by Jamie Begley
In life, there were men like Marcus, who captured your heart with good looks and smooth words, and then there were others like Hennessy, who captured your heart one marshmallow at a time.
Chapter 11
Hennessy hung his jacket in the closet before crossing to the bar. Opening a beer, he didn’t acknowledge Moon, who was sitting at the bar.
“How was work?”
“Same as it was yesterday.” Boring as fuck.
If he had to do the mundane job day after day, he would blow his fucking brains out. Four days already seemed like it had lasted a lifetime. Unable to be given the opportunity to see Arin made it even worse.
Raising his beer to his lips, he saw Moon twirling something on his finger. “What’s that?”
Moon smiled. “A thong. A present from my naughty Santa.”
“Oh.” Uninterested, he moved from the bar to one of the couches and sat down. He planned to catch a game of pool when another brother came in.
“So far, I’ve been given a flask, a beer tasting kit, and a red sweatshirt that says I’m on the naughty list. Today, I got the thong.”
Hennessy couldn’t care fucking less what the others had been given. He had avoided talking about the gifts like a plague, because he knew one of them was receiving them from Arin.
“What have you been given?”
“Nothing.”
Moon frowned, leaving the stool. “What do you mean, nothing?”
“I mean nothing, zip, nada.”
Moon’s frown deepened. “That’s not possible. Your Santa would have given you a gift.”
“In case you missed the news flash, the women want me gone. They hate the ground I walk on.”
“If they didn’t want you to do the Santa game, they would have spoken to Viper, and he would have told you. If you think they’re holding a grudge because of Arin, they cooled down the next day, so that’s not why you haven’t had any presents.”
“It doesn’t matter. I didn’t want to play anyway.”
“Then, why did you?”
Hennessy wasn’t about to admit that it was because his jealousy had gotten the better of him. He thought he would have been able to outsmart the game and end up with Arin. He couldn’t outsmart the game, though, because none of the bitches were giving up whose name they had drawn. It was crazy as fuck how they were holding onto the names like it was a fucking national secret.
“It seemed like the thing to do at the time.” He shrugged.
“And now it’s not?”
“The decision was made for me. I haven’t gotten any gifts. You want to play a game of pool?” It would be worth playing Moon just to change the subject.
“No, I don’t want to play fucking pool. I’m still broke from the last time I was stupid enough to play you.
“Where have you looked for your presents? I can help you.”
“I’m supposed to look?”
“You’re kidding, right?”
“No. I just assumed they would be in my room where I can find them.”
“Why didn’t you ask?”
“Maybe—”
“Brother, if you tell me you don’t care, you’ll be the one flying over the porch.” Moon shoved the thong into his jeans. “This game is for the women. They look forward to it all year. Not only do they get the time off from work if we figure out who they are, they get one-on-one attention from one of us. The brothers take it seriously. Everyone wants to feel special on Christmas.”
His gut clenched. He had thought he was the one being left out, not the other way around. The brothers had been flashing their gifts, not to brag about what they were given, but to show appreciation for the gifts they had received.
Hennessy watched with curiosity as Moon went to the Christmas tree and looked around. Stopping, he bent over then took out a small gift from the lower branches. His face was grim as he came back, dropping it into his lap.
If he didn’t feel like shit before, Hennessy did now. Holding the present in one hand, he started following Moon’s example. However, Moon was the one who found another one behind a bottle of Hennessy on the shelf.
Moon laid it down on the bar top. “You’re a fuckhead.”
Hennessy couldn’t deny the obvious.
“All you had to do was fucking ask.” While Moon’s words were angry, his expression wasn’t. It was sad. “You know the problem with you, Hennessy?”
“No, but I’m sure you’re going to tell me.”
“I have mad love for you, brother.”
Hennessy opened his mouth to call bullshit, but Moon didn’t give him the opportunity.
“There is no other brother, and I include all of The Last Riders, that I would rather have by my side when my life is on the line. You’re a mean motherfucker when it comes to fighting. The problem is that you consider everything a battleground where someone is trying to fuck with you or fuck you over.
“Viper considers you a friend, all the brothers do. I did. When we were together on end, I considered you one of the best friends I had in my life, but once the threat to The Last Riders and Road Kingz was over, you wouldn’t give me the time of day. Didn’t answer my texts and blew me off when I rode to Arizona to spend time with you.”
“I told you I was busy.”
“Bullshit.”
Hennessy stared down at the two gifts, knowing the shit that Moon was telling him was true.
“Did I get too close to you like the Predators did and you left them?”
“I left them because of DJ.”
“You couldn’t protect DJ any more than the Predators could.”
“Shut the fuck up. Don’t talk about DJ. You didn’t know him.”
“I might not have known DJ, but I know you. He was just an excuse to leave the Predators. Just like leaving Arizona to go to Florida instead of staying and helping your men rebuild your club.”
“Unlike The Last Riders, I don’t have deep pockets. I need the money from the job in Florida.”
“Arizona has jobs that you could have found. The Predators would have found you the same type of job, but you didn’t let them. You left to get as far as you could. Then you’ll go back and find another excuse to leave. That’s what you do, especially at Christmas. The Road Kingz, Predators, and The Last Riders all consider you family, yet you consider none of us the same way. Do you?”
He clenched his jaw. “I don’t have a family.”
“Brother, you do. Whether you want one or not, you do.” Striding around the bar, Moon gave him a disgusted look. “You can find the last fucking two yourself.”
Hennessy turned to watch Moon leave and saw Arin indecisively standing on the stairs. Moon going out the front door must have made up her mind for her as she continued down the stairs.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to overhear.”
“You make a habit of showing up at the wrong time.”
The hurt look she gave him was the tipping point for a shitty day that had gone from bad to worse.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say that. I’m embarrassed that Moon was ripping me a new a-hole.
Arin climbed onto a stool next to where he was standing. “Did you deserve it?”
He wanted to deny it but couldn’t. If it was one of the brothers, he would have, but he couldn’t lie to her. “Yes.”
“It sounded to me like he was more hurt than angry.”
“I’m good at making everyone feel that way about me. You should know that firsthand.”
She looked at him guardedly. “Why do you say that?”
“The first night we met.”
“Oh … I thought you meant something else.”
She lightly touched the two gifts on the bar. “Are these your naughty Santa gifts?”
“Yes.”
“Why haven’t you opened them?”
“I didn’t know they were hidden. That was what Moon was giving me hell about.”
“From what I overhead, that wasn’t all he was giving you hell for.”
With a fingertip, she moved one of the presents closer to his hand. “Go ahead and open it.”
Opening the small box as Arin watched, he took out a pair of briefs with a candy cane on the front. He had to laugh, along with her.
“All the guys have been wearing theirs, showing off their presents. You’ll have to wear those tonight,” she teased.
“That won’t be happening.” Reaching for the other box, he opened it to take out … he didn’t know what the fuck it was.
Both of them stared at the crocheted something.
“Is it a beer cozy?” he asked her, perplexed.
Arin giggled, putting her hand over her mouth. “It’s too long for that.” Removing her hand, she had to wipe her tears of laughter away. “I think it’s a cock warmer.”
“Oh … I see it now. How’d you know what the fuck it was?”
“A good guess. It’s one of the more inventive gifts I’ve seen. What are the other two gifts you’ve gotten?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t found them yet.” Putting the two presents back in the boxes, he cleaned up the Christmas wrapping paper and threw them in the trash behind the bar.
“She must be good at hiding things if you haven’t found them.”
“I didn’t know we were supposed to find them. I thought they would just be put in my room.”
“Well, no harm’s been done. Now you know. You want me to help you find them?”
“Please. I have no idea where to look. Where did you hide yours?”
“Nuh-uh. That would be telling on myself. A Santa never gives away her secrets.”
Going around the room, they couldn’t find any more presents for him.
“Let’s look in the kitchen,” Arin suggested.
Thirty minutes later, they admitted defeat and moved on, finding the third one under one of the cushions in the TV room. He had sat on it last night when he had watched a movie.
Opening the box, Hennessy stared down at a snowman that had a carrot where his dick was instead of on his nose.
Arin thoughtfully took it out of the box and pushed the carrot down. “It’s a lighter.”
“Now that’s a gift I can use.” Closing the box, he put the lighter in his pocket.
“You won’t use the underwear or the warmer?”
Hennessy was captivated by her good-natured ribbing.
“I’ll tell you one of my secrets. I don’t wear underwear. And I think the cock warmer might be itchy.”
“Would you have worn it if you had it on your ride in from Arizona?”
Hennessy’s face broke out in a grin. “Yes, and I would have splurged and bought Core one. Of course, coming from me, he would have shoved it down my throat.”
“Maybe if you had bought him a different color? I could see him in a blue one.”
“Don’t be imagining one on Core. I might get jealous.”
Her expression grew serious. “Don’t be. I can’t get the red one out of mind.”
Unable to help himself, he reached out to place a hand on the back of her neck, pulling her face closer to his. “I’ve missed you the last few days. Have you been avoiding me?”
Arin reached out to place a hand on the back of his neck, holding him just as close. “Yes.”
“Why?”
“I don’t want to wake up Christmas morning with a broken heart.”
Out of all the things he had expected her to say, that was the most surprising and the most honest.
“You’re the one avoiding me, not the other way around. I’ve never broken a woman’s heart and wouldn’t start with you.”
“Hennessy, I don’t think you’ve let any woman or man get close enough to break your heart. I didn’t need to overhear what Moon said to know that. I avoided you, but you didn’t search me out either. I was right here, waiting for you to make an effort.
“I had a marriage that lasted six years with a husband who had the same attitude.” Pressing her body closer to his, she slid her lips along his jawline to his ear.
Feeling every inch of her body pressed to his, he shivered when she bit down on the lobe of his ear.
She slipped her hand from his neck to his heart. “You’ve frozen me out of your heart before I could even get in.”
Hennessy felt his heart thumping in his chest under her hand.
“There’s a remedy for what’s wrong with you,” she whispered.
He wanted to tell her there was nothing wrong with him, that both she and Moon were wrong about him. He couldn’t, though, when she held his heart in the palm of her hand.
“What is it?”
“Fire.”
Chapter 12
“You two aren’t thinking of breaking the rules, are you?”
Arin jumped apart from Hennessy at the voice that came from her back.
Giving Jack a shaky laugh, Arin smoothed down her green velvet top. “I was helping Hennessy try to find his gifts.”
“I haven’t found today’s yet either. You want to help me find mine?” He held his arms out encouragingly.
Arin felt a rush of air as Hennessy started for Jack at the joking comment.
“I’ll help you find it,” Hennessy offered threateningly.
Arin quickly stepped between the two men. “Which one of you wants to help me make some cookies?”
Both men glared at each other, neither willing to back down.
Snapping her fingers in front of their faces, Arin reined in the budding fight. “The kids are coming tonight to see Santa Claus. I want to have cookies ready for them. I could use some help, please.” She sweetly placed a hand on Hennessy’s arm. “Please.”
Nodding at her, he broke the glare he was giving Jack. “I’ll help.”
“I will, too.” Jack wasn’t about to be outdone.
“Thank you.” Taking a chance, she moved from between the two men and started taking ingredients out of the pantry. “Jack, could you pull up a recipe for sugar cookies? And Hennessy, could you grab me the measuring cups?” Going to the cabinet, she took out a mixing bowl while directing the men to keep them busy instead of letting them break each other’s neck.
As they made the cookies, she was aware of every movement Hennessy made, wishing she could feel the same tingling attraction toward Jack, but it just wasn’t there.
Arin didn’t know how Jewell did it. How could she be around so many men and not become attached to any of them?
She was sliding the first batch of cookies into the oven when, with a sinking heart, she realized why Jewell had never accepted her job offer. Her friend was in love with one of the men who kept her firmly in place.
“Is something wrong?”
Arin forced a smile to her lips. “No, just thinking. Where did Jack go?” she asked, seeing she and Hennessy were alone again.
“Taking a shower. He said he would be back when the cookies were done.”
“Oh.” Arin started making another pan of cookies.
“Are you upset he’s gone?”
“No. Are you?”
“Fuck no.”
When she turned to put the second sheet of cookies in the oven, she found herself blocked.
“Whose name did you draw?”
“That’s a secret.”
“I won’t tell anyone.”
“Then, why do you want to know?”
“Because I’m going to kill the fucker before he can figure out you have his name.”
Arin sidestepped him. “Such a drastic action for such a silly game.”
“It’s not going to be so silly when he figures out you’re his Santa. You do know there’s going to be a lot of sex going down when the men start figuring out who has their names, right?”
“Yes, I do. I’m counting on it. Aren’t you?”
“Not unless you have my name.”
“Are you asking?”
“If I guess wrong, I’m out of the game.”
Arin went around him to put the cookies in the oven, checking the ones inside to make sure they were
n’t done.
“Give me a hint …”
Arin took a step forward. “Is the kitchen getting hot enough for you? Enough to melt that frozen heart of yours?”
“Is that a hint, or are you just playing with me?”
Hennessy had no sense of humor. Her light flirting had just irritated him. He wanted a sure thing before he reached out and took what he wanted. She had been a sure thing with Marcus; she wasn’t going to make that mistake twice. If Hennessy wanted her, he was going to have to work for it, hard. Hennessy had to prove to her he wasn’t going to leave a hole in her heart the way Moon said he had others. She deserved a man who knew her worth.
The first time she had met him, she had wanted nothing more than a sex romp, but touching Hennessy was just as intoxicating as his namesake. One shot of Hennessy just had you craving more.
“Giving hints are against the rules, so is playing with you.” Bringing her lips within kissing distance, she silently dared him with her eyes to kiss her. However, when he pulled his head back, Arin became embarrassed that she was always going to make herself look foolish. Was she teasing a man who had no sexual interest with her? Her budding confidence wasn’t as strong as she pretending it was.
“Baby girl, I’m not drunk, and I’m not frozen half to death tonight. I don’t need you to take the lead. You want my mouth, ask for it.”
This side of Hennessy was as sexy as hell.
“I want you to kiss me.”
“Where?”
“My mouth.”
Taking her in his arms, he crushed her mouth with his. Gasping, she parted her lips, allowing him to thrust his tongue inside.
Arin had experienced first kisses before. This one was a whole different experience. Hennessy wasn’t shy or hesitant; neither was he forceful or rough. His tongue was smooth as silk as he boldly searched her mouth without overwhelming her while making her want more … and more.
As she breathed in the spicy scent of his cologne, she clutched his shoulders and held on, giving him a part of herself that Marcus had never wanted or tried to get out of her—a response.