in teasing mode. “Something with a little more get up and go.”
Mack rolled his eyes. “Ass.”
But Ryan wasn’t listening, so Mack carried on into the back of the bar. He was familiar with the layout from his year in the community and hanging out with Ryan many a night.
He waved hello to the waitress who was getting out the float and setting up the till, then paced the hallway to the back of the building.
The storage room was orderly and neat, exactly how he expected it. Ryan was not the type to allow things to get into a mess. Mack carried his burden to the far left where a row of other canisters rested. It was entertaining to glance around at the masses of supplies on the shelves, and he turned slowly—
The room went dark.
“Dammit.” He hadn’t known the light was on a motion sensor. Mack waved an arm in the air, but nothing happened.
He was in the middle of pulling out his phone to use the flashlight when a low laugh reached his ears. A familiar laugh, followed by a familiar set of arms slipping around his waist from behind. Brooke’s scent filled his senses.
“Don’t be scared,” she whispered. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
“Hmm.” His low hum deepened as her hands slipped lower. “That’s good—that you’re not here to hurt me. But you seem to have some kind of agenda.”
Her palm was pressed firmly over his length, his interest in this twisted play becoming apparent. “I confess I’m attracted to your classy attire and your amazing body. I feel the need to take advantage of you,” she said.
“My sweater turns you on?” Mack fought to keep from laughing because playing this semi-seriously was a hoot. “Well, who am I to deny a woman made wild by my purple pears? Ravish away.”
Something hit his back. It took a second before he figured out it was Brooke’s forehead and she was giggling uncontrollably.
He twisted and gathered her into his arms where she belonged. It didn’t matter they stood in the dark in a storage room that smelled faintly like beer and peanuts.
They were together, and that made it perfect.
“You’re a goof,” she murmured, fingers sliding up his chest to tangle behind his neck. Brooke tugged him toward her until their mouths met. Her kiss was sweet, lips curled upward in a smile as they brushed slowly. Gently. So innocent it could have been their first.
Memories flashed. “You have no idea how much pain I was in that day we went to the archery range.”
Air puffed past his cheek, an amused huff. “You’re interrupting your ravishment to talk about target practice gone wrong?”
“I had never seen you like that before.” He ignored her smart-ass comment and concentrated on his point. “You were this deadly warrior, all focus and power, and when you hit the bull’s-eye on your second shot, I got a hard-on.”
Her laughter rang clear and bright before she buried her face against his neck. “Stop.” The words came out garbled. “I don’t want anyone finding us yet.”
“Just thought you needed to know. I was smitten from the first moment. And when you let me tug you against that hay bale and kiss you, I thought I’d gone to heaven. Tempting lips, body soft in all the right places, yet lethal and wild at the same time.” He hummed as if he’d taken a bite of something delicious.
Brooke swayed, teasing their bodies together. “I like that memory. I like that you thought I was powerful.”
“You still are.” She could bring him to his knees if she chose.
With a brush of her hand down his chest, she was close to reducing him to incoherent rambling. She kissed his jaw, bit his lower lip. Her hand dropped over his groin and loosely contained his erection.
“I want something,” she warned him.
“Okay.” An instant response because he was smart.
Brooke chuckled. “The last couple times we fooled around, you’ve been very nice to me, but I haven’t returned the favour. Let’s do something about that.”
“Trust me, getting you off makes my day. But no arguments if you have different plans.” He caught her chin in his fingers, turning her toward him so he could kiss her. It turned out a little rough as one hundred percent of his need came through.
He hadn’t forgotten her comment about how sex between them always moved fast, but this didn’t seem like the right place or time to make a change.
She pushed closer, fingers scrambling at his waistline. Lips still meshed, Mack claimed hold of her breast with one hand, shaping the fabric-covered mound with his palm.
It wasn’t enough to feed the beast.
By the time she’d gotten his button and zipper undone, he’d slid his hand under her sweater, shoved away her bra and put his hand on her naked skin.
“God, you’re wild today.” Brooke breathed out the words as she wrapped her fingers around his cock.
His body rocked from the contact, the squeeze of her hand sending a pulse through him that threatened to break his control. “Play with me, angel. Whatever you want.”
“You. Just you.”
Him, broken and torn apart by driving lust. Or that’s what it appeared she was aiming for as she dropped to her knees and sudden wet heat engulfed him.
Sensation threatened to overwhelm his senses. The darkness remained, turning her touch even more powerful. All-consuming. He could picture what she was doing, and the mental image of the intimate connection rocked him.
Brooke teased with her tongue, running it along the crown of his cock, focusing on the small spot she knew triggered the best sensations. The most powerful pleasure.
“Babe—I’m close.” He whispered the words, stroking his fingers through her hair. Wishing he could see. Not for the erotic imagery but for the expression in her eyes. To savour the emotional connection between them. The physical connection was out of this world, and his release was rolling forward hard enough to make white spots appear in his vision.
He held back a shout, but something rumbled out of his chest. Not words. Nothing sensible, but a sound full of satisfaction and uncontrolled pleasure.
Flashing lights filled the storage room. Blink-blink-blink, flash-flash-flash, blink-blink-blink.
Mack’s legs were unsteady as she rose from the floor, her sweater lighting up over and over again with comical timing. The smile on Brooke’s face was clear in the resulting glow.
She cupped his face and let him lean on her briefly.
“SOS. Did I call for help?” he teased breathlessly.
“You were calling for something,” she said.
Mack tucked her against him and hugged her tight. “Thank you.”
“Any time.”
His head still rang with the echo of his orgasm. Mack was thankful for Brooke’s fingers in his as she led him back into the public part of the bar and onto the dance floor.
“I don’t know if this is a good idea,” he warned.
“You’ve got no sense of rhythm?” She was grinning like a Cheshire cat. Anyone looking carefully would know she’d just gotten her way in something big. She had that look. Contented woman, proud of her ability to reduce the average male to her willing servant.
It was true. If she asked, he’d do it. Anything for her.
God, he loved her.
Mack fought the urge to blurt it out by pulling her nearer. He wrapped his arms around her and tucked her tight against him. Dancing was mostly swaying with no attempt at making any fancy moves.
Brooke seemed content to follow his lead in this, as in so many circumstances before. She rested her head on his shoulder and they moved together like a well-oiled machine.
Mack wasn’t sure if
Ryan was being helpful and making sure there was a long run of slow, easy-to-waltz-to music, but he was grateful it was a long time before the pace picked up and he and Brooke had to slip farther apart.
Fingers locked together, fitting exactly right. The way their lives would when he finally found the moment.
Screw that, he would make the moment. He’d have to double-check, but maybe it was still possible to organize a last-minute getaway. He held his tongue until he could do some quick googling, but when her name was called and they turned to face Alex, he had a plan bubbling in his brain.
“Got a minute?” Alex winked at Brooke before leaning in to speak over the music. “I think I found something for you.”
She frowned. “What did I lose?”
“The name of your song.” He held up his phone then passed it over. Brooke clicked play then held it to her ear, covering her other ear to block the dance tune ringing off the walls.
A moment later, her eyes widened, and her smile flashed to brilliant. “That’s it! Oh my God, you found it.” She impulsively grabbed Alex and squeezed him tight.
Alex kept his hands in plain sight, but his grin when it met Mack’s over Brooke’s shoulder said how much he was enjoying his thank-you.
Mack resisted acting the caveman, but he was pleased when Brooke released his friend and instantly threw herself into Mack’s arms. “We have the song!”
“That’s awesome. Now you need to relearn how to sing it.”
“Ugh.” Brooke made a face, but she was snuggling under his arm as she faced Alex. “Great discovery, and I really appreciate it. You want to come serenade my dad on Christmas morning?”
Alex’s denial was instant and firm. “I’m fine with karaoke, but not much else. The only real singer I know is Walker Stone. You could pop out to Silver Stone ranch and ask him.”
“That’s a good idea,” Brooke nodded decisively. “Thanks again, Alex.”
He offered her a wink, then gave Mack a salute before strolling toward a group of women and asking one to dance.
Brooke was back in Mack’s arms, nudging him toward the dance floor, and he went willingly enough. Ideas were whirling, but he mostly felt a sense of satisfaction at having made the decision to set up the moment he could propose.
They were running short on time to coordinate the perfect old-fashioned Christmas. Desperately short, but somehow it seemed as if there was all the time in the world.
Because when he stared into Brooke’s eyes, he saw eternity.
9
Buns and Roses held a smaller-than-usual crowd this Saturday morning, but Brooke had desperately needed a hot pick-me-up before starting the day at the shop. She had forty-five minutes before her dad would expect her to be ready and raring to go, with a full load of vehicles on the slate to get done before closing time.
Tansy lowered a plate with three delicate half-moon-shaped cookies and a steaming hot drink in front of Brooke. “Today’s special. I call it a Winter Solstice. It’s short and dark, yet brightness is just around the corner.”
Brooke lifted the mug in the air. “You’re lucky I trust you.”
“You’re lucky I love you,” Tansy returned. “Try it.”
A deep inhale over the mug told Brooke two things. “Coffee. Chocolate for sure, and…orange? That’s the brightness, right?”
“Yup! And the short is because that’s Ghirardelli chocolate, and anything bigger than a mini mug and you’d have consumed a full day’s calories in one go.” Tansy offered a wink. “See how I prevent problems so we don’t have to diet come January?”
“You’re a goddess.” Brooke took a sip and velvet sex slid over her tongue. She all but moaned at her friend. “Or a demon. That’s sinfully good.”
The chair across the table from her pulled back, and she glanced up to stare into Mack’s deep brown eyes. He winked, holding the chair for Sonora Fallen.
“Hey, Gramma.” Tansy detoured to give her grandmother a hug. “A Winter Solstice for you as well?”
“Thank you, sweetie. And I’ll have a plate of the German butter crescents as well.” The older woman sat down and sighed happily.
“Sonora.” Brooke took another deep inhale of the chocolatey goodness as Mack settled at the table as well. “Excuse me for being rude and drinking alone, but I’m not letting this get cold.”
“I don’t blame you.” Sonora removed her toque and gloves and placed them in her coat pockets before shrugging out of the thick garment. Her silver and white hair was neatly pulled back into a braid that hung down the middle of her back. The laugh lines at the corner of her eyes deepened as she smiled at someone at another table before turning grey eyes toward Brooke. “Go ahead. Drink while it’s hot.”
Brooke took a sip of the glorious elixir.
Mack lifted a hand and rubbed the back of his neck. “Not that I want to overstep my boundaries, Sonora, but according to the news, there’s a big storm brewing. Do you really think it was wise to walk into town?”
“I didn’t walk the entire way,” the older woman said primly. “I got a ride to the mercantile, then decided I wanted a hot drink.”
The mercantile was over a mile away. The chance the sidewalks had been cleared between the buildings this early was slim. Brooke and Mack exchanged glances as Tansy interrupted them to bring in two more hot drinks and the requested cookies.
“I agree with Mack,” Brooke said cautiously. “Why didn’t you drive in yourself? Are you having car problems?”
Sonora stiffened, glancing over her shoulder to see where Tansy was before speaking quietly, as if she didn’t want to be overheard. “I guess I can’t lie about that since you’re the one who will fix it. Yes, I had a slight problem backing up the other day. I think you and Gary will need to come get my truck with your trailer. The back bumper is in rough shape.”
Fiercely independent, Sonora had more than enough family in town to give her a hand if she asked.
If she asked—that was the problem.
“I’ll check with Dad and let you know when we can come grab the truck.”
Brooke turned to face Mack and he leaned in close for a kiss. Without thinking, she caught him by the back of the neck and turned what he’d probably intended as a quick buss into something a lot more heated.
Whoops?
His eyes flashed with amusement as he pulled away. “Someone is looking for trouble today.”
“With you? Always.”
A soft chuckle carried to them. Sonora, innocently sipping her coffee as she stared intently toward the ceiling. “Wonderful decorations in here. Plenty of things to entertain a soul without having to play peekaboo.”
Brooke eased away from Mack. Or tried to, only to find he had his hand curled around her waist and wasn’t letting go. “Sorry about that,” she offered the older woman.
Sonora gave her a sharp glance. “Never apologize for being in love.”
A zing raced through Brooke along with an instant rush of heat. She didn’t dare peek sideways at Mack to see how he was taking Sonora’s proclamation.
Brooke wasn’t about to deny it to herself. She had fallen one hundred percent for her soldier boy, and she was getting to the point where she didn’t care who knew. The urge to play the “who, us?” game wasn’t there either. She wasn’t about to do that to Mack in front of his face.
To be honest, the fact he hadn’t instantly denied it or made a joke to cover up any awkwardness only made her heart glow brighter. His fingers had tightened, but beyond that, he did nothing other than change the topic.
Mack focused on Sonara. “I was asking around, and it turns out you’re the person we need to talk to. I’m trying to track down a decoration the United Church borrowed a few years ago. Your name came up in the conversation as someone who might know where it landed. Or who else we could talk to.”
Sonora looked curious. “A Christmas decoration?”
Mack nodded. “A large metal star, about five feet in diameter. It would have had lights on it as well,
and maybe a pole for suspending it above the rooftop.”
He had been talking with his hands, animated and hopeful, and Brooke stared in fascination. She loved the way he spoke so earnestly and the way his eyes lit up when Sonora nodded immediately.
“I remember that.” She frowned. “But I’d have assumed it would have gone back with the rest of the decorations. It’s not in the storage shed outside the church?”
“No, ma’am. I looked.”
He had? Brooke examined him closer, this man of hers who was surprising her with his earnest determination.
Sonora leaned back in her chair and turned thoughtful. “Well, that beats all. Although…I wonder.” She pulled out her phone, but before she turned it on, she apologized. “Excuse me for being rude for a minute. I think I know who might have an idea where your star is.”
A tight squeeze on her thigh and Brooke glanced at Mack who was trying to hide his smirk.
“She’s adorable,” Brooke whispered in his ear as she covertly watched Sonora type a message.
“You’re amazing,” Mack returned. “I don’t have that much longer before I have to hit the hall, but I do have a question.”
“Shoot.”
“Can you run away with me tonight? I know it’s last minute, and I know…”
Brooke’s heart gave a leap. “Yes.”
“…it might be hard to wiggle—” He stopped. A grin splitting his expression, he leaned closer and pressed their foreheads together. “You work until five. Can you be ready at five thirty? Overnight bag, swimsuit, comfy clothes. We’ll toss our boots and emergency gear in the truck, just in case.”
“Sounds fantastic.”
They would have sat there grinning at each other until Mack was late for his shift and she’d missed her start time and gotten her dad off on the wrong foot to boot, except Sonora made a disgruntled announcement. “Well, that was a waste of time. He’s not answering. I’ll have to try again later, but I’ll get back to you, Mack.”
“Thanks, Sonora. I appreciate it.” He kissed Brooke quickly then shot to his feet, money on the table to cover the cost of the food. “My treat, Sonora. And I’ll see you later.”